LONDON TRIP REVIEWS

Nov 97

We arrived Sunday morning on BA 048 nonstop from Seattle. Sunday we settled in the flat and began adjusting to changing 8 time zones. Monday we proceeded to buy tickets for plays that week. Because we did not phone from home, we missed the opportunity to see Ben Kingsley in Waiting for Godot. The only seats available Monday were 6 pound "extremely restricted view" seats.

Thanks to the internet offer detailed in Darren Dalglish's London Theatre Newsletter, we got excellent seats Monday night to Ian McKellen in Enemy of the People.

This is theatre at its best. The talent of everyone on stage was staggering. I was astounded at the clarity of communication of not only emotion, but clarity of communication of big ideas. The play was thought provoking and entertaining. I particularly liked the lack of easy choices and clear, black-and-white characterizations.

Wednesday was a full day. We went to the Tate and saw the show of the four artists shortlisted for the 1997 Turner Prize.

Then we saw a matinee of Chicago. We were truly razzle dazzled, to quote a song. While there was not a great deal of thought provoking substance in the story, the enthusiasm and energy of the presentation was more than enough to make up for it. The talent and flash of the dancers and musicians made me not mind that there were few "impossible" moves made on stage. Many of the moves were simple stretches done with great style and enthusiasm.

Since a good meal is often part of a theatre experience, I recommend L'Appuntamento, a small ristorante and coffee bar at 23 Haymarket, near the Haymarket Theatre. (As we were leaving, I think I saw Michael Gambon entering the restaurant.) The restaurant is strong on good Italian cooking and personal service.

Wednesday evening we saw Maggie Smith and Eileen Atkins turn in excellent performances in A Delicate Balance. Maggie Smith as Claire had the flashy role as Claire, but Eileen Atkins as Agnes had the central role in the play. Although "A Delicate Balance" was written in 1966, I felt echoes of the paranoia and terror common in America of the 1950's. Of course Albee made his story timeless, but I felt echoes of the 1950's in his story.

Thursday evening was a little bit of a let down with Amanda Donohoe and Corin Redgrave in HRH. There was no razzle dazzle. The play was much more a cerebral experience, with much of the effect happening after the performance. Not that there was a thing wrong with the performances of these performers. I think the problem may have been that I did not like the characters (Duke & Duchess of Windsor), which was probably one of the points of the play. The rather dark and slimy sexual habits of the principals was described as a metaphor for their rather dark and slimy character. I think one of the aims of the play was to show how lucky England was to avoid having such a man as king. In modern days I think of the royals as ineffectual anachronisms, when I think of them at all. (I am an American.)

"HRH" reminded me of some of the reasons America is not part of the British Empire.

Friday evening was A Grand Night Out with Wallace and Gromit. The actors were all very talented in physical comedy. The experience was enhanced by the reactions of the shorter members of the audience. A four year old yelling out "Look behind you!" and "It's the Penguin!" really helped. The action was too intense for only one vocal youngster. I was glad to see the production was not a selection of scenes from the 3 Nick Park movies. Instead, the characters of Wallace (Paul Filipiak), Gromit (Russ Edwards), Wendolene (Joyce Henderson), Shaun (Mark Otto Hollander), and Feathers McGraw (Angela Clerkin) are engaged in a new adventure in the spirit of the films.

We took the Picadilly Line out to Heathrow Saturday morning and flew home.

Patrick Keating
Email : keatingp@teleport.com