A Brit a Day [#1191]

I'm going to see this in the cinema here in San Diego on October 17th!

A Brit a Day [#1141]

Today's choices were inspired by this picture I recently found by Edward Steichen of dancer Isadora Duncan.

We consider Ms. Duncan an honorary Brit because she had children with legendary set designer Gordon Craig.

He looks very tame here, but Gordon Craig was a visionary who was way before his time, working in a medium that was far from being able to realize his designs. My god, the things these people did before we had modern lighting and contemporary theatre technology.

A Brit a Day [#1052]

It is about time that Alan Rickman should come back to the US to do some live theatre.

A Brit a Day [#1029]

This picture is my wallpaper.  That's Tom Hiddleston playing Lvov in Chekhov's 'Ivanov'--Tom is the tall one in wire-rims--and he is a lovely edition to an equally breathtaking set.  I mean it, I've been staring at this picture with so much professional envy, and not just because Tom is in it.  That play of light on surfaces, interaction of bodies and space, it's every set designer's dream.  And even if you are lucky enough to bring all of that together, you have no idea how hard it is to get a good photograph of it.

A Brit a Day [#1016]

Watch Henry IV & V with Jeremy Irons on PBS. See more from Shakespeare Uncovered.

My local PBS aired this episode of 'Shakespeare Uncovered' last night. I gather that he's a bit of a pain sometimes, but Jeremy Irons won himself the spot as today's Brit because I enjoyed the show so much.

A Brit a Day [#990]

Jeremy Irons is in the Monday slot today because, with the advent of the new year, my hopes are renewed that 'The Hollow Crown' might actually air in the US in 2013.  PBS's 'Great Performances' has the 4 episodes listed in its current season as 'TBD.'  Whatever that means.  The dream of actual high quality Shakespeare being televised in America begins to become reality as some PBS stations are scheduling episodes of 'Shakespeare Uncovered' beginning this Friday, including the one hosted by Jeremy Irons on the Henries IV and V. [But so far not MY PBS station of course.  Of course.]

A Brit a Day [#843]

Matt Smith, uncharacteristically restrained.

Looking at this wonderful headshot, it's hard for me to process that I have pictures of him [from a theatrical production] wearing women's undergarments.

A Brit a Day [#816]

...and we're back!

It has been a memorable week: All of the color and whimsy of Anime Expo interwoven with fleeting glimpses of the X Games...a day at LACMA with my daughter...but the most vivid memory is that of seeing 'War Horse' on stage.  It was just as amazing as you would imagine a production with life-size anatomical puppets of horses to be.  And given all that, it is probably a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

I would love to see Henry Ian Cusick in WWI officer's attire [a look that certainly works for every man I've ever seen in it].  I have read a fantastic, sweeping fan-fic that put most of the characters from LOST in the trenches, but as of today, this is as close as I can get with a picture.  We do love our RoyalScot!Des, though.

A Brit a Day [#815]

My friend Mianne found this lovely photo of Henry Ian Cusick as Cassio in the Royal Shakespeare Company's 2000 production of 'Othello'.  Yes, I know you can't really see his face, but who's going to complain about seeing a man in vintage uniform from this angle?

Ok, bye, I'm off to Anime Expo in LA with my daughter.  See you next week!

A Brit a Day [#654]

Matt Smith played the troubled son in this production of 'That Face' [with Lindsay Duncan, right].  I think he came off looking remarkably like Juliet Stevenson.

A Brit a Day [#623]

My friend Donna and I received a joint-custody gift from a friend who saw Dan Radcliffe in 'How to Succeed...' on Broadway--the original cast recording CD.  It's my turn to have the CD, and I can't wait to hear it.  I haven't seen 'How to Succeed...' since high school, and it was a high school production.  Donna suggests the next musical outing for Dan should be a 'Guys and Dolls' revival with Rupert and Emma!

A Brit a Day [#589]

I've been a fan of Harold Pinter's plays since I designed sets for a couple of them at a Pinter festival in the 80's. A forgotten Pinter piece has recently resurfaced, and it is brief enough that I could post it in its entirety here.  The timeliness of this short play from 1960, in light of the current uprising of the 99%, is uncanny.  As usual, I can't resist casting it for your enhanced enjoyment.  Here is "Umbrellas" with Benedict Cumberbatch in the role of A and Matt Smith in the roll of B--

Two gentlemen in deckchairs on the terrace of a large hotel. Wearing shorts and sunglasses. Sunbathing. They do not move throughout the exchange

 A: The weather's too much for me today.

 PAUSE

 B: Well, you're damn lucky you've got your umbrella.

 A: I'm never without it, old boy.

 PAUSE

 B: I think I'd do well to follow your example.

 A: Yes, you would. Means the world to me. I never find myself at a loss. You understand what I mean?

 B: You're a shrewd fellow, I'll say that for you.

 PAUSE

 A: My house is full of umbrellas.

 B: You can't have too many.

 A: You've never said a truer word, old boy.

 PAUSE

 B: I haven't got one to bless myself with.

 PAUSE

 A: Well, I can forsee [sic] a time you'll regret it.

 B: I think the time's come, old boy.

 A: You can't be too careful, old boy.

 PAUSE

 B: Well, you've got your feet firmly planted on the earth, there's no doubt about that.

 PAUSE

 A: I certainly feel secure, old boy.

 B: Yes, you know where you stand, all right. You can't take that away from you.

 PAUSE

 A: You'll find they're a true friend to you, umbrellas.

 PAUSE

 B: Maybe I'll buy one.

 PAUSE

 A: Don't come to me. It would be like tearing my heart out, to part with any of mine.

 PAUSE

 B: You find them handy, eh?

 PAUSE

 A: Yes ... Oh, yes. When it's raining, particularly.

 Blackout

 © The estate of Harold Pinter 2011

A Brit a Day [#552]

Dan Radcliffe, with the best haircut ever.

I'm not a huge fan of Youtube videos over a few minutes in length, but this one is really charming--and it caught my eye that Alan Rickman and Jarvis Cocker appear in the teaser frame.

A Brit a Day [#528]

Today's post celebrates Brit comedian Eddy Izzard. He recently did a star turn before the kiddy set as the voice of Sir Miles Axelrod in the movie 'Cars 2.' Surprised? He's also done Mamet in the West End.

A Brit a Day [#439]

A lovely image for a day in May--Alan Rickman dancing. I first saw this artful photo adaptation on a website called The Rickmanista Review. It was a terrific fansite, but it hasn't been updated since 2005. I think the original picture was from a play called 'Tango at the End of Winter.'

A Brit a Day [#432]

A frosty photo provided in preparation for the opening of 'John Gabriel Borkman' at BAM last winter, Fiona Shaw, Alan Rickman, and Lindsey Duncan are shown not in the period costume of the play.

A Brit a Day [#407]

Above, a lovely shot of Dan Radcliffe I've been holding on to for a special occasion, for example a Broadway opening.

Here is the link to the New York Times review of "How to Succeed...," which opened 3/27.

http://theater.nytimes.com/2011/03/28/theater/reviews/how-to-succeed-in-business-with-daniel-radcliffe-review.html

The photograph I posted is far more favorable than the review, but things are what they are. I congratulate Dan on the opening of his show!

A Brit a Day [#400]

Above, a detail from the photoshoot for 'Equus' before it opened in the West End.

There's a passage in Patti Smith's memoir 'Just Kids' in which she describes the moment she became something more than a poet. She was rehearsing for a poetry reading with the musicians who were going to accompany her. As she recited 'Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not mine', the guitarist played a chord progression. Patti asked if those were the chords to a real song. It was indeed--it was the opening of Van Morrison's 'Gloria.'

In a short time, her band would go on to record the album 'Horses', the album that would change the possibilities of rock 'n' roll, with Patti's reinvented cover of 'Gloria' as the first track.

A Brit a Day [#393]

Dan Radcliffe rehearsing for "How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying." The show is currently in previews--I can't wait for opening night, this Sunday 3/27, to read the reviews.

A Brit a Day [#363]

'John Gabriel Borkman' closed at BAM February 6th, but not before a few fans got some great shots of Alan Rickman at the stage door. I found this one on Flickr.