She Stoops to Conquer

I saw this NT Live performance on 29 March at Notting Hill Gate Picture House

This was an enjoyable performance, broadcast live from the Olivier theatre, and the first NT Live showing I have seen.

The acting was superb, a totally ludicrous story of course that the actors made believable, even that Kate should fall for such a pompous fool as Marlowe, but that pointedly showed the social attitudes of the time, one of the reasons I guess the the play remains so popular. Lumpkin I thought was excellent.

The experience felt like neither a film nor a theatrical performance. The actors came over loud and clear, far louder than when one sits in the Olivier, so no problem in hearing every word. The real audience applause was audible but very muted in comparison, not at all as when one is in the auditorium. The actors were seen better than even in the best seats (which unfortunately I can never afford) but it seemed odd viewing the Olivier stage always in almost close-up, a very different experience from sitting in the real Olivier. The showing was sub-title which I found distracting, far more so than on a normal film.
Given the choice I would prefer the real theatre, but perhaps I would go to both.

Duchess of Malfi

I saw this performance on 27th March at the The Old Vic.

The Hunger Games

I saw this film on 26 March at Hackney Picture House

A good good tale and satire on talk shows and reality TV. Characterisation was not particularly consistent for quite a lot of the characters such as the games master and associates. It was not at all clear why some of the contenders were being so supportive of each other. Donald Sutherland was a convincingly nasty president. I found the film slightly too long and some of the mid-section action did not add much except inconsistency. Enjoyable though.

The Raven

I saw this film on 12 March at Hackney Picture House

Better than many of the reviews say. Close to too much blood and gore in places but otherwise a good horror and suspense detective film. I did not realise who did it until the villain was revealed at the end.

The House of Bernarda Alba

I saw this performance on 9th March at the Almeida Theatre.

Michael

I saw this film on 5 March at Hackney Picture House

No violence or explicit sex, very suspenseful but not a film that provides any sort of happy feeling about the world. A surprisingly large and fairly young audience for a Monday afternoon.