#1
Posted: 1/8/11 at 9:44am
I caught this new production of John Gabriel Borkman last night at BAM and it really is a treat. I admit to not being that familiar with Fiona Shaw before the show, but now I want to check out her film work. Her instincts on how to deliver the lines were so perfect. She never went so far as to chew the scenery and ham it up, but she had an enormous dramatic presence that I haven't noticed in a while. It reminded me of how much I liked Kristin Scott Thomas in The Seagull a couple seasons ago.
Alan Rickman and Lindsay Duncan were terrific as well. The first scene in act 2 (slight spoiler?) is a dramatic showdown with the three of them, and had the audience laughing and gasping in turn.
The set design is gorgeous, simple and effective. There are large mounds of snow around the edges of the stage, with lots of fake snow swirling through the house in the middle. The snow kind of acts as a force connecting the characters as it latches onto the women's dresses and mixes with the other actors as the play progresses. (Again slight spoiler) There is also a grand snow storm to set the final scene that was beautiful.
The play itself was interesting, and very appropriate with its message of greed and corruption. Alan Rickman plays Borkman, who used to be a prominent banker until he swindled his client's money and was sent to jail. He has since been released, but has turned/his wife (Shaw) has turned the second floor of his house into a new sort of prison.
I know this played elsewhere before coming to BAM, but I can't believe it was their first preview. Maybe I've just been seeing bad theater lately (Dracula!- well that was funny at least), but I truly thought last night was near flawless. Perhaps too this stuff is just my cup of tea, but I strongly encourage anyone interested to go. Definitely must-see theater!
Alan Rickman and Lindsay Duncan were terrific as well. The first scene in act 2 (slight spoiler?) is a dramatic showdown with the three of them, and had the audience laughing and gasping in turn.
The set design is gorgeous, simple and effective. There are large mounds of snow around the edges of the stage, with lots of fake snow swirling through the house in the middle. The snow kind of acts as a force connecting the characters as it latches onto the women's dresses and mixes with the other actors as the play progresses. (Again slight spoiler) There is also a grand snow storm to set the final scene that was beautiful.
The play itself was interesting, and very appropriate with its message of greed and corruption. Alan Rickman plays Borkman, who used to be a prominent banker until he swindled his client's money and was sent to jail. He has since been released, but has turned/his wife (Shaw) has turned the second floor of his house into a new sort of prison.
I know this played elsewhere before coming to BAM, but I can't believe it was their first preview. Maybe I've just been seeing bad theater lately (Dracula!- well that was funny at least), but I truly thought last night was near flawless. Perhaps too this stuff is just my cup of tea, but I strongly encourage anyone interested to go. Definitely must-see theater!
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
