Review: Teenage Dick, Donmar Warehouse - a fun, sharp, black comedy
11/12/2019
Teenage Dick is one of those play titles you have to be careful mentioning or googling, a bit like Cock at the Royal Court - but it is wholly appropriate for Mike Lew's play.
The Dick of the title is Roseland high-school student Richard Gloucester (Daniel Monks) who is based loosely on Shakespeare's machiavellian King.
Hemiplegic Richard is fed-up of being bullied, ostracised or worse, ignored, so with the elections for senior year president looming, he decides he will scheme his way to the top enacting revenge along the way.
However, matters become complicated by Anne Margaret (Siena Kelly) who starts to be more than a pawn in his game.
Decisions
Richard has to decide what he values and what is worth sacrificing.
Lew's play is a black comedy full of witty one-liners and verbal battles of scathing put-downs.
Shakespeare's English is referenced occasionally, often delivered with a mix of boastfulness and sarcasm.
There are also plenty of references to popular culture - I particularly enjoyed a Horcrux reference in relation to Richard.
Degree of empathy
While the Bards villain is rarely played with any redeeming personality traits, Lew writes teenage Richard in a way that allows for a degree of empathy.
In fact, the plot twists and turns are most powerful in how the character challenges audiences sympathies.
Monk beautifully draws out Richard's inner struggle and hurt, while equally displaying superb villainous alacrity and brilliant comic timing.
Moments to make you wince
Be warned, there are moments when you may wince or gasp at what is being said, the students at Roseland High School don't so much side-step around the idea of inclusivity as trample over it oblivious.
But, throw in one of the best dance sequences I've seen on stage and Teenage Dick is a really fun and clever dark comedy. I'm giving it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
It is 1 hour and 50 minutes without an interval and is at the Donmar Warehouse until 1 February.
Ticket information can be found on the Donmar website alongside photos and podcast interviews with the cast and creatives.
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You might also like to read:
West End review: The raw emotional treat that is Cyrano de Bergerac, Playhouse Theatre.
Fringe review: Nor Woman Neither - the Fleabag-esque comedy (until 14 Dec)
From the archive: That time I went to an RSC technical rehearsal.