National Theatre Live!

You may know -- or not -- about London’s National Theatre program in movie theaters.  I had been aware of it, but it slipped through the cracks, and I haven't checked it's webpage in far too long.  When I was just back in Chicago, however, my Aunt mentioned it, and a couple of significant productions cropped up, which are most definitely worth mentioning..
 
Basically, over the years, they’ve videotaped many of their productions, and then shown them in movie theaters around the world.  And what they’re doing this summer is bringing back some of their classics for Encore Presentations. 
 
This especially got my interest because of them is a show I dearly wanted to see and have been bothered I missed it when it aired on PBS a few years ago.  Indeed, I’ve found a couple clips and posted them on my website, but that’s it.  You may recall this clip I've posted (twice, in fact) from One Man, Two Guvnors, which is the show that James Corden won the Tony Award for. 

Well, it turns out that they brought it back last month, and I missed it again!!  But – and here's the good part -- they are repeating it in just 11 days on July 24 (O huzzah!!), and then again on August 14
 
They also are showing the acclaimed production of “Frankenstein” on October 25.  This is the production that Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller (who you may know on CBS in his brilliant portrayal Sherlock Holmes in Elementary) starred in and switched roles every other night, between the doctor and Monster.  In fact, I've posted a video from that, as well.  I think they edited two nights together for the video, so you get both actors in each of the roles, though I can’t swear to that.  Also, it was directed by Danny Boyle, who did Slumbdog Millionaire..
 
Other shows they’re re-presenting this year are:
 
The Audience, for which Helen Mirren won the Tony Award, as Queen Elizabeth, will encore on July 31.  (A friend saw this and thought it was terrific.)  It's written by Peter Morgan, who also wrote The Queen and Frost/Nixon, among many others, including The Other Boleyn Girl.
 
The acclaimed production of Hamlet with Benedict Cumberbatch will have an Encore Presentation on November 15.

Also, A View from the Bridge that was just on Broadway and won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play, along with Jane Eyre, and several other shows.
 
You can find the link to the website here.  Tickets are basically $20, with a service charge.  (Sorry, a "convenience" charge.)
  
One caveat –
 
If you click on a production, that page may not show when the next Encore will be, and instead may just look like as if it’s already run.  But if you go to the right side of the page, you’ll see a box that says, “Showing screenings closest to…” and simply put in the name of your city.  Then a drop-down list will appear with the venues and dates nearest you, which you can book ahead of time.

Actually two caveats.  When I went to buy a ticket for the production of One Man, Two Guvnors on July 14 at a theater almost walking distance from me -- maybe 2-3 miles -- it was sold out.  Happily, there's that other presentation in August.  And of course other theaters in L.A.  But this one was easily the most convenient.  The point being, if there's anything here you want to see...don't put it off.  Check it out now.

​O freaking huzzah, indeed...