The Royal Hunt of the Sun

[coalescent]

I went to see this at the NT last night. The reviewers of this play seem to be mostly on crack. I mean, they agree it was heavy-handed, and generally not great, but ... in The Times:

But the excitement of Pizarro’s arrival in Peru in Act I, followed by his capture of Atahuallpa, isn’t matched by the more intellectual excitement that Act II is meant to bring.

Anyone else think that Act I was better than Act II rather than, say, an orgy of bombastic excess? No, didn't think so. And in The Independent:

Also, thank heavens, Joseph is wonderfully canny, warm and vibrant as Atahuallpa. Theatrically, if not politically, he nearly saves the day.

Beg pardon? Is this the same Atahuallpa who was speaking in an embarrassing pidgin-English screech the whole time?

Comments

[greengolux.livejournal.com]

I really don't like Paterson Joseph and the type of performance he delivers. I checked the programme afterwards, and he is definitely the guy I saw playing Othello a few years ago who I really hated.

There are some things Joseph can do well: smug, silly, cocky, cheeky. But what this role needed was dignity, gravitas, and substantial stage presence, which he just can't do (this is also what was lacking in his performance as Othello).

He made the whole role of Atahuallpa into a bit of a joke, and it was embarrassing.

[grahamsleight.livejournal.com]

Well, I regret missing it on the whole - plus, of course, missing an evening with You Lot - but the production sounds like it would have wound me up too. Read the play at school, loved it, but had great difficulty in imagining how it would be staged. I saw that, in the first (also NT?) performance Atahuallpa was played by the great Shakespearean Robert Stephens - which of course brings up all the problems of a white actor presumably "blacked up" as a non-white character, but Stephens did at least have enormous presence and gravitas. I'm afraid the only thing I can remember Paterson Joseph as was one of the "Weakest Link" contestants in "Bad Wolf" - where he did at least do cocky, wheedling, etc very well.

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

which of course brings up all the problems of a white actor presumably "blacked up" as a non-white character,

ObConfederateStatesOfAmerica?

[grahamsleight.livejournal.com]

*fails to get reference, having missed the film, but waits in eager anticipation of more data*

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

One of the fake films-within-the-film was the 1953 (or so) dramatisation of how Jefferson's (I think it was Jefferson) loyal servant helped him solve the slave crisis by suggesting that he give the defeated Northerners their slaves back. The loyal servant was played by a "noted Shakespearean actor", in blackface.

[despotliz.livejournal.com]

Jefferson being Jefferson Davis and not Thomas Jefferson, mind.

[snowking.livejournal.com]

Niall just happens to be on first name terms with him, OKAY?

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

Which is totally what I meant. Yep.

[immortalradical.livejournal.com]

Niall Harrison: making everyone's inner historian weep.

[(Anonymous)]

Well, *I* assumed he meant Jefferson Airplane...

[grahamsleight.livejournal.com]

(Sorry, that was me. Perhaps we should all sign our comments "Jefferson"?)

[snowking.livejournal.com]

Maybe today we all be commenting in pidgin English?

[immortalradical.livejournal.com]

Jar Jar Hogg. Hogg Hogg Binks. Hmmm.

[snowking.livejournal.com]

Meesa think you gonna die, Bannie.

[immortalradical.livejournal.com]

Is this the part where you throw up fall over embarrassingly?

[snowking.livejournal.com]

Depends if you gonna be appearing in slashy fiction with Qui-Graham Jinn.

[immortalradical.livejournal.com]

I predict that Stewart will reply excitedly to your comment.

[snowking.livejournal.com]

Yellow Leader STAY ON TARGET!

[immortalradical.livejournal.com]

But whose magnetic field is he going to pass through?

[immortalradical.livejournal.com]

I think Jefferson may dislike the Jeffersons mentioning Jefferson so often, Jefferson.

[applez.livejournal.com]

Whatever the case, they're definitely not "movin' on up" ;-)

ref: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/9176/song.htm

[brixtonbrood.livejournal.com]

He was memorably good in Neverwhere I thought (though the Marquis de Carabas is not exactly a subtle role) and he's very subtle in Green Wing (to the extent that I for one am unsure whether the character is a really really nice guy or a sicko fetishist).

[iainjclark.livejournal.com]

I thought he was excellent in Neverwhere, though he was basically playing Doctor Who.

[brisingamen.livejournal.com]

Thank you ... having just come back from the play, of which more, much more, possibly far too much, later on my own journal, I was trying to work out where I had seen PJ before. Something about his way of moving was familiar to me butI couldn't pin it down. A cool leather coat would have probably solved the niggle instantly.

[oursin.livejournal.com]

same Atahuallpa who was speaking in an embarrassing pidgin-English screech

Dates self by remarking that this curious effect was also noticeable in the original production: may be in text?

Paterson Joseph was brilliant in recent Gate production of The Emperor Jones but this involved other strengths perhaps.

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

Dates self by remarking that this curious effect was also noticeable in the original production: may be in text?

Pass. Although there are at least two people who will probably read this who've read the play, so maybe one of them can confirm or deny.

Although the accent itself was bad and wrong, what made it worse was the inconsistency of it: all the Spaniards were played with UK regional accents. The general was a Yorkshireman.

[snowking.livejournal.com]

That's because Yorkshiremen = uncouth yokel, Niall. It's all VERY CLEVER, you see.

[brisingamen.livejournal.com]

all the Spaniards were played with UK regional accents. The general was a Yorkshireman.

This was remarked upon yesterday, and I think has a lot to do with the point at which Trevor Nunn's career as a director took off, which I will expound on at greater length when I write my report of the play. The short version is that I liked the play immensely – it was fascinating – but that the production was a real period piece. Whereas it would have seemed fresh and innovative thirty-plus years ago (those Yorkshire accents, the whole Hull Truck enchilada) to me it was very mannered and tired. Also, Nunn's more recent work in musical theatre seemed to me to get in the way of the production rather than enhancing it in any way. Or, as I characterised it to PK at one point, 'Les Miz meets the Lion King', not helped by half the cast having actually been in The Lion King.

On the other hand, I feel sure I was the only person in the audience worrying about the niceties of Iberian polyphony during the first act.

[peake.livejournal.com]

this curious effect was also noticeable in the original production

And is in the film, with Christopher Plummer giving a very curiously mannered performance as Atahualpa, but very effective none the less.

He was balanced by Robert Shaw being gruff, stolid and tormented as Pizarro - and what I most want to see in this production is Alun Armstrong taking on that role.

[despotliz.livejournal.com]

Financial Times less on crack. Second act is better than the first because it actually gets down to presenting Pizarro's dilemma and the clash between Christianity and the Incas in a two-person setting, rather than all the faffing about in the first act trying to depict the crossing of the Andes and so on.

Also, I was informed that we got the understudy for Pizarro, so any comments about Alun Armstrong's acting are not possible to judge. Paterson Joseph was all wrong and slightly embarassing to watch.

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

Financial Times less on crack.

Yeah, I basically agree with that.

On the Andes: apparently the stage direction just says "They cross the Andes." Part of me admires Mr Shaffer for just leaving the details to someone else to sort out. :)

[grahamsleight.livejournal.com]

Oh, you missed Alun Armstrong? :( He was my single big reason for wanting to go, apart from the play itself: saw him as Sweeney Todd at the NT a couple of years ago, and he was terrific.

[cellardoor28.livejournal.com]

me too - I was very disappointed.

And I'm ridiculously jealous about you seeing him as ST - it's long been my favourite musical.

[cellardoor28.livejournal.com]

I have to admit, I hadn't realised before I looked in the programme that this was a Trevor Nunn production. I can't stand Trevor Nunn - I'm yet to see a play directed by him that I've particularly enjoyed. We should at least be grateful that it's a pretty much all male cast and therefore he couldn't shoehorn bloody Imogen bloody Stubbs in like he usually does.

[nuttyxander.livejournal.com]

Trevor Nunn plus a general feeling I've been to the National Theatre too much to see their kind of production lately was what put me off.

[immortalradical.livejournal.com]

Everything I've read about this production did suggest it was sponsored by Crayola - broad lines, bright colours. Not surprised it didn't quite work. Also, you make Atahuallpa sound like Jar Jar Binks.

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

Not surprised it didn't quite work

I'm with the FT reviewer: it's a bad production, but it's not a great play to start with.

Also, you make Atahuallpa sound like Jar Jar Binks.

That's who it reminded me of!

[immortalradical.livejournal.com]

We no like the conquistadors. They think they so smarty.

[applez.livejournal.com]

(but viewing the outcome of history)...

But They Love You Long Long Time...

[brisingamen.livejournal.com]

Splendid ... PK and I are going to see this in ten days, instead of being at the BSFA/SFF day (we booked before the date changed). PK's seen the film, I've not, neither of us has seen a stage version. We had been quite looking forward to going ... As our hopes lie dashed in the mud, anyone care to provide any reason at all why it might be worth going, or shall I just shred the tickets so PK can go and spent the afternoon telling Bruce Sterling how much he hated Visionary in Residence instead, while I go and do something, anything else ...

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

Paul Ritter is completely brilliant as the Friar, and steals the show every time he's on stage. Of course, he's only on stage in about four scenes ...

(Is the PK rant about Visionary in Residence going to be forthcoming as a review anywhere, or should I request a private performance?)

[brisingamen.livejournal.com]

You're really selling this to me.

Is the PK rant about Visionary in Residence going to be forthcoming as a review anywhere,

It's a review, but I can't remember who he's done it for. Not you, obviously, so you'll have to ask. Not a rant so much as a 'more in sorrow ...', I think. He just felt it wasn't really that good!

[peake.livejournal.com]

It's for SF Site, and they usually get things on the site pretty quickly.

And the main problem with the book is that Sterling is still doing the cyberpunk shtick even though these stories are more about biofutures than cyberfutures.

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

I'll look forward to that, then. I have a copy of the book, but I've only read a couple of stories; hoping to get through the rest in time for the AGM.

[majuran.livejournal.com]

Paul Ritter is completely brilliant as the Friar

You were trying to figure out who he reminded you of last night; I have a strong suspicion that it's Chris Langham you were thinking of... mostly because I got the same vibe, just couldn't remember the guy's name at the time and didn't fancy playing the "he was in x" game since I always lose ;)

[thalassius.livejournal.com]

That sounds disappointing - I *like* Royal Hunt, but the reviews seem to indicate it's not worth the hassle of getting there and back.

Did anyone else see the all-female version in Oxford a couple of years back?

[veggiesu.livejournal.com]

I may get around to posting about this on my journal at some point. But... you should not have snipped Basset's Indy review quite so harshly: "Joseph is wonderfully canny, warm and vibrant as Atahuallpa." is in fact absolutely true (and I doubt that you actually disagree with much of the rest of the review, either). Yes, his accent was sucky. Clearly someone thought that a funny costumes, funny voices, and funny dances would best represent the Aztec culture of the early 16th century.
The production itself was terribly flawed - many of the set pieces looked to have been designed with a school production in mind; and a better production would have no doubt tightened up the long monologues into something compelling, rather than wearying. And the portrayal of the Aztecs was simply embarrassing.
However, the acting was in almost all cases superb. Paul Ritter, Malcolm Storry and Darrell D'Silva were particularly good; I must admit, I didn't even recognise Paterson Joseph until I looked in the programme afterwards. And Andrew McDonald was outstanding, given he was an understudy for the role of Pizarro.

Really, it was a very mixed bag - excellent performances, bad production and direction, and a play that maybe has dialogue bloat.