Richard Armitage

Squeeeeeeeeee!!! I feel giddy just thinking about how excited you must have been.

Yes, walking on air about covers it. Honestly, it was fantastic. I have my problems with the Crucible as a playtext (I find its misogyny unjustifiable even given the setting and the time it was written in) but it has an incredibly solid theatrical tradition and I know it can be very well staged.

This version is fantastic,tightly staged and atmospheric, at points even terrifying. Costumes are simple, the design miniimalist but effective, and the soundscape spot on. The cast are fantastic. The girl playing Abigail Williams is fresh from drama school but completely owns the part, and so does the one playing Mary Warren.

Richard is, well, full of raw passion, which with time will be channeled in what promises to be an all round stunning performance once the last quirks of production have been hammered out. I watched the play on the third night of a three month run and I just loved the emotion.

(Also, the shirtlessness. There was shirtlessness. It did not last long, but it featured water. Sharp intakes of breath were taken across the theatre ).

For a performance that clocks in at 3hrs 45mns, I really did not feel the time, and was engrossed throughout. There was an awkward moment when the smoke effects sucked all the moisture out of the room and the audience coughed as one (make sure to bring some water,derry and mmt!) but it was a lovely evening of theatre, intense and rewarding.

And then my friend and I made our way out the doors, round the building, and to the little door with a lantern helpfully marked Stage Door. And the fangirling began.

Everyone was very quiet and remarkably dignified (though my friend and I may have clasped hands and murmured 'we can do this without fainting we can do this without fainting' ) and then he came out the door and started signing autographs and taking pictures. When we made it to the front of the queue my friend went first (my hands really shook as I took the picture, because I am silly ) and then there I was.

I am not a shy person but I think I went all bashful, because my inner 19th century lady took over, but I basically managed to say 'Hi. I just wanted to say I am a big Tolkien fan, and when they announced they were making the Hobbit I was afraid they were going to cast Thorin wrong, but you were amazing." And he got adorably shy himself and said 'oh, thank you' and my friend swears he blushed a little. Which I wouldn't know, because I was sorta peeking at him from under my lashes. Because 19th century lady.

I asked if we could take a picture together and he said 'oh of course' and just put his arm around me, at which point I sort of leaned in in a most ladylike fashion and smiled the awkward grimace you can see pictured there. I am proud to say my legs somehow held me up, despite my mind helpfully reminding me that 'I do believe we are being embraced by Richard Armitage. Who is amazing and talented and lovely. And also, Thorin Oakenshield. Carry on." And then my friend and I said thank you and left. I am proud to say we made it past the corner before we squeed.

He's just lovely, which is not fair, especially when he is lovely in that voice, when enticingly made husky by passionate delivery of lines. I do hope there is someone in his life to appreciate him as he deserves, because he was absolutely adorable and nice even while being clearly exhausted by a remarkable acting feat. And also, you know, astonishingly handsome up close.

Lydia

Well done, Lydia, well done indeed.  Thanks for sharing your adventure with us; the play is brutal on the emotions just reading it, so it must be orders of magnitude more so seeing it performed.  Also, I totally die at the mention of shirtlessness.  Back when we were visiting the Big Damp Foggy Island following HUK '05, HHhatholder, Pamski, mmt, and I saw Damian Lewis at the National in Ibsen's The Pillars of Society.  Throughout the first act, he wore a frock coat and we kept muttering about how much we wished he would take it off.  We truly felt blessed by the theater gods when he walked onstage at the beginning of Act II in his shirtsleeves.  Then we started praying for him to turn around.

Kudos on handling your Armitage Encounter graciously.  I would have gone up in flame at him being lovely in that voice while embracing me, had I had the opportunity.  Also, as per Article III, Section 2, Paragraph A of the fangirl code "once the corner has been rounded, squeeing may commence in earnest". 

That sounds like quite the evening Sandra! Shirtlessness is always very welcome. The play puts you through the wringer, which is why Richard being so lovely was so refreshing and just nice. I have gone to a lot of theatre in my life and I completely understand and respect the actors who choose to be more aloof from their audience, and seeing this person who is so talented and so clearly delighted to share his art was just fantastic.

The list of good things about him just doesn't seem to end. Unfair I say.

Lydia

I'm plotzing on your behalf. Because I totally would have plotzed in that situation. I am in awe of your fortitude.

Anyone seen INTO THE STORM yet? Comments?

Yours Aye,

Diane