Manor at the National Theatre: a ‘breathtakingly inept’ satire
New ‘state-of-the-nation’ drama mystifies, bores and slowly enrages
“Some plays are so awful that they almost become enjoyable,” said Clive Davis in The Times. Others, like the National Theatre’s new “state-of-the-nation” drama Manor, merely mystify, bore and slowly enrage.
Moira Buffini is the writer of previous hits including Dinner, and the film The Dig, but her latest play (directed by her sister Fiona) is “breathtakingly inept” – a misfiring satire that “lurches from one improbable scene to another before sinking with all hands”.
Its setting is a decrepit manor house, said Dominic Cavendish in The Daily Telegraph. A storm is raging outside, and as the waters rise, the house’s grand owner gives refuge to a crew of diverse but one-dimensional characters, including a gay vicar, a black nurse from London, and the leader of a far-right group called Albion. The set-up promises a hint of “peculiarity”. Alas, the play quickly descends into a pantomime of “editorialising ding-dong between rival emissaries of traditionalist and multicultural Britain”.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
One assumes this “turkey” was intended as satire, said Arifa Akbar in The Guardian, but it wobbles uneasily between drama, farce and murder mystery with “dystopian disaster movie optics thrown in”. It’s clear, for instance, that the racism and misogyny of the far-right leader are being parodied; but this feels crass and gratuitous against the prevailing “saggy sitcom vibe”. There are “limp jabs” against “the wealthy 1%” and “hormonal white men”; there’s a lesbian kiss which seemingly “aspires to be radical”; even climate change is awkwardly wedged in.
Of course, the house beset by a storm is “meant to represent Britain falling apart”, said Patrick Marmion in the Daily Mail. “But really it is just a pretext for the men to spout sub-Nietzschean supremacist twaddle.” There “is wittering about Islamic takeovers. The nurse warns darkly that they are ‘clinging to the laws of the future’. What does that mean? Who knows?”
Manor may be a play only “right-wing nutjobs” will understand; but the real question is, how on earth did the Buffinis persuade the National to stage this “chaos”?
Lyttelton, National Theatre, London SE1 (nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/manor). Until 1 January
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The history of Donald Trump's election conspiracy theories
The Explainer How the 2024 Republican nominee has consistently stoked baseless fears of a stolen election
By David Faris Published
-
Two ancient cities have been discovered along the Silk Road
Under the radar The discovery changed what was known about the old trade route
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
'People shouldn't have to share the road with impaired drivers'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Vanessa Bell: A World of Form and Colour – an 'expansive' exhibition
The Week Recommends The 'sweeping' show features over 140 works from paintings to ceramics
By The Week UK Published
-
Kate Summerscale picks her favourite true crime books
The Week Recommends The writer shares works by Janet Malcolm, Helen Garner and Mark O'Connell
By The Week UK Published
-
The Forsyte Saga: 'faultless' production with a 'pitch-perfect' cast
The Week Recommends Theatrical adaptation of John Galsworthy's novels is a 'must-see' show
By The Week Published
-
6 exciting homes for athletes
Feature Featuring a rock-climbing wall in New York and a basketball-tennis court in Washington
By The Week Staff Published
-
Peter Ames Carlin's 6 favorite books on pop culture icons
Feature The author recommends works by James McBride, Jim Bouton, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The Wild Robot: animated adventure is 'warm, funny and wise'
The Week Recommends 'Sharply written and richly detailed' adaptation of Peter Brown's best-selling book
By The Week UK Published
-
Francis Bacon: Human Presence – a 'stirring, splendid' exhibition
The Week Recommends 'Riveting' show at the National Portrait Gallery explores the artist's 'wild' portraits
By The Week UK Published
-
Robert McCrum shares his favourite books on sport
The Week Recommends Writer and editor picks works by Nick Hornby, David Goldblatt and others
By The Week UK Published