SYNOPSIS
Review
When the RSC opened Nicholas Nickleby the critics panned it. All except one who attacked his own kind and Despaired of the Human Race. The negative comment's above make me feel much the same. Traditional productions of Brecht have been done well for years now.
No one complains of updates of....
maverick.
Bertolt Brecht’s famous story “Mother Courage And Her Children” will soon be finding its way to the stage of the Olivier National Theatre from September, with acclaimed actress Finoa Shaw in a leading role and music provided by a leading production team, who have provided scores for television shows around the world.
“Mother Courage And Her Children” is a highly regarded piece of work, which many think of as one of the best of the twentieth century and, in particular, a stand out piece of work from Brecht, who was an accomplished writer in his own right.
The powerful and compelling story sets Mother Courage within the horrors of a raging war. She sells food and clothing to the soldiers, providing these essentials to either side of the battle when it suits her and trying her best to keep her business running strong in such a desperate situation, so that she can feed her children, and hold on to a sense of hope. So whilst she sells the items on a horrific battlefield from her wagon, her story is told on stage through the use of song and good humour and we witness the courage and the struggle that one woman must face in a time of war.
Starring as Mother Courage is Fiona Shaw, who is an acclaimed actress who has worked extensively in theatre and film, with her talents being recognised by an honorary CBE in 2001. Many will recognise her for her role as Petunia Dursley in the Harry Potter series of films including the most recent “Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince”. However, she has been seen onscreen in other movies such as “Three Men And A Little Lady”, “Jayne Eyre” and “The Triumph Of Love”. Her stage credits include “As You Like It” (1984), “The Taming Of The Shrew” (1987) and “Hedda Gabler” (1991).
“Mother Courage And Her Children” was penned back in 1939 by the famous German dramatist and has been seen onstage in countless successful productions since, from Germany to the West End and a recent revival in 2006 in New York City.
“Mother Courage And Her Children” is at the Olivier National Theatre from Wednesday 16th September 2009 (previews from Wednesday 9th September 2009) to Sunday 11th October 2009.
Reviews
When the RSC opened Nicholas Nickleby the critics panned it. All except one who attacked his own kind and Despaired of the Human Race. The negative comment's above make me feel much the same. Traditional productions of Brecht have been done well for years now.
No one complains of updates of such classics as Shakespeare Marlowe even Shaw when they are done well. Brecht is not chronologically that far from Shaw but can still be seen as a recent writer. All that this fantastic National Theatre production has done is to bring Brecht's classic bang up to date.
Not for a second do I believe that Brecht wrote Mother Courage to be a comfortable evening's viewing but a searing angry drama and this Warner / Shaw version is staggering. I went with my Godson 14 and the verdict was It's much better than films or telly. You can feel it! What better praise can you get.
I only hope that his future visits to live theatre are to productions this strong. All the on stage crew and musicians exibited an energy rarely seen on the London Stage today unflagging throughout the 3hrs despite the fact that it was a matinee and they were going through this marathon again later in the evening.
My deepest and only regret is that this wonderful production has closed so soon. If those above who complained want good comfortable brainless theatre I can recomend Sister Act or Hairspray. Long live Warner / Shaw!
maverick. I am amazed at the hostility to this production I loved it Fiona Shaw was terrific I thought the music was the right combination of rough and timeless and fitted in well with ting which I thought was imaginative and innovative. I am a great supporter of site specific and cutting edge theatre Punchdrunk Kneehigh and Wildworks this is the direction that theatre has to take if it is still to deliver messages such as the important ones contained within this play and not find themselves competing on an uneven playing field with TV and Film.It is only brave and in my view successful productions like these that push the boundaries of theatr forward.
Deborah H Hated the rock and roll feel of this production. Loathed the music. One reviewer suggested it was a generational thing - but I am young 24! and I though it was badly done too loud and totally inappropriate. The importance and poignancy of the subject was totally lost and throughout the whole of the first half I had the thoroughly unpleasant notion of being bored and yet having my ears assaulted. Acting may have been good but let done totally by music and the production. Love live music on stage and always want to see more of it but was so disapointed by this.
barbara I went to the National knowing what to expect from Brecht and leaving at the interval feeling rather indifferent. Brecht's alienation technique was in my opinion taken too far. An audience was meant to be reminded it's a play but not to the point where you acknowledged it's a play and you can luckily walk rather run out at the interval. On the plus side the was very good. The musical though tedious at times not half bad...but Shaw should refrain from other musical roles...
megan I am surprised by these bad reviews I loved it and am planning a second visit! Fiona Show is outstanding in the lead role I found the new translation fabulous and easy to follow and the actors playing The Chaplain Katrin and the Cook were particularly good. Loved the use of Duke Special and his band fine musicians that added so much. Brecht is not for everyone but I would highly recommend it.
Cath I very much enjoyed the show with amazing music and acting it clearly was a show to remember.
andy This play takes you by the throat and forces you to think. It is not 'easy listening' entertainment but it is worth staying the 3 hours to see Brecht the way it was intended. Excellent music and Fiona Shaw at her best.
Gordon It wasn't all bad the band-leader had a fine voice and a couple of the songs were good but we simply lost interest in the fate of everyone on the stage. It failed the fundamental test of telling a story in a compelling way thus it became dull and no longer earned the privilege of the audience's attention. In fact it never seemed like the director was at all interested in the audience. One of the worst things at the National but then again so much of what the National does is so very good.
Sandra I agree with Sally this was an awful production. We all know that war is loud noisy and messy but that does not work in the theatre. I hated the rocky sort of music but perhaps that's a generational thing one of the biggest problems apart from the messyness was the monocrome colour on the stage - the bright costumes worn by Fiona Shaw were not enough. Dull dull dull! War is hell but so is sitting through 3 hours of bad Brecht.
susan I cannot express how much I hated this production. I left at the interval only the second time I have ever done this and went in search of alcohol which by that time I was badly in need of. The show has almost everything that makes a bad production and it was not the play that was the problem. I love theatre and go frequently but if this was the first thing I had seen it would put me off for life don't waste you time or you money.
sally This is not a good show. i too was looking forward to it but we left after the first half which is a big statement about the show. it is messy unfocussed incoherent. the music is passable but not suitable for such a big play. i found fiona shaw complacent and lacking in depth as mother courage. it does not hold together as a show.
jo I was excited and eager to see the new production of Mother Courage. I had last seen it at the Barbican with Judi Dench.I cannot say just how sad and disappointed I am at this production. It was over long untidy messy badly staged and left me uninterested and uncaring about the sad fate of her children. I knew the story. I wanted to experience more. I hated this production. I did not like music or production or the new translation. It did not fill me with a hatred of Fascism only the futility of war. What a wasted opportunity.
aurora
