Review: The Ballad of Truman Capote, Andrew O'Hagan | Edinburgh Fringe 2023
- Lisa in the theatre
- Aug 17, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 28
The Ballad of Truman Capote ★★★☆☆
review: theSpaceUK, Edinburgh Festival Fringe | August 2023
"The Plaza Hotel, New York, 28 November 1966. Truman Capote, literary star and author of Breakfast at Tiffany’s and In Cold Blood, is hosting his famous Black and White Ball. The writer brings Washington power-brokers, Hollywood stars, society hostesses, fashion editors and pop artists, poets and musical celebrities to the party of the century. One hour before the ball begins, Capote holes up in his room. The Ballad of Truman Capote is the resulting monologue, a tragi-comical memory play depicting the highs and lows of the invented life, and the price of fame."
The Ballad of Truman Capote is a new play by award-winning Scottish author Andrew O'Hagan. Set 'in-the-round', the audience literally surrounds Capote as he paces, ponders and generally avoids people from the seclusion and comfort of his hotel suite. Knocks at his door go unanswered as he knocks back a cocktail or two. He does however answer the phone, giving only curt guidance as to who should be permitted into the party and who is definitely not welcome. He's opinionated and resolute. Not there to enforce his wishes in person, instead he relies on whichever unfortunate aide is at the end of the phone line to run the show.
Perhaps not the intention, but I took this as an avoidance tactic. I too would rather be alone in a lavish hotel suite than face crowds of people! Is he also drinking to calm his nerves? Either way, alone and becoming less and less sober, Capote begins to reminisce about his life. He passes comment on everything from the beautiful people arriving at the ball, to the reception and interpretation of his book 'In Cold blood'.
It's a one-man, one-way gossip session and it felt a little like watching a caged animal at the zoo.
Patrick Moy is exceptional as Capote. From what I know of Capote, Moy gets his voice and mannerisms spot on. His high-pitched, effeminate, southern accent is distinct and must be difficult to maintain. Moy never falls into parody though; he's entirely convincing and captivating.
Moy also does a fantastic job of never staying still for too long; always moving, always turning to ensure that no section of the audience faces his back for too long. It's a considered performance that must be exhausting! Writer and Director Andrew O'Hagan wished for his audiences to spend an intimate hour alone with Truman Capote, and baring the invention of resurrection, this is a close as you're ever likely to get.
Beside that, there isn't too much else to the play. No great reveals, no build of tension or revelation. It's simply a surveillance exercise; an hour that gives us a voyeuristic glimpse into one man's racing, often cruel, mind.
I enjoyed it, and I really appreciate the quality of the acting, directing and production, but it isn't my favourite of this author's work. ★★★☆☆
Writer and director Andrew O’Hagan said:
“As an author, Truman Capote caught something essential about the 20th century. I’ve always been fascinated by him. He was a great stylist, a courageous little human being, and a witness to some of the great events and personalities of the age. So I wanted to get him onstage. I want audiences to have an intimate hour with one of the most original, funny, and troubling characters of recent times. We live in the age of self-invention, and here he is—the Inventor of Self-Invention.”
Truman Capote
“I don’t care what anybody says about me so long as it isn’t true.”
“You can’t blame a writer for what the characters say.”
When and Where?
Venue: TheSpaceUK, Upper Theatre, Niddry Street
Dates: 4th - 26th August
Tme: 18:05 (55 mins)
Age Guidance: 12+
About Andrew O'Hagan
Andrew O’Hagan has three times been nominated for the Booker Prize and has won book awards from the LA Times and the American Academy of Arts and Letters. His latest novel Mayflies was a bestseller and a series on BBC1; his book Be Near Me was adapted by the National Theatre of Scotland and ran at the Donmar Warehouse; and his play The Missing was mounted at the Tramway Theatre in Glasgow. The Ballad of Truman Capote receives its premiere at Edinburgh.
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