Dr. Strangelove, Noel Coward Theatre Review
Reviewed by Eleanor for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Dr. Strangelove is a new adaptation of Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 film of the same name (or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.) It is an absurd and dark comedy which considers what would happen if a U.S general went rogue and declared a nuclear attack on Russia who, unbeknownst to him, have a Doomsday machine capable of destroying the world. With the assistance of an eccentric ex-nazi scientist, named Dr Strangelove (Steve Coogan) can the President (also Steve Coogan) and a British Air Force Captain (also Steve Coogan!) work together to prevent an apocalypse?
I have always admired Coogan as an actor and this play is the perfect vehicle for him. Dr. Strangelove is the perfect mix of drama, comedy, anarchic energy and fear around authority. Although I have not seen the original film, it is certainly now on my watch list. For me, this play was a revelation and one of the best new shows in London at the moment.
The pacing of Dr. Strangelove feels very purposeful and balanced. Information is disseminated slowly throughout the story, which kept me on the edge of my seat. We frequently change setting, switching between different groups; those in the war room, those in one of the B52 bombers, and those stationed at Burpelson Air Force Base. With each scene change, I felt torn - I wanted to stay with the current characters to see how their story unfolded, yet I was equally eager to jump to the next group to witness their reactions to the latest developments. This illustrates the strength of Stanley Kubrick’s original screenplay and Armando Iannucci’s adaptation. Although the story is relatively complex, it was easy to follow and effectively built-up tension throughout.
The production design of this show is incredibly professional. The shifts between different set pieces (designed by Hildegard Bechtler) were seamless and often included musical interludes or different lighting elements which kept my immersion in the story. The most impressive set came at the beginning of the second act, which was also my favourite. It demonstrated the perfect synergy the production has created between the physical set pieces and the raised back wall screens. This was also evident during the war room scenes, where the map would update alongside the dialogue and was also able to sync sound around the actors’ speech on stage. Hildegard Bechtler’s costume design and the wigs by Kate Elizabeth must also be commended, particularly in how they assisted Coogan in creating his three distinct characters.
Another strength of Dr. Strangelove is that the dark and comic character elements are spread across the entire cast; from Faceman (played by Mark Hadfield) fawning of the president, and General Ripper’s (played by John Hopkins) growing madness, to General Turgidson’s (played by Giles Terera) misguided logic. Everyone is able to convincingly convey the madness of it all while still instilling a level of fear and suspense. The entire cast is superb. But particular note has to be made to Steve Coogan’s performance as Captain Mandrake, President Muffley, Major TJ Kong and the titular Dr Strangelove. His characterisation made each of these figures incredibly distinct and his performances throughout were truly captivating. He was also able to draw out every ounce of comedy from each humorous line, bringing lightness even when the subject matter was at its darkest.
Overall, this iteration of Dr. Strangelove is an incredibly impressive piece of work. It brilliantly showcases Steve Coogan's talent across multiple roles and offers a sharp commentary on authority and absurdity which is still relevant today. This will likely be one of my favourite shows of the year and I hope to return to the Noel Coward Theatre before the end of the run to experience it again.
At Noel Coward Theatre until 25 January 2025
★★★★★
