A Frankenstein Experience (in two parts)
Well, Frankenstein, staring Benedict Cumberbatch has been playing here in London since February but somehow, I was in a bubble and didn't even realize this fact until March. However in March, I was busy going to three other shows so even though going to see Frankenstein was on my list of things to do, it didn't happen. Then in April, I was away for the bulk of the month - though on that trip I spoke to some friends who'd seen the film version(s) and loved it so I came back with renewed resolve to look into tickets and go see it.
By the time I was settled in and had time to check, I discovered that THIS weekend was the last one so, after learning it was sold out I prepared myself to try for day tickets.
Part One: Benedict as "The Creature"
Perhaps I was a little nieve, but I had NO idea how popular this show was. So on Saturday, the first morning I was able to get to the box office in the morning to try for day tickets, I didn't get there until 9:30, when it opened. I knew immediately that this was a mistake as the line was already well around the corner of the building. But I joined it anyway, hopeful that since there were two shows that day I'd be able to get something for at least one of them.
After waiting in the queue for AAAAAGES, I was still only about half way to the front when they announced that all day seats were sold out but they were selling returns before they started selling standing tickets (they have about 20-30 standing spots for each show where you stand behind the last seats in the circle). About 5 minutes after that they announced that there were only standing tickets left. Luckily, because a bunch of people vacated the line after that, I was able to get one. It was only £5 and really I didn't mind standing if it meant I got to see it!
Anyway, by the time I had my ticket (for the 2pm showing), it was nearly 11 am, so, deciding there wasn't time to go home, I wandered the South Bank, ended up at Borough Market for some noms and meandered back to the National Theatre in time to take my place at the back of the circle. They let you pick your place as long as you aren't blocking the aisles so I ended up almost exactly in the centre which gave me a perfect view of the stage.
(I didn't realize it at the time, but theres a *cough*very naked*cough* Cumberbatch as the Creature inside that circular thing. I don't know how he managed to be so still, I never would have guessed).
So the play was brilliant. I have to confess I'd never read or seen any other versions of Frankenstein before - I'd always assumed it would be too scary for me (I really don't do scary) so the whole story was a complete revelation for me and I thoroughly enjoyed watching it unfold on stage.
Benedict's performance as the Creature was completely captivating and engrossing. I found myself really feeling for the character and rooting him on, which is odd when he's technically the villain of the story. But particularly in the beginning, the way it was played out, there's just so much hope and potential and hurt and it was absolutely heartbreaking to see the character gradually deteriorate into the monster everyone assumed he was based on how he looked.
May I also add, that during the first 20 minutes in which the creature is "born" and he flops, crawls, squirms and moans along the stage- Benedict Cumberbatch is COMPLETELY Naked. He's in full body makeup of course to look like the creature, but um yeah, it's quite the view.
Unfortunately, I felt that Johnny's portrayal of Victor fell a bit flat. I mean he did fine, it wasn't a bad performance or anything, but I didn't feel any sense of emotion from him. I didn't buy that he loved Elizabeth AT ALL, his breaking of his promise to the Creature seemed incredibly abrupt and out of nowhere and I just never felt any sort of connection to the character even though I knew that I was supposed to. Now, I admit, some of this was the writing. The way the play is written, Victor does not get nearly enough development. I mean, you barely see him until about 45 minutes into the play. Still, there was definitely more room for emotion in the character.
Anyway, despite all that, I really enjoyed the show. It surprised me, it entertained me, it made me laugh, it made me sad. It had a bit of everything and I was really glad I saw it.
After the show I figured I'd attempt to go to the stage door to get his autograph. And I waited about 15 minutes before realizing that with all that makeup on and another show to do there was no way he'd be coming out. So instead, I decided I'd try to catch him on the way in on Monday, since I had already decided I wanted to see it again and with the reverse casting. (Also, Monday was the last show)
Part Two: Benedict as Victor"
Cue today. Having learned my lesson about the queue I made a plan with my friend S to meet at the theatre at about 7am since she and her boyfriend wanted to come. I got up at 6 and got ready extremely quickly, then ran outside to catch the bus... where I then waited for FORTY MINUTES IN THE COLD before one came. Let's just say I was NOT amused. Needless to say, thanks to the bus delay, I didn't even get to the tube until 7, which meant I got to the theatre at about 7:45am. S was already in line, but I wasn't able to join her because the security guard had already come around with numbered cards so I had to get in at the back - about 13 people behind her. We were still withing 100 from the front so we figured we were safe.
The wait was interesting - there were these two people behind me - a guy and a girl. I still haven't made up my mind if they were a couple, but either way, they were hilarious. I ended up talking to them for ages and the whole time they were bickering back and forth, sniping at each other, and calling each other mean. I was very entertained.
At 9:30 we were allowed in, but sadly, before S even got near the counter, they announced that all the day tickets were sold out. Sound familiar? Yeah. Only this time it ended with S managing to get two standing tickets and everything being sold out when I was 5 people from the front. Oh yeah, I was not pleased.
So I went for breakfast with S and then we parted ways and I decided that since I was down there anyway I'd go see if I couldn't try to get Benedict's signature at the stage door on his way into the theatre. I got there around 11:30 and I waited. At 11:43 I saw Johnny rush in. He didn't stop to sign anything since he was running late (the makeup for the creature takes 2.5 hours to put on - it's FULL BODY make up.. it's actually very impressive).
Around noon, S called to say that her boyfriend wanted me to take his ticket since I'd gotten up early. I told him it was fine, that I'd already seen the show once and he should go, but he insisted, so I made a plan to meet S around 1/1:30 and continued waiting. And waiting. And waiting. In. The. Cold. I waited until just after 1:30 since someone had said he'd come out 30 min before the show before and that's how they got his signature. But he never came and I was FROZEN, so, assuming he must have sneaked in another way (there were some autograph hounds hanging around so that could have been why, either that or he was running late, although there was barely anyone there... just me, 3 other girls and 4 autograph hounds), I went to meet S and we headed up to the auditorium to take our places.
Once again we were near the centre and could see everything really well. The lights dimmed and the show began.
I MUCH preferred Johnny as the Creature to Victor. It was a way better role for him and he did it very well. That being said however, now that I've seen both versions, I still think that Benedict did a better job. Part of this is because he took his time. Johnny seemed to be rushing in places. I'm almost positive the opening scene was 5 minutes less the way Johnny did it, and there were multiple lines where I felt like he just wasn't clear, or he'd spoken too quickly and lost some of the meaning of what he was trying to say. I also felt that Benedict had managed to infuse more emotion into the character and I didn't feel for him in quite the same way as I had on Saturday. Aside from that though, Johnny gave an excellent performance!
As for Benedict's Victor, as I'd been told, he was brilliant! He brought the emotion to the role that I'd felt had been missing from Saturday's performance. From his very first lines, which were actually not very big, I just felt like the character carried more gravitas, more umph. His fear was far more apparent, and his running away initially made far more sense. As the play wore on I felt like I actually got to know Victor better. His love for Elizabeth was actually apparent and you could see how clearly he was torn between her and his work. When it came time for him to betray the Creature I bought it, 100% and his actions at that point made far more sense to me than they had on Saturday. The character still suffered from being seriously underwritten, but that's not the actors' faul and given the minimal material he had to work with, Benedict did a superb job!
After the show, S and I chatted a bit and then parted at which point I made my way to the stage door for one final attempt. And this time, the place was PACKED. There were so many people there I was a little worried that he wouldn't come out at all.
Anyway, there I was, in a crowd of about 50-80 fans (including the autograph hunters I'd spotted earlier) in the FREEZING cold and wind, waiting. Again. (Seriously, it's like it went from spring to winter again overnight. Yesterday was MUCH warmer). After about half an hour, one of the children playing Victor's brother in the play came out and everyone clapped and cheered for him. At that point, some people in the balcony above peered over to see what was going on... turns out, those people were the cast, INCLUDING Benedict who were clearly having a post final show party. Benedict, with his freshly washed hair, smiled down at us and waved and then went back to his conversation.
More waiting.
Then, about 20 minutes later, Benedict came out. And the crowd surged forward. Seriously, he was surrounded! I'd had a nice, prime, spot near the front but I was pushed out of the way. Apparently saying where you are and waiting for him to come to you, like I was naturally inclined to do, is not the correct protocol because I was basically forced to go with the flow. Anyway, in the midst of all that chaos, I took some pictures of Benedict up close (Posted below) while I waited my turn. Finally he turned to me and took my program and pen and I told him that I'd seen Saturday's performance as well and that I felt that he had done an excellent job in both roles. He smiled and thanked me then wrote in my book: "Thank You, Benedict Cumberbatch".
Not long after that, he made his way back toward the doors and shouted thank you to everyone as he waved. There may have been cheering and clapping. Anyway, once he was gone, I headed home blown away by how generous it was of him to come away from his party with his cast mates after their final performance just to come out and sign autographs instead of making us wait in the cold until he was done. Seriously, what an amazing guy.
Anyway, here's the moment you've probably been waiting for, pictures of Benedict:
*guh* looking at these again I'm reminded of how great he looked in that jacket. And with those sideburns. *swoons* I'm suddenly wishing I was any good at making icons...
By the time I was settled in and had time to check, I discovered that THIS weekend was the last one so, after learning it was sold out I prepared myself to try for day tickets.
Part One: Benedict as "The Creature"
Perhaps I was a little nieve, but I had NO idea how popular this show was. So on Saturday, the first morning I was able to get to the box office in the morning to try for day tickets, I didn't get there until 9:30, when it opened. I knew immediately that this was a mistake as the line was already well around the corner of the building. But I joined it anyway, hopeful that since there were two shows that day I'd be able to get something for at least one of them.
After waiting in the queue for AAAAAGES, I was still only about half way to the front when they announced that all day seats were sold out but they were selling returns before they started selling standing tickets (they have about 20-30 standing spots for each show where you stand behind the last seats in the circle). About 5 minutes after that they announced that there were only standing tickets left. Luckily, because a bunch of people vacated the line after that, I was able to get one. It was only £5 and really I didn't mind standing if it meant I got to see it!
Anyway, by the time I had my ticket (for the 2pm showing), it was nearly 11 am, so, deciding there wasn't time to go home, I wandered the South Bank, ended up at Borough Market for some noms and meandered back to the National Theatre in time to take my place at the back of the circle. They let you pick your place as long as you aren't blocking the aisles so I ended up almost exactly in the centre which gave me a perfect view of the stage.
(I didn't realize it at the time, but theres a *cough*very naked*cough* Cumberbatch as the Creature inside that circular thing. I don't know how he managed to be so still, I never would have guessed).
So the play was brilliant. I have to confess I'd never read or seen any other versions of Frankenstein before - I'd always assumed it would be too scary for me (I really don't do scary) so the whole story was a complete revelation for me and I thoroughly enjoyed watching it unfold on stage.
Benedict's performance as the Creature was completely captivating and engrossing. I found myself really feeling for the character and rooting him on, which is odd when he's technically the villain of the story. But particularly in the beginning, the way it was played out, there's just so much hope and potential and hurt and it was absolutely heartbreaking to see the character gradually deteriorate into the monster everyone assumed he was based on how he looked.
May I also add, that during the first 20 minutes in which the creature is "born" and he flops, crawls, squirms and moans along the stage- Benedict Cumberbatch is COMPLETELY Naked. He's in full body makeup of course to look like the creature, but um yeah, it's quite the view.
Unfortunately, I felt that Johnny's portrayal of Victor fell a bit flat. I mean he did fine, it wasn't a bad performance or anything, but I didn't feel any sense of emotion from him. I didn't buy that he loved Elizabeth AT ALL, his breaking of his promise to the Creature seemed incredibly abrupt and out of nowhere and I just never felt any sort of connection to the character even though I knew that I was supposed to. Now, I admit, some of this was the writing. The way the play is written, Victor does not get nearly enough development. I mean, you barely see him until about 45 minutes into the play. Still, there was definitely more room for emotion in the character.
Anyway, despite all that, I really enjoyed the show. It surprised me, it entertained me, it made me laugh, it made me sad. It had a bit of everything and I was really glad I saw it.
After the show I figured I'd attempt to go to the stage door to get his autograph. And I waited about 15 minutes before realizing that with all that makeup on and another show to do there was no way he'd be coming out. So instead, I decided I'd try to catch him on the way in on Monday, since I had already decided I wanted to see it again and with the reverse casting. (Also, Monday was the last show)
Part Two: Benedict as Victor"
Cue today. Having learned my lesson about the queue I made a plan with my friend S to meet at the theatre at about 7am since she and her boyfriend wanted to come. I got up at 6 and got ready extremely quickly, then ran outside to catch the bus... where I then waited for FORTY MINUTES IN THE COLD before one came. Let's just say I was NOT amused. Needless to say, thanks to the bus delay, I didn't even get to the tube until 7, which meant I got to the theatre at about 7:45am. S was already in line, but I wasn't able to join her because the security guard had already come around with numbered cards so I had to get in at the back - about 13 people behind her. We were still withing 100 from the front so we figured we were safe.
The wait was interesting - there were these two people behind me - a guy and a girl. I still haven't made up my mind if they were a couple, but either way, they were hilarious. I ended up talking to them for ages and the whole time they were bickering back and forth, sniping at each other, and calling each other mean. I was very entertained.
At 9:30 we were allowed in, but sadly, before S even got near the counter, they announced that all the day tickets were sold out. Sound familiar? Yeah. Only this time it ended with S managing to get two standing tickets and everything being sold out when I was 5 people from the front. Oh yeah, I was not pleased.
So I went for breakfast with S and then we parted ways and I decided that since I was down there anyway I'd go see if I couldn't try to get Benedict's signature at the stage door on his way into the theatre. I got there around 11:30 and I waited. At 11:43 I saw Johnny rush in. He didn't stop to sign anything since he was running late (the makeup for the creature takes 2.5 hours to put on - it's FULL BODY make up.. it's actually very impressive).
Around noon, S called to say that her boyfriend wanted me to take his ticket since I'd gotten up early. I told him it was fine, that I'd already seen the show once and he should go, but he insisted, so I made a plan to meet S around 1/1:30 and continued waiting. And waiting. And waiting. In. The. Cold. I waited until just after 1:30 since someone had said he'd come out 30 min before the show before and that's how they got his signature. But he never came and I was FROZEN, so, assuming he must have sneaked in another way (there were some autograph hounds hanging around so that could have been why, either that or he was running late, although there was barely anyone there... just me, 3 other girls and 4 autograph hounds), I went to meet S and we headed up to the auditorium to take our places.
Once again we were near the centre and could see everything really well. The lights dimmed and the show began.
I MUCH preferred Johnny as the Creature to Victor. It was a way better role for him and he did it very well. That being said however, now that I've seen both versions, I still think that Benedict did a better job. Part of this is because he took his time. Johnny seemed to be rushing in places. I'm almost positive the opening scene was 5 minutes less the way Johnny did it, and there were multiple lines where I felt like he just wasn't clear, or he'd spoken too quickly and lost some of the meaning of what he was trying to say. I also felt that Benedict had managed to infuse more emotion into the character and I didn't feel for him in quite the same way as I had on Saturday. Aside from that though, Johnny gave an excellent performance!
As for Benedict's Victor, as I'd been told, he was brilliant! He brought the emotion to the role that I'd felt had been missing from Saturday's performance. From his very first lines, which were actually not very big, I just felt like the character carried more gravitas, more umph. His fear was far more apparent, and his running away initially made far more sense. As the play wore on I felt like I actually got to know Victor better. His love for Elizabeth was actually apparent and you could see how clearly he was torn between her and his work. When it came time for him to betray the Creature I bought it, 100% and his actions at that point made far more sense to me than they had on Saturday. The character still suffered from being seriously underwritten, but that's not the actors' faul and given the minimal material he had to work with, Benedict did a superb job!
After the show, S and I chatted a bit and then parted at which point I made my way to the stage door for one final attempt. And this time, the place was PACKED. There were so many people there I was a little worried that he wouldn't come out at all.
Anyway, there I was, in a crowd of about 50-80 fans (including the autograph hunters I'd spotted earlier) in the FREEZING cold and wind, waiting. Again. (Seriously, it's like it went from spring to winter again overnight. Yesterday was MUCH warmer). After about half an hour, one of the children playing Victor's brother in the play came out and everyone clapped and cheered for him. At that point, some people in the balcony above peered over to see what was going on... turns out, those people were the cast, INCLUDING Benedict who were clearly having a post final show party. Benedict, with his freshly washed hair, smiled down at us and waved and then went back to his conversation.
More waiting.
Then, about 20 minutes later, Benedict came out. And the crowd surged forward. Seriously, he was surrounded! I'd had a nice, prime, spot near the front but I was pushed out of the way. Apparently saying where you are and waiting for him to come to you, like I was naturally inclined to do, is not the correct protocol because I was basically forced to go with the flow. Anyway, in the midst of all that chaos, I took some pictures of Benedict up close (Posted below) while I waited my turn. Finally he turned to me and took my program and pen and I told him that I'd seen Saturday's performance as well and that I felt that he had done an excellent job in both roles. He smiled and thanked me then wrote in my book: "Thank You, Benedict Cumberbatch".
Not long after that, he made his way back toward the doors and shouted thank you to everyone as he waved. There may have been cheering and clapping. Anyway, once he was gone, I headed home blown away by how generous it was of him to come away from his party with his cast mates after their final performance just to come out and sign autographs instead of making us wait in the cold until he was done. Seriously, what an amazing guy.
Anyway, here's the moment you've probably been waiting for, pictures of Benedict:
*guh* looking at these again I'm reminded of how great he looked in that jacket. And with those sideburns. *swoons* I'm suddenly wishing I was any good at making icons...