A Single Man - Park Theatre

[42ndBlvd]

www.parktheatre.co.uk/whats-on/a-single-man/about

California, 1962. College professor George is grieving the death of his long-term partner Jim. As a middle-aged gay Englishman living in the Los Angeles suburbs, he is an outsider in every way. Haunted by his past and unable to move forward, we follow him on one very ordinary day. But for George, this is going to be a day like no other…

19 Oct to 26 Nov

[couldileaveyou]

I think Rupert Everett would be a good George but I'm not sure if working at the Park Theatre might tempt him

[joem]

Look forward to this. Loved the novel and the film too. Interesting how Isherwood is having a moment in the sun theatre-wise with Cabaret and now this while his old buddy Auden rarely troubles the stage these days.

[teamyali]

May 11, 2022 22:16:34 GMT couldileaveyou said:

I think Rupert Everett would be a good George but I'm not sure if working at the Park Theatre might tempt him

Also have the same thoughts, but with Ben Daniels playing George. I know that Ben’s theatre history is mostly with subsidised houses (National and Donmar), and he’s at the height of his powers (I mean he almost won the Olivier last time). I just think Park Theatre is too niche? Maybe if this goes in the core West End or in the adjacents (Almeida, The Old Vic).

[Deleted]

Anyone seen this? The reviews seem pretty positive.

[Dave B]

Oops, another thread I missed. I must do more searching before posting in the random reviews thread. From a few days ago, I saw it on Friday night.

A Single Man - Park Theatre

If you take everything about this separately, set, cast, sound etc etc - they are all great but they just don't work together. It's style style style and it looks great throughout but it stays too cold. The set is grey and drab and that's what sticks throughout the show. There are some really strong moments, the finale is beautiful and touching but slightly feels unearned. Reviews seem very mixed so could just be marmite. Might also have a divide between people who are familiar with the book and/or Colin Firth movie - and those who have not. I've not read or seen it but my feeling is that this adapted the movie rather than the book. Still, enjoyed it.

[Fleance]

I liked A Single Man, but it suffers from an endless scene in Act II featuring the Isherwood character's friend Charley (played by Olivia Darnley). That scene goes on and on and really does nothing to develop or enhance our understanding of the main character. 

[Deleted]

I found the story line with Charley a bit of a sidestep in the movie although it did give a bit of insight into George's temperament and life before and outside of Jim. She appeared to be the only other significant friend/relationship in George's life.

I see the play next week and will be interested to see how the scene you describe unfolds.

[Dave B]

Re dinner with Charley.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler - click to view}
I didn't think the scene with Charley plays very well though Darnley is great but I disagree that it adds nothing. It gives us quite a strong view of George and Jim's relationship, we know nothing about it other than he feels the loss but the dinner fills a lot of this in. It helps us invest more in the lost relationship as it about the only real description of it that we see, we no longer have to simply take George's word that he is lonely and grieving, through the dinner we see that loss fleshed out.

[tmesis]

I was disappointed by this. I remember enjoying the book which I must have read around 40 years ago but finding the film unengaging and this likewise. It was well performed but you just didn’t care enough about the characters.

[londonpostie]

It reminded me of Tinker, Tailor; a marvellous novel, a very decent 6+ hour tv drama, an indistinct radio play, and a rather silly 2-hour film.

Step-by-step, so much is stripped out it may as well be gutted, all that is left of the delicate weave of themes, characters, sensibilities is the central arc and essential, bullet point scenes.

I didn't see the point. More pleasure gained in reading the book too and from Finsbury Park.

[bee]

I really enjoyed this. The first half was a bit patchy with lots of scenes which didn't entirely seem to fit together, but things seemed to coalesce nicely after the break and the ending was really moving.

It's a superb central performance by Theo Fraser Steele and the rest of the cast provide good support, with a special mention for Miles Molan in his professional debut.

[Steve]

Saw today's matinee and really liked it. It's more the book than the film, but necessarily truncated. Theo Fraser Steele is superb as Isherwood's alter-ego.

Some spoilers follow. . .

This is not the film. The film injected a gun (per Chekhov) into the plot, so from the very beginning, and suffusing every scene, you're worried about if and when it'll get used.

For that reason, the film is suspenseful, and the ending of the film is dictated by the resolution of the suspense that is generated by the omnipresence of the gun.

The play follows the book: it's just another day in the life of a lonely man living in grief. There is almost no suspense, and lacking the interiority of the novel, it can verge on the boring.

The superb central performance (even more like Isherwood than Colin Firth) makes it fascinating anyway, and the possibility, even likelihood, that this may be his last day, makes it poignant. As does the opening scene with the two paramedics, giving us narration from Isherwood's novel, setting up the possibility that this may be the day he dies, while some effectively dreamy and emotive music plays.

Phoebe Pryce plays one of the paramedics, as well as three other characters, and proves very versatile, as all are convincing, and none like the other.

Ultimately, I'd agree that this doesn't go as deep as the book, but it doesn't need to to nonetheless be an entertaining and worthwhile reminder of what's most important in life, and how short it all can be.

4 stars from me.

[joem]

Appropriately, since we are in the middle of the world cup, this was a play of two halves.

The first-half is great, sets up the story, the characters and gives pointers as to where it might lead. Snappy, at times amusing and played with great pace. But ehe second half suffers from an interminable scene between George and Charley, I do get its point but its point could have been nade in two minutes, and the climactic scene is also patchy. So the second half is a no-no.

Visually stylish, clearly influenced by the Tom Ford film, with interesting music - though not always clear why/when it appears. Not a fan of the framing device. Great performance from Colin Firth in the Theo Fraser Steele role.

[cheri78]

Saw the matinee today and would agree with the previous post about the protracted scene with Charley, though loved her acting and englishness, reminded me of Honor Blackman. Superb performances from all but Miles Nolan's professional debut is a joy to behold, he'll go far. Great music and simple but effective staging.