'Heroes' at Wyndham's Theatre (London)

Heroes
at Wyndham's Theatre

by Kelly Monaghan

Heroes, Gerald Sibleyras' new play at Wyndham's Theatre, is a gentle character study that has been expanded, successfully for the most part, into a short play.
The year is 1959 and Henri (Richard Griffiths), Gustave (John Hurt), and Philippe (Ken Stott) are residents (perhaps "inmates" is a better term) of what seems to be a very genteel home for World War II vets, run by nuns under the watchful eye of the unseen but nonetheless formidable Sister Madeleine.

Each has his little cross to bear. The immensely rotund Henri has a game leg. Philippe passes out quite regularly thanks to a bit of shrapnel lodged in his skull. And Gustave suffers from a crippling agoraphobia that belies his claims to natural leadership. All of them are quite alone in the world and just a bit pathetic. Only Philippe has a sister whom he never sees; in fact, he never reads her letters, leaving his correspondence chores to Gustave.

They pass their time on what they consider their "private" terrace (Robert Jones' splendid set) waiting quite obviously for death, the unacknowledged Godot of the play. During the ninety minutes we spend with them, we come to know them, to understand their strengths and weaknesses, to appreciate their understated friendship and caring for one another. In short, we come to love these not so old codgers. For me, the saddest aspect of their situation is that they all seem quite a long way from death's welcoming door.

The plot, such as it is, revolves around their clearly doomed plan to escape from the home to visit a stand of poplars on a distant hill. (The play's French title is "Wind in the Poplars.") I don't think I'm spoiling anything by giving away that they never leave.

The pleasures of the piece are distinct but minor. Sibleyras, perhaps with some assist from Tom Stoppard, his translator and (one gathers) adaptor, has created three perfectly delightful characters who worm their way effortlessly into our hearts. There is gentle humor, too, as in a scene in which they practice roping themselves together to ford a river that lies in their projected path. And one of the play's best moments comes when we learn why Philippe always shouts "We'll take 'em from behind, Captain," when he comes round from his fainting spells.

Director Thea Sharrock, the artistic director of London's Gate Theatre, has assembled a first rate cast and conducted them artfully for this little chamber piece. The performances are uniformly pitch perfect, although it must be said that the material can't have presented much of a challenge for these old pros. You have the feeling they could go through it blindfolded.

Much has been made of the parallels between Heroes and Yasmina Reza's Art. That vastly successful play was presented nine years ago in the same theater by the same producer. Heroes is, like Art, a play by an unknown French playwright, translated by a well-known British playwright; it has the same running time, the same one-set, three-character configuration, it even features an actor from the original cast of Art (Ken Stott). Having seen that production a few days after it opened, I feel I can safely report that Heroes is no Art. It simply lacks the originality, the deeper resonances, and the sharp wit of its predecessor. My guess is it's an unlikely candidate for transfer to Broadway, although I hope I am proved wrong.

Still, it is a pleasant enough way to pass an hour and a half in the presence of wonderful actors breezing their way through this puff pastry of a play.

Didn't find what you were looking for? Try a Google search.

IF YOU FIND THIS WEB SITE HELPFUL, PLEASE CONSIDER
PURCHASING OUR BOOKS! THANKS.

What's Playing in London

Heroes
at Wyndham's Theatre

by Kelly Monaghan

What's Playing in London

Heroes at Wyndham's Theatre

by Kelly Monaghan

Heroes
at Wyndham's Theatre