Review of Withnail and I at Birmingham Rep

The 1987 film Withnail and I has over the, now many, decades since its first release gained an ever-increasing cult status and is very much regarded as one of the finest British films of both its time and potentially all time. So, while it is over thirty years since the film hit the screens, and over fifty years from the film's setting of 1969, original writer Bruce Robinson has decided to create a ripe new adaptation of the film for the stage. So, the question is, does it manage to both capture the nostalgia and setting of this cult film or does it feel a little late for such an adaptation to be made in these very different times?

Before digging deeper into the play though, a very brief departure into the storyline, such as it is. Withnail and I are aspiring actors, on the dole line and very much on the booze line (with further slides onto the drugs line). They are trapped in their very infested digs in Camden Town. After a battle with too many entities emanating from their sink, they decide they must get out. Fortunately, an uncle of Withnail has a cottage in the country and eventually, this becomes their destination for out-of-city adventures aplenty.

First of all, it has to be said, the cast for the play has some very big shoes to fill, especially with our three main players, in the film portrayed by Richard E. Grant, Paul McGann and Richard Griffiths as, Withnail, I and Uncle Monty respectively. However, three excellent performers have successfully been found to take on the mantle.

As Withnail, Robert Sheehan is a well-oiled machine of movement, hardly ever still, barring an alcohol-induced collapse, and using his height and long limbs to create a visual masterpiece of a character alone. The interplay between his character and I is sublime, and to be honest, this is key as most of the play revolves around their sparring and friendship, with just minor deviations with others. Adonis Siddique as I is superb as the much calmer, and obvious straight man of the proceedings. He is the thoughtful one, the one who scribes and occasionally narrates the piece to us. They are without question an excellent pairing, well-cast together.

The fabulous, and final, main character of Uncle Monty is sublimely portrayed here by the terrific Malcolm Sinclair. Monty is a lecherous older man constantly in search of "meat" or as I puts it, a "raving homosexual". He is Withnail's uncle and provides the respite out of London, the cottage that our two seek. Sinclair shows all the skills of the stalwart performer that he is to literally eat the scenery in his pursuits. Fabulous.

The rest of the characters are brought to life by six other performers, and these are often very much caricatures and walk-on roles for comic effect, the best of which includes Adam Young's Danny, a drugged-up drug dealer often frequenting Withnail and I's digs. He brings great comic timing to two scenes and is accompanied in one by the towering presence of Israel J. Fredericks as Presuming Ed.

The show also has a live band consisting of performers Sooz Kempner, Adam Sopp, Matt Devitt and Morgan Philpott, who open each act on stage with a sixties classic and perform others between the scenes off-stage. However, as well as this, they are also cleverly the rest of the minor characters.

Robinson's script and adaptation is excellent and maintains the scenic nature of a film on stage well and together with sharp direction from Sean Foley, it keeps a good pace mostly but does flag a little in the later stages of act two before finishing on a powerful high, of a different kind, with an excellently performed piece of Hamlet creating some real, and final, emotion.

What is stunning about this show though is the staging, this simply looks stunning. The sets and costume design from Alice Power is detailed and literally drips with sixties nostalgia. Also, despite the many scene changes, virtually all are fluid, bar a couple of on-evening hiccups. There is also some clever video design implemented into scenes as well created by Akhila Krishnan, from the very first arrival at the digs (a magical piece of timing and theatre) to car journeys later on, it brings much to the show without it being forced into the production as a lot of the time this video use now is.

Overall Withnail and I is an immensely fun little evening, full of gorgeous lines, often poetic in their nature despite an obvious reliance on a swear word or ten. For fans of the original, this is a must-see, and for those yet to experience their wild journeys, Withnail and I will give a highly uplifting evening of theatre.

A superbly staged character-fueled comedy with some excellent performances.
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Performance reviewed: Tuesday 14th May 2024 at The Birmingham Rep Theatre.

Withnail and I runs at the Birmingham Rep Theatre until Saturday 25th May, 2024.

For further details about the Birmingham Rep and to book tickets see their website at https://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/

Production Photos: Manuel Harlan