Tag: Lorna Earl

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee, Aldwych Theatre, 14 December 1996

This was a wonderful production of “Virginia Woolf” which lives long in my and Janie’s memories.

Superb production

…was my comment in the log.

Here is the Theatricalia entry for this production.

Diana Rigg, David Suchet, Lloyd Owen and Clare Holman, with Howard Davies directing. Need I say more?

Paul Taylor in The Independent liked it:

Who's Afraid Taylor IndependentWho’s Afraid Taylor Independent 27 Sep 1996, Fri The Independent (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

Michael Billington was full of it:

Who's Afraid Billington GuardianWho’s Afraid Billington Guardian 28 Sep 1996, Sat The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

Michael Coveney in The Observer liked it too:

Who's Afraid Coveney ObserverWho’s Afraid Coveney Observer 29 Sep 1996, Sun The Observer (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

The following clip from The Evening Standard includes Nicholas de Jongh’s review and a review of reviews:

Who's Afraid StandardWho’s Afraid Standard 26 Sep 1996, Thu Evening Standard (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

Oleanna by David Mamet, Royal Court Theatre, 24 July 1993

These days (he says, writing more than 25 years later), I do most of the running with regard to booking theatre. But back then, Janie was more proactive.

There are notes in her diary from weeks before, working out when this was going to open and when we might be available. Then, for the day itself (as one might now find in my diary) notes on exactly which seats she’d booked (Row J) and how long the play might be (8:00 to 10:10).

For sure I would have been a willing participant in seeing the latest Mamet – I had been a bit of a Mamet fan for years by 1993. David Suchet and Lia Williams? yes please. Harold Pinter directing? just tell me where I need to go and when. Here is a link to the Theatricalia entry.

I remember it being a very good production of an extremely powerful play. Here is a link to the Wikipedia entry on the play.

It was in fact a very controversial play and Mamet had written more than one ending for it. There was much debate in the press.

Below is Michael Billington’s review:

Billington's Review Of OleannaBillington’s Review Of Oleanna Fri, Jul 2, 1993 – 37 · The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.com

Here are links to The Guardian with some fascinating opinions published the following week:

Oleanna OpinionsOleanna Opinions Wed, Jul 7, 1993 – 20 · The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.com

<ore Oleanna Opinions<ore Oleanna Opinions Wed, Jul 7, 1993 – 21 · The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.com

Finally, here is Michael Coveney’s review.

Michael Coveney On OleannaMichael Coveney On Oleanna Sun, Jul 4, 1993 – 56 · The Observer (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.com

This was a stunning, unforgettable night at the theatre; Janie and I are privileged to have seen this production.