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Playwrights => Steven Berkoff discussion => Topic started by: Iain Fisher on February 21, 2008, 09:27:54 PM

Title: On the Waterfront
Post by: Iain Fisher on February 21, 2008, 09:27:54 PM
Berkoff's On The Waterfront is about to be announced.

Details soon.

Iain
Title: Re: On the Waterfront
Post by: Len on March 12, 2008, 09:02:47 PM
The Nottingham playhouse will be staging 'On The Waterfront' from April 18th till May 3rd. According to the Radio Two interview with the great man himself it will then be going on to the West End. I'm going to see the production and I cannot wait!
Len
Title: Re: On the Waterfront
Post by: Iain Fisher on May 06, 2008, 02:23:39 AM
What did you think of it?

I saw it a few days ago and liked it a lot.  Typical good original direction by Berkoff with lots of mime- the man falling to his death done by a man standing on the stage, and ensemble work.  The staging used a backdrop, and chairs and nothing else.  The music, playing almost always throughout, was mainly 50s rock'n' roll.

I thought there were two failings.  The lead actress was poor in scenes where she had to be hysterical or angry.  She was very good in the quieter scenes, but these were far fewer.  The ending was very subtle, but so subtle most people did not realise it was the end and the actors were coming forward for applause without the audience realising it had ended.  It needed a small change, even as crude as a blackout on stage, to help the audience.

But these points don't diminish how good the production was and I look forward to when it comes to London, and interested to see if there will be any changes.

Iain
Title: Re: On the Waterfront
Post by: Lenny Love on May 09, 2008, 12:58:06 PM
I totally agree with your comment on how the play ended. It needed more of a finality as opposed to the dramatic silence of a bowing ensemble. I personally thought the actress playing Edie was phenomenal. I especially enjoyed the actors portraying the pigeon coop. Pure Berkoff physicality mingled with a wry sense of humour set in what could have potentially been a really dark play.
Title: Re: On the Waterfront
Post by: charlien5 on May 16, 2008, 03:36:46 PM
hi

do you know when "on the waterfront is coming to london as i would love to book tickets?

thanks

charlie
Title: Re: On the Waterfront
Post by: Iain Fisher on May 19, 2008, 04:58:13 PM
I don't think there are any dates confirmed yet.  When they are announced I will post, as well as put them on the news page of the site.

Recommended, I want to see it again!!

Iain
Title: Re: On the Waterfront
Post by: Iain Fisher on June 06, 2008, 11:32:55 PM
On The Waterfront is likely to be at the Edinburgh Festival this year.  Interesting to see if there will be any changes to the show.  More details when I have them.
Title: On the Waterfront in Edinburgh
Post by: Iain Fisher on June 26, 2008, 12:54:05 PM
As expected On the Waterfront will be performed at the Edinburgh Festival.

It is on at the Pleasance Courtyard from 31 Jul-25 Aug 2008.  Details are here
www.pleasance.co.uk/edinburgh/listings/theatre (http://www.pleasance.co.uk/edinburgh/listings/theatre) and here
www.iainfisher.com/berkoff/berkoff-news.html (http://www.iainfisher.com/berkoff/berkoff-news.html)

Iain
Title: Actors from On the Waterfront
Post by: Iain Fisher on August 14, 2008, 12:42:36 PM
From interviews with the actors in On The Waterfront:

“If you know anything about Berkoff, his background is in mime and he’s very much into this sort of powerful, slow motion movement.  It’s effective.  It’s amazing what he can produce with very little in the way of props,” says Sean Buckley, who plays Pop Doyle in On The Waterfront.

“Okay, there’s this guy got to be thrown off the top of a five-storey building; how are we going to do that?”
...
Under Berkoff’s direction, the production takes a typically  minimalist approach, featuring nothing but 12 actors,12 chairs and some effective use of lighting.
...
Buckley describes the processes leading to the mime sequences in the play, which grew out of workshop sessions in 2006.

“You start at the beginning and you think: ‘Okay, there’s this guy got to be thrown off the top of a three or five-storey building or whatever; how are we going to do that?

“So you work it and you discover a way of doing it, with lights, and with slow motion – and it seems to work. It’s been received very positively.  Some people can’t get on with the slow-mo stuff, but I think they soon forget about it.  You forget that there’s mime involved and you actually start ‘seeing’ the stuff that you’re miming.”

Vincenzo Nicoli, who plays the priest Father Barry in the production, agrees: “12 chairs, 12 costumes, that’s basically it.  There’s no intricate, realistic, ultra-naturalistic set or anything.

“I think it’s probably easier for the actor, because you can create a whole world and ask the audience to imagine what you’re creating.  So each and every audience member has their own idea in their head about what they’re seeing - there’s nothing in the way.”

And how was it to work under the direction of Mr Berkoff?
“Very, very intense. He’s a man who knows what he wants, he’s got a vision and he makes sure he gets it.  So, yes, you have to work very closely with him and take note of what he tells you,” laughs Buckley, before adding: “but he’s a good lad.”

The link is here
www.edinburghfestivals.co.uk/view_item.aspx?item_id=50384 (http://www.edinburghfestivals.co.uk/view_item.aspx?item_id=50384)

Title: Berkoff interview
Post by: Iain Fisher on August 15, 2008, 12:21:18 AM
The BBC coverage of the Edinburgh Festival today included an interview with Berkoff about On the Waterfront.

(http://www.iainfisher.com/berkoff/berkoff-on-waterfront-2.jpg)

Good news, you can see it here:
www.bbc.co.uk/cultureshow/videos/2008/08/edinb_s5_e1_waterfront_extra (http://www.bbc.co.uk/cultureshow/videos/2008/08/edinb_s5_e1_waterfront_extra)
Title: Re: On the Waterfront in London 2009
Post by: Iain Fisher on January 12, 2009, 01:45:28 AM
On The Waterfront will be at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London from the end of January 2009.  More details soon.
Title: Re: On the Waterfront
Post by: Iain Fisher on January 18, 2009, 08:51:37 PM
The London premiere is at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 29 Jan 2009 onwards.  The good news is that Berkoff will act in the play.

The cast is Steven Berkoff (Johnny Friendly), Simon Merrells (Terry Malloy), Vincenzo Nicoli (Father Barry), Coral Beed (Edie Doyle), Antony Byrne (Charley Malloy), Alexander Thomas, Ian Gofton, Sean Buckley, Alex McSweeny, Dominic Grant, Alex Giannini and Gavin Marshall.

Details are here:
www.iainfisher.com/berkoff/berkoff-news.html (http://www.iainfisher.com/berkoff/berkoff-news.html)
Title: Re: On the Waterfront
Post by: Iain Fisher on February 10, 2009, 11:49:28 PM
You can see a promotional video, with Berkoff talking about the play and excerpts from the performance.

(http://www.iainfisher.com/berkoff/steven-berkoff-on-the-waterfront.jpg)

The video is here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v4uBQMLaLk&NR=1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v4uBQMLaLk&NR=1)
Title: Re: On the Waterfront
Post by: Iain Fisher on March 02, 2009, 11:59:21 PM
I saw it with Berkoff.  Even better than the Nottingham version, and Berkoff was on form, at times playing his role like Don Corleone from The Godfather.

Though again I didn't like the girl, and the ending, where the audience don't realise the actors are taking a bow is artistically good but it doesn't work on stage, it embarrasses the audience.

But these are minor, it is well worth seeing, Berkoff on top form.
Title: Re: On the Waterfront
Post by: Iain Fisher on August 06, 2009, 11:22:54 AM
Budd Schulberg who wrote the screenplay for On the Waterfront has died aged 95.
Schulberg won an Oscar for the screenplay of Waterfont.
Title: Re: On the Waterfront- Hong Kong
Post by: Iain Fisher on January 27, 2010, 11:03:23 PM
On the Waterfront moves to Hong Kong from 13- 20 Mar 2010.