Play: Time Stands Still

Today - would you believe it, Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) finally had something at a time I could manage! It was another read play - this time, it was Time Stands Still, starring Laura Linney, Alicia Silverstone, and Brian D' Arcy James (all of whom I knew before), and Eric Bogosian (whom I didn't). And again, it was from TodayTix, with a minimum donation of $5. Delighted I could join them for something, for once. And it's just too bad that London Social Detours also announced another history talk today - they could have chosen yesterday, for once!

I started watching in good time - but there were no streaming issues. Certainly nothing like yesterday! I've never come across such problems before - I think they're specific to that particular film. Anyway. In this play, Laura Linney played a diehard war photojournalist, who at the start of the play is returning, seriously injured, from an assignment. Brian D' Arcy James was also a journalist, and her supportive partner. Eric Bogosian seemed to be their editor (and friend), and Alicia Silverstone was his (much younger) fiancée.

The whole screen was set inside what looks like a film reel, which was a nice touch. The performance started about three minutes in - and from the beginning, the acting was a pleasure to watch. This is the original Broadway cast, which does help - these people are very familiar with their roles.

Characters are well-fleshed out, completely believable. Alicia Silverstone, in particular, was a delight as a comic foil to the other three (the only one not involved in the business, and somewhat less well-informed) - and I was constantly watching people's facial expressions to gauge reactions: something I'm not usually close enough to do in real-life theatre! Beautifully acted, all round. I also have to give credit where it's due - the characters' interplay was flawless, despite them all having performed in different rooms; look away and you'd never know. Interrupting each other, and reacting to each others' lines, with perfect timing, on a video call is tough, especially with four involved..

The story itself concerns the problems that such a job (journalism, and particularly photojournalism) entails. Conflict between wanting to travel the world, grabbing the next big story: and staying home to have a more settled life, a family. The moral conflict over standing there, photographing disaster, rather than trying to help. The danger. The testing of relationships over long distance. All are dealt with, intelligently, over the various conversations among characters. Having said that, the story itself follows a fairly predictable path - but I enjoyed it. Run now finished, I'm afraid.

And as someone remarked in the chat afterwards, it's great to see good American theatre! There was a post-show discussion with the actors, but none of us on the call seemed to have watched much of that. As well as the play, discussion naturally turned to Covid - and to the (mixed) experiences of those present who've been out in London lately. Gotta say, I feel a lot safer here. But hey, it was great to see these folks again! Gee, it's nice to check how people are! No idea when I'll be able to join them again, but my absence is not for lack of interest.

Nothing in particular happening on Saturday - but UITCS is seeing something on Thursday that I might catch up with on Saturday, instead. Fibres is a play by Citizens Theatre, available online for free till the 23rd - the theme is the impact of asbestosis in a Glasgow community. They like you to book, and I have.