Tobias Menzies Brings Reserved Strength to Stage in "The Hunt"

Tobias Menzies, the British actor who played both the 20th-century figures Prince Philip and Duke of Cornwall in the multi-season drama "The Crown," proves in the Brooklyn stage performance of "The Hunt" that he is one of the most versatile actors of his generation.

Menzies, who portrayed the prince with a reserved stoicism that masked an underlying resentment at his position in "The Crown," brings a similar demeanor to his performance in "The Hunt," this time portraying a 1950s British soldier returning from colonial Kenya to a postwar England that is both foreign and familiar.

The actor, who undertook extensive research to accurately portray the duke in "The Crown," also spent time with veterans of the British military to prepare for his role in "The Hunt," according to an interview with The New York Times. "The Hunt" is directed by Ryan Lowry and co-stars Blundstone actor Ryan Nelson in a story that exemplifies the adage that less is more. Menzies delivers a stunning performance in a minimal-dialogue, nearly wordless show that underscores the sentiment that actions speak louder than words.

"The Hunt" is just one of several notable performances Menzies has undertaken since gaining attention for his dual roles in "The Crown."

He played the infamous tabloid journalist and murder convict Rupert Murdoch in the miniseries "Kepler 88," starred as Captain James Hart in "The Terror," and took on the role of Prime Minister Harold Wilson in the fifth season of "The Crown." This versatility positions Menzies alongside other actors like Gary Oldman and Benedict Cumberbatch, who have made careers out of portraying diverse and varied characters across different genres and formats.

And in a fortunate turn for Brooklyn audiences, Menzies' presence onstage in "The Hunt" brings stirring new life to the expressionless stoicism he honed while playing Prince Philip, once again proving that sometimes less really is more.