The Lehman Trilogy is ambitious just like the brothers. More than a century of history is experienced in one sitting. Henry, Emanuel and Mayer Lehman immigrated to the South of America as German Jews and started the business which later became a global financial firm initially as cotton traders having little. The story of the brothers and their business is a fascinating one of success, failures, death and money. A lot of money. The production is therefore rich in facts and numbers that account for the many dollars that had been made and lost.
The brothers' story is narrated in a third-person's perspective. The brilliant actors, Howard Overshown, Aaron Krohn and Leighton Pugh (who stepped in as understudy) are convincing, not only as the brothers but also as many other acquaintances, family members and business partners that they present by changing their mannerisms. The old school office which sets the show at times becomes a burning cotton field and chaotic trading floor. It is very much on the actors to propose to the imagination, which is done effectively. The imageries on the screen also add to the geographical and at times emotional contexts. Luke Halls did an excellent job in the minute details, especially where the dim and blurry skyline of New York becomes more and more clear and definite as it enters the 21st century.
If the history lessons at school were like the Lehman Trilogy, I would have certainly enjoyed it better. However, the value of retrospective insight is somewhat lost. The trilogy does not account for why the brothers did what they have done. Their emotions and motivations are very opaque. Their religious identities are insisted on but not explored. This lack of depth renders the characters caricaturistic. Surely, there must have been more to these men than money. Nonetheless, history is told, and it is told with some top-of-the-class acting in a fine set. Sam Mendes gives a very entertaining history lesson.
It runs until 5 January 2025. Tickets: here.
Review: Sam Lee Photo: Mark Douet