Ruth
Wiltons Music Hall
⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑

THIS excellently crafted musical about the life and death of Ruth Ellis grips throughout.

Ellis, the last woman executed in Britain, in 1955, has been a controversial subject over the years. Her family are still seeking justice.

This version centres around a double act between Ellis, in her prison cell, in dialogue with executioner Albert Pierrepoint. He is excellently played in fatherly fashion by Ian Puleston-Davies, and the portrayal of Ellis has a touch of the Marilyn Monroe, particularly in the cell scenes.

Meanwhile, the story of Ellis’s life goes on in the split stage all around. Ellis is played by Bibi Simpson in the cell and Hannah Traylen during the life story. Mel-Li Yap plays Ellis as a child. There are also excellent performances from Connor Payne as the abusive partner David Blakeley, and John Faal as the unrequited lover Desmond Cussen.

Andy Morgan and Denise Silvey do an excellent job directing, keeping a nice pace and interlocking the scenes well into a strong narrative. The set design from Nicolai Hart-Hansen is clever, managing to use a small space to create multifaceted story-telling.

The musical essentially revolves around the two relationships. The first, abusive one, with racing driver David Stanley; and the second with Pierrepoint for 21 hours in the cell before her execution.

The double standards of the 1950s are clear for all to see. The power imbalance between men and women, with the violence, control and patriarchal judgement all evident. There is a chilling parallel with society today.

The songs ring out, illustrating the dialogue. One particular effective tune by the “working girls” brings down the lawyers and judge, who also happen to be clients.

The Pierrepoint interchange delves into the iniquities of capital punishment. Ellis refers to the executions of innocent men Derek Bentley and Timothy Evans, while Pierrepoint insists there must be a deterrent. Later on, however, in response to Ellis’s admission of killing one person, Pierrepoint admits to having killed over 400.

The Pierrepoint scene, of course, is a total fiction. It portrays him interceding with the Home Office to try to get clemency for Ellis. In reality, there was a 50,000 signature petition but then home secretary Gwilyam Lloyd George rejected it.

The hanging of Ellis, however, is said to have deeply effected Pierrepoint. He performed his final execution two weeks later.

Ruth is an excellent production, taking a well-known story and introducing a number of more contemporary themes. The interchange of dialogue and music works well to bring a strong narrative to life. Well worth seeing.

Runs till March 28. Box Office: 020 7702 2789, wiltons.org.uk