In Celebration

Synopsis

Three brothers - a businessman, a teacher and a lawyer turned artist - return home to the coal mining community of their childhood for their parents' 40th wedding anniversary. Each of them has been transformed, through a university education and professional success. A taut, vivid story, this is one of the great social plays of the 1960s, depicting the tensions between a father and his sons who no longer share the language to talk to one another.

Our Review:

17 July 2007

In making his stage debut as the youngest of three brothers returning home to Yorkshire for their parents’ fortieth wedding anniversary, Orlando Bloom exhibits a faultless modesty. His character Steven, a discouraged teacher, stuttering novelist and father of four, is a silent, moody introvert. He says very little and rarely commands the stage. He succumbs to a little light weeping, but does that in the safety of the darkness.

Unfortunately, Bloom, suitably expressionless as the blond, bland elf archer Legolas in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, does not convey the swirls and eddies of emotional crisis that the David Storey role demands. Acting is more than words. And in his brown clothes, trim moustache and self-effacing stance, Bloom remains a wallflower at his own party.

In Celebration (1969) is one of five plays Storey had produced – all directed by the Lindsay Anderson – at the Royal Court in an astonishing four-year burst. All tra...

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Latest User Review

Irene - 18 September 2007:

I saw this play in its last week. I enjoyed the staging and thought all the actors did a great job. I found the first half the most interesting with the gradually emerging family secrets/problems. It was frustrating that these were never fully uncovered in the second half and that there was no resolution at the end - I suppose this reflects reality where issues often fester under the surface and cannot be easily resolved. I didn't hang around afterwards as there already seemed to be a sizeable crowd waiting for Orlando Bloom. I did hear, however, that things got rather out of hand (on the final Saturday night) including bottles being thrown by passing drunks which led to Orlando's autograph signing session being cut short by security staff. Fortunately it appears that no-one was hurt but what a sad ending for any waiting fans who missed their chance to meet Orlando due to the local louts....

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