Anderson and Crudup electrify Albee’s marital drama, despite a slow build

Gillian Anderson and Billy Crudup star as Martha and George in Marianne Elliott’s production of Edward Albee’s *Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?* at @sohoplace in London. The review praises their forceful performances and the production’s sparks, while finding that the marriage’s conflict takes too long to feel truly dangerous.

Set after a university faculty party, the play follows George and Martha’s night-long battle as younger guests Nick and Honey become drawn into their games. Miriam Buether’s 1960s living-room set includes a drinks trolley, and the four characters’ drinking fuels the escalating confrontations. The production runs for more than three hours; despite its comic stretches and slow revolve, the ending is described as devastating.