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re: When was the last time someone did the play?

Posted by: whereismikeyfl 05:48 pm EDT 05/09/15
In reply to: When was the last time someone did the play? - portenopete 04:36 pm EDT 05/09/15

In Britain Complicite's 1989 production was so widely acclaimed that England saw no major production since (as far as I know) and many actresses who might have played the part in the 1990s/early 2000s (like Rigg, Dench, and Smith) did not have the chance.

But maybe now that time has passed maybe will will see Kristin Scott Thomas or Harriet Walter take on the role.

Or maybe even Kathryn Hunter might revisit it since she was only 33 when who won the Olivier for playing Claire in Complicite's production.


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re: When was the last time someone did the play?

Posted by: portenopete 06:48 pm EDT 05/09/15
In reply to: re: When was the last time someone did the play? - whereismikeyfl 05:48 pm EDT 05/09/15

I have never heard of the Complicité production! Kathryn Hunter must have been extraordinary, even at 33. (Who was Anton? Simon McBurney?)


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re: When was the last time someone did the play?

Posted by: AlanScott 07:11 pm EDT 05/09/15
In reply to: re: When was the last time someone did the play? - portenopete 06:48 pm EDT 05/09/15

Yes, Simon McBurney. Link below to a cast list.

Link The Complicit Visit

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re: When was the last time someone did the play?

Posted by: AlanScott 06:05 pm EDT 05/09/15
In reply to: re: When was the last time someone did the play? - whereismikeyfl 05:48 pm EDT 05/09/15

I'm seeing the Complicite production having been in 1990-1991. Was it done outside London before it was produced at the Lyttleton?

In 1995, Terry Hands directed a Chichester production with Lauren Bacall and Joss Ackland. I suspect there were hopes of a London move, but the reviews were mediocre.

Going backwards and into other media also:

In 1981, Alexis Smith and William Hutt played it under Jean Gascon's directed at Stratford, Ont., but the reviews were not good for that production either.

In 1998, it was announced the Liz Taylor would return to acting in a television adaptation but (obviously) that never happened.

If you look up Durrenmatt on imdb, you find many television productions. As I mentioned here the other day, you can view a 1959 German television production (possibly adapted from a stage production) on youtube if you search Der Besuch der Altem Dame.

There was also the excellent 1992 Senegalese film version titled Hyenas, which I've been mentioned here before.


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re: When was the last time someone did the play?

Posted by: sf 01:14 pm EDT 05/10/15
In reply to: re: When was the last time someone did the play? - AlanScott 06:05 pm EDT 05/09/15

"In 1995, Terry Hands directed a Chichester production with Lauren Bacall and Joss Ackland. I suspect there were hopes of a London move, but the reviews were mediocre."

Justifiably. There was nothing wrong with the staging, and Ackland was very good, but Bacall sleepwalked through the performance I saw.


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Roundabout production in 1992

Posted by: Charlie_Baker 09:06 pm EDT 05/09/15
In reply to: re: When was the last time someone did the play? - AlanScott 06:05 pm EDT 05/09/15

With Jane Alexander and Harris Yulin. I didn't see it. But Frank Rich reviewed it. See link.

Link The Visit review by Frank Rich

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re: When was the last time someone did the play?

Posted by: portenopete 06:51 pm EDT 05/09/15
In reply to: re: When was the last time someone did the play? - AlanScott 06:05 pm EDT 05/09/15

Yes I knew the Bacall/Ackland and Smith/Hutt productions but missed them both. (I wonder if Maggie Smith had been envisioned at Stratford: that was just a year after she finished her five-year association?)

Speaking of Stratford, it's a shame they never programmed it for Martha Henry.


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