Sketch: Timothy West as King Lear

Posted on May 1, 2015 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Timothy West

Seasoned British actor Timothy West, noted for his great power and command on the classical stage, has played King Lear three times. The latest was in 2003 for English Touring Theatre on a UK tour and at the Old Vic in London.

The Stephen Unwin directed production toured for three months in autumn 2002 to great acclaim, winning West a Manchester Evening News Award for Best Actor. His moving portrayal of the fallen king at the Old Vic received rave reviews and bought in the crowds, extending the season less than a week after the play opened.

Timothy has played other roles in the Shakespearean masterpiece, including Gloucester to Ian Holm’s moanch ain the National Theatre’s 1997 production, directed by Richard Eyre, that was also filmed for the BBC.

I caught up with Timothy as he left the Donmar Warehouse last night, where he is part of a huge ensemble cast for Josie Rourke‘s The Vote. I showed him my sketch of him as Lear asking him if he wouldn’t mind signing it, and he smiled, saying, of course and duly ‘graphed it.

Sketch: Tracie Bennett in End Of The Rainbow

Posted on April 29, 2015 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Tracie Bennet Over The Rainbow

There was huge critical acclaim for double Olivier Award winning actress Tracie Bennett’s virtuoso turn in the lead role of Peter Quilter’s musical drama End Of the Rainbow, which focuses on the final chapter of Judy Garland’s life. It premiered in Sydney in 2005 before West End and Broadway transfers.

The London production, which enjoyed an extended run at the Trafalgar Studio from November 2010 to May 2011, received four Olivier Award nominations including Best Actress for Tracie. The show opened on Broadway at the Belasco Theater in March 2012 with Tracie receiving the lead role and earning a Tony nomination as well as winning the Outer Critics’ Circle and Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Actress in a Play.

I met the engaging Tracie at the 2011 Oliviers at Covent Garden where she signed a ‘Judy’ sketch for me, which I’ve already posted. This one is a montage from the play, depicting the darker side of the role as Judy Garland battled with her drug and alcohol addiction during her final tour of the UK in 1969.

I left it at the Trafalgar Studios and obviously Tracie struggled to find a pen with ample ink. That’s another one of the risks you take when not getting the ‘graph in person – you don’t get to choose the weapon! But, she not only signed it, she sent me a nice card as well. Thanks, Tracie.

Tracie Bennett Thank You

Sketch: American Buffalo

Posted on April 28, 2015 by Mark Winter / Chicane

American Buffalo

A top drawer cast of Damian Lewis, Tom Sturridge and, making his West End debut, John Goodman, star in the revival of David Mamet’s 1975 breakthrough play American Buffalo, which had its opening last night at London’s Wyndham’s Theatre.

It was last seen in the West End more than 30 years ago when Al Pacino lead the cast at the Duke of York’s Theatre.

At the centre of this modern masterpiece is an old American five-cent nickel, a “buffalo”, which John’s character; Don, the owner of a Chicago junk store where the action is set; has undersold. Convinced he has been ripped off, Don plans to track down the customer and plans a heist to get it back, with his less than useless ‘associates’ – mouthy no hoper “Teach” (Damian) and nervy young gopher Bob (Tom).

The Telegraph’s Dominic Cavendish had a nice line in his review, “an expletive-laden law and music unto itself, the loose-change of inarticulate conversation spun into glinting gems of urban poetry – the true, harsh sound of American capitalism”.

The Guardian gave it four stars, with Michael Billington saying, “Daniel Evans’ production is meticulous in its psychological and physical detail and there are fine performances from Damian Lewis, John Goodman and Tom Sturridge”.

I managed to get all three to sign my drawing after the first preview performance a couple of weeks ago. Tom has now shaven his head, but I couldn’t find my eraser to do the ‘shave’ on the the sketch, so I’ll just have to draw another one.

Sketch: Rory Kinnear and Clare Higgins in Hamlet

Posted on April 27, 2015 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Rory Kinnear’s portrayal of Hamlet in the 2010 production at The National Theatre is considered by many of the theatrical great and good to be a generation defining portrayal of the Great Dane. It was the National’s former artistic director Nicholas Hytner’s first time directing Shakespeare’s most famous play. His Denmark is a modern dress production set in a surveillance state.

The Independent’s David Lister called it , “a chilling production that demanded to be seen”. He said, “A great Hamlet is not only a Hamlet of this time, it can be a Hamlet that defines his time”.

“Kinnear shows a Hamlet whose depression can be seen in fits of unwarranted aggression, withdrawal, manic high pitched laughter, intense unhappiness or simply desperate attempts to make sense of anything “. He won the 2010 Evening Standard Sward for his portrayal. He was praised for a his, “bold reinvention of the Dane”.

Lister makes special mention of Clare Higgins, “revelatory Gertrude… predicatably, the marvellous actress redefines the role. Gone is the weak, lovestruck pliable and guilt ridden mother and wife. This is more realistically a woman who will have a drink when it suits her, is more than capable of barking out orders herself and knows exactly what she wants out of life”.

Not always an easy place to catch cast members, given the many exits available at the National Theatre, I was very fortunate to catch both Rory and Clare who loved the sketch and were more than happy to ‘graph it for me.

Sketch: Uncle Vanya with Anna Friel and Ken Stott

Posted on April 25, 2015 by Mark Winter / Chicane

uncle vanya

Lindsay Posner’s wonderful revival of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya played London’s Vaudeville Theatre during the winter of 2012/2013.

My favourite critic, The Telegraph’s Tim Walker, gave it five stars in what he called, “a joyfully depressing revival… If you are into depressing plays, this production is, paradoxically, an unalloyed joy.”

The prolific Russian playwright’s classic tragi-comedy was adapted by Oscar winning Portuguese British writer Christoper Hampton and freatured Ken Stott and Anna Friel in the lead roles admirably supported by Samuel West, Laura Carmichael and Paul Freeman.

The date was the twelfth of December 2012, or in numerical formation 12/12/12 . One would have to do something special to mark the occasion, so one decided to try and get 12 theatre sketches signed on that auspicious day. That plan was quickly downsized due to the logistical barriers relating to the timing of entrances and exits at the various theatres. I ended up getting two, but they were good ones. … so thanks to Ken and Anna for marking this special day.

Sketch: Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess in Love Never Dies

Posted on April 22, 2015 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Love Never Dies

Love never dies… and rain-soaked paper always dries

LOVE NEVER DIES – the long awaited sequel to Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s mega-musical PHANTOM OF THE OPERA opened at the Adelphi Theatre in London’s West End on 9 March 2010, following previews from late February.

It featured Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess in the lead roles and is set a decade on from the original when the Phantom becomes ‘Mr Y’, the mysterious owner of a Coney Island pleasure park who lures Christine back for a well paid gig.

I positioned myself at the shelterless Adelphi stage door on the rainy night of the World Premiere with this sketch. Ramin and Sierra did sign another one later, on a drier evening, which I’ve previously posted. But this one got the liquid treatment, giving a less than desired ripple effect across its surface. However, due to the positioning of a kind patron’s sole umbrella and the ever reliable, quick-drying spirit-based Sharpie pen that didn’t run or smudge, I managed to get it signed which was a note-worthy performance in itself.

Drawing: Lara Pulver in Gypsy

Posted on April 20, 2015 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Lara Pulver

Last autumn English actress Lara Pulver played Gypsy Rose Lee in the acclaimed Chichester Festival Theatre production of Gypsy which has now transferred to the Savoy Theatre in Londoon. Basd on the 1957 memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee with a score by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Gypsy is considered by many to be the greatest of the Broadway musicals.

In 2008 she was nominated for a Olivier Award for her performance as Lucille Frank in Parade at London’s Donmar Warehouse. This is her first appearance on the London stage since then.

In the first act Lara plays the stage shy teenager Louise, but transforms into the famous seductive stripper as her showbiz mother from hell; the legendary Momma Rose, played by Imelda Staunton; pushes her two daughters into a series of cheesy shows in the dying days of Vaudeville.

Paul Taylor, in his five star review, said that Lara was, “stunning both as the love starved tomboy and the sleek seductress.”

Lara stopped to sign a few graphs, including my sketch, at the Savoy’s stage door on Thursday evening after the production received unanimous rave reviews at its opening the night before.

Drawing: Holly Walsh

Posted on April 18, 2015 by Mark Winter / Chicane

holly walsh

Acclaimed English comedian, comedy writer and Chortle Award winner Holly Walsh performed her new show Never Had It this week at London’s Soho Theatre after a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe last year.

“It” in the show’s title refers to the “je ne sais quoi” – that elusive combination of charisma and insouciance possessed by people who make life look easy. Holly’s self confessed ‘lack of cool’ has, however, become an advantage, turning it into a successful comedy career which began in 2005 when she took an evening class in standup to escape being an art gallery assistant.

The rest, as they say, is ‘herstory’. Within a year she found an agent, made the final of several nationwide new act competitions and began writing for comedy shows, including Radio 4. Since then she has appeared on Mock the Week, Would I Lie to You, and Never Mind the Buzzcocks. As the blurb on the Soho Theatre site says “Some people have got ‘it’. Holly most definitely does not. But who needs ‘it’ when you’ve got a Gold Duke Of Edinburgh Award and nearly two thousand Nectar points?”

‘Graphing at the Soho requires a bit of strategic management i.e. purchase a pilsner and position oneself at the ideal interception point. At the Soho that’s usually at the table adjacent to the door between the foyer and the hospitality area. This is usually a bottleneck akin to the Northern Line at 8am. Mind the Gap.

On Thursday evening I got lucky. There was a gap between shows so the flow of pedestrians was manageable for me to identify the target… I mean talent.

The norm – and I use the term very lightly – is that the performers appear after the audience and this duly happened. This sequence can be crucial, and avoids one asking a number of look-alikes and impostors to sign your sketch before you stop the real one. I speak from experience here, they don’t have their name stamped on their foreheads.

Holy conformed to the norm and moments later appeared from the downstairs stage in clear view. I immediately recognised her distinctive big, bright eyes and smile and she recognised herself in the sketch (always a bonus) and happily signed it.

I still had time to finish my ale in a relaxed fashion and no longer looking like a stalker before assuming the position at a West End stage door later in the evening.

Sunny Afternoon Sketch

Posted on April 17, 2015 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Sunny afternoon

It turned into a great night for Sunny Afternoon at last week’s Olivier Awards, when the musical based on the early life of English rock musician Ray Davies and the formation of the band The Kinks stole the show with four gongs including Best New Musical.

Formed in Muswell Hill, London by brothers Dave and Ray Davies with Pete Quaife in 1963 The Kinks rose to fame during the mid-60s and were part of the British Invasion of the US. They are considered one of the most important and influential rock groups of that era. Throughout its 32 year run, The Kinks songs occupied top positions on the UK charts with hits including Lola, You Really Got Me, Waterloo Sunset and Sunny Afternoon.

Written by Joe Penhall with music and lyrics by Ray, Sunny Afternoon, The Musical’s title is based on the 1966 UK singles chart number one of the same name. It made its world premiere in 2014 at the Hampstead Theatre where it enjoyed critical and commercial success with a sell out limited run before transferring to the Harold Pinter Theatre in London’s West End.

At the Oliviers Ray won the Outstanding Achievement in Music Award along with John Dagleish (as Ray) for Best Actor in a Musical and George Maguire (as Dave) for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical, which was deserved but not expected.

I met both John and George on a somewhat chilly overcast afternoon yesterday, but they brightened the day singing my sketch and some very complementary comments – two of the nicest guys I’ve met in all the time I’ve stalked stage doors, I congratulated both on the their Olivier success and George said, “it was great… I guess the underdog won.”

Theatre Sketch: The Nether

Posted on April 16, 2015 by Mark Winter / Chicane

The Nether – the future term for the internet, offers complete freedom – a new virtual wonderland providing total sensory immersion in a dystopian future. Los Angeles based dramatist Jennifer Haley’s award-winning play, directed by Jeremy Herrin, transferred to London’s Duke of York’s Theatre for a limited 12 week run after a sold out season at The Royal Court. Charles Spencer wrote his review for the Telegraph, “Stanley Townsend is memorably sinister and devious as the owner of the site… in this haunting and highly original modern fairy tale.”

Award winning Irish actor Stanley Townsend plays Sims, who in the guise of Poppa creates The Hideaway where “guests” can do unspeakable things to a 12 year old avatar named Iris. His acting credits include Whistle Blower, Heartbeat, Jonathan Creek, Ballykissangel, A Touch of Frost, The Bill, Ashes to Ashes and Ripper Street for TV and films In the Name of The Father, Happy Go Lucky and Killing Bono.

Included in The Nether’s four Olivier Award nominations was a Supporting Actress recognition for the four ‘young Iris’s’ – Isabella Pappas, Jaime Adler, Perdita Hibbins, Zoe Brough. Zoe left the production to take up her role as Blousey Brown in Bugsy Malone at the Lyric Hammersmith, but I met the other three at the theatre where they along with Stanley signed my sketch.