Review: Beat the Devil

Hey readers!
It's time for my review of Beat the Devil. 

On the same day that the UK government finally made the first of two decisive interventions that led to a conspicuously late lockdown, David Hare contracted Covid-19. Nobody seemed to know much about it then, and many doctors are not altogether sure they know much more today. Suffering a pageant of apparently random symptoms, Hare recalls the delirium of his illness, which mixed with fear, dream, honest medicine and dishonest politics he created a monologue of furious urgency and power.

Beat the Devil presents a harsh critique on the UK and US governments, heavily denouncing them for their actions during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. In what may be perceived as a scathing attack on individuals such as Boris Johnson, Dominic Raab and Donald Trump, playwright David Hare pulls no punches. No matter what your partisan affiliation is, it is hard to deny that the criticism posed by Hare wasn't at least partially accurate. There was certainly a lot of truth to what was said, and the play's content gives the audience plenty to think about. The use of satire is particularly admirable, and humour was used effectively throughout as a means of tackling these difficult issues. There are a number of genuinely funny moments throughout, and the audience were often in stitches with laughter. On a more serious note however, it provides a fascinating insight into what life is like when dealing with the virus. The monologue spares no details, and gives us a frank and first-hand account of Hare's experience with COVID-19. It was very easy to sympathise with Hare's plight, and it was clear he had been through quite the ordeal. The monologue proves to be very engaging throughout, and the time flies by. It's very easy to connect with Hare's writing, and the way in which it is written feels very personal. 

The play is a one-man show, with Ralph Fiennes taking the helm. I have seen Fiennes multiple times on both stage and screen, and not once has he given a bad performance. He's an extremely gifted actor, and his talents know no bounds. Fiennes is extremely versatile, as shown through his delivery of Beat the Devil; he often goes from comedy to drama in a number of seconds, and does so seamlessly. The anger that Fiennes channels at the UK and US governments was extremely believable, and felt both authentic and sincere. On the comedic side of things, his jokes were delivered faultlessly, and he had impeccable comic timing. 

Now for my final verdict on Beat the Devil. I give Beat the Devil...

Beat the Devil is an engaging piece of theatre, and one that certainly provides food for thought. Additionally, the leading performance of Ralph Fiennes is extraordinary; his talents are unrivalled.

Think it should have got a higher rating? Agree with my rating? Think it should have got a lower rating? If so comment below.

Thanks for reading!

-The Basic Theatre Reviewer