Breaking Baz: Scorching Verdict For Rosamund Pike’s Judge In Suzie Miller Play ‘Inter Alia’ At London’s National Theatre
Rosamund Pike gives a scorching central performance in the world premiere of Each other at the National Theatre, playwright Suzie Miller’s follow-up to First faciewhich won Tony and Olivier Award glory for Jodie Comer. Now, there’s a race to lure the Saltburn star into the West End.
Pike (Gone Girl, An Education) gives off heat as Jessica Parks, a fictional crown court judge who becomes embroiled in a potent issue of masculinity and motherhood that threatens both her family and professional life. The first night crowd in the National’s Lyttelton Theatre roared their approval when the actress took her solo bow, having dominated the stage for the duration of the 100-minute play directed by Justin Martin, who also directed First facie in London and on Broadway.
Also involved are the judge’s husband and son, played by Jamie Glover (The Crown) and Jasper Talbot, a recent graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
Several West End commercial theater owners were at Wednesday’s opening in the hope of transferring the show—with Pike—into one of their venues.
“People are going to be clamouring for tickets to see Rosamund in this,” Nica Burns, chief executive and owner of Nimax Theatres with Max Weitzenhoffer, tells us at the show’s after-party held in the Lyttelton’s two vast foyers.
Behind the scenes, the National is keen to transfer Each other if enough of the reviews from critics are positive.
And, more importantly, if Pike’s available. Her tour-de-force performance is the box-office attraction, as was Comer’s in First facie.
(L/R) Jamie Glover, Rosamund Pike and Jasper Talbot share a laugh at the after-party for ‘Inter Alia’ at the National Theatre. (Baz Bamigboye/Deadline)
Word from Pike’s camp is: Roz wants to do it, but let’s wait and see how it all unfurls.
There’s also the question of finding a playhouse that can fit in Miriam Buether’s set, which has been designed for the Lyttelton’s wide proscenium. But, as one producer pointed out: “It’ll cost them, but the set can be scaled down. That’s not a major problem.”
I’m loathe to give away any plot detail, although I will say that there are three moments when the gasps from the audience were the loudest I’ve heard in years.
However, to give you a little idea, Miller writes in the official programme that “there are so many invisible lines and boundaries that women must negotiate between motherhood, marriage, professional lives and being women in society… For women, generally there is another layer, the social judgement of women trying to manage it all. Jessica’s character is a ‘judge’ but so too is the character of Jessica being judged: for her parenting, her choices, her work hours, her femininity, her feminism, her role as a life partner and more.”
The dramatist continues: “Like so many women trying to meet so many competing demand, Jessica also judges herself.”
(L/R) National Theatre leader Indhu Rubasingham and ‘Inter Alia’ playwright Suzie Miller (Baz Bamigboye/Deadline)
Miller’s words don’t give the central plot away. In fact, I pray critics are careful with spoilers. The play runs at the National until Sept. 13.
On September 4, a performance of Each other will be captured live from the Lyttelton and broadcast to cinemas across the UK and Ireland. Further screenings will be held in the UK and Ireland from Sept. 18 and internationally, including the U.S., from Sept. 25.
Among the guests who attended the gala opening were: actor Ian McKellen, composer and musician Tim Minchin, broadcaster Emily Maitlis, former National Theatre leaders Trevor Nunn and Rufus Norris, and current artistic director and co-chief executive Indhu Rubasingham.
