Theatre Review: Rosmersholm

Plot: When the seductive Rebecca West (Helen McCrory) arrives at Rosmersholm, Johannes Rosmer’s (Paul Hilton) beliefs are thrown into turmoil.

Two psycologically fascinating character studies.  A society divided between conservatism and a new democracy.  A portrait of idealism foundering in the modern world of journalistic spin and opportunism.  A story full of frightening twists.

A play believed by many to be Ibsen’s dramatic masterpiece, in a new version by Mike Poulton.

I first saw Ms. McCrory in 2004’s Five Gold Rings also at the Almeida. I have always respected her as an actress and have been keeping an eye on her so imagine my delight when I learned that Almeida is staging its version of Rosmersholm with Ms. McCrory in the lead. Like webcowgirl, I am also on an Ibsen quest, which I am doing the same with Shakespeare, Chekhov, Shaw and Pinter. For the record, this is now my 5th Ibsen, and there’s still 21 more to go, not sure if the chances of seeing them all will be likely though!

Patiently waiting for the play to start, I spotted Alan Rickman a row below me. I remembered that he will be directing Strindberg’s Creditors at the Donmar this autumn which I am quite keen to catch as well. I was close to saying, nice to see you here Colonel Brandon! But I bit my lip of course. Now to the play.

Hmmm, I have to say I didn’t really like it that much, but I didnt dislike it that much either. I thought Rosmersholm as a rather strange play altogether. It took a while for my interest to build up, I suppose if I had some drinks at the first interval, it would of made the experience bearable towards the following acts. It just didnt appeal to me the way Pillars of the Community, John Gabriel Borkman, and An Enemy of the People did. If there was anything to recommend about it, it will have to be the performance of Malcolm Sinclair as Doctor Kroll. As for Paul Hilton and McCrory as the ill fated lovers Rebecca and Johannes, I just couldnt make myself sympathise with their characters that it didn’t bother me the least when in the end they ran towards the millrace and drowned to their deaths.

Clearly not one of my favorite Ibsen.

Rosmersholm: 3/5

Doctor Who: The Stolen Earth

Wow, wow, wow! This has got to be the best television experience I have ever had in years! As we are nearing the end of Series 4, expect outgoing executive producer and head writer Russell T. Davies to come up with one of the best and one helluva cliffhanger of an episode of Doctor Who since its revival in 2005.

Still recovering from an equally brilliant Turn Left (also by RTD) last week showcasing Tate’s dramatic talent and her eventual meeting with Piper’s Rose, the Doctor’s erstwhile companion, The Stolen Earth which is the penultimate episode of the series is an exciting, exhilirating ride that will make you cheer, cry, yearn and hope. I have never in the first 15 minutes of livestreaming it via the iPlayer have had emotions wash over me and with such intensity. The highlight of this episode of course are the Doctor’s army of friends banding together as they tried to reach the Doctor. It was a delight to see former companions Martha Jones now working for UNIT, Sarah Jane Smith, Rose Tyler, Jack Harkness and even once friend Harriet Jones (former PM) in what Tate’s Donna Noble described as an outer space Facebook.

The performances are top notch from Sarah Jane’s (Elizabeth Sladen) grief stricken face as soon as she heard the Daleks via Mr. Smith’s comm link, to John Barrowman’s Jack Harkness as he accepts defeat realising the same, to Wilf’s (Bernard Cribbins) indignance of wanting to fight with a Dalek with his paint gun and of course Penelope Wilton’s welcome return as Harriet Jones and her offer of sacrifice. (On a side note, I just saw Miss Wilton perform at the Donmar the week before).

I will not spoil the details in case my enthusiasm for this episode rubs off on you and you actually decide to catch it from the BBC’s iPlayer or it will make you want to rent the DW boxsets. What’s certain is this, next weeks much awaited episode, Journey’s End should just be as brilliant and I simply can’t wait!

The Stolen Earth: 5/5

Theatre Review: The Chalk Garden

Plot: Raised in a manor house beside the sea, where the flowers struggle to grow, sixteen-year-old Laurel (Felicity Jones) runs wild. As her eccentric grandmother (Margaret Tyzack) tends to the garden, Laurel’s need for love forces her into a world of fantasy. But things begin to change with the sudden appointment of a governess (Penelope Wilton) who brings a mysterious new presence to an already dysfunctional household.

The last time I was at the Donmar was spring last year when I saw Ibsen’s John Gabriel Borkman which also starred Penelope Wilton who was brilliant as Ella Rentheim, Borkman’s erstwhile lover. I fell in love with Miss Wilton then and I have seen a lot of her in films and telly and totally loved her playing the role of Harriet Jones in Doctor Who. So when the Donmar announced their productions for this year, I have booked The Chalk Garden a good few months ahead and I am pleased having done so as the production have already sold out way early since critics have given it very good praises indeed. The West End Whingers, whose blog I religiously follow claims that it’s one of the best productions they have seen this year, and I only have to agree.

Who said that there is not enough good roles for older women to play, whether in film or in theatre? Here’s an example of a play that celebrates just that, and to have talented actresses playing equally interesting characters, Wilton’s Miss Madrigal and Margaret Tyzack’s Mrs St Maugham you are promised a very entertaining evening of brilliant acting and witty dialogues. I’d say let’s have more of Enid Bagnold please!

The Chalk Garden: 4/5

Falling Slowly

I don’t know you
But I want you
All the more for that
Words fall through me
And always fool me
And I can’t react
And games that never amount
To more than they’re meant
Will play themselves out

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We’ve still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice
You’ve made it now

Falling slowly, eyes that know me
And I can’t go back
Moods that take me and erase me
And I’m painted black
You have suffered enough
And warred with yourself
It’s time that you won

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We’ve still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you had a choice
You’ve made it now

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We’ve still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you had a choice
You’ve made it now
Falling slowly sing your melody
I’ll sing along

Theatre Review: De Profundis

Plot: During his sentence in Reading Gaol, Oscar Wilde wrote a letter to his lover, agonising over the lack of contact. It is perhaps the greatest love letter ever written, filled with a torrent of accusation, passion and eventually reconciliation.

Didn’t I say in my review of The Year of Magical Thinking that monologues weren’t for me? So what was I doing back at the Lyttelton, this time to see Corin Redgrave reading Oscar Wilde’s De Profundis, shouldn’t I have learned my lesson?

I thought that as it was just 50 minutes, surely I can stay awake for that time and I did. Also, after having seen The Importance of Being Earnest which I enjoyed, I wanted to start to get to know Wilde and realised after this reading that I knew little of the man. Without meaning to compare the Redgrave siblings, I much preferred Corin’s monologue because it was played convincingly with such passion. Here was a man whose heart was not only broken but whose spirit was crushed with hard labour and I have to give it to Mr. Redgrave for managing to show us this range of emotions. The audience gave him a warm applause that didn’t seem to want to end that on the 3rd curtain call, Mr. Redgrave let go of the arm of the theatre attendant who was assisting him on stage and gave us one last bow.

De Profundis: 3/5

De Profundis is playing at the Lyttelton, National Theatre on July 1 and 2.