The buzz surrounding Stefano Massini’s The Lehman Trilogy, tailored by Ben Power and directed by Sam Mendes, has remained robust since its premiere on the National Theatre again in 2018. Five Tony awards later, it’s again gracing the stage on the stunning Gillian Lynne Theatre to inform the story of three Jewish brothers who immigrated to America within the mid-nineteenth century to cement their names as key founders within the story of Western capitalism.
One of the extra controversial facets of the work must be the sunshine wash over historic social injustices that parallel the success of the brothers. For instance, slavery, the Civil War and Great Depression are talked about however not seen by way of the lease of these most affected. But it appears like a alternative which is ready to present a aspect of a time, that for some, supplied prosperity regardless of inequality. Another attention-grabbing comparability needs to be in relation to the Jews who discovered prosperity in America whereas their group have been going through the holocaust in Europe.It is an epic three hours and twenty minutes lengthy, together with two intervals and earns each minute and it’s largely held collectively by solely three actors, Michael Balogun, Hadley Fraser and Nigel Lindsay. Each, not solely play one of many three founding brothers of the Lehman legacy however, effortlessly, remodel into numerous different characters from their youngsters, grandchildren, wives and an array of enterprise folks from days passed by. It is a flawless efficiency from the three that demonstrates restraint and integrity. Somehow, they handle to maintain you on their aspect even when their characters’ motives are opportunistic on the again of others’ tragedies.
I may also use the phrase ‘restraint’ to explain the combination of the design parts. The delicate and evocative piano accompaniment from Yshani Perinpanayagam and sound design from Nick Powell meld collectively to underscore the occasions with each rigidity and pathos whereas Es Devlin’s set design largely consists of of a rotating perspex workplace, dances with the motion and choreography by Polly Bennett gracefully. Likewise, lighting designer Jon Clark finds magnificence and motion in fluorescent overhead lighting. The costume design by Kate Lindsay brings the trendy set design right into a dialogue with the previous by merely having the lads in modest black fits from the nineteenth century and Luke Halls has created a video design, projected behind the stage all through the efficiency, that contrasts the minimal parts with epic landscapes. The Lehman Trilogy is a provocative and well-crafted piece of theatre that may almost definitely endure a run so long as the Lehman legacy itself. If you might have the possibility, don’t miss this formidable efficiency. It can be what everybody within the theatre world can be speaking about for a while.
Review by Stephanie Osztreicher
Rating: ★★★★
Seat: F43 | Price: £24 – £180