Ralph Fiennes Brand Fan Encounters

 

Nemesis's Brand Perspective June 21,2003

HEY!!!! ^_^

I'm already back in Barcelona from London!

I went to see BRAND last saturday evening with a friend, and I met Sabsi and Katherine there too.
It was a GREAT night! I loved the play!! I thought it may be boring or that I wouldn't understand it quite well because I'm not english. But I got everything and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Ralph was great and I had a very close view of him from the third row of the theatre. His eyes were SO amazingly blue! *melts*

After the play we went to the stage door and I got his authograph. *happy*
It was our very interesting conversation:
- me: Can you put "for Carla"?
- Ralph: Carla?
- me: yes
- me thinking: *OMG! He spoke my name!* XDDDD

I tried to get a photo, but at that moment my camera didn't shoot, I don't know why (Murphy's law, I guess). ó_ò
But Katherine and Sabsi got some photos of him. I can't wait to see them!!!!
BTW, it was so nice to meet you, girls. I hope we can meet again sooner or later ;)

And I'm leaving the part of the "AMAZING MAN WITH SLEEPERS" for Katherine or Sabsi to tell you. It was a vision we'll never forget!, will we?! ^_^

Katherine's Encounter June 21-24

HI All!
Just got back from London yesterday evening!
Had a wonderful time and am still high on the cloud after seeing RF on stage 3 times!
Sabsi, Puck, Frances, Nemesis, Judith, it was great meeting you all! Lovely ladies, spend lots of time with Sabsi - so sweet, genuine, lovely person!

June 21st My first viewing of play.
Met Sabsi, Nemesis and her friend Judith in front of theater which we had no problem to recognized eath other:-)
The play was very very moving and RF was so powerful, he took me inside of mind of BRAND, his agony, suffering, sacrifice and finally redeption, the last act was really powerful, blew me away! I am a Christian and this play really made me think so much about god and human and what is God's love to us and what is for us serving him! I will have a tons of questions to my church Pastor this Sunday!
He moved me to tears! I cried many times and tried hide my tears. He really act with entire body and give everyting he can to the audience.
Especially impressed with his beautiful, clear, resonant voice whether it is spoken pianissimo or fortissimo! such a technic, and training!
Whole ensemble actors are great! especially Olive Cotton who played Mayor and Alan David who played Doctor/Provost/Villager and Susan Engel who played Brand mother. As for Claire Price- Agnes
as Gigi and others mentioned, I had a problem with her acting, it does not have depth, one dimentional, spoke like clear lines as acting student not to mention constant eye blinking.
There is very little scenery - kind of minimalism stage setting which got much negative review from critics, so much relies on the acting - Boat scene in the storm, trudging up the mountain leading village people, so for RF, it must be hugh challenge and for audience it is thrill to see him awakening imagination through his acting skill, Fianl act - avalanche with God's voice was really powerful, Wooden penal back ground which stayed entire play, finally lifted off with the cloud covering stage Brand buried under avalanche was very very dramatic effect!
He received good reception from audience whom many gave him standing ovation including of course myself!

Stage door
Met Sabsi, Nemesis, Judith and PUCK!
Large crowd, not good! it is always better with smaller crowd and he usually does not like big crowd, after playing 3 hours of intense play like this, he need rest more than anyting.
Anyway, as usual politely obliging sign and spoke to few fans but when asked for picture he said 'NO" I stood aside and took few pictures, Puck gave him really ice comments which made him happy, Think actors knows what to say to and touch another actor like PUCK to RF:-) She got HOLY squeeze on her arm from him:-) I am so happy for her!

June 24th Tuesday
Met Frances who came over by train and 4 of us went for dinner, All so lovely!
I got to seat on row A and B(Thanks to Puck and Frances for giving me extra seats)
row A for 1st half and B for rest!
It was so close from stage, he was just inches from above my head! watching him so close and be able to see every details of his acting - faciel expression, body language, and yes, that VOICE!
Even moved me more! I couldn't take my eyes off from him for entire play!

Stage door
Saw big crowd of young girls waiting! NOT GOOD!
He came out and politely sign as many he can but looked really tired! I didn't bother him at all, and today is Puck's birthday, so this should be her day, she got to talk to him and got autograph on her script! (Puck I know you wrote all this on your post but just want to mention again)he looked pleased to talking to her!
Puck(birthday girl), Sabsi and I spend some time together before play which was really nice.

June 25th
Today is my last chance to see BRAND again, came together with Sabsi, we had seperate seats and both are not close but after 1st half saw empty seat on row F and moved:-) This is not an easy play, very intense, I recommand to read play version of BRAND before come to see which I did, he will take you to journey - very painful, intense, ofent you want to hate him and wonder about God's love for us, but at the end, I felt completely lifted, so powerful actor he is!
BTW, today he has clean face so to speak - shaved, the other days he had much stubble all over face (I like without it)

Stage door,
This is best day! only about dozen people waiting and this is my last day so thought should make most out of it at least talk to him.
So finally I approached him and told him how much play moved me that 3 times it gets better! and thanked him, he said "Really?" seems happy to hear that! have him signed BRAND poster and he moved to talk to Sabsi and others, took pictures, will send to Mary as my scanner broke and I am really bad on tech things like this!

It was exciting, inspiring, wonderful week in London and will cherish memory meeing Sabsi, Puck, Frances.

Puck's Ralph Adventure, June 24, 2003

i am home, after a flight from chicago that was delayed on the runway for over three hours and a hugely bruised leg from the seat, i got up too quick, and a day of over 27 hours in transit here i sit at my trusty computer.

this was an adventure above all adventures. it is a long one but i will try to shorten it a bit.

arrived in london and was meant to meet my friend from sheffield, i had met her last year when i saw richard III with kenneth brannaugh.
she arrived and i found out 300$ later she had NO money to spend or live on in london. NONE! i spent the first 3 days of my trip, half of it, in agony trying how to unload her. nightmare city.

ralph.

my first night i went with "her" to the stage door just to catch a glimpse, this is the part where i am a silly drooling woman, i was overawed at the absolute beauty style and poise he emits. i kept feeling like i was hyper ventilating i have met many many famous people in my life but he is just almost preternatural. you get this overwhelming feeling that you are near royalty or someone who God has leant us for a bit. only a bit. i only stood there, he was very uncomfortable and looking desperately for his car. he at one point did catch my eye, only be chance but it for me stood at an hour.

i met sabsi and katherine in the interim but i will tell that after the ralph bit.

i went on my third day to see brand, i did not have a ticket but i went outside the theatre before hand (with her still) and talked to the door man, yanni, a lovely greek guy. very yummy. who i did chat up a bit(shameless)he because he works there had a comp ticket in the royal circle which he gave to me which was so sweet. i really didn't get to thank him, i must write to the theatre to thank him.

brand

oh, i can't even begin, the play is just wonderful. the entire company is strong and moving. it is very much in the english style of acting, not "method" or understated as the style of american theatre tends to be. i was moved entirely form the first moment until the last.
ralph commands the stage like no other, his presence is so forceful and alive that you now you are watching on of the greats. his entire body is alive with the language and the intent. he carries you on a journey that is tormented and painful with the outcome scared salvation.
the seats were ok not great, but i was in tears not because of "ralph fiennes" but for brand as the curtain fell.

after i waited and he was in a good mood, it was saturday night and many people were there, again i just watched. i went up to him before he headed off down the street and said, mr. fiennes i was so moved, so completely moved that i am speechless the play was fabulous. i told him he was an inspiration, muttered something about his soul being so beautiful, he put his hand on my arm, looked into my eyes and said, thank you so much, you have no idea how much that means to me.

and then, this was the last straw that witch further down the street, i was pretty much by myself when i talked to him for that 30 seconds.
she reaches up pulls his face down and kisses him the nerve. i was so upset. it is only now that i can realize the excitement i actually felt because she was so awful.

i went the other days to the stage door as well but only to look. i feel so silly to say anything. when i don't know him.

on the 24th i sat front row on the left where he enters up the aisle and does a good portion of his acting. down stage right that is.
i watched only his performance. an actor's greatest challenge is to live the moments completely. to listen with intent, to react within the moment, to let the character breathe through you. every moment i watched, i studied him. his breath control, his technique, the tears that stained his face, the emotion that racked my soul that held no tears. and as much as i tried so hard to only watch a performer i again was so completely pulled into brand's world. i held my breath, i hated him, i felt pity for him, and ultimately felt the salvation that he arrived at.

backstage i felt a bit awkward and uncomfortable, i had him sign the script i am doing now, and had a picture taken, but it was all very "fan" like and i don't even feel that anymore it has gone beyond into the real realm of inspiration for my art and craft. i want to work with him now. i will do, one day, perhaps.

dreams do come true. you must work at them but they do.

all in all. wonderful, overwhelming.

~puck