What's on in London: The Code
A new production of Michael McKeever's play about 1950's Hollywood.
Christopher Renshaw directs a new production of The Code by Michael McKeever, which is on at Southwark Playhouse Elephant until 11 October.
First staged in 2022, McKeever has reportedly added 20 minutes of new material into this revised version.
Set in Hollywood in 1950, The Code is a 4-hander, single-set play.
Billy Haines is hosting pre-dinner drinks. His friend, Tallulah Bankhead, is in town for a casting. They're joined by Henry Willson, an influential agent, and Chad Manford - Willson's latest discovery.
Cast
- John Partridge as Billy Haines
- Tracie Bennett as Tallulah Bankhead
- Nick Blakeley as Henry Willson
- Solomon Davy as Chad Manford
Review
There is a lot to enjoy about The Code - particularly if you're a fan of the golden age of Hollywood.
Set design was clean and functional, and the cast is strong - undaunted by the mountain of dialogue they have to convey.
Tallulah Bankhead gets all the best lines, and Tracie Bennett effectively draws us into her character - managing the 4th wall breaks with a conspiratorial warmth.
Delivered as a 90-minute one-act performance, the challenge with this play is that there's a lot of exposition - the names of films, actors, actresses, studio bosses, as well as plenty of backstory and context. There's a lot of telling.
While there is a clear resonance between what closeted actors were navigating in the 50s and some of the issues that we're grappling with today, we probably didn't need that explained to us - it's underestimating your audience.
As a showcase of an ensemble of engaging actors showcasing a formative era of cinema and the social forces that have shaped American culture, The Code is a good night of theatre.
The Code will run at Southwark Playhouse Elephant until 11 October.
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