| Quick thoughts on what I saw in London | |
| Posted by: BillyD 02:28 pm EST 12/17/24 | |
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| Guys & Dolls. The praise is well deserved. The staging with moving platforms is thrilling. Why hasn’t it come to NY? Is it the economics with London wages lower than NY's? Maybe 20 stage management folk took a bow. Or, does the NY rights holder want to mount something else? Macbeth with David Tennant. Tennant delivers an intense performance in a tightly focused production. Audience has headphones, so you hear things like actors off stage. Nice trim of the script. Royal Ballet Cinderella. I didn’t do my homework. It’s a dusty old Frederick Ashton production. A bore. When the fairy Godmother shows up, she invites the four seasons to come in and dance. What? 2 hours 45 minutes with two intermissions for their big holiday show. The kids near me lost interest quickly. The Devil Wears Prada. Vanessa Williams is probably playing it dour as directed. But at the bows, when they reprise a song, she’s dancing up a storm, having a great time with her cast mates, and smiling from ear to ear. I’d like to have seen her in that show. For a story about the fashion world, the costumes were forgettable. The 11 costumes in the Tempest were far more interesting (see below). 2,100 seat house. The place was packed. I asked an usher who said every show sold out for the month since opening. Just extended. I didn’t see it in Chicago, so I can’t speak to changes. Christmas Carol. The Old Vic production is magical and conveys the message of empathy and concern for others. I appreciate that they make changes, so it’s fresh. There was a group of students upstairs, maybe 11-12 years old. Didn’t make a peep. Except when Tiny Tim says to Scrooge, “God bless us, every one” they screamed and cheered. Loudly. It was darling. The actors smiled. The Importance of Being Earnest. They went fast and loose with tweaks and updates. So funny. Hugh Skinner & Ncuti Gatwa (current Doctor Who) are having a grand time in the main roles. Sharon D Clarke presides over the shenanigans landing every joke in a Carribean accent (why not?). For the bows/dance party, they all had new wild costumes. To be shown in the National’s movie program starting Feb. 20. Go have a good time. Waiting for Godot with Lucian Msamati & Ben Whishaw. I appreciate that they leaned more towards comedy than tragedy. Others will disagree. Whishaw & Msamati are a great team. The Tempest with Sigourney Weaver directed by Jamie Lloyd. Ms. Weaver was compelling. and leads the company with vigor. She’s on stage the whole time, sitting in the back on a stool when she’s not in a scene - leaning forward and focused on the action. Stunning visual pictures. Stage cleared to the back and the ceiling. The set is large mountains, with billowing huge fabric and stark white lighting. The costumes were great. Contemporary and mostly in shades of blue. Always a please to be on the underground. Clean. Adding more elevators. Staff at every turnstile to answer questions. Cheap ($1.28). The Elizabeth Line at Heathrow is a gift. And Google Maps keeps getting better. |
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