Noël Coward’s tender railway romance makes for a delightful afternoon at Drury Lane
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What’s it about?
Before Noël Coward’s Still Life became the celebrated film Brief Encounter, it was a one-act play about two married strangers whose chance meeting at a railway station develops into a tender but impossible romance.
Laura and Alec first encounter one another in the refreshment room at Milford Junction when he helps remove a piece of grit from her eye. Their paths continue to cross, and a weekly ritual gradually emerges as companionship gives way to something deeper. Around them, railway passengers, station staff and tea-room regulars come and go, their everyday exchanges providing a lighter counterpoint to the couple’s restrained emotional turmoil.
This production offers a unique opportunity to experience the play in the beautiful Grand Saloon at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, combined with afternoon tea. On arrival, we were handed train tickets ready for our journey to Milford Junction, before being shown to individual tables to enjoy both savoury and sweet courses with tea.
What I loved
The Grand Saloon is a lovely setting for an afternoon’s entertainment, and it was great that each party had its own table. The afternoon tea lasted approximately an hour, followed by the one-act, hour-long play — a perfectly judged length that made the whole experience perfect for an afternoon.
With just five performers, the production creates the bustle of a busy station tea-room remarkably effectively. At the heart of Coward’s endearing love story is Laura and Alec played by Rachel Pickup and Alasdair Craig. As their relationship unfolds through moments of carefully controlled emotion, the colourful characters passing through the tea-room played by Elizabeth Elvin, Antony Jardine and Seren Sandham-Davies add warmth and humour.
The cast also provide live music (banjo, keyboard and trumpet) and some singing at times during the play. It all works together beautifully: the company really is a one-stop shop of entertainment, switching seamlessly between acting, music and song.
Anything I’d change?
I was disappointed that the afternoon tea and performance were not more closely integrated. Given that the play is set in a railway-station tea-room, where characters repeatedly order tea and cakes, it would have felt perfectly fitting — and considerably more immersive — to be eating and drinking alongside them as the story unfolded.
The performance largely centres on the actual bar in the middle of the Grand Saloon, effectively using the existing room as its set. I had expected the actors to move more extensively among the audience, but most of the action remains concentrated around this central area. This loses some of the intimacy and visual interest the unusual setting could have created.
Similarly, Laura and Alec return to the same table for each of their meetings. Moving their encounters between different tables around the Saloon would have brought different sections of the audience closer to the action and made fuller use of the space.
There is a delightful immersive production waiting to emerge from this concept; it simply needed to take the final step and weave the audience, afternoon tea and performance together more completely.
Who created it?
Still Life was written by Noël Coward and directed by Tam Williams. First staged in this form at The Mill at Sonning, the production is presented by Bob & Co and Wild Pursuit Theatre.
Verdict
A charming production in a beautiful setting, performed by an impressively versatile cast. While the afternoon tea and play could have been integrated far more imaginatively, the combination still makes for a delightful and distinctive afternoon at Theatre Royal Drury Lane.