There is nothing I love more than getting a text out of the blue from my best friend Sophie saying she has bought us Theatre tickets… even better when she doesn’t even tell me what she’s booked us and I just get a message saying ‘I’ve booked us tickets to see that play on the 4th November.’ Urm okay???
Turns out ‘that play’ was Venus in Fur, which I wont lie, I had never heard of before, but I actually LOVE going to see plays and musicals which I have to prior knowledge of.
So I booked the weekend off work and stayed in London, read my last blog post to see what other antics I got up to.
Venus in Fur’s run is taking place at the Theatre Royal Haymarket,London which was a lovely theatre. Compared to the theatres, the seats were very uncomfortable and the interior wasn’t particularly extravagant. However I liked the exterior of the theatre as it had grand pillars / columns.
As per usual, prior to the show I checked out the bar. I was left with mixed feelings. There were no seats, but the house didn’t open until very close to curtains up, so I had quite a while to just stand in the bar, which wasn’t ideal as I had been on my feet all day and just wanted to sit and relax with a g&t before the show. Secondly, I know the drinks weren’t going to be as cheap as Spoons but £9 for one drink is a bit extreme, considering the tickets for the show were only £15. However the bar did manage to win my heart back because it had a huge mirror great for selfies.
But obviously the bar isn’t the reason why I visited the theatre, so my opinion of the bar is irreverent when reviewing the show.
Venus in Fur is a 2 person play and it’s a play within play. It’s set in a studio in New York where Thomas Novachek has just held auditions for the lead Wanda Von Dunayev for his play adaption of the 1870 novel Venus in Fur. However he has no luck… until a very brash and vulgar Vonda Jordan arrives late to audition, she manages to convince Thomas to let her audition for Wanda. It doesn’t go off to a great start. However things then make a dramatic change as they start to read through the script. Vonda is beyond prepared with her bag full of s&m props and period costumes, just knows the part inside out with a phenomenal knowledge, bringing great insight to Thomas. Both Thomas and Vonda become completely immersed in the play with the balance of power getting reversed, giving the Vonda dominance over Thomas, similarly to Wanda and Severin in the novel. The chemistry on stage was so authentic. I loved the fact the it didn’t have an interval, it really helped the dynamics of show, it was non-stop intense drama throughout. The set was simple and very effective, the chaise-longue stage right, the use of the central column, then the desk stage left, all three being both a symbolic prop and piece of set. The costumes Dormer wore were stunning, from her 1870s period costume to her seductive black corset and stockings, all finished off with the ‘fur’.
Dormer and Oakes’ are sublime. The portrayal of the roles are magnificent. The level of acting required to pull a play within a play off is phenomenal and they achieve this so effectively. The contrast in Vonda (a brash and vulgar New Yorker) and Wanda (a sophisticated lady), whilst the contrast of both Thomas and Severin’s dominance and submissiveness is equally as impeccable.
After the show I was lucky enough to meet Natalie Dormer and David Oakes.
Final thoughts on the production: Venus in Fur is a beautiful play, alluding Greek mythology whist very current questioning gender norms, and is erotic with its vast elements of s&m. The play makes you feel things, at no point are you left in tears due to sadness or happiness, but instead you feel a lot of emotions which lead you to internally question yourself. Overall I’d give the play a 7 or 8 out of 10, as it was really good and I enjoyed it however I wasn’t blown away and overwhelmed. However I would really recommend going to see it before it closes on the 9th December as it is worth watching and you won’t be disappointed.
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