Robin Soans (Joey) Siôn Tudor Owen (George) Andrew Whipp (Bobby) Richard Harrington (Mike) Lisa Dillon (Margaret) in House of Games. Photo by Manuel HarlanIt would be easy to argue that Bean’s best work has always been his original material, despite having considerable form in adaptation — One Man, Two Guvnors (Goldoni), The Hypochondriac (Molière). Here however, the transitioning from film to stage rarely matches that success.
We’re introduced to Margaret (Lisa Dillon), a jaded and somewhat cynical therapist who prefers writing best-selling therapy books. She endures her young, gun-wielding client Billy Hahn (Oscar Lloyd) who claims to have lost money gambling, and is at risk from the mob. Confiscating his revolver, she promises to intercede on his behalf and visits the place of his misadventure to plea with the boss. In doing so, she is exposed to a short-con and falls for the excitement of this unknown world and the man who operates it Mike (Richard Harrington). Of course, mention of a short-con causes any astute audience member (let alone critic) to leap three steps ahead and begin speculation of what constitutes the long-con and sure enough everything becomes pretty readable thereafter.
Now in his mid-70s, the ever languorous Jonathan Kent (who has just completed a film with Jessica Lange and Ed Harris), helms the production on a split-level stage designed by Ashley Martin-Davis, which attempts to sharply define the separate filmic segments. However, what was an editing tour-de-force in the 1987 movie, has considerably less impact when delivered with the necessary black-out delays between scenes at the beige consultation room above, and seedy poker den beneath.
As always with movies which involve gambling, crisp adherence and rehearsal of the detailed game play is vital to ensure a convincing on-screen outcome. Here, the onstage poker play and chip throwing are haphazard at best and severely diminish the sense that any real money is at stake. These moments lack conviction or worse, are blasé and would induce a conniption fit in the average croupier. Perhaps the detail was considered unimportant or there was simply not enough rehearsal time to cover the element realistically. Additionally, the convoluted dialogue around the playing table is mired in wisecracking, lending an overtly corny, two dimensional air to the supporting characters.
The remaining players in the cast include: Trudi - Kelly Price, Joey - Robin Soans, George - Siôn Tudor Owen, PJ - Laurence Ubong Williams, Bobby - Andrew Whipp and last but not least, Joanna Brookes, who maintains the tradition of scene-stealing office Rottweilers, as Margaret’s PA Kathleen.
At Hampstead Theatre until 07 June 2025.
