Sleazy Michael

Review of Old Vic Theatre

One of my Fave London Theatres Groundbreaking 5 St...

One of my Fave London Theatres Groundbreaking 5 Star Experience.

Over the years lost count of how many terrific productions seen here.

1999 the pure joy of Peter O Toole in Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell, his final theatre production before departing this life this was one of my earliest Old Vic experiences and to this day one of the most treasured memories. Will never forget the 100% standing ovation.

2000 was my first Matthew Bourne experience ( not the last! ) for the London premiere of Adventures in Motion Pictures The Car Man.

Kevin Spacey Old Vic Hero so many productions I enjoyed top of my list of course Richard 111

I loved how Kevin invested and sacrificed so much ( lucrative film offers ) to leap frog The Old Vic to superstardom some of the staging changes with the entire audience circling the stage was breathtaking and will never forget Kevin going right into the audience ( Clarence Darrow ).

Quite recently: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead 'Daniel Radcliffe and Joshua McGuire star in this revival of Tom Stoppard s play' BRILLIANT, a wow for King Lear Glenda Jackson.

Love this venue on EVERY level and it has pun intended Many Levels.
Well I have saved the best encounter for the finale!

Right Place Right Time: John Boyega Woyzeck FIRST NIGHT brilliant production, at the curtain call John looked mentally exploded you gave beyond 100%.

No big deal so far? I rarely these days do the stage door thing so resigned myself to the inevitability that John Boyzeck would not be popping down to the basement bar. I repeated my usual routine and bought my usual large glass of white wine hoping that maybe some of the cast would descend, just one cast member briefly popped in, the bar was unusually empty. Then I soon became aware of lots of voices and soon realized it was all happening in the Grand Circle Bar, briefly I thought well even if this is a special party the chances of John Boyega being there would be remote.

OK The Old Vic will now seriously tell me off I thought go for it! Went up the stairs and there was the inevitable security blocking my way, greeted by sorry this is a party for cast members and friends only.

Crestfallen I returned to the empty bar, but hey no big deal. A few minutes later the same security guy passed through the basement bar and went up to the street door. I then realized in a moment that the stairs would now be unprotected with low expectations I walked right into the party and the first person I noticed was OMG John Boyega, Within minutes I had my first encounter as I caught Johns attention his face suddenly beamed Wow look at the man this was a reference to my attire, the usual quite low key affair. I complimented John and confirmed on his Old Vic First night debut and then we shared a hug.

I stood back with my trusty Panasonic DMX and soon realized that John was getting ready to leave, I then thought it was now or never, at the stairs I managed to again catch his attention and asked politely if I could have a photo. YES! I later discovered that the lovely lady that took two photos now John we need one more with you on the other side was no less than Lupita Nyong o 12 Years a Slave one of my top five fims.

I could not stop smiling, just minutes later security asked me to leave, that was inevitable but hey Right Place Right Time and having BALLS got me this now or never moment which I will treasure as just one of so many of this fabulous theatre.