DESPITE THE POWERFUL PERFORMANCE OF THE TWO LEADS, FRANZ & MARIE FALLS FLAT

By Madeleine Anderson ⭐⭐ | Press Invite

Based on Georg Büchner’s unfinished 1837 play Woyzeck, Franz & Marie takes its title from the tragic pair at the heart of what is widely considered the forefather of modern realist drama. Left behind when Büchner died at just 23, the original text is a dark tale of circumstance, misogyny, and the brutality of war on common people.

Adapted by Teresa Howard from a 2014 musical by raw folk band The Singing Loins, with additional music, arrangements, and orchestrations by Steven Edis, a folk musical feels inventive and apt given Büchner’s own inclusion of local German folk songs.

Director Michael Oakley’s production opens enticingly at Charing Cross Theatre with a circle of folk musicians surrounding the strong-voiced and charming Eve Polycarpou, soon followed by an exciting arrival of soldiers banging drums through the auditorium. However, the show quickly stumbles over its execution and weakens as it goes on.

The lighting and stage design is one of the strongest parts of the play, adding a sophistication and slickness to an otherwise lacking production.

The script relies far too heavily on excessive swearing, shouty dialogue, tired phrasing and obvious rhyming couplets rather than compelling lyrics. While many of the songs are undeniably catchy and delivered by an impressively musical cast who play their own instruments, these multi-talented performers are hidden behind the stage drapes for much of the performance.

Rather than delivering sharp class criticism, the at-times hammy acting tilts into caricature, diluting any punchy political message and leaving audiences wondering who the play is ultimately for and what its core message is. Graphic, harrowing moments, including an on-stage sexual assault, electrocution, and Marie’s eventual murder, feel rushed and poorly handled, routinely undermined by jarring, sudden tonal shifts. The narrative races forward without giving any scene the space or grace to settle.

Fortunately, the central pairing offers a redeeming highlight. Franz (played by Brenock O’Connor) delivers a fantastic, deeply moving performance, physically embodying the emaciated, tragic soldier. Marie (played by Jane Oswald) brings a passionate rage and wonderful singing voice, and their strong on-stage chemistry peaks during “If You Love Me,” a touching duet sung intensely before her demise.

Compounded by an overly loud sound mix for a small venue and crowded second-half staging, Franz & Marie features strong moments but remains bogged down by a lack of narrative purpose. 

Franz & Marie is running at Charing Cross Theatre until Saturday 14 November.

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Photo Credit: Danny Kaan