I have never before been invited on stage to get ‘up close’ to a play’s main character before (in this case, actor Hugo Weaving). But this is exactly what happens at the conclusion of ‘The President’.
Odd, to say the least. But this this whole play is rather unusual.
The first act consists almost entirely of monologues by the First Lady of an unnamed, presumably European state who is concerned about terrorists and the safety of her husband, the President. Her barrage of comments is directed at her maid, the misfortunately named Mrs Frolick, who is rarely allowed to respond.
Mourning her dead dog
The First Lady melodramatically obsesses about a recent terrorist incident involving her husband: “He could have been shot through the head! The anarchists are everywhere, nothing will stop them!”
She is also mourning the death of her beloved dog, who got caught in the crossfire, killed by “these hoodlums destroying our beautiful country…wilfully!”
In Act II, the President of the republic is dining with his mistress in Portugal. He pontificates about all manner of things to his much younger companion, an actress whom he constantly calls “my child”.
“Politics is the highest form of art,” he pompously tells her. “The art of acting comes right after. You must be ready to kill for your talent, for your art.” She too, is rarely able to get a word in.
‘The President’ is simultaneously about the death of a marriage and the downfall of a country that is crumbling around them.
I found myself strangely unmoved by both but I can’t fault the performances (Hugo Weaving as the President and Irish actress Olwyn Fouéré as the First Lady, with strong support in smaller roles). Perhaps the writing of the play (penned in 1975) in which one actor’s repetitive monologuing dominates each half of the play with little significant interaction with other characters did not lend itself enough to sufficient audience engagement.
‘The President’ is a co-production between the Sydney Theatre Company and the Gate Theatre of Dublin and was directed by acclaimed Irish director, Tom Creed. My expectations were high and although there were definitely some funny and poignant moments, I was slightly disappointed, although briefly re-engaged in the play’s ‘dying’ moments.
‘The President’
Sydney Theatre Company
Until 19 May, 2024
sydneytheatre.com.au
