Never in my wildest dreams could my 11-year-old self have imagined that the great Martin Shaw would go from captivating me as special agent Ray Doyle in The Professionals to enthralling me again, 40-odd years later, as Lord High Chancellor to King Henry VIII, Thomas More in Robert Bolt’s play ‘A Man For All Seasons’ at the Oxford Playhouse.
Helped enormously by Shaw’s touching, sympathetic portrayal of this fascinating historical figure, A Man For All Seasons is an absorbing play-come-history-lesson, which puts More centre stage at the moment in history when King Henry wants, well, everything: to divorce his first wife Catherine Aragon, marry Anne Boleyn, sever England’s ties with the Catholic church, found his own religion and have the entire country swear allegiance to him.
It is this last demand that loyal servant, friend and advisor More, due to his religious convictions, cannot acquiesce to. Tragically, his refusal to side with the King costs him his titles, his wealth, his freedom and ultimately his life.
But unlike my school history lessons, this play is never gloomy, heavy or difficult to understand. This is in no small part due to a character called The Common Man, superbly played by Gary Wilmot, whose tasks are to narrate, move the play along, explain who’s who, act a myriad of minor parts and be the cheeky chap who provides welcome light relief whether as More’s boatman, wine-slurping servant or jailor.
Bravo too to Asif Khan as Spanish envoy Signor Chapuys who speaks in a deliciously Pythonesque French accent (please don’t ask me why). And then there’s Machiavellian bad-boy Thomas Cromwell (creepily played by Edward Bennett), whose ambition it is to drag Sir Thomas through the courts by fair means or foul.
And let’s not forget King Henry (Orlando James) – jolly but fearsome, friendly but demanding. All of this talent and intrigue presented on a beautifully crafted stage to depict the dark oak panels, open fires and lanterns of Hampton Court.
I left feeling educated, entertained and moved. I wish my eleven-year old self could’ve been there with me; he’d have loved it too.
Edward Bliss
A Man For All Seasons is at Oxford Playhouse all week until Saturday Feb 22. Book at https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/a-man-for-all-seasons
