Shirley Valentine
Tue, 16 Jan 2001, 10:35 pmWalter Plinge2 posts in thread
Shirley Valentine
Tue, 16 Jan 2001, 10:35 pmAnyone who accepts the part in a play that has been previously played by an Oscar Nominee, or an actress that was so good at the part that the author allowed her to obtain the Australian stage rights must be mad - or in Shirley's words 'very brave'.
Beverley Lawrence was very brave - and VERY successful. When carrying out a long monologue it is very easy to keep the brain concertrating so hard on the script and the accent (Bev's Liverpudlian was admirable) that the actions become mechanical. Not so with this production. Whether it was thanks to the excellent direction by Garry, her husband - and who would be directed by their husband without wanting a couple of weeks in the Greek Islands afterwards? - or purely Beverley's talent, who knows?
The action flowed beautifully on this the first preview night. The were no prompts in the 100 or so minutes that this sole actor was on the stage. She had the cheeky personality that is demanded by the play, genuinely cried when the script required and sparkled at the lighter parts.
The final scene on the beach was tastefully done and when the scripted question 'Did you recognise me?' with the brief nude scene, Beverley was encouraged by the audience and got through this point nicely.
With superb sets and technical back up, a show to be proud of. Good luck with the season.
Beverley Lawrence was very brave - and VERY successful. When carrying out a long monologue it is very easy to keep the brain concertrating so hard on the script and the accent (Bev's Liverpudlian was admirable) that the actions become mechanical. Not so with this production. Whether it was thanks to the excellent direction by Garry, her husband - and who would be directed by their husband without wanting a couple of weeks in the Greek Islands afterwards? - or purely Beverley's talent, who knows?
The action flowed beautifully on this the first preview night. The were no prompts in the 100 or so minutes that this sole actor was on the stage. She had the cheeky personality that is demanded by the play, genuinely cried when the script required and sparkled at the lighter parts.
The final scene on the beach was tastefully done and when the scripted question 'Did you recognise me?' with the brief nude scene, Beverley was encouraged by the audience and got through this point nicely.
With superb sets and technical back up, a show to be proud of. Good luck with the season.
Walter PlingeTue, 16 Jan 2001, 10:35 pm
Anyone who accepts the part in a play that has been previously played by an Oscar Nominee, or an actress that was so good at the part that the author allowed her to obtain the Australian stage rights must be mad - or in Shirley's words 'very brave'.
Beverley Lawrence was very brave - and VERY successful. When carrying out a long monologue it is very easy to keep the brain concertrating so hard on the script and the accent (Bev's Liverpudlian was admirable) that the actions become mechanical. Not so with this production. Whether it was thanks to the excellent direction by Garry, her husband - and who would be directed by their husband without wanting a couple of weeks in the Greek Islands afterwards? - or purely Beverley's talent, who knows?
The action flowed beautifully on this the first preview night. The were no prompts in the 100 or so minutes that this sole actor was on the stage. She had the cheeky personality that is demanded by the play, genuinely cried when the script required and sparkled at the lighter parts.
The final scene on the beach was tastefully done and when the scripted question 'Did you recognise me?' with the brief nude scene, Beverley was encouraged by the audience and got through this point nicely.
With superb sets and technical back up, a show to be proud of. Good luck with the season.
Beverley Lawrence was very brave - and VERY successful. When carrying out a long monologue it is very easy to keep the brain concertrating so hard on the script and the accent (Bev's Liverpudlian was admirable) that the actions become mechanical. Not so with this production. Whether it was thanks to the excellent direction by Garry, her husband - and who would be directed by their husband without wanting a couple of weeks in the Greek Islands afterwards? - or purely Beverley's talent, who knows?
The action flowed beautifully on this the first preview night. The were no prompts in the 100 or so minutes that this sole actor was on the stage. She had the cheeky personality that is demanded by the play, genuinely cried when the script required and sparkled at the lighter parts.
The final scene on the beach was tastefully done and when the scripted question 'Did you recognise me?' with the brief nude scene, Beverley was encouraged by the audience and got through this point nicely.
With superb sets and technical back up, a show to be proud of. Good luck with the season.
Walter PlingeSun, 21 Jan 2001, 09:02 am
RE: Shirley Valentine
DEAR GORDON, WE MUST HAVE BEEN AT DIFFERENT OPENING NIGHTS OF S.V. THE SHOW I SAW WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING,THE ACTOR IN MY OPINION WAS VERY "BRAVE" BUT NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO PLAY THIS ROLE.I FELT SHE WAS CONCERNTRATING SO HARD ON THE SCRIPT AND ACCENT (WHICH SHE DROPPED OUT OF ALL THE TIME) THAT THE DIALOGUE SUFFERRED, THE ACCENT WAS NOT LIVERPUDLIAN
(I AM SO I KNOW.AND SPOKE SO FAST IT WAS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND MOST OF WHAT SHE SAID. iNFACT SOME PEOPLE WALKED OUT IN ACT ONE. WHY THE DIRECTOR INSISTED ON THE NUDITY WHICH LOOKED LIKE A NAKED WOMAN RUSHING ON QUICKLY TRYING TO HIDE HER DISCOMFORT,AND THEN DIRECT HER TO DRESS IN FULL VIEW WHICH SHE LOOKED MOST AWKWARD WITH,AND MADE HER SPEAK EVEN FASTER. AS FOR THE DIRECTING I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND THE MOVES OF CONTINULY OPENING AND CLOSING THE KITCHEN CUPBOARDS ,IN ACT ONE. KNEELING DOWN MASKING THE ACTOR BEHIND THE CHAIR.AND THE ENDING OF ACT TWO WAS DISMAL AND COMPLETLY WRONG.MY OPINION IS THE LAWRENCES WERE NOT EXPERIENCED ENOUGH TO ATTEMPT THIS PLAY..
gordon the optom wrote:
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Anyone who accepts the part in a play that has been previously played by an Oscar Nominee, or an actress that was so good at the part that the author allowed her to obtain the Australian stage rights must be mad - or in Shirley's words 'very brave'.
Beverley Lawrence was very brave - and VERY successful. When carrying out a long monologue it is very easy to keep the brain concertrating so hard on the script and the accent (Bev's Liverpudlian was admirable) that the actions become mechanical. Not so with this production. Whether it was thanks to the excellent direction by Garry, her husband - and who would be directed by their husband without wanting a couple of weeks in the Greek Islands afterwards? - or purely Beverley's talent, who knows?
The action flowed beautifully on this the first preview night. The were no prompts in the 100 or so minutes that this sole actor was on the stage. She had the cheeky personality that is demanded by the play, genuinely cried when the script req....
(I AM SO I KNOW.AND SPOKE SO FAST IT WAS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND MOST OF WHAT SHE SAID. iNFACT SOME PEOPLE WALKED OUT IN ACT ONE. WHY THE DIRECTOR INSISTED ON THE NUDITY WHICH LOOKED LIKE A NAKED WOMAN RUSHING ON QUICKLY TRYING TO HIDE HER DISCOMFORT,AND THEN DIRECT HER TO DRESS IN FULL VIEW WHICH SHE LOOKED MOST AWKWARD WITH,AND MADE HER SPEAK EVEN FASTER. AS FOR THE DIRECTING I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND THE MOVES OF CONTINULY OPENING AND CLOSING THE KITCHEN CUPBOARDS ,IN ACT ONE. KNEELING DOWN MASKING THE ACTOR BEHIND THE CHAIR.AND THE ENDING OF ACT TWO WAS DISMAL AND COMPLETLY WRONG.MY OPINION IS THE LAWRENCES WERE NOT EXPERIENCED ENOUGH TO ATTEMPT THIS PLAY..
gordon the optom wrote:
-------------------------------
Anyone who accepts the part in a play that has been previously played by an Oscar Nominee, or an actress that was so good at the part that the author allowed her to obtain the Australian stage rights must be mad - or in Shirley's words 'very brave'.
Beverley Lawrence was very brave - and VERY successful. When carrying out a long monologue it is very easy to keep the brain concertrating so hard on the script and the accent (Bev's Liverpudlian was admirable) that the actions become mechanical. Not so with this production. Whether it was thanks to the excellent direction by Garry, her husband - and who would be directed by their husband without wanting a couple of weeks in the Greek Islands afterwards? - or purely Beverley's talent, who knows?
The action flowed beautifully on this the first preview night. The were no prompts in the 100 or so minutes that this sole actor was on the stage. She had the cheeky personality that is demanded by the play, genuinely cried when the script req....