Synopsis

It’s 1661, France is stable after decades of civil strife. The monarchy has been maintained by the actions of the Cardinal Mazarin, but its finances decimated by years of war. Now the man responsible for bringing peace to the land is lying on his death bed. A young Louis is about to take the throne with a plan to make his ‘subjects applaud.’ Nicolas Fouquet, the charismatic, munificent and cultured Superintendent seems to offer the inspiration and loyalty Louis will need to transform France and his Monarchy. He’ll need all the help he can get because the consequences of failure are great: ‘There are plenty of men with ancient scores to settle, their entreaties veil our true agenda: royal blood.’ But Louis has other things on his mind- like attempting to bed his brother’s new wife, and then her chambermaid. His overbearing mother’s protestations are the least of his concerns when the young King is informed by the snivelling and charmless courtier Colbert that Louis’ good friend Fouquet is ripping off the Monarchy and about to launch a revolution. This sparks a series of twists and turns that propel the King, his women and the courtiers on a dangerous downward spiral in which people’s lives are ruined and positions of power made. If we accept that ‘power corrupts’ prepare to witness just how devastating that corruption can be…

Background to the play

‘Power’ was first performed at the National Theatre in the summer of 2003 as part of Nicholas Hytner’s first season as artistic director. The original cast included Robert Lindsay (My Family) in the part of Fouquet and Rupert Penry-Jones (Cambridge Spies) as Louis. This is the first production outside of the National and the amateur world premiere of the play. This production is presenting the play in a wholly new form. Gone is the long narrow stage with the audience on three sides, we will now see ‘Power’ on the ADC’s proscenium arch stage. However it will be taking advantage of some of the costumes used in the original production which won ‘Best Costumes’ at the 2003 Olivier awards. This is an opportunity to see a play many would have missed at the National Theatre, with a cast of some of Cambridge’s best acting talent in some of the finest costumes you’re likely to see this year.

The production team

The acting talent in ‘Power’ reflects the very highest standards at Cambridge University. Conrad Mason as Louis has been described as performing with: ‘exceptional subtlety and finesse.’(TCS) Alice Harper, playing Henriette, was a member of a recent production at the Edinburgh Festival that was described by Michael Coveny of the Observer as 'the best acted student show I have seen in a very long time.' Edward Wilford spent a decade working as a professional actor based predominately in Washington where he was a member of the cities’ Shakespeare company. The director Dan Deacon recently staged a series of scenes from plays by David Mamet, described as: ‘phenomenally well acted’ and last year staged the farce ‘Anyone for Denis’ reviewed as ‘the funniest student comedy I have seen for a long time’ (Varsity). He has assembled a highly skilled production team, including Thomas White whose lighting designs for productions of Roberto Zucco and Richard III, both at the ADC, gained rave reviews.

The National Theatre

Details of the production of Power at the National Theatre.