As a getaway (i.e. excuse) from the more than cruel 'reality', I think I need to write my stageplay list for the coming seasons. The way I deal with what I am suppose to do is always like the way that an ostrich covers its head in the sand. Anyhow, I got a very exciting (for me) list so far (and surprise, suprise, it is getting longer) and cannot wait to cross them off one by one sooner or later!
A revival of Jez Butterworth's 1996 play, and the cast includes names like Ben Whishaw, Rupert Grint, and Colin Morgan etc.. Well, of course it is Whishaw that draws me onto it (plus I heard of half of the cast's names before)! Also, after witnessing the success of 'Jerusalem' and the sold-out of 'the River', I am highly curious about Butterworth's works. Anticipating a big queue for day tickets (and hope, if unsuccessful in that occassion, the concession rate also applies to students!)
Jeeves & Wooster @ Duke of York's
Ah, a collaboration between Matthew Macfadyen and Stephen Mangan, how on earth would I miss this! Macfadyen's Mr. Darcy, in my mind, still better than Colin Firth (but I like Jennifer Ehle's Liz Bennet more than Keira Knightley's). And Mangan, who is 'puppyish venerable', as described in a magazine interview, cracked me with his performances in 'Dirk Gently' and 'Episodes'. I already saw him in Royal Court's 'Birthday' and it was a splendid play. It would be great to see him again!
Oh, Ben Miller, I have missed him for an autography opportunity when seeing him and Peter Capaldi in 'the Ladykillers'! How did that happen!? His straight-face acting makes me laugh out loud every time. In addition to 'Primeval', his Holmes-esque DI Richard Poole in 'Death in Paradise' brought me great pleasure in watching a funny detective drama with reasonably good plots. He is going to be magnificent in this new political farce!
Strangers on a Train @ Gielgud
Several famous Hollywood movies are coming to London Westend one after the other in the coming seasons. Hitchcock's masterpiece pioneering this November, and then is following by 'A Streetcar Name Desire', 'Fatal Attraction', and 'American Psycho' all over London theatre. I been knowing this perfect crime story for a long time (thanks to all the TV mysteries I ever watched), yet fail to watch the original movie (or even, the book). So, thanks to Lawrence Fox (oh, my Sergeant Hathaway in 'Lewis'), I think I will go and see this stage adoption.
A Streetcar Named Desire @ Young Vic
Talk about Hollywood coming to town! This one has Gillian Anderson in the title role, which constitutes the only reason for me to watch it (umn, maybe also because the author is Tennessee Williams, well, more or less) I know Anderson is famous for being Dr. Scully in 'X Files', but it was only till her appearances in CBS' thrilling 'Hannibal' and then in BBC's 'the Fall' that I got to know her (still, I have high opinion about it yet fail to finish the series...)
Never thought that I would be motivated to watch another musical, after the prominent 'Les Miserables' fails to impress me (never say 'never'!). But apparently, all a musical needs to do is, in the current case, bring in Matt Smith, the 12th Doctor (dunno he can sing, but British actors are often have many talents)! Man, awesome incentive (plus, he is the only the Doctor who I haven't seen on stage) and it is a Headlong production (famous for 'Enron' and I enjoyed 'the Effect'). Another quickly sold-out show for the first run of public booking. I am lucky to get one ticket!
One name, I think, makes it one of the hottest ticket in town, i.e. Tom Hiddleston (but for me, it is three). That is already a HUGE motivation, not even mention that he will be acting alongside the talented Mark Gatiss! I been following every play of Gatiss', since the world of London theatre opens my eyes. I thought those names were enough, and then Josie Rourke, who has been enjoying a good time as the new artistic director of Donmar, announced that Birgitte Hjort Sørensen, the Danish actress who played Katrina Fønsmark in my second favourite political drama 'Borgen', is joining the cast. I can only faint when I read the news. It is going to be a bloodbath to get a ticket, I will say...fingers cross!
Uh, did I say it is played by David Tennant? That answers everything, you know. (I am really hesitate about queuing for day seats, but Barbican is annoyingly expensive in charging for booking fee, even the online one!)
The Mistress Contract @ Royal Court
Very rarely but it does happen, that I want to see a play, not because of the cast, but because of something else. This time, I really would love to see Abi Morgan's new play. She is one of the few female playwrights who really made her name in writing movie scripts. Although everyone was talking about Steve McQueen when the movie, 'Shame', came out, it is actually her as the script writer for it that caught my eyes. Her other famous works include 'Iron Lady' and 'Sex Traffic', one of the most terrifying dramatization about human trafficking I ever watched.
Ruth Wilson appears in Eugene O'Neill's plays again, after winning an Olivier for her title role in 'Anna Christie' (my first experience in Donmar Warehouse and it was simply magnificent). I haven't made up my mind yet, simply because the ticket price is ouch-ingly expensive. But the premises of this triple-bill collection are profoundly intriguing (three one-act play in one go and the stage is transformed from a intimate pub). Well, let's see then...
Lolita Chakrabarti's play won several awards when it was first premiered at the same theatre. And now it will be bring back due to popular demand. Her husband, Adrian Lester, who I known from his Mickey Brick in BBC's 'Hustle', is in the leading role.
Talking about 'Hustle', Robert Vaughn, aka Albert Stoller, will appear alongside 'Inspector George Gently' Martin Shaw in this (another) famous Holloywood movie-on-stage.
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