Tag: Ronald Harwood

Mahler’s Conversion by Ronald Harwood, Aldwych Theatre, 22 September 2001

Oh dear.

I was usually really partial to a bit of Tony Sher, but all I wrote in my log for this one was:

Dire.

I’m also partial to a bit of Mahler, so the subject matter should have pleased me. I suspect that Janie and I were like minded on this, as I tend to record a difference of opinion.

I must declare that we saw a preview, but I find it hard to believe that “dire” was rescued between preview and press night.

Let’s see what the experts thought.

Here’s the Guardian’s review of reviews. Not great, as I believe the system for this is out of 10:

Mahler Review of Reviews Guardian Mahler Review of Reviews Guardian 13 Oct 2001 The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

A rare two stars only from our friend Michael Billington:

Mahler Billington Guardian Mahler Billington Guardian 3 Oct 2001 The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

Charles Spencer also didn’t like it:

4 Oct 2001 The Daily Telegraph (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

Nicholas de Jongh in the Standard gave it the dreaded blob.

3 Oct 2001 Evening Standard (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

My preview assessment – “dire” – seems to have summed it up in few but effective word(s).

Equally Divided by Ronald Harwood, Richmond Theatre, 24 October 1998

We were on a Richmond kick that quarter, for some reason, with three visits to The Orange Tree and two visits to the Richmond Theatre. Coincidence really, I should imagine.

Janie liked it more than I did.

That is my log’s pithy conclusion.

Excellent cast, with Stephanie Cole, Stephanie Beacham, Benjamin Whitrow & Gerald Harper. Christopher Morahan directed it. A transfer from Bath, as was often the case at Richmond.

Here is the Theatricalia entry.

Here is Jody Lindbeck’s take on it in the local gazettes:

Equally GazetteEqually Gazette 23 Oct 1998, Fri Ealing and Acton Gazette (Ealing, London, England) Newspapers.com

Reading that review 25 years later, all I can think of is the wonderful Peter Cook quote: “I go to the theatre to be entertained. I don’t want to see plays about rape, sodomy and drug addiction – I can get all that at home.“

Taking Sides by Ronald Harwood, Criterion Theatre, 7 October 1995

This was a West End transfer from the Chichester Festival, which had been so well received that even we set aside our West-End show scepticism to see it in Theatreland.

We weren’t disappointed. This was a very good production of a very good play. It is basically about the denazification investigation of the German conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler.

Michael Pennington & Daniel Massey played the lead roles, investigating officer major Arnold & Furtwängler respectively. Harold Pinter added yet more gravitas by directing it.

The Theatricalia entry for the play/production can be found here.

Michael Billlington really liked it when he saw it in Chichester that spring:

Billington taking SidesBillington taking Sides Tue, May 23, 1995 – 2 · The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.com

Michael Coveney also liked it while comparing it with Absolute Hell:

Coveney on Taking SidesCoveney on Taking Sides Sun, May 28, 1995 – 75 · The Observer (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.com