Tag Archives: play

Skylight, Wyndhams Theatre

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Leicester Square is even busier than usual. Every night Wyndham’s Theatre is full. For just eleven weeks David Hare’s play Skylight is being staged, showcasing the talents of Bill Nighy and Carey Mulligan and giving us the rare chance to see them acting in the flesh.

The stark realist play premiered in 1995 at the National Theatre before moving to Wyndham’s for a short run starring Stella Gonet and Bill Nighy. This time round the piece is directed by Stephen Daldry; Bill Nighy is back but plays against fresh faced filmstar Carey Mulligan and Matthew Beard. This revival is beautifully acted and staged, and despite moving over just twelve hours the content is utterly gripping, I felt completely engrossed and involved in the drama throughout.

We are transported to a chilly, cheap flat in Kensal Rise, where Kyra Hollis lives. Whilst making bolognaise on stage (the smell of sizzling onions rises to even the highest seats in theatre) she is separately visited by her ex-lover, Tom Sargeant and his son Edward. Kyra seems worn down by her emotionally exhausting lifestyle. She struggles with lingering feelings of love and anger towards Tom and his privileged and unaware lifestyle. Meanwhile he criticises her piety and the unnecessary hardships she inflicts on herself. We understand that Kyra ran away when things became difficult and he had to deal with his wife’s painful death alone. The conversation flits between distant happy memories together and full blown arguments about the equality in the world, heightened by their different situations. The set remains the same throughout which gives a constant backdrop to their ever-changing dramatic dialogue. All three actors present believable and nuanced characters, and work beautifully together onstage.

Skylight is a thought-provoking study on the human condition, the urges and angst we feel and the impact of important decisions. After all this it shows that whatever happens we must carry on with the regular routine of everyday life.

Continues until 23 August, more information here.

THOROUGHLY MODERN MINI: Richard III, Trafalgar Studios

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Director Jamie Lloyd seeks to make Shakespeare accessible, bringing it to new and younger audiences. This thrilling account of the historical play, Richard III does that brilliantly, it is a gripping theatrical experience from start to end.

Bringing Martin Freeman into the lead role attracted much attention, many people doubted whether the famous Hobbit and Sherlock actor could break his nice guy persona. What Martin Freeman does in this play is to create a cold, calculating, almost inhuman character. He pulls it off with such confidence that we still feel the raw, broken side to the cruel King, making him seem genuine and believable. I particularly enjoyed watching Freeman continuously slip further into madness and villainy throughout the play, and he showed real skill illustrating the extremity of the King without over exaggerating.

There has been some criticism for the set, which remains constant throughout the show. The static set occasionally restricts movement but effectively adds a claustrophobic tension and feeling of no escape to the play which worked in favour of the actors, giving a sense of relentless closeness as well as intensity to the scenes.

A brilliant aspect to Richard III is the dark comedic side to the work which has been heightened by the cast in this production, creating many sinister yet hilarious moments which are contrasted with the ruthless violence that accompanies them. This works very well, with the tragedies and losses in the play remaining serious despite the comedy.

The cast is a myriad of great acting with a fantastically charismatic Buckingham (portrayed by Jo Stone-Fewings) and a desperate Queen Elizabeth (portrayed by Gina McKee) acting alongside Freeman.

This production of Richard III is fascinating, funny and dark with a chilling soundtrack and one that has countless positive attributes. The 70s aesthetic added another layer of twisted surrealism which I loved, and I find it pointless to delve too deep into what the original thoughts were behind the concept, even if they were connected with ‘The Winter of Discontent’ in the 70s or otherwise.

I found this piece of theatre incredibly unique and so well executed (no pun intended) that I would love to pop down to Trafalgar studios and see it for a third time!

Continues until Saturday 27 September. More information and book tickets here.

Written by Thoroughly Modern Mini, Eloise Kenny-Ryder.

Hobson’s Choice, Regent’s Park Open Air

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There is something so exhilarating about attending an open air production, especially when you are escaping from a super-urban city like London. I always choose Holland Park for opera and Regent’s Park for plays and musicals, and I am never disappointed.

Hobson’s Choice is a humble play, a quaint and old-fashioned comedy by Harold Brighouse. It is a bashful and modest opening show for the Regent’s Park 2014 summer season, but it is an enjoyable and touching story and, on press night, the audience seemed to delight in the light-hearted humour and nuanced acting.

It is the ultimate underdog tale. Selfish and lazy shoe shop owner Henry Horatio Hobson has three daughters to deal with since becoming a widower. He debates marrying them off but detests the lack of control that may lead to, and definitely won’t spend money on them. And so his eldest daughter, Maggie takes charge, coupling herself with the meek, uneducated, but brilliantly talented young boot-maker Willie Mossop and vows to change their lives forever. After a series of comical events, the young couple triumph and Hobson is left with whatever scraps of business and reputation he can retain. An unlikely love story with a satisfying finale.

The rotating set is very successful, simple and functional with a rugged-retro charm. It creates a believable sense of place and transports us back in time. The play is immaculately cast, each character seems so comfortable in their role taking on the 1960s character and Northern accent with no trouble at all. The interactions between the ensemble are so natural, it is a joy to watch. Mark Benton leads the cast as the drunken father, he is full of oomph and anger and causes much entertainment. Most memorable though is the defying couple, Jodie McNee as headstrong Maggie and Karl Davies as the reformed man, who depict their evolving relationship on stage with ease and elegance.

As long as the sun shines this vintage production will continue to enchant Londoners, the perfect escape at the end of a long day in the office.

Continues until 12th July, book tickets here.