Trevor Nunn--one of the Greats?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 8:19am

What is the general feeling on Nunn as a director--particularly of musicals? Success wise he really seems to be the British Hal Prince--(if not with more actual huge hits) but you don't usually see him given the credit others get--by the press or musical fans...

[D2]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 8:25am

He's like Hal Prince in that his work is uneven. He comes no where near the genius of Prince at his best.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 8:35am

I guess that's what I was trying to get at (I didn't phrase my question well)--I'm not trying to compare them really except that both seem to share a common ground (even if Nunn is significantly younger and fresher--I think his first musical was Cats...--when it comes to musicals anyway)on different continents (primarily). Nunn obviously has undeniable talent--and I realize I've seen a surprisingly large number of his shows--but he doesn't sorta have this magic distinctive quality Prince, or to make the comparsion even more unfair a director/choreographer like Bennett might have--and I wondered why that was?

Nunn seems to be regarded VERY highly but, artistically never to have quite reached those heights...

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 8:59am

Of musicals: Not bad.
Of Shakespeare: He has few peers, check out his MACBETH with Judi Dench and Ian McKellen on DVD. I still think its the definitive version.

[kec]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 9:38am

"check out his MACBETH with Judi Dench and Ian McKellen on DVD. I still think its the definitive version. "

Oooh, thanks for the reminder... I got this dvd free through one of the London papers a few months ago, and I haven't yet watched it.

[simon_wilkie]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 10:49am

Yeah, his musicals do seem hit and miss. I've commented elsewhere on his liability especially with productions like Sunset and Woman in White failing.

But you have to forgive him for Cats and Les Miserables alone, surely?

As for Shakespeare he is one on his own. Perhaps after Olivier and Peter Brook he is the greatest Shakespeare director of the last 100 years. I eagerly await reviews of his current production of Shakespeare's greatest play (IMO) King Lear at Stratford, and hopefully I'll get to see it once my uni exams are over!

I also have that Macbeth- free in The Daily Telegraph, saw half of it and it looks good- not got round to finishing it though lol

Simon

[queenbee2]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 11:12am

Borstal- I couldn't agree more. His Scotish Play is incredible! I was blown away by the creativity he showed, not to mention the seamlessness of the production.

And whatever you think of Les Miz as a show, the direction is pretty flawless. I remember the first time I saw it (and I'm a fan of the show) walking away from the theater amazed at how the pieces of the show all came together so beautifully and effortlessly.

I, for one, look forward to seeing what he comes up with next.

-QB

[simon_wilkie]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 5:23pm

PS. He is a luvvie though isn't he? He makes me cringe when he gets into his arty farty-ness! I think that Private Eye (UK satirical magazine) had it right when they renamed it's theatre column the Trevvies in honour of him!

S.

[Weez]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 5:32pm

I think Trevor Nunn is probably one of the more famous theatre directors. His name comes up all the time 'cos he's the one that everyone's heard of. I can't really comment on his ability though; all I recall seeing of his is 'Oklahoma!', and that was on (legal) video.

[kec]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 5:47pm

And a lovely legal video that was too... liked the actor who played Curly in that one -- what was his name again? Hugh something or other I think...

[Roscoe]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 6:22pm

Yeah, but that bloated ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL he did for the RSC was a total crashing bore, overproduced and underacted.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 6:35pm

I almsot forgot he did Oklahoma--I saw it in London and loved it on stage but hate the way the DVD was filmed (WHY film it on a soundstage and then intrercut audience footage that's not there? ARGH!!)

Simon not sure you can discredit him for "failing" with Sunset--it was such an expensive production I don't think he had much say in terms of much of that aspect and did the best he could

About Les Mis--how were his and John Caird's roles divided--or were they divided? I never paid much attention to Caird being co-director until I saw the National's 1999 Candide--which was so stunning and made such a hard piece work so well that I'm now willign to give him a lot more credit for Miz than I used to

E

[Roscoe]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 6:41pm

Oh, God, I'd mercifully forgotten about that hideous OKLAHOMA he did. No way Nunn is one of the greats or even the pretty goods after that disaster. A production of OKLAMHOMA where Laurey is played as a mean-spirited little bitch who really deserves a good long ugly night with Jud is not one that makes anything like sense.

[BigFatBlonde]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 6:42pm

Based primarily on the popularity of a handful of his shows, and the longevity of his career, I have to begrudgingly say he is one of the greats.

But on a personal level, I'm not into his "style" or something.

His work, except for a few non-musical productions, leaves me a little flat.

Updated On: 6/2/08 at 06:42 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 12:02am

Yeah i guess it's hard to argue even if you dislike his shows (and I tend to like the majority)--he's managed to make a number of very difficult to stage concepts/shows work--and seems willing to try a variety of things (even flops like Baker's Wife etc)

E

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 12:05am

I think he's a great director.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 12:07am

I loved Oklahoma! I thought it was very well done.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 12:08am

I agree.

As uneven as it was, it definitely deserved the Tony over INTO THE WOODS.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 12:10am

Amen to that.


Into the Woods (from what I've seen) was nowhere near as good as Oklahoma!

Updated On: 5/17/07 at 12:10 AM

[D2]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 12:43am

I agree - that production of OKLAHOMA was in every way superior to that droopy INTO THE WOODS revival.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 2:00am

EVen though as a show I prefer Into the Woods--production wise I'd have to agree as well...

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 6/1/08 at 6:03pm

Even if he is one of the greats, let's always remember Gone With The Wind.

[Scripps2]

Posted: 6/1/08 at 6:15pm

After seeing both Porgy and Bess and Gone With the Wind I think, when it comes to musicals, the guy is past his shelf-life and coasting into retirement.

I dread his rumoured take on A Little Night Music.

[Weez]

Posted: 6/1/08 at 6:35pm

At least if 'A Little Night Music' comes true the way it has been rumoured, he'll be confined to the tininess of the Menier Chocolate Factory.

I can now comment that I have seen Nunn's 'King Lear', and I very very much enjoyed it, but I'd take Michael Boyd ANY day. (Am not obsessed with the Histories Cycle, AM NOT. *ahem*)

[Scripps2]

Posted: 6/1/08 at 6:54pm

"At least if 'A Little Night Music' comes true the way it has been rumoured, he'll be confined to the tininess of the Menier Chocolate Factory."

I wonder if they'll have a reality TV casting show for ALNM chaired by Andrew Lloyd Webber?!