OK, so it wasn't live, live as I couldn't get tickets for that, but this was an "encore performance" of a live transmission of show, which was seen at over 1000 cinemas worldwide, live as it was performed in front of an audience at the New Vic, London.
Now I know what we have great theatre productions here in Brum, but let's not be too precious here, anything that extends access to these shows has to be a good thing, right?
The Electric is just perfect for this sort of thing too, such a wonderful building, and anywhere you can get served beer and olives whilst at your seat can't really do anything wrong in my eyes.
So, what's it like going to see a play at a cinema? Surprisingly good, I felt. My main worry was whether the sound was going to be poor, echoing unnaturally and detracting from the nuance of the performance. I needn't have worried, the sound, and visuals, were captured well, whilst not trying to pretend that this wasn't live theatre - the audience were visible throughout, bringing the viewer into the experience.
As for the production? A really electrifying performance all around, with Gillian Anderson especially powerful as the doomed Blanche, all self-delusion and fluttering movement. It's not an easy watch, dealing as it does with some pretty grim subject matter, but leavened with moments of humour that just about make it bearable.
I imagine an actually live performance (as opposed to pre-recorded) would add an extra frisson to proceedings, really bringing the cinema viewer into the audience as much as those in the theatre itself, a feeling perhaps slightly distanced from those watching a recorded performance. However, whether live or recorded, this is a format which has a lot of potential, and kudos to the Electric for embracing it.
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