BRIEF ENCOUNTER

 

Ever since the powers-that-be re-structured the Beverly Hills Post Office into the beautiful Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, my mouth has been watering to go there; I just couldn’t find the time. I was just hoping that it wouldn’t turn into what the Statue of Liberty became to me—I grew up in New York, but never went there until a few years ago, on a press junket, no less!

So when I found-out that they were doing a play version of one of my favorite movies of all time, Brief Encounter, I knew that this was the perfect opportunity.

First let’s discuss the new theater; it’s been in operation for about only five months. When I got to the ticket window, I felt the sudden urge to buy stamps! And then I remembered that this had been my favorite post office. So the building itself is beautiful and historic to begin with, and well worth seeing.

There’s the absolutely stunning candy store! It’s like none other than I’ve ever seen. I swear, I took pictures of it to show you, but they disappeared from my camera. Perhaps the beauty of it was too much for technology. But please trust me on how gorgeous and classy it is. It’s like something that one sees only in the most perfect of films.

The Bram Goldsmith Theater is downstairs. The perfect-capacity lobby down there has a bar which appears to also serve sandwiches and the like, which can be enjoyed in the beautiful outside courtyard. It’s a wonderful combination indoor-outdoor space.

While we were waiting for them to call us into the theatre, several guys dressed like old-time ushers walked through the lobby, playing instruments. It turned-out that they were in this production, so I don’t know if they do this for other shows, or if it was just special for this one. I guess I’ll just have to go see something else there to find out!

I was shocked to see the theatre packed on a what my mother would call a “plain little Sunday night,” in the middle of the run, no less. But I can understand why audiences flock here. The seats are more comfortable then they look, and the sight-lines aren’t as bad as they are in many other theatres. And they have a special hearing system installed beneath the floor for people with hearing-aids. How thoughtful is that?!

And, since you know I’m restaurant-obsessed, I was interested to see that the theater set-up some meal deals in several of the neighboring eateries, which you can access by showing your Annenberg tickets.

Now to the actual show.

I’m a total purist about the 1945 film, so this show mostly wasn’t cutting it for me, but others seemed to be enjoying it. Brief Encounter is based on Still Life, a one-act by Noel Coward. His plays are usually lighter than this one, but as painful as it is, it’s a must-see if you’re a fan of romance. I’ve seen the movie numerous times.

I must say that I can see that a lot of thought and work went into this production, so I applaud them for that, but I love this story so much that I didn’t want to see what I consider to be the “Bill Irwin version!” (Someone actually did the “going down the stairs” thing that mimes do, shortly after I wrote this note!) My friend, who’s never even heard of the original, appreciated the comic touches, though, as seemingly did most of the audience.

So here’s the deal on it: this story is one of two married people with children meeting by chance in the 1930s, at a train station refreshment area. They, of course, fall in love and it goes from there. It’s a very dramatic and breathtaking story, which is interesting enough on its own; it doesn’t need all the extras that seem to be the mainstay of this production.

There are a lot of clever touches, (like one brilliant screen effect near the end, that I don’t want to ruin for you, but you can always ask me about it when the run is over,) which can be appreciated, as long as you go in not expecting the great movie version. It’s okay if you take it for what it is.

One personal note is that I’ve always loved the way they have the man and women meet in the train station to begin with; the woman gets something in her eye, and the man, who’s a doctor, gets it out for her. That’s how my parents met! So that may be one of the reasons this movie got to me right away.

As far is this particular production goes, I do appreciate a show that goes the extra distance, like the aforementioned musicians in the lobby. But, in this case, it was enough already. The musicians wound-up playing different roles in the show along with playing music during the whole thing. I’m sure that really added to it for a lot of people, just not for me. I hated them making a comedy out of this really serious story. But perhaps that what needs to be done to turn a basically two-character movie into a stage play. [Note: There are at least eight to ten other characters in the movie, as well, but to me, that’s all playing out in the background, which I wish would have been the case in this stage production of Brief Encounter.)

There were also several instances of “breaking the fourth wall,” (talking to the audience,) which always makes me uncomfortable. And I was not a fan of the directing, which made those extra characters seem to be trying to steal the focus from the two principals.

All that being said, I’m really thrilled that this story is being brought to many people who never saw the movie, nor even heard of it. It was all new to the friend I brought, and she enjoyed it, comedy and all.

Part of that enjoyment, for both of us, was being in the classy ambience of the Annenberg. I’m really hoping that my experience with this theatre will not be a “brief encounter.” (Even I’m groaning over that one.)

Brief Encounter running through March 23, 2014
Wallis Annenberg Theater For The Performing Arts
9390 N. Santa Monica Boulevard Beverly Hills
www.thewallis.org