A Face in the Crowd
The show, with music and lyrics by Elvis Costello and a book by Sarah Ruhl, is based on the 1957 film of the same name. If you haven't seen the film (neither have I), it's from the early James Dean and Marlon Brando era of a wanderer who rises to fame through radio and TV.
We meet the lead, Lonesome Rhodes, played by Ramin Karimloo, in a prison setting. Karimloo brings the character to life as a charming, lovable rogue, with a comical and entertaining song that immediately draws you in.
However, it becomes difficult to sympathise with Karimloo’s character as the narrative progresses. He quickly starts taking stimulants, and while his performance is excellent—with subtle facial micro-expressions that convey the character’s inner turmoil and drug effects—it shifts him from a lovable wanderer to an addict with little respect for others. This change makes it hard to maintain the initial affection for him.
The comedy continues with some delightful “he likes my pies” moments. On the subject of comedy, we are introduced to the ‘canned laughter’ machine. Unfortunately, this happens after a scene where it had already been used to fill in for the audience, which I felt missed the point of what they were trying to achieve. It seemed to detract from the comedic effect they were aiming for.
Due to the rugged 1950s portrayal of our lead, much of the romance is lost. I imagine in the film he would have been the type of character who grabs and forcefully kisses a girl to make her fall in love. While Karimloo will no doubt have the audience swooning in his cowboy boots, jeans, and vest combo, there isn’t enough opportunity to explore the emotional depth needed for us to enjoy the role. The most convincing relationship for me was the one with Betty Lou, played by Emily Florence in her professional stage debut, but even her character came across more as a social climber than someone genuinely in love.
All the performers are wonderful, never missing a beat. Florence, in particular, stands out, not just for her acting but also for her impressive skills. At one point, she had to twirl a baton while performing cartwheels and other tricks—a daunting task, executed flawlessly.
As you might expect, the show features some lovely old-style country numbers, interspersed with amusing three-part girl harmonies singing about selling soap, which the audience found hilarious each time. However, it lacks memorable, punchy numbers—nothing that will stay in your head afterward.
The set and lighting work exceptionally well together, especially highlighting every time they go ‘on air’. One of the genius moments was when they set off on a train, and we see, through the windows, the old-fashioned scrolling background. This was amusing but also worked effectively. Another standout moment was at the end, where we see inside Rhodes' flat. The stark contrast to everything we had seen before perfectly sets the scene for the events about to unfold.
This show has some excellent performances by a very talented cast, however it lacks that special something to be completely memorable.
This show was reviewed on the 20th September 2024 at the Young Vic Theatre, London where the show runs until the 9th November 2024. Tickets available here: A Face in the Crowd | Young Vic website
Review written by Valentine Gale-Sides
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Photo credit: Ellie Kurttz
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