Lyric Hammersmith
Last night I had tickets for “pool, no water” in the Lyric Theater in Hammersmith. I have looked at the building often while strolling around the market on Thursdays, and wondered what it might be like inside. I think it is always interesting to explore new places, hidden from the world and not easily seen. You have to enter to find out. This one was definitely a winner!
The reception area really doesn’t look like much, in fact there even isn’t much space. You have to walk up two stairs in order to find yourself in an open bar area, which is inviting and modern at the same time. You can have a glass of wine, coffee or even a few sandwiches or cakes. Just right if you made it there straight after work and you haven’t had dinner.
The stage is again one floor up and you suddenly find yourself in a surrounding that could be an original old theater! It looks cosy and oldfashioned and although I am assuming that it is just made to look that way, it is not hard to immagine it’s real.
The play was chosen by my date and I do have my doubts about modern pieces. Nevertheless the music and lighting were very good and, although I would have liked somewhat more of a storyline, it was entertaining. Like in most modern pieces the actors needed about 15 minutes to be naked on stage (I never quite understood the necessity of it but I guess by now you are only allowed to call your play modern if at least one person is naked for some time), you had the must-have frantically running around part as well and more meaningful stares towards the ceiling than dialogue.
But, I am the first to admit, in the end it is all a matter of personal taste. The play was already on for some time and it was completely sold out. My number one modern-theater-experience will never be topped anyway: I once saw a play in Paris which lasted roughly three hours and in the end ALL the actors were frantically running around naked, demolishing a whole house that had been build on stage. That was too much, even for my tolerance level…
I should mention that there was the possibility of meeting the actors after the play in order to ask questions. We prefered having another glass of wine in the bar as we had to prepare our upcoming trip to Madrid, but next time that’s certainly something I would like to do.
I did enjoyed myself and will most definitely come back to see more!
Lyric Hammersmith
Lyric Square, King Street
London W6 0QL
Tickets: 08700 500 511
Look it up on the map
Comment by Jessica C. Moritz
Wow, that must have been quite of an experience! I\’ve never seen a play with naked people running frantically onstage but then again I am not really a theatre fan (although I think I\’m gonna change my mind about it)
Have fun in Madrid!
Posted on 18 November 2006 at 12:23 pm