The Bald Soprano - Eugene Ionesco somewhere in New Cross
Jun 16, 2017 21:56:48 GMT
Nicholas likes this
Post by joem on Jun 16, 2017 21:56:48 GMT
7-6. No, not the result of a John Isner set but the score between audience and cast members at this south London venue which was new to me. The audience scraped the win, just.
This is one of the most mystifying experiences in my life as a theatregoer. There was confusion as to who was selling tickets, when the performance would begin and I will never know who I have seen performing as there was neither programme nor cast-list. I suppose I could have asked their names but I didn't. I appreciate it was one night only but a printed sheet straight from the computer would have been nice as a memento.
When I first met this play it was generally known as The Bald Prima Donna and thought it was hilarious. Now it is known as The Bald Soprano and felt mostly dated and unfunny. Not entirely fair to blame the production, I have the feeling that much of the theatre of the absurd genre has suffered with the passage of time, and that what once seemed clever and fresh on paper is now exposed as somewhat of a one-trick pony which does not repay reviving, in the main. Ionesco's concern here with the meaninglessness of language may be academically interesting but when this is reduced to non-sequitur after non-sequitur all that happens is that you end up questioning the meaning of spending money to go to the theatre to see a plotless melange of lines strung together.
Unfortunately the production accentuated some of the play's intrinsic problems. I saw no logic behind turning Mr and Mrs Martin into Mr and Mrs Martinez beyond the fact the actors' playing the parts seemed to be Spanish. The idea of only using torches for lighting pales after a while and loses effect just making it hard to see at times. And I suspect a much more deadpan approach was needed to bring out such humour as may be extracted from the text, rather than big gestures and self-consciously comical deliveries.
And that's it really.
This is one of the most mystifying experiences in my life as a theatregoer. There was confusion as to who was selling tickets, when the performance would begin and I will never know who I have seen performing as there was neither programme nor cast-list. I suppose I could have asked their names but I didn't. I appreciate it was one night only but a printed sheet straight from the computer would have been nice as a memento.
When I first met this play it was generally known as The Bald Prima Donna and thought it was hilarious. Now it is known as The Bald Soprano and felt mostly dated and unfunny. Not entirely fair to blame the production, I have the feeling that much of the theatre of the absurd genre has suffered with the passage of time, and that what once seemed clever and fresh on paper is now exposed as somewhat of a one-trick pony which does not repay reviving, in the main. Ionesco's concern here with the meaninglessness of language may be academically interesting but when this is reduced to non-sequitur after non-sequitur all that happens is that you end up questioning the meaning of spending money to go to the theatre to see a plotless melange of lines strung together.
Unfortunately the production accentuated some of the play's intrinsic problems. I saw no logic behind turning Mr and Mrs Martin into Mr and Mrs Martinez beyond the fact the actors' playing the parts seemed to be Spanish. The idea of only using torches for lighting pales after a while and loses effect just making it hard to see at times. And I suspect a much more deadpan approach was needed to bring out such humour as may be extracted from the text, rather than big gestures and self-consciously comical deliveries.
And that's it really.
