Inside Salisbury: Drama from the very first second
Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code brings the darkness of religious fantasy to Salisbury Playhouse
By Annette J Beveridge
A dead body, secret hidden codes and a chase that spans several countries provide a dramatic opening for the latest production at Salisbury Playhouse.
The Da Vinci Code, penned by author Dan Brown, achieved great success in book form, and the story’s success increased following the film, reaching an even greater audience. Now, The Da Vinci Code has been transferred to the stage by Rachel Wagstaff and Duncan Abel, bringing incredible lighting, special effects, and the age-old search for the holy grail with some surprises along the way.
As the audience settled, the theatre was filled with anticipation.
This is a complex story and probably difficult to adapt for the stage, so I was keen to see how they would bring the story to life.
When the play started, it did not disappoint.
We were all drawn into the dark and mysterious world of symbols, codes and religious artefacts. It is a highly visual production relying heavily on video, electronic imagery, but the timing was spot on, and it created the impact of religious fantasy, revealing the eccentricity and the passion of a misguided belief, all in a desperate bid to save the soul.
This production is plot-led more than character-led. The chase for the truth is on throughout, but there were moments of humour.
If you are hoping for a deep connection with the characters, you may be disappointed. Due to the fast pace of the story as it unfolds, the focus is very much on the storyline as it unfolds, and at times, it romps along under its own steam. The dialogue was extensive, and for some of the characters, those with thick French accents, it made it a little difficult to follow.
While the accents were performed well, the focus was more on delivery than the depth of performance, and for me, at times, the play occasionally felt a little flat. I became an onlooker rather than being completely immersed in the production.
But in the main, the story took us on a well-trodden journey to the finale when Robert Langdon (Joe Bannister) and Sophie Neveu (Georgia-Mae Myers) finally gained the truth they were desperate for.
It is a great and accomplished cast, some of whom have performed on the Salisbury stage previously, but a special mention should go to the set designers. While it appears basic at the start, the set design enables it to transform the stage quickly, providing the necessary transitions between scenes.
Although I felt a little distracted at times, this is still a really well-written play; it is clever, acted well, and a vibrant and dramatic evening’s entertainment.
Book tickets here.
Photo credit: Manuel Harlan.
