I went to see Jerusalem at the Apollo Theatre on Tuesday night and Twelfth Night at the Bridewell theatre on Wednesday lunchtime. I recommend them both.
Jerusalem was outstanding. Mark Rylance delivered a precise, compelling and surprisingly physical performance in the lead role of Rooster Byron. His character combines Falstaff and Churchill. He is the ASBO king of Rooster Wood and a lord of misrule and yet he takes a noble stand against mediocrity, the puritans of the local council, their police myrmidons and, ultimately, all the forces of oppression. Jez Butterworth’s text captures the mythic qualities of England, the real presence of nature and the fuck patois of Rooster’s followers. Jerusalem is the best play I have ever seen – go see it, if you can.
(As an aside, it was a very starry, theatrical evening. We went with a couple of friends – a famous director and his movement teacher wife. By coincidence, we sat in the same row as Jerusalem’s director, next to my wife’s movement teacher from Central and a few rows back from Dustin Hoffman and another few rows back from Jude Law and Sienna Miller, whoever she is. I’m not really in that world but it’s fun to be a tourist sometimes!)
Now, Twelfth Night. In the interests of full disclosure, I should explain that my wife is the co-director and one of the stars in Twelfth Night so although I think it is the best show ever made, I am slightly biased. The performances are bright; the company works with the Meisner technique and so the whole show bristles with electricity and human contact. Setting the play in 30s glamour, Hollywood musicals and Gerschwin lyrics works perfectly and brings Shakespeare’s story to life in a modern context.
Here’s a short video about it:
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