Roosevelvis review, Royal Court

There are a couple of moments in Roosevelvis that provide such unalloyed joy that you almost don't believe what you're seeing because it's so silly and so wonderful. All centre on the character of Brenda who transforms herself into her hero - the great hunter and adored US President, Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt. Brenda, in full whiskers and hunting gear, lives out moments from his life as she sees them. In one scene she's translating bird call, in another she dons boxing gloves and attacks a herd of stampeding buffalo projected onto a free-hanging screen, punching them gleefully on their noses.

Roosevelvis is a production from the American company TEAM which devises works that reflects the state of the American nation. In this case, the state of the nation is 1991 Hollywood as the running motif is scenes from Thelma and Louise. Brenda's partner, and partner in crime, is Ann whose depressive and ploddy Elvis in baggy white pants and battered slip-ons, lives alongside the exuberant Teddy.  Near the end of 90 minutes there's a very funny piece of video with Ann and Brenda playing the leads in the final, dramatic, moments of Thelma and Louise. The only difference is, nobody's after them.

When you examine the highlights Roosevelvis should be a fabulous watch, but it doesn't sustain because the characters aren't equally interesting or well matched. The piece is too abstract and the quality of the set and the video and the sound and the lighting are superior to the quality of the script. Libby King is given little to work with as the ageing, ailing, Elvis and while Kristen Sieh brings a joyous cartoon brightness to every scene as Teddy Roosevelt, even cartoons need a story.

In conclusion: The Thelma and Louise homages provide the driving thought behind this narrative, and perhaps there's a message too in having a pair of lesbians choosing to become dead men? Whatever the answer, I found Roosevelvis underwritten, overdone, and a bit tiring because it was either brilliant or totally flat. Is that the state of the American nation?

References
Roosevelvis, Royal Court Theatre, Tickets

Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, London SW3.  Run ends November 14.