Tonight I was in the Richmond Theatre to see ‘One Helluva Life starring Tom Conti.
It was a strange experience as I had sat in almost the same seat for the Al Murray – the Pub Landlord Show just over a week ago. The audience was so different – average at least 20 years older – more formally dressed – and definitely less people – and less shoving at the bar.
One Helluva Life has Conti – as the actor John Barrymore – telling directly to the audience – highlights form his life. The show takes the theme of Barrymore’s last practice – for his last show – set shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbour – and shortly for Barrymore’s death.
Conti has a fantastic stage presence – not that he needed it – as the audience was there with him – and in the early stages in front of him – as they laughed at jokes in the script – before they were delivered. But quickly Conti roped them in – and controlled the audience – and told the story with his timing – his script.
It soon emerges that John Barrymore has a drink problem – funny in the first act – but showing its destructive power towards the end. The only other performer is Frank – the prompt – fan – and friend – who desperately wants Barrymore to succeed – and try and capture some of his former glory. The other person is someone – anonymous – in the audience – who Barrymore performs to – tells stories to – and acts to.
He recounts episodes of his life to a person as Frank tries to coax him to concentrate on his forth coming performance of Richard III. However Barrymore is easily diverted – as he tries to avoid his reality. The script by William Luce is very sharp – which combines some sadness – with some brilliant flashes of humour and the growing realisation that Barrymore cannot deliver.
Early on Barrymore states that ‘you are old when regrets replace dreams’ – which hit the audience.
There are stories of friends – his early life – his alcoholic father – his brother and sister – friends – directors – and his four wives – always it was back to his wives. They gave him sadness – and were the cause of his grief.
Other good lines include ‘To avoid martial disharmony – don’t get married in January – or for that matter – any other month.’ or ‘divorce is much more expensive than getting married – but it is money well spent’ and ‘With all this alimony – you would think I don’t have money to live – that’s not true – I have money – lots of money – providing – I die today’
Towards the end of the second act it becomes clear that his memory has gone as have his acting skills – he confuses lines – and keeps looking for diversions – in the end even the loyal Frank gives up.
Tom Conti demonstrates again that he has tremendous power on the stage. ‘One Helluva Life’ is an extremely good vehicle for him – allowing him to range from comic – to pathos and back again. The play is complicated where he has to show flashes of the brilliant Shakespearean actor to pathetic drunk. Go and see it