Dear theatre friends,
The death of Sean Connery yesterday reminded me of a sighting in Edinburgh in 2006:
On a rainy afternoon, I was in a queue for the play “Black Watch,” at the new-to-me venue, Drill Hall. A tall man in a red sweater was ushered past into the theatre. When I took my seat, I saw I was diagonally behind that man, Sean Connery. Although there wasn’t any commotion around him, his very presence caused me to lose concentration during the play, which told of that legendary Scottish regiment, then recently disbanded. Did I see Mr. Connery wipe away tears several times during the astounding play? My imagination?
Luckily, “Black Watch” came to St. Ann’s in Brooklyn where I could see it again– and focus on the extraordinary bravery and comraderie described by John Tiffany’s incredible staging. The definition of great physical theatre!
Now to the plays coming online this month:
If you haven’t had your fill of stories about America’s divisions– do listen to The Public Theatre and Wooly Mammoth’s audio play, “Shipwreck,” by Anna Washburn.
Please reserve for Theatre of War U.K. on November 6th. These scenes from Sophocles are a potent echo of of today’s soldiers, veterans and their families’ stories. It features the wonderful Damian Lewis, Lesley Sharp, and Jason Isaacs.
On November 10th at 7pm, Lydia L. Diamond’s “Toni Stone” will be available as a Roundabout Reunion Reading. It was a Broadway hit in 2019; to refresh your memory, read Jesse Green’s ecstatic New York Times’ review.
You may want to read this Guardian review of the original Edinburgh production of “Until the Flood,” before you mark you calendar. Dael Orlandersmith’s heartrending play about the killing of Michael Brown, a black teenager, by a white police officer in 2014, is being presented online by Rattlestick and several partner theatres, beginning November 15th. If you’re not up to this serious issue during these tense days– the play will continue until 2023.
Finally, from London’s cozy Jermyn Street Theatre, comes a three-part series, “15 Heroines,” entitled “The War,” The Desert” and The Labyrinth.” These can be seen standalone or consecutively, from November 9th-14th. I’ve been told that 15 writers and a spectacular cast have been assembled to adapt stories inspired by women of classical myth.
Please note: I’ve never seen anything, sitting in one of only three rows in this miniscule space, that I haven’t really enjoyed. I predict the particular intimacy of Jermyn Street will be replicated if you’re sitting in a very small room when you log on!
That’s all for now!
Aren’t we fortunate to be living during this plague and not Sophocles’? Or, are you overwhelmed by choice?
Again, if you discover other theatre-related news– please get in touch: Carol@BestofEdinburgh.org.
And, need I reiterate? I’d like to continue to write because so many have expressed their enjoyment of reading– but I must have content!
Please send other theatre related information, or do try to recall a story you’d like me to post.
Carol Tambor publishes a monthly newsletter, which announces worthy shows coming to New York, along with occasional information about London theatre and, of course, the Edinburgh Fringe.