899 posts
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Post by bordeaux on Jan 27, 2019 21:24:40 GMT
You want a new play to start with, you want to revive a modern classic that's not been seen in London since its first production. You want a major classic with star casting and, fourthly, a major rediscovery of something off the radar. What do you go for? You are allowed a first and a second choice for each category, with any other details you care to reveal.
I think I'd start with Tracy Letts' The Minutes, a play about local politics that sounds as if it goes deeper than that; it got great reviews in the US. Or something by Lynn Nottage, if anything's available. For my modern classic I'd go for Serious Money by Caryl Churchill or Pravda by Brenton/Hare. Both seem as timely as ever.
For my solid-gold classic I'd go for John Gabriel Borkman with Simon Russell Beale, Harriet Walter and Fiona Shaw. It's been a long time since the Scofield/Redgrave/Atkins production at the National. Perhaps it's time Sam Mendes had a crack at Ibsen and returned to his old stomping ground? If not John Gabriel Borkman, then perhaps Rosmersholm, which I've only seen once and I'd love to see a great production of. Or Sheridan's The Critic, which I've never seen in 30 years of theatre-going. For my lost classic I'd go for Arthur Schnitzler's Forgotten Country (is the old Tom Stoppard translation still serviceable, I wonder?) as I love his work and that early 20th century melancholy. Or Racine's Athalie, one of his rare adaptations of a Bible story.
Any thoughts? Or any thoughts on what Michael Longhurst might be likely to do?
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423 posts
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Post by dlevi on Jan 27, 2019 23:46:36 GMT
Wouldn't it be great if just programmed a season of Whitehall / Aldwych farces? Just as a change of pace?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2019 23:50:35 GMT
New play by Lucy Kirkwood or Ella Hickson, something about truth and lies and our modern failing of confusing the two.
Modern classic as yet unrevived, Mother Clap’s Molly House by Mark Ravenhill.
Major classic with star casting, The Country Wife by Wycherly, take your pick for casting.
Rediscovery, Wedekind Earth Spirit/Pandora’s Box in new versions by Simon Stephens. Done in two parts.
Vainly trying to second guess but the sort of season I’d like to see!
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5,691 posts
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Post by lynette on Jan 27, 2019 23:54:28 GMT
Ah, the old star casting game. Personally and I realise nobody else would be with me, I’d go for a new James Graham and a new Conor Mc Pherson. I’d get SRB, Cumbers, a couple of dames and one or two of the young 'uns I’ve spotted recently in a Chekhov and then something intimate, a two hander or more of that fab one person stuff they do sometimes like Stephen Dillane ( was it him?) reciting the Four Quartets. And maybe a weekend of studio stuff letting the experimentals in. So just toss that lot round the pan and season well.
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581 posts
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Post by princeton on Jan 28, 2019 1:17:03 GMT
For my solid-gold classic I'd go for John Gabriel Borkman with Simon Russell Beale, Harriet Walter and Fiona Shaw. It's been a long time since the Scofield/Redgrave/Atkins production at the National. Since the National production (1996) it has actually been done at the Donmar, in 2007 with Ian McDiarmid, Penelope Wilton and Deborah Findlay - directed by Michael Grandage. And Fiona Shaw appeared in the Abbey Theatre, Dublin production in 2010 - with Alan Rickman and Lindsay Duncan, directed by James McDonald. That production also played BAM in New York, but didn't make the expected transfer to London. |
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Post by couldileaveyou on Jan 28, 2019 9:39:01 GMT
New play by Sarah Ruhl.
Unrevived modern classic, Stoppard's The Invention of Love, with Ian McDiarmind as older Housman and Archie Madekwe or Lucas Hedges if we can afford him as younger Housman.
Musical: a revival of Sondheim's A Little Night Music, with Janet McTeer as Desirée. If she's busy let's go with Vanessa Williams.
I'd like Phyllida Lloyd to add a play to her trilogy, maybe Titus Andronicus.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Jan 28, 2019 10:38:52 GMT
New Play - it is about time we had a Lauren Gunderson premiere in the UK
Modern Classic - The Normal Heart by Larry Kramer. Still one of the most powerful, angry pieces of writing. Don't care who you cast - just do the play
Major Classic - The Relapse - with a big name star playing Lord F.
Musical - I think it is time for another look at Kiss of the Spiderwoman. It would work in that space.
That would do for me
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2019 10:41:14 GMT
Musical: a revival of Sondheim's A Little Night Music, with Janet McTeer as Desirée. If she's busy let's go with Vanessa Williams. Vanessa Williams in 'A Little Night Music' would be totes amazeballs! |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2019 10:51:19 GMT
I'd stick 'The Visit' in there with Judi Dench.
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587 posts
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Post by Polly1 on Jan 28, 2019 10:59:49 GMT
I'd stick 'The Visit' in there with Judi Dench. The play or the musical? I would LOVE to see either (and Dame J would be perfect) but I think there are major rights problems with the play. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2019 11:03:37 GMT
I'd get Julian Ovenden to take the front row's eyes out again.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2019 11:26:54 GMT
I'd stick 'The Visit' in there with Judi Dench. The play or the musical? I would LOVE to see either (and Dame J would be perfect) but I think there are major rights problems with the play. The musical. It would fit nicely in the Donmar and Dame Judi would be glorious as Claire. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2019 11:29:19 GMT
I'd get Julian Ovenden to take the front row's eyes out again. After 'My Night With Reg', I'd be careful if I was sat in the back row of the circle to be honest. |
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Post by QueerTheatre on Jan 28, 2019 16:24:58 GMT
Considering they once held the rights...i'd definitely stage Next To Normal.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2019 16:27:29 GMT
Considering they once held the rights...i'd definitely stage Next To Normal. If there's a way to combine my suggestion with your suggestion we're onto a winner. (But either way, yes, for the love of God and musical theatre someone stage that show, and if it could be the Donmar I'd go back to camping outside there for tickets) |
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Post by QueerTheatre on Jan 28, 2019 16:33:39 GMT
Considering they once held the rights...i'd definitely stage Next To Normal. If there's a way to combine my suggestion with your suggestion we're onto a winner. (But either way, yes, for the love of God and musical theatre someone stage that show, and if it could be the Donmar I'd go back to camping outside there for tickets) I've heard numerous differing reasons for this not coming to our shores yet - but the original reason was "apparently" that Mochael Grandage held the rights during his donmar days, and when he left it took them so long to workout whether he held them personally, or the theatre held that that by the tuime it was figured out they'd expired and the original rights holders then decided it it wasn't the original production it wasn't going to happen. I was lucky enough to see if in numerous different incarnations, including NYMF as Feeling Electric, off broadway with Brian Darcy James (including a 45 minute cuddle with the B man as he held my friend as she sobbed and introduced us to assitant director Anthony Rapp who then made me sob) and again on Broadway when it finally triumphantly transferred... but there are so many incredible british actors who i'd love to see get their teeth into that score (mostly Jenna Russell...) |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2019 16:37:52 GMT
If there's a way to combine my suggestion with your suggestion we're onto a winner. (But either way, yes, for the love of God and musical theatre someone stage that show, and if it could be the Donmar I'd go back to camping outside there for tickets) I've heard numerous differing reasons for this not coming to our shores yet - but the original reason was "apparently" that Mochael Grandage held the rights during his donmar days, and when he left it took them so long to workout whether he held them personally, or the theatre held that that by the tuime it was figured out they'd expired and the original rights holders then decided it it wasn't the original production it wasn't going to happen. I was lucky enough to see if in numerous different incarnations, including NYMF as Feeling Electric, off broadway with Brian Darcy James (including a 45 minute cuddle with the B man as he held my friend as she sobbed and introduced us to assitant director Anthony Rapp who then made me sob) and again on Broadway when it finally triumphantly transferred... but there are so many incredible british actors who i'd love to see get their teeth into that score (mostly Jenna Russell...) Those are beautiful stories! I only saw it once, with Marin Mazzie, which was heartwrenching to watch, and hearbreaking to think about now. But Jenna has always been top of my list for this one over here. And the Donmar would be such a perfect space for it. |
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581 posts
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Post by princeton on Jan 29, 2019 16:23:10 GMT
Sam Mendes began his tenure with the UK premiere of Sondheim's Assassins; Michael Grandage opened his regime with a revival of Noel Coward's The Vortex; and Josie Rourke started with Farquhar's The Recruiting Office. So if Michael Longhurst wants to mark himself out as different from his predecessors - then a brand new work would be the way to do it - though a brave and risky move for a venue not particularly known for new writing. That said long term I'd rather that those theatres with a specific new writing remit actually started to deliver lots of good new writing from established and up and coming writers (Hampstead Theatre - I'm looking at you).
In terms of star actors - Longhurst has twice worked with Jake Gyllenhall in NYC so we can hope he can persuade him to make another appearance in the West End (maybe in a new Nick Payne), and maybe Sally Hawkins in Caryl Churchill's The Skriker or Far Away (or indeed Serious Money if it still feels relevant).
I agree that it's about time that the musical Next to Normal made the leap across the Atlantic - and the Donmar would be the perfect venue (as mentioned it was rumoured almost a decade ago). I've always wanted Jenna Russell to play Diana, and I understand it's a role she's really interested in - but post Company can't help but wonder how Rosalie Craig would fare, with Hadley Fraser playing Dan of course, and they've both previously been in a Donmar musical. I loved the musical in its many incarnations, but having not seen it since 2010 I can't decide whether the changes in attitude and approach to mental health over the last 10 years would make it more or less timely. I guess there's only one way to find out!
I also hope that the Donmar establishes links with regional theatres around the UK - building on the success of The York Realist with Sheffield Crucible.
Also on my wish list:
The UK premiere of A Doll's House Part 2 - with Janet McTeer
A revival of A Raisin in the Sun with Noma Dumezweni moving from Ruth to Lena (ok she's too young but she'd act the hell out of it) and Daniel Kuluya as Walter (Letitia Wright as Beneatha and Cynthia Erivo as Ruth are perhaps two wishes too many)
A stage adaptation of some of John Le Carre's Smiley novels - or even a one man version - staring Simon Russell Beale - he was so good in the radio version
Keeley Hawes in anything by Rattigan or Coward (I'd like her and Josh O'Connor in The Vortex - but I guess that's not for the Donmar)
And of course, as every producing house should do a dance based production - I look forward to the tap dancing version Three Sisters starring Scarlett, Summer and Zizi Strallen (with Sasi as Natasha).
Pretty much anything I'd like to see on stage I'd like to see at the Donmar - except for things which genuinely need an epic sweep as sometimes bigger is better.
Finally - given that it's been some time since DONald and MARgaret Albery have had anything to do with the theatre (having been dead for a while) - would Longhurst dare risk a name change. Not in Kiln fashion - but rather like the Novello and Noel Coward (also previously named after members of the Albery family) and Gillian Lynne - named after a great theatre creative. Given the amount of his work done there since it reopened in 1992 maybe this is actually the true venue for the Stephen Sondheim Theatre.
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5,691 posts
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Post by lynette on Jan 29, 2019 21:16:26 GMT
I can’t agree with you Princeton that they change the name of the Donmar. It's very oddness is its strength. Nobody knows the origin, except a few, so it means just what it is. And imo Sondheim is not a suitable candidate for a named theatre unless it is dedicated just to his work alone. Of course if someone comes along with a huge amount of dosh, then all bets are off. But so many of the big names these days are slightly tainted with big business or worse. Is there a philanthropic theatre lover out there?
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587 posts
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Post by Polly1 on Jan 29, 2019 21:30:34 GMT
Re. Nick Payne - Incognito, which I think was his follow up to Constellations had a short run at the Bush and also at Hightide where I saw it and thought it was brilliant. Definitely ripe for a proper WE run (& hopefully they could get Sargon Yelda back for it).
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181 posts
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Post by caa on Jan 29, 2019 21:42:17 GMT
I'd like to see Circle Mirror Transformation by Annie Baker, the Royal Court staged it in 2013 in a Community Centre in Haggerston with Toby Jones and Imelda Staunton.
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7,059 posts
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Post by Jon on Jan 30, 2019 1:10:17 GMT
Finally - given that it's been some time since DONald and MARgaret Albery have had anything to do with the theatre (having been dead for a while) - would Longhurst dare risk a name change. Not in Kiln fashion - but rather like the Novello and Noel Coward (also previously named after members of the Albery family) and Gillian Lynne - named after a great theatre creative. Given the amount of his work done there since it reopened in 1992 maybe this is actually the true venue for the Stephen Sondheim Theatre. Donmar works as a brand and call it the Sondheim would mean losing its identity not to mention Sondheim Theatre isn't exactly search engine friendly due to their being a theatre called that on Broadway. |
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Post by Fleance on Jan 30, 2019 3:54:28 GMT
I would revive Phyllida Lloyd's brilliant 1994 Donmar production of The Threepenny Opera with Tom Hollander. Updated lyrics by Jeremy Sams. Beverley Klein was particularly good as Mrs. Peachum. I blush to recall her lyrics to "The Ballad of Sexual Imperative ."
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2019 7:11:57 GMT
I think there are plenty of British talents who have graced London's glitzy West End in the past who deserve having a theatre named after them before Stephen Sondwho gets one.
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581 posts
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Post by princeton on Jan 30, 2019 11:37:32 GMT
As someone who still can't use the word Snickers I wasn't seriously suggesting a name change - rather provocatively speculating about whether post-Kiln any Artistic Director will ever attempt to rename a theatre. And I agree that brand is more important for a producing house than a venue for hire.
As for Sondheim - one can't be help feel a little sorry for him (or maybe I'm being sentimental). Twice Cameron Mackintosh has announced that he's going to open a Stephen Sondheim Theatre - and twice it's failed to come to fruition - and at least the Donmar has Sondheim history having produced about half a dozen productions of his work. But yes - there have been lots of British talents who could, and probably should, have theatres named after them. I still think the Cottesloe should have become the Peter Hall and it niggles me that the Young Vic now barely acknowledge who Maria and Clare were. But potential theatre names are probably for a new thread.
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