Since 1999

Trusted News & Reviews

25

years

best of british theatre

Official
tickets

Pick
your seats

Since 1999

25 years

Official tickets

Pick seats

REVIEW: The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie, Donmar Warehouse ✭✭✭✭✭

Published on

June 14, 2018

By

pauldavies

Paul T Davies reviews Polly Findlay's production of The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie now playing at the Donmar Warehouse.

The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie Review Donmar Warehouse

Lia Wiliams and the cast of The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie. Photo: Manuel Harlan The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.

The Donmar Warehouse.

13 June 2018

5 Stars

Book Now

1930s Edinburgh, and at the Marcia Blane School for Girls, (fee paying), teacher Jean Brodie is in her prime. Ignoring the curriculum, she connects every study back to how their girls should live their lives, through art, culture, beauty, Italy, and...Well, she has an admiration of fascist dictators. Vying for her attentions are strong and stable Mr. Lowther, who can offer her security, and volatile Catholic father of ten, art teacher Teddy Lloyd, who offers the passion she prizes. Yet she is dedicated to her girls, her “crème de la crème”, who  are assigned roles by Miss Brodie, Jenny will be a “great actress”, for example. One by one they fail to live up to her ideal as the “educational abattoir” she teaches in finds ways to sack her.

The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie Donmar Warehouse

Grace Saif (Monica), Rona Morison (Sandy), Emma Hindle (Mary and Helena Wilson (Jenny) in The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie. Photo: Manuel Harlan

David Harrower’s excellent adaptation frames the story with Sandy, a Brodie girl and the one to achieve Jean’s prediction of being a writer, is interviewed by a reporter before she takes Holy orders. Sand has lived a life summoned by bells, in school, University and now the abbey, and flashbacks skilfully take us back to the “prime”. Lia Williams gives an astonishing, beautifully complex performance as Miss Brodie, the anti-establishment fantasist, her voice purring and seducing the girls and the audience, poised and beautiful- it’s hard not to take your eyes off her as she sashays around the stage. But, throughout, Williams makes you aware of the fragility of Brodie, the harm her denials could cause, her reluctance to commit to a relationship that would provide her with a harsher reality than her imaginative self. It’s one of the performances of the year.

Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie review Donmar

Edward MacLiam (Teddy Lloyd) and Helena Wilson (Jenny) in The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie. Photo: Manuel Harlan

However, this is an outstanding ensemble. Brodie lives her life voraciously through her girls, and  Rona Morison is wonderful as Sandy, the girl staying under Brodie’s spell the longest, and committing the biggest betrayal- it’s for Sandy that the bells toll. Nicola Coughlan is excellent as poor Joyce Emily, sacrificed on the altar of Miss Brodie’s misguided passions, and Angus Wright is a strong Mr. Lowther, offering his life to Jean and ultimately betrayed by her. Edward MacLiam is a passionate Teddy Lloyd, and Sylvestra Le Touzel a joy as Miss Mackay, Brodie’s nemesis, a woman who would actively welcome OFSTED!

The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie

Kit Young (Journalist) and Rona Morison (Sandy) in The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie. Photo: Manuel Harlan

Polly Findlay’s beautiful production is sensitive to the power of imagination and living life “off curriculum”, but never lets Brodie off the hook. The final scenes, with Lia Williams now de-wigged, dressed in black, an older, devastated Brodie, dying of cancer and discovering finally who betrayed her will break your heart. Muriel Spark’s classic tale is told brilliantly, and I sincerely hope a transfer to a bigger theatre is on the cards. I can’t avoid saying it; this is a crème de la crème of a production!

Until 28 July 2018 at the Donmar Warehouse

BOOK TICKETS FOR THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE

The BritishTheatre.com website was created to celebrate the rich and diverse theatrical culture of the United Kingdom. Our mission is to provide the latest UK theatre news, West End reviews, and insights into both regional theatre and London theatre tickets, ensuring enthusiasts can stay up to date with everything from the biggest West End musicals to cutting-edge fringe theatre. We are passionate about encouraging and nurturing the performing arts in all their forms.

The spirit of theatre is alive and thriving, and BritishTheatre.com is at the forefront of delivering timely, authoritative news and information to theatre lovers. Our dedicated team of theatre journalists and critics works tirelessly to cover every production and event, making it easy for you to access the latest reviews and book London theatre tickets for must-see shows.