Seeing Andrew Scott in anything is a delight whether it's a TV show or a play, or even meeting him at a convention. Watching him as Hamlet last year was amazing and he still never ceases to amaze with his natural ability to capture audiences whether he is starring with others or just delivering a meaningful, funny monologue as he currently is in Simon Stephens Sea Wall. First performed by Andrew in Edinburgh in 2009. He was already on stage preparing for his performance, or rather just hanging around until 7pm!
Some found this short 30 minute play to be confusing, but there was never a dull moment. As he delivered his lines so amusingly at times and with that same eloquence. The stage was sparse and he had only his water bottle for company, ha! More required refreshment as he enlightened through moments of sadness, despair, recalling family life, children being born, describing it to us so we could picture this. As well as visiting an immense sea wall which began from the top and went all the way down, with bread for the fish in bags that you'd hold out and the bread would float out of the bag above in the water. There was a minute there, endless minutes when he utters what the man said to him after he looks at him. Andrew pauses, walks away, around the stage, turns around and them begins to speak about a different subject matter altogether. It almost feels like he's forgotten his line, what comes next, but incredibly it's meant to be like that and he pulls it off with great aplomb!
Describing family life again, how he was into reading about detective fiction and how someone told him all "fiction is detective fiction". But it's not." Jane Eyre isn't detective fiction, or Bridget Jones..." Reading James Elroy which is detective fiction. Then detailing the story of a woman who fell and cracked her head at the bottom of the cliffs. How he spoke to her, yet she couldn't hear him. Poignant in description, considering it was a monologue on grief, but a mesmerizing deliverance!
Oh playing this first time round he remarked in an interview how he could see the audience "and there was no separation. The houselights were half up." Was also captured here and when it was over - the lights went out! Pitch darkness. Life ebbing out! And a rousing standing ovation! What else but for the best!
Only playing til 30 June. The Old Vic. A must see if you can get tickets!
NB Andrew loves art and is currently lino printing! OMG did that at school, years ago. A topic for conversation next time I see him!!
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