Wednesday evening, we went to the Royal Haymarket Theatre to see Grace Pervades, starring Ralph Fiennes and Miranda Raison. I knew absolutely nothing about this show and was happy to realize that it is nothing short of a love letter to theatre. The script spans 1878-1966 and tells the true story of Ellen Terry and Henry Irving, two prominent actors of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The duo formed a relationship that spanned many years as they worked together on productions. At the heart of the show is a story about how theatre connects us and alters our relationships. How does theatre alter our relationships? How does theatre deepen our relationships? These questions occurred to me as I watched, and I still find myself wondering about them now as I review them.
The production itself was very good; the actors were entranced and truly poured their souls into their roles. They told their story in such a true and compelling way, which was absolutely beautiful. My only “eh” review of the show comes from the script, which at times lacked. I often found myself bored with what was happening and wishing things would speed up. Oddly, the show and the relationship between Ellen and Henry were told from the point of view of Ellen’s two children; this part honestly really confused me and felt random. There was no clear reason why the children were so important to the story, leaving it feeling open. Also, I must say that our seats for this show were quite awful. I enjoyed standing in the sun for three hours at the globe more than sitting in these weird skinny bench-like seats.
Overall, I found the production to be great. I just wasn’t a huge fan of the script, and that was what stood in the way of truly loving this show! Also who was grace and did she prevade? #idk
Theatre in London U of A 