Will The Real Martin Guerre Please Stand Up?
To the Old Vic for ninety minutes of quality theatre, with fantastic sets, special effects and powerful voices. Well, all I can say is, poor Bertrande! The Old Vic never disappoints, writes Lizzie Paul.
I knew this would be something special with the names Boublil and Schönberg above the title. Between them they have produced some of the most iconic works in musical theatre. Les Misérables has celebrated its 40th anniversary, but this year they have returned with Martin Guerre, directed by Matthew Warchus. Having seen the former, both in the theatre and on screen, I prefer the latter!
Martin Guerre was a real-life person who lived in Artigat, France. In 1548 he fled both his village and his newly married wife, Bertrande (Liv Andrusier), and disappeared. The play takes up the story from there.
These villagers are a moody bunch – first of all they virtually hound Martin (Shane O’Riordan) from his home, dissatisfied that he and Bertrande had, uhmm, failed to get it on in the marital bed. Once he has gone, they turn on Bertrande, who is living a quiet life, convinced that Martin will return to her one day.
Liv Andrusier plays the part with such sensitivity and sings like a particularly powerful little songbird. But not all is well: this same bunch of villagers are on the warpath, accusing her of witchcraft and raising the devil. She gets tied up, gagged, blindfolded (not in a Fifty Shades of Grey way), spat on and walloped, before the local vicar wades in and saves her from all sorts of unpleasant experiences. She also has to contend with a spurned suitor, Guillaume, who frequently pops up shouting and waving a club around. He’s full of vitriol and hate for Monsieur Guerre.
Seven years later, Martin returns a grown and experienced man after joining the army. To the astonishment of the villagers, he resumes (and consummates) his marriage to Bertrande. But it doesn’t sit well with many people, including his own family. Bertrande, on the other hand, is totally committed to accepting him back and getting on with life, now with the addition of a child. You know it won’t last. Another Martin arrives in the village after being mistaken for dead on the battlefield to claim his land and his wife. Who is the real Martin Guerre? I won’t spoil it for you.
The scenes here are so atmospheric – it all has a slightly Wicca feeling to it, along with references to the Devil, God and miracles. The opening scene is rather brilliant and unsettling. Those of a vintage age may recall Midge Ure’s group, Slik, in the 1970s, who appeared on Top of the Pops with a song, Forever and Ever, where they were dressed in monks’ habits with Gregorian chants and sounding bells. I was very taken with that. (Still am…) The Old Vic has provided the grown-up version of it.
The whole cast is fantastic; their voices are nothing short of angelic, and watching the play in the round really brings it all so very close. I won’t use the old cliché of ‘fight to get a ticket’, but I do urge you to book yourself up as a matter of urgency.
Old Vic Theatre, The Cut, London, SE1 8NB until 31st October
Booking and full details: https://www.oldvictheatre.com/stage/martin-guerre/
