Oh how I agree Alison re the mighty playwright David Hare and his so worthy
place in our self-proclaiming British liberal broadsheets. The praise heaped
upon him is depressing and I end up like a frozen rabbit in the headlights.
"Boring" is so apt. I've met Stephen Daldry, the director you mentioned,
when he was leading script reader at The National. Ah, The National. It's
become such an institution of the worthy. Ironically though, I've been
listening to a number of recent BBC Radio 4 plays which have an edge to
them. Hare is not known for radio drama. He would have to think in terms of
image making, rhythm, counterpoint, sound (in words, around words and
without them) and engaging his audience. With the adoration of our liberal
press behind him, he can certainly put 'bums on seats' at The National.
'Being there' seems to be as or more important than the 'event' of his
drama, hence all the 'air kissing' in the foyer. It's all too clubbish for
me and perhaps rather false.
Best wishes, Rupert
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