The Lehman Trilogy 2024 at Gillian Lynne Theatre. L-R: Howard W Overshown, Aaron Krohn, John Heffernan © Mark DouetTHE LEHMAN TRILOGY is a genuine theatrical masterwork — an entertaining and revealing history lesson, which at its heart tells of a family driven by the need to succeed and overcome obstacles. The story begins in 1844 with the arrival in New York of a young immigrant Jew from Bavaria. Within three years, Henry (John Heffernan) is joined at his fabric and suits store in Alabama by his two brothers Mayer (Aaron Krohn) and Emanuel (Howard W. Overshown). Over the coming decades they develop their middlemen operation into a formidable brokerage house, which with each successive generation (and even allowing for the Great Depression) diversifies and reinforces its domination over the American corporate world. When, in 2008 (as the fourth largest investment bank in America) it finally collapses, the shockwaves are felt across the entire world, triggering a global economic crash.
The original National Theatre production was showered with accolades during awards season and the transfer to Broadway was met with similar critical acclaim and trophies including the Tony Award for Best Play. Subsequently, the production - which includes and relies heavily on Es Devlin’s original revolving glass box set, has also enjoyed runs in Sydney, Los Angeles and elsewhere.
With just three performers to deliver the generations of Lehmans, their various family members and business associates, the play is broken into three distinct time blocks covering the 168 year period. This affords two intervals and time to gather one’s thoughts about the magnitude of the achievements which these titans of the money markets and business world accomplished. The various personalities and their quirks are well realised, with each of the actors extracting both substantial humour and potent gravitas when necessary. The playing area is further enhanced with projections onto the massive curved screen which wraps around the back of the set enveloping the audience in cotton fields, sea scapes, urban skylines and more.
The production plays a strictly limited run at the Gillian Lynne Theatre until 5th January 2025, so if you haven’t yet seen it, deny yourself this slice of slick theatricality no longer.
