Tag: Lyndsey Marshal

Absurdia: A Resounding Tinkle and Gladly Otherwise by N.F. Simpson, The Crimson Hotel by Michael Frayn, Donmar Warehouse, 18 August 2007

I’m not sure we were quite in the mood for a triple-bill of British Absurdist comedies. I’m not sure we’d have been in the mood for these plays even if we had been in a more appropriate mood.

Billed as being a precursor to Pythonesque comedy, the only python-like thing in the 1960s N.F. Simpson material was talk about a neighbours snake. His plays were certainly more English whimsy than European absurdism.

The Michael Frayn was a modern piece, but lesser Frayn in my view.

Great cast; it would probably seem worthwhile watching Peter Capaldi paint the ceiling. Douglas Hodge directed this production – he seems to have a good eye and ear for this sort of stuff. It’s just not really our sort of stuff.

The critics weren’t too sure either:

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.

Boston Marriage by David Mamet, Donmar Warehouse, 31 March 2001

Janie and I are partial to a bit of David Mamet. We were also very excited to be seeing Zoe Wanamaker & Anna Chancellor (plus a young, then unknown, Lyndsey Marshal), directed by Phyllida Lloyd, early in the run at the Donmar Warehouse.

My memory and my single word log review…

pretentious

…suggests that we were a bit disappointed by the play.

Let’s see what the professionals thought of it.

Charles Spencer in the Telegraph really liked it:

Boston Spencer Telegraph Boston Spencer Telegraph 19 Mar 2001 The Daily Telegraph (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

Our friend Michael Billington was more critical, especially with regard to the plot -or rather, its near-absence – but still mustered four stars.

Boston Billington Guardian Boston Billington Guardian 17 Mar 2001 The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

Nicholas de Jongh, similarly, suggests that the performances trump the play to make a worthwhile production.

Boston de Jongh Standard Boston de Jongh Standard 19 Mar 2001 Evening Standard (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

Janie and I defer to the wisdom of the professional critics. The performances were good, we grant. But don’t attempt this play as am-dram unless you have three superb actresses to carry the evening.