Reader Reviews
Let Us Fly (The King's Head Theatre, Inner London)
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 | The Kings Head offers uncomfortable seating, a bare stage, no sound desk (bliss) and certainly no barricade, chandilier or helicopter. This is theatre at its most basic but acting at its most superb. We probably miss much of the reason for the piece, not knowing of Vladimier Vysotsky, but you are soon transported by superb acting into the emotion and despair felt by a talent so repressed. All the songs are Vysotsky's own works, packed with emotion, humour and ridicule. A Russian poet, songwriter, actor on stage and screen, banned by the authorities for the satirical content of his works in a heavily repressed Russia, much loved by the ordinary people to whom he risked everything to perform in secret. Sadly he died aged 41. The cast is headed by the superb Dave Willetts a master at the tortured soul, who is even more incredible because of the close proximity and reliance on shere acting ability. The songs are amazingly European rather than the Russian folksongs I expected, often leaving you breathless and hurting they are so packed with emotion. Not a light hearted happy evening, but one that leaves you aching - not only because of the seats, but the wasted talent. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 22 Sep 02 |
