Tuesday, 20 December 2011

Comedy of Errors, The National Theatre (Olivier)

Present: Kate, Helen, Nic

Date: December 20, 2011

The one with Lenny Henry?

I recall being confused but perhaps that's the point?

Thursday, 29 September 2011

The Veil, The National Theatre (Lyttelton)

Present: Nic, Kate

Date: September 28, 2011

A chilling ghost story in an Irish country house, I think.  Something about a doctor or priest?  A seance?  A little girl?

Does someone commit suicide at the end?  Did we like it?

I cannot remember.  Proof positive of the need for the blog!

Wednesday, 14 September 2011

Thursday, 21 July 2011

The Emperor and The Galilean, The National Theatre (Olivier)

Present: Kate, Nic, Helen

Date: July 21, 2011

Breathtaking from the moment we entered the theatre, which, with an immense cross hanging above the stage, was like entering a Cathedral; this was a powerful examination of the theory that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.  The battle scenes with stomping soldiers were loud and rousing.  The astonishing stage at this theatre created multiple levels above and below ground but always with a stark simplicity. 

Kate and I loved this, with a passion, but it wasn't so much Helen's cup of tea.

Maybe my favourite play to date (2014).

Friday, 8 July 2011

Betrayal, Comedy Theatre

Present: Nic, Brian, Helen, Nic J, Gill

Date: July 8, 2011

Dinner: Pre-theatre at Busaba Eathai

The magical KST starred in this clever Harold Pinter based on the true story of his affair with Joan Bakewell.  A little snippet that Helen's Mum was able to impart.

The story of a long-term affair is told backwards from the end to the beginning.  There's more than one betrayal: woman betrays husband; husband betrays friend and is betrayed in turn; lovers betray each other ...

Wednesday, 25 May 2011

Much Ado About Nothing, Wyndhams Theatre

May 25, 2011

Present: Nic, Kate, Gill

A brilliant production as befits one from the Donmar Warehouse.  Josie Rourke's production had us smiling and laughing from the start.  Whilst there was just a little too much Catherine Tate in Beatrice for my liking, David Tennant was a revelation as Benedick and their previous television relationship no doubt aided their performances.  His physical comedy during the "eaves dropping" scene was one of the funniest things I have watched.  Beatrices's corresponding scene over-egged things a little for me in the grandiose staging and lost some of the laughs that the simple setting but intricate choreography and timing of Benedick's scene provided.  This may be the best and most accessible version of this play ever.

I never will truly accept, however, that Hero could forgive Claudio or her father to produce the "happy" ending.

Friday, 25 March 2011

Cause Celebre, The Old Vic

Present: Helen, Nic J, Nic, Brian.  Definitely NOT Kate.

Date March 24, 2011

Ah, the play that two and half years after we saw it, started the blog!  It transpires that, though this is Rattigan, and Kate is Rattigan's biggest fan, she was not here and did not see it: a fact with which my memory struggled. We think Kate was jet-lagged and unable to attend.

This was play was quite good fun, as I recall: a middle-aged, glamorous woman, who falls for a young boy, which relationship ends in her husband's death and her execution.  Hmm... I say fun but when one summarises it like that ...

I recall a few problems with the performance, some missed words (?), the need of a prompt?  Not a brilliant production.






Friday, 28 January 2011

Black Chiffon, White Bear Theatre Club

Present: Nic, Kate, Gill

Date: January 28, 2011

The one that ended with a poignant father-son moment of "honour", I think - pretty sure I was crying.

Despite a poor recollection of what happened, I have a lingering sense of affection for this old and little-performed play about a middle-aged society woman who steals a negligee on the eve of her son's wedding.

Friday, 7 January 2011

Men Should Weep, The National Theatre (Lyttelton)

Present: Helen, Nic, Kate

Date: January 6, 2011

The one set in the Glaswegian tenement.