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Strangers on a Train
Dec. 7th, 2013 12:24 pmOn Wednesday I went to see Strangers on a Train at the Gielgud Theatre in London. I've delayed writing about it, partly because I've been busy and tired (late home Wednesday of course, then Brownies at Frankie & Bennys on Thursday which necessitated a large glass of wine once I was back) but also to give myself time to reflect.
I really enjoyed it. The set itself is wonderful - a revolving set, with three scenes set up and some incredibly quick set changes must happen. And they are quite complex sets as well, so incredibly effective. Everything, both set and costume are mainly monochrome, thus giving a black and white film feeling. The Donmar's Hamlet had the same idea, but here I think it worked better. A lot of theatre that I see gives a feeling of participating, whereas in this I felt like an onlooking watching the action. Maybe this was its secret, that you were participating simply by watching.
I really liked Laurence Fox as Guy Haines. I know most of the reviews said that Jack Huston, who played Charles Bruno, was the better, and his portrayal of an unbalanced character was very good. Obviously I was predisposed to like LF, since that was why I had gone to see the play in the first place. But I felt that his portrayal of someone swept up into circumstances and unable to find a way out which led to his own subsequent decline, although quieter, was very powerful. His American accent certainly sounded strange at first, although being so used to hearing Hathaway in my head (the perils of writing Lewis fic) this may have contributed to the strangeness. I also thought Christian McKay who played Gerard was convincing, with some of the most telling lines as far as I was concerned.
I'd used up my last day of annual leave (apart from Christmas) and when I got back to work I felt that I'd been away for more than one day. I take that to mean that I'd been to a very good play.
I really enjoyed it. The set itself is wonderful - a revolving set, with three scenes set up and some incredibly quick set changes must happen. And they are quite complex sets as well, so incredibly effective. Everything, both set and costume are mainly monochrome, thus giving a black and white film feeling. The Donmar's Hamlet had the same idea, but here I think it worked better. A lot of theatre that I see gives a feeling of participating, whereas in this I felt like an onlooking watching the action. Maybe this was its secret, that you were participating simply by watching.
I really liked Laurence Fox as Guy Haines. I know most of the reviews said that Jack Huston, who played Charles Bruno, was the better, and his portrayal of an unbalanced character was very good. Obviously I was predisposed to like LF, since that was why I had gone to see the play in the first place. But I felt that his portrayal of someone swept up into circumstances and unable to find a way out which led to his own subsequent decline, although quieter, was very powerful. His American accent certainly sounded strange at first, although being so used to hearing Hathaway in my head (the perils of writing Lewis fic) this may have contributed to the strangeness. I also thought Christian McKay who played Gerard was convincing, with some of the most telling lines as far as I was concerned.
I'd used up my last day of annual leave (apart from Christmas) and when I got back to work I felt that I'd been away for more than one day. I take that to mean that I'd been to a very good play.
