The Dresser/ Theatre Royal
The Dresser by Sir Ronald Harwood is a play I know well and have seen many times. The playwright, who was the dresser of Sir Donald Wolfit, in a programme note refutes the suggestion that the central character ‘Sir’ was modelled upon the celebrated actor manager. However it is undeniable that the central relationship between dresser and actor at a time (1941) when the actor manager toured the provinces bringing Shakespeare to the masses must have been drawn from that relationship. The first “Sir’ I saw was Freddie Jones, a brilliant actor but deemed not well enough known for Broadway so Albert Finney took the role. In the film version Tom Courtenay was a superb fey northern camp but bitchy Norman as dresser. Ken Stott made his reputation in a fine play called Art which featured Courtenay and Finney. Although Stott’s Scottish accent was incongruous, as one imagines Sir with a plummy smooth English one like Donald Sinden’s, he had the physical presence and lived the part. Reece Shearsmith was subtly camp and turns nasty when there is interference with Sir by others in the cast.
As well as a portrayal of a grossly egoistic actor it’s a brilliant representation of the theatre. Touring the provinces must have been an ordeal at any time but set in 1941 at the height of the Blitz, with a troup depleted by conscription, almost impossible. That the play goes on is much to do with driving force of Sir but at the expense of his long-suffering actress wife played well by Harriet Thorpe and the assiduous attention of Norman who covets and covers for his boss for little gratitude. To the noise of bombing we first see the two dressing Sir for King Lear. Sir is refusing to go on, forgetting his lines and losing his confidence. There is some hilarious ad-libbing by the cast as we see Sir stuck in his chair “Methinks I saw the King.” The play is rich in humour but is not a comedy. If anything it’s a tragedy as Sir dies in the final scene. My only criticism is that the second act dragged its weight and might have been shortened by 15 minutes.
Some say that theatre does not produce enough new plays and recycles too many old ones. This is my third Dresser and I enjoyed it immensely .
