COMEDY THEATRE (NOW HAROLD PINTER THEATRE)

The expectations for Martin Crimp's adaptation of Moliere's The Misanthrope have been almost as big as the advance sales, and to all intents the casting was spot on with Damian Lewis playing the misanthropic Alceste opposite Keira Knightley as the 22 year old American starlet, Jennifer.

But, whereas Moliere's original satirised and ridiculed the back stabbing hypocrisies of the French court that outraged at the time, Crimp's modern day interpretation just snears at the cult of celebrity and vanity, but doesn't land more than a glancing blow on its all powerful facade.

The acting from the ensemble cast is first rate with Damian Lewis cutting a heroic figure berating the shallowness of it all.  While Keira Knightley amply proves herself as an actress to be reckoned with on stage as well as screen.  Made for the part of the vain young thing, she brings the character to life completely, and reveals in more ways than one that she certainly isn't playing herself in this role.

But no amount of acting capability can hide the audience's lack of connection with heart of the plot.  The use of some sharp expletives made sure everyone knew we're in the era of Gordon Ramsey, the clumsy use of cellphones on stage and the even clumsier references to Moliere made us all squirm in our seats.  The expletives become tiresome as a lazy way for Alceste to express his anger, but maybe that was the most real reflection of the modern adaptation and just saddens the audience.

Set in a swanky hotel suite of the style that echoes Louis XV, surrounded by shopping bags branded with the real life products that the actors on stage regularly endorse and promote, there was a cross over irony between the play and the reality of it all.

Moliere's original never moved along much in terms of plot, and this one is no different.  The truest laugh of the night came from Alceste's line that " people will always say nice things about any old crap if they've had to dress up and pay 50 quid to see it".  That's it in a nutshell really.

Theatre Notes:
The Comedy Theatre is a little gem of the theatre located just off The Haymarket, best views are from the Dress Circle as the rake of the Stalls is a little shallow.  Lots of notices about no filming or recording so be prepared to be dragged from your seat if you take you phone out.