Medea...

Last night Stuart and I went to see the National Theatre's new production of Medea at the Olivier Theatre on London's glitzy South Bank.

Starring the wonderful Helen McCrory it's a new version of the child-murdering story by Ben Power. Carrie Cracknell's direction is top notch featuring as it does powerful performances from all the cast, hypnotic dancing by the Muses/Goddesses and haunting music composed by Will Gregory and Alison Goldfapp.

We just couldn't take our eyes off Helen McCrory for the entire 90 minutes. She was simply mesmerising as Medea, the woman scorned. If ultimately this dish of revenge is served not just cold but positively icy then it's journey from kitchen sink drama to high table is by no means a steady one. McCrory doesn't portray Medea as an out and out monster - rather a woman who is simply out of control. She is trying to take back her life. She is full of doubt and hates herself for what she means to do. But it is her only way of getting back at her husband Jason who has rejected her. And it is McCory's triumph that we sympathise with her at all.

Powerful stuff and well worth seeing.

The Last of the Haussmans...

Last night Stu, Ollie, Toby and I went to see The Last of the Haussmans at the Lyttelton Theatre part of The Royal National Theatre on London's glitzy South Bank.

The Last of the Haussmans is a new play by Stephen Beresford starring Julie Walters as the anarchic, feisty but growing old, high society drop-out Judy Haussman who holds court in her dilapidated Art Deco house on the Devon coast. Rory Kinnear and Helen McCrory play her wayward offspring.

After an operation, Judy Haussman’s joined by said offspring Nick and Libby, sharp-eyed granddaughter Summer, local doctor Peter, and Daniel, a troubled teenager who makes use of the family’s crumbling swimming pool. Together they share a few sweltering months as they alternately cling to and flee this louche and chaotic world of all-day drinking, infatuations, long-held resentments, free love and failure.

The play examines the fate of the revolutionary generation and offers a funny, touching and at times savage portrait of a family full of longing that’s losing its grip.

The three main cast were excellent. The play is a little baggy though. Maybe it'll tighten up through the run.

"The only thing to be in life is a rebel."

"Let’s show this younger generation what it’s all about! Shall we get naked?"