The story of Rupert Murdoch’s rise is well known. No spoiler alert needed. His media empire, including Fox News, continue to “inform” a public and support the Republican and Trump party lines. Ink takes us back to the early mogul days when an Australian businessman would take over The Sun, a London tabloid, and change news forever.
James Graham’s intricate and slyly witty play is a marvel of multi-character storytelling which swirls around the two main figures in this tale. Bertie Carvel (Matilda) won a Tony for his portrayal of Mr. Murdoch. His body language and vocal inflections suggest slithering snake meets predatory fox. The fascinating extra view is that there is a cloud of prudishness in his worldview. For a tabloid which introduced Page 3 girls to print newspapers, that sidebar is interesting.
Jonny Lee Miller (After Miss Julie) is equally expert as Larry Lamb, the man handpicked to be the paper’s editor. He scours Fleet Street and the local watering holes to drum up his team. They are all going to have “fun” and give the people what they want. In the process he warns his boss, “there’s going to be a lot of blood.” Murdoch replies, “God I hope so.”
Murdoch wants “something loud” to upend the British establishment. “When I hear codes and traditions, I hear things which benefit those that have written them.” The motto is “we punch up and not down.” For people concerned about the state of media communications today, this play is timely, troubling, very funny and hugely entertaining.
Directed as a swirling hurricane by Rupert Goold, the edges are sharp and the insights are meaty and delicious. What will these journalists do to make The Sun the number one paper in the United Kingdom? There is a scene where the unheard of idea to produce a television commercial is filmed. Andrew Durand (Head Over Heels) plays the actor hired to communicate the message while cognizant of time and costs. The moment is nothing short of hysterical.
The large cast is extremely accomplished in support of a story packed with details and amusing tidbits. There is real tragedy of course since tabloids are known for chewing people up and spitting them out. That section is riveting stuff. It is also revolting and speaks volumes about the evolution of the media since then.
The set design by Bunny Christie is a marvelous pyramid of news desks cleverly designed to allow multiple levels of entrances and exits. Frenetic is the newsroom. Neil Austin won a Tony for the lighting design and it is magically nostalgic yet dark and seedy at the same time. The original music (Adam Cork) is the heartbeat propelling this tale. Jon Driscoll’s projection design is integral in adding to the tension and allowing us a visual glimpse at some of this tabloid’s history.
Near the end of the play comes an unsurprising but still powerful reveal. Once you capture the minds of a large class of people, you can mold them to your way of thinking. That is what The Sun did during the rise of Margaret Thatcher. That is what Fox News and others have also done in America.
When my parents were screaming at me one day about President Obama taking all our guns away, I knew the mission was complete. I had never heard them mention guns in my life, now they were rabid venom spewers. For a superbly entertaining and creatively staged glimpse into how we got here, Ink is required viewing.