Larry

Mark Burgess’s play about Alec Guinness has gone on to be a huge success so it is no surprise that he has now tackled Laurence Olivier. And in doing so he has created what I can only describe as the bones of a very good play, filled with anecdotes and insights into the great actor’s extraordinary talent and character. I say ‘bones’ though as this felt like an early draft, too wordy by far and lacking in rhythm. With so much to relate there were few pauses and as a consequence it became rather list like. And with so many lines actor Keith Drinkel struggled with nerves, all too apparent in such a small space. All that said Burgess has the talent to make this work and I look forward to seeing it again. Full marks to Dukebox Theatre too, I really like the space.

Dukebox Theatre at The Iron Duke, 1 December 2012

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