Wednesday, December 07, 2005
A Christmas Carol
OK, time to start using this for something. And what better way to start, than with a trip to the theatre tonight to see A Christmas Carol. Starring Patrick Stewart (aka Captain Jean-Luc Picard). Not that mentioning Stewart, Picard, or even Star Trek would get more people to look at this entry of course.
This was a revival of the Olivier-winning one man production of A Christmas Carol that ran on Broadway and at London's Old Vic some 12 years ago. Which means a mass Patrick Stewart fest from start to finish, as he narrates the story, and dips into each of the characters (all nicely realised, with clear sense of identities). It might be a little strange to get your head round, but as a one man show it works really well - the narration adds so much to the story that is (easily) missed in an ensemble performance.
Although it's easier to get your head round, than a certain American fellow in the audience (I'm assuming he was American - sounded like it). A guy that mere minutes into the play - just after the nephew has wished Scrooge a Merry Christmas - muttered something mostly incomprehensible, and walked out. Although just as he was leaving, did say much more audibly "rehashed bullshit". It's Dickens. It's A Christmas Carol. Was he even at the right play? OK, so you might not like the one man staging. You may even take issue with Patrick's performance. But it says 'A Christmas Carol' on the posters and tickets - either that was a ridiculous critique, or an expensive and ineffectual protest.
For anyone that will be attending the forthcoming performances - especially those not familiar with this theatre - I have some top tips:
1) Autograph hunting is particularly profitable if you realise that the Albery backs on to the Wyndham - whilst standing at the stage door waiting for Patrick, managed to catch Richard Griffiths, Ken Stott and John Hurt coming out of Wyndham's.
2) Shoot any Americans you see in the foyer (well, you can never be too careful).
This was a revival of the Olivier-winning one man production of A Christmas Carol that ran on Broadway and at London's Old Vic some 12 years ago. Which means a mass Patrick Stewart fest from start to finish, as he narrates the story, and dips into each of the characters (all nicely realised, with clear sense of identities). It might be a little strange to get your head round, but as a one man show it works really well - the narration adds so much to the story that is (easily) missed in an ensemble performance.
Although it's easier to get your head round, than a certain American fellow in the audience (I'm assuming he was American - sounded like it). A guy that mere minutes into the play - just after the nephew has wished Scrooge a Merry Christmas - muttered something mostly incomprehensible, and walked out. Although just as he was leaving, did say much more audibly "rehashed bullshit". It's Dickens. It's A Christmas Carol. Was he even at the right play? OK, so you might not like the one man staging. You may even take issue with Patrick's performance. But it says 'A Christmas Carol' on the posters and tickets - either that was a ridiculous critique, or an expensive and ineffectual protest.
For anyone that will be attending the forthcoming performances - especially those not familiar with this theatre - I have some top tips:
1) Autograph hunting is particularly profitable if you realise that the Albery backs on to the Wyndham - whilst standing at the stage door waiting for Patrick, managed to catch Richard Griffiths, Ken Stott and John Hurt coming out of Wyndham's.
2) Shoot any Americans you see in the foyer (well, you can never be too careful).
