Review: MARIE CURIE THE MUSICAL at Charing Cross Theatre, London

 

Photo credit: Pamela Raith

Date: 7th June 2024 

Seat: E5

Tickets: Gifted

Rating: 3 Stars

Marie Curie, written by Seeun Choun (book and lyrics) and Jongyoon Choi (music), made its English-language premiere at London's Charing Cross Theatre after seeing plenty of success in its native South Korea and elsewhere. But does the translated version at the Charing Cross Theatre work? The answer is more complicated than you might think. 

There are some major strengths in Marie Curie, and the cast's performances were definitely a big highlight. Ailsa Davidson's portrayal of Marie Curie was particularly compelling, and her emotional depth and fantastic vocal abilities brought something special to the role - Davidson managed to convey Curie's intense passion for science and her personal struggles, helping the audience get a little more insight into her as a woman and a scientist. 

The set (Rose Montgomery) and lighting design (Prema Mehta) were also fantastic, especially considering the small space the Charing Cross Theatre has to offer. The creative use of lighting to mimic the glow of radium added a hauntingly beautiful and atmospheric quality to the production, and this visual element vividly highlighted the dual nature of Curie's discoveries – both their brilliance and their danger. 

The musical score also had its moments of brilliance. The standout song, "Another Name," was particularly memorable and it captured the emotional essence of Curie's journey and left a lasting impression. Another notable song was "Radium Paradise," which stood out for its different style and fun dance number. These high points showcased the potential for this musical to be truly exceptional – there just weren’t enough of them, unfortunately. 

Photo credit: Pamela Raith 

While "Another Name" and "Radium Paradise" stood out as high points, other songs in the musical didn’t reach the same level of impact. The inconsistency in the quality of the musical numbers meant that the show had moments of brilliance interspersed with less memorable segments, which is such a shame; if all the songs had been as strong as these two, this could have been a truly exciting new musical. 

The translation may have been to blame for at least some of the problems in terms of the songs – it came across as quite literal, making the dialogue and lyrics feel stilted and, at times, clichéd, which completely detracted from the natural flow of conversations and songs, making some scenes feel awkward to watch. Add to that the vast number of scientific terms that came at the audience fast and furious (unavoidable in a story about Marie Curie, of course), and you’ve got a sometimes bewildering book that confused rather than educated. 

One of the other main drawbacks was the pacing of the story. The plot felt rushed, with significant events such as the deaths of Marie's father and Pierre Curie appearing abruptly without any kind of buildup – in fact, it took me a few moments to understand what had happened, and it was only when autopsies were being mentioned that I actually got what was happening. 

On top of that, due probably to the rushed storyline, character development was lacking. We didn't get to know the characters well enough to become fully invested in their journeys, and important figures in Marie Curie's life felt more like plot devices rather than fully fleshed-out characters, which detracted from the overall emotional impact of the story. One moment Marie and Pierre were working together and romance was most definitely off the table, and the next they’re married with a baby – the romance was left out, so it was hard to see them as a real couple. 

Marie Curie has the potential to be a standout production with its strong performances, and its atmospheric set and lighting design make it a joy to watch. However, there are too many other elements that hold it back from reaching its full potential. With some refinements in these areas, it could become a truly remarkable – and important – piece of theatre.

Marie Curie plays at the Charing Cross Theatre until 28th July: https://charingcrosstheatre.co.uk/theatre/marie-curie

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