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Phedre The Dukes, Lancaster
WORKING on a local newspaper rarely, if ever, affords the opportunity to review plays starring the likes of Helen Mirren.
Yet here am I, the Lancaster Guardian news editor, doing just that, having experienced a glorious production – courtesy of NT Live.
Whoever thought of this venture is a genius – beaming plays live from the National Theatre into cinemas across the globe to a potential audience of millions.
And there was something quite strange about the whole experience.
We entered The Dukes auditorium just as the audience at the National were taking their seats and before the play began were treated to a view from the South Bank across a sunny London.
Jeremy Irons, who I have seen live at the RSC in Stratford, introduced this 'experimental ' broadcast before interviewing the director, Nicholas Hytner who explained how it had all come about.
A few interviews with the cast and designer followed before it was time for curtain up.
I knew nothing about Phedre before last Thursday night – I didn't even know how to pronounce it! – but from the first few minutes I was gripped.
Essentially it centres on the unrequited, incestuous love of Phedre (Helen Mirren) for her stepson Hippolytus (Dominic Cooper) and its ultimately tragic consequences.
This version by Ted Hughes was a powerhouse of a play and performances by all the cast were superb.
The only slight distraction was that the dialogue was a little out of synch but the play was so good, I hardly noticed it after a while.
Phedre powered through two hours without an interval and then it was time for the curtain call.
And this is where it turned really weird.
We could hear the National audience applauding but what did we do, hundreds of miles away?
The majority clapped but others just sat there or started to leave.
I did applaud for this had been a magnificent night out at the theatre – with a difference – and one I'll look forward to repeating.
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Weather for Lancaster
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: -1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South east
