REVIEW: Saint George and the Dragon, National Theatre ✭✭
The Dragon that the National are grabbling with is to find a hit new play on the Olivier stage. On the evidence of this, they’ll be waiting a long time for a hero to charge in.
The Dragon that the National are grabbling with is to find a hit new play on the Olivier stage. On the evidence of this, they’ll be waiting a long time for a hero to charge in.
The first production from Elliot and Harper Productions, its Marianne Elliot’s first direction since her majestic Angels in America. Although the canvas is smaller, the questions are still big.
Under Jeremy Herrin’s slick direction, Martin Freeman and Tamsin Greig are a delight, the Beatrice and Benedict of the Ballot Box.
The actors are given little to develop and work with, and, at fifty minutes, the audience were unsure of the ending- indeed, it felt that there had been very little progression.
Every molecule of the space of the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs is packed with the energy, enthusiasm, passion and commitment of the seven strong ensemble.
That aside, this production of The Weir will make you want to pour a Guinness, get close to the fire, and listen to these people tell their stories.
It’s a risk to stage a production of a much loved film, and, overall, the Wolsey manages to pull it off, although the production doesn’t quite reach the comedic highs it could have.
Stephen MacDonald’s beautifully structured play Not About Heroes, is given a fine production by Flying Bridge Theatre at this Fringe.