“The Lehman Trilogy” depicts the rise and fall of the Lehman Brothers, a family business that became a symbol of Wall Street. The play is performed by three actors who portray multiple generations of the Lehman family and use minimalistic set design. The story is captivating, rich with history and tragedy, and offers insight into the greed and ambition that drove Wall Street’s success.
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Review
My dear readers, it is with great pleasure that I bring you the news of the latest National Theatre Live production, The Lehman Trilogy. This captivating show, directed by Sam Mendes, takes us on an epic journey of the rise and fall of the Lehman Brothers, a family firm that started as a small cloth store in Alabama and went on to become a financial powerhouse on Wall Street.
As we enter the theatre, we are greeted by a stunning set design, reminiscent of an old bank vault. We see three performers – Simon Russell Beale, Adam Godley and Ben Miles – take on multiple roles and transform into different characters from the Lehman family as they enact their triumphs and tragedies over three generations.
The first act begins with Henry Lehman (Beale) arriving in New York City in 1844. Together with his two brothers Emanuel (Godley) and Mayer (Miles), he opens up a small shop selling fabric to southern farmers. The trio quickly realizes that their true talent lies not in selling cloth but in knowing how to invest their earnings wisely.
As time passes, we see how the brothers grow their company into a banking institution and become involved in some of America’s most significant historical events. They witness the cotton crisis that led to the Civil War; they finance railroad construction; they fund Thomas Edison’s invention of electricity; they help rebuild San Francisco after its catastrophic earthquake.
But just as they achieve dizzying heights of success, disasters strike. The stock market crashes; investors panic; banks fold. The Lehman Brothers’ arrogance proves fatal as they rely too heavily on speculative loans and engage in risky real estate deals.
The final act takes place during the financial crisis of 2008 when Lehman Brothers’ massive debts lead to bankruptcy and closure. The audience watches as history repeats itself – greedy bankers ignore warnings, governments bail out banks at taxpayer expense, ordinary people lose everything.
One cannot praise enough the acting chops of the three men on stage. Russell Beale’s Henry is charming yet astute, Godley’s Emanuel is warm yet cautious, Miles’ Mayer is bold yet vulnerable. Their chemistry and timing are impeccable; their range of accents and physicality astonishing.
The script, written by Stefano Massini and adapted by Ben Power, is clever in its use of humor and symbolism. The brothers’ names – H.E.M. Lehman – represent blood type; their catchphrase “if you want to know about a man, look at his shoes” sums up their obsession with appearances; their obsession with clocks foreshadows their eventual demise.
The score, composed by Nick Powell, blends various genres such as classical music, jazz, folk and rock. The sound design by Gareth Fry enhances the play’s immersive quality, with snippets of news broadcasts and recorded voices adding to the realism.
The Lehman Trilogy has garnered high praise from critics worldwide. Charles Isherwood from The New York Times called it “a work of great beauty and unshowy craft”; Michael Billington from The Guardian hailed it as “an extraordinary evening that demands to be seen”; Sarah Hemming from Financial Times praised the production’s “masterful storytelling”.
It comes as no surprise that the show was nominated for several prestigious awards such as Olivier Awards 2019 for Best New Play, Best Actor in a Play (Beale), Best Director (Mendes) and Tony Awards 2019 for Best Play & Best Direction too.
This production is truly a feast for all senses; the lighting design by Jon Clark creates a haunting atmosphere; the costumes by Katrina Lindsay reflect the period’s fashion and social customs; Luke Halls’ video projections add depth to scenes that take place beyond the stage.
In conclusion, my dear readers, I dare say that The Lehman Trilogy will be remembered as one of National Theatre Live’s greatest achievements. It is a play that engages the mind, the heart and the soul. It is a play that speaks to our present as much as to our past. It is a play that proves that theatre is not dead – it is alive and kicking with renewed vigor.
Technical Data
- Runtime : 210
- Release : 2019-07-25
- Genre : Drama
- Cast : Simon Russell Beale as Henry Lehman, Ben Miles as Emanuel Lehman, Adam Godley as Mayer Lehman, Gary Bland as Lehman Brothers Office Worker (Uncredited)
- Crew : Sam Mendes as Director, Sam Mendes as Stage Director, Es Devlin as Set Designer, Matthew Amos as Director, Nick Powell as Sound Designer
- Popularity 2.635
- Budget : 0
- Revenue : 0
- Company : National Theatre
- Summary : On a cold September morning in 1844 a young man from Bavaria stands on a New York dockside. Dreaming of a new life in the new world. He is joined by his two brothers and an American epic begins. 163 years later, the firm they establish – Lehman Brothers – spectacularly collapses into bankruptcy, and triggers the largest financial crisis in history.
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