The Red Lion...

Last night Roger and I went to see The Red Lion at the Dorfman Theatre on London's glitzy South Bank.

The roar of the crowd, the passion, the glory, the smell of the dank locker-room, the testosterone, the aggression, the corruption, the secrets, the back-room deals - and that was just in the theatre foyer (boom, boom.)

Patrick Marber's three-hander The Red Lion tells the story of small-time semi-professional grass-roots non-league football club, its staff and players. The arrival of a new young player (Calvin Demba) brings out the best and the worst in everyone - not least the wheeler-dealer manager (Daniel Mays) and long serving kit man (Peter Wight).

The locker room is lovingly realised by Anthony Ward, Patrick Marber's script is electric and Ian Rickson's production shines.

Recommended.

The Children’s Hour...

Last night Stu and I went to see Lillian Hellman's masterpiece The Children’s Hour at the Comedy Theatre in London's glitzy West End.

Directed by Ian Rickson - fresh from the theatrical triumph of Jerusalem - it is a drama set in an all-girls boarding school run by two women, Karen Wright (Keira Knightley) and Martha Dobie (Elisabeth Moss). An angry student, Mary Tilford, runs away from the school and to avoid being sent back she tells her grandmother that the two headmistresses are having a lesbian affair. The accusation proceeds to destroy the women's careers, relationships and lives.

Keira Knightley was excellent - tall, composed and beautiful. Elisabeth Moss (her off of Mad Men) was the star though - convincing, moving and compelling. She was simply brilliant. Ellen Burstyn (the mum off of The Exorcist) was also tip-top. Carol Kane as the maid and Tobias Menzies as the doctor/beau were good too. Go see.

William Wyler's 1961 film version starred Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine, and James Garner.