The Human Body, written by Lucy Kirkwood, is set in 1948 and tells the story of Iris Elcock (Keeley Hawes) a Shropshire GP and Labour party councillor who is aspiring to be an MP. Iris is facing work/life balance issues in a fading marriage to Julian (Tom Goodman-Hill), a war injured husband who does not support her political ambitions at the heart of which sits the creation of the NHS. Iris has a chance meeting with a cynical, politically disengaged George Blythe (Jack Davenport) a Hollywood actor with a fading career, who has returned home to spend time with his mother. They meet, there is a spark and a doomed romance with an unwell wife in the background whom George cannot abandon, with shades of Brief Encounter.
The latter is important as we are watching a play that also incorporates cinematic scenes. There is a screen at the back which focuses in on the faces during the romantic scenes, projected in black and white. The lighting and clothing also give a washed out feel. There are roving cameras encircling the actors, props handed over by the stage crew, incorporated into the play, and a sparse set. It makes for interesting viewing although being near to the door and aisle, I found it distracting to have them readying to enter with trolleys etc.
The acting is fantastic and the romance believable. The other actors are amazing playing multiple roles. But there are many themes to the play, feminism, the birth of the NHS and the romance. My overall feelings at the end of the play? Anger about where the NHS now having been reminded of how it was before it. And surprise that doctors originally voted against it. The line that stood out for us was the response of Iris to Julian, opposing the creation of the NHS saying it would not work: “The idea will not have failed, we will have failed the idea.” This Donmar Warehouse play unfortunately has already ended as we saw it with one final performance to go.
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