This adaptation of Stanley Kubrick’s film was written by Armando Iannucci and Sean Foley. Whilst the film will remain a classic with the unforgettable performances of Peter Sellers and George C Scott, and which gave James Earl Jones his first screen role, the play brings the work to a whole new generation. It is a timely reminder of the dangers of nuclear weapons, and the ever-increasing risk as more countries develop them, of an accident, or a mad individual using them. Today with wars involving nations with nuclear weapons raging in Europe and the Middle East, and the return of a Trump presidency, it is clear there is an ever-growing risk of nuclear madness engulfing the world .
In this production Steve Coogan goes one better than Sellers by taking on all four roles originally written for him. A sprained ankle prevented Sellers from filming inside the tight confines of the cockpit of the B52 aircraft and Slim Pickens was drafted in at short notice to play that role.
It is set in the 1960s when the United States maintained an airborne nuclear deterrent, with nuclear armed bombers flying around the clock ready to attack the Soviet Union.
The action switches between an air force base, the Pentagon war room, and the cockpit of the B52. The brilliant Coogan is at the centre of it all. There are even scenes where two of his characters seem to appear on stage at the same time. He changes seamlessly from US President, RAF Officer, pilot of a B52 and best of all the former Nazi, Dr Strangelove, now employed as a chief advisor to the president.
The laughs keep coming, louder and louder, all the best lines from the film are there. President:
“Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here — this is the War Room!”
The pilot checking the contents of the survival kit:
“1.45 calibre automatic, 2 boxes of ammunition, … $100 in roubles, $100 in gold, three lipsticks, three pairs of nylon stockings. A fella could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with all this stuff.”
Dr Strangelove:
“It would not be difficult, Mein Fuhrer … I’m sorry, Mr President.”
The stage craft is brilliant throughout a really slick production showing the advantages of being on a stage with an audience living every moment as the story unfolds to its inevitable conclusion.
If you have loved and enjoyed the film you will enjoy this, and if you have never heard of Dr Strangelove sit back, enjoy the ride, then leave the theatre wondering how on earth have we reached the point where humanity can come to an end with just a single act of madness.
Dr Strangelove is running at the Noel Coward Theatre in London until 25 January. Details here
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