A Night at the Theater with Damian Lewis: American Buffalo, Act I

“All that I’m saying, don’t confuse business with pleasure.” 
– Walter “Teach” Cole
source: broadwayworld.com
source: broadwayworld.com

Advance Warning: A sign at the entrance of Wyndham’s theatre warns the audience about explicit language in American Buffalo. I would love to imitate that and warn you all, for the sake of giving a detailed review of the play, I choose to use some of that explicit language in my blog post. So, please read at your own risk – thank you!

What would you do if you had a conference in Paris, and your most favorite actor is doing a play in London, and you have never seen him on stage before that you are dying to do so, and of course, London is only a two and a half hour train ride from Paris? Yeah, you would do what I did and book tickets for… American Buffalo!

Hurrah!

So… I was extremely lucky to see American Buffalo last week, a pure acting feast provided by the ridiculously talented trio of Damian Lewis, John Goodman and Tom Sturridge.

I know that only a limited number of fans have the opportunity to see the play, so I will try my best here to give you all a detailed account of the play highlighting the fantastic performance of Damian Lewis as Walter “Teach” Cole. Continue reading “A Night at the Theater with Damian Lewis: American Buffalo, Act I”

Trivia Tuesday: Big Brother is Everywhere

Did you know that Damian Lewis starred in the “London Underground” photo exhibition by the brilliant Singaporean photographer Yangchen Lin in 2013?

Hello, Brody!

copyright: Yangchen Lin
Covent Garden Station, Piccadily Line, copyright: Yangchen Lin

The photograph is called Big Brother is Everywhere. Starring Damian Lewis.

How cool is that?

The exhibition was organized as part of the 150th birthday celebrations for the London Underground.

You can find more information about the artist Yangchen Lin here and the London Underground Photo exhibition here.

Wolf Hall is Timeless

source: farfarawaysite.com
source: farfarawaysite.com

Wolf Hall has fascinated me all over with its wonderful writing, perfect directing, incredible acting, authentic costumes and gripping score. I think The Atlantic put it into the best words possible: “With Wolf Hall, PBS finds a drama worth of the word “Masterpiece.”

Yes. Wolf Hall is a masterpiece and what TOPS it all for me is how TIMELESS it feels. And, as I am having Wolf Hall withdrawals nowadays, why not sit down and write about its timelessness?

Hilary Mantel’s writing and Peter Straughan’s wonderfully condensed script open a beautiful window to the intrigue and manipulation in the court of Henry VIII in the 16th century. Wolf Hall is such a dark, political animal that it is inevitable to chew on a little bit about its politics. Besides, both the book and the drama help us understand history through a contemporary perspective, and does it through its politics and in particular, through the contemporary conversations its characters have all the time.  Continue reading “Wolf Hall is Timeless”

Play Dress Up with Henry!

source: farfarawaysite.com
source: farfarawaysite.com

Wolf Hall is one of the best things that has ever happened to TV. And, as much as it fascinates us with its wonderful writing, directing and acting, it also mesmerizes us with its visuals, lighting, set designs and particularly, in my case, the costumes! I am in awe of the fabrics and designs, but also the research the costume team did to create the most authentic dresses possible for the production.

I recently heard this wonderful interview with theWolf Hall costume designer Joanna Eatwell where she shares her 30 years of experience in costume design and talks about her work in Wolf Hall. Continue reading “Play Dress Up with Henry!”

Wolf Hall on PBS, Episode 6: Master of Phantoms

"Those who have been made can be unmade." - Anne Boleyn
source: farfarawaysite.com
source: farfarawaysite.com

Henry never says good-bye…

Once he sees Wolsey is not able to fix a new wife for him… Henry never sees him again.

Once he realizes Katherine will not let him go, Henry leaves one morning without a good-bye, and never sees her again.

Once he takes back the chain of office from Thomas More as he resigns from his post as Lord Chancellor in a protest against Henry’s new bills… Henry never sees him again.

source: farfarawaysite.com
source: farfarawaysite.com

Finally… Once he leaves Anne at the jousting tournament at Greenwich, and rides back to Whitehall… Henry never sees her again. Continue reading “Wolf Hall on PBS, Episode 6: Master of Phantoms”