Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Stefano Massini’s sweeping THE LEHMAN TRILOGY triumphantly arrives in New York, and it’s masterful in every way

• By drediman
• April 10, 2019
• No Comments

Simon Russell Beale, Adam Godley, and Ben Miles in Stefano Massini’s “The Lehman Trilogy” at the Park Avenue Armory. Photo by Stephanie Berger.

Last night at the Park Avenue Armory, I caught the highly anticipated North American premiere of Stefano Massini’s The Lehman Trilogy, which triumphantly arrives in New York after having been a sold out hit at London’s National Theatre (the production returns to London for a commercial West End run immediately following the current limited engagement). In short, the play chronicles the nearly two centuries-long history of Lehman Brothers, that infamous faltering financial institution, from its infancy as a textile outlet to its end as a brash broker/dealer of financial instruments about a decade ago.

At its core, The Lehman Trilogy, which is segmented into three parts, is a family saga about the slippery commodity known as the American Dream. The first part focuses on the three original Lehman brothers – fresh off the boat from Bavaria – as they slowly make a name for themselves in business – first in Montgomery, Alabama, then in New York City. The second part charts the rise of their company as a driving financier of American industry, as led by the second generation of Lehmans. The final segment follows the next generation and beyond, as Lehman Brothers evolves into a reckless trader of risky financial products. Ben Power’s English translation is elegant and registers with maximum clarity. As a result, the play unfolds with a narrative vigor that kept the thousands-strong audience in the massive Wade Thompson Drill Hall enrapt throughout its lengthy running time. Indeed, rarely have three-and-a-half hours flown by as quickly as they did yesterday evening.

As directed by Sam Mendes – who is currently also represented in New York with his superlative production of The Ferryman – the production is a masterful example of a theater artist at the very top of his game. His staging of The Lehman Trilogy exemplifies a director who is willing to trust his actors while creating a striking but never fussy theatrical world for the play. One of the fascinating things about the play is the fact that Mr. Massini only utilizes three actors to tell the sweeping American tale.  And what three actors he’s been blessed with; Simon Russell Beale, Adam Godley, and Ben Miles repeat their extraordinary assignments as the original Lehman brothers and their descendants, as well as countless other characters. That they’re able to command the vast expanse of the drill hall as effortlessly as they do – creating countless memorable moments both epic and intimate – is a testament to their astonishing ability as actors. Indeed, collectively, all three are giving a masterclass in world class acting.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

THE LEHMAN TRILOGY
Off-Broadway, Play
The Wade Thompson Drill Hall at the Park Avenue Armory
3 hours, 20 minutes (with two intermissions)
Through April 20