Review: We are all Sonya
Richard Armitage Excels In Self-Directed Impromptu Performance
by Guylty Pleasure
Ever dreamed of acting on the same stage as Richard Armitage? Now you can! The Brit actor has returned to his theatre roots once again, and in an exciting twist performs a self-devised continuation to Uncle Vanya immediately after starring in the concurrently running Chekhov classic.
After The Stage Door (2014, Borough of Lambeth pavement) and Stage Door Runner (2016, off-Broadway sidewalk), seasoned live performer Richard Armitage revisits his experimental theatre ambitions once again, this time outside the Harold Pinter Theatre in London. In the four years that have passed since the handsome actor last dipped his toes in devising, directing and performing in this innovative yet most demanding of genres, the multi-talented thesp has put in further research for his self-produced sideline at red carpet events and fan conventions. The result is a smooth yet extremely evocative new production that is bound to prove a major success in the current theatre season.
It is a mild but wet January evening when the curtains rise for the first time on Richard Armitage’s latest production. 30 minutes after devastating the seated audience in the neighbouring Harold Pinter Theatre as a passionate but ignorant Doctor Astrov who blindly rejects the love offered to him by a young woman in favour of chasing unattainable bliss with someone else, Armitage takes the play outside the stage door and puts his philosophy into practice. His fans might disagree when he says that the audience isn’t there to see *him* do something, but “the point is,” Armitage explains, “I am there to help them feel something”. And feel something they do.
Armitage’s plot is simple, yet effective: Unannounced and unaccompanied, the actor steps outside the stage door where the audience has already assembled. As mobile phones flash, the assembled (predominantly female) public fixes their adoring gaze on the dashing “doctor”, (mostly) silently desiring the attention and autograph of the performer. In a twist to the original play, Armitage receives and returns the admiration with wide smiles and upbeat snippets of conversation, bending down to scribble his signature on the offered memorabilia, and gracefully fulfilling each and every selfie request. For a moment, we are all Sonya. Hopelessly in love with Doctor Astrov, as Armitage lets himself be enveloped in the admiration of his fans. And we are all Sonya once again when Armitage returns back to the stage door after he has signed all the autographs and accepted all the gifts: Disappointed that he has had to go and we will not see him again.
Armitage’s “Theatre of the Ad Hoc” is not for the timid. It demands courage, spontaneity, improvisation and water-resistance (on a wet January evening) – qualities that the 48-year-old has demonstrated time and again in his many film, TV and theatre roles. And after experimentation with human barriers (2014) and cordons (2016), Armitage’s decision to reduce the stage setting to the invisible circle of respect, is a brave show of trust in his audience. This is fan fiction at the highest level, bringing the bare essentials of the play (albeit covered with a sexy, waisted black leather number) straight to the Sonyas. “And you are awfully pleased about it, awfully…!”, says Astrov. Touché!
No doubt the first preview was an advance view of Doctor Astrov that allows the enterprising writer/director/performer a chance to test the waters and let the show settle down. There will be tweaks, and the performer will most likely get his part down ever more smoothly. But from this very earliest of stages, the show looks to be another resounding success, not least thanks to the committed and cordial involvement of the audience in the impromptu play. With the theatre-goers generously sharing pens, gracefully stepping out of the way to let others have a glimpse, and offering to take photos of each other, the play has received a promising start. It is to be hoped that the star of the show will continue to delight his audience by unswervingly sticking to this original script in the coming weeks. In the words of Sonya, “Then we shall rest.”
“Doctor Astrov” is performed Monday to Saturday at approx. 10.30pm outside the Harold Pinter Theatre, London until May 2nd, 2020. The event is unticketed and free. Spaces subject to availability. The performance is rated PG 13 (Parents strongly cautioned – some material may be inappropriate for children under 13). Observers welcome, participants are advised to bring writing material and/or camera as only autograph and photo requests will elicit reactive involvement in the performance of Mr Armitage.
———🌲🌳🌴 ———
DISCLAIMER/DISCLOSURE: The adage “Sonya” in this spoof review is used with the utmost of love and respect and is not intended as a put-down of the character Sonya in Chekhov’s play Uncle Vanya, any fan of Richard Armitage’s, or any Sonya, alive or deceased. Not least because yours truly’s real name is actually “Sonja”, too.
I am SO fucking jealous!
LikeLike
Sorry ;-). The good thing: There are bound to be lots and lots of pictures every night for the next 12 weeks!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh my goodness this was everything!!! A total riot from start to finish. I loved it.
I’m rather looking forward to mine, Kate and LoLo’s interpretations of Sonya in March. I have no doubt that all the performers at the stage door will be equally as gracious and generous with their writing implements and photography skills – just hope that Richard’s script won’t change too much by then!!
A fantastically well-written blog post, I really felt as though I was actually there!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw, geez Louise, that’s really nice coming from you, queen of the quips 😉
I can tell you, there are worse things than being a Sonya – in *that* particular context. He was all smiles and sweets, and I have actually just seen a tweet from tonight’s SD that prove he is also a copped-on nice guy.
PS: May a RL Sonya/Sonja join your gaggle of Sonyas in March, too?
LikeLiked by 3 people
Queen of the quips?! Wow what an accolade!! Thank you, I will gladly take that!!
And you *never* need an invitation, you are *always* welcome to Sony(j)a along with us any time you like!!! It would be a real treat to have you there!!xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is so sweet. Not familiar with the slang “copped-on”. Googling didn’t clear up my confusion. Please help?
LikeLike
oops, maybe that is Irish slang? It means something like “clever, cunning”.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great post! So glad you were able to have this experience and share it with us once again. (Funny how he always looks so slight… and yet when you see him like that amongst a crowd of people, you realize what a big guy he actually is.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hehe, the usual spoof to start me off. It was a truly great experience, and that actually includes the play and RA’s performance. I was glad I decided to go for it.
And yes, he really stands out with his height, not only at the SD but on stage, too.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Height and build, as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for making me snigger and smile. ❤
Ahhh. I wish I could meet him someday. T_T
LikeLiked by 1 person
What else can we do but provide sport for our neighbours – or how does Mr Bennett phrase it in P&P? It’s all fun, all of it – being there in the moment, and reflecting on it. Glad if the fun of it came through in the post 🙂 And fingers crossed that you get to experience him live some day, too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful! Hope you’ll be posting some of your lovely pics? 🙂 And did any of the other actors make an appearance?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have a few pics on my phone, blurry and dark, not great, but I’ll include them in future posts that will look at the play and the performance itself.
As for other actors – yesterday only Anna Calder Marshall appeared at the SD as she was leaving. Not sure if the other actors came out at a later stage. I left once RA had returned into the theatre.
LikeLiked by 2 people
maybe they escape via the front door/? ol
LikeLike
Could be. Although during the previews, it’s easily possible that the cast reconvenes after the show for an immediate critique to discuss what works and what doesn’t, and hence they don’t all exit and go home immediately?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m just amused by the thought of them sneaking by and no one noticing 😊
LikeLike
Especially if they left in plain view – through the main door! 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think I saw a pic of Ciarán Hinds somewhere, so maybe they came out later.
LikeLike
Excellent story, thank you!!! It is definitely theatre in the round with all parties contributing, isn’t it?
LikeLike
This time it was definitely “theatre in the round”, you are right. And it worked really well, because there was no shoving or pushing even though the space was very limited.
LikeLike
And the director very, very firmly in charge.
LikeLike
Yes, although subtly and with finesse 😉
LikeLike
Awww, Thank you for sharing your experience! I loved, loved, loved what you wrote. From the pics I saw, he looked relaxed and engaged! So jealous!
LikeLike
You’re welcome. It was just my first response. I am going to dive into a clear account without humorous tangents in another post.
Here’s hoping it will stay like this for the rest of the run.
LikeLike
😂
I’ll be very interested to see how his performance has developed in, say, a month’s time.
LikeLike
There are bound to be changes. At the side of the building they already had barriers, which were not put up for the first SD, though. Hopefully RA continues to meet his fans after the show like he has done before. It was evident that it really means so much to his fans that he does.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope it stays relaxed.
LikeLike
Yep. But I am sure that is the intention of all participants, including RA.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Zee says it all really hehe!
Honestly, I loved reading this. I have been waiting for these first pics and accounts for what seems like ages. Sounds like the stage door was a first class act by everyone involved. Hopefully Richard can maintain the momentum for the whole run. Do you think this role will be as exhausting as Proctor? The poor man seemed drained and dazed each time he did SD back then.
PS I think I would’ve died a little every time I heard my name spoken by him *sigh*
LikeLike
The first SD was definitely a good experience. And yes, we also remarked that RA seemed much less exhausted than he did at the Crucible SD. Astrov is not nearly as demanding, I think – and he doesn’t die every night.
And yes, I admit it gave me a bit of a thrill to hear RA say my name 😉 Now, if there was a recording of that available anywhere, I’d love to have that as the message tone on my phone *hehe*
LikeLiked by 2 people
What a fabulous idea! ❤️
LikeLike
IIRC stage door at The Crucible previews was similarly relaxed. It seemed to become more fraught as time went on when increasing numbers of professional autograph hunters appeared. Just an impression I have after nearly six years, am probably way off track in my thinking!!
LikeLike
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ PER ARDUA AD ASTROV.
THEATRE OF THE AD HOC. London, 14th January.
Don’t miss this sparkling piece of entertainment as one Sonya boldly goes where all the others wish they’d gone themselves.
All human life and emotion is here as the intrepid reviewer braves the elements and shoebox overnight accommodation to paint her skilful picture of the scene, executed by one of the most talented directors of theatreland. As always he extracts a meaningful performance from the supporting roles, and Sonja is there through every sigh and thud, making us experience each lingering detail with her.
“Unmissable… A must read…” JennyS.
“Don’t skip this or you will kick yourself…” Everyone else.
This Sonja’s review of Doctor Astrov is available to read now on her Worldpress page.
LikeLiked by 2 people
😂Nice one, Jenny! A five star review for the review? I think that is unheard of 🤣Love it!
LikeLike
He he! Brilliant! And Sonya, of course! How thrilling. Maybe there will be a digital version so you could record your name spoken through his lips!
LikeLike
Oooh, yes, that would be great. I’d love to have it on tape…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Like Esther! Lol
LikeLike
Yep, exactly. Lucky her!!! 😉
LikeLike
Pingback: Mrs Maisel, The Stranger & Uncle Vanya | The Book of Esther
Oh, thank you for the link love, Esther 🙂
LikeLike