REVIEW: BEING MR WICKHAM by Adrian Lukis at Jermyn Street Theatre, 5 - 22 June 2024

Mariam Mathew • 14 June 2024


‘beautifully rendered monologue’ ★★★★ ½

 

Ageing is a major theme in this beautifully rendered and often poetic monologue, written and performed by the ever-charming Adrian Lukis. It opens with a plausible story of Mrs. Wickham being upset about George’s attentions on another woman at his 60th birthday party, as she wails and locks him out of his own bedchamber. And voila, an audience appears, as we sit eagerly listening to snippets of Wickham’s wickedness, as well as tales of Darcy, Pemberley, and the Bennett clan. And it's not a bad place to settle, (it’s not only the people) with a worn yet elegant Edwardian antechamber with locked door and only a window for escape (designed by Libby Watson). Wickham moves around the space, but mostly sits on his wooden chair sipping from his wine glass.

 

The stories pour out, much like the wine, starting with a scene between Harriette Wilson and Lord Byron; and an initially weary Wickham becomes ebullient. The lighting shifts (Johanna Town) and outdoor sounds (Max Pappenheim) rise as he discusses the wonders of Covent Garden. We do eventually get to Pemberley, which is described now as being a “perpetual summer”. Of course, all summers come to an end, and we are taken to the world of temptations in London, meeting Denny, becoming penniless, and the famous attempt to woo Darcy’s young sister, Georgiana.

 

Lukis is compelling, and takes us on through Wickham’s memories engagingly. The stories are believable, for the most part. (The exception might be the one happening outside his window, in the moment, as the neighbour’s daughter is possibly about to elope. A lot is happening in one day.) On a couple of occasions, he refers to Darcy’s father as “one of the best men who ever breathed”. Yet, he could never quite find a way to emulate him, rather choosing Lord Byron as a model. Even in his waning years, there is a flicker of a fight in him. He openly (and amusingly) shares his opinions on the other characters related to his story. Much space is given to Darcy, of course, but he also shares his opinions of Mr. Collins (fatter), Mr. Bennett (obstinate), the Bingleys (sugary), the Bennett sisters, Georgiana, and he also admits his children are very different to him and his wife and beautifully brings the story back around to the first meeting he had with Darcy.

 

It feels as if only someone who has embodied Wickham so thoroughly could write this piece. It is delightful. Lukis knows the character and the details of the time, including a specific period detail about Fordyce’s sermons. Even if Wickham is past his brash, fighting days, his story still packs a punch. Wickham is not a villain like Iago. Perhaps he is a scrapper, who fortunately found his equal in Lydia. No wonder another theme of this piece is survival. And indeed, this show has survived quite a while, touring around Britain, and going across the pond. There is still an appetite for Austen’s characters to come back in different forms, even if a bit older and less rosy-cheeked.

 

Photography: James Findlay

 

BEING MR WICKHAM by Adrian Lukis at Jermyn Street Theatre, 5 - 22 June 2024

Box Office https://www.jermynstreettheatre.co.uk/show/being-mr-wickham/

Performed by Adrian Lukis

Written by Adrian Lukis

Directed by Guy Unsworth

Designed by Libby Watson

Lighting Designer: Johanna Town

Sound Designer: Max Pappenheim

Produced by Original Theatre Company

 

Reviewed by Mariam Mathew

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