The National Film Theatre has let me down the last few months. I only bothered to see two films in that time, and the only retrospective of interest was that one that skimmed over Michael Caine's work. Skim being the operative word. As Caine freely admits, he chooses work on the basis of (i) how much he's paid, and (ii) where the film is shooting. Steve Martin claims that Caine accepted
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels immediately after reading the first line of the script:
1. FRANCE - EXT. DAY
Back to me, my protest against the NFT has taken the form of purchasing theatre tickets. Nine shows booked in the last ten days, and counting, although among these are chats and an orchestral performance, and most are for when I return from Australia. Last week I saw a preview performance of
The Creeper, starring
Ian Richardson, best known for playing the Machiavellian Prime Minister Francis Urqhuart in the BBC's early 90s
House of Cards trilogy. Richardson plays a wealthy mad old queen who likes to manipulate the lives of his live-in paid male companions. Sadly, the play was rather average, and shows weary signs of its 40 year age.
This evening I attended a chat at the National Theatre titled
Remembering Arthur Miller. The event was hosted by the author of a book of the same name, who knew Miller and provided some interesting anecdotes. But the stars of the night were his guests: Vanessa Redgrave and Patrick Stewart, both of whom had wonderful stories to share about their friendship and experience of working with Miller. His last play,
Resurrection Blues, opens at the Old Vic tomorrow evening, starring Neve Campbell and Matthew Modine, directed by Robert Altman. I guess that makes ten tickets.
