It is my stage play festival recently; new productions kept coming out with attracting cast to lure me to theatres. After seeing Douglas Henshall appeared in a new version of ‘Betrayal’ on the newspaper (see, it is good to flip through newspaper from time to time!), I cannot wait but writing to my usual play companion immediately, asking the intention of going to see a preview with me in 28th May.
In order to let my companion have a further understanding of the play (you know the cast is always the decisive element than other things to me), I more or less searching on the internet about the play. But all I care to find out was National Theatre had a production of this particular show before, thus it got to be somehow famous (don’t ask how I came to that conclusion, I just thought it should be a good one as long as 'national' theatre willing to present it.) Latter on, I learned that the creator, Harold Pinter, was quite a famous and controversial writer and he won a Nobel Literature Prize before, when I chatted with my flat-mate. Um, I was felt proud and getting to know more about the field of stage play, when I know who is Ibsen and heard of Anton Chekhov. Turns out I am still just a beginning of this area.
No matter what, I called the box office of the Comedy Theatre as soon as I set the date with my friend and all excited (I was planed to save a bit, so that I could go and see the my dreamingly expensive stage play of the year, ‘Much Ado About Nothing’. But the so-called plan broke so soon.) Therefore, I was in London on the day of European Championship, looking forward to see Douglas Henshall in real.
But I was working late the day before and in a bit hurry that morning. So, you know, something bound to happen. While I was waiting in Earl’s Court YHA with my friend for someone else, I shockingly realized: I made a god dame mistake! A fucking unforgivable mistake, I forgot to bring the fucking important tickets with me! And you know what, I did touched the envelope that contained the dame tickets when I was packing up my stuffs! How ironic! I thought that envelop was used for other things! Panicked I was, angry with my stupidity and shattering. So I decided to go to the Comedy Theatre to make an inquiry first when my friend and I arrived at Piccadilly Circus.
Comedy Theatre is a rather small venue, if comparing with those around it, such as Prince of Wales Theatre (for ‘Mama Mia’) and Her Majesty Theatre (for ‘Phantom of the Opera’). Also, it is sort of hidden in a small ally call ‘Panton Street’. Anyway, I found it quite easily. I was still very worried when I entered the lobby and ask the box office about the possibility of replacement of my tickets, since I dragged my friend all the way from Colchester. Gladly and relaxingly, the lady in the box office gave me a duplicate of the tickets without any trouble. Maybe because I looked as if I will break down if she says 'No’. With the great result, I joined my friend in Soho and went for the newly opening 'Bubblelogy’ drink store. This shop made the news recently, for selling the famous Taiwan bubble milk tea. However, well, it is really not that special for me. Not because it is not good, rather owing to the correspondence of the money and the quality. Anyway, I gave it a try and decided it is wiser to make it my own. Different, but more satisfy.
We encountered a bit light shower when we were wondering around China Town, but the weather got better after we finished our dinner. We arrived at the theatre about time and found it was crowded by people. The tickets I booked were on the second row from the back at the stall. Not a perfect choice but acceptable. We were annoyed when our eyesight was half blocked by a tall couple in from of us. But luckily, there were some empty seats next to us, so we moved when the play started (I was quite anxious that theatre personnel might prevent us to do so).
The story, put it simply, is about marriage and affair (of course.) and the time-line is going backward. In other words, the audience knows the ending of the affair first, before they know how it started. I was not that impressed by it in my first instinct, but gradually I found it is a very interesting arrangement and I would love to read the original script by Harold Pinter. The scene began with a meeting between Emma and Jerry after they ended their affair couple years ago. The awkwardness accumulated when they both trying to make a conversation but have no other things to talk except inquiring each other’s family. The purpose of Emma having this meeting with her ex-lover is because she had a long talk with her husband Robert, who is a publisher and Jerry’s best friend, and found out he also had a long-term affair, just like she and Jerry. Jerry was fairly surprised by the news and told Emma he never suspecting anything when he and Robert hanging out. But what he worries most is whether Emma confessed about them. Emma replied: ‘of course, I have to.’
The second scene is Jerry then meeting with Robert to talk about this distressing event. He kept saying he couldn’t understand why Emma had to tell Robert about the affair, since it ended long time ago. However, a shocking new from Robert is that she didn’t tell him last night, but four years ago. The timeline then began to go backward from time to time: how Emma and Robert ended their relationship, Emma’s confession of the affair to Robert when the couple on holiday in Italy, Jerry’s separated meeting with each after the confession, and the most important occasion, the night when everything started. It is interesting when you reflect on the attitudes and words of the characters in accordance with the progress of the plots: how the husband knew and pretended, but just couldn’t hide his feeling when talking to his best mate; how Jerry didn’t suspect anything; and how Emma just couldn’t get over it.
The whole play is ended on the very party night where Jerry first time revealing his desire and passion towards Emma. He gripped her hand and looked at her with yearning in his eyes, while she walked to the door. To be honest, I was thinking 'what? Is that all? Really?’ and felt how come the story was so short and there were so many things can be said. A bit of lost, you can put it that way. Also, regarding the performance, I cannot say I feel the emotional tension and same chemical between the actors and actress (might because I was sitting far away from the stage?), and thus feel the whole show was quite plain and insipid. But maybe my friend is right, it might due to the script itself, and therefore it will basically be the same no matter who is playing. From the very beginning, I have a clear awareness of ‘yes, they are acting’, which I don’t know is it good or not. It is so different from watching a TV series.
However, the more I reflect the more I found the play’s structure fansicinating. How such flash-back, retrospective story telling method affects performers to foreshadow or lay out the development of their emotions, I am curious. Out of curiosity, I checked the school library, and would love to borrow it to see how Harold Pinter note down the psychological changes or struggles of the characters.
Because the play finished earlier than we expected, my friend and I decided to go to a nearby pub to have a drink, while waiting other friends to join us. But, before that, of course there is one important thing need to be done first~ Dithering around the theatre for a while, I still too shy to ask a member of staff where the stage door is. But actually, all you need to do is follow the crowd. My only goal no doubt was Douglas Henshall (My friend asked me is he famous? It is quite hard to answer. He appeared in many TV dramas and as leading actor in some of them, such as ‘Primeval’, 'Psycho’, and 'Collision’. However, it seems difficult to say he is a first-line actor. However, I love his Scottish accent and he is defiantly charming), and my friend, rarely, had little interest in the leading actress Kristin Scott Thomas.
We waited quite a while, until only us and a girl who apparently is a huge fan of Douglas Henshall and her friends left, he finally slowly walked out of the door. Not a very huge crowd, hum? Anyway, it doesn’t matter. He is very friendly and at ease about my requests. After got the autography, I bashfully ask ‘Sorry, can I also get a photo together?’, he was friendly agreed. Afterward, he was surrounded by the very admirer of his, who expressing high admiration of his performance in the play and how great she thinks the ending is. My friend joking said: ‘that is how you make a talk with celebrity, but you always left in silence after getting the autography.’ Well, I do want to say something about my affection towards them, but my brain always in a frozen situation, losing my ability to speak and to think. Apart from that, I really cannot lie about my feeling towards this play. It was not bad, but also not that good enough to let me bursting my like as the girl does. So, you know.
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