An undeniably fun and thought provoking night
Playwright Steven Sater’s introduction to his new musical, Nero, was a bittersweet one. Having worked on the show for over two decades with longtime creative partner Duncan Sheik, who tragically passed away in September. While finally getting an audience in front of a project they worked so hard on is a huge moment, it is heartbreaking to imagine how hard it must be for Sater to be presenting it without Sheikh. As the show unfolded, though, the years of effort put into Nero became clear, writes Melina Block.
Starring Andrew Barth Feldman, the actor who got his big break starring alongside Jennifer Lawrence in 2023’s No Hard Feelings, Nero follows the infamous, eponymous Roman emperor’s tumultuous reign. It is not a simple story, with several morally grey characters and twists in this historical tale. That this took 20 years to come to fruition is somewhat apparent in how, at times, convoluted the plot becomes. The multiple storylines come to somewhat unsatisfying conclusions throughout the second half, but the strong performances and songs ensure that it is, overall, entertaining enough to overcome the blurrier moments.
Feldman ramps up the campiness to 100, emphasising the equally ridiculous and narcissistic tendencies of Nero’s tyrannical rule. Given that this was originally conceived in the early 2000s, the similarities to leaders of today are remarkable. It is hard to imagine a better time for Nero to have come out than now, even if that was not always the intention. Sally Dexter is also a standout as the cunning and calculated Agrippina, a role clearly inspired by Lady Macbeth which Dexter brings incredible power and weight to.
With some tightening of scenes and improvements to the pacing, this could really be something special. Even as it is, though, Nero is an undeniably fun and thought provoking night at the theatre.
Southwark Playhouse Elephant, 1 Dante Place, SE11 4RX until 5th December.
Booking and full details: https://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/productions/nero/
