Springwood – Hampstead Theatre
On the verge of the WWII, King George VI (Bertie) and Queen Elizabeth visit President Franklin D. Roosevelt, to try to gain U.S. support for Britain. The occasion takes place, not at the White House, but at Roosevelt’s country home, Springwood. Written and directed by Richard Nelson, the play explores the meeting between these two men from a human angle, rather than a political one – what personal challenges were they facing, and where might they have found a connection?
Springwood opens with a simple set of dining furniture that is immediately moved off stage and replaced with a small table and a few chairs. Presumably there was a reason for this, but whatever that was is not clear, and it makes for a disconcerting and awkward beginning. Perhaps it’s to foreshadow the awkwardness of th...