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Review: Off The Kings Road, Jermyn Street Theatre (co-starring Jeff Bridges)

020_Off The Kings Road_Pamela Raith Photography
Luke Pitman and Michael Brandon in Off The Kings Road. Photo (c) Pamela Raith

Bit of a coup getting Hollywood legend Jeff Bridges in your play. Sort of. He appears in pre-recorded Skype calls with Matt (Michael Brandon) who is staying in a small, London town house hotel off the Kings Road.

Matt is a recently widowed American taking a break in London - a city he visited with his wife - and Bridges plays his therapist Dr Kozlowski. He is lonely and Kozlowski encourages him to fill his days with activity, things that he enjoys doing. Matt seeks companionship and intimacy with a Russian prostitute Sheena (Diana Dimitrovici) who has boyfriend problems - the blow up doll he bought just doesn't scratch the itch.

The hotel where he is staying is like something out of mildly amusing sitcom (including the presumably unintended wobbly set). Freddie (Luke Pitman) is the camp concierge and down the corridor from Matt is long term hotel guest Ellen Mellman (Cherie Lunghi). Ellen is a slightly crazy cat lady who's aged feline pet Christina keeps going missing. She also has a bit a soft spot for Matt.

As bitter sweet comedies go this doesn't quite work. There are some good individual elements but there are too many stereotypes at play and Neil Koenisberg's dialogue just isn't strong enough to balance it.

Jeff Bridges virtually steals all his scenes as the distracted shrink with relationship troubles (he even steals the curtain call). Luke Pitman proves a great comic performer raising a laugh with a look and I'd have happily watched more of him. Michael Brandon does well enough as the sad, rudderless Matt but in the end this is play which doesn't quite have enough engine to drive it in the right direction. There are some laugh out loud moments but otherwise it drifts along.

No doubt having Bridges on the poster will draw attention and it is worth seeing for him if only to wonder at how brilliant he would be properly treading the boards. I'm giving it three stars.

It 90 minutes without interval and is on at the Jermyn Street Theatre until June 25.

 

 

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