Jerusalem

No, we’re not in Jerusalem, we’re still in London. However this afternoon James and I went to see the play Jerusalem at the Apollo Theatre. We hadn’t intended to go to a matinee; the show was moved from Tuesday evening to this afternoon after we had booked it, but luckily we were able to attend the new date. 

It’s an amazing play and Mark Rylance is outstanding as Rooster Byron. It takes place on St George’s Day in woodland outside Rooster’s dilapidated and illegally sited caravan, where he provides the local ne’er do-wells with tall tales and recreational drugs.  The set is perfect; the beautiful woodland contrasts with but is not overwhelmed by the old caravan surrounded by rubbish. And the whole play is full of layers and contrasts; Rooster’s anti-social behaviour gives the council good reason to serve him with an eviction notice but it becomes clear that they have a less noble reason too. Rooster’s friends enjoy his hospitality but betray him in various ways. Rooster seems like a deluded, lying character almost without any redeeming features, but he shows an almost Christ-like self-sacrifice and dignity towards the end of the play. The play is very funny but also very sad. It’s set in modern times but Rooster’s stories are fantastical and he speaks nostalgically of a mythical “old England” where giants walk through the fields. Many of the characters are not quite what they seem. The play is as rambling as Rooster’s stories but it’s absolutely fascinating. 

I can’t imagine anyone except Mark Rylance playing Rooster Byron. I think that he’s the best stage actor of our generation. He does the playwright Jez Butterworth proud. The way he tells Rooster’s ridiculous stories is hilarious, but he poignantly portrays a marginalised outsider at other times. He’s also very energetic and physical, for example when he dips his head into a barrel of water when he wakes up hungover he does it by doing a handstand, and he is the compelling centre of every scene. Mackenzie Crook is excellent as his main foil, questioning his actions and stories, and the rest of the cast are great too.

So what’s wrong with the play? Well, not much in my opinion! It’s messy and doesn’t tidy up various loose ends, but I like that. It’s a revival; the play is about fourteen years old (Rylance and Crook were in its first incarnation too) so some of the references are a little dated but that doesn’t really matter. I realise that many people see it as a sign of England decaying but I didn’t really get that from it because it’s only one aspect of English life. It’s not quite up there with the best plays I’ve ever seen; that distinction is reserved for The Accidental Death of an Anarchist (many years ago at the Citz starring Craig Ferguson) and Vanishing Point’s modern update of the Beggar’s Opera at the Tramway in 2009. But it is very good and I’m extremely glad that we went to see it.

I should perhaps add, for balance, that at the end of the play James turned to me with a bemused look and said “What was that all about?”