Belleville
Jan. 14th, 2018 01:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
smallhobbitIt's nearly six years since I last went to the Donmar Warehouse in London. I hadn't realised it was so long. I've no idea why, but I've a feeling when they have had productions I've been interested in the timing has been wrong. However, this time when they brought out their new plays there were a couple I was interested in and so I bought tickets.
The first was Belleville, a play by Amy Herzog, first staged in New York five years ago. It starred James Norton (Sidney Chambers in Grantchester, my SmallFandom Big Bang choice this year), apparently I rising actor, who I thought it would be interesting to see on stage. It also meant, if I saw the Friday evening performance I could stay over and go to a one day retreat on the Saturday, which is something I'd been thinking about for a while. So, two birds with one stone.
I had a balcony seat with a side-on view, but could see perfectly well. The set, which remains the same throughout the play, is of a small flat in Paris, and well done. Watching the first few scenes I was dubious as to where the play was going (the programme has a long article on Millenials, which I gave up on, although having just glanced at the last sentence, I agree with the final thought), but the pace picks up, there are twists which explain the almost lacklustre start, and overall I enjoyed it.
The two main actors, James Norton and Imogen Poots, were okay, but neither sparked for me. The supporting actors Malachi Kirby and Faith Alabi (who I was delighted to see again, having seen her in Trouble in Mind in the autumn) seemed to have more depth.
Overall, I was happy to have seen the play, but I wouldn't rave about it. And as part of a trip to London, I'm glad I did it. I shall be writing more about the retreat later in the month, but both parts made up a well worthwhile whole.
The first was Belleville, a play by Amy Herzog, first staged in New York five years ago. It starred James Norton (Sidney Chambers in Grantchester, my SmallFandom Big Bang choice this year), apparently I rising actor, who I thought it would be interesting to see on stage. It also meant, if I saw the Friday evening performance I could stay over and go to a one day retreat on the Saturday, which is something I'd been thinking about for a while. So, two birds with one stone.
I had a balcony seat with a side-on view, but could see perfectly well. The set, which remains the same throughout the play, is of a small flat in Paris, and well done. Watching the first few scenes I was dubious as to where the play was going (the programme has a long article on Millenials, which I gave up on, although having just glanced at the last sentence, I agree with the final thought), but the pace picks up, there are twists which explain the almost lacklustre start, and overall I enjoyed it.
The two main actors, James Norton and Imogen Poots, were okay, but neither sparked for me. The supporting actors Malachi Kirby and Faith Alabi (who I was delighted to see again, having seen her in Trouble in Mind in the autumn) seemed to have more depth.
Overall, I was happy to have seen the play, but I wouldn't rave about it. And as part of a trip to London, I'm glad I did it. I shall be writing more about the retreat later in the month, but both parts made up a well worthwhile whole.
no subject
Date: 2018-01-14 04:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-01-14 05:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-01-14 11:38 pm (UTC)I enjoyed James Norton in War and Peace on the BBC, although haven't seen Happy Valley which everyone seems to rave about. At the moment I'm watching him in McMafia and can't decide if he's brilliant or ordinary. He is doing a very restrained turn, that's for sure.
no subject
Date: 2018-01-15 10:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-01-15 09:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-01-15 10:03 am (UTC)