Saturday 8th July 2023, matinee
We were intrigued at the thought of this new play by Peter Morgan. Previously known for deconstructing British politics and power with TV dramas such as his trilogy about Tony Blair, and of course ‘The Crown’, we are not surprised that he might want to give Russia the same treatment.
The title is an appropriate one, given that all the characters consider themselves Patriotic in one sense or another, but unfortunately, they cannot agree in their vision of post Soviet Russia.
Cleverly, he chooses to focus on a slightly lesser known character, Boris Berezovsky, played by Tom Hollander, who sees himself as a successful and well-connected ‘Kingmaker’.
This is a lesson in being careful what you wish for. Berezovsky, a promising mathematician who moved into business and made a killing when the iron curtain fell, sees the mood changing in Russia, and, deciding that he couldn’t bear to be exiled, opts instead to ‘save Russia’ by installing a puppet Prime Minister, fearing that the newly created class of wealthy ‘oligarchs’ made rich by selling off the country’s assets, will be put back in their place if the communist party get back in. Unfortunately for him, the puppet is Vladimir Putin, and he does not see it the same way. One of his first acts is to tell the Oligarchs ‘the party is over’. The shock on Berezovsky’s face when he discovers that his protege is not grateful and does not intend to repay him, is a sight to behold.
The play takes us through Putin’s early rise to power, and through the network of their mutual relationships with both Roman Abramovich and Alexander Litvinenko, contrasts the completing forces seeking to form the future of the country.
This is a fascinating play with an unusual take on the subject of Russia, and of power in general. We would say that it was a little long in places, but we are hardly going to complain about the chance to see Tom Hollander on top manic form as the wheeler-dealer Berezovsky, always on the go, ruthless but not completely without pathos. Will Keen delivers a scarily convincing performance as Putin, capturing every painful detail of the ‘puppet’ who wants a life of his own. He embodies the banality which must have made Putin look like a ‘safe bet’ and gives us a glimpse of the cold and calculating strategist who seems happy to use whatever he can to gain power and control.
A strong supporting cast includes a convincing Luke Thallon as Abramovich, ‘the kid’ whose opportunism at an early age led to wealth beyond his wildest dreams, whilst Josef Davies brings out the courage and integrity of Alexander Litvinenko.
rageoffstage 