A new theatrical production delving into the high-stakes political manoeuvring of the American Civil War era has opened in London. 'Our American Queen' focuses on the formidable Kate Chase, the socially and politically astute daughter of Abraham Lincoln's Treasury Secretary, Salmon P. Chase.
A Savvy Operator in a Man's World
The play, written by Thomas Klingenstein and presented by the Brooklyn-based company the american vicarious, is set on the eve of the 1864 US presidential election. Kate Chase is depicted as her father's chief strategist, managing alliances and public perception for his challenge against President Lincoln. Her tools include planning a pivotal campaign-launching party and even considering a lucrative marriage to fund the endeavour, all while navigating a complex relationship with Lincoln's secretary, John Hay.
The narrative raises compelling questions about female power, ambition, and the psychological impact of a distant father. However, the production, directed by Christopher McElroen, struggles to explore these themes with full depth or satisfying heft.
Dense Dialogue and Confined Scope
One of the play's significant challenges is its script, which often becomes mired in expositional detail about the Civil War. This leaves little room for the witty badinage that would better showcase Kate's renowned intellect. Furthermore, her political machinations are largely confined to the domestic sphere, as she mines Hay for information, primes military commander George B. McClellan (Haydn Hoskins), and prods her father's love interest, Carlotta (Christy Meyer). This deliberate sidelining from the public arena can feel frustrating for an audience eager to witness her prowess in action.
Neal Wilkinson's set design centres on a huge dining table, bedecked for Kate's party, symbolising the crucial role of appearances and those excluded from power. A gilded frame displays changing images that keep pace with the war. A directorial choice to occasionally show a live feed of actors turning upstage proves a distracting technical flourish, robbing scenes of direct, face-to-face intensity.
Performances and Central Relationship
The most successful element of the play is the charged relationship between Kate and John Hay. Wallis Currie-Wood brings a steely determination to Kate, while Tom Victor's sensitive portrayal of Hay stokes sparks of vulnerability in her. Their flirtatious sparring around the enormous table works well, culminating in a powerful release of repressed emotion. Darrell Brockis is suitably impassive as Salmon P. Chase, though an inconsistent accent can be distracting.
In the end, 'Our American Queen' wrestles with balancing Kate's documented historical actions with imagined interior motivations. It leaves the audience intrigued but ultimately uncertain about what truly drove this ambitious woman. The play is being staged at Bridewell Theatre in London until 7 February.
