Review: BELVEDERE by Ana-Maria Bamberger at Old Red Lion Theatre 2 – 13 November

‘The sparingly used sound by Odinn Orn Hilmarsson adds a chilling touch to this quietly driven drama.’ ★★★★

Belvedere is the psychiatric hospital where famous writer Anton has checked himself in to receive treatment for his hallucinations.  The psychiatrist wants to do a case study about him and attempts to treat him with medication, but Anton resists his help. Then a woman mysteriously turns up and Anton begins a trip inside his own memory, filling in the gaps and building a character for her piece by piece. 

The play raises questions about the imagination and what it is capable of doing to our minds and whether time is really linear. It also questions the value of psychiatric treatment and what we consider to be a mental health problem. For example, is it only of concern when we cannot function in the world or is it more to do with norms which are not being met?  

The play written by Romanian-born playwright Ana-Maria Bamberger gets a make-over from American director Lydia Parker with attention to economic sound and atmospheric lighting.   The sparingly used sound by Odinn Orn Hilmarsson adds a chilling touch to this quietly driven drama. Parker’s steady hand is matched by the lead actor Dan March as Anton, giving a subtle performance of a mildly unhinged state. Particularly, enjoyable in his gleeful facial expressions of triuph in getting one over on Dr Defoe played by Stefan Menaul. Menaul (as Dr Defoe) retains this sense of being left behind by the brilliant writer, and the visitor, Stephanie played by Tracey Anne Wood, conveys a sense of a lack of substance.

Overall, an understated piece of theatre finely director by Lydia Parker which seems to be over in an instant whilst actually retaining a very steady pace.

Photographer credit: Matt Carnazza

Co-production between Over Here Theatre and Magus Theatre Productions

BELVEDERE

by Ana-Maria Bamberger

The Old Red Lion Theatre

Performance dates: 2-13 November, 19:30 and 6 November, 14:00

Press night: 2 November

Run time: 70 minutes

Tickets: £16 (£14 concession), available here:

https://www.oldredliontheatre.co.uk/belvedere.html

Directed by Lydia Parker

Actors:

CAST

Dan March as Anton

as Dr. Defoe

Tracey Anne Wood as Stephanie

CREATIVE TEAM

Playwright: Ana-Maria Bamberger

Director: Lydia Parker

Movement Director: Tracy Bargate

Set and Costume Design: Tamsin Robinson

Lighting Design: Jonathan Chan

Sound Design: Odinn Orn Hilmarsson

Producer: Antonia Georgieva

Twitter: @Belvedere_Play

Reviewer: Heather Jeffery is Editor of London Pub Theatres Magazine