After Miss Julie

The electoral euphoria of Britain’s historic Labour landslide in July 1945 following Germany’s Second World War surrender on May 8^th is the background for Patrick Marber’s After Miss Julie, an English reworking of Strindberg’s 1889 classic. Originally written for BBC television in 1995, the story relocates the Swedish setting of Strindberg’s original to a country house outside London, with the central character the daughter of a Labour peer who clearly loathes the lower-classes he represents. Miss Julie’s lover is her father’s chauffeur, a decent and reliable Yorkshireman, John, whilst the third edge of the romantic triangle is the pragmatic Christine, the family cook and John’s fiancé.

Victoria Cross’s Miss Julie was childlike, a cock-tease, and someone desperate for acceptance. She did a good job of hiding the insecurities beneath her bravado, especially in the stronger second-act.

Mark Anthony’s John was the best performance of the night, all arrogant swagger and delivering Marber’s witty ripostes with relish. When surreptitiously enjoying a nicked glass of burgundy, he said “It’s like Winston Churchill – robust, full-bodied, and finished,” whilst his parrying with Julie brought forth “You play with fire”, to which her response was “lucky I’m insured”.

Carrie O’Rourke’s Christine, the smallest of the three roles, was a rock of calm in a one-night-stand scenario you felt she had experienced before.

It’s the premiere production of Marber’s play and while it doesn’t have the power of his 90s Closer, one of the most corrosive of all modern English plays, it still satisfies. Director Lilian Harrington has opened up Marber’s play to include tango dancers, MLOC singers, and a pianist who played popular songs of the era.

Seen dancing upstage, through windows in Chris Sargent’s excellent set, the constant movement of the singers continually pulled focus from the drama downstage. It was a poor directorial choice, although they did add charm in their medley of war songs as a curtain-raiser.

Peter Pinne