A night watch of 1916

[kalypso_v]

Appropriately I spent part of my grandfather Allan's 158th birthday in the theatre - indeed, the theatre, the Royal Exchange. Three years ago I posted about how the Royal Exchange Theatre was built in the building where Allan worked, originally as a yarn agent, later as the Manchester Guardian's correspondent on the cotton trade, and which he

Comments

[sheenaghpugh]

How was Lear?

[kalypso_v]

Sorry, I've been meaning to answer this question, but have been so busy with the referendum campaign, further theatre trips and trying to get back on top of my work that nearly two months have passed!

I thought it was a very good straightforward performance - ideal for a fresh audience - and Don Warrington was a fine Lear, but it didn't give me as many new thoughts about the play as the National Theatre's production with Simon Russell Beale which I saw in a live broadcast two years ago. The reason why I went a second time was because the friends who were with me the first time were much more excited by it, and one of them, a university tutor in English, is still saying how pleased she is that she saw it (and thought it very much better than the RSC Lear with McKellen in 2007). So I wanted to see whether I could find that extra excitement on a second visit. And I enjoyed it, but on the same level as before. Maybe I'm just missing something.

But it seems you should be able to get a chance to judge for yourself: they're planning to

[vjezkova]

This dialog is a great psychological study. Quite chilling and definitely written well.
I hope you will like S. Waters!

[kalypso_v]

Sorry, I never replied to this, nearly two months ago - you'll be glad to know that there's a happy ending to the play, with the suspicious soldier working his way through to accepting the not-entirely-deaf-and-dumb man as a mate.

And I did enjoy Sarah Waters'/Hattie Naylor's The Night Watch - it was an odd play, very stripped back (I haven't read the book but have seen a television version), but the lead (Jodie McNee) was fantastic (and looked very good in men's clothes!)

[vjezkova]

Thank you, this is very nice from you!
And I am really glad that there is a happy ending, yes!