Review of ‘A Letter to Lyndon B. Johnson’: “Battling its own elements”

The Soho Theatre hosted the London transfer of this historical two-hander comedy, following its initial run at the Edinburgh Fringe. Guillermo Nazara shares his views on the show, to let us know if this farcical tale set during the Vietnam comes well-armed to the front line of the stage.

They love Lyndon. They’re doing it for Lyndon. They want to meet Lyndon. They’d die for Lyndon. And, if they haven’t made themselves clear or you haven’t guessed yet – yes, they love Lyndon. That’s pretty much all we can grasp from a show whose title doesn’t pull any punches about what is going to offer. Because that’s basically it. Two young boys repeating the same mantra over and over again, with just a few tiny additions of introspection scattered around.

But sadly, that’s not enough. This is a farce that mixes children’s make-believe with the struggles in the battlefield. A blurred line separates both realities, forged on the ambiguity of their true essence and the connection between both. Are those playful excerpts the fond memories of two adults finding comfort amidst the hardships of war? Or is it all a fantasy fabricated by two kids dreaming of becoming the greatest American heroes? We can’t really know – and that’s precisely the point.

However, as much as both the premise and its framing build an interesting basis, the writing achieves little success at seducing the viewer and getting him invested into this journey. Despite the script’s continuous intentions to pull from the heart’s strings, there’s not much of an emotional force to be drawn to. Subsequently, the narrative loses engagement quite rapidly, to a point where it gets arduous to keep ourselves focused on what’s going on – that is, if something ever is.

The production makes up for some of these flaws, though – but only to some extent. Its minimal staging is crafted with theatrical prowess, able to paint intricate pictures with practically no tools other than light, movement, and an imaginative use of a single prop. At the same time, its two-piece cast saves the evening through their satisfactory performing skills – both oozing a great deal chemistry and rapport towards each other, while playing their parts with vigorous presence and command.

Every story has two sides – even when it’s fictional. For there’s the thought and passion any author must put into their work, which is palpable in this case. But that same level of care must be triggered in those who experience their creation. Wistfully, A Letter To Lyndon B. Johnson follows its trail of events way too faithfully – and much like their protagonist’s quests, all the expectations it generates will remain as a vaporous dream that’s unlikely to materialise.

All pictures credit to MorganMcDowell.

Upcoming shows at the Soho Theatre are available on the following link.

By Guillermo Nazara