Comments on: Complicit

By: Cocktails

Cocktails — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:44:33 +0000

Thanks for posting that Anne. It is harsh, although I can see their point – you would expect the cast to know their lines by now! Having said that, Dreyfuss seemed to know them anyway. It must be just lack of confidence.

Good point about the wider reading of the play. I had honestly never thought of it that way. I read Complicit as a story about an individual grappling with their conscience and questioning the concept of of journalistic ethics. I suppose the give-away is in the title!

By: Anne Murphy

Anne Murphy — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:31:47 +0000

Hi Cocktails
This is one of the pieces I was talking about. Very unfair in my view:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/drama/4272686/Richard-Dreyfuss-play-postponed.html
I didn’t think the play was so much interested in Dreyfuss’s own journalistic dilemma as in using him to stand for of all those people who effectively gave the the US government a green light to use torture and rendition – either because they encouraged the notion that “well maybe the rules have changed and we have to be less squeamish” or because they were simply silent and so complicit with what was being done in their name. All that is necessary for evil to triumph is that good men do nothing….etc…”

By: Cocktails

Cocktails — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:02:05 +0000

Hello Anne, thanks for stopping by. I haven’t read any ‘official’ reviews of Complicit yet so wasn’t aware of any comments about Dreyfuss’s lines. Like you, although I noticed the prompt sitting in the front row, I didn’t feel it distracted at all. I thought that the dialogue was very fluid and I was certainly caught up in the play.

Like I mentioned above, I was really impressed by how much the performers put into this piece. They probably made it for me because I did find parts of the script a bit weak at times. Or maybe that’s just me not having any sympathy for morally confused journalists!

By: Anne Murphy

Anne Murphy — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:59:11 +0000

I also saw this in preview in the first week and thought it was brilliant. Both Dreyfuss and Suchet were outstanding. Dreyfuss gave his all and looked totally drained at the end, but it was one of the most satisfying performances I’ve seen in a long time (and I see a lot of plays). There have been some snide comments in the press about his not knowing his lines and needing an earpiece prompt; I saw the earpiece and thought that might be what it’s for, but I can’t imagine he used it much – the dialogue was fast and fluent and it’s hard to imagine he was using it much. Maybe after his bad experiences on stage he feels he needs it as a security blanket. Personally, I think Spacey should just have let him wear it. It certainly didn’t spoil the performance.

By: Cocktails

Cocktails — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:09:34 +0000

Yes, it’s the closest I’ll ever get to power and fame…

By: ishouldbeworking

ishouldbeworking — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 10:53:57 +0000

Good Lord, Bill Clinton? That’s Top Trumps!!

By: Cocktails

Cocktails — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:52:27 +0000

I had forgotten that he was in ‘Close Encounters’. I haven’t seen that for a long time either.

I think it was the acting that made the show. I didn’t particularly like the character that Dreyfuss plays and the script certainly needs a bit of tightening, but yes, it was a good night out. Almost as good as the time that I saw Bill Clinton at the Old Vic – I think we both might have been seeing the theatre version of All About My Mother!

By: ishouldbeworking

ishouldbeworking — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:29:11 +0000

I watched ‘Close Encounters’ a few weeks ago, not having seen it since it came out, and was really touched by his performance. He’s a really solid, unshowy character actor. Which is quite refreshing, really. Sounds like you had a great evening.

By: Cocktails

Cocktails — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 13:19:04 +0000

That’s exactly how I felt Keith. I knew his name, but it would never draw me to anything. He is great in this though. Maybe theatre has more impact on you too – I mean, there he is right in front of you and you can’t help but respond!

By: Keith

Keith — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 18:47:44 +0000

That’s great to hear. I’ve never really been a big fan of his. Not that I didn’t like him. I wouldn’t have gone see a movie just because he’s in it. He might be good in a movie I saw, but that was how I felt about him. That’s cool news to hear about this play.