OK this once a week business has to stop, but in truth I've either been too tired, busy or just plain lazy to update this things. This week has been a fun mix of our show, other people's shows and warmer temperatures. Yup that's right you lily-livered Brits, it got warmer over here just as Blighty was cast into the arctic wilderness and the last person out of the country turned off the light. I know I ranted last week about Britain's inability to deal with a cold climate but the local journos over here are having quite a giggle at us at the moment.
Anywho, we had a lot of morning shows this week (5 in a row to be exact). I don't think any actor is a particular fan of the morning show. When you get into this business it's with a promise that you won't have to even emerge from bed til the sun is over the yardarm and anything resembling a performance won't be needed until evening time. However, in the land of children's theatre that aint so, and 1030am was our time to jump up and down, sing a few songs, don a furry suit and then go home with our work for the day done. This did afford us the opportunity to go see other stuff Minneapolis has to offer. It has to be said there are a LOT of theatre's in Minneapolis, and as far as I can see only 1 houses commercial touring. The others all create their own work, from pub theatres, warehouses, to the jewel in the crown, The Guthrie Theatre, a newly deigned $125 million state of the art thing of beauty. The Guthrie has been around in Minneapolis since the 1960s, but with an old decaying building they elected to move location to near the river and build themselves a fancy new one. It is an amazing place, with 3 performance spaces, countless restaurants and bars and a fancy "bridge to nowhere" which goes... nowhere!
Our trip to the Guthrie was to see their production of Edward Albee's "A Delicate Balance". I was very keen to see some American drama in America and was not disappointed. The running time of 2 hours 40 flew buy in what was a fascinating slow burning tale of a crumbling society, played out through the lives are a rather dysfunctional family and their best friends who choose to visit them and stay simply because they are afraid. All very intriguing and bloody good.
Not content with one theatre visit we were also invited to a sneak preview of the Children's Theatre company's new show, a little known play called Romeo and Juliet. The director lives next door to us and is also British, so we've been for a few beers and he was keen to hear our views. I have to say I was not looking forward to yet another take on the star crossed lovers, but when I say it is the best production of R&J I have ever seen, you'll know I liked it.. lots. It is set in a sort of 1950s eastern European town square and the audience just mill around this square as the action unfolds, we can sit on the walls, benches, carts, or stand and follow the action. It is the most exhilarating theatre I have witnessed for some time, with a superb cast full of energy and passion. A live band play at points through the show as they sit in the corner of the square, witnessing the action as we do. You can watch from afar, or up close, sit down next to Juliet as she sleeps or Capulet as he cracks open another beer. Its brilliant, and aimed at that difficult teenage market. However, they should love it and it was refreshing to see a show for young people that didn't feel the need to bombard us with state of the art technology in an effort to trick kids that they are seeing a movie and not theatre (I think you all know who I'm referring to!)
The only worry for R&J is that the over sensitive front of house staff will fail to understand the freedom of the piece and worry that an audience member might not know when to move and so get hit by an actor. Well tough, people have to use common sense some times you know. Greg (the director) had already told us how Tybalt's cologne had to be toned down as he was told some audience members may be allergic. Pah! What if they go to a restaurant and a fellow diner is wearing strong after shave. Jeeze!
Anyway, this has already gone on too long. Needless to say both shows were amazing, and I was hit with suitable pangs of jealousy that always mean I've enjoyed the show. But for every wordy Albee, and passionate Shakespeare, there is also the need for a man in a furry suit singing G G G Gruffalo, and enjoy it I do.
Til next time
Alan
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