The Roses is a witty update of the story of a married couple whose egos collide with the passion they have for each other. They have passion but not compassion.
Theo is an architect, Ivy, a chef. His career is brought crashing down – literally – by the very tempest that brings the spotlight on to Ivy’s restaurant. Theo stays home to take care of their twins while Ivy builds an empire of crab shacks. As the resentment builds between them they become increasingly bitter – expressed to each other with outstandingly dry British humor – until Ivy declares that one of the two must “sacrifice their career on the altar of [their] marriage”. It would be more accurate to say that both their lives are sacrificed on the altar of ego.
It’s a great cast, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Theo, and Olivia Coleman as Ivy. The ensemble includes Saturday Night Live alumni Kate McKinnon and Andy Samberg amongst the cast of the bizarre friends of the Roses. Sunita Mani and Ncuti Gatwa (Dr. Who, Barbie), are having a great time as Ivy’s restaurant staff.
So, it’s witty, well-cast and erudite in a viciously sharp British humor way. What’s not to like? The two main characters, mainly. The amount of acting skill it takes for Benedict Cumberbatch to become both pitiable and loathsome is significant, and he pulls it off brilliantly. The chemistry between Cumberbatch and Ivy Coleman is terrific. They are both so driven and egotistical. It’s hard to tell which one to dislike the most.
The dark, dry English humor won’t appeal to everybody. The lengths Theo and Ivy go to to undermine each other are both extraordinary and utterly possible, given their competitiveness. When they finally decide to divorce and battle over custody of the dream house Theo has built – not custody of the kids you’ll note, but the house – things ratchet up exponentially. There’s a scene where Ivy throws two live crabs into the bathwater while Theo is trying to relax. There was an audible sharp intake of breath from the male members of the audience on that one. When Theo retaliates by dousing a first-edition cookbook of Auguste Escoffier in brandy and burning it, my wife – who is also a chef – covered her eyes as if it were a scene from a horror film.
With all that, why go to see The Roses? If you’re a fan of British humor, you’ll understand and enjoy the rapid-fire repartee between Theo and Ivy. If your circle of friends includes the bizarre, you’ll love the wonderful character-acting from the ensemble. If you’ve ever been in a long-term relationship with its ups and downs, you’ll likely start to think you’re rather normal compared to the Roses. The music by Theodore Shapiro interplays seamlessly with the pop songs that highlight the hijinks. And you’ll love the updated ending.