The Audience

'The Audience' is another of the filmed stage productions from Britain's National Theatre.

Helen Mirren plays Queen Elizabeth and the setting is the weekly audiences that occur between the Monarch and her Prime Ministers. The current Queen's longevity is such that there have been twelve Prime Ministers during her reign - so far. In the play we see imagined audiences with six of those PMs. There are also imagined scenes of the Queen with her younger Princess self and various Equerries performing their duties and explaining some of the protocol.

This is a terrific play with lots of humour which at the same time delivers a sense of the 'human' side of the Queen. Mirren, as you'd expect is superb as are the six performers representing the PMs. The staging is simple and Mirren's speedy sleight of hand on-stage costume and wig changes are a mysterious delight.

Excellent entertainment.

★★★★