DUKE OF YORKS THEATRE

Conversations overlap and confessions intertwine in this in this multi layered performance. As the thriller progresses seemingly disparate narratives converge and slowly the riddle becomes comprehensible.

The cast is lead by John Simm (Life on Mars, State of Play) who plays Detective Leon Zat who investigates the disappearance of a leading psychiatrist. The cast includes Ian Hart (The Virgin Queen, Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone), Lucy Cohu (The Queen’s Sister, Torchwood) and Kerry Fox (An Angel at my Table, Shallow Grave).

All members of the cast give distinctive performances and prove their versatility as they convincingly portray multiple characters. Speaking in Tongues interweaves nine parallel lives, four infidelities, one missing person and a mysterious stiletto. All pieced together by Leon Zat's investigations.

I liked the clever use of the projections in the backdrop. The extreme close ups effectively invoked both thrill and suspense. However at times these projections become a little overdramatic and Blair Witch like. Perhaps a more subtle approach would have been more effective.

Speaking in Tongues delves deeper than the surface level exploring the entangled confessions of a group of individuals. The production takes a rather poignant look at human weakness under the guise of infidelity, love, mistakes and their consequences.

Have obviously watched far too many feel good musicals in the past few weeks I have come to expect that warm fuzzy feeling at the end of a production. This production had the entirely opposite effect and instead left me with rather mixed set of feelings and questions.

A missing person. A mysterious stiletto. Relationships in crisis. Don’t miss Andrew Bovell's marvelous marvellous drama at the Duke of York’s Theatre.

Theatre
The Duke of York’s Theatre is a lovely intimate space. The hum of the underground is heard every now again but gentle enough not to disturb the production. There is a rather cosy bar area on the stalls level and the bar on the upper circle has a balcony (however rather limited space) so head there during the interval if you need some fresh air.

I would avoid seats far back in the stalls. My seat was half way back in the stalls section and as long as the lady in front of me sat up straight I had an unobstructed view.