BWW Reviews: A DISH OF TEA WITH DR JOHNSON, Arts Theatre, Sep 7 2011

Kaite Welsh

Max Stafford-Clark's production of A Dish of Tea With Dr Johnson has all the ingredients of a good play, but never quite pulls it off. A potted biography of the man behind the dictionary, a self-described "shameless tea drinker...and enemy of cant", it gives us a tantalizing glimpse into the life of a fascinating man, but fails to live up to its initial promise.

Though the production has its flaws, the casting of the two leads is not one of them. We were warned at the start that Luke Griffin, a late replacement for Russell Barr, hadn't had chance to fully learn his lines yet and would occasionally be reading from a script. However, as Boswell, Johnson's erstwhile biographer, it merely adds to his bookish charm. In fact, Griffin is by far and away the best thing about this production. Playing seven other characters alongside Boswell, he earned far more than the audience's pity vote, although he convinced less in female roles.

Ian Redford has a harder time of it. His Johnson is occasionally charming but more often comes across as a pedant in love with the sound of his own voice. That is not to suggest that Redford isn't suited to the role - in fact, he gives a splendid performance, veering from affable host to splenetic spurned lover. Unfortunately, the structure of the play means that he has very little to do other than bluster and wisecrack.

The two men play off each other very well, which is why the eleventh-hour entrance of a third actor throws the whole thing off-balance. In a costume that looks as though it costs more than the rest of the production put together, Trudie Styler's presence as the object of the elderly Johnson's unrequited love seems tacked onto a show that should be a two-hander. Pert, simpering and shallow, it's impossible to believe that this coquette enchanted Johnson on more than a physical level. The real Hester Thrale was a diarist, wit and author in her own right, but this production relegates her to the eye candy that disrupted the Johnson-Boswell bromance. A fully-fleshed out female character might have given this production the lift it needed, but Styler's Thrale is as much of a caricature as Griffin's playing Johnson's landlady as a prim pantomime dame.

If the material was better, it could have been an enjoyable performance - certainly Redford and Griffin throw themselves into their roles - but the whole thing falls flat. The decision to demolish the fourth wall makes sense in theory, but in practice Redford comes across as lecturing the audience rather than interacting with them. The intention is clearly to create the impression that we are being granted an audience with the famous raconteur. In reality, it feels more like being cornered by your drunk uncle at a party. For a man known for his wit and precision, this is a disappointingly sloppy tribute.

A Dish of Tea With Dr Johnson runs at the Arts Theatre until 23 September.

 

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