Dr. Strangelove – A Play Review (Filmed Version)
Nearly 60 years after the movie, the National Theatre decided to bring Dr. Strangelove to the stage. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to attend the play, but at least I saw the film version — and I really liked it.
Sean Foley, the director, gave the play a fresh look by adding musical elements that allowed the actors and scenery to change more fluidly. Armando Iannucci co-adapted the original script with Foley, and besides the new jokes, they cleverly added a side story that allowed Coogan to play two roles in the same scene. In one moment, the actor spoke on the phone with his back to the audience, and a quick switch was made so he could reappear as Dr. Strangelove. Additionally, the way they blended scenes from the original movie worked well for the play. For instance, the iconic airplane scene only appears in the second half.
Furthermore, the supporting roles were very well performed. Olivier Award winner Giles Terera as Gen. Buck Turgidson, John Hopkins as Gen. Jack D. Ripper, Mark Hadfield as Faceman, and Tony Jayawardena as Russian Ambassador Bakov all brought strong energy to their characters, delivering line after line and boosting the comedy spirit throughout.
And Steve Coogan? What can I say—he’s one of the few actors brave enough to take on these roles, especially when comparisons to Peter Sellers are unavoidable. Not only did he play four characters—one more than Sellers—but he pulled it off with impressive skill. He switched accents, changed costumes repeatedly, and jumped straight into the next scene without missing a beat. Dare I say it—and maybe it’s a sin—but his take on the role of Dr. Strangelove was even more compelling than Peter Sellers’. It felt like an upgrade of the original. It honestly makes you wonder why he wasn’t nominated for an Olivier Award—not just him, but the entire production.
The play ended with Penny Ashmore, who played Eva Lynn, performing the song “We’ll Meet Again”, famously featured in the final scene of the film. It was a truly heartwarming moment, with the rest of the cast joining her on stage. Overall, the play was definitely worth watching, and I highly recommend the filmed version to anyone who couldn’t see it live. Even 60 years later, the message remains just as powerful, relevant, and timely.
Filmed Version Grade: 83/100
The photo in the article is from the National Theatre’s website and was taken by Manuel Harlan.
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