Television Review | National Theatre Live's 50 Years on Stage

Live from the National Theatre celebrates 50 years of beautiful theatre. This production featured a combination of the old with the new; shows from Othello to Angels in America and actors like Michael Gambon to Andrew Scott took part in this amazing production. Broadcasted live on BBC Two, Live from the National Theater is a fantastic night at the theater.

This production was a work of art in and of itself. Sir Nicholas Hytner flawlessly intertwined the old with the new. With rare clips from performances past and live performances from today, the show flowed with ease and excitement. Not only was the production outstanding, but the cast was superb as well. Live from the National Theatre starred many acclaimed actors who have worked with the National Theatre including (*deep breath*): James Corden, Judi Dench, Derek Jacobi, Maggie Smith, Simon Russell Beale, Christopher Eccleston, Rory Kinnear, Anna Maxwell Martin, Penelope Wilton, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ralph Fiennes, Helen Mirren, Roger Allam, Frances de la Tour, Alex Jennings, Adrain Lester, and Andrew Scott. Whoa!

The production was absolutely gorgeous. It featured performances from shows all performed on the National Theatre stage in the past 50 years. Not only did it feature old plays like Hamlet and new plays like War Horse, but also musicals like Guys and Dolls and A Little Night Music. Each show performed a five to ten scene starring Britain’s most prestigious actors. The pieces were enchanting, each one bringing a new energy into the theatre.

Latley, I have been so caught up in the world of cinema, watching movie after movie and television shows by the dozen, that I have forgotten my true roots. I have forgotten my love for the theatre. Live from the National Theatre brought that fiery passion back. Being in a theatre, you get to experience the thrill of a live performance; the idea that anything can happen. It’s a magical experience for the audience. You get to see the story come alive right before your eyes. You get to interact with actors; you feel as if you are there, standing beside them. Theatre is a thrill; it’s an adventure. It is something completely different anything a movie can capture.

I think a lot of people, especially in America, have this idea that theatre is for the lesser actors. That to be a theatre actor means you’re not good enough to be a Hollywood movie star. They couldn’t be more wrong. Theatre is one of the hardest jobs out there. Any average Joe can stand in front of a camera and say a few lines, but to be live on stage in front of thousands of people to perform a complex script or embrace an emotional character eight times a week is hard work. It’s extremely hard work. The theatre is where an actor truly gets to shine. It’s a magical experience for an actor getting direct feedback from their audience; they feed off the energy in the room. Each performance is different in its own way. You get to live in the moment, feel all the emotions your character feels, you get to truly become a new person. I really admire theatre actors. To have the talent and stamina to keep a performance fresh every night, and to give every performance like it’s your first is incredible. National Theatre employs only the best actors Britain has to offer. To be a part of the National Theatre means you have made it; you are a true thespian.      

The finale included Frances de la Tour in a scene from The Habit of Art. With the entire company standing behind her, she recited a monologue about the fright an actor feels, and their perpetual fear of the audience and the stage. I quite honestly had chills during this performance  The words were so profound and impactful, that you could almost feel the “fear” from the actors through the television. It was an absolutely fantastic ending to a beautiful show. During curtain call, each generation of actors were acknowledged. Although 50 years differs them, all the actors on that stage shared the same passion and devotion to their work.  Their love for the theatre was evident and inspiring.   

I think what the National Theatre does is absolutely incredible. I don’t live in London, so I don’t get to have the opportunity to see these extraordinary productions. But with the live filming of these shows, I still get the chance to experience the beautiful nature of theatre. Yes, it eliminates the main aspect of theatre, the live experience, but it gives aspiring actors and genuine lovers of the craft an opportunity to see amazing and talented actors at their best.

Photo courtesy: thconsultingdetectivesblog.com, ntlive.tumblr.com, sherlockspeare.tumblr.com, national-theatre.tumblr.com, bbc.co.uk, oliverarmy.tumblr.com, nationaltheatre.org.uk

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November Watch List

Pinch Punch First of the Month

November begins the countdown to the Doctor Who 50^th Anniversary Special! We have all been waiting very patiently since Clara’s trip into the Doctor’s time stream to find out what will happen, but I can’t wait another day! The 23^rd is just around the corner, I promise. Until then, I have compiled a list of my must watch sci-fi shows and movies to help keep your mind off the Anniversary Special. Without further ado, here is my November Watch List! 

1. Doctor Who

Doctor Who follows the adventures of the Doctor, a Time Lord, and his companions through time and space. Traveling in his TARDIS (Time and Relative Dimension in Space), the Doctor and his companions face alien foes from like the Master, the Doctor’s lethal enemy, to the Weeping Angels.  The Doctor strives to save civilizations, right wrongs, and do right by the name “Doctor”. After 50 years, the Doctor has had eleven regenerations—A process where, when mortally injured, a Time Lord reforms into a new body continuing their life cycle—and has had more than 35 companions. With 798 episodes, Doctor Who has been deemed the longest-running science fiction television show in the world.  

Why It’s A Must Watch: The Adventure

Okay, so I lied; this one will not help you keep your mind off the Anniversary Special. But instead of impatiently tapping your fingers, why don’t you relive the adventures? For old fans, revisit your favorite classic Doctor or travel time and space with Sarah Jane. For new fans, hop onto the TARDIS with Rose and Ten or Eleven and Amy and Rory. (Personally, I will be re-watching all of the Pond’s era!) Submerge yourself into time and space with whichever Doctor you please, but whatever you do, you know you are in for an amazing adventure. The thrills and chills of the Doctor’s journeys is what keep us coming back for more. So, spend the time until the 23^rd reliving your favorite adventures, and fall in love with the Doctor all over again.

Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special airs simultaneously across the world on November 23rd.  

2. Hannibal

Will Graham, an FBI special investigator, help solve crimes by placing himself within the mind of the psychopathic killers. Forced to seek psychiatric help, Will meets Hannibal Lecter, a forensic psychiatrist. What may appear to be a caring man on the outside, Hannibal soon reveals his dark, manipulative nature. Hannibal soon becomes a destructive force in Will’s life leading him not away from insanity, but towards it. WARNING: Content is graphic and unsettling.     

Why It’s A Must Watch: The Direction and Cast

What really appealed to me with Hannibal was the look of the show. I’m a visual person so I gravitate towards visually stunning work (I mean, if it doesn’t appeal on a visual level then it might as well stay a book). Hannibal definitely delivers visually. David Slade is a visionary when it comes to directing; the grit and grim is portrayed perfectly through his exquisite work. I also have to give a round of applause to the cinematographers for their amazing work. Along with the great directors of the series, the cast delivers convincing and promising performance. Mads Mikkelsen gives a chill-worthy performance as Hannibal, proving Dr. Lecter to be manipulate and disturbing out to destroy instead of heal. Hugh Dancy’s performance as Will Graham is fantastic. Will’s slow decline into insanity is played perfectly by Dancy, grasping just the right amount of “crazy” without being over the top. Hannibal proves to be a quality show for network television.

3. Orphan Black

After witnessing the suicide of a woman who looked identical to herself, Sarah Manning assumes the identity and life of the deceased Elizabeth Childs. Sarah is soon thrown into the secret, chaotic life of Childs, discovering that she and Elizabeth are more than twins, but clones. But are there more? Sarah soon finds herself in the midst of conspiracy, and must discover the mystery of her past. 

Why It’s A Must Watch: Tatiana Maslany

Tatiana Maslany stars as Sarah… And Beth… Alison, Cosima, Helena, Katja, Rachel, Sarah impersonating Beth, Helena impersonating Sarah impersonating Beth… You get the point. Maslany plays all incarnations of the clone club, giving one of the best performances in television. Each character has their own unique personality and traits. Maslany conquers each clone with perfection, at times you forget she play all the characters. Maslany proves herself to be a promising newcomer to keep an eye on.   

4. In The Flesh

The zombies have risen from the dead, and are causing havoc across England. In order to control this zombie problem, the government has arranged a rehabilitation program for PDS (Partially Deceased Syndrome) sufferers. The PDS patients are medicated and trained to return to their “normal human” state. Kieren Walker is a PDS sufferer, and isn’t exactly comfortable in his undead state. When Kieren returns home, he has to comfort a town that violently rejects the undead. Kieren must come to terms with his former life, his new state, and the events that led to his death.   

Why It’s A Must Watch: The Story

I’m not going to lie, when I first saw the trailer for this show I groaned and cried, “Zombies again!” I was quickly proven wrong. The story is simple: the undead rising from the grave. But the thought provoking nature of this show is far beyond any zombie flick.  The story is bursting with metaphors and symbolism that commentates on our real life society. The allusion to how society treats the mentally ill and homosexuals creates a program that far exceeds mindless television. In The Flesh is a stimulating show that will challenge the viewer, and allow for the rediscovery of provoking storytelling.  

5. Cloud Atlas

Cloud Atlas follows six different plotlines set up in six different eras. All the stories are interrelated and interwoven. “Cloud Atlas explores how the actions of individual lives impact one another in the past, present, and future. Action, mystery and romance weave dramatically through the story as one soul is shaped from into a hero, and an act of kindness ripples across centuries to inspire a revolution in the distant future” (cloudatlas.com).

Why It’s A Must Watch: The Concept

What’s unique about this movie is its essentially six movies in one. I love character stories, so obviously this movie was going to appeal to me. Throughout the three hour long movie, you get to experience the telling of six different character based stories. All the characters are played by the same actors, a concept that I have never seen done before. Each actor has a main character (for example, Ben Whishaw’s main character is Robert Frobisher), but they also play smaller roles in the different eras (Ben plays a cabin boy in 1849, a store clerk in 1973, Georgette in 2012, and a tribesman in 2321). The overarching theme is the connection between all their lives (“Everything is connected” is the generic tagline); hence the connected characters are played by the same actors. It’s a complex idea, but it’s so amazing when you see it played out on screen. I think Cloud Atlas is a movie far beyond its years. It has a unique point of view and complex ideas. If you enjoy the art of film making as much I do, you will not regret watching this movie. Plus, you get to play a fun game of Find the Actor while you’re watching.

Photo Courtesy: firstshowing.net, bbcamerica.com, biffmapop.com, cinemacords.com, stephsfictionwonderland.wordpress.com 

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We Need To Talk About Benedict

Happy Sunday Everyone!

Back in September I wrote a post (*cough* love letter *cough*) about my acting spirit animal, Ben Whishaw. I wanted to continue this saga of [love] posts about all my favorite actors. It’s kind of romantic when you discover an actor that inspires you. The connection between an actor and their audience is so powerful; the art of an actor can make such a profound impact on an viewer that it can change their perspective on life. I think Hollywood has lost sight of the importance of an actor. Actors get hired because they are beautiful and sexy or they have a big name. It’s hard to find an actor nowadays that has a genuine talent for this craft. Yet, these actors, to me, have talent far beyond the realms of Hollywood’s stereotypes. To me, this post’s actor is the epitome of actors. He brings back the art of storytelling, which is extremely rare in today's Hollywood.

So, we need to talk about Benedict Cumberbatch!

Sorry, ladies...

Since the release of The Fifth Estate, I have had Cumberbabe fever, and it’s not going away anytime soon. Now, I’m not here to talk about that handsome face… Or those cheekbones… Or that cheeky grin… Mmm… No, compared to contrary belief, the Cumberbum is far more than a piece of meat. Benedict’s talent is far beyond anything I’ve ever seen. He becomes a chameleon when he acts, completely loses his inhibitions, and becomes someone entirely new.  

Like many, my first encounter with Benedict was watching a little show called Sherlock. You may not have heard of it (if you have been living under a rock), but it’s a modern day retelling of Sherlock Holmes. Sherlock Holmes is one of the most iconic characters in literature, and everyone knows him as the clever, narcissistic detective who uses the art of deduction to solve crimes. Benedict portrays the customary traits of Holmes to perfection, but what really sets him apart is his modern twist to a classic character. He masters the character of Sherlock Holmes like Sherlock masters a crime scene (… Ooh, sorry. I had to do it). 

Between the mischievous glances and a hundred miles per hour dialogue, Benedict fully embraces the sociopathic qualities of Sherlock Holmes. But simply watching only allows you to see the surface of Benedict's character development. Yes, he is amusing and clever and charming and annoying, but it is when you stop and observe (“You see, but you don’t observe,” as Sherlock would say) that you can truly appreciate the extent and work Benedict puts into this role. The little glances and slight pauses add more to the character than you could ever get with just dialogue. His expressions and vocal inflections create even more layers to a character that is already complex; he creates a character that isn’t as cold hearted he wants the world to think. Benedict brings the shows brilliant script to life. He has this wonderful ability to turn a simple phrase into a phrase that is alluring and griping. 

The Sherlock fandom on Tumblr analyze about every movement Benedict makes… It’s quite impressive how much they find. Once you've seen these analyses you will never watch Sherlock the same again. May I just add, those deduction scenes are incredible... And I thought I talked fast.

Most people know the Cumberbum for his work from the past few years, but even before Sherlock, Benedict was a scene stealer. I recently watched Fortysomething, a series he was in in 2003, and even as a supporting character, I was drawn to his presence on screen. He has an easy when he acts; it’s completely effortless. It isn’t histrionic or melodramatic, but it’s natural and REAL (crazy to think an actor is supposed to make a character feel real). His comedy is naturally funny, and his dramatics never feel fake.

But for me, Benedict shines in biopics. He has played real life character like Stephen Hawking, Vincent Van Gogh, and Julian Assange. The way he imitates people and completely becomes them is unbelievable. The manipulation of his body and voice as Hawking is so realistic that you forget you're watching an actor. Benedict as Julian Assange is probably the best acting I have seen in my entire life; it was the performance of a lifetime (so far, of course). Even after watching the film for two hours, I was still caught off guard by how convincing he was. I literally gasping at the final scene because I truly thought it was Julian on screen. His technicalities are beyond anything I have ever seen. He focuses on every aspect of the person, down to their hand gestures and laugh. Imitation is an extremely hard act to conquer, yet Ben makes it look effortless. To be able to imitate that flawlessly is more than enough talent in and of itself.   

Most actors specialize in a certain genre; for example, I am great in dramas, but rubbish in comedies. But the Cumberbabe can literally do everything. He is absolutely hysterical as the nerdy team captain in Starter for 10, creating spot on comedy that left me in stitches. Yet, can give me the shivers as the “chocolate factory creep” in Atonement. He’s heart wrenching in Wreckers, and sly and compelling in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (one of my absolute favorite movies, by the way). Benedict has the ability to turn even the dullest of characters into potent and influential individuals. Benedict’s range of abilities is what sets him apart as one of the greatest actors of all time.

I really admire Benedict for immense talent. He is a hard worker, as seen by the six projects he released this year. He compels the audience; even in the background, you can’t help but to watch him. He creates characters that are dynamic with so many layers. He has a genuine love what he does, and stays humble while doing it. Overall, the Cumberbeauty is a pretty cool dude.             

Upcoming Benedict Cumberbatch projects: August: Osage County, Little Favour (now available for pre-order on iTunes), Sherlock, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, The Hobbit: There and Back Again, and The Imitation Game. The Fifth Estate and 12 Years a Slave are in cinemas now!  

Photo Credit: telegraph.co.uk, businessinsider.com, bleedingcool.net, digitalspy.co.uk, thesun.co.uk, fanpop.com, dearje.tumblr.com, benedictcumberbatch.co.uk

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Beach Day!

Happy Wednesday!

I thought I would do a little mid-week check in! How are you? Good? Great!

So a few days ago my puppy (well, she's not really a puppy anymore, but she shall still be referred to as one) and I went on a little beach day. You may be asking, "Isn't it autumn? Isn't it cold?" Well, yes it was, but autumn is my favorite time to go on the beach. I hate being hot and sticky during the summer, so the cool fall breeze makes the beach much more enjoyable. We went right after a storm so the beach had an ominous, beaten vibe to it. It's very quite and peaceful on the beach during autumn making it the the perfect time to go. Here are my favorite snaps!

Yes, my puppy does have a cheetah collar... She's fabulous! 

My absolute favorite "perfectly timed" picture!

Bat Dog: Protecting Bethany Beach from harm! 

Leave no trace, only [paw]prints!

Bye bye birds! 

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