Review: Breakfast at Tiffany's
By Tara McLaughlin
Written by Truman Capote, the classic tale of New York socialite Holly Golightly is a well-known one, thanks to a certain Miss Audrey Hepburn who played the captivating role in the 1961 film. But this stage version is a far cry from the romanticised portrayal we’re all familiar with.
Directed by Nikolai Foster and adapted by Richard Greenberg the narrative is based on the book rather than the dreamy movie. Set in 1940s Manhattan, this adaptation deals with adult and earnest themes which may come as a surprise to an audience expecting a wistful, starry-eyed ending.
The opening scene features a fleeting glimpse of the star of the show, on this occasion played by Katy Allen but scheduled to feature Coronation Street and Strictly star Georgia May Foote. The last minute cast change was due to unforeseen illness but Miss Allen did not disappoint. The brief preview of the good-time girl set against the iconic duck egg blue Tiffany lighting, hinted at an elusive and enigmatic character. Tributes to her captivating personality followed by the doting male characters of the show but therein ended the tale we all know.
The low lighting and iconic Manhattan skyline stage-set gave way to a desperate looking Fred propping up a metropolitan bar. Played by Matt Barber, he appears to be lamenting the loss of the exquisite woman he so blatantly loves with sympathies from the stout barman whose also defiantly infatuated.
Told through the eyes of the young struggling writer, Fred plays the troubled protagonist who features as a hopeless onlooker into the life of a fascinating good time girl with deep, dark secrets. She lives like glitterati but in reality is more hoi polloi, unbeknown to her admirers. Except Fred.
Holly’s story is a tragic one haunted by the ‘mean reds,’ a throw to her overarching feelings of despair and anxiety. It’s a recurring theme in the play and one that can only be cured by a trip to Tiffanys to gaze longingly at the window display. Never to purchase.
Holly doesn’t have the bank balance to match her social life but she doesn’t let it stand in her way, happy to allow the umpteen suitors to pick up her tab. She never has one suitor too many however and isn’t the vacuous girl about town the phrase suggests. She’s a deeper character with her own complex issues and insecurities. Ultimately, she is searching for meaning, purpose and a sense of belonging while paradoxically not wishing to be tied down. She confides in Fred and trusts him with the closest thing she has to family, ‘Cat.’
Holly may meet a tragic end or she may make the escape to a sun filled destination and find the love of her life she always dreamed of. It’s the viewers call and entirely open to their own interpretation.
This version of Breakfast at Tiffany’s set against the regal backdrop of the Grand Opera House is one that must be seen to be appreciated. A distant throw from the dreamy film, this performance is a realistic depiction of real life themes that most people encounter. Brought to life by an exceptional cast, the show is a captivating tale of love, loss, romance and disillusion not unlike the hedonistic lifestyles of F. Scott Fitzgerald in The Great Gatsby. The difference being she does it with diamonds!