Riddle MagazineAutumn from the Gods
Longer nights means more time for theatre……
Preview by Geoffrey Ledwell
Summer is over and already autumn is closing in; the mornings and evenings are dark again - the perfect time of year to settle into a theatre and watch the revival of a classic, then. London provides several worthy offerings this season.
To begin, we have Eugene O’Neill’s 1922 offering, The Hairy Ape at the Old Vic. This challenging, powerful and expressionistic play tells the story of Yank, a New York labourer on board a transatlantic liner who is thrown into crisis when a rich young woman labels him a ‘filthy beast’. This is only the second time this groundbreaking play has been professionally revived in over 25 years and this version has the imaginative theatre and opera director Richard Jones at the helm. It stars Bertie Carvel as Yank, who is currently gracing our screens in the glossy BBC television drama Doctor Foster and boasts Aletta Collins as Choreographer.
Further along The Cut at the Young Vic we find Joe Hill-Gibbins’s new production of Measure for Measure. Currently an Associate Artist at the Young Vic, Hill-Gibbins has a strong track record for reimagining classic texts in a contemporary and flamboyant manner. This may or not be your cup of tea, and has certainly turned off some critics in the past - with some arguing that his style has a tendency to overshadow the language - yet at the same time his experimental approach has consistently sought to explore old texts in new ways. When it works, it works wonderfully, bringing with it a true feeling of freshness.
Third on the list is Jane Eyre. Billed as a ‘bold and dynamic’ production of Brontë’s original novel, this show, directed by Sally Cookson, was first seen at the Bristol Old Vic in 2014. Having garnered outstanding reviews across the board it now comes to London - and to the National Theatre no less. Running at an epic three hours and twenty minutes, this is one to sink your teeth into.
However, for those craving something a story that is less well worn, look no further than the National Theatre Shed, which is staging the 27 year old Alistair McDowall’s Pomona, a dystopian thriller set in Manchester. Premiering at the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond last year, the play caused quite a stir, especially among younger audiences, with its myriad references to sci-fi and computer gaming rituals. Don’t go expecting any kind of cohesive narrative but an air of experimentalism, adventurousness and meta-theatricality. It runs until October 10th.
And finally, it’s worth mentioning that the much lauded satire Clarion is returning to the Arcola theatre in Dalston. Set within the office of a rightwing tabloid paper, the play explores the damage caused by the deluded and nationalistic narratives written by those in power. Characters are painted with broad brushstrokes, but the writer Mark Jagazia, equipped with the insider knowledge of a former journalist, provides the piece with a definite ring of truth. Heavyweight actors Clare Higgins and Greg Hicks throw themselves into proceedings and are given excellent support from Peter Bourke and John Atterbury, among others. Directed by artistic director Mehmet Ergen. From 20th October. 