"We will burn, we will burn together!"
I went down to London at the weekend to see Richard Armitage in The Crucible at the Old Vic. It wasn't quite as good as I'd hoped, given the reviews, but it was still very good, don't get me wrong. But it was very...shouty. There wasn't a huge amount of subtlety in the acting, and at times it just felt like everyone was just shouting at one another and I could hardly tell what was being said. I understand the need to project, but it's not a huge theatre, sound carried almost too well.
But it was a very atmospheric production, very minimalist and bleak. No elevated stage, no sets, few props, no costume changes, all in the round. It was quite a gruelling show - I felt exhausted just watching it, so I can't imagine how the actors felt performing it, particularly on the days with matinees and then an evening performance after. So I suppose it had the intended effect, but I didn't feel especially moved by it, just wrung out. And as I said, the performances were too aggressive and loud for my tastes, particularly towards the denouement.
But I'm glad I had the opportunity to see it and Mr Armitage himself in the flesh! And I had a lovely day with my friend Mel - we walked along the river, ate far too much food in Borough Market, had Mexican for lunch, then walked to Covent Garden after the show and had macarons at Ladurée and cocktails in Henry's.
I do enjoy having the odd day out in London, but oh, I couldn't live there. The crowds, Good Lord! Borough Market on a Saturday morning was just heaving, and Covent Garden is always busy at the weekends. But I like the variety of things, I like how you can do or see or eat almost anything that takes your choice - I like that option for choice. I'll be back down in London in a couple of weeks - I have a legal workshop at the British Library, but I'll be done by noon and I'll have the afternoon to myself. I think I might take myself off the Natural History Museum, it's been ages since I've been and a Monday afternoon now the schools are back should be quite quiet.
But it was a very atmospheric production, very minimalist and bleak. No elevated stage, no sets, few props, no costume changes, all in the round. It was quite a gruelling show - I felt exhausted just watching it, so I can't imagine how the actors felt performing it, particularly on the days with matinees and then an evening performance after. So I suppose it had the intended effect, but I didn't feel especially moved by it, just wrung out. And as I said, the performances were too aggressive and loud for my tastes, particularly towards the denouement.
But I'm glad I had the opportunity to see it and Mr Armitage himself in the flesh! And I had a lovely day with my friend Mel - we walked along the river, ate far too much food in Borough Market, had Mexican for lunch, then walked to Covent Garden after the show and had macarons at Ladurée and cocktails in Henry's.
I do enjoy having the odd day out in London, but oh, I couldn't live there. The crowds, Good Lord! Borough Market on a Saturday morning was just heaving, and Covent Garden is always busy at the weekends. But I like the variety of things, I like how you can do or see or eat almost anything that takes your choice - I like that option for choice. I'll be back down in London in a couple of weeks - I have a legal workshop at the British Library, but I'll be done by noon and I'll have the afternoon to myself. I think I might take myself off the Natural History Museum, it's been ages since I've been and a Monday afternoon now the schools are back should be quite quiet.