Marc
Warren is not likely to be admitted to hospital with cholesterol
poisoning any time soon. In the central episode of Donn Pearce’s 1965
novel and the subsequent movie version starring Paul Newman,
protagonist Luke eats 50 hard-boiled eggs in an hour for a bet in the
Florida prison camp to which he has been sent for cutting the heads off
parking meters. In Andrew Loudon’s production, the illusionism is
clever but only the first egg is genuine; on press night, Warren even
“clocked” the audience as he bit into it.
Comparisons
would be invidious with Newman’s screen version of the former war hero
whose philosophy is “always play a cool hand” even whilst compulsively
chafing up against the violent, redneck “bosses” who run the camp. For
the most part, such comparisons are not necessary: Emma Reeves’
adaptation is of the novel, not the screenplay. Consequently, Luke is
much angrier, rather than the smilingly defiant near-masochist on
celluloid. Warren’s Luke is always visibly aware when he is sassing one
of the bosses.
Loudon and Reeves have
made a number of stage adaptations for their company Novel Theatre,
working up to West End outings for their
Little Women and
Carrie’s War.
Their experience and canniness are evident. For instance, the film has
only two female characters, both minor: Luke’s mother, and a girl who
is ogled by the road gang one day. Thus, incorporating into this
version a chorus of four gospel singers helps mitigate the gender
imbalance, as well as serving to add fluidity during the changes
between what would otherwise be too many, too short scenes and bulking
out the running time a little. These singers are impressively led by
Sandra Marvin.
The central issue,
though, pulls us back to Newman. The comparison, as I say, is not
necessary in terms of portrayal, but it is inevitable with respect to
the package. Despite its semi-autobiographical authenticity,
Cool Hand Luke
does not have significant status as a novel. It is the film version
that enthrals, and it does so because that incarnation of Luke charms
us and engages our sympathies. This stage Luke, for all Warren’s
abilities, is neither seductive, nor as an alternative rascally, enough
to compel us through the evening. In emotional terms – and to quote the
film’s most memorable line, which does not occur in this adaptation –
“What we’ve got here is failure to communicate.”
Written for the Financial
Times.