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mesmiranda) wrote2011-03-17 04:23 pm
mesmiranda) wrote2011-03-17 04:23 pm
Frankenstein!
(Also known as, my friend Katherine is thoroughly and completely awesome. XD)
Running out in an hour or so to see it at my local theatre--will report more later!
EDIT (somewhat late, also spoilers):
Benedict Cumberbatch, why so much win.
I haven't had--and probably won't have--the chance to see Jonny Lee Miller in the role of the Creature, but I'm not exaggerating (or biased!) when I say that Benedict carried the entire production. He talked in the short pre-show documentary behind-the-scenes thing they had about studying stroke survivors who have to recoordinate their limbs and speech, and it really showed. The jerky galvanized movements, the unfocused stammer-slur--one of the gentlemen I talk to on the bus regularly has that same slow, careful speech, and he nailed it. You could really see it, and it was amazing and horrifying and heartbreaking. So good.
The staging was really, really interesting. I was curious to see what Danny Boyle, who uses a lot of film 'tricks' in his movies--split-screen, close-up, weird perspective shots--would do for theatre, and you could recognize his style. The whole almost-chandelier overhead--a bunch of suspended glowing lanterns--representing lightning and flashing blindly as the poor Creature writhed around; the round red 'womb' that the Creature and his mate emerged out of (and her death, the blood everywhere, oh my God). Even the pace felt really similar to Boyle's films.
The music was... a bit weird at points, but fitting--I'm sorry Boyle didn't bring A.R. Rahman over to do the scoring. The whole 'birth' scene went on a bit too long, and Victor's role is underwritten (although Jonny Lee Miller does a fine job)--but really, ultimately, it's not his story. It's the Creature's. And Benedict does it brilliantly.
Three thumbs up. ;)
No, subconscious, I am not writing a crossover fic oh DAMMIT.
Running out in an hour or so to see it at my local theatre--will report more later!
EDIT (somewhat late, also spoilers):
Benedict Cumberbatch, why so much win.
I haven't had--and probably won't have--the chance to see Jonny Lee Miller in the role of the Creature, but I'm not exaggerating (or biased!) when I say that Benedict carried the entire production. He talked in the short pre-show documentary behind-the-scenes thing they had about studying stroke survivors who have to recoordinate their limbs and speech, and it really showed. The jerky galvanized movements, the unfocused stammer-slur--one of the gentlemen I talk to on the bus regularly has that same slow, careful speech, and he nailed it. You could really see it, and it was amazing and horrifying and heartbreaking. So good.
The staging was really, really interesting. I was curious to see what Danny Boyle, who uses a lot of film 'tricks' in his movies--split-screen, close-up, weird perspective shots--would do for theatre, and you could recognize his style. The whole almost-chandelier overhead--a bunch of suspended glowing lanterns--representing lightning and flashing blindly as the poor Creature writhed around; the round red 'womb' that the Creature and his mate emerged out of (and her death, the blood everywhere, oh my God). Even the pace felt really similar to Boyle's films.
The music was... a bit weird at points, but fitting--I'm sorry Boyle didn't bring A.R. Rahman over to do the scoring. The whole 'birth' scene went on a bit too long, and Victor's role is underwritten (although Jonny Lee Miller does a fine job)--but really, ultimately, it's not his story. It's the Creature's. And Benedict does it brilliantly.
Three thumbs up. ;)
No, subconscious, I am not writing a crossover fic oh DAMMIT.
no subject
Despite finding parts a bit squicky and/or superuncomfortable, I'd also buy a DVD of this production in a red hot minute. I know the National Theatre doesn't do that often, if at all, but OH PLEASE JUST THIS ONCE, IT WAS SO AMAZING.
MGQTFUKuNZKUgbOj
(Anonymous) 2012-07-01 05:48 am (UTC)(link)