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Claire G's Brand New Experience, August 1 and 2

Hi all,

I'm back from London and it's back to reality!
I can say I've lived in a dream Friday and Saturday!
Like so many of you , I also went to see Brand and had the pleasure of meeting the cutest man on the planet ... Ralph.

Here's my story ... i'll try to squeeze in as much as i can without (i hope) boring you...:

So it all started on Friday evening ... we arrived in London at about 4pm... checked in our hotel.
After we got rid of all our bags we decided to check out the backstage area of the Haymarket theatre... easy to find!
We got a coffee... which i was too nervous to drink and "willingly" gave it away to a homeless man... maybe because of that I got rewarded ....
I had front row tickets and oh my..... don't think i could have had better seats.... everybody was so close that it felt like you're in the play yourself... just like those IMAX movies....
The play was really really good and everybody gave an excellent performance. It was over so fast! I couldn't believe that a 3 hour long play would be finished that quick!
After the show we took this stalls exit that brings you right next to the stage door.
I think there were about 15 to 20 people. Not that bad. I was very nervous... i was shaking from the play and now the shaking got a boost cos i was going to meet the man!!!
My hands were trembling. We first managed to get a few autographs of the other actors. They were all so nice!!
After about 20 minutes , Ralph came out!
Oh my god!!! He looked so cute... when he came out he saw that there were a few people so he put his bag back in the hall and started signing. I couldn't believe he was so close to me. Everybody seemed very relaxed and there was no pushing, no shouting... a nice little bunch of people that were there for the same reason.
One girl asked him to pose for a picture but he said that we could all take pictures but that he wouldn't be posing individually... fair enough! Because he always looks so serious, I asked him: Could you give us a smile than?
He looked at me and said: "I'll try"... and continued signing.... with a big smile on his face. We congratulated him for his excellent performance and he thanked us for it.
He signed the picture i had of him with : Claire, best wishes, Ralph Fiennes.
He also signed my friend's picture with her name.
I couldn't believe he was nice. I think maybe it was because everybody was waiting patiently. Before he went off, he asked if everybody had an autograph! Looked like everybody was satisfied and then he left. My friend and myself hung around and he waved at us from the car...
This was (to us) surreal... he waved at us! Our day couldn't have been better. We were too excited to go back to the hotel!

Saturday.... noon.... hmmm wondering what we were going to do... no point in doing sightseeing as we've been to London before....
Thinking.... maybe we should go to the matinee performance... but was our budget going to allow us?
We went to a ticket booth where you can get half price ticket. Since we were on the front row the night before , we didn't really want to have any other seat.
This lady told us we could get tickets for about 25 pounds , seated at the back... than we asked her if she had anything more to the front. She said yes but we would need to pay the top price for that; I told my friend i couldn't afford it (and it's true) but said that maybe we should check out the box office at the theatre itself.
Arriving at the box office, there was this young guy at the desk.... we asked is there were any tickets left. He said yes... I think he could see our eyes sparkling with joy.... now the most important question... how much are they going for...he asked us if we were students... since we're good girls , we were being honest and said no.
He said , well if you were students , we can sell tickets at half price. He told us what he had available... we asked if he had any front row tickets left , he checked his computer and.... he had.... again the issue of 'how much' was raised. All of a sudden he tells us , well let's pretend that you are students.... We bought front row tickets for half price... i think we were ready to kiss this guy's feet!!!!
OK... so what to do in the hour that was left... we hung out backstage to see if we could meet some of the other actors. We did and they were all so nice. We told them we saw them the night before and that we were going to be in at 2 as well. They seemed surprised.
No sign of Ralph but that was ok. We already had more than we expected!
2pm... play starts.... 3 hours later... finished again! Some of the actors , so did Ralph, and smiled at us! Again another great performance ... and it belonged to the past.
Since we had to leave on Sunday and won't make it back to london for a while , we decided to go backstage again in the evening.

We saw a few of the others again and they said hello. Allistair even said to us: "See you tomorrow"... while they aren't playing on Sunday...
The crowd was a lot bigger than Friday night and also a bit noisier. Especially this one girl. I don't want to critize anybody but she was quite annoying; She was very loud and was kindda pushing everybody around. I told my friend that Ralph probably wouldn't like this and I realised we wouldn't get what we had on Friday.
While we were waiting , i saw a man coming up to us who looked familiar... it was Willem Dafoe!!!! I told my friend; It's Willem Dafoe... the annoying lady heard this and stormed towards him. Don't think he really liked it. We kindly asked him to sign or program and he said it wasn't a problem at all! Such a nice guy as well!
There we were... got a bonus and now again waiting in agony for Ralph to come out. The lady blocked the door so she would be the first one to get an autograph.
She ripped off a flower of the plants that were outside the theatre. I think a few people realised she was not doing handling it right. She was also very rude.
ralph came out and she immediately said: Sign. Put date. She wanted to give him a kiss but he said he "doesn't do that" but she gave him the flower she took and kissed him anyway. She kind of cornerned me i was against the fence right next to him...... ... but i didn't mind ... he recognised me and kind of looked at me trying to say ..;what is this woman doing"... This was even better than the autograph cos it felt like he knew me... that gave me a nice feeling.
I think he was put off by her as he just signed a few autographs while making his way to his car. I had one more picutre left on my film roll so i kindly asked him if he could look into my camera and he said of course... so there i was with most handsome man on the planet staring into my camera for a minut and my camera does not work!
Wouldn't you just kill somebody? I told him, it wasn't working and he jokingly said ..."well it's too late now". I didn't mind actually.
Then he went to his car and he kindda got stuck in the street. Cars were parked on both sides and his driver couldn't get out. So my friend and a few other people "escorted" him out while he was making faces to me 'complaining' about his driver.
He got out and the next morning my dream was over. However, a dream that happend and one that i'll never forget!

This is my story! Hope i didn't bore you as i realise it is very long... i have a few nice pictures i 'll try to scan them and post them in this forum... if you could tell me how it's done!

Gigi 2's Last Brand Performance Review
hello everyone.
went to the last night of brand with my friend and other lovely fiennes forumers. (i think she's being converted ) it's really nice to see gigi the first , stella, michele, maxine and corinna again (sorry i got quite mixed up with names) and evelyn and maxine's friend from pushkin thing! and the huge fans from japan whom i met during talking cure... and jane!
it's a great night... the whole play was exceptionally highly charged with emotions - all the female characters quite lost their control of tears - it's flowing everywhere! quite a few times agnes was sobbing so hard that it distorted her voice a bit - or have to control it before saying her lines. mother brand was crying exceptionally hard as well. i think brand shed a few tears as well, it might be sweat tho. i'm not too sure. i'm on upper circle (with my binoculars - what a well prepared nerd)
i don't have a lot to say about last night performance.. it took me quite a while to get into the action as what happened before that totally blew my mind (ie hopping down the stairs to the main bar to find everyone and the first person i saw was kevin spacey - i'm still surprised that i didn't trip and fall flat on my face, then when i turned round and spotted others... edward norton appeared in front of me... sorry for being a bit weird last night - the shock has yet to wear off)
right... about brand on 21/8 i wrote quite a bit while in the theatre so i'm typing it out.....
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it's been exceptionally good tonight - lots of energy. brand was borderline manic/fanatic in his fervour. he's got much longer hair and a beardy stubble which reminds me of hamlet (i never saw) and sunshine...
the plays feels so different tonihgt.. it's like i've never seen it before... the lines bear a different meaning... they seem to convey more... the first time seeing brand.. the part about half-heartedness and compromise really strikes me... then last week (12 august) it was to will martyrdom...
another change of heart (of mine) is i finally agree that brand is quite tragic... he was quite spidery tonight.
enjar still surprises me... the lighting here does not allow the skeleton look after the church was built, but he's so full of energy in every scene and so very natural.
stage door was a great anti-climax. too many people. not much worth mentioning!
sorry that this is crappily typed and not very detailed... my thoughts on thursday was mainly along the line how good ralph was... and reminisicing stratford and what an anti-climax it was at the stage door.

gigi 2 x

Jane's Brand Thoughts, Aug 31, 2003

Today is day 1 of life after Brand! Not so bad really, but I like other Forumers was a bit disgusted with the behaviour of some so-called 'fans': he was absolutely beseiged! Corinna remarked on the silence as RF signed things over in the mob seemingly without a word from anyone: I said it was because they were 'eating' him! I just felt he was being devoured. Fortunately he has enough stamina & humour to have the last 'laugh' as it were, ie the wave fr the car!
Now to the play! It IS a stunning play, so challenging, & demanding full concentration all the time. Did anyone notice that the end has been slightly changed? Brand is submerged under the avalanche, just as the voice from heaven declares that "He (God) is the God of Love", & Brand used to be crouched down totally broken & desolate. But recently RF has been standing upright at the end, with his arms & hands outstretched towards heaven, crying "He is the God of LOVE!" - it's VERY powerful, even more than it used to be. And the sound of the avalanche is so penetrating that it almost gets inside one's ribcage - strange!
I think everyone has done remarkably well, not only to get this production onto the West End stage, which is a feat of huge proportions in the first place, because not exactly potentially commercially great. But to make a success of it, is even more remarkable. People will have been touched by the play & the acting, who went to it just to go to a play!

It was great to meet Forumers, & lookg forward to the next occasion! Sorry to those on the ledge, but hope our descriptions will bring something of the experience to you, even if 2nd hand. Jane

Maxine's Report of the Last Night

just returned from Brand. back stage manic!

Ladies i have just returned from meeting the wonderful ladies of the forum and we had a very manic night! People literaly chased Mr Fiennes down the road! It was horrendous!
He could not respond to anybody properly just wanted to get to his taxi parked around the corner. One woman hugged him as he was walking away as thoguh she knew him! how dare she huh!
Anyway more for you tomorrow. [about play and meeting the ladies. Gigi one and two,michelle [sugar] Stella,Evelyn and Han [who i met 4 year ago in pushkin poetry stint] gig's friend [so sweet too]
To sum up the night for us all i think i can safely say it was a and a LOL

Brand was played briliantly by all but Ralph looked very weary and his eye was sore at the beginning from the smoke machine [eerie atmoshpere affect]. Anyway it is on oclock and i will probably ramble and not make much sense so i will say night night and look forward to hearing and seeing from the other ladies. it was lovley to meet them. Love Maxinexx

Btw i have 4 programmes spare i will send to the first people who reponded before i went and then anybody else if there is any spare. xx sorry no autographs on them...just impossible tonight kev spacey David blain and Ed norton were there.

Clifton's Lucky Moment

Hi dears, it's my first time here. Happy to have found you. I send you best wishes from Berlin. When I read the posting about Brand's last night I decided to write something about MY last night, 2 weeks ago. It was the second time for me to see Brand and RF afterwards. It was just as you've described it. Signing with hardly any words or smile. The first time I thought it was because Kevin Kline had been with him. But last Friday it was quite clear: he just wanted to leave. I understand him very well. Brand must be so hard to play.
But as I had come all the long way from Berlin I was quite sure: I will get a dedicated signature on my moleskine travelling book.
And: Be prepared for a really thrilling & magic moment!

He took the book, listened to my name (Katherine), started to write, stopped, looked me in the eyes and said with a mixture of soft and rough tunes: Is it with a "K"? Well. I'm too familiar with "The English Patient" not to be immedeatly overwhelmed with passion.(You remember the "Am I the K in your book"-scene? Of course.) I couldn't answer. He asked me - really softly this time. "Katherine - with a 'K'?" I just nodded. So he wrote "Katherine", put an X under it and signed it.
That's it.


Corinna's Brand Adventure

OK, hi everyone, at last I've made it back from London etc. and have slept enough hours to keep me awake to write this.
I'm sorry this comes so late, because I know in my case you think something is finished and realise its time to get your mind off it, and then addiction starts through again by catching new glimpses off it. But then it's a nice kind of addiction and I am still on a high about all of this.
Also to clarify, I have now also registered on this new forum, and could only make it too the slightly ressembling crinne, instead of Corinna in the old forum. So I'll hope I'll be recognised.

So Brand, there is so much to say and as well there has been said quite a lot about it, but still I feel overwhelmed by it, absolutely swamped and do have difficulty expressing what I saw.
I'll start with general stuff & stage door and write about the play itself later on.

On my first night which was the penultimate night I got a rather good seat (restricted view) in the upper circles, which was good for watching as you could lean over the balustrade. However on a bad note I nearly got blown away by the air conditioning. In the first half I was already getting cold, but at the end of the second half, I felt really grippy and cold. All the peolpe in our row were twitching at there pullovers , jackets, and I just got so cold it actually got hard to concentrate. Additionally there was a lot of rustling and shuffling in the audience. Like after the first act they let latecomers join in, there were about 20 people, the same after the break, things like that really annoy me, as I think it is so disrespectful. Apart from these put-offers the play still impressed me very much and it was brilliantly done.

After the play I went down to the stage door, took a while for me to find. I hoped to find other forum people, but gave up hope pretty soon, as there were just too many people I would have needed to ask. So I just stood and waited and chatted along with some Italian people.
Then Ralph appeared and people exploded around him. They were pushing there programmes in his face and he just kept on signing and signing. There was this pack of people shuffling around him, and other people standing a bit further away. I wasn't willing to be part of the frenzy, so I just thought I'll wait with the other people, as I imagined they would be waiting for the frenzy to die down as well and then ask for a signature.
Whilst he was signing he was trying to check for his driver possibly, like he was searching behind the crowd with his eyes. After signing for some time, people were edging off, so I thought this is my go. But alas, he was on the verge of moving on as well. There were still fans wanting photos, and of course the camera didn't work (weird isn't it?) and then he sort of went inside again and asked where Anthony was (driver?) So he was really wanting to go. He came out again, and then he said to the three Spanish fans trying to get the camera work: This is your last chance. By that time I stood pretty near to the door, and just thought ok, this was it. He sort of started walking then and then I thought now or never and I just asked, if he could still give me a signature. He looked at me, and I felt a bit bad, because sometimes I get these huge pleading eyes on my face, that makes it hard to say no, so I think they must have been as big as the moon. And then he said: You'll have to walk with me.
I just remember thinking, hey, that's no problem with me. I know it wasn't meant to be special or anything, but standing on its own I still find this sentence really beautiful. But as I was to find out it was differently then I had imagined, like walking next to him and talking . But instead he took my programme and pen and started walking and immediately like water everyone engulfed him and I really had problems staying near him, so actually I felt pretty stupid trailing behind. He then looked round his left side, then right side, and I thought all right, he wants to give me back my programme, so I said: I'm here. Which I find is actually rather funny in retrospect: walking behind Ralph Fiennes and saying: I'm here. I'm sorry guys.
Well he went on further and then I was able to get nearly next to him, so he sort of turned round again and handed me back my programme. It was all so quickly done, and so many people around that I don't even know if my thanx a lot reached him. Well he raced down the street to his car and I didn't want to linger around so I got going, not without looking back.

On the second night I again opted for upper circle and restricted view but was careful to choose a different place. This time the air conditioning was still blowing but it was all right. As well, the audience was very alert and not shuffling around. Even so, the army of Russia could have marched past me this time, I wouldn't have minded. I must say this time I nearly fell
off the seat because I was so mesmerised, so in trance. The play was a miracle. And I can't imagine it to have been even better as Gigi said it was in Stratford. It was like a puzzle where every piece was right and in its place. The set, the music, the costumes, the play, the directing, the other actors, Ralph Fiennes: everything and one was strung up on one line and giving its best. I think it is up to date the best play I have ever seen, and I have seen quite a lot (Redgrave sisters in the Three sisters etc.). It all added up to another, yeah this play really blew me away.
Maybe it was only possible for me to see it this way, because I had my Oh-there-is-Ralph-and-isn't-he-gorgeous-moment the night before and I was free to watch and see it all.

I have to say that this time by coincidence I actually did meet other forumites. I queued for the toilet and overheard forum people's names so I found that I was standing behind Stella and Sugarpaste. So that was really nice, and I met the whole lot at the stage door entrance later on. Gigi was there, and Maxine, Jane, Gigi's Japanese friends, Gigi H. It was great meeting everyone and being able to exchange one's admiration, to not have it wondered at. I did feel that I was not that "known", which is probably for my not writing that much, which is strange when for oneself you think you know the other people. It's just that I have to work and study a lot (and just am very engaged) and do not have internet access at home (a wise precaution for me) that I maybe do not write that much. But it was really lovely talking and charing with everyone.

So we were standing there at the stage door. A huge bundle of flowers appeared and walked past and was actually Edward Norton. Again after some time Ralph appeared and the peolpe went mad. What really struck me was how quiet it was. Jane has mentioned this already. It was so quiet, like noboby was speaking everyone was just thrusting whatever it was under Ralph's nose and he was signing and signing. He soon began to march down the street with everyone trailing next to him, behind him, in front of him. From the "outside" you could see women grabbing him, having their hands all over him, and he just kept on signing and signing until we got to the front of the theatre where the car was parked (with the flower bundle inside). He got in, but apparently opened the door himself again (as their was congestion and the car couldn't drive) and let women kiss him, or he was asked to kiss them, I don't know. But then the car got going and it drove way, only for him, to again open the door and wave and smile back in a very friendly way.
I have been really thinking about if Ralph liked it or not. I mean why should he else have opened his door? His behaviour is a bit dialectic, maybe he felt safe in the car. But the whole time the fans were groping at him I just thought, where's your bodyguard?

The play itself is very interesting and as I think bears very much up to date questions. On the first night I thought it very religious in a sense Brand is a priest and it's about his commitment. And I'm not a religious person so that was also why I didn't feel too inclined to the play. But on the second night I didn't think that at all that it's a religious play, it really is about commitment really, about giving all or nothing.
The play works with a lot of allegories, like there is the allegory of the hawk. (which on a different note is interesting because in an interview between Miranda Richardson and Ralph Fiennes they were talking about her love for hawks)
The play begins with the hunting of the hawk, and ends with the shooting of it. In the play it appears when Brand is near to give up sacrificing all, succumbing to himself and the hawk is ready to grope him once he's given up. But the hawk is really a allegory for freedom, nature, an animal not meant to be tamed. So really to shoot the hawk is the wrong thing. And in the end the hawk is shot, so really what Brand meant to do is not achieved. In Brands aim to keep his authenticity he really loses sight of it.
The play is so rich. I see the question about who is the "better" Christian: he who sins, or he who keeps the law? But Brand is always one step further: he even surpasses Christ (and bears Christ's marks in the end), he says something like: the greatest victory is to lose, to be defeated. But nevertheless the hawk is shot, which means by trying to surpass nature, and being actually inhumanely human, he has to recognise that he fails. In the church of ice, Brand calls (don't remember exact words): how can I reach you (meaning God), and the words are spoken: He is the God of love.
It's a beautiful play, so rich, it stays with you.

The last thing I have thought about is what I would have wanted to say to Ralph. I felt the need to say something, but couldn't express it (and of course didn't have the chance), but I also didn't know what it exactly it was. I remember Puck saying these wonderful words, and I'm so grateful that she said them: You have a beautiful soul.
My words if I had known them then would have been in the same direction. Like: When I see you acting I see beauty. And: To see you act, is to understand acting (not in the logical technical sense of it, but like seeing the whole picture). So these will be my closing words of Brand. Except only for these:
On the last night, Ralph and cast were bowing and right at the end, Ralph jumped into the air and laughed, which was really funny, like he was really pleased and happy.

It was when Ralph drove away in the car, and waved back, that I thought how long will it be till we can see him again? We really had a great year of treats!

All in all I had a wonderful trip that will be long remembered. Apart from Brand I also saw David Gray in Concert on Trafalgar Square (standing on the railings as it was fenced in) I was a member of a three people piggy back stunt, I met wonderful people from all over the world, I met lovely forumites and was happy to meet Gigi and her lovely friends, I was kissed, hugged, & shouted at, I laughed my head off, but also cried, I watched people dancing on tables where I preferred to dance on the ground, it was a great trip and I just hope you liked reading this.
Hope to see you again soon.

Sugar's Last Report, Aug 31, 2003

firstly had a great time meeting everyone .Friday night did stage door but stayed back away from the crowd(about 50) and just watched from afar...the driver came for him and parked on the street,but decided to move back and park around the corner,when ralph came out he was slightly trapped and i could see him keep looking above peoples heads to see if the driver was there,eventually he started walking off towards the car after realising it was down the street and of course everyone followed...the thing was the driver was still stood nr stage door still LOL! so a guy had to come and get him to say they were waiting by the car.
Saturday...went for a drink in the bar area before the play..kevin spacey was there etc as you already know,that was quite exciting.The play itself,we were sat second row
Ralph was much more relaxed ,but seemed more angry and powerful in parts than i had seen all the times before...he was giving it his all for the last night I think.
as we got to the part were brands mother appears...someone started snoring really loud behind us and we all turned around to see a chinese man fast asleep...well we just started laughing,the actors must have heard him....he must have been nudged then as he stopped...but few minutes later he was snoring again...it was hilarious,i had a fit of the giggles and really had to concentrate to compose myself!

I left a gift for ralph at stage door before the play (about 6.30)...the only thing i wanted to ask him at stage door was did he get my gift.....as you have heard there were just hoards of people about 70,it was mayhem,kevin spacey came out with edward norton,hiding behind a big bouquet of Flowers,they were spotted and some of the people started chasing them down the street,then ralph appeared and he was just swamped..(also franny came out betwwen them and I missed her,i so wanted to see her too ).There were lots of people with pics to sign(you know the sort i mean) got a couple of pics,but there were too many people...so he is signing but not speaking or looking at anyone and proceeds to walk down the street and that was it everyone followed and he just kept signing,without expression or anything,like a robot.I walked further in front of him and could see,people pushing and pulling him and he just didnt flinch,it was unbelievable,people shouting,screaming.I waiting right on the corner and he looked at me as he got there and I went close to him and asked him TWICE politely if he had got my gift and he just ignored me and carried on walking,stilll being trailed by hoards of mad people..so he walked form the stage door right round to the front of the theatre were the car was waiting for him and everyone followed him right to the car..of course it couldnt pull away cos of the traffic,but women were screaming and he opened the door again and stuck his hand out and waved and that was it
All the forum ladies were very well behaved,we all backed off right away and just watched the madness taking place....I was very dissapointed....but he must have decided to do this..to walk all the way round to the front and not talk to anyone and just let everyone do there thing...thinking about it now anything could have happened to him all alone amongst a crowd like that!!..he relished it i think,but then again was he thinking
We planned badly!!

Josefina Witnesses the Madness

I also witnessed the madness after the play, and I felt bad for Ralph. I realised pretty quickly that I had no chance of getting an autograph, so I gave up and walked on ahead. When I turned round I was shocked to see this massive crowd behind me, and I could see RF still signing and walking, and when he finally got into his car, as already mentioned before, the car was stuck while traffic was waiting for lights to change. I saw him open the car door, and some fans were asking to kiss him on the cheek, and he seemed quite happy to let at least 3 do this!! So I'm sure he couldn't have been in a bad mood, he also waved as the car pulled away.

It looked like it was impossible to speak to him, and he knows what would happen, everyone would fire questions and requests at him at the same time, and it would'nt be possible to answer to them all, so it's easier to not say anything.

Let's hope in the future, the crowds will not be so large at the stage door, it probable depends on the time of year, and the last days of the play being busier. At least Ralph faces up to his fans, and doesn't try to hide behind a bunch of flowers like a certain other actor......

Good luck to all forumers in the future!

Sorry, I forgot to mention that he seemed to have what looked like 2 presents (like books wrapped in paper) under his arm.
(I don't know if anybody else noticed?) Maybe one of them was Sugars? I feel bad for you Sugar, but I wouldn't take it to heart, it was an extremely stressful situation, if there hadn't been SO may people I'm sure things would have been different.

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