National Anthems, the three person play at the Old Vic Theatre, Waterloo, is a snapshot of suburban Detroit life in the 1980s.
The young couple, with social aspirations (he's a lawyer - played by Steven Weber, she's a teacher - played by Mary Stuart Masterson) have recently moved into the neighbourhood and following a house warming party, have an unexpected guest, Kevin Spacey.
Spacey, of course, isn't quite as social couture as the other two and he is not really wanted. But for fear of offending him, and getting other neighbours nose out of joint the pair endure his presence.
While the first act is slow, there is alot of setting up being done. Comments, backstory and the like are being put into place for a powerful second act.
That's not to say the first act drags. It keeps you interested, but when the final curtain falls, you realise how much got thrown into the second act and you start to wonder, what if the first act had been just a bit better. I don't think it is the actors, I think it is the play itself.
After discussions with another colleague who saw it, I am still not sure what the moral of the story was. While it definitely was a commentary on the social ladder climbing of the 1980s, it also had other comments to make, I am sure.
I enjoyed the play, I especially liked the second act. To see the calibre of actor that we did on that stage is one of the joys of living in London.
3 1/2 out of 5.
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