The Threepenny Opera at the National Theatre last night.
Cracking good fun. I'm not really familiar with the play so I can't say how it compares to other interpretations but the new adaptation really ramps up the smut, so it should appeal to a few round here. Rory Kinnear seems like a bit of an odd choice for Macheath but he's a great acting talent so is able to pull it off. His singing is a bit ropey though. Haydn Gwynne and Nick Holder were superb as the Peachums, totally playing it for maximum laughs, but also with a suitably nasty streak.
Of course, the play is really most famous for the music and that side of things was outstanding. The eight-piece orchestra were on stage throughout and integrated into several scenes and they did a fantastic job. Rory Kinnear aside, most of the singing was excellent too - George Ikediashi as the Balladeer did a wonderful rumbling bass rendition of Mack The Knife. And Rosalie Craig as Polly was almost too good - like serious opera good. Her duet with Debbie Kurup as Lucy was the standout highlight of the whole show for me.
I loved the staging too - going to town a bit with the
Verfremdungseffekt to the point where it got a bit cartoonish at times (eg Mrs Peachum luring Jenny with a tin bearing the big label "DRUGS"), but to be honest, that's very much the kind of thing that I like (not so much a fan of naturalistic theatre).
I've read a few fairly critical reviews and while I understand where they're coming from and kind of agree with some of their criticisms, I just thought it was all immensely enjoyable, and a great way to pass an evening. Possibly a bit more pantomime than serious theatre, but that's not necessarily a bad thing in my book. I'm very glad we went to see it.
So, I might have one or two slight reservations about a few elements, but on the whole, very highly recommended indeed.
Rory Kinnear also did a nice bit of ad-libbing after the interval, cracking a not too subtle gag about the fact that we'd all chosen to Remain for the second half rather than Leave, and there was one scene that took on a slightly chilling note in light of recent events when the "Patriots", all clad in St George's flags, threatened to start smashing windows if they didn't get their way.
Also great from an equal ops point of view to see
Jamie Beddard being given a prominent role in a part that isn't written as 'disabled' in the text (though his cerebral palsy is exploited to rather uncomfortable comic effect at one point).