REVIEW: THE ECSTASY OF HEDY LAMARR @ NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE

🎭 The Ecstasy of Hedy Lamarr

📍 Studio at New Wimbledon Theatre, 93 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London, SW19 1QG

🗓 Monday 13th October 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️

A DAZZLING BUT DISJOINTED GLIMPSE AT TROUBLED BRILLIANCE

On paper, the story of Hedy Lamarr is pure theatrical gold. The Hollywood icon, known for her mesmerising beauty, harboured a secret genius, inventing a 'frequency hopping' technology that became the basis for modern wireless communication.

THE ECSTACY OF HEDY LAMARR, premiering in the intimate Studio at the New Wimbledon Theatre, wants to be the backstage pass to this extraordinary, contradictory life. It's a show with moments of dazzling clarity and heartfelt emotion, but one that ultimately feels as fragmented as the memories of its subject.

The performances here are what elevates this production from a pleasant diversion to a compelling portrait. Suzy Bloom is utterly magnetic in the title role. She embodies not just the famed beauty, but the brittle, unfulfilled intellect beneath. She shifts effortlessly between Lamarr's public persona, with its clipped Hollywood glamour, and the unguarded and insecure inner self. She is an absolute joy to watch, holding court with a palpable charisma that fills the small space wonderfully. I was also impressed with her accent, and how it evolved as she become more Americanised.

Paul Easom also gave a strong performance. Primarily playing a detective, he transitioned to other roles such as a film producer or Lamarr's husband effortlessly and with great believability.

The ambition of the staging is commendable. The use of fragmented projections and sound creates an intriguing, almost dreamlike quality. It's a clever way to convey a life lived in fragments - fame, invention, and personal tragedy all vying for attention. It works well when reinforcing Lamarr's tragic reality, a woman whose true potential was ignored because of her beautiful facade.

However, this is also where the production stumbles. While the technical elements ate individually effective, they don't always blend into a cohesive whole. There are times when the scene transitions, although necessary, feel long-winded and clunky.

The narrative jumps around, often without giving the audience enough time to connect with one period of Lamarr's life before moving onto the next. There are so many stories to tell - the early controversial film Ecstasy, the secret invention, the multiple marriages, the troubled later years - and the play tries to squeeze them all in. The result is a production that feels a little like a whirlwind tour rather than a deep dive, which means it's interesting but not as engaging as I personally would have liked it to be.

Overall I felt that this was a very good performance of a not-quite-finished production, The glimmers of greatness are indeed there, with Bloom's performance alone worth the ticket price (and worth me running to the theatre for after being delayed on my journey!).

Like Lamarr herself, the show is caught between its heartbreaking facade and the brilliant but disjointed ambition that lies beneath.

THE ECSTACY OF HEDY LAMARR continues performances in the Studio at New WImbledon Theatre until Saturday 18th October. Click here for more information and to book tickets.

Neill Kovacic-Clarke

All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one person.

My ticket for this performance of The Ecstacy of Hedy Lamarr was gifted by New Wimbledon Theatre who invited me to watch the show in exchange for my honest review. The fact that my ticket was gifted played no part in the content of my review or the star rating given.

CAST LIST:

Suzy Bloom as Hedy Lamarr; Paul Easom as The Detective (and others)

RUNNING TIME (approx):

1 hour 15 minutes, with no interval

AGE GUIDELINE:

14 +

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