Thought I'd write a few words about the play Gloria that I went to see at the Hampstead Theatre, although it finishes tonight so it's unfortunately too late for anyone to go and see it!

I actually went to see this twice because I enjoyed it so much the first time. It's a lovely small theatre so you get a good view. I sat closer to the stage the second time which was brilliant. Also because it's a small theatre the tickets were much more reasonably priced!

It's a really timely play about the media and the commodification of tragedies. The first half is really funny revealing the horrible, ambitious bitching and backstabbing in the office of a New York magazine. Colin Morgan was hilarious as hungover Dean (the second time I saw it he had so much energy!) and Kae Alexander was brilliantly bitchy as Kendra. Then things take a very dark, distressing turn. Even though I had read a spoiler it was still very shocking, particularly the second time I saw the play because it was right in front of me.

The second act deals with the aftermath of tragedy and how the survivors deal with their experience while the world has moved on to the next tragedy. Dean and Kendra are competitively trying to market their books about the events of seven months before but Dean is struggling to come to terms about what happened. Colin Morgan was superbly moving in this scene and I wanted to rush up on stage and hug him when Dean has a panic attack! You discover later that Dean never has his book published but you never find out why - has he changed his mind and wants to get on with his life or did he take his own life as he hints at.

The final part of the play is two years later and in LA a TV company want to make a series out of what happened. Bo Paraj was brilliant in this part as Loren who was also dealing with what happened in act one and finally following his dream of studying law and ends up temping at the TV company to get some money. He's trying to make positive changes in his life but is broken down by the way his lived experience and the trauma of everyone involved that day has become something to sell for entertainment. Colin Morgan is hilarious as the stroppy IT guy in this scene.

Colin Morgan and Bo Paraj were both incredible in this. Their performances were in turns hilarious and deeply moving. The play was brilliantly well-written with lots of sharp, clever lines with humour and tragedy all rolled together. Very thought provoking theatre. I was thrilled to see Colin Morgan on stage because I'm a huge fan but the whole cast were wonderful. Apart from Bo Paraj the actors all play 2 - 3 different characters a device the writer has used to great effect to demonstrate the inevitable way life goes on but also nothing changes. The other cast were Sian Clifford, Ellie Kendrick and Bayo Gbadamosi.

Just discovered that Colin was rushing off after the show each night to do filming (I presume he was also filming during the day too) and was doing 16 hour days. Even more impressed now by the energy and commitment he put into his performance. How do you work on two different scripts and characters and give them both your all?! 

-- Edited by RPLovesIpswich on Saturday 29th of July 2017 02:25:26 PM

-- Edited by RPLovesIpswich on Sunday 30th of July 2017 01:23:07 PM

Wow, Rosie, this is a great report. I notice how enthusiastically you are. I must say I do not know Colin Morgan. But he has already done a lot. 

It looks in such a way that it is not almost possible to get still tickets for King Lear in Chichester.

So I will go at the middle of August in my hometown to the event „ Shakespeare in the park“. This takes place every year in summer for one week in our big park and is a little tradition. Indeed, I was not yet there. I only start with theatre.

I hope the weather becomes a little better, because it takes place only in good weather.

I've looked on the internet. I remember the face. I just do not know where I've seen him. Merlin maybe ?? Definitely in The Fall. From Merlin I've only seen 1 or 2 episodes.

I thank you. 
Yes, it will be "Much Ado About Nothing". Gladly I wanted to see Richard III or, like you "A Midsummer Night's Dream", but these days I have no time. It would have been funny if my first play had been the same play you have seen.

It's totally a pity. My Shakespeare in the park was canceled. It is raining the whole time. 

What a bad summer.

Maybe I go to the theater in winter.