Tag: Kala Simpson

Redundant by Leo Butler, Royal Court Theatre, 8 September 2001

Another weekend, another preview. I’m not sure what drew us to this one. Coincidentally we had seen some of Leo Butler’s work just a few week’s earlier in the young writers’ fest Cutting Through the Carnival…

Cutting Through The Carnival: Several Sketches & Short Pieces By Various Young Writers, Royal Court Theatre Upstairs, 17 August 2001

…but I’m pretty sure we must have booked Redundant prior to seeing Carnival.

Anyway, Redundant was our first sighting of Leo Butler’s full length plays and we were mighty impressed if I remember correctly. Lyndsey Marshal starred and Dominic Cooke directed. It was grim, in many ways, yet tinged with humour and hope. Very Royal Court. Dominic Cooke must have rated Butler and this piece to put it on downstairs – a rare 21st century example of a debut on the main stage of the Royal Court. There is a coup de theatre in the play that required it, I suppose. Risky writing.

The Standard previewed it (after we had seen it) thusly:

Redundant Standard Preview Redundant Standard Preview 12 Sept 2001 Evening Standard (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

We didn’t see the shocking, late addition of an Osama Bin Laden mention, which dominated the press afterwards, by dint of seeing a preview prior to 11 September.

Patrick Marmion was seduced by the production, if not the character:

Redundant Marmion Standard Redundant Marmion Standard 13 Sept 2001 Evening Standard (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

John Gross in The Sunday Telegraph wrote little, but was left feeling a little low by it:

Redundant Gross Sunday Telegraph Redundant Gross Sunday Telegraph 16 Sept 2001 Sunday Telegraph (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

Susannah Clapp in The Observer deemed Leo Butler not quite reader for main stage exposure:

Redundant Clapp Observer Redundant Clapp Observer 16 Sept 2001 The Observer (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

Lynn Gardner in The Guardian was even more damning, awarding The Royal Court production a rare meagre two stars:

Redundant Gardner Guardian Redundant Gardner Guardian 14 Sept 2001 The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

It certainly didn’t displease us in that way – we noted Leo Butler as one to watch and watch him we did as he matured into a top notch playwright. Possibly if we saw this one again, we’d spot the youthful writing in it. A bit like Chekhov’s Platonov the week before.

Spinning Into Butter by Rebecca Gilman, Royal Court Theatre Upstairs, 13 January 2001

This was a really interesting play and it was an excellent opportunity to reciprocate David & Rachel’s hospitality from a couple of month’s earlier:

Kinky Friedman Live In Brighton With David Seidel & Rachel Barnard, 12 November 2000

Apart from the quintessentially US nature of the production and the left field approach to tackling racism through performance, it’s hard to see much similarity between the evenings.

Rebecca Gilman’s play was memorable through its “warts ‘n’ all” approach to anti-racism and political correctness on campus. Also memorable was a superb performance by Emma Fielding in the lead role. The supporting cast were also “Royal Court good”, as was Dominic Cooke’s directing.

Our friends David and Rachel found it interesting and we had plenty to discuss over grub after the play.

Our other friend, Michael Billington, gave it a very good review in the Guardian:

Spinning Guardian Billington

Article from 11 Jan 2001 The Guardian (London, Greater London, England)

Paul Taylor did not like the play, describing it as self-conrgratulatory white guilt in search of a play:

Spinning Taylor Indy

Article from 10 Jan 2001 The Independent (London, Greater London, England)

Nicholas de Jongh couldn’t put aside his issues with the play, describing it as mediocre and giving it the dreaded Standard blob:

Spinning Standard de Jongh

Article from 10 Jan 2001 Evening Standard (London, Greater London, England)

Charles Spencer thought the play flawed yet intriguing and well worth seeing:

Spinning Telegraph Spencer

Article from 11 Jan 2001 The Daily Telegraph (London, Greater London, England)

Suzannah Clapp gave it a very balanced review in The Observer, concluding that a play that makes you argue is a play worth seeing:

Spinning Observer Clapp

Article from 14 Jan 2001 The Observer (London, Greater London, England)