I believe I've got a little crush on London. Being here alone, a week full of first-time experiences, people-watching at it's peak, taking in as much of the culture as I can in a short period of time... it's all overwhelming me. My twisted sleep schedule, up at all hours, drowsy at random, has only helped put me in some sort of altered state. Everything is heightened, everything feels like it's just right at the same time it feels increasingly surreal. My time here is changing me, I think, and only in the best of ways. I can sense my perspective on many things changing, not just during my visit, but hopefully long after my return home.
Seeing part one of the mesmerizing National Theatre adaptation of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials novels is no small part of that. The on-stage materialization of something I'd only imagined in my mind affected me pretty deeply... I never dreamed these three brilliant books would ever be adapted, in any form, much less imagined that I'd ever make it to London to see it. The fact that this all came together for me made it more special than it possibly could have been.
At the same time, sitting there, waiting for it to begin... I was a bit nervous. Never imagining an adaptation was due to what I thought was an impossibility in doing it justice. There's so much depth, so many characters, so many unique aspects of the world(s) Pullman created in his trilogy... I doubted anyone could ever had even made a special-effects laden film, much less an in-the-flesh stage production.
My fears, while possibly well-founded, were wonderfully never realized. Nicholas Wright's obviously deep affection for the spirit and content of the material(s) came across so beautifully in part one alone, that the scripted changes so far seemed just the right ones to make. I won't go into them for fans who may someday be lucky enough to see this (a newly added second run in London bodes well for future cities, and a movie version is actually in the works), but suffice it to say... the best parts of the first book & a half remain in part one of the play. Hopefully Tom Stoppard's script for the film version will take it's cue from Mr. Wright's work... I can only dream we get two parts, or even three when it hits the screen. If so, we can probably thank the Lord of the Rings for it... although HDM doesn't have a fraction of the fanbase LOTR has built in the decades since it's release. Certainly this play, and all it's sold-out shows, is helping to change that a bit.
The cast was flat-out fantastic, the leads just right, inhabiting their roles in many ways as I'd imagined them. Lyra, Will, & Roger came to life, the Jordan College staff, Mrs. Coulter, Lord Boreal... all wonderful. A real treat was Timothy Dalton as Lord Asriel... to me, the biggest name there, and he simply nailed it. (spoilers for those who haven't read the books!) The scene in his Arctic sanctuary-prison, when Lyra arrives... and he realizes what a terrible choice he may have to make... it had even more impact than when I'd read it in the climax of The Golden Compass. He really delivered on the simultaneous relief and excitement in realizing Lyra had delivered Roger to him as well... just so, so good. (end spoily bit!)
I'm hesitant to reveal how they handled the daemons (the physical/animal manifestation of a person's soul in Lyra's world), or even the majestic armored bears (the actor portraying Iorek was amazing!)... so if you want to get a glimpse just take a look at the photos I snapped of the NT exhibit "Raw Materials", which showcased concept art and props from the play. I also got a few pictures of the production itself, before I discovered that doing so was frowned upon... even in the back row without a flash. I wouldn't have done it seated elsewhere, and totally understand being asked, but I can't resist sharing the few I managed to get. Be warned though... if there's any chance you'll ever see the play, you may want to skip them. They may lessen the impact of that magic moment when the lights come up, you see Lyra & Will sitting beside each other, simultaneously worlds apart... talking to no one, and to each other, recalling their journey through the dust ...
Oh, who am I kidding? ... of course you're going to look. Enjoy, and start planning that London trip, or start building up some more patience. For those who made it through this post and never read the books, well, what are you waiting for?
