July 24th, 2013
Present: Nic, Brian, Luuk, Gill, Ron, Hanneke, and, eventually (!) Pierre-Yves, Nicola DL, Barbara, and Kauser.
Dinner: Post-theatre at Bibigo, Great Marlborough Street
Those Pimco folks continue to cut it fine and put in one of their best performances tonight!
Many of us had read the novella of the same name and were interested to see it brought to life. The staging was absolutely faithful to the book; understated and charming. The performances of both actors were precise, subtle and moving, their timing and their minimal interactions perfect, their facial expressions natural. Martin's transformation from happy, loving friend to Nazi was frightening and his final appeal for a mercy he had not himself been able to provide Griselle, emotional; Max's revenge was brutal and chilling.
The novella was published in 1938. That people could know so much of the atrocities happening in pre-war Germany yet do so little for so long gives the story real potency and the audience pause for thought.
A triumphant evening: gripping and thought-provoking theatre followed by a splendid meal. One act plays and 2 hour dinners may be the way forward!
Thursday, 25 July 2013
Wednesday, 24 July 2013
Introducing the Theatre Blog
It has been an amazing year of theatre-going, with friends old and new, and last year wasn't too shabby either. Recognition of that fact, coupled with a few "Do you remember ..."-type conversations where it became clear that we don't always recall what we saw, when, who was in it, or who was with us, led me to conclude that a "diary" of sorts would be a great way to keep track.
And here it is. Reviews from our assorted "theatre club" members welcome - on plays we all saw together or ones you saw with "other" friends [gasp!] - as well as comments on existing reviews. If you stumble upon this blog ... feel free to comment also!
So, from here on out, we'll try to keep track of what we see. I'll play "catch-up" a bit too by looking through old theatre ticket stubs and back-dating reviews but they're likely to be thin on detail as it is that dreadful memory of mine that's prompted this blog.
And here it is. Reviews from our assorted "theatre club" members welcome - on plays we all saw together or ones you saw with "other" friends [gasp!] - as well as comments on existing reviews. If you stumble upon this blog ... feel free to comment also!
So, from here on out, we'll try to keep track of what we see. I'll play "catch-up" a bit too by looking through old theatre ticket stubs and back-dating reviews but they're likely to be thin on detail as it is that dreadful memory of mine that's prompted this blog.
Tuesday, 16 July 2013
Jersey Boys, Prince Edward Theatre
Present: Nic, Brian, Nita
Date: July 13, 2013
Another Saturday matinee, this time with Brian's Mum. It was a hot and sunny day so, after deciding on this show at the Leicester Square ticket booth, we headed for lunch (some pretty good tapas at Bodega Negra, conveniently located for the theatre) and then we went in for the performance, hoping for air conditioning and not disappointed - phew!
Brian had no idea he knew so many Four Seasons songs and even I was surprised. The performers were very strong, with great voices. The way the story was told by each character from his own perspective was interesting and the set had some cunning moments, such as when we were blinded by the stage lights, seeing what they saw, as though on stage with the performers. But the music is the star of this show. The standing ovation appeared 100% and everyone left the theatre humming and smiling.
Date: July 13, 2013
Another Saturday matinee, this time with Brian's Mum. It was a hot and sunny day so, after deciding on this show at the Leicester Square ticket booth, we headed for lunch (some pretty good tapas at Bodega Negra, conveniently located for the theatre) and then we went in for the performance, hoping for air conditioning and not disappointed - phew!
Brian had no idea he knew so many Four Seasons songs and even I was surprised. The performers were very strong, with great voices. The way the story was told by each character from his own perspective was interesting and the set had some cunning moments, such as when we were blinded by the stage lights, seeing what they saw, as though on stage with the performers. But the music is the star of this show. The standing ovation appeared 100% and everyone left the theatre humming and smiling.
Friday, 12 July 2013
The Play That Goes Wrong, Trafalgar Studios
Present: Nic, Brian, Helen
Date: July 11, 2013
Drinks: Pre-dinner at the The Old Shades
Dinner: Post-theatre at Busaba Eathai (after abandoning the queue at Eat Tokyo)
Only when we came out did we discover this is written and performed by Mischief Theatre, a small theatre group about to take this to Edinburgh. We felt privileged to see it first. Funny even before the "start" it builds to hilarious and then keeps getting funnier until you are weak with laughter and with tears rolling down your aching cheeks. This venue is so small, I was fairly sure they could see me in the back (i.e. third) row - so they they are getting some pretty immediate and positive audience feedback with this. The play would need some work to play a larger venue (keeping the set together would otherwise be tricky for two characters) and the sense of amateurism, on which the plot relies, may be lost so I hope it is possible for the writers and cast to make money performing in venues of this size.
It seems assured of success in Edinburgh and can hopefully pick up a backer to come back to town again. In which case, I'd go see it again. Slapstick brilliance.
Date: July 11, 2013
Drinks: Pre-dinner at the The Old Shades
Dinner: Post-theatre at Busaba Eathai (after abandoning the queue at Eat Tokyo)
Only when we came out did we discover this is written and performed by Mischief Theatre, a small theatre group about to take this to Edinburgh. We felt privileged to see it first. Funny even before the "start" it builds to hilarious and then keeps getting funnier until you are weak with laughter and with tears rolling down your aching cheeks. This venue is so small, I was fairly sure they could see me in the back (i.e. third) row - so they they are getting some pretty immediate and positive audience feedback with this. The play would need some work to play a larger venue (keeping the set together would otherwise be tricky for two characters) and the sense of amateurism, on which the plot relies, may be lost so I hope it is possible for the writers and cast to make money performing in venues of this size.
It seems assured of success in Edinburgh and can hopefully pick up a backer to come back to town again. In which case, I'd go see it again. Slapstick brilliance.
Thursday, 4 July 2013
Othello, The National (The Olivier)
Present: Nic, Helen, Kate
Date: July 3, 2013
Adrian Lester and Rory Kinnear both shone in this production.
There was nothing of Mickey Bricks to see here except his ability to wear anything and make it look good. Adrian Lester's Othello was handsome, sexy, good but frightening, strong but flawed: one who indeed loved not wisely but too well.
The updated environs - East London (?) and a military barracks in Cyprus - worked well and the staging was as clever as we've come to expect at The Olivier - the malfunction in the early minutes of Act one being the first we'd experienced and the re-starting of the play after a short hiatus met with British good will and cheers.
The ending was violent. The naivete of Iago's wife, as always, is a bit of a stumbling block but then, language, not plotting was always Shakespeare's strength!
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