John Gabriel Borkman - Bridge Theatre

[crabtree]

ah thank you, yes it was brand that I was thinking of. I loved Lady from the sea at the Royal exchange with Vanessa Redgrave coming in on a boat only wearing a towel.

[floorshow]

Mar 24, 2022 7:21:02 GMT Jan said:

Haven't seen Brand. Ralph Fiennes did it years ago but I think it was at the Haymarket so subject to my sanctions policy for that venue. The main Ibsen mountain ascent is in When We Dead Awaken but fjords feature heavily in many of the other plays. There's a bit of important mountain chat in John Gabriel Borkman but no real ascent into the high mountains, only a brisk walk in the woods. There is significant non-mountain climbing in The Master Builder. 

Fiennes made his entrance from the stalls seat next to me, I had to sit there for 15mins not acknowledging him. It was vaguely exciting but very stifling for small talk!
They did the march as a company marching on the spot, my first laugh in an Ibsen

[bordeaux]

Mar 24, 2022 11:52:18 GMT floorshow said:

Mar 24, 2022 7:21:02 GMT Jan said:

Haven't seen Brand. Ralph Fiennes did it years ago but I think it was at the Haymarket so subject to my sanctions policy for that venue. The main Ibsen mountain ascent is in When We Dead Awaken but fjords feature heavily in many of the other plays. There's a bit of important mountain chat in John Gabriel Borkman but no real ascent into the high mountains, only a brisk walk in the woods. There is significant non-mountain climbing in The Master Builder. 

Fiennes made his entrance from the stalls seat next to me, I had to sit there for 15mins not acknowledging him. It was vaguely exciting but very stifling for small talk!
They did the march as a company marching on the spot, my first laugh in an Ibsen

I was lucky enough to see it at the Swan.  Much better place for it.  It didn't feel like a long-lost masterpiece to me, but certainly an interesting play by a writer who'd go on to write better stuff.

[Jan]

Mar 24, 2022 11:52:18 GMT floorshow said:

Mar 24, 2022 7:21:02 GMT Jan said:

Haven't seen Brand. Ralph Fiennes did it years ago but I think it was at the Haymarket so subject to my sanctions policy for that venue. The main Ibsen mountain ascent is in When We Dead Awaken but fjords feature heavily in many of the other plays. There's a bit of important mountain chat in John Gabriel Borkman but no real ascent into the high mountains, only a brisk walk in the woods. There is significant non-mountain climbing in The Master Builder. 

Fiennes made his entrance from the stalls seat next to me, I had to sit there for 15mins not acknowledging him. It was vaguely exciting but very stifling for small talk!
They did the march as a company marching on the spot, my first laugh in an Ibsen

You should have asked for his autograph then said "I really liked Rising Damp". 

The Orange Tree did Ibsen's "Love's Comedy" a few years ago and it was genuinely quite funny.  

[TallPaul]

Why do you boycott the Theatre Royal Haymarket, Jan?

[Jan]

Mar 24, 2022 16:48:11 GMT TallPaul said:

Why do you boycott the Theatre Royal Haymarket, Jan ?

There's hardly any seats in it which have a decent view of the stage and the prices of all seats are absurdly high, and that's before you consider the appalling foyer facilities. A terrible old flea pit - the worst theatre in London I'd say. I think the last time I was there I saw the top of Donald Sinden's head play Uncle Vanya (with Frances de la Tour). I've missed a few things there on principle that I would normally have seen: Trevor Nunn's "Tempest" with Fiennes and the same director's "Heartbreak House" with Paul Scofield. Fiennes in Brandt, Harriet Walter in Much Ado, there have been a few. 

[TallPaul]

All very valid reasons, Jan. I applaud you for sticking to your principles.

[Rory]

Clare Higgins and Lia Williams join SRB.

[vickyg]

Jun 24, 2022 10:23:56 GMT Rory said:

Clare Higgins and Lia Williams join SRB.

I just saw this too and will be booking based on Lia Williams who has always been excellent in everything I’ve seen her in.

[mrbarnaby]

Jun 24, 2022 11:16:44 GMT vickyg said:

Jun 24, 2022 10:23:56 GMT Rory said:

Clare Higgins and Lia Williams join SRB.

I just saw this too and will be booking based on Lia Williams who has always been excellent in everything I’ve seen her in.

This casting has made me want to see it.

Claire Higgins SHOULD be one of our greatest actresses- sadly she’s so unreliable, it’s massively affected her career.
I will never forget her in Vincent in Brixton. Astonishing.

[Rory]

Jun 25, 2022 10:09:02 GMT mrbarnaby said:

Jun 24, 2022 11:16:44 GMT vickyg said:

I just saw this too and will be booking based on Lia Williams who has always been excellent in everything I’ve seen her in.

This casting has made me want to see it.

Claire Higgins SHOULD be one of our greatest actresses- sadly she’s so unreliable, it’s massively affected her career.
I will never forget her in Vincent in Brixton. Astonishing.

I don't remember ever hearing of her missing performances.

I saw the Abbey Dublin production of this with Alan Rickman, Fiona Shaw and Lindsay Duncan, which was terrific. This cast should be equally good.

[Jan]

Jun 25, 2022 10:09:02 GMT mrbarnaby said:

Jun 24, 2022 11:16:44 GMT vickyg said:

I just saw this too and will be booking based on Lia Williams who has always been excellent in everything I’ve seen her in.

This casting has made me want to see it.

Claire Higgins SHOULD be one of our greatest actresses- sadly she’s so unreliable, it’s massively affected her career.
I will never forget her in Vincent in Brixton. Astonishing.

I've seen her in loads of things, NT, RSC, West End - never seemed like she was short of work. 6x Olivier nominee (3x winner), 1x Tony nominee - I think that *does* make her one of our greatest actresses ?

[Rory]

I've seen her in Death of a Salesman and Vincent in Brixton and thought she was phenomenal in both.

[adolphus]

A great cast. Claire Higgins - she was simply astonishing as Martha in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" several years ago in Malvern

[frappuccino]

I would have liked to see the Alan Rickman version:

[barrowside]

It was stunning. Fiona Shaw and Lindsay Duncan were fabulous as well. I've never understood why it didn't come to London afterwards. The set design was extraordinary with houses made of ice and a most spectacular blizzard at the end that seemed to extend to infinity. It did go to BAM in Brooklyn for a week after the Abbey.

[joem]

Looking forward to this. Hope SRB will play this straight, he sometimes gets a laugh with a look or a gesture which is great when appropriate but I think it would be hard, and kind of pointless, to get a laugh out of this grimmest of Ibsen plays.

I think I saw the Paul Scofield/Eileen Atkins production but I have little recollection of it, need to sift through programmes. Finding it difficult to remember everything I've seen now.

[lookingatthestars]

Ah, I remember being in Dublin for 2 days and really wanting to see that production but it was sold out. I did get a ticket to a day time Q and A/interview with the actors. I was front row and was captivated by Alan Rickman, he was charming and funny and seemed really down to earth. He had a relaxed knowingness. At the time I didn't know who Lindsy Duncan was (I was young and had not experienced much theatre) but she was so lovely. Fiona Shaw arrived late, I think she was at a Francis Bacon exhibition and lost track of time. Anyway, I cherish that experience particularly as Alan Rickman passed away a few years later.

[ceebee]

Mar 24, 2022 17:24:19 GMT Jan said:

Mar 24, 2022 16:48:11 GMT TallPaul said:

Why do you boycott the Theatre Royal Haymarket, Jan ?

There's hardly any seats in it which have a decent view of the stage and the prices of all seats are absurdly high, and that's before you consider the appalling foyer facilities. A terrible old flea pit - the worst theatre in London I'd say. I think the last time I was there I saw the top of Donald Sinden's head play Uncle Vanya (with Frances de la Tour). I've missed a few things there on principle that I would normally have seen: Trevor Nunn's "Tempest" with Fiennes and the same director's "Heartbreak House" with Paul Scofield. Fiennes in Brandt, Harriet Walter in Much Ado, there have been a few. 

So you've not seen "Only Fools and Horses - The Musical" then...

[Rory]

Jun 27, 2022 12:24:09 GMT barrowside said:

It was stunning. Fiona Shaw and Lindsay Duncan were fabulous as well. I've never understood why it didn't come to London afterwards. The set design was extraordinary with houses made of ice and a most spectacular blizzard at the end that seemed to extend to infinity. It did go to BAM in Brooklyn for a week after the Abbey.

I know, I couldn't believe it didn't go to London. Such a missed opportunity.

[Jan]

Jun 27, 2022 13:05:07 GMT joem said:

Looking forward to this. Hope SRB will play this straight, he sometimes gets a laugh with a look or a gesture which is great when appropriate but I think it would be hard, and kind of pointless, to get a laugh out of this grimmest of Ibsen plays.

I think I saw the Paul Scofield/Eileen Atkins production but I have little recollection of it, need to sift through programmes. Finding it difficult to remember everything I've seen now.

SRB. That's the problem. I don't think he can play entirely unsympathetic characters, or at least his audience won't let him - he got laughs as Leontes. 

I saw the Paul Scofield/Eileen Atkins/Vanessa Redgrave one a couple of times - Michael Bryant was also really great as Foldal. 

Also good was the Donmar Michael Grandage production with Iain McDiarmid/Deborah Findlay/Penelope Wilton. 

[barrowside]

It never ceases to amaze me that London producers always seem to be looking the other way when something extraordinary happens in Dublin. Lia Williams's Blanche has only been seen in Dublin as has Sinead Cusack and Ciarán Hinds in an amazing Abbey play called Our Few and Evil Days. Sonia Friedman used to have some kind of arrangement with The Gate for Friel and Pinter plays but I don't think it happens anymore.

[Dave B]

Jun 27, 2022 18:53:13 GMT barrowside said:

It never ceases to amaze me that London producers always seem to be looking the other way when something extraordinary happens in Dublin. Lia Williams's Blanche has only been seen in Dublin as has Sinead Cusack and Ciarán Hinds in an amazing Abbey play called Our Few and Evil Days. Sonia Friedman used to have some kind of arrangement with The Gate for Friel and Pinter plays but I don't think it happens anymore.

Going way off topic but Kiln has a new agreement with Abbey in place, they just started with Girl On An Alter, there is a thread here somewhere.

[Jan]

Jun 27, 2022 18:53:13 GMT barrowside said:

It never ceases to amaze me that London producers always seem to be looking the other way when something extraordinary happens in Dublin. 

Not just Dublin though is it, Sheffield, Leicester, Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol, Mold, Glasgow etc. etc. etc.  

[nottobe]

Full casting has been announced. 

The production also has a new poster which seems to imply the production will be modern dress. I have to say this is one of my most anticipated plays of the autumn.