The Da Vinci Code Is An Exhilarating Ride
Since its release in 2003, The Da Vinci Code has become a phenomenon, the book that launched a thousand theories about the truth of the bible, of Jesus Christ, and the possibility of a bloodline that exists through the ages right up to the present. A so so film adaptation followed, with Tom Hanks totally miscast as Robert Langdon, but now the story has been adapted all over again in the form of a stage play and is delighting audiences with it’s dazzling staging, exciting premise and a wonderful central performance from Nigel Harman as Robert Langdon. As a true fan of the book, I watched this last night at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre and I can honestly say this could not have been staged any better.
Symbologist and lecturer Robert Langdon is called to The Louvre following the murder of the museum curator Jacques Saunière. Whilst being questioned by detectives, a police expert, Sophie Neveu arrives and tells him to check his phone. He does, and finds a message from Sophie telling him he must leave asap as he is a suspect in the murder, that he is named in a message the dead man left on a Da Vinci painting, and that Sophie is the dead man’s granddaughter. Robert escapes from the police with Sophie’s help, and then uncovers a trail of messages throughout the Louvre that indicates that Sophie’s grandfather was the keeper of an enormous, important secret. But others are also seeking the secret, including a murderous, flagellant monk, Silas, who will stop at nothing to get it. What follows is an exhilarating ride through an alternative history that means you will never look at the works of Da Vinci in quite the same way again.
Nigel Harman was born to play Robert Langdon, making him nervous, bookish, almost bordering on nerdy, rather than an Indiana Jones figure. He is ably supported by Hannah Rose Caton as Sophie, all excitable energy and expressive animation. Danny John Jules is excellent as Sir Leigh Teabing, a real scene stealer who plays the part to perfection. Joshua Lacey is genuinely sinister as the murderous monk Silas, and adds real horror to the proceedings.
The Da Vinci Code is fast and furious, moving you from one adventure to another at breakneck speed, and this pace keeps up the constant anticipation of what will happen next. This is all aided by a wonderful set that uses graphics and images to not only create settings, but to explain the codes that are so important to moving the plot forward. This is a truly thrilling theatre experience that forces you to ask questions about all you think you know about the foundations of Christianity.
THE DA VINCI CODE
09 Mar–12 Mar 2022
Click here for ticket information