Photo: Marc Brenner

Cold War – book by Conor McPherson, music by Elvis Costello, based on the film by Paweł Pawlikowski – Almeida Theatre, London

Cold War, adapted from Paweł Pawlikowski’s 2018 film, is a dark story about dislocation. Wiktor and Zula leave their Polish folk singing troupe to escape the control of the 1950s Communist regime, but freedom in Paris does not solve their problems. The film, in black and white, has a charged atmosphere and air of strangeness that is sadly lacking in the Almeida’s musical version, by stellar pair Conor McPherson and Elvis Costello. Rupert Goold pulled off a triumph with Tammy Faye, by the equally exciting combination of James Graham, Jake Shears and Elton John, but Cold War does not repeat the trick. It is far too conventional a musical, taking flight when the dialogue builds tension, then dissipating it immediately with the next musical number.

The production strengths are movement, directed by Ellen Kane, and ensemble performance, with some dramatic Polish folk song and dance numbers and a wild ‘Rock Around the Clock’. Costello music sounds just like songs written for a musical, lacking distinctive character. The set by Jon Bausor – shabby piano, distressed interior – remains the same in Poland and France, from era to era, lacking any sense of place. Of the cast, Anya Chalotra as Zula has energy and strength, and Elliot Levey, always reliable, plays older impresario Kaczmarek very well. But the show takes itself very seriously indeed and, as a result, never achieves the levels of glee that made Tammy Faye a hit.