Frankie & Johnny – Venue Cymru, llandudno

Writer: Terrence McNally

Director: Michael Lunney

Reviewer: Iris Beaumont

The Public Reviews Rating:

“ You never choose love. Love chooses you” was the tagline line for the 1991 film version of Frankie and Johnny. Having seen the film I was looking forward to the show with baited breathe and was unfortunately sorely disillusioned.

The scene was readily and easily set, a New York apartment with a view of the Statue of Liberty from the window, A bedroom with a kitchen and bathroom leading off of it. It was a Sunday morning in March in the late 1980’s and Johnny was convinced that him and Frankie were meant to be together due to some small coincidental facts that they both seem to share. Marriage was the only way forward for him while Frankie was not so easily convinced.

The apartment set which was also designed by Michael Lunney was very cleverly thought out and the backdrop truly magnificent. The Lighting by Bob Hodges was well timed and added to the whole atmosphere of the play.

Kelly McGillis as Frankie gave a superb performance and even thou the role of Johnny was played by the understudy Steve Fortune, this did not detract her in any way.

Steve Fortune’s performance though was distinctly average and actually came across as thou he really did not want to be there at all, his voice and projection strangely quiet and even thou I was only eight rows from the stage I struggled to hear what he had to say.

Frankie & Johnny left me feeling rather empty and judging by the amount of people who never returned for the second half shows they felt the same. The production focuses too much on the bedroom and their sexual relationship and although it tried in some ways to stick to the original Frankie and Johnny story it did twist away from it rather a lot, leaving the overall experience somewhat diluted and flat.

One thing I feel I must say and that is a big thank you to the front of house staff who made my friend and I feel very welcome from the moment we set foot in the building nothing was too much trouble for them and I feel they should all be congratulated.