From Hollywood to Shaftesbury Avenue

Last night I saw Steven Berkoff's latest play "On the Waterfront". It is a little late for a review as the run ends on Saturday, however if you do read this in time; The first 10 minutes are painfully music and movement, GCSE style, but then it certainly picks up. Simon Merell as Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando in the film) is outstanding, perhaps a little bias as he is one of the most attractive actors I've seen on stage for a long time. But his scenes with Bryony Afferson as Edie are so beautifully shy. Its very different from the film but Mark Glentworth (Composer) and Mike Robertson (Lighting) do a wonderful job of giving the whole show that 1940s Hollywood feel, at times it even feels like the play is in black and white. Its a captivating play and if you're looking for something a little different then this might be just right.

This latest in screen to stage adaptations; Dirty Dancing, Brief Encounter, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Sister Act, Sunset Boulevard all spring to mind, made me think about how to produce a successful show out of a successful film. Just like page to screen adaptations, there will always be cries of "Well it can't be a good as the book/film". But can you even compare a stage play with its cinematic original? A friend of mine (the talented author of UltraCulture) and I always used to debate on what was better film or theatre, each side had good arguments; you can eat in the cinema, you can physically harass the actors you admire at the theatre (stage door of the Apollo anyone, I bet James McAvoy is having a fine old time). We finally realised that the argument was pointless as the two mediums are beyond comparison, they feed of each other certainly, inspire each other, but are so different you might as well be comparing chalk and cheese. So silver screen to shiny stage, does it work? Well with a vague and on the fence answer; Yes when the production team tries to create something new, based on something else. No when the production team tries to re-create a film shot for shot. And definitely yes when you'd forgotten all about the film, until around 905 people all hold their breath as an actors says:

"I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody."