“The Grapes of Wrath”: now at West Yorkshire Playhouse / Quarry Theatre

“The Grapes of Wrath” are heading north, and you can see the production, featuring Christopher Timothy as Pa Joad, Sorcha Cusack as Ma Joad, Damian O’Hare as Tom Joad and Oliver Cotton as Jim Casy, from

3 – 14 November at the West Yorkshire Playhouse / Quarry Theatre in Leeds

Here’s a preview on the BBC

BBC – Leeds

and just in case you should still be undecided: here’s a preview video, including scenes from the play and interviews with director and actors.

Here’s a note from the theatre regarding the despatch of tickets:

Postal Strike

During the postal strike we’ll not be sending out any tickets for events that take place less than seven days in the future. Please collect your tickets at Box Office.

“The Grapes of Wrath”: win tickets for Repertory Theatre in Birmingham

You can still see “The Grapes of Wrath” at The King’s Theatre in Edinburgh until this Saturday. The next stop of the tour will then be

BIRMINGHAM, REPERTORY THEATRE

from 20 to 31 of October.

Locals will be happy to hear that

SMOOTH RADIO GIVES AWAY FREE TICKETS

- if you can give the correct answer to the competition question. Just click the link above and tell them who wrote “The Grapes of Wrath”.

There’s also a preview in the

BIRMINGHAM POST (incl. interview with Christopher Timothy)

“(…) I heard that a few people have walked out in the interval, saying ‘I can’t take any more and I know it gets worse’. I think they meant the story and not the performances! (…)”

 

Damian O'Hare as Tom Joad and Oliver Cotton as Jim Casy in "The Grapes of Wrath".

“The Grapes of Wrath”: review(s) of performance at New Wimbledon Theatre

Here’s a first review of last weekend’s performances of “The Grapes of Wrath” at New Wimbledon Theatre. I’ll update this post if there should be more.

THIS IS CROYDON TODAY

“(…) Despite being superbly acted by the large English Touring Theatre cast, under the direction of Jonathan Church, the three hours of unremitting misery which it entails as the sad story of the Joad family unfolds is heavy duty stuff. (…)”

“(…) Damian O’Hare hit the right mood as Tom Joad, fresh out of jail and looking for a new life. (…)”

Someone suggested to look for reviews on Twitter. I did, and looking for “Grapes of Wrath” was a hoot: students winging about being forced to read the book (“grapes of wrath is rly booooorin”), metal bands on tour, banned books, other students complaining about the ending (“grossest ending ever!!!“)  – and even some reviews!

Looking for information on twitter is more fun than google, no doubt (“I’m dying a slow wine inflicted death. Grapes of wrath.” \o/ ) .

“(…) Fairly intense. (…)”

“(…) Very moving. (…)“

“(…) Funny to watch Brits do American Oklahoma accents! (…)“

“(…) In the interval of marvellous production of The Grapes of Wrath at Wimbledon… (…)“

“(…) v focused story (no subplot to spk of) & sad! Good acting, rain & set. (…)“

“(…) could be a bit shorter, but gave good feel of epic journey across USA &portrayed massive courage of family. Recommended! (…)“

“(…) (play) was ‘meh’. Not engaging enough for me to truly enjoy. Hammy acting. Slow and tired storytelling. (…)“

As I don’t know the netiquette for linking to Twitter posts, there aren’t any source links here. Should you be the author of any of those quotes and want a link back to your twitter (or have the quote removed), please leave a note. Commenting on this one post is enabled.

Then are two previews for the performance at the King’s Theatre in Edinburgh

THE LIST

HERALD SCOTLAND

and the Theatre Royal in Plymouth:

THE HERALD

“The Grapes of Wrath”: Platform Event in Wimbledon and Previews

“(…) Damian O’Hare gave an exceptional performance as Tom Joad, returning from prison to find his family life ravaged by the prolonged lack of rain – forced to leave his family again but pledging to preach the word that the poor must band together for their rights. (…)”

(Source: “A powerful compelling epic drama…”)

Damian O'Hare as Tom Joad and Christopher Timothy as Pa Joad in "The Grapes of Wrath". (c) CFT

As regulars of this blog and theatre buffs will know by now, “The Grapes of Wrath” will go on tour after its highly successful stint at Chichester Theatre Festival. The first dates are 1 – 3 October at the New Wimbledon Theatre. Those of you who bought (or will buy) tickets for the opening night and aren’t sufficiently depressed by the current state of economy yet will be happy to learn that the New Wimbledon will host a special event that night:

“(…) On the opening night performance on Thursday 1 October, New Wimbledon Theatre will also be holding an exclusive pre-show Platform Event: Recession vs. Depression at 6.30pm chaired by Artistic Director of the Chichester Festival Theatre and Director of The Grapes of Wrath Jonathan Church and internationally renowned business expert Allyson Stewart-Allen who will be discussing the economic elements creating the Dustbowl, how California today is facing similar conditions, the impact of economic imbalance on communities and the challenges of bringing a specifically American story to the British stage. There will also be a brief Q&A session. (…)”

(Source)

You can find links to all tour dates in the sidebar of this blog; click on the venue you’re interested in and you’ll get directly to the “Grapes of Wrath” page of the respective theatre. Read the information carefully, many theatres offer concessions for members, students, under 18s, senior citizens, unemployed people etc. Also keep an eye on the local press; there’s always the chance of winning tickets.

By  now, previews for future dates are beginning to show up in the local papers:

What’s On: The Grapes of Wrath at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth

AllMedia Scotland: Christopher Timothy and Sorcha Cusack to appear in The Grapes of Wrath at the King’s Theatre, Edinburgh

And now for something completely different…

You might have noticed that the design of the website has changed, with a vertical navigation bar rather than a horizontal one. While I slightly altered some of the graphics, I kept the old-fashioned cartoonish “60s” touch of the original. I hope it will work for you guys.

“Grapes of Wrath” preview / German “Taking the Flak” review

PORTSMOUTH TODAY: “Christopher’s on a journey of discovery”

Actor Christopher Timothy, who plays Pa Joad in “The Grapes of Wrath” at Chichester Festival Theatre, gave an interview to “Portsmouth Today”. He gives some insights into the rehearsal process.

Rehearsals, he reflects, have been largely satisfying, ‘but also dissatisfying because you sometimes take two steps forward and three back.

‘You try different ideas, but what seemed a good idea in the bath suddenly doesn’t seem as good in the rehearsal room with 17 other actors.

‘But you have to try. It’s called courage, though it’s very difficult sometimes.’

While the British media can’t make up their mind whether to love or loathe “Taking the Flak”, Britcoms.de, a German website dedicated to – yes, you guessed it, Britcoms – has reviewed the first episode. I wondered how the show would be received internationally (nothing travels as bad as humour); here’s a (very rough) translation for those interested. All translation errors are mine.

BRITCOMS.DE: “Drop the Flak” (…)
(Flak =/= “Flag”!)

“Taking the Flak” (BBC 2, Wednesdays 10pm), the new, expensive comedy-drama about a news team of the BBC, going about their business as frontline reporters in a fictional African state was announced as an acerbic satire. It does look expensive: shot on location and with top-class casting (among others Doon Mackichan and Mackenzie Crook (“The Office”)), the first 60 minutes episode did look impressive. Unfortunately, there was hardly any humour that went beyond stereotypical Africans with funny names, non-stop diarrhoea and other obvious jokes. The characters around the completely superficial senior reporter, the always-stressed producer who’s got a fling with a hard-nosed cameraman and the chubby, sad, lonely radio reporter are all vapid and lack so much a human touch that one hardly notices any of the drama in this comedy-drama (with exception of the drama-department of the BBC having probably increased the budget significantly).

The subject would have offered more, though: “Drop the Dead Donkey” proved it, and the makers of “Taking the Flak” should have more material to work with; Tira Shubart, co-creater, -writer and -producer, is in the news business for 20 years and has worked in more than 40 countries.

But maybe this will work, after all, in the next episodes.

“Taking the Flak”: Preview in the current issue of TV and Satellite Week

TV and Satellite Week runs a two-page spread of “Taking the Flak”, giving a short rundown of the plot and  introducing the characters.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE

Damian O'Hare as Rory Wallace in BBC2's new comedy "Taking the Flak." The cameraman's reputation in war coverage precedes him when he joins the team later in Karibu. To his right: Joanna Brookes as World Service reporter Margaret Hollis.

Seeing how he will “join the team later” it’s possible that Damian won’t be in the pilot, which was shot in Kenya (unlike the rest of the series, which was shot in Tanzania).
Can I be cynical here for a moment and ask why descriptions like “perennially single, and the foreign climate plays havoc with her toilet habits…” never apply for roles played by tall, leggy blondes?

For those of you who aren’t interested in “Taking the Flak” and ended up in this blog by accident: TV and Satellite Week also has a cover story featuring Torchwood.

“Taking the Flak”: two (p)reviews

BBC Radio 4: “Front Row” (audio – BBC iPlayer, also available outside of the UK)

The review by Kirsty Lang and Alex Thomson will give you an idea what to expect when tuning in to “Taking the Flak” on July 8. Overall, the review is positive, despite pointing out some lengths in the script. The portrayal of the characters is praised as being spot on and the way some serious issues (for example child soldiers) are dealt with works. I don’t want to spoil it for you, so please check the link for yourself.
Fictional war-shaken country “Karibu” is 38 times the size of Wales. Wales seems to be the mandatory surface measure for countries, just like time spans in documentaries are always measured in the number of minutes 27 piranhas need to skeletonise a cow.

Broadcast: “Taking the Flak”

We had tents for shade and atmospheric “bush toilets” under canvas for pit stops. But “Team Flak”, a unique blend of UK, Tanzanian and Kenyan artists and crew, had a supremely happy shoot. We hope viewers will enjoy the world of Taking the Flak as much as we did.

The Royal: Season 7 featuring Damian O’Hare to start this Sunday

ITV’s hospital period drama series “The Royal” will start into its 7th season this Sunday, 8 – 9pm. Unfortunately, that just happens to be when Italy and Spain will battle over the ticket into the half finals of the EURO2008. Maybe that’s why new doctor Nick Burnett looks so worried? We wouldn’t be surprised at all if ITV should change the program in favour of football at the very last second.

Some bits and pieces about the upcoming start of season seven have been in the media:

The Radio Times – Allison Graham

The Daily Record

Manchester Evening News – Ian Wylie

What’s On TV

And even The Royal’s Official Website has been updated. A miracle! Sort of. Still the old cast, still the old interviews, but at least there are now new video previews available (but only for those living in the UK, as usual…)

And if all should fail and none of this tickles your fancy, you still have the option to get yourself tickets for The Revenger’s Tragedy at the Royal Exchange in Manchester. The play runs till 28 June, and while we can’t tell you if you’ll like it or not, we can guarantee you’ll have something to talk about…!