Review: The National Theatre Live

On the 13th of June, two Prague cinemas - Světozor and Aero - allowed to experience the live broadcast of a show that was performed on the stage of The National Theatre in London. 

The Audience is the new play of Peter Morgan; it is playfully and wittily written and was brilliantly performed. Helen Mirren starred in the main role and we, young actresses, could only sigh and say to ourselves: Will I ever be able to perform like that? The director Stephen Daldry skillfully worked with tempo-rhythm and although the play may  have seemed too conversational and not much dynamical, the audience was held in permanent attention from the beginning to the very end. During the broadcast, both English and Czech subtitles were provided. 

The project of live broadcasting was launched in June 2009 and the shows can be experienced in more then 500 places around the world. The next one is going to be of Shakespeare’s Othello on the 26th of September, so do not hesitate and go see it! Yes, this is a shameless propaganda, but the project is really worth it.

- Magdaléna Hniličková

Note: More information about The Audience on: www.aerofilms.cz/filmy/142-National-Theatre-Live/synopse/.

Anna: Theatre Masks and Unfulfilled Expectations.

Although a new film adaptation of the famous novel Anna Karenina was not well accepted by Russian critics, it cannot be denied that it is a remarkable cinematic piece. Joe Wright in his previous directing (especially in Atonement) proved quality in his fresh and innovative style. In connection with Tom Stoppard’s screenplay he was able to show the classical and notoriously known Russian story in an exceptional light (the race and the ball are absolutely breathtaking scenes). The metaphor of theatre as a life of high society, where everyone is hypocritically smiling, lying and always pretending, leads us in the end to realize that each one of us even today is wearing his own theatre masks; we are pretending the impossible and then weep silently behind the scenes about our small lives. But why, despite this very promising directing and script, is the film not so touching as it could be?

Quite surprisingly, if we look at the three main characters, the most interesting performance given by Jude Law (Karenin, Anna’s boring husband). He is serious and cold and yet passionate in his own way. He makes a lasting impression and you have to feel sorry for him. He is alive. Actually the audience takes his side instead of Anna’s and Vronsky’s and that appears to be counterproductive. Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Vronsky) is not bad at all, but, despite his undeniable talent, his performance does not enthuse; he seems to be too young for such a part. Keira Knightley presents some strong moments as well as some very weak. It seems that her performance is affected by trying to look beautiful, even in moments which are absolutely inappropriate for it. Anna Karenina is definitely worth seeing. The directing is gripping and very visual. One just feels sorry he was not as touched as he could have been.