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My blog has quite a lot of posts about Samuel West (Julius Caesar, On Chesil Beach and Darkest Hour) and Charles Edwards (My Fair Lady Australian tour and Henry IX).

Sunday 22 March 2015

Samuel West - Guardian interview, Young Chekhov, Mr Selfridge


Sam discusses After Electra, family and music in the Guardian.

Sam, Anna Chancellor and James McArdle star in the Young Chekhov season at the Chichester Festival Theatre. He will play the title role in Ivanov and Trigorin in The Seagull (via his Twitter, @exitthelemming).
Platonov, Ivanov and The Seagull will be performed in repertory, 28 September to 14 November. Each play can be seen individually or on trilogy days - Saturdays 10, 17, 31 October and 14 November. These plays are new versions by David Hare; all will be directed by Jonathan Kent (CFT press release). 

ITV has commissioned a fourth series of Mr Selfridge. Regular cast members returning to the next series include Sam, Tom Goodman-Hill, Ron Cook, Amanda Abbington and Amy Beth Hayes (Variety).

Charles Edwards - Richard II, Arthur & George, Blithe Spirit, voiceovers

Charles will play Richard II in a production directed by Simon Godwin at the Globe, 11 July – 18 October. Press night is Wednesday 22 July 2015 (Shakespeare's Globe press office).
Charles has performed at the Globe - he played Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing in 2011. Godwin previously directed Charles in Strange Interlude (National Theatre, 2013) and Wanderlust (Royal Court, 2010).


screencap source: ITV

Arthur & George will be released on DVD 13 April (Amazon). Recent press about the series includes an article from the Birmingham Mail and a review from the Guardian:
"It has been translated sympathetically and successfully to the screen, with fine performances... Charles Edwards as Woodie, Sir Arthur’s manservant/secretary/friend/sidekick, something between Jeeves and … Dr Watson."

Charles has done voiceovers for a book trailer (Dance with Fireflies) and the short film Winds of Change (via hellyescharlesedwards).


screencap sources: SHN and CityTV

The Blithe Spirit North American tour ends in Washington DC at the National Theatre 29 March. The play's official website has further details about tickets.

The following press round up has been categorised by city/theatre.

Washington DC (National Theatre)
Interviews

Reviews
  • DC Metro Theater Arts, "Charles Edwards proves a comical delight as Charles, who starts out so suavely composed and sure of himself until these two very different-seeming wives team up to accuse him of having a “weak will.” Edwards shows us the funny side of male vanity, flayed and dissected through the genius of Noel Coward."
  • Baltimore Sun, "Edwards does impeccably timed work that recalls the lighter side of Cary Grant. And he gives Lansbury a run for her money in the department of prismatic facial expressions as things heat up between Wife No. 1 and Wife No. 2..."


San Francisco (Golden Gate Theatre)
Interviews
SHN video interview

Simon Jones (Dr Bradman) mentions Charles' approach to Noel Coward's dialogue in an interview with Groucho Reviews:
"his approach to Coward dialogue is the most refreshing I’ve ever encountered... the way Charlie delivers his lines has made them entirely conversational. Sometimes he doesn’t even finish a line, like conversations would be. But you know what the word would have been. Or he splits them up in the middle."

Reviews
  • Bay Area Plays, "some absolutely magical moments, most notably by Charles Edwards, who plays author and socialite fella Charles Condomine with a euphoric and conflicted flair... a dapper and debonair gent, a superb leading man"
  • Edge San Francisco, "As Condomine, Charles Edwards manages to inject his character with a charming (if rather spoiled) boyishness. And, as he veers between feeling tortured by his vying wives and basking in their jealous attention, we can't help but feel sympathy for his plight."
  • The Bay Area Reporter, "As Charles Condomine, Charles Edwards does solid and increasingly interesting work, as the reality of having two wives on the premises turns the character from amiable husband into an increasingly waspish budding misogynist."


Toronto (Princess of Wales Theatre)
Interviews

Reviews
  • Stage Door, "His use of pauses or coughs to emphasize a significant word brings out the wit in lines that often are passed over.  His timing is perfect, and he is masterful in detailing Charles’s ever increasing frustration..."
  • Torontoist, "Edwards is superb as the self-satisfied Charles"

Los Angeles (Ahmanson Theatre)
Interviews

Pictures from press night (Society News LA)

Reviews
  • Hollywood Reporter, "Edwards conjures equal doses of charm, wit and buffoonery, effortlessly walking the line between suave and silly, and never losing the audience’s sympathy, no matter how self-absorbed his behavior becomes."
  • Neon Tommy, "a nuanced, three dimensional performance from Edwards"
  • Gardena Valley News, "Charles Edwards is perfect as the dashing writer, Charles Condomine... as the Brits would say, “Spot on.”"

    Saturday 21 March 2015

    Samuel West - After Electra media round up


    After Electra closes 28 March at the Theatre Royal Plymouth. It will also be performed at the Tricycle Theatre 7 April-2 May.

    Reviews

    whatsonstage
    "Director Samuel West paces the piece beautifully with excellent timing and delivery, balancing laugh-out-loud wit and comedy with passionate declamation and pathos."

    Western Morning News
    "The play is dark and comic and director Samuel West brings his company together like a maestro conducting an orchestra. There is never a dull moment, but the story remains clear and clever."


    Interviews

    Plymouth Herald
    Front Row
    Radio 2 Arts Show (available on iPlayer Radio until late April) - from 6:40
    Devon Life [this interview features Sam and Theatre Royal Plymouth artistic director Simon Stokes]

    Videos

    Theatre Royal Plymouth - trailer


    whatsonstage - an interview with Sam and playwright April De Angelis


    Theatre Royal Plymouth - April De Angelis and Sam discuss the play