Love story can't rescue war drama

12:16pm Wednesday 16th July 2008

SETTING a love story against historical events is a well-worn theatrical and literary tradition, but one, it seems, that is often tricky to pull off.

Margeurite, based on a novel by Alexandre Dumas, is set in Nazi-occupied France and features a lavish revolving set, mixing elegant Parisian drawing rooms and apartments, with darkened streets hinting at the cold brutality of war.

The story features Margeurite, an unhappy and unfulfilled former prostitute who is the mistress of a high-ranking and misogynistic German general named Otto, who, in one of the show's memorable moments, growls out a number called I Hate The Very Thought of Women.

Margeurite, played by the elegant but slightly cloying Ruthie Henshall, attends parties hosted by well-to-do French folk who praise the Nazis plans for the deportation of the Jews because it suits them.

Margeurite falls in love with a good-looking pianist half her age named Armand, who is a member of the resistance.

It soon transpires that the humourless and ogreish Otto is in charge of rounding up Jews, resistance members and other prisoners for deportation.

Margeurite and Armand's affair is therefore fraught with danger.

But while Margeurite and Armand spend a lot of time wailing about their forbidden love, a secondary plot is played out involving Armand's sister Annette and her boyfriend Lucien, who has to flee Nazi-occupied zone as he is Jewish.

And this, for me, is where the problem with Margeurite lies.

It is difficult to care too much about the love story when others are fighting against Facism to prevent Jews being carted off to the camps.

Is this a Les Mis-style call to arms? or a Romeo & Juliet-tale of forbidden love? But more seriously, with the exception of the beautiful, piano-led China Doll, this is a show that largely lacks stirring and memorable music.

Even the brash Day by Day, which is repeated to emphasise the hypocritical attitude shown towards the Nazis after the war by some parts of French society, does not really pull at the heart strings.

Margeurite is undoubtedly entertaining but the ending left me cold.

And judging by the somewhat muted reaction of the audience at the end, this one may not run for too long. Marguerite runs at Theatre Royal, Haymarket, London, SW1 until November 1 2008 Tube: Piccadilly Circus. To book call: 0870 4000 626.

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