The Dresser

Published Tuesday 9 September 2008 at 18:55 by Clare Brotherwood

Watford Palace couldn’t have chosen a better production with which to open its Centenary Autumn Season.

The Dresser is the ultimate backstage drama, written from first hand experience by Ronald Harwood, once dresser to notorious actor-manager Sir Donald Wolfit.

It’s a beautifully crafted play and, like Clive Francis, I was lucky enough to see the original production in 1980 with Freddie Jones as Sir, and Tom Courtenay, who went on to play the title role on Broadway and was nominated for an Oscar for his film portrayal.

Now I consider myself just as lucky to have seen Clive Francis as the irascible tragedian who struggles to keep his sanity and play his 227th King Lear - with much cajoling from his faithful dresser, Norman.

Francis’ performance is nothing short of magnificent, a true tour de force. He dons the cloak of senility so convincingly that when he says the life blood is draining out of him, you believe him and will him on, while his transformation as King Lear is equally amazing and gives us a fascinating lesson in the art of stage make-up.

Usually second fiddle to the dresser of the title, in this production he makes the role every bit as compelling, even though Graham Turner’s sensitively acted performance, with its camp humour, matches any that have gone before him.

With an fine supporting cast, this is indeed a special treat for any theatre-lover, and a worthy production with which to celebrate a 100th anniversary.