I went to see The Lover last night, and it was good!
Being a relative beginner in the world of theatre, I'd never heard of Harold Pinter (the playwright) before last month. Happily, I saw mention of this play when hunting to fill the empty spot left in my one-a-month cultural exploration by the cancellation of Rufus Wainwright's concert.
And I not ashamed to admit that the $20 ticket price, and the presence of a man in a lovely suit in the promotional material convinced me to check it out.
I do love a man in a suit, especially one who uses big words now and then; if you're the same, you'll enjoy The Lover for that alone. But that's not all it is! It's a clever one-act play exploring love, lust and relationships - and insecurities. It will probably make you laugh (there were definitely laughs last night), and it might make you think (I did plenty of that) and from what I've now read of Pinter, it seems that there being both comic and serious interpretations is not unexpected. Your own experiences will, I think, colour your interpretations, and that's not a bad thing. Take from it what you will!
The dialogue is witty and sharp (both crisp and cutting), and the scenarios a little confusing. I didn't read about the play before going, and if you haven't already, I'd suggest you do the same. Enjoy it! And you know, it's not much longer than an hour - so if you have a free night in the next week, ditch those crappy TV shows (or watch them on demand, if you must) and go to the theatre!
As to the actual performances, Craig Hall was great. I can only recall seeing him in Outrageous Fortune (though he's been around), and this is obviously a completely different role! Not only did he look fantastic, but he delivered some great lines really well. In the more serious moments, his physical acting was fabulous. I bought the emotion. Michelle Langstone (who I now know I recognise from a stint on McLeod's Daughters) did a great job, too!
From what I could see, the issues with timing mentioned by Kris in her review from the preview appear to have been resolved, at least this audience member didn't spot anything awry. I loved the lighting, the costuming was excellent.
My only real criticism, apart from the tall chap sitting in front of me, would be of the venue and seating. Obviously The Basement doesn't have a lot of height, and this meant that unless you were in the front rows of the largely single-level seating (or possibly towards at the back, were there was a small height increase in the seating), the actors were largely invisible from waist-height. This meant I missed what are rumoured to be some wicked shoes, and much of the set design. Still, the performances are good enough for you to make the effort - just don't sit behind the tall guy!
The Lover, by Harold Pinter, is on until Saturday 13 February at The Basement, Lower Greys Ave in Auckland city. Tickets are $20 and you can book through iTICKET.
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