Tag: Mark Jax

Fast Labour by Steve Waters, Hampstead Theatre, 20 June 2008

We thought this was a good play and production, a rare hit in our view during the Anthony Clark era. Perhaps the fact that it was a West Yorkshire Playhouse import helped.

Topical then, topical at the time of writing this Ogblog piece (December 2016), the play is the story of a Ukrainian migrant worker and the exploitative gangmasters he comes up against.

Another of those plays and productions that shocked us and got us thinking all weekend. Friday evening again too, making it quite hard work after a week’s work but never mind. Janie and I had taken sustenance at Harry Morgans early evening before the play, as was our wont when going to the Hampstead in those days.

No Hampstead stub to be found from those days, but there is an Official London Theatre stub – click here.

An interesting interview with the playwright Steve Waters is available – click here or below:

We’ve enjoyed his work before, not least World Music at the Donmar, which is probably the main reason why we booked to see Fast Labour.

 

Prophet in Exile by Nadim Sawalha, Chelsea Theatre, 8 May 2000

A rare Monday evening visit to the theatre for us. I had booked the day out as a long weekend. Perhaps Janie had intended to do the same, but her diary shows that she treated some patients, engineering it that she ended up in the Kensington & Chelsea area.

We really liked the stuff that little Chelsea Theatre was putting on back then – it had a short flowering of producing the sort of unusual fringe theatre stuff that we like.

This play was basically a biographical piece about Kahlil Gibran, not least the birth of his great work, The Prophet.

This production was very much a family affair for the Sawalha family, with author Nadim appearing in the production, along with brother Nabil and a couple of other Sawalhas; Lara & Omar, in some cases doubling up, playing several smaller parts. Gerald Key played Gibran, Briony Glassco played Mary Haskell and Colin Redgrave directed the production.

This production was previewed in The Standard

Prophet StandardProphet Standard 27 Apr 2000, Thu Evening Standard (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

We rather liked the piece and performances. But then Janie had/has a bit of a thing about The Prophet. But 25 years later, I don’t think I’d get a positive answer if I suggested a Monday night at the theatre, even if the subject matter was close to Janie’s heart!

Pravda by Howard Brenton & David Hare, Olivier Theatre, 28 February 1986

Bobbie & I caught this one just before it came off and I am so glad we did. I sense that it was Bobbie’s barrister crowd – she was still doing her pupillage at that time, who had persuaded her (and me through Bobbie) that you HAD to see this play before it comes off.

The last Friday evening – probably all that was available that last weekend of the run.

Gosh this play and production was good.

Here is the Theatricalia entry for this production.

Anthony Hopkins was predictably strong as the barely disguised Rupert Murdoch-type figure, Lambert Le Roux. Ah, South African, not Australian, so couldn’t possibly be about Murdoch, m’Lud.

Super supporting cast too: probably my first sighting of a young Bill Nighy, plus Tim McInnerny, Kate Buffery, Peter Blyth…

Milton Shulman enjoyed the fun but didn’t much like the play in The Standard:

Pravda Shulman Standard Pravda Shulman Standard 3 May 1985 Evening Standard (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

Similarly, John Barber in The Telegraph thought the play should have focussed a bit more on the ethics and a bit less on the boistrous fun:

Pravda Barber Telegraph Pravda Barber Telegraph 3 May 1985 The Daily Telegraph (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

Even Michael Billington sort-of agrees – the play offers little insight into what might be a more ethical Fleet Street – but still the play/production was highly entertaining:

Pravda Billington Gradian Pravda Billington Gradian 3 May 1985 The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

Heck, we were kids. (Early 20s). We loved it. I remember that evening at the theatre fondly.

According to my diary, Bobbie and I went on for a “Turkish meal after, very nice”. I suspect that must have been Capital Kebab House, which was pretty much the only Turkish show in that part of town in those days. Astonishingly, that place is still there, decades later, in The Cut. I must try it again some time.