Just got home, it's 2.30am so I'll keep things short and I'm not thinking straight at the mo. Too much happened tonight (Fiennes related and non-Fiennes stuff) I had a great day with Katherine. And the play was great - it's nothing like what I've expected, and I reckon no one would have their expectations fulfilled.
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Ralph unfortunately has his head nearly shaved. And he wears glasses. Moustache was not that prominent to me coz I didn't wear my glasses and i don't that clearly! (I could see clearly, but not THAT clearly..) He didn't really take on the centre role in the play - even tho he's the centre chracter, he is not like in the spotlight (unlike R2 or Cori)
He was really nice when he came out of the stage door (with Tom Hollander who was in the audience). I got some pictures of him, which I'll try to upload later. He smiled quite a lot and signed for people (around 15 waited in the freezing cold for 35 mins!)
More soon!
Gigi2
Sorry
that was such a bad and short report. I've no idea what to tell everyone,
without spoiling it for those who're going! It was a good play. Staging is
fantastic(but you get bit worried for the actors!) All the actors are sooo
good in it, esp Jodhi May. Poor girl. Oh, and the naked scene rumour is untrue.
There were 'sex scenes' nothing too explicit/fleshy! I liked the second act
more the than first act. The first 15 mins of the acts felt a little bit choppy
to be - the scenes are very short, and the set was changine like every two
minutes. But that's all I can complain about it.
Will do a proper review when I have clearer head.
We met some fans while waiting for him - they're from all over the US ;) And
there were some guys waiting too. One of them mentioned The English Patient.
Bald cut wasn't *that* bad. Looked a bit like James Joyce and Ben Kingsley
in Ghandi(sp?) - you know, short hair, glasses and moustache and thin face?
They've got a gorgeous picture of him in the programme tho- with proper HAIR
CUT (not a non-hair cut)
I'll write even more when I'm more organised(ie after finishing my essays
and revisions!) and pictures too.
The changes
are extremely ambitious. Quite scary at times and everything moves... .
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There were moving staircases that can move along the width of the stage...
and sometimes the actors are walking *on* them while they move from A to B.
You can see it sort of not being very stable.. and the actors can easily trip!
Gigi
Second Viewing- December 10, 2002
Hello everyone!
I just came back from seeing Talking Cure again with Dahut and a friend who's not a fan of Ralph.
It is still as wonderful - even more so, I've to say. There are some changes with a couple of scenes. It's all improvement. Unfortunately, James Hazeldine(sp?) was off sick today - and the actor who played Otto Gross(sp?) filled him for him - so he was reading the part of Freud and playing his own part. I hope he'll get well really soon for press night is Thursday! Both Christopher Hampton(sp?) and Howard Davies were in the audience tonight.
Ralph seems to be better in the role (if that's possible for his perfect performance!) He was still playing it in the lowkey way, but he's got more of a commanding presence - a quiet and comforting one. His voice seems to be louder from the top of the gallery (where I got my day seat, not really restricted view, but will try for standing next time, it's all getting too expensive!) Or maybe it's just because I'm more familiar with the play that I was able to focus on individuals. Still, even tho I went there with the expectations of seeing Ralph act in the flesh only, the play really overwhelms me and all I saw was Jung.
Dahut and I did hang around. It was freezing. If anyone decides to hang around for him, wear LOTS of warm clothes: floor length THICK jackets, scarves, HAT(must have), gloves.. please do bring a thermos with you or anything warm! Coz that half hour is going to be intolerable if you're not warm enough!! Anyway, there were only 5 of us. He was really nice, very happy looking. I didn't take any pictures of him tho. Just said hi and got something signed(again) while Dahut was hiding behind the column or the plant or some motorbikes! He left on foot, with a friend, went up to Waterloo Bridge. Didn't follow him tho. Don't want to seem like a stalker (even tho there are buses going back home directly from there!)
Onto the
changes and other highlights.
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spoiler space.
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There was a scene where the audience was told about Jung's new born boy and
his wife's knowledge of him having an affair with someone. I seem to remember(Katherine,
correct me if I'm wrong!) it was just the two of them talking in the first
performance. Right now, they've got nurse, baby, everything. It makes it a
lot more effective.
Sex scenes seem shorter, particularly the 2nd act one!
Jung and Freud had an argument that ended their friendship and Jung said the last line from a very famous play which only has 4 words and Ralph said that line in numerous occasions (including in *that* role)
I can't think of anything at the moment. Need to get ready to sleep. I've got a French exam tomorrow which I haven't revised!! Doh!
G2
Hello
Everyone!
Happy Christmas! It's Christmas Day and I don't fancy reading anything more
about Renaissance home decoration for my presentation, hence I decide to write
about my further thoughts on Talking Cure!
Upon seeing it multiple times, I tend to expect something to happen rather
than just taking in information from the play.
The performance on Monday was much different from Saturday evening. Everyone
was more relaxed in pace - Saturday was a bit of a rush, from scene change
to the delivery - everyone was speaking a bit faster than usual! Ralph put
in a few more dramatic pauses, like at the end, when he talked about Emma
being the foundation of his house (pause), Toni being the perfume in the air
(very long pause almost 10 secs) before he talked about his love for Sabina
is the most important thing in his life. The silence was very powerful in
conveying how he was thinking about his relationship and trying to verbalise
it.
Some of the more serious scenes for me was kind of "spoilt" for
me because I noticed that the fake white beard of Freud was "falling
off". The pit bog scene has a different impression on me everytime. Ralph
played it mischevious general, but sometimes he was obviosuly teasing Freud,
sometime he was more enjoying a little malicious joke for himself. Another
notable bit in that scene is when Jung rolled his eyes at Freud's comment
of being "the least ambitious" person! This is definitely one of
my favourite scene! Another interesting thing is how Hampton put little bits
of Shakespeare quotes cleverly into the play.
Christopher Hampton was in the audience (again) on Monday night. Don't think
Howard Davies was there.
Ralph continues his good mood at the stage door, tho it took him ages to come
out (he had guests) - at least it wasn't that cold now! The headcount was
back to the normal handful (4, unlike on saturday, 10+) He had either done
lots of shopping on the day, or he got lots of presents, as he came out with
at least 10 bags! Still wearing the leather jacket!