... one helluva life ...

Tonight I was in the Richmond Theatre to see 'One Helluva Life starring Tom Conti.

It was a strange experience as I had sat in almost the same seat for the Al Murray - the Pub Landlord Show just over a week ago. The audience was so different - average at least 20 years older - more formally dressed - and definitely less people - and less shoving at the bar.

One Helluva Life has Conti - as the actor John Barrymore - telling directly to the audience - highlights form his life. The show takes the theme of Barrymore's last practice - for his last show - set shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbour - and shortly for Barrymore's death.

Conti has a fantastic stage presence - not that he needed it - as the audience was there with him - and in the early stages in front of him - as they laughed at jokes in the script - before they were delivered. But quickly Conti roped them in - and controlled the audience - and told the story with his timing - his script.

It soon emerges that John Barrymore has a drink problem - funny in the first act - but showing its destructive power towards the end. The only other performer is Frank - the prompt - fan - and friend - who desperately wants Barrymore to succeed - and try and capture some of his former glory. The other person is someone - anonymous - in the audience - who Barrymore performs to - tells stories to - and acts to.

He recounts episodes of his life to a person as Frank tries to coax him to concentrate on his forth coming performance of Richard III. However Barrymore is easily diverted - as he tries to avoid his reality. The script by William Luce is very sharp - which combines some sadness - with some brilliant flashes of humour and the growing realisation that Barrymore cannot deliver.

Early on Barrymore states that 'you are old when regrets replace dreams' - which hit the audience.

There are stories of friends - his early life - his alcoholic father - his brother and sister - friends - directors - and his four wives - always it was back to his wives. They gave him sadness - and were the cause of his grief.

Other good lines include 'To avoid martial disharmony - don't get married in January - or for that matter - any other month.' or 'divorce is much more expensive than getting married - but it is money well spent' and 'With all this alimony - you would think I don't have money to live - that's not true - I have money - lots of money - providing - I die today'

Towards the end of the second act it becomes clear that his memory has gone as have his acting skills - he confuses lines - and keeps looking for diversions - in the end even the loyal Frank gives up.

Tom Conti demonstrates again that he has tremendous power on the stage. 'One Helluva Life' is an extremely good vehicle for him - allowing him to range from comic - to pathos and back again. The play is complicated where he has to show flashes of the brilliant Shakespearean actor to pathetic drunk. Go and see it