Review: The Constituent (The Old Vic)

Review by Daz Gale

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Premieres of new plays at The Old Vic always come with a certain degree of expectation, but this has been amplified this time around when The Constituent was announced with James Corden returning to the stage for the first time in 12 years – in which time he has become more well known for his work on screen rather than the stage. While that was one talking point of this show, would the material itself speak for itself or would it find itself overshadowed?

The Constituent is set in Member of Parliament Monica’s office as she prepares a surgery to meet her constituents. This is where she first meets (or reconnects) with Alec, an ex-serviceman whose life is falling apart and needs Monica’s help to get it back on track. The play charts their various meetings as time goes on as we witness the ever-changing situation and dynamic between them. To say any more than that would be spoiling the outcome but it’s safe to say the tension threatens to boil over as the play races towards its climax/

This world-premiere play by Joe Penhall takes a varied approach to exploring the relationship between Alec and Monica in a play that sets itself up as a comedy initially, only to allow darker elements to trickle through gradually until the laughs become much fewer and far between and the severity of the situation is left to play out in its raw form. It is this changing tone that allows the events of The Constituent to unfold in a consistently captivating manner as the single-act play grabs you instantly and leaves you invested in this unlikely partnership and what might happen to each of them. 

The depth of Penhall’s writing allows obvious comparisons to be made, regarding the reputation of Members of Parliament and the dangers they can find themselves in., with the notes in the programme drawing similarities to the devastating murders of MPs Jo Cox and Sir David Ames. Perhaps this could have been fleshed out slightly more in the context of the play, but the quality of the writing still stands on its own with the slow build-up and tension surrounding the possible outcomes completely compelling.

The Old Vic’s Artistic Director Matthew Warchus brings his detailed direction to this production, surrounding the intimate stage with audience members to create an almost claustrophobic setting. Clearly on the same page as Penhall’s writing, their collaborative nature allows for the action to play out naturally. There were instances when I felt the production could have benefited from the tiniest bit of tightening up, and I found the frequent scene transitions complete with jarring music created problems with the pacing of the show and lessening the impacts as it took you out to the moment all too often, though, with scenes needing to be changed, this may have been a necessary evil.

It is the cast that has drawn interest to this production, and I am pleased to report they more than live up to the hype. While I have never been the biggest fan of James Corden from his TV work in the past, he proved to be a revelation on stage with his ability to tap into a character astonishing to watch. Allowing the character to breathe, Corden allows for an initially bubbly and overstated introduction to pave the way for darker aspects of his soul. By the time, Corden appears for his final scene, the transformation is miraculous, in a stunning performance I find it difficult to fault.

Zachary Hart proves a third wheel as Mellor, a parliamentary protection offer whose relatively background role becomes more in the forefront as the play progresses. Though his stage time is comparatively limited to that of his co-stars, he more than makes every moment he is on stage impactful with a complex characterisation that ultimately draws into concerns many have had with police offers of late.

The cast is completed by Anna Maxwell Martin in the standout performance of the night as Monica. Initially, her character proves guarded with her walls and professionalism at odds with her compassion and determination to not be as heartless as other MPs are labeled as. This ebbs away to reveal her true self in a masterclass performance that I couldn’t take my eyes off of. Though she and Corden may not have the most obvious dynamic, the way they navigate their changing relationship shows tremendous acting ability from both.

The Constituent is a production that fires on every front – the writing, direction, and performances all complement each other to provide a fantastic watch. Though admittedly not perfect in every regard, its flaws can be overlooked when the play is looked at in its entirety. A truly compelling and at times uncomfortable watch, The Old Vic has proved themselves to be a reliable source of high-quality shows time and time again of late and this exciting new play is no exception. Speaking more for humanity and safety rather than politics, this is a great success all around.

The Constituent plays at the Old Vic until 10th August. Tickets from www.oldvictheatre.com

Photos by Manuel Harlan