(no subject)
Today at work we are all mostly being hopeless... we did three hours of leaflet delivery this morning to ALL THE FLATS and it see,s to have wiped us all out which is enormously useful *looks at pile of work* *looks at full diary* I'm sure it will all be FINE!
Anyway I had a good weekend at least.
On Saturday rhade_rad, seiyaharris & I took ourselves off on a little daytrip to Leeds to see Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the West Yorkshire Playhouse :D 2.5 train journey, 3 hour play, 2.5 train journey (with a bit of time in between for lunch/tea/buying snacks *g*)
It was TOTALLY worth it.
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof @ West Yorkshire Playhouse
I'm just going to start with the main reason I was willing to travel to Leeds for this- Jamie Parker. I've always liked him as an actor, since The History Boys, but it's been so amazing watching him grow as an actor over the last few years, particularly obvious as he grew from Hal to Henry V, and seeing him as Brick was wonderful. He was distracted and thoughtful and even if he claims not entirely to understand the "charm of the defeated" he absolutely has it and you understand entirely why he's Big Daddy's favourite and why Maggie is so willing to fight for him. His desperate need for alcohol, to feel that "click" is almost childlike and you can see him fighting so hard NOT to know, or think, or feel and so when the flashes of rage come out they're all the more terrifying but also pointless.
The confrontation between Brick & Big Daddy was wonderful because there seemed to be real affection between them but a complete inability to actually SAY any of the important stuff. Most of the truths in this play seem to come out in arguments, meant to hurt and puncture the "system of medacity".
Zoe Boyle was very good as Maggie too, I'd never have remembered she was Downton's Lavinia if it weren't in the programme! She's very feline, very sensual and oh so desperate to be loved and touched.
I loved the way she and Mae really did seem to act like two hissing and spitting cats at each other. (Mae & Gooper & the no-necked monsters were all absolutely awful but then that's what they're supposed to be- Mae's continual inability to stay quiet whether she was winning or losing was brilliant)
The heartbreaking thing about Brick's story is that everyone except him entirely accepts that if he and Skipper were in love that wasn't a bad thing. In fact it's so strange to watch a play where the father/wife/mother/everyone is supportive of the potential gay character but they're the one fighting it! (incidentally I'm pretty certain I've read all of Brick's arguments about "why can't two guys just have pure friendship" almost word for word in various fandom battles!)
I also loved the set- there was water covering one corner from the flooding creating a barrier but also a visible sign of the oncoming storm/changes and Brick & Maggie's bedroom was gorgeous (I'd happily live there!) but with moss hanging from above and the water it was the sort of beauty you know isn't going to last.
We were utterly enthralled by the play and I've found myself since wondering what would happen next- would Maggie's plans work? Would Brick finally drink himself to death? Sign of a good play when you can't stop thinking about it!
Then on Sunday I had an actual morning off- no singing, no serving, no Rainbows! Plus the Dean was preaching which is always great \o/ and then my parents left for a brief holiday so I had the house to myself and therefore spent the afternoon watching Jonny Brownlee become the 2012 Triathlon World Champion :D followed by watching The Nutcracker on Sky Arts *g*
Anyway I had a good weekend at least.
On Saturday rhade_rad, seiyaharris & I took ourselves off on a little daytrip to Leeds to see Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the West Yorkshire Playhouse :D 2.5 train journey, 3 hour play, 2.5 train journey (with a bit of time in between for lunch/tea/buying snacks *g*)
It was TOTALLY worth it.
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof @ West Yorkshire Playhouse
I'm just going to start with the main reason I was willing to travel to Leeds for this- Jamie Parker. I've always liked him as an actor, since The History Boys, but it's been so amazing watching him grow as an actor over the last few years, particularly obvious as he grew from Hal to Henry V, and seeing him as Brick was wonderful. He was distracted and thoughtful and even if he claims not entirely to understand the "charm of the defeated" he absolutely has it and you understand entirely why he's Big Daddy's favourite and why Maggie is so willing to fight for him. His desperate need for alcohol, to feel that "click" is almost childlike and you can see him fighting so hard NOT to know, or think, or feel and so when the flashes of rage come out they're all the more terrifying but also pointless.
The confrontation between Brick & Big Daddy was wonderful because there seemed to be real affection between them but a complete inability to actually SAY any of the important stuff. Most of the truths in this play seem to come out in arguments, meant to hurt and puncture the "system of medacity".
Zoe Boyle was very good as Maggie too, I'd never have remembered she was Downton's Lavinia if it weren't in the programme! She's very feline, very sensual and oh so desperate to be loved and touched.
I loved the way she and Mae really did seem to act like two hissing and spitting cats at each other. (Mae & Gooper & the no-necked monsters were all absolutely awful but then that's what they're supposed to be- Mae's continual inability to stay quiet whether she was winning or losing was brilliant)
The heartbreaking thing about Brick's story is that everyone except him entirely accepts that if he and Skipper were in love that wasn't a bad thing. In fact it's so strange to watch a play where the father/wife/mother/everyone is supportive of the potential gay character but they're the one fighting it! (incidentally I'm pretty certain I've read all of Brick's arguments about "why can't two guys just have pure friendship" almost word for word in various fandom battles!)
I also loved the set- there was water covering one corner from the flooding creating a barrier but also a visible sign of the oncoming storm/changes and Brick & Maggie's bedroom was gorgeous (I'd happily live there!) but with moss hanging from above and the water it was the sort of beauty you know isn't going to last.
We were utterly enthralled by the play and I've found myself since wondering what would happen next- would Maggie's plans work? Would Brick finally drink himself to death? Sign of a good play when you can't stop thinking about it!
Then on Sunday I had an actual morning off- no singing, no serving, no Rainbows! Plus the Dean was preaching which is always great \o/ and then my parents left for a brief holiday so I had the house to myself and therefore spent the afternoon watching Jonny Brownlee become the 2012 Triathlon World Champion :D followed by watching The Nutcracker on Sky Arts *g*