Single Spies, Newcastle’s Theatre Royal

Mar 18 2008

by Chris Conway, Young Reviewer

Single Spies is certainly an interesting and intriguing play, or rather an interesting and intriguing pair of plays.

Rather than just one performance laced with dazzling cold war humour, it actually houses two, An Englishman Abroad and A Question of Attribution, both filled with interesting plot twists and offering an unusual take on the now infamous Cambridge Spies – Burgess and Blunt.

Each performance boasts a first-rate cast, including Nigel Havers, Jack Ryder and Diana Quick, who are all recognisable for their work in theatre and television. All three were received with admiration and excitement from a very mixed audience.

An Englishman Abroad tells the tale of spy-turned-defector Guy Burgess, suffering the repercussions of his actions in a dingy Moscow apartment, nostalgic for the gossip and the suave tailoring of inner city London and MI5, while charming the renowned actress Coral Browne.

Nigel Havers plays the part well, making the audience empathise with his situation, while never giving them the opportunity to remember what Guy Burgess actually is – a traitor.

Although he’s no 007, his performance, and the play itself, are likely to appeal to fans of the works of Ian Fleming and John Le Carre.

The humour is poignant, yet still funny, giving the audience the perfect balance between laughs and subtle subterfuge, this balance is the crux of Havers’ performance. Diana Quick breezes in as actress Coral Browne, comforting Burgess and arranging to transport his desired suits back to his new homeland of Moscow. She’s brilliantly passionate and her quips about Stalin and life in London make her a real pleasure to watch.

A Question of Attribution is slightly longer than An Englishman Abroad, and is slightly less entertaining. It is darker in tone and seems to take longer to reach a decisive conclusion.

The story focuses on Cambridge spy Anthony Blunt and his relationship with the Queen and her prized artwork.

Diana Quick commands the audience’s attention with what is an entertaining performance as the Queen, while Nigel Havers is again superb as another disgraced spook, this time far more enigmatic and confident.

The irony in the fact that the Queen is revealing intimate information to Blunt, unaware he is the “fourth man”, is deliciously presented and makes the audience squirm with anticipation as to what this could mean for national security.

Although the performance is a dark one, it’s deeply enjoyable, with a great cast and a terrifically tense story that gives an insight into the pitfalls of life as a spy.

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