Voldemort Can Pull Off A Suit

At the Theatre Royal Haymarket, Grace Pervades felt like both a history lesson and a love letter to theatre itself. As a person who grew up in the arts, I could appreciate every aspect of that play. They had comedic theatrical references, a dancer, painters, beautiful lighting/staging, and so much more. This play is by theatre lovers for theatre lovers. What stood out most to me was how the play celebrated the power of theatre while also revealing the personal sacrifices behind artistic success. The performance of Ralph Fiennes was a standout for me. The way he portrayed such an awkward yet complex character was beautiful to me. He was great at adding layers to the character of Henry, more specifically, the small details. Miranda Raison’s character of Ellen Terry balanced him perfectly with warmth and energy, making their relationship feel believable and emotionally layered. Her character was also very humorous and theatrical, which I thoroughly enjoyed. They had great chemistry. It felt very relaxed in understanding, in love, instead of anxiety-ridden waiting for something to happen. Visually, the production was gorgeous. The backlit lighting in the first scene, with the smoke as all of the characters walked out, made me audibly gasp. It was stunning. The costumes immediately transported the audience into the Victorian era. The pleating of the skirts and the dark jewel-toned colors really made the costumes stand out for me. I did think some of the pacing in the beginning was a little slow. I do enjoy an action-packed play, so this did move a little slowly for my personal taste, but once it picked up, I was invested in the plot and was waiting to see what would happen next. Overall, Grace Pervades was a beautifully acted production. It celebrates theatre history while also exploring the humanity of the artists behind it.