Jerusalem

Begins previews on April 2, 2011. The play has extended it's run until August 21, 2011.

Mark Rylance won a Tony and Olivier (England's Tony) for La Bete. He also won a Olivier for Jerusalem.

Jerusalem was a 2009 Evening Standard and London's Critics Circle Award and 2010 Writer's Guild of Great Britain award for best play .

In his review Charles Spencer of the Dailey Telegraph wrote "Mark Rylance has a magical gift that elevates him above the competition and puts him on par with acting legends Laurence Olivier, Ralph Richardson and Alec Guinness".

The play ran in London at the London Royal Court Theatre July 10, 2009 to August 22, 2009 . It transferred to West End's Apollo Theatre it played from January 28, 2010 to April 24, 2010.

People may come in with the assumption that the play is about Jerusalem but it's not.

The director has said "The Hymn "Jerusalem" is held dear by the English people. Its words have helped form an idyllic sense of aspired Englishness." "Jerusalem itself functions as a metaphor for heaven on earth where people live in peace and in connection with the land".

The play is quoted as a "dark comic-drama". It takes place in Flintock, Wilshire, England.

It opens with an angel Phaedre (Aimee-Ffion-Edwards) singing, she's interrupted by a very loud party going on. Booze, drugs and dancing are happening. We are mooned by a male pulling a tampon out of his butt hole.

All is silent when two council officials tell the owner of the trailer he has to vacate and leave or his dwelling will be razed. He has 24 hours. You hear a dog barking but you know it's the man in the trailer.

The owner of the trailer Johnny "Rooster" Byron (Mark Rylance), is a drug dealer, alcoholic "loser". He' surrounded by teenage druggies and other losers from the town. The one hopeful is Lee (John Gallagher Jr). He is leaving the next day for Australia .

Johnny thinks he's above the law. He's cocky. The first act doesn't give much on who he is, why he has a limp. Each act we learn a little more about him. But by the third act do we care enough for Rooster to cheer or hate him. The cast works well together. Most of them either have done one or both London's productions. Mark is outstanding as Rooster. John is great as the not so sure if I want to leave kid.

When I left I felt nothing. Except the ending you got to be kidding me. It seemed so absurd.

On the bright side is the set. It's perfect Ultz did the set and costumes.

Review by Rozanna Radakovich.

Photos by Annazor.