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‘A loving, haunting play, done very beautifully’: BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY – National Theatre ★★★★

In London theatre, Opinion, Other Recent Articles, Plays, Reviews by Libby PurvesLeave a Comment

Pearl Cleage’s 1995 play Blues for an Alabama Sky creates a world, the world of dreamers in the fading Harlem renaissance, the Depression starting to bite. It’s domestic: Frankie Bradshaw’s fabulous set has two fire escapes, a hallway, steps, rooms high and low, balcony (where we glimpse other neighbours, sometimes with quiet harmonies sung). Outside the street is barred with lamplight.

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‘Some may find it ponderous while others will be fascinated’: BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY – National Theatre

In London theatre, Opinion, Other Recent Articles, Plays, Reviews by Maryam PhilpottLeave a Comment

Looking across cultural representations of women in the past 100 years it is possible to draw connections between characters such as Hester Collier in Terence Rattigan’s The Deep Blue Sea, Patrick Hamilton’s Jenny from Twenty Thousand Streets Under the Sky, even up to Kyo Choi’s Kim Han-See in The Apology, all of whom are in pursuit of a fantasy life that will never be fulfilled. Pearl Cleage’s Blues for an Alabama Sky, opening at the National Theatre, adds another unknowingly tragic heroine to that list, singer Angel who will grasp at an opportunity to get out of Harlem in 1930.

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NEWS: Jenna Coleman & Colin Morgan are cast in All My Sons at The Old Vic as National Theatre Live broadcast announced

In Native, News, Plays, Press Releases, Sticky by Press ReleasesLeave a Comment

The Old Vic and Headlong Theatre’s production of Arthur Miller’s All My Sons, directed by Jeremy Herrin and starring Sally Field and Bill Pullman with Jenna Coleman and Colin Morgan will be broadcast live from The Old Vic to cinemas around the UK and internationally on 14 May 2019 as part of National Theatre Live.

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NEWS: Martha Plimpton will star in the UK premiere of Lynn Nottage’s play Sweat at the Donmar Warehouse

In London theatre, Native, Plays, Press Releases by Press ReleasesLeave a Comment

The Donmar Warehouse has announced full casting for Lynette Linton’s production of Sweat by Lynn Nottage (7 December 2018 to 26 January 2019, press night is 19 December). The line-up includes Martha Plimpton, Leanne Best, Patrick Gibson, Osy Ikhile, Wil Johnson, Stuart McQuarrie, Clare Perkins, Sule Rimi and Sebastian Viveros.