Review: FATAL ATTRACTION, Cambridge Arts Theatre - UK tour (April 2022)

Photo credit: Tristram Kenton

We reviewed Fatal Attraction early in its run at Theatre Royal Brighton. A cast change later and we are back at Cambridge Arts Theatre with a new Beth and Alex Forrest for our viewing. 

The very capable Susie Amy switches from playing wife Beth to playing bunny boiler Alex Forrest. Amy barely received a mention in our original review but this time, it feels right that she gets the main chunk of it as she steals the show. 

Susie Amy manages to somehow make you feel sorry for Alex but at the same time disgusted by her actions. She shows off her versatility in producing soft, tender moments and sinister one’s scenes later. Her facial expressions always manage to make you believe that she is deranged and the only thing missing from her performance is a maniacal laugh. 

Her hair style could be further considered as it blocks off her face during a very moving scene, leading to a lack of empathy from the audience. This could be simply done by pinning her hair back for this scene as it feels such an important one to not be able to get the full brunt of Amy’s acting. 

In the role vacated by Amy is now Louise Redknapp, a stalwart of the entertainment industry and a household name for most. Her portrayal of Beth is good. She definitely makes you empathise with her as a character, but her performance is somewhat held in. Even when arguing with Dan over the affair, it is a very contained and subdued performance that could be bigger and more emotional. 

The accents of the pair do seem to be lacking in places and you can tell the actors struggle a little in points, mainly high emotion points to keep in touch with the New York accent. This doesn’t hinder the believability of the piece, as you are introduced to the setting at the very beginning and reminded throughout the piece, so you never really lose that aspect of storytelling. 

Oliver Farnworth continues to excel in the role of Dan and has good chemistry with both of the female leads to bring across believable relationships. 

Sticking with our original star rating, Besties. The cast change hasn’t hindered the performance any and it is worth seeing for Susie Amy’s performance alone.

*** Three stars

Reviewed by: Emma Rooney

Fatal Attraction plays at Cambridge Arts Theatre until 30 April, with tickets for its final touring venue in York available here.