The El. Train
Hoxton Hall
Reviewed on Thursday 12th December 2013
Hoxton Hall has been completely transformed into the Hell Hole Saloon for The El. Train which is more of a theatrical event than a traditional evening at the theatre. Staff couldn't be more welcoming and the detail within the bar couldn't be more stunning. The El. Train brings together three short one act plays by Eugene O’Neill. The plays, The Web, Before Breakfast and The Dreamy Kid, are all set in New York at the turn of the 20th Century and elevate O’Neill’s themes of sin and redemption, and heaven and hell.
The plays are short and smoothly linked together with musical interludes from a live jazz band led by vocalist Nicola Hughes, who makes quite an impression with the smallest of movements (and also gives a tremendous performance during the third play as Mammy Saunders). Richard Kent's design is quite something, Hoxton Hall is quite literally unrecognisable. The staging is highly effective, the levels allow scenes to vary in intimacy, exposing certain moments.
The Olivier Award Winning Ruth Wilson (pictured right) stars in the first two plays. The detail in her performance is utterly mesmerising and you can't help but be drawn in. Wilson plays two highly damaged characters and when she stares into the audience you can see every ounce of pain in Mrs Rowland/Rose's eyes.
Wilson has directed the third play, which marks her directorial debut, and it is fascinating to see how she has injected the thought and detail she performs with into her direction. Whilst Wilson is not on-stage throughout The Dreamy Kid I could feel her presence. Sam Yates has directed the first two plays with thought and flare.
The three plays are performed back-to-back, lasting just ninety minutes, not a single moment drags on which is actually very rare. While the performance is short, The El. Train can provide a long evening for those who choose to stay in the glorious pop up bar until 2am, sampling the specially designed cocktails. Whilst Hoxton Hall makes the perfect venue for the production, I found the wooden seating almost unbearably uncomfortable to sit in, the chairs are very small which make the experience that little bit more intimate.
Sometimes it makes a nice change to break away from traditional theatre and you won't find a more atmospheric, grippingly intense theatrical experience anywhere else in London this Christmas.
Reviewed by Andrew Tomlins (Editor)
andrew@westendframe.com
The Olivier Award Winning Ruth Wilson (pictured right) stars in the first two plays. The detail in her performance is utterly mesmerising and you can't help but be drawn in. Wilson plays two highly damaged characters and when she stares into the audience you can see every ounce of pain in Mrs Rowland/Rose's eyes.
Wilson has directed the third play, which marks her directorial debut, and it is fascinating to see how she has injected the thought and detail she performs with into her direction. Whilst Wilson is not on-stage throughout The Dreamy Kid I could feel her presence. Sam Yates has directed the first two plays with thought and flare.
The three plays are performed back-to-back, lasting just ninety minutes, not a single moment drags on which is actually very rare. While the performance is short, The El. Train can provide a long evening for those who choose to stay in the glorious pop up bar until 2am, sampling the specially designed cocktails. Whilst Hoxton Hall makes the perfect venue for the production, I found the wooden seating almost unbearably uncomfortable to sit in, the chairs are very small which make the experience that little bit more intimate.
Sometimes it makes a nice change to break away from traditional theatre and you won't find a more atmospheric, grippingly intense theatrical experience anywhere else in London this Christmas.
Reviewed by Andrew Tomlins (Editor)
andrew@westendframe.com
The El. Train runs at Hoxton Hall until 30th December 2013.
Please visit www.theeltrain.com for further information and tickets.
Click here to read West End Frame's recent interview with Nicola Hughes.
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