'Oppenheimer' Vaudeville Theatre *****

Sometimes scientists can discover and construct certain experiments that will prove to be lethal in terms of the consequences that might happen, and the atomic bomb was one such scientific development. The Royal Shakespeare Company’s West End transfer of Tom Morton-Smith’s critically acclaimed play; ‘Oppenheimer’ was such a gripping production with remarkable performances throughout.

‘Oppenheimer’ is set from 1939-1945, in Berkeley, California where we are introduced to Professor of Physics, J Robert Oppenheimer along with his students, Giovanni Rossi Lomanitz (Oliver Johnstone) and Rob Serber (Jamie Wilkes) are in the process of testing the methods of atomic fission.  In addition, Oppenhiemer or “Oppie” as he is known to his friends is soon joined by his fellow professors, Hans Bethe (Tom McCall) and Edward Teller (Ben Allen) who will then aid him in his quest to make the world’s first atomic bomb.  J Robert Oppenheimer’s love life is exceedingly troublesome as he constantly cheats on those who he is in a relationship with; this is shown when he cheats on Jean Tallock (Catherine Steadman) with vivacious, Kitty Peoning Harrison and when it is revealed that she is pregnant with his child, he decides to end his relationship with Jean. Oppenheimer’s estranged brother, Frank Oppenheimer (Michael Grady-Hall) continually feels over-shadowed by his brother’s popularity, also he is the slightly less intelligent one, and as a form of revenge he soon conspires against his brother and leaks the documents about the plans to J Robert’s rivals.  When the army becomes involved with the project, their general, General Leslie Groves says that an area of Mexico is un-inhabited and that this could be the perfect location in which the bomb and its proto-types can be manufactured.  Furthermore, the base in which the scientists will be working at can house all of their families within the one vicinity. However, the scientists become very unhappy with the military’s operations and strategies which could harm the project.  When the final outcome of the bomb is unveiled to all those who contributed to the build of the bomb, you can see the effect that it has on J Robert Oppenheimer and when the bomb is dropped on Hiroshima in 1945 he appears uneasy with the fact that he is responsible for the millions killed in the explosion. Morton-Smith’s narrative is tremendous as there is such an in depth amount of research that has been undertaken to document the men and women who were involved in creating the first atomic bomb.

One found the performances by the company of, ‘Oppenheimer’ were stunning throughout the show with electrifying choreography by Scott Ambler. John Heffernan is astonishing as the central protagonist, J Robert Oppenheimer; expressly at the point when he becomes a father and how he pleads with Charlotte Serber (Sandy Foster) to adopt his child as he thinks that he and his wife are incompetent in nurturing a child. William Gaminara (whose play, ‘The Three Lions’ was recently performed at St James Theatre) is magnificent as General Leslie Groves; in particular his demanding presence where he bombards the scientists when they are working shows how ignorant the character is. Thomasin Rand is spectacular as J Robert Oppenheimer’s lover/wife; Kitty Peoning Harrison; specifically when she regularly consumes a countless amount of alcohol and smokes a lot of cigarettes when she is heavily pregnant shows how incapable she is as an up-and-coming mother.

Angus Jackson’s direction is extraordinary here as he has worked with Morton-Smith’s dialogue in such an impressive manner that allows us to be fully transfixed with the whole story of how one man’s experiment lead to one of the most memorable incidences in world history.  Moreover, the characterisations were increasingly thorough such as the role of Robert Wilson (Jack Holden), and he is an actor that is one to look out for. Robert Innes Hopkin’s set and costume designs are breath-taking as the simplicity in which the company of actors scribe the equations with chalk on the floor and onto the walls does work wonders on the Vaudeville stage and is an intriguing technique. Additionally, Karl Dixon’s video designs are a welcomed touch to this transcendent production. Overall, the experience of, ‘Oppenheimer’ was an impressive and captivating show which puts a lot of West End shows to shame.