The Lady In The Van

Putting together the talents of Alan Bennett and Nichola McAuliffe is a dream ticket, or at least it should be. But sadly in Hull Truck’s new production both talents become mired under an oppressive set that simply does not work and two men who work so hard at being Alan Bennett that they lose all the poetry of his words. What we end up with are bitchy and petulant twins. Add to this an over the top score better suited to an Edwardian murder mystery – think An Inspector Calls – and all of Bennett’s wit and clarity is lost. Thank god then for Nichola McAuliffe who, as Miss Shepherd, is pure theatre genius, magical even, so intensely well observed is she that you can almost smell her from the stalls. If the two Bennetts could draw back and instill some of Bennett’s reserve and the score and black set were axed then maybe the production would get the five stars that Ms McAuliffe so richly deserves.

Theatre Royal Brighton, 12 April 2012

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