At dinner last night I was rightly chastised for not keeping my blog up to date with the productions I have seen while travelling. So here’s a quick catch up for those interested and some arbitrary comments on what’s happening out there.
War HorseAfter an incredibly successful series of runs at the National Theatre this has now moved to the New London Theatre. Starring the horse puppets of our very own South African Handspring Puppet Company, this is one of the most beautiful, mesmerising and gruelling things you will ever see. Set in World War 1 it traces the story of two horses that go into battle. At times the direction is in danger of anthropomorphising the animals, but the production manages to avoid this trap. The result is deeply affecting. (Strange how many of us find the peril of the animals somehow more upsetting than when it is about human characters such as in a film like Gallipoli.
Hamlet (Donmar West End at Wyndhams)The ingenious Donmar Theatre concludes its year-long residency at Wyndham’s with Jude Law as Hamlet. Law does not disappoint and he pulls of the role. He does some things beautifully, but I feel the director could have been harder on him; I think he is capable of even more. There are a few moments playing to the love sick fans in the back rows, but it is wonderful to see youngsters in sleeping bags hoping to get a ticket to a Shakespeare.
Waiting for Godot (Haymarket)This is a real gem. With Ian McKellen (Estragon) and Patrick Stewart (Vladimir), it is beautifully conceived and directed by Sean Mathias (someone Cape Town likes to lay claim to). Simon Callow (Pozzo) is on top form and Ronald Pickup (Lucky) delivers a tour de force.
A Little Night MusicThe Menier Chocolate Factory’s latest Sondheim production of the musical A Little Night Music, directed by Trevor Nunn, has transferred to the Garrick Theatre. It is not packing the audiences in, but Sondheim seldom does. This is one of the cleverest and most entertaining works of art you’ll ever see.
All’s Well That Ends Well (National)
A solid production in repertory at the National.
The Cherry Orchard (The Old Vic)
This is rather a dull production for Sam Mendes. On the night I saw it, Sinéad Cusack was uninspiring; and Ethan Hawke feeble. Simon Russell Beale (as the merchant) stole the show. He’s one of my favourite actors in London. I saw him last year in the title role of Brecht’s Galileo, and a riveting performance as Edward in Pinter’s masterpiece, A Slight Ache (both at the National).
