Review Summary
Average Rating:
5 out of 5 stars based on
4
review(s)
Latest Review:
"Life affirming stuff. Mark Rylance's peformance is unnervingly good and, in the end, hugely moving. Theatre ..."
Back in 2009 audiences arriving at the Royal Court Theatre were treated to a brand new production which would eventually take the London theatre scene by storm. The play was from Jez Butterworth and featured both Mark Rylance and Mackenzie Crook as part of its cast. Such was its success a West End transfer was inevitable and by 2010 it had opened at the Apollo Theatre, with its popularity following it there, whilst the 2010 Laurence Olivier Award also saw it scoop a number of nominations and a win for its lead actor.
Now, following the show’s acclaimed appearance on Broadway, “Jerusalem” is set to return to the West End, with another run at the Apollo Theatre from October 2011 to January 2012.
Butterworth’s “Jerusalem” focuses on the character of Johnny Byron (Rylance), who is a waster and a man wanted for varying reasons around the local town. It is St George’s Day and the police want Johnny behind bars as they view him as a modern Pied Piper, whilst the local council wishes to evict him from his home. Meanwhile, his friends wish to grant him a fresh supply of booze and drugs, whilst Troy Whitworth wishes to supply him with a good beating. On top of all of this Johnny’s children just want him to take them to the St George’s Day fair.
Mark Rylance is an acclaimed actor whose work spans the stage and screen. In the former category his credits include work for the Royal Shakespeare Company and the West End with examples like “Much Ado About Nothing” at the Queen’s Theatre, “Boeing Boeing” at the Comedy Theatre and “Life x3” at the Donmar Warehouse. For the screen he has made a name for himself with the likes of “The Government Inspector” for Channel 4 and the movie “The Grass Arena”.
With the return of “Jerusalem” to the West End it demonstrates the wealth of shows that are shared between the capital and New York. For example, “War Horse” recently opened on Broadway, “Shrek The Musical” arrived in the West End this year and “The Bridge Project” sees The Old Vic and the Brooklyn Academy of Music collaborating on “Richard III”.
“Jerusalem” appears at the Apollo Theatre from Saturday 8th October 2011 to Saturday 14th January 2012.
