Rev Stan's theatre blog

Dear Santa, please work your magic on London theatre in 2012

Hi Santa,

It's Christmas Eve and I know you are busy but fear not, I don't need any of this for tomorrow (the theatres are closed) but if you could sprinkle some of your magic over theatre-land I'd be most grateful.

I've been a very good theatre-goer his year. Have always remembered to turn my phone off, not eat noisey sweets or talk during the performance. 

Yours with much anticipation,

Rev Stan xxx

1. Ben Whishaw on stage. He's in the Evening Standard's 50 most influential theatre people list but he's been a bit tardy when it comes to stage work in fact 2009 was the last time he trod the boards in London. Believe he is free from March-ish. 

2. Royal Court membership administrators come down off planet theatre. Announcing the new season at 7am and putting the tickets on sale at 9am. Hello? People with real lives and jobs and busy friends to organise? Oh and while we are on the topic, emailing members that more tickets have gone on sale five hours after they've gone on sale...the reason for paying the annual membership is?

3. Richard Clothier back on stage because I'm a little bit in love with him.

4. Katie Mitchell remembers there is an audience watching or straining to watch and listen to her plays.

5. David Tennant back on stage but not a comedy as I don't think I could cope with the hysterically amused Dr Who fans again quite yet.

6. The front four rows of seats at the Lyttleton Theatre ripped out and burnt and replaced with three rows of comfortable and more thoughtfully positioned seats, preferably raked.

The Observer puts its marker in the sand with a top 10 theatre 2011 list

Has everything opened for the year then? I suppose we are nearly half way through December but it doesn't stop me being a little bit surprised to see that The Observer has put out its top 10 list of the best theatre for 2011.

My last play of the year is on Dec 31 so my 2011 review certainly won't be appearing until after the midnight chimes ring in 2012. 

Now Susannah Clapp's list covers the whole country so there are quite a few productions on it that I haven't seen as most of my theatre-going is London based.

Interested and very pleased to see  Southwark Playhouse's Tender Napalm at number 10. I loved it too but I'm not sure it will have scored quite high enough to make it into my 'best of'. We'll see.

Also really pleased to see Propeller's two Shakespeare's at Hampstead, Richard III and Comedy of Errors, getting prominence. The company's fine work seems to have been pretty much overlooked in the London theatre awards, so far, which is shameful.

One Man Two Guv'nor's is an obvious entry and deservedly so but most likely won't be making my top 10 and neither will Mike Leigh's Grief which seems to have got a lot of people excited but has left me feeling  a little bit over all that Mike Leigh unique directing style stuff. 

Stan's awards predictions from the Evening Standard shortlist

So the long list for the Evening Standard's theatre awards has finally been whittled down to a more manageable three or four contenders per category but this means that, potentially, some of my fav's are already out of the running.

The headlines are all about the fact that Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller are going head to head in the best actor category for their role-swapping turns in Frankenstein at the National earlier this year. Some commentators are already calling for a duel award as it would unfair for one and not the other to win.

It would certainly make headlines to give a double honour, as pitching the two against each other has (not that I'm cynical about the motives behind these things or anything). It would be a real shame for one to win and not the other as both put in sterling performances in what was a novel and bold way of casting the play.

But we shouldn't forget that there are two other contenders in the category: Bertie Carvel for Matilda (which hadn't actually opened in London when the long list was drawn up, just saying) and Charles Edwards for Much Ado About Nothing. Of course, ironically, these two are the only ones from the long list I haven't seen and my top choice, Richard Clothier, hasn't made it which is a travesty, obviously.

Stan's best actor prediction: If they don't do a double award for the monster duo then I reckon Jonny Lee Miller will go home with the gong.

The best actress category is down to just three contenders only one of which I haven't seen, Kristen Scott Thomas for Betrayal. I've seen lots of her film work and she is a fantastic actress but I'm going to stick with my original fav.

Stan's best actress prediction: because everyone loves her at the mo (and deservedly so) it has to be Sheridan Smith for Flare Path.

Evening Standard Theatre Awards long list revealed - but who should win?

Evening Standard unveiled the long list for its theatre awards today and for the first time I'm in a position to say I've seen a large chunk of those non-musical nominees. So of the ones I've seen who do I think should win?

Actor

There are only two performances in this category that I haven't seen, those that I have are:

Richard Clothier, Richard III; James Corden, One Man, Two Guvnors; Benedict Cumberbatch, Frankenstein; Ralph Fiennes, The Tempest; Harry Hadden-Paton, Flare Path; Derek Jacobi, King Lear;Jude Law, Anna Christie; Jonny Lee Miller, Frankenstein; Kevin Spacey, Richard III; Dominic West, Butley

Stan's winner: Strong category, lots of great performances. Harry H-P, Derek Jacobi, Jude Law and Jonny Lee Miller were all very good and gave performances that helped earn the plays five star reviews from me but the first name I looked for on the list is Richard Clothier as Richard III. His partner Tara Fitzgerald was asked to pick her most memorable theatre moment by an interviewer and she chose seeing Richard III because she completely forgot that she knew him.

Actress

Not as many on this list that I've seen and I've left on Tracey Ullman, My City which I'm seeing on Friday so I may change my mind:

Haydn Gwynne, Richard III; Lesley Manville, Grief; Sheridan Smith, Flare Path; Samantha Spiro, Chicken Soup with Barley; Imelda Staunton, A Delicate Balance; Michelle Terry, Tribes; Tracey Ullman, My City; Ruth Wilson, Anna Christie

Stan's choice: The problem with this category is that there are far fewer good meaty stage roles for actresses than there are for actors, so there aren't quite as many stunning performances to choose from. Nonetheless, standouts for me include Samantha Spiro, Michelle Terry, Ruth Wilson and Imelda Staunton who was pretty much the life and soul of A Delicate Balance. But I think I'm going to have to give it to Sheridan Smith whose chin trembling performance in Flare Path has stuck with me (I saw the play twice because I loved it so much).

Theatre wishlist: Five actors I long to see on the stage

OK, time for another list that I've been thinking about for a while. These are actors that I haven't yet seen on stage that I would get really excited about if they announced they were treading the boards. These are in no particular order.

1. Colin Firth

He's managed to haul himself out of the rom-com, posh Brit film groove he'd got stuck in and has been doing some interesting work in recent years. A Single Man was the turning point for me and of course since then, there has been the King's Speech and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy although he doesn't have a great deal to do in the latter. I'd like to see him play something less straight, maybe a bit edgy otherwise he risks falling into another groove.

2. Guy Pearce

I've long been a fan. Since neighbours, if I'm being honest - who'd have thought Mike would have had such talent inside him? He has an admirable body of work from the out there Priscilla to the likes of the The Proposition, Memento, The Road and The King's Speech although I did think him odd casting in the latter being a lot younger than Colin Firth.

3. Julie Walters

I've already mentioned how much I want to see Julie Walters in a previous post. Feel like I've grown up with her from Educating Rita to Acorn Antiques and most recently the Harry Potter films. She is an actress of great scope and I can't wait to see her in the Last of the Haussmans at the National Theatre next year.

4. Geoffrey Rush

Love, love, love Geoffrey Rush. He's another actor of great scope doing a wonderful job playing such varied characters as Barbosa in the Pirates films and a pianist with mental health problems in Shine and of course the wannabe actor complete with hammy Richard Third audition in the King's Speech. He's done a lot of stage work in Australia and on Broadway in fact he's not only going to be in The Importance of Being Earnest in Melbourne next month but he's also playing Lady Bracknell. Geoffrey Rush as a woman. Genius. Melbourne might be a stretch for a theatre trip unless Uncle C smiles on me. Fingers crossed for a world tour that takes in the West End or just a tour to the West End really.

 5. Samantha Morton

When that pub type question comes up, the one about who'd you want to play you in a film of your life, I always choose Samantha Morton. My only partially jokey reason is that she's the only one who could portray my many layers. She's played too many great parts to list but the two roles that I always remember her for are Harriet Smith in Emma back in 1996 and Deborah Curtis in Control. I also like her because she seems human, normal I suppose. She hasn't got the ultra glam figure and looks and yet in such a shallow industry has made a great success from her outstanding talent. According to Wiki she made her stage debut at the Royal Court and it would be great if they could entice her back.

 

That was September - theatre round up

After the August lull in theatre-land, September saw new plays opening all over the West End and beyond. Mike Leigh returned to the West End with a new play which wasn't given a title until the week before. Ralph Fiennes was probably the biggest name to step onto the boards, this time as Prospero in The Tempest.

September saw me travelling to Chichester for the first time (what a curious place that is) and I also saw Kathryn Hunter for the first time - a complete star. I also went to my first last night and quite a spectacular one it was too: Much Ado About Nothing* at the Wyndhams complete with buggy crashes and extra face slapping (the actors not me getting annoyed with sweet wrapper rustling).

Three plays broke the five star barrier and the bottom spot? Well read on...

1. When Did You Last See My Mother, Trafalgar Studios 84% 

Great play and a brilliant showcase for the talented Harry Melling, who finally gets a lead role.

2. Di & Viv & Rose, Hampstead Theatre Downstairs 83%

There have been so many new plays that have tried to nail down the big, big issues, this was a breath of fresh air for having friendship at its heart and as a result was warm and funny.

3. Tell Them That I Am Young And Beautiful, Arcola 80%

Theatre pared back to simple story telling. Had me rapt. (And I got to 'buy' a coconut from Kathryn Hunter.)

So those were the creme de la creme but which play was a little bit sour? Well it's the third time this year the National Theatre has staged my least favourite play of the month and this time the honour goes to The Kitchen which I gave 53%. It earned points for spectacle and the quality of the production but fell down by putting all its eggs in the first half basket.

* Much Ado isn't included in September's scores as this was a repeat viewing.

That was August in theatreland but what's in store for September?

The month isn't quite over but I feel it's time to reflect on August's theatre going. Despite the throngs of tourists who flood into London for what is supposedly our warmest month, most theatres seem reluctant to launch new productions and as a result there have been slim pickings.

But there has still been a handful of complete gems, three in fact that all earned five stars from me. Sadly it wasn't enough to counter the less than sparkling productions with August officially my worst month of the year so far with an average rating of 3.13 stars. Ouch.

Two plays didn't make it onto the scoreboard albeit for different reasons. The first, Lady of Pleasure had me running for the tube at the interval and therefore I thought it unfair to rate just half and the second was Wild Child, part of the Royal Court Rough Cuts season which is a work in progress - a very good work in progress - but again, I didn't feel it fair to rate.

Anyway onto the gems:

1. Wittenberg - breathed fresh life back into pub theatre, clever, witty and intelligent. I gave it 87% putting it up there as a contender for play of the year.

2. Broken Glass - my first experience of this Arthur Miller play and Antony Sher. Wow is all I can say. It gets 86%

3. Anna Christie - Another hit from the Donmar and not just because of Jude Law's ultra buff body, the play and performances also had the wow factor. 85% is it's Stan rating, yep it was that close this month.

Worst play of the month, aside of The Lady of Pleasure sadly goes to another White Bear Theatre production: La Ronde. It wasn't a bad production as such just a play that is dated and needs a fresh contemporary take that was lacking here. I gave it 48%.

So that was August but what of September? Well the Autumn is chocker full of promise with so many new production but next month I'm most looking forward to the as yet untitled Mike Leigh play at the National, Faith Machine at the Royal Court and a brace of plays at the Arcola: Tell Them I Am Young and Beautiful and Phaedra's Love.

I must also mention that I'm stupidly excited about seeing the final performance of the Tennant/Tate Much Ado About Nothing on Saturday not just because I enjoyed the play but also because I've never seen a last night before and I'm expect all sorts of fun and japes.

Five actors I'd move heaven to see on stage

This post started life back in June from a question @polyg asked while we were waiting for a play to start. And of course it needed some thought before answering, nearly three months worth in fact. 

There are plenty of great actors I enjoy watching on stage but the play and the role often informs the choice of going to see it.

So this has to be about, who I would rush out to see, regardless of what they were in. Well no thought for my first choice, but the remaining four...

1. Ben Whishaw - First saw him in Leaves of Glass at the Soho Theatre in 2007 after being mesmerised by him on screen in Perfume: Story of  Murderer. I've seen everything he's done on stage ever since (and TV and Film, yes even the shorts) plus a recording at the V&A archive of his Hamlet from 2004.

I flew to New York to see The Pride - well I'd never been before so it was the perfect excuse and people go for less ie shopping. He's never disappointed me, he always makes interesting choices and he never fails to convince in his performances. He's one of those talents that says just as much without words and I always find my eye wandering over to where ever he is on stage just to see what he is doing.

Plays seen:Leaves of Glass, ...some trace of her, rehearsed reading of Ice Cream, Cock & The Pride

2. Benedict Cumberbatch - BC had been bimbling along at the back of my conscience for a while, mainly for his TV roles. It's funny because he's become intrinsically linked with the character of Sherlock now and yet he first dazzled me in After The Dance at the National Theatre. Emotionally repressed is not easy to pull off without alienating the audience but you could feel his inner turmoil.

And then there was Frankenstein. Such a spectacle requires big performances.

I fear his next stint at the theatre maybe some time off as his dance card seems full with film and TV engagements at the moment.

Plays seen: After The Dance, Frankenstein (creature), Frankenstein (Victor)

How Harry Potter reignited my love of the theatre... and a (now growing) list

As the final Harry Potter film is out on Friday, thought it was timely to write about how close the film and theatre are linked in my affections.

My student days in Liverpool were full of theatre trips. You could get a ticket for the Everyman or the Playhouse for £2-3 but when I came to London to look for a job, theatre was sacrificed under extreme financial pressures. And for many years it was virtually a lost love, until in 2007 that is.

I can't remember the particulars behind my realisation that I could afford to go to theatre again occasionally but once I'd decided, I was faced with a dizzying array of plays to choose from and no experience of performers, directors or indeed theatres with which to inform my decision.

London theatre is mind-boggling in its diversity and offer if you are coming at it cold (and is still) but I decided on Equus because story sounded interesting, as I'd studied a bit of child psychology at Uni, and I was a Harry Potter fan. *Whispers* And I didn't think Daniel Radcliffe would be any good, so was curious.

No one believes me but I didn't find out about the nudity until after I'd bought the ticket. Anyway to cut a long story short it blew me away. I came out of the theatre feeling truly alive. My theatre love reignited, I immediately booked to see it again at the end of the run.

June's bumper crop of theatre - the round up

Wow what a bumper month. Not only did I squeeze in 12 plays (and I'm not counting the Flying KB or the ballet) but it's proved a month of rich theatrical pickings. Three plays earned five star ratings but what was number 1? Bloody Richard of course and good job because I'm off to see it again on Wednesday. But here's how the top three/four looked:

1. Richard III, Hampstead Theatre 87% - simply bloody brilliant

=2 Much Ado About Nothing, Wyndhams Theatre 85% - benefited from less hysteria and bedding in on second visit.

=2 Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, Theatre Royal Haymarket 85% - up there alongside my favourite plays ie those I'll happily see time and time again.

3. The Emperor and The Galilean, Olivier at the National Theatre - the flawed but excellent epic

And my least favourite? Faith, Hope and Charity at the Southwark Playhouse which got 49%. It dragged the average down slightly 69.7% but still the second highest scoring month this year.

So what is there to look forward in July? Well I've already given the first play of the month five stars which is a great start. I'm really looking forward to seeing The Village Bike at the Royal Court Upstairs and Journey's End at the Duke of Yorks which I've heard glowing things about.

This month will also see me venture further afield, once again, with @polyg to Sheffield to see The Pride. The cast have got a slight disadvantage because it was the play I travelled to New York to see Ben Whishaw in last year.