tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200658218238769688.post8655505637460243959..comments2024-01-20T16:46:43.636+11:00Comments on Kevin Jackson's Theatre Diary: The TrialGeorge Khuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10220918958933755405noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200658218238769688.post-2445603774145470072010-10-06T10:26:25.006+11:002010-10-06T10:26:25.006+11:00Yes, Ellie, The Trial is, indeed, the last nail in...Yes, Ellie, The Trial is, indeed, the last nail in the STC coffin. But why did Malthouse produce this mess of a script in the first place? Did STC's ADs see this mess of a production, devoid of imagination, before they scheduled it? Fox and Lutton have not dramatised Kafka's The Trial. They have TOLD us what they think about it. Both script and production have totally missed the sardonic humour and the agonising pain and the vivid imagination of the original. Despite a few seasoned actors, it felt like amateur theatre to me. The night I was there, the audience couldn't get out of the theatre quickly enough. <br /><br />May BelleMay Bellenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200658218238769688.post-61432557781596994192010-10-02T17:31:09.712+10:002010-10-02T17:31:09.712+10:00I think the best way to describe "The Trial&q...I think the best way to describe "The Trial" is, "utterly excruciating". Or maybe, “awful, tedious and in no way even remotely entertaining”. If I had been sitting nearer to the door or Aisle, I wouldn't have lasted 10 minutes. <br /><br />The name "The Trial" is decidedly apt. It's an endurance test that makes you feel like you're being punished for something. You can't even close your eyes and try to shut it out, due to the persistently loud, jolting and irritating sound effects. When the lead actor said at one point "How much time has passed?" all I could think of was " feels like weeks". <br /><br />There certainly isn't any plot to speak of. And the message, of the battle between the law/authority and human sexual desire, that the reviewer picked up on, certainly didn't come through for me (that might have made this play marginally bearable). <br /><br />I've been a season subscriber to the Sydney Theatre Company for the last 5 years. Each year we can stomach less and less of their plays. Good plays have been few and far between, and have become even more rare with the involvement of Kate & Andrew (they seem to be picking plays to indulge the performance-art-aspiring actors, without a thought for the audience or for what might be interesting to watch). <br /><br />This one has been the final nail in the coffin for me, as far as keeping up my subscription to the STC, I'm not wasting any more of my time & money.Ellienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200658218238769688.post-75604733223181922832010-10-01T09:16:57.675+10:002010-10-01T09:16:57.675+10:00This was one of these productions that left me wit...This was one of these productions that left me with that awful feeling... "am I just not smart enough for theatre?"<br /><br />No wonder theatre struggles - who is going to want to pay to see something that makes no sense, makes you feel stupid, and leaves us (as Kevin points out) looking at our watches to pass the time?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200658218238769688.post-89537543036145957242010-09-30T01:09:09.241+10:002010-09-30T01:09:09.241+10:00Is it a coincidence that neither Mr Andrews nor Mr...Is it a coincidence that neither Mr Andrews nor Mr Lutton is an actor? (nor Mr Kosky, to whom I guess both of these directors are indebted; he who has much to answer for)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com