By Graham Hiley.
Stars: 4/5.
Given the huge success of Atonement as both a novel and a movie, it is incredible to think that it has never been performed on stage until now. But it was worth the wait.
If anything, Christopher Hampton’s world premiere adaptation at Chichester Festival Theatre is even more powerful than the film.
Stripped back at 105 minutes, it cuts out a lot of the background noise and hits hard to the essence of Ian McEwan’s beloved book which explores the lifelong consequences of a teenage lie.
Set on an English country estate in 1935, it tells the story of 13-year-old Briony Tallis who witnesses a passionate clinch between her sister Cecilia and the housekeeper’s son Robbie. She then falsely accuses him of an attack without fully comprehending the implications for all of them.
That not only destroys the lives of the lovers but also herself as she spends her remaining years desperately trying to make amends for her naïve (or malicious?) actions.
Briony is perfectly portrayed at either end of her life. The younger version is played by Isabella Dempster with a touch of Hermione Granger about the performance.
She gets it just right as a precocious but immature, self-absorbed and snooty teenager who looks no further than the protected and privileged bubble in which she lives.
The older and wiser Briony is depicted by Jessica Turner with remarkable accomplishment especially as she had just one week of rehearsals for the role following the late withdrawal of Siân Phillips through personal circumstances.
Despite the short notice, she seamlessly picks up the essence of this powerful piece and its underlying theme of wasted lives, set against the brutal futility of the Second World War.
The horrors of the conflict are starkly projected onto the backdrop which also cleverly serves as a vehicle to show the words being typed by the characters or to translate the French spoken on the battleground.
The staging is simply stunning with a deep pool for Briony to dive into and a beautifully designed two-tier setting which also enables a spectacular plunge into a river.
Aideen Malone’s sophisticated use of lighting made this a truly immersive experience drawing in the audience and keeping them transfixed while adding to the intensity of this thought-provoking and atmospheric drama.
It is both poignant and passionate with Miriam Petche, in the iconic green dress, skilfully capturing the anguished love of Cecilia Tallis for Robbie played with equal ardour by Jasper Talbot.
If this powerful piece has a flaw, it would be some of the occasionally overdone delivery of some slightly jarring ensemble dialogue especially in the first half. But that does not diminish another top quality Chichester Festival Theatre production which stays with you.
Atonement runs at Chichester Festival Theatre until June 20. cft.org.uk/events/atonement
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