The Lord Of The Rings
- Posted on June 4, 2007 5:52 PM
- 2 comments
The Lord Of The Rings
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
Review by Katie Spain
I’ve never been a movie fanatic… especially for films with sequels. Star Trek bored me senseless, Star Wars kept me mildly amused (only because the Ewoks were cute) and Scream… well, need I say more?
I’ve always avoided second, third and fourth ‘chapters’ like Wetherspoons during happy hour (actually, make that Wetherspoons at any hour). I was surprised therefore, when my entire family found themselves hooked on The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. My dad was always a massive fan… he read J.R.R. Tolkien’s books from cover to cover and even ruined the priceless ‘collector’s issue’ given to him by my Grandma. Rice paper pages just aren’t meant for loo break reading; some things should never come out of their packaging...
Back then, we lived on a dairy farm in Australia. Nothing tore my parents away from the cows… except for the annual Boxing Day cinema release of the The Lord Of The Rings. It was a massive event and one the whole town would turn up to – after all, special effects, fellowships and popcorn don’t happen every day… especially in rural Australia.
But that was then… this is London and special effects happen everywhere. You can’t walk past a bus these days without a visual advertising overload. It was for this reason I met the news of a musical version of The Lord Of The Rings with an element of scepticism. Tolkien’s tale about a Hobbit named Frodo and his quest to rid Middle-earth of evil is heavy stuff. I’ve seen a lot of musicals in my time but surely the epic battle scenes and changing literary landscapes couldn’t seriously be portrayed on a West End stage? I feared the musical would turn Tolkien in his Oxford grave; I was wrong.
We booked a spot in the previews well in advance and ended up in the upper stalls. As usual, my companion and I pushed a fine-line between the start time and technically late, so the climb to the upper regions of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane left us gasping. Do yourself a favour and time your arrival accordingly; not only will you pace a climb resembling Everest; you’ll also have plenty of time to marvel at the set. The pre-show Hobbits and their fireflies are worth catching too.
The production kicked of in Toronto but has been tweaked, improved (and apparently shortened) since. Here in London, the Theatre Royal shut down for four months to prepare for the production; it’s easy to see why. The set is spectacular. I doubted the likeliness of a successful portrayal of the lush green Hobbiton and the fiery depths of Mordor but they’ve hit the mark. Twisted bramble, a rotating stage and exquisite lighting give an impressive ‘wow-factor’. The people around us gasped… my jaw dropped so low I began to consider amputation. Deft footwork and nether regions of steel were the only things standing between the cast and the rising, falling, spinning stage. In fact, a cast-member recently injured his leg mid-show... where was The Fellowship then I ask you?
Mechanics aside, there are productions in the West End at the moment mirroring their film versions to a tee. The Lord Of The Rings however, has a text and film to live up to. Luckily director Matthew Warchus has adapted accordingly. When Tolkien wrote his epic story, he didn’t just write about a world wedged firmly in his imagination – he created it. This is where the purists come in; the languages, landscapes, characters and mythical morals were described in so much detail, that for some, they became real. Living up to the imagination of a master (and the imaginations of the resulting fans) was never going to satisfy everyone but I think they’ll convince most. It’s important to remember that where there are fanatics, there are also novices. In a theatre-going audience there are both.
My companion knew less about the storyline than anyone I know… as a theatre fan he knows the merits of a good story told well. He loves gripping narratives and thought-provoking dramas. Saying that, he also loves corny musical hits and sing-along theatre land anthems. The Lord Of The Rings has the narrative, but leaves the memorable music behind. You know what, I couldn’t have wished for more. The score nestles behind the action like a hand behind a newborn’s head. You don’t particularly notice it, but without the steady support, the infant couldn’t hold its head high. Looking back, none of the songs stood out… not on their show stealing merit, nor show ruining. Galadriel (former Mary Poppins Laura Michelle Kelly) impressed briefly with a solo or two and we laughed with the all singing-all dancing Hobbits… not at them. One to the directors - nil to me.
Acting-wise, Sam (Peter Howe) took the Hobbit crown… lead actor Frodo (James Loye) came across somewhat stilted – the enormity of his task unconvincing. Sam’s devoted journey however, portrayed the genuine struggle between the perils of friendship and the safe and familiar embrace of home. Hobbit ‘hanger-oners’, Took and Pippin (Owen Sharpe) also drew their fair share of laughs. Malcolm Storry also delivered a calm yet imposing Gandalf.
The strange, ring-obsessed creature Gollum enthralled. Unaided by Hollywood Hollywood animations, Canadian actor Michael Therriault twisted his lanky body like an emaciated goblin on crack. The rasping voice and erratic behaviour evoked collective audience pity, fear, humour and curiosity… in no particular (or logical) order. Just the way it should be.
Subtle differences between the movie and the stage production veered us away from a direct copy and a series of omitted scenes meant our backs endure three hours rather than nine. Although a number of beasts couldn’t make the trip to 2007, the talking trees made an appearance (all hail the Ents).
If there’s one thing about this musical that soars above everything else it’s the fear evoked in the audience members. The Orcs are pure nightmare material – their bouncing, screeching, dribbling stayed with us well into the night. Arachnophobics are advised to steer well clear and if your ticker is a tad touchy you’d best bring a pace-maker. I screamed even though I’d been warned what was coming… sorry, but you’ll enjoy it more if I withhold some surprises.
Some critics will give this production a grilling worse than Mordor but any production with a high budget and a ‘Blockbuster’ behind it can expect a rough ride.
As a Tolkien fan, I loved it and the Tolkien novice beside me did too. Around us, old ladies, school kids, chatty actors and tourists also came out buzzing. You know what, if I could tear him away from the cows, my dairy farming dad would even be convinced.
The 45-foot, $2 million stage may take no prisoners… but when you’re dealing with Middle-earth and one of the most thrilling literary pieces of all time, a bit of danger adds to the experience. Do yourself a favour and throw the hype, expectations, preconceptions and trepidations aside. Let’s face it… the only way we’re ever going to achieve the ideal Lord Of The Rings experience is to bring back Tolkien, plonk him on stage and have him read straight from the books. Either that or have every single person direct and cast their own imaginings. Save yourself a few million - sit back and let the highlights of a bloody good story take you back to the time when an imagination, a hero and a touch of magic were all that stood between you and the ultimate adventure.
Do you agree? Did you rate or hate the musical? Read one theatre-goer's review and post your own in the comment section.
Comments (2)
Ron
"...an emaciated goblin on crack...", the streets of London may be paved with wierdos, but where did you ever make that comparison? if your review doesn't make this presentation a sell-out for years, there ain't no justice in the world. When will the production tour OZ?
Posted on June 11, 2007 11:40 PM
Lord
It's hard to believe but so all the parts of Lord Of The Rings about 6 times and each time I found something interesting to me.
Posted on August 23, 2007 11:35 AM
Post a comment
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.seatwaveblogs.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/847
