Dave’s on the right
Gorgeous Dave and I went to the theatre tonight.
We went to see the “ immersive” piece straight from London’s Donmar Warehouse called Blindness.
Based on the novel by Josè Saramago, Simon Stephens has produced a truly unnerving and emotional piece of theatre, where the audience is sat in covid bubbles of two , scattered over the main Anthony Hopkins main stage in near darkness.
Each one of us were asked to wear headphones over which we heard Juliet Stevenson’s savage narration of a doctor’s wife experience of internment by the authorities after her husband and thousands of others are inexplicably turned blind by a mystery pandemic.
Stephens uses tricks of lighting , heavy darkness and the claustrophobia caused by wearing masks in the theatrical space to great advantage and at times when Juliet Stevenson is urgently whispering her fears and observations into your ear, it actually feels as though she is there!
Both David and I were quite unnerved by the whole experience, and rather moved by it.
The sign of a good theatre trip is how much the audience talks about the production afterwards.
And we talked about it all the way home .
Now that I live alone I do not care to watch anything like that John.
ReplyDeleteUnderstood pat xx
DeleteThat sounds truly innovative!
ReplyDeleteIt was unexpectedly dramatic
DeleteWe have a friend in London who would love that show. Glad to hear you had a good outing. I went to the office today, to work, all day, just like the old days, almost.
ReplyDeleteWe are almost there David old chum x
DeleteMust have been really powerful ... since you're still talking about it now!
ReplyDeleteTom , it was ....I sooooo enjoy talking about art I love
DeleteLive theatre, of a high standard , is truly in a class of its own, isn’t it. There are performances I’ve seen many years ago that still remain powerful in my memory, in a way that cinema doesn’t, for me at least.
ReplyDeleteI’m so happy to be back “ in theatre “
DeleteI've never heard of that. It sounds intense!
ReplyDeleteIt was..and that’s good
DeleteAn interesting counterpoint to A Quiet Place II. Sounds good, but I could do with something a bit more uplifting.
ReplyDeleteYes, it was quite “ dour” but stimulating
DeleteFascinating theatre. I read the novel years ago and found it haunting. Could never imagine a theatre production of it.
ReplyDeleteI think I may read the book
DeleteI one attended a performance of 1984 that chilled my bones in the way they used special effects. Disturbing is too soft a word.
ReplyDeleteStrange but both Dave and I said that it kind of reminded us of Orwell’s piece
Deleteoh, that is my absolute favorite kind of theater! Next week I'm going to see A Thousand Ways at the Public Theater in NY -its an anonymous, prompted phone call with another ticketholder with the intent of connecting with strangers
ReplyDeleteSounds interesting
Deletehttps://publictheater.org/productions/season/2021/a-thousands-ways/
That sounds like a fun theatre experience. I would love to do something like that.
ReplyDeleteNot for the faint hearted
DeleteHow unique, creative, and innovative. What I can imagine of the experience is that it would give me the creeps. Shudder! Am glad you and Gorgeous Dave found it remarkable.
ReplyDeleteHugs!
The whispering in the ear was somewhat £disconcerting
DeleteYour enjoyment of the Arts is a wonderful and tangible thing John! So glad you can feed your soul once again.
ReplyDeleteFeed my soul,yes it does feel like that
DeleteSounds an interesting experience. There's nothing quite like live theatre, but that one would be a bit too intense for me I think! Glad you enjoyed it, and the company, though. xx
ReplyDeleteAnd the post Mortum afterwards is always great fun
DeleteI've just spent a week with an eye bandaged after surgery for a skin cancer on my eyelid and then reconstructive surgery the next day. My vision is blurry without glasses, and the compressing bandaging that extended across the bridge of my nose would not allow me to wear my glasses. Not usually prone to claustrophobia, I found myself feeling breathlessly claustrophobic at times. I have always felt empathy for my cousin who lost his vision about ten years ago, and I can't pretend to know what it's like still, but I feel such amazement at what he's overcome and sadness for his continuing frustrations.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting perspective and after last night’s experience , I totally understand what you outline
DeleteI would want to go and see this an art installation and theatre at the same time thanks for sharing it with us here John.
ReplyDelete