REVIEWS REVIEWS
Arthur Schnitzler’s original play “La Ronde“ written in 1897 as “Reigen“, meaning a dance where everyone kept changing partners, was meant for private performance thus resulting in it being closed down by the Viennese police when first performed in public in 1921. Today’s play is much more restrained and gets to the point of being slow, repetitive and boring. So what’s all the fuss about?
David Hare wanted a play that would fill the theatres and the way he aimed to do it was to take a risque play, put a well known actress in the leading role, add some near nudity with simulated sex and hope. It worked and the result called “The Blue Room“, also a song, is now touring the country pulling in predominantly young curious audiences.
Two director’s directors put their interpretation into this version though why one could not have managed is anybody’s guess for the pace is missing. Nothing seems to be said in the speeches until the Politician, played by Malcolm Scates, utters his lines half way through the performance. People jump in and out of bed showing that nothing changes. Katherine Kelly, James Garnon and Andrina Carroll take the other parts. Dawn Allsopp provided an interesting back drop, but the scene shifters should have taken choreography lessons in order to make their movements entertaining when the audience were forced to watch them move and put sheets on beds.
A play conceived in seconds, which could have been written in the same amount of time and in the end said very little. A play about sexual manners and what different people want from sexual liaisons. The audience seemed to enjoy what they were presented with, but it was made difficult by the theatre management’s aim at making as much noise as they could in the foyer at the beginning and half way through the play. They really must learn how to run two theatres at the same time in one building if they are to keep their audiences. © BA
“The Blue Room” is in repertoire at York from the 10th of October to the 15th of November, 2001.
