Review: McQueen At The Theatre Royal Haymarket

Quite fittingly, [**McQueen**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/play/1972/McQueen-tickets.aspx) is a feast for the eyes and an absolute triumph of design and choreography thanks to the stunning work of production designer **David Farley**, choreographer **Christopher Marney**, director **John Caird** and an ensemble of striking and hugely accomplished dancers. Even the simple act of getting furniture and props on and off stage is made a thing of entrancing beauty and no movement or small detail not crafted to perfection. If this were a contemporary dance production it would be a masterpiece. But the ravishing tableaux created by the dancers are only part of the story and it’s the words in between that for me didn’t always work – often becoming pretentious and self absorbed just when you thought things were getting interesting. The fragile and volatile [**McQueen**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/play/1972/McQueen-tickets.aspx) is alone in his studio struggling to find ideas for a new collection and is grieving in the wake of the suicide of his mentor Isabella Blow when he is visited by the mysterious Dahlia, played by **Carly Bawden**. She has clearly been watching [**McQueen**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/play/1972/McQueen-tickets.aspx) from a nearby tree for quite a while. But is she a stalker with dangerous intent, a ghost as [**McQueen**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/play/1972/McQueen-tickets.aspx) at first thinks or, as she claims, just an admirer wanting him to make her a dress? The early exchanges between the two promise much being both witty and intelligent, but any intrigue isn’t sustained and the self-analysis and meaning of life pontificating becomes a little wearing after a while. There are, however, some engaging moments; [**McQueen’s**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/play/1972/McQueen-tickets.aspx) change of mood when an idea finally strikes him, a visit to the tailors where he learnt his craft and a nicely played encounter with Isabella. And the scene where [**McQueen**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/play/1972/McQueen-tickets.aspx) talks to Dahlia about his sick mother is genuinely moving. Performances from the two leads are excellent with **Wight**, who bears a striking resemblance to his character, making [**McQueen**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/play/1972/McQueen-tickets.aspx) a person for whom we genuinely feel sympathy despite the outbursts. **Carly Bawden** is by turns feisty and vulnerable as Dahlia and super support comes from **Tracy Ann Oberman** as Isabella. [**McQueen**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/play/1972/McQueen-tickets.aspx) certainly has its moments and is a telling portrait of a tormented artist. But while it’s wonderful to look at, it’s ultimately a bit uneven to fully hold the attention throughout.