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Post by theoracle on Oct 4, 2023 21:13:39 GMT
I thought I'd start a thread. Harriet Walter was clearly great casting but this cast announcement has made this a must-see for me. Can't believe this will be Rebecca Frecknall's first time directing at NT too - will be intriguing for sure. x.com/WhatsOnStage/status/1708765185047949344?s=20 |
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Post by bordeaux on Oct 4, 2023 23:18:21 GMT
Let's hope it is as good as her other efforts and that it will be the first of many. Tricky to get right, Lorca, though, in English as we have said on this forum before.
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Post by Jan on Oct 5, 2023 6:21:33 GMT
They did it in the Lyttleton in 2005 with Penelope Wilton and Deborah Findlay directed by Howard Davies. Surprisingly given that line-up it wasn't very good at all and it isn't an obvious play for NT to revisit. I suppose it at least helps them meet their overall gender quotas for casting. Robert Icke, while attached to the Almeida, directed one play at NT and then was apparently never invited again. Rupert Goold too until recently. So it could be a one-off for Frecknall.
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Post by Boob on Oct 5, 2023 8:28:42 GMT
I liked the production with Penny Wilton v much.
I note that this is co-produced by Playful, so assume it’s aiming for a future life?
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Post by edi on Oct 6, 2023 21:57:58 GMT
An old favourite - quite looking forward to this
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Post by jr on Oct 7, 2023 6:14:26 GMT
I got a ticket but not sure how much I'd like it. I did not enjoy the previous NT's production, it was very boring and lacked punch. This appears to be a rewriting; having seen Yerma at Young Vic (I hated it) not sure what to expect.
You can expect more reworked Lorcas in the future since his work is in the public domain now. I wish they didn't mess with his plays.
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Post by matildaswinton on Oct 7, 2023 8:08:09 GMT
I was also in the minority on the Billie Piper Yerma! The script felt very distant from his world. Other than the amazing set, I was not into it.I did Blood Wedding very young and fell in love with the drama and poetry. I’ve seen an incredible production of Bernarda as well. His work soars when it’s good.
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Post by Jan on Oct 7, 2023 16:00:27 GMT
I got a ticket but not sure how much I'd like it. I did not enjoy the previous NT's production, it was very boring and lacked punch. My problem with Penelope Wilton - who I like - was that she just seemed too English in a play that plainly wasn’t. I’m not sure Harriet Walter will be any better - let’s hope she doesn’t attempt a Spanish accent, her effort at a Greek one for Cleopatra was not a success. |
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Post by dr on Oct 7, 2023 18:31:59 GMT
Although I agree that modern reworkings of Lorca can go either way, I do think the promise of this can't be denied. Alice Birch is a fantastic playwright, and her "Anatomy of a Suicide" was a pretty beautiful piece on motherhood and feminism, which gives hope for this. It's been said many times, but Frecknall is a genius director (I could listen to her discuss her work all day), and has a remarkable track record for selecting scripts. In many ways, "Bernarda Alba" feels like a natural next move from her, given her feminist focus in "Cabaret," "Romeo and Juliet" and "Streetcar," and her knack for making classics feel fresh. Add into that the natural Harriet Walter and a well-cast Isis Hainsworth, who shone as Frecknall's Juliet...
I have an inkling that this will be something very special indeed. High expectations from such a perfect team, but the NT is having its best year in a long time, and this, alongside "The Witches," feels like a fitting way to end it.
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Post by Jan on Oct 28, 2023 10:43:20 GMT
I see this is billed as by Alice Birch and is only “after” Lorca. That’s usually a bad sign. Why can’t playwrights just write their own plays ? Well we know, because attaching Lorca’s name to it makes it more commercial even if it bears little relation to the original.
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Post by c4ndyc4ne on Oct 29, 2023 13:54:36 GMT
I see this is billed as by Alice Birch and is only “after” Lorca. That’s usually a bad sign. Why can’t playwrights just write their own plays ? Well we know, because attaching Lorca’s name to it makes it more commercial even if it bears little relation to the original. Yerma was “after” Lorca and was also groundbreakingly original. I don’t think it’s really a big deal… |
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Post by amyja89 on Oct 29, 2023 14:53:34 GMT
Have booked to see this on my birthday in December, very much looking forward to it!
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Post by Jan on Oct 29, 2023 14:53:44 GMT
I see this is billed as by Alice Birch and is only “after” Lorca. That’s usually a bad sign. Why can’t playwrights just write their own plays ? Well we know, because attaching Lorca’s name to it makes it more commercial even if it bears little relation to the original. Yerma was “after” Lorca and was also groundbreakingly original. I don’t think it’s really a big deal… If it's not a big deal why do we never get versions of plays "after" writers who aren't out of copyright ? For example after Harold Pinter ? You only would know it was ground-breakingly original if you'd seen the original. Ibsen is normally the playwright on the receiving end of these adaptations by lesser playwrights - if you'd only seen those you'd think he wasn't much good at all. |
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Post by c4ndyc4ne on Oct 29, 2023 15:25:06 GMT
Yerma was “after” Lorca and was also groundbreakingly original. I don’t think it’s really a big deal… If it's not a big deal why do we never get versions of plays "after" writers who aren't out of copyright ? For example after Harold Pinter ? You only would know it was ground-breakingly original if you'd seen the original. Ibsen is normally the playwright on the receiving end of these adaptations by lesser playwrights - if you'd only seen those you'd think he wasn't much good at all. Probably because you'd need permission from an estate to use them in that way. I'm sure some probably do exist. "After" can also suggest an act of translation (as with Ibsen). |
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Post by dr on Oct 29, 2023 15:26:46 GMT
Is it not also the basis of Western theatre, and, indeed, storytelling? The Greek tragedians shared a common set of characters and narratives, which has carried across through generations. Think of Phaedra - her story was told by Euripides, then Ovid, then Racine, then Kane, and recently Simon Stone. In each of those very distinct plays, the ancient narrative provides a vehicle for discussion, allowing the playwright to write in their own style and make their own dramatic mark. It's the same as comic book storytelling today - the story of Spider Man is retold across many mediums with various styles and effects. Adaptation gives way to originality, inspires creatives, and engages audiences. It's an old and critical part of how it all works - I don't see why we should draw a line at Alice Birch and Lorca?
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Post by juicy_but_terribly_drab on Oct 29, 2023 18:17:50 GMT
Is it not also the basis of Western theatre, and, indeed, storytelling? The Greek tragedians shared a common set of characters and narratives, which has carried across through generations. Think of Phaedra - her story was told by Euripides, then Ovid, then Racine, then Kane, and recently Simon Stone. In each of those very distinct plays, the ancient narrative provides a vehicle for discussion, allowing the playwright to write in their own style and make their own dramatic mark. It's the same as comic book storytelling today - the story of Spider Man is retold across many mediums with various styles and effects. Adaptation gives way to originality, inspires creatives, and engages audiences. It's an old and critical part of how it all works - I don't see why we should draw a line at Alice Birch and Lorca? Even Shakespeare adapted existing stories and embellished them with his own ideas and brought them into a local context. Of course I'm not saying any of these playwrights are necessarily on the same level as Shakespeare, but I also don't see a problem with radical adaptations of existing material since it's been part of the theatrical tradition since the start. |
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Post by axolotypus on Oct 30, 2023 13:45:52 GMT
Very excited for this - Lorca's langugage is so pretty that I hope it doesn't get "updated" too much. I liked most of Yerma but didn't really understand why they changed the ending when the original works so well.
They've also cast someone as Pepe el Romano (which is a choice given the text makes it a point to never have him on stage) - but given Frecknall's track record I'm hoping for great things!
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Post by parsley1 on Nov 4, 2023 1:42:30 GMT
Wow this has sold amazingly well
The initial preview is still nearly 2 weeks ago
Yet the first three weeks are all sold out
It’s rare these days at the NT
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Post by mrnutz on Nov 16, 2023 15:05:35 GMT
Anyone in for the first preview tonight? I'll be there tomorrow.
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Post by couldileaveyou on Nov 16, 2023 23:00:00 GMT
I went tonight and it was quite good. Rebecca Frecknall does not rely extensively on her bag of tricks, and apart from a couple of slow-mos you'd barely say it's hers. It's a strong cast, the daughters are particularly good, especially Lizzie Annis as Martirio. It's a huge and lovely set, although most of the front stalls cannot quite see the final scene.
I wasn't fully sold on Harriet Walter. Her Bernarda Alba is fairly warm and humane: her struggle to control the household is also a struggle to control herself. It's an interesting portrayal and she's a very charismatic performer, although she can occasionally come across as almost frail, and sometimes you miss the monster (and the cane!). My biggest grip is that she seems more hysterical than tyrannical, and she's never really scary. The audience shouldn't laugh when they see Bernarda march off with a rifle or say things like "a daughter that disobeys is not a daughter but an enemy".
It's not a subtle production, but it's pretty good and I'm sure it will be a solid four stars by opening night.
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Post by minion on Nov 17, 2023 0:04:22 GMT
I went tonight and it was quite good. Rebecca Frecknall does not rely extensively on her bag of tricks, and apart from a couple of slow-mos you'd barely say it's hers. It's a strong cast, the daughters are particularly good, especially Lizzie Annis as Martirio. It's a huge and lovely set, although most of the front stalls cannot quite see the final scene. I wasn't fully sold on Harriet Walter. Her Bernarda Alba is fairly warm and humane: her struggle to control the household is also a struggle to control herself. It's an interesting portrayal and she's a very charismatic performer, although she can occasionally come across as almost frail, and sometimes you miss the monster (and the cane!). My biggest grip is that she seems more hysterical than tyrannical, and she's never really scary. The audience shouldn't laugh when they see Bernarda march off with a rifle or say things like "a daughter that disobeys is not a daughter but an enemy". It's not a subtle production, but it's pretty good and I'm sure it will be a solid four stars by opening night. What differences entail from Alice Birch's adaptation? |
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Post by couldileaveyou on Nov 17, 2023 0:10:49 GMT
I went tonight and it was quite good. Rebecca Frecknall does not rely extensively on her bag of tricks, and apart from a couple of slow-mos you'd barely say it's hers. It's a strong cast, the daughters are particularly good, especially Lizzie Annis as Martirio. It's a huge and lovely set, although most of the front stalls cannot quite see the final scene. I wasn't fully sold on Harriet Walter. Her Bernarda Alba is fairly warm and humane: her struggle to control the household is also a struggle to control herself. It's an interesting portrayal and she's a very charismatic performer, although she can occasionally come across as almost frail, and sometimes you miss the monster (and the cane!). My biggest grip is that she seems more hysterical than tyrannical, and she's never really scary. The audience shouldn't laugh when they see Bernarda march off with a rifle or say things like "a daughter that disobeys is not a daughter but an enemy". It's not a subtle production, but it's pretty good and I'm sure it will be a solid four stars by opening night. What differences entail from Alice Birch's adaptation? Not much? Everybody swears way more than in Lorca but the only thing that really stood out was Angustias inheriting way more than her half-sisters after the death of Bernarda's second husband, implying that there was something creepy going on. |
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Post by mrnutz on Nov 17, 2023 9:51:25 GMT
What was the running time please? And tell me there's an interval.
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Post by couldileaveyou on Nov 17, 2023 11:13:23 GMT
What was the running time please? And tell me there's an interval. I think I left at 10 pm and yes there's an interval |
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Post by mrnutz on Nov 17, 2023 11:36:29 GMT
What was the running time please? And tell me there's an interval. I think I left at 10 pm and yes there's an interval Phew! |
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