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Maybe because I'm rather familiar with German current affairs as part of my daily job, Frayn's play had fascinated me ever since I first saw the RNT production in London a couple of years ago. Last year I had also caught up with a short German tour of the play, with a completely different directorial approach. And all along I couldn't stop thinking that the role of Willy Brandt would be a great new challenge for PQ. Back from my Aussie experience I'm now happy to say I wasn't wrong! In his performance PQ succeeded in giving the German Chancellor a new depth, adding so many meaningful layers to his personality. I hate to make comparisons between performers, but I'm afraid I cannot make my point otherwise: IMO PQ's Brandt had that essential charisma - that Roger Allam had conveyed so well in the Cottesloe production - but leaving out some of the more boisterous attitudes. PQ's Brandt was definitely more poised and collected, but without becoming boring (my experience with the German production comes to mind...).
To cut a long analysis short: we all know in one way or other what a master PQ is whenever it comes to embodying complex characters. With Democracy the stake was even higher than usual: for the first time in his career he had to deal with a modern historical figure, which meant that his performance and reading of his role had to keep within certain boundaries. The result believe me was enthralling, I think no one in the audience could fail to feel deeply involved in the rise and fall of this vulnerable man, who was trying his best to serve his party and his country, but couldn't ultimately fight his inner demons.
