Post by marion on Apr 13, 2023 8:12:29 GMT
To Wimbledon yesterday to see this touring National Theatre production which iirc was derailed from its original run by covid. It is based on a book by Neil Gaiman and I have read nothing of his, although I believe he is one of the team behind TV series Lucifer. This production is spectacular!! I can imagine it playing out in the large spaces at the National and Wimbledon does have a pretty big stage. Also, it is very, very slick.
I can’t really describe what it was all about because I’m not very strong on fantasy. A man returns to his childhood home and where he meets Old Mrs Hempstock and is taken back to his 12th birthday where he met and befriended Lettie Hempstock, and what happened is re-enacted. The duck pond is, to Lettie, an ocean spanning two (or more?) worlds and during the course of their playing they let through a monster who has to be returned, whatever the cost.
I didn’t really know any of the cast except for Charlie Brooks (in full Janine of EastEnders mode) as a thoroughly nasty stepmother figure, and Finty Williams (daughter of Dame Judi but completely unrecognisable) as Old Mrs Hempstock. They were both excellent and very clear. Also excellent was Millie Hikasa as Lettie Hempstock.
This was actually quite scary in places. I was amazed that the hairs on my arm actually stood on end at one point! There was also one particularly impressive illusion regarding doors which had everyone gasping. Considering this is a production developed at the National where you have every support team you might need and endless rehearsals, it has transported very successfully to the touring side of the business. Plus, there were puppets and interpretive dance, always two strong plus points for me!
There were no cheers but the Wimbledon audience e seemed to enjoy it a lot. It was by no means full and an unusually youthful audience for a matinée, although it is not recommended for under twelves. I thought it was a stunning piece of theatre.
I can’t really describe what it was all about because I’m not very strong on fantasy. A man returns to his childhood home and where he meets Old Mrs Hempstock and is taken back to his 12th birthday where he met and befriended Lettie Hempstock, and what happened is re-enacted. The duck pond is, to Lettie, an ocean spanning two (or more?) worlds and during the course of their playing they let through a monster who has to be returned, whatever the cost.
I didn’t really know any of the cast except for Charlie Brooks (in full Janine of EastEnders mode) as a thoroughly nasty stepmother figure, and Finty Williams (daughter of Dame Judi but completely unrecognisable) as Old Mrs Hempstock. They were both excellent and very clear. Also excellent was Millie Hikasa as Lettie Hempstock.
This was actually quite scary in places. I was amazed that the hairs on my arm actually stood on end at one point! There was also one particularly impressive illusion regarding doors which had everyone gasping. Considering this is a production developed at the National where you have every support team you might need and endless rehearsals, it has transported very successfully to the touring side of the business. Plus, there were puppets and interpretive dance, always two strong plus points for me!
There were no cheers but the Wimbledon audience e seemed to enjoy it a lot. It was by no means full and an unusually youthful audience for a matinée, although it is not recommended for under twelves. I thought it was a stunning piece of theatre.
Anymore to come?
