So I moseyed on down to the Barbican, collected my ticket - for a re-seat, they didn't even have an id check - and found the others, buried in the crowd of people beside the box office. And we chatted for a while, although with the crowds - including the large returns queue - it would've been far too complicated to get a drink. Even if I'd had a proper seat! Anyway, when the doors were announced open, we headed on in.
I hadn't noticed that my re-seat had moved me down two levels..! Oh, and "restricted"? Maybe the original restriction was about the surtitles. Anyway, this was a £40 ticket that I paid £16 for! ;-) Have to say, I loved my seat.. and it goes to show, again, that it's worth buying the cheap ones, sometimes.. love those upgrades. Oh, my cough, BTW - which had behaved itself for ages - flared up the minute the house lights went down! Happily, it only lasted a few minutes, then went back to sleep.
It's not terribly clear from the above picture, but those are coffins, over the far side. On the near side - obscured from where I was sitting - are mattresses, and make-up desks, with those mirrors with the strong lights. That's where the actors start off, merrily undressing and slipping into their costumes in semi-plain view. After a bit, roving cameramen appear, broadcasting close-up footage to the large, LED screen at the rear of the stage. The acting is in French, of course, surtitled in English - the only fault I found in the production is that that makes it a bit tricky to read the explanatory information that's displayed - in English - telling us who everyone is, at the start! but you tend to figure it out as you go.
It all starts out terribly elegantly, with a Dynasty-style family in evening dress, gathered to celebrate the patriarch's birthday. The various characters dress and make their way onto the main stage, where a table is laid with silverware - fortunately, shatterproof. A couple of kids are running around. The year is 1933, the location - Germany. The plot, as of now - this family is wealthy, owns a profitable steel factory, and the National Socialists have just come to power. Naturally - given what we all know was to happen - they're very interested in this profitable steel factory. However, Joachim - the head of the family - doesn't care for Hitler; this, mind you, has more to do with snobbery than anything else, given Hitler's humble background. As we have explained to us by another family member. Still, he pragmatically recognises the need for cooperation.
I'm not sure whether it's the family or the Nazis that are meant to be "the damned" of the title - certainly, it could be either. As the organiser remarked on the way home, if this were a regular soap opera, it'd be far too OTT - however, given the real-life background of what was happening on a national scale, it kind of fits. The play runs for 2 hours 10 minutes, without interval - I was a bit nervous of that at the start, but honestly, I didn't feel the time pass. Far too much is happening for that.
This kind of defies description. I've seen more disturbing material, but not much more so. This play describes the complete physical and moral disintegration of the family, in the face of what could be described as ultimate evil. The one to watch is Joachim's cross-dressing grandson, Martin, who peevishly steals the show at the birthday party - but you wouldn't believe what he becomes as the story progresses.
As we watch the power plays, wondering who will come out on top, the coffins over the side are filled, one by one - each death accompanied by a blast of the steam whistle at the front of the stage, the raising of the house lights, and a procession that leads the condemned character to his or her coffin. Once the coffin is occupied, the large screen displays footage of the terrified occupant - and an urn of ashes is emptied into the large pot at the front, near the whistle.
Throughout, the screen shows us what we should be paying attention to - sometimes, it's a close-up version of what we can see on stage, sometimes off-stage entirely. One fascinating sequence combines the onstage actors with a squadron of Nazis, only visible on screen - this, apparently, is a recreation of the Night of the Long Knives. The music, BTW, starts out as genteel classical.. as the madness progresses, we get more frequent Rammstein.
I haven't described the half of it, you know. There's nudity, there are loud noises, things in buckets are flung over the actors. The degeneration of the characters is complete, and the final scene is one of complete madness. (Contains flashing images.) I loved it! Cannot recommend it highly enough, and I joined in the standing ovation at the end - unusual to have that in the side seats of the Circle. A short run - last night was the opening night, and it ends on Tuesday. Booking recommended. Boy, am I glad I saw it.. and it provided plenty of food for discussion outside afterwards, as we tried to analyse this shocking show.
Tonight, I've booked with Spooky London for another pub night - this time it's in The Flask. However, it seems that our monthly games night is tonight - I've cancelled my RSVP with Spooky London. We shall see what happens. Mind you, someone also has his leaving drinks - who knows whether this will happen at all? I'll head off to the pub if nothing is happening by that time.
Tomorrow, thinking of film - and what's coming up is Toy Story 4! I'd be delighted with that - I really enjoy the Toy Story films, although I haven't seen the last one, now available online. That's on in the Barbican Screen 1 - and, of course, I know where that is, now! Also on nice and early, leaving me some time to finish clearing out my old room - I have to vacate it for Saturday, and in fact just got an email from the agents, detailing the charges if I don't follow all their requirements. Boy, will I be glad to end my contract with them - they're very hard-nosed.
On Saturday morning, I have to give back the key by 11.30 - or face a £30 penalty. To celebrate the end of all that kerfuffle, I have a full day planned with UITCS thereafter, in the Arcola - Radio, followed by The Glass Menagerie. Doubtless we'll grab a bite to eat in between, but haven't decided where yet.
On Sunday, back with UITCS for 549: Scots of the Spanish Civil War, at the New Diorama Theatre. Haven't been there before.
And on Monday, Helen and her husband will be in town - still have to decide on what to do that evening!
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