The Blinding Light - Howard Brenton (Jermyn Street Theatre)

I know this isn't the point of the thread however they do incredible work at Jermyn Street but it is so expensive for space and reputation, despite being in the West End it isn't a West End theatre.

I don't mean to dismiss their accessible schemes, like cheap tickets for under 30s, but I wish it would at least consider a more tiered pricing structure.

This sounds interesting. Sorry to ask but, running time? I couldn't see it on the website. Thanks.

Thanks!

Saw this last night and, as neilvh said, the main attraction is seeing some great acting in a very intimate environment.

I didn't know anything about Strindberg as a person, so this was an interesting insight (assuming it's based in fact). It's a very traditional play - it's not breaking any ground or doing anything you haven't seen a thousand times before. And there were times when the writing felt quite creaky. But as a character study (of him at least - the three women were stick figure cliches) it was engaging, there were some interesting themes explored intelligently and the two main actors really sold it. The wavering of his mind was done really well, to the extent that I started seeing his point of view and half-believing in demons and succubi, etc, and I liked the fact that I never quite knew if the wives were a delusion or really visiting him. And his problem with women (and his other prejudices) was conveyed very well, so you recoil from him and feel a bit grubby while still finding him sympathetic.

Worth 90 minutes of my life, would probably have over-stayed its welcome if any longer.

It is really a study of madness, which is something I tend to find pretty tedious and this lacks any real plot or drama. For a play about a playwright, I was expecting more insight into Strindberg than I felt was there.

Jasper Britton didn't have the charisma I felt was required and because of that I was never really sold on it, although maybe there just wasn't enough good material in the script for him to work with.

I caught this play earlier this week and found it to be entirely what I thought/feared it would be: 90 minutes of histrionics about madness and the nature of creativity mixed with some awkwardly sandwiched in exposition about Strindberg's life and work. Brenton is a terrific playwright but here I think he was just treading water. The set was well-intentioned but badly executed and while Susannah Harker was giving a smart performance, Mr Britton's performance was one of those technical hysterical performances that one sees so often at the RSC. The less said about the other two somewhat fresh-from-drama school actresses the better. It all seemed so damned worthy and when it was over I really didn't feel as if I had learned anything about anyone. I hope Jermyn Street is able to up their game more successfully in the future.

Well said, Snciole - please can we either have a range of prices or "Choose your own seat" but preferably both. Maybe the new AD will deal with these issues in due course as there have been other changes already.