You can almost hear the groan that goes up whenever another film
adaptation hits the West End stage. And God knows there have been some
duds. But Kneehigh’s splendid homage to Brief Encounter is no cynical
retread. Its sense of nostalgia extends beyond David Lean’s 1945 film
(scripted by Noël Coward from his own one-act play) to the medium of
cinema itself – it’s performed in one, after all. There are the
usherettes with their torches, the stirring swell of the incidental
music, and even one of those wonderful ‘stepping into the screen’
moments when a character moves from 3- to 2D. In an age when ‘the
pictures’ is fighting a losing battle against DVDs, downloads and
videogames, it’s amusing to see good old theatre take this almost
protective stance towards the upstart that everyone thought would kill
it off.
As surely everyone knows, the story concerns the
terribly middle-class affair between Laura and Alec, who meet at a
railway station café and fall in love, but cannot bring themselves to
do the dirty on their respective families. Naomi Frederick and Tristan
Sturrock are spot-on as the lovers, quivering their upper lips most
fetchingly at moments of passion; though in Emma Rice’s adaptation and
production they supplement this with some physical theatre, which is
not always necessary. The same can’t be said of the excellent live
music, which includes plenty of Coward’s own songs. Rice jollies things
along by giving extra weight to the film’s supporting cast (she’s
haughtily amusing herself as Myrtle, the café supremo) so that you come
out of the show smiling, rather than sobbing uncontrollably into a
hanky. Tourists take note: here is a genuinely – and thrillingly –
British piece of entertainment.
For more information on the show and to view a trailer for this production, see www.seebriefencounter.com.
Just went to watch it yesterday and had the time of my life. It is, in every sense of the word, the most brilliant marriage of stage theatre and film. Please, for crying out loud, do not head to the bar during the intreval, 'cause that's when things get interesting.
I have never seen this show, but I believe it really is at this theatre, and it is one of the many shows where you can buy a ticket with money, and then enter the theatre, and then see the show. I just find this amazing in this day and age.
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).
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.
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!
******
7 comments
Just went to watch it yesterday and had the time of my life. It is, in every sense of the word, the most brilliant marriage of stage theatre and film. Please, for crying out loud, do not head to the bar during the intreval, 'cause that's when things get interesting.
I have never seen this show, but I believe it really is at this theatre, and it is one of the many shows where you can buy a ticket with money, and then enter the theatre, and then see the show. I just find this amazing in this day and age.
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!
******