Any play showing at The Scoop – the open-air amphitheatre next to the London Assembly’s ‘Eyeball’ building – needs to be able to take a bit of buffeting, and not just from the wind and aeroplanes. You’d think that Lorca’s ‘Blood Wedding’ would be robust enough to thrive in this environment: no play with spoken parts for Death and The Moon is going to be a delicate, naturalistic chamber piece, after all. No, this is a heady symbolist concoction that follows a rural Spanish marriage helter-skelter to tragedy when the bride cannot give up her old lover.
There is enough stark, ritualistic drama here to echo the classical archetypes that have flourished in outdoor amphitheatres down the centuries, but Phil Willmott’s production for the Steam Industry is not a very happy affair. There is too much stolid stomping around the set and through the audience, too many black-veiled figures moaning and groaning, and too much standing and declaiming that shades into definite hammery. The cast are miked up, too, which is a sure-fire way of destroying nuance, though they make a good stirring racket when they break into song. Ursula Mohan as the bridegroom’s mother strikes the right note in her bitter tirades against the menfolk’s bloodlust, but elsewhere the younger cast members lack her power. It’s free, you might shrug, but the play is not well served.
the SCOOP is the most wonderful place to watch FREE theatre on a summer evening in London. You cannot better the experience. get there early for good seats, take some chocs and something to sit on and enjoy some amazing theatre
I'm planning a trip to London to see this. So many of my Spannish friends have reccomended it as really making Lorca feel alive and relevent. I've written many papers on his plays and the critics response here is very typical of Northern European critical reaction to the work. This isn't chechov - you've got to play it from the gut. I can't find a booking number. Does anyone know if you can reserve seats?
Got to agree with Jay W. I'm a big Theatre at the Scoop fan and this is their best yet. You got to get their early though for a good seat - huge crowds.
Jeez, what is your reviewers problem? Went Saturday night and this is an incredible evening - the setting takes your breath away and as the sun set and this incredible play grips you - this is one of the most pwerful theatrical experiences I've had in years AND IT'S FREE. The actors deliver everything with EXACTLY the right level of passion. It'd be a real pity of anyone missed out on this event because some critic got it so so wrong. Go.
Posted by
Time Out Theatre Section
on
01 Aug 2008 12:41
Dear Jane,
Thanks for your message. The open air season at the Scoop is presented by Steam Industry Free Theatre. We don't have their contact details but you could try to contact Clout Communicatiosn who deal with their PR, I'm sure they will be able to help you. The press contact is Kevin Wilson and his email address is kevin@cloutcom.co.uk.
9 comments
the SCOOP is the most wonderful place to watch FREE theatre on a summer evening in London. You cannot better the experience. get there early for good seats, take some chocs and something to sit on and enjoy some amazing theatre
a fantastic evening. the play was excellent and the setting amazing.
can anybody tell me how long is it? starting at 8pm but when is it finising?
Jon Torro: No you can't reserve seats you just need to get there a little earlier to find yourself a spot.
I'm planning a trip to London to see this. So many of my Spannish friends have reccomended it as really making Lorca feel alive and relevent. I've written many papers on his plays and the critics response here is very typical of Northern European critical reaction to the work. This isn't chechov - you've got to play it from the gut. I can't find a booking number. Does anyone know if you can reserve seats?
Got to agree with Jay W. I'm a big Theatre at the Scoop fan and this is their best yet. You got to get their early though for a good seat - huge crowds.
Jeez, what is your reviewers problem? Went Saturday night and this is an incredible evening - the setting takes your breath away and as the sun set and this incredible play grips you - this is one of the most pwerful theatrical experiences I've had in years AND IT'S FREE. The actors deliver everything with EXACTLY the right level of passion. It'd be a real pity of anyone missed out on this event because some critic got it so so wrong. Go.
Dear Jane,
Thanks for your message. The open air season at the Scoop is presented by Steam Industry Free Theatre. We don't have their contact details but you could try to contact Clout Communicatiosn who deal with their PR, I'm sure they will be able to help you. The press contact is Kevin Wilson and his email address is kevin@cloutcom.co.uk.
I want to getin touch with Scoop Theatre Company.
Do you have their email address?
many thanks
Jane Osborne