tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post119692042313375174..comments2023-09-20T14:34:21.102+02:00Comments on Postcards from the Gods: Women of Troy - National TheatreAndrew Haydonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05568061302451610140noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post-59744531540915684592008-01-18T01:20:00.000+01:002008-01-18T01:20:00.000+01:00Great review. I'm with you on the lighting and Mi...Great review. I'm with you on the lighting and Mitchell's naturalism in general (like the servants interrupting in The Seagull, and actors backs turned to the audience at times). Though I also have a great sense of theatricality in her work too, it is an often compelling mix.<BR/><BR/>I found Women of Troy very moving indeed, and I can be a great fan of KM's work. But AOHL, despite some good moments and interesting ideas, just didn't do it for me (it was almost trying too hard). I find it interesting that such divergent views can be found on KM in any and every possible variation.Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17789034764982239963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post-82747050731675714042007-12-14T11:58:00.000+01:002007-12-14T11:58:00.000+01:00IN CAPITALS!IN CAPITALS!alexfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08663311179979081963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post-47263754371563697062007-12-14T02:29:00.001+01:002007-12-14T02:29:00.001+01:00I have no idea. But, to be fair, he/she is asking ...I have no idea. But, to be fair, he/she is asking questions, which, strictly speaking, don't really need to be backed up with anything more than a desire for an answer.Andrew Haydonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05568061302451610140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post-68932786828988298322007-12-14T01:15:00.000+01:002007-12-14T01:15:00.000+01:00Who is this TW guy? And why is he making snide com...Who is this TW guy? And why is he making snide comments without backing them up with, you know, argument?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post-16338941158968812502007-12-12T15:57:00.000+01:002007-12-12T15:57:00.000+01:00TW, ok, let's take my subjectivity as a given. It ...TW, ok, let's take my subjectivity as a given. It was - for me - the most important theatrical event of the year. Primarily because it demonstrated a very real willingness by the artistic directorship of the National Theatre to put money, time, and space toward producing geniuely exciting, innovative, experimental work.<BR/><BR/>I didn't find it self important (obviously). And I don't believe for a moment that it set out to be so. Yes, it made some bold choices, and necessarily stood by them, but I honestly don't think any of its choices were made in a high-handed way.<BR/><BR/>Sure, not everyone liked it. There's very little (if anything) that everyone likes.Andrew Haydonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05568061302451610140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post-41928174011351467922007-12-12T15:11:00.000+01:002007-12-12T15:11:00.000+01:00In what sense was the revival of "Attempts on her ...In what sense was the revival of "Attempts on her Life" the most IMPORTANT theatrical event of the year ? Surely you meant SELF-IMPORTANT ?TWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01806470068103843286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post-22199306061227059412007-12-12T02:02:00.000+01:002007-12-12T02:02:00.000+01:00"naturalistic lighting is lighting that doesn't dr..."naturalistic lighting is lighting that doesn't draw attention to itself" - well that is semantic nonsense! Surely naturalistic lighting is lighting that is or imitates natural light, and from where i was sitting the production seemed to be lit using the warehouse lights that were part of the set, rather than theatre lights. The windows were blocked out on the set and you got an occasional bright shaft of outside light when the door opened. You might not have spent much time inside warehouses but it looked pretty naturalistic to me! The costumes made sense to me because they said they were at a party/ball when the greeks got out of their wooden horse and started killing them all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post-9356582716713562092007-12-11T12:42:00.000+01:002007-12-11T12:42:00.000+01:00Have I been wtaching too much Buffy recently or do...Have I been wtaching too much Buffy recently or does the picture of Sinead Matthes at the bottom of your post make her loot alot like SMG?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post-47420571045728564882007-12-10T11:47:00.000+01:002007-12-10T11:47:00.000+01:00I dunno. I honestly think that the lighting is pr...I dunno. I honestly think that the lighting is pretty much naturalistic except for the times when it is serving the more impressionist moments. Ditto the acting. It strikes me that with a lot of Mitchell's work this objection to not being able to see/hear things is in fact a result of this naturalism taken to the Nth degree. And I know it's devisive, so I similarly won't bang on about how much I like it. But in terms of terms, I can't think how else one would describe it. <BR/><BR/>p.s. Loved your work on Porgy and Bess...Andrew Haydonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05568061302451610140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481691725314537521.post-2250692823114307482007-12-09T22:32:00.000+01:002007-12-09T22:32:00.000+01:00We've talked about this, so I won't bang on about ...We've talked about this, so I won't bang on about it here. But I really think you're using terms rather sloppily here: if this production is "predominantly ultra-naturalistic", I am Aretha Franklin. <BR/><BR/>Its set design is naturalistic; that's about it. The costuming isn't: the glad rags of the women are making a point. The lighting isn't: in stage terms, naturalistic lighting is lighting that doesn't draw our attention to it, whereas this pseudo-ambient approach leaves us squinting the whole damn time. Ditto delivery. The sound design is admirable, but is a noticeable entity.<BR/><BR/>And I'll say a little prayer for you :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com