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Brief Encounter
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Cinema on the Haymarket, 62-65 Haymarket, London, SW1 4QX
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Rating:
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- Kneehigh has made it into the West End but not the West End as we normally know it. Nor is this quite the adaptation of ‘Brief Encounter’ that those who come because they dote on the film – rather than because they are Kneehigh fans – will be expecting. The producers have taken over a cinema on Haymarket and endeavoured to bring back some of the romance of film-going with friendly ushers in pillbox hats, roses in the loo, and cucumber sandwiches (for some) in the interval. Emma Rice’s imaginative production, based on Noël Coward’s original play and David Lean’s film, skilfully draws on both film and theatre (sometimes both at the same time) as Naomi Frederick’s Laura and Alec (Tristan Sturrock) meet by chance in a railway buffet and fall in love, in spite of being married and of Laura’s insistence that they should be ‘sensible’. But this being Kneehigh, the film’s secondary characters are given a much greater part of the action than Noël Coward ever intended, their more joyful liaisons contrasting with Laura and Alec’s guilt-ridden meetings. Everyone has a story. Amanda Lawrence delights as Beryl, the willing waitress, and as a nosy neighbour with an erratic dog.
The company is one of the most inventive and likeable around. But here the narrative thrust is too often lost, particularly during the music hall turns which unnecessarily introduce yet another form of entertainment. There are also times when there’s an obvious mismatch between Coward’s clipped emotion and Kneehigh’s exuberance and the piece becomes more about class than self-denial and consequently less moving. Frederick as Laura, torn between her cosy pipe-smoking husband at home and the romantic doctor at the railway station, struggles to get behind her character’s prissy exterior and it’s left to Sturrock to create a head of steam. But that’s not really something he can do on his own.
For more information on the show and to view a trailer for this production, see www.seebriefencounter.com.
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Details
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Cinema on the Haymarket, 62-65 Haymarket, London, SW1 4QX
- 0871 230 1562
- Category: West End
- Times: Tue-Sat 8pm, Wed & Sat Mats 3pm, Sun 4pm,
- Price: £29.50-£39.50. Booking to Oct 19
- Tube: Piccadilly Circus
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5 comments
This is the most wonderful theatre production I have ever, ever seen. The film was used beautifully as a basis for a moving, hilarious and technically astonishing spectacle. This group of actors have the most innovative ways of getting around the stage, engaging the audience [during how many intervals have you been offered a bun?!] and generally entertaining us (I was delighted by the live 'advert break' between scenes).
Quite the longest afternoon at the theatre. Really a pointless story and music that didn't forward it along.
This show is completely amazing. The staging is incredible and the whole thing looks and feels beautiful. There's nothing else like it in the West End - a very special night out.
I loved it, my boyfriend loved it and on the night we were there, Liza Minnelli was too, and it certainly looked like she loved it too
The show was great. From the moment we entered the theatre it was a magical experience.
The film effects, music and staging was all very cleverly melded together.
The four of us all gave it 6 stars!
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