The Misanthrope

I took my boyfriend to see this for his birthday. He had being going on and on about it, and i hadn't even heard of it. As an English Literature student you would have thought that I would have. But no.

Anyway, it starred Damien Lewis and Keira Knightly, as well as Tara Fitzgerald. I was highly skeptical, I do not know why. There is something about seeing movie stars, and television actors on the stage that makes me cringe. However they completely blew me away. Damien Lewis was Hilarious, and Keira Knightly did a very good American accent (which i was frightened of hearing before it started).

This re-worked plot revolves around a man who is considered to be a misanthrope. (Misanthrope - a person who dislikes and distrusts people in general). However, he is completely besotted with his "girlfriend", who is a young woman just discovering fame and riches. He dislikes the people she spends her time with, especially as she is seen to appear to lead the men on etc etc, and they all bitch and moan about each other. He finds this disgusting, and would rather people were honest about each other, regardless of whether it is rude and upsets people. You get the gist, however it is different from the original Moliere piece mostly because it is not set in the seventeenth century. Martin Crimp, who has adapted the play has set in in the 21st century, makes jokes that the current audience can understand and is perfectly satirical. He fantastically manages to keep the traditional rhyme pattern going throughout, which is just fantastic.

I was highly dubious when I decided to go see it, only really going because it was what my boyfriend wanted, but I loved every minute, and have since bought a copy of the original play.

I believe it has finished now, but if ever the Martin Crimp performance is put on again, I recommend it! I also recommend any other version, just because the play itself is brilliant!

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