Inspired by Steve Rich's newly published Theatre Monkey, Molly Flatt showcases uncomfortable charms London natives have become accustomed to in the West End in a recent feature out in the U.K. Guardian, and assesses how long the old fashioned venues that provide such archaic offerings will be sustainable.
Flatt notes: "Steve Rich's newly published West End guide is a glorious anatomy of theatreland – or in many cases what theatreland will do to your anatomy - because its tips, warnings and recommendations come from us all. Based on his Theatre Monkey website, it is a great piece of cultural crowdsourcing, and it reflects the extraordinarily personal relationship we have with these old spaces."
True, among the offerings provided by the "shabby gentility" of these old spaces are cramped seats, minimal leg room, overpriced cashews, and an aroma of public urination. But, they are beautiful and, deeply rooted in hundreds of years of tradition that most locals would be devastated to pervert.
Which is why Flatt is especially worried about the fate of these long-standing idiosyncrasies that have become staples of the West End experience, now that most West End business is driven by tourists who are used to more modern luxuries and comforts such as "sofa-size" premiere seating, "buffet bars," and fresh air.
She writes: "The foibles of the West End are a sort of sport, in which we challenge ourselves to winkle out the comfortable from the cramped, the deals from the rip-offs, and the diamonds (such as Simon McBurney's Endgame) from the dross (Sister Act, anyone?)... Moreover, I strongly believe that too much comfort in the theatre is a bad thing. Squashing against strangers in too-small seats offers a sense of intimacy quite different from the disembodied atmosphere of our hangar-like cinemas. The only thing that could keep me alert through three hours of Brecht - however good the production - on a Monday evening is the fact that I could topple 20 feet if I nodded off. Theatre demands effort from the audience, and by God, the West End makes us work."
To read Platt's comprehensive thoughts on the matter in The Guardian, click here.
"Theatre Monkey" can be purchased via Amazon's UK website or London's Dress Circle Shop.
