Two trips to Milton Keynes Theatre in just over a week. I'm not sure why Equus was not as enjoyable as I had imagined. Was it something in the writing? The monologues from Simon Callow were hard going, or did he have a bad night? It was a lot better when he was talking to other characters, especially Alfie Allen. On his own, he made the night worthwhile. Here is a brilliant young actor (roles in Atonement and Joe's Palace) who is destined for big things.
I have always enjoyed plays by Chekov, but maybe they are now past their sell by date. Modern productions on TV have a much fresher approach to family dramas. Take Lark Rise to Candleford. Pretty boring when we did Flora Thomson's novel at school, but turned into something special and heartwarming by the writing of Bill Gallagher. Julia Sawalha deserves all the awards going for her lead role as the postmistress. Back to Uncle Vanya. A stodgy story only brightened by the directing of Peter Hall and an excellent turn from Neil Pearson as Astrov. Michelle Dockery did not shape up in the female lead as she had in Pygmalion. But Loo Brealy did well as the girl on the edge of a nervous breakdown.
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