The King's Speech

The King's Speech

CCADS

Square Tower, Southsea

29th January - 3rd February 2019

As i took my seat in The Square Tower, I already felt like this would be an amazing play. The King's Speech was originally written by David Seidler as a stage play in 1970 but requested by the Queen Mother not to pursue the play until after her death, Seidler then developed the screenplay for the internationally acclaimed film in 2010.

I remember watching the film in school and was just mesmerized by the acting. When i heard about this play i knew just had to see it. I got to the tower and took my seat. The Square Tower is not a conventional theater. The seating was on two sides and stage was just one long stretch of floor with a desk, a couple of coat racks and a record player.

As the lights dimmed Jonathan Fost walked onto the stage and for the next 2 1/2 hours i was just as memorized as i was when i saw the film 9 years ago. Jonathan who plays Albert ('Bertie) The Duke of York was outstanding in the role. He just had such stage presence and was so incredibly convincing that i couldn't keep my eyes off him even if he wasn't talking.

Director John-Paul McCrohan took on the role of Australian Speech Specialist Lionel Logue and as always he did not disappoint. His quick wit and onstage chemistry with Frost and Becky Garnett (who played his wife Myrtle Logue) was amazing.

Speaking of which Becky Garnett's and Kerry McCrohan's (Who played Elizabeth Duchess of York) portrayals of the wife's of these two gentlemen were met with great success and you could really feel the pain they both went through.

The script itself had so many great moments in it but mt absolute favorite had to be near the end when Albert shouts "Because I have a voice!". The moment of silence after echoed through the hall and it made me really emotional.

Some shout outs go to Peter Colley as Cosmo Lang, Tony Johnson as David Prince of Wales and Geoffrey Pye as King George V.

Overall this was an emotional, funny and overwhelming experience and i'm so glad i got to witness it.

Five Stars

*****

Declan Robertson