When Harry Met Sally
Created | Updated Apr 4, 2005
I think I had what she is having. A review of" When Harry Met Sally" (Feb 23, 2004)
I love the Theatre. It is a deeply personal experience. There is always such an air of expectancy. The audience fidgets,moves, murmers: such a vibrant atmosphere. When eventually the lights dim and the overture starts, or there is a rustle behind the curtain, your whole being tenses with anticipation. Just imagine what it is like for the poor person just the other side of that thin veil. She is about to expose herself to the audience. There is no celluloid canvas to hide behind. No-one to say "cut". The Director can no more nurture and advise. It will be just her. No mask, no disguise. She will either succeed and win the adoration of her audience, or fail and be booed off the stage, or worse still be met with utter indifference.
Do you remember the time in school when you were forced into being Prospero,or Puck. When you stood and chanted the barely remembered lines without inflection or pause, all the time knowing that the girl you had fancied for the last five years of your schooldays and never dared to approach was gazing at your performance with such an air of disgust that there would be no stage door in the world far enough removed to help your escape. Imagine that feeling in a beautiful theatre, Your own reputation on the line, 800 people including your own husband and peers; and the curtain goes up. It is just you.
It was just Alyson, in red top and cargos, hair loose, playing a comedy scene with no dialogue, defining a character with few props, and did'nt she look beautiful! Sally is always going to be a more demanding part to play than is immediately obvious. It is a comedy play where the main girl is uptight and repressed but feels that she is progressive and a 'New Woman' . She must play comedy but with enough pathos to gain our sympathy not our disdain.
Aly is still working with her stage persona. She is a natural screen actress, She has a natural presence, but she had to work hard at her stage voice to project it into the Theatre. Then Luke Perry arrived as Harry the painter and I was impressed by his confidence and skill on stage. I relaxed because you could immediately see that the two of them were going to work together to bring this thing to life.
The sets were simple, there is always a conflict between lavish sets and the need to keep the narrative moving. In a drama you can afford to have a delay for scene changing , drama thrives on the maturating interval. With comedy it is essential to keep the story flowing quickly . I think they got it about right. With simple sets, there is a higher demand on the princpals. I remember an RSC production of the Tempest in which the only prop was a pole which was variously used as a mast, a tree and a weapon depending on the context. Here we had a few simple items of furniture and the occasional backdrop.
I steadfastly refused to watch the film again. I have not seen it for twenty years and so many of the dialogue threads were a refreshing memory. That a man can not be 'just friends' with a woman. I have used and abused this concept but totally forgotten where it came from. Harrys penchant for sneaking out. No, I havent used that!
Sharon Small and Jake Broder ably supported the principals. I met her later and she was really nice....and small!
The major surprise was Luke Perry. He was so endearing in the role of Harry that you almost felt that the play must have been When Luke met Alyson. He is an accomplished stage actor, authority, presence, acute comedic timing, and not bad looking either. Having seen brief extracts of Beverly Hills 90210 and only been impressed by his brattishness, it rather points up the quality of his acting.
I know you are waiting for my impartial judgement about Alyson Hannigans performance. As if!. I do not have the ability to be impartial, so all you serious theatre types stop reading now. As George Bernard Shaw said, " A drama critic is a man who leaves no turn unstoned." I am not a critic I am a Theatre goer.
She was a delight from beginning to end. I am not going to pretend that she is a great stage actress yet. She is not ready for the Elizabeth Taylor role in Virginia Wolfe, We won't see her in breakfast at Tiffanys...yet.
Just imagine, never having been on the professional stage before, coming from America to an historical theatre built in 1720 which has seen Lauren Bacall, Helen Mirren and Vanessa Redgrave take centre stage. Just imagine recreating a film part that is universally recognised in 20 languages, that defined the career of the actress who originally created it. How much courage does that take? You can answer yes or no when an opportunity like that arrives. Take the safe option and go with the movies, stay with the sitcoms or even rest on your 'Buffy' laurels. Miss Hannigan chose to do the hard yards. To come here and stand on stage, nothing between her and the audience, nothing between her and the critics. An actor is dependent on the writer, the set designer, the director, all the people who put together a production are crystalised in the person of the lead actor. She has made absolutely the right decision. The audience loved her. She is naturally endearing and her performance gave Sally a new life.
There were some wonderful moments. Some great physical comedy in the bar. I had forgotten that Sally has quite a tearful time at the end of the piece. She melted my heart yet again, as she did as Willow and again as Michelle. Real tears appeared on her cheek and she and Luke guided the scene from heartache to comedy without a join.
She was condemned to the green taffeta bridesmaids dress,just as she was in Buffy and even spilt some champagne on it when she returned her drink to the tray. How anyone can look lovely in such a dress is beyond me, but she did.
The final scene, taking place at the millenial New years party. I wondered if Luke was trying to hold it until she breaks before he delivers his line. Beautiful dress in this scene. We were all so happy when it worked out even though we already knew the ending. That is the power of the actor. To make you want the happy ending.
Alyson is a great actress and will be recognised as such one day. She will not follow the trail to Bimboland. I see her in areas that Theresa Russell inhabits, where Meryl Streep fears to tread, that Jessica Lange occupied in an earlier age.
I did not mention "that scene" did I? Go and see it yourself, you will not be disappointed. I loved the updated twist at the end.
Thank you Alyson and Luke, we all had a wonderful time and we are the real critics.
Carlyle Ferris,
I love the Theatre. It is a deeply personal experience. There is always such an air of expectancy. The audience fidgets,moves, murmers: such a vibrant atmosphere. When eventually the lights dim and the overture starts, or there is a rustle behind the curtain, your whole being tenses with anticipation. Just imagine what it is like for the poor person just the other side of that thin veil. She is about to expose herself to the audience. There is no celluloid canvas to hide behind. No-one to say "cut". The Director can no more nurture and advise. It will be just her. No mask, no disguise. She will either succeed and win the adoration of her audience, or fail and be booed off the stage, or worse still be met with utter indifference.
Do you remember the time in school when you were forced into being Prospero,or Puck. When you stood and chanted the barely remembered lines without inflection or pause, all the time knowing that the girl you had fancied for the last five years of your schooldays and never dared to approach was gazing at your performance with such an air of disgust that there would be no stage door in the world far enough removed to help your escape. Imagine that feeling in a beautiful theatre, Your own reputation on the line, 800 people including your own husband and peers; and the curtain goes up. It is just you.
It was just Alyson, in red top and cargos, hair loose, playing a comedy scene with no dialogue, defining a character with few props, and did'nt she look beautiful! Sally is always going to be a more demanding part to play than is immediately obvious. It is a comedy play where the main girl is uptight and repressed but feels that she is progressive and a 'New Woman' . She must play comedy but with enough pathos to gain our sympathy not our disdain.
Aly is still working with her stage persona. She is a natural screen actress, She has a natural presence, but she had to work hard at her stage voice to project it into the Theatre. Then Luke Perry arrived as Harry the painter and I was impressed by his confidence and skill on stage. I relaxed because you could immediately see that the two of them were going to work together to bring this thing to life.
The sets were simple, there is always a conflict between lavish sets and the need to keep the narrative moving. In a drama you can afford to have a delay for scene changing , drama thrives on the maturating interval. With comedy it is essential to keep the story flowing quickly . I think they got it about right. With simple sets, there is a higher demand on the princpals. I remember an RSC production of the Tempest in which the only prop was a pole which was variously used as a mast, a tree and a weapon depending on the context. Here we had a few simple items of furniture and the occasional backdrop.
I steadfastly refused to watch the film again. I have not seen it for twenty years and so many of the dialogue threads were a refreshing memory. That a man can not be 'just friends' with a woman. I have used and abused this concept but totally forgotten where it came from. Harrys penchant for sneaking out. No, I havent used that!
Sharon Small and Jake Broder ably supported the principals. I met her later and she was really nice....and small!
The major surprise was Luke Perry. He was so endearing in the role of Harry that you almost felt that the play must have been When Luke met Alyson. He is an accomplished stage actor, authority, presence, acute comedic timing, and not bad looking either. Having seen brief extracts of Beverly Hills 90210 and only been impressed by his brattishness, it rather points up the quality of his acting.
I know you are waiting for my impartial judgement about Alyson Hannigans performance. As if!. I do not have the ability to be impartial, so all you serious theatre types stop reading now. As George Bernard Shaw said, " A drama critic is a man who leaves no turn unstoned." I am not a critic I am a Theatre goer.
She was a delight from beginning to end. I am not going to pretend that she is a great stage actress yet. She is not ready for the Elizabeth Taylor role in Virginia Wolfe, We won't see her in breakfast at Tiffanys...yet.
Just imagine, never having been on the professional stage before, coming from America to an historical theatre built in 1720 which has seen Lauren Bacall, Helen Mirren and Vanessa Redgrave take centre stage. Just imagine recreating a film part that is universally recognised in 20 languages, that defined the career of the actress who originally created it. How much courage does that take? You can answer yes or no when an opportunity like that arrives. Take the safe option and go with the movies, stay with the sitcoms or even rest on your 'Buffy' laurels. Miss Hannigan chose to do the hard yards. To come here and stand on stage, nothing between her and the audience, nothing between her and the critics. An actor is dependent on the writer, the set designer, the director, all the people who put together a production are crystalised in the person of the lead actor. She has made absolutely the right decision. The audience loved her. She is naturally endearing and her performance gave Sally a new life.
There were some wonderful moments. Some great physical comedy in the bar. I had forgotten that Sally has quite a tearful time at the end of the piece. She melted my heart yet again, as she did as Willow and again as Michelle. Real tears appeared on her cheek and she and Luke guided the scene from heartache to comedy without a join.
She was condemned to the green taffeta bridesmaids dress,just as she was in Buffy and even spilt some champagne on it when she returned her drink to the tray. How anyone can look lovely in such a dress is beyond me, but she did.
The final scene, taking place at the millenial New years party. I wondered if Luke was trying to hold it until she breaks before he delivers his line. Beautiful dress in this scene. We were all so happy when it worked out even though we already knew the ending. That is the power of the actor. To make you want the happy ending.
Alyson is a great actress and will be recognised as such one day. She will not follow the trail to Bimboland. I see her in areas that Theresa Russell inhabits, where Meryl Streep fears to tread, that Jessica Lange occupied in an earlier age.
I did not mention "that scene" did I? Go and see it yourself, you will not be disappointed. I loved the updated twist at the end.
Thank you Alyson and Luke, we all had a wonderful time and we are the real critics.
Carlyle Ferris,
