england and the uk
A new production of Visiting Mr
Green, which recently toured the UK,
played a limited engagement earlier
this year on the West End at Trafalgar
Studios. Starring Olivier Award winner
Warren Mitchell and Gideon Turner
(preceded on the first part of the tour
by David Sturzaker), the production
is directed by Patrick Garland and
produced by Ian Fricker. Sets and
costumes are by Sean Cavanagh.
Lighting is by Ben Cracknell and
sound is by Peter Cox. The 15 week
tour played many of England's greatest
theatres (see schedule below), and set
the box office record at Peter Hall's
Rose of Kingston Theatre.
Because of the director's illness, Jeff
Baron directed the West End transfer.
Baron was the subject of London
Theatre Guide's Big Interview, which
took one or two liberties with his
grammar.
Green, which recently toured the UK,
played a limited engagement earlier
this year on the West End at Trafalgar
Studios. Starring Olivier Award winner
Warren Mitchell and Gideon Turner
(preceded on the first part of the tour
by David Sturzaker), the production
is directed by Patrick Garland and
produced by Ian Fricker. Sets and
costumes are by Sean Cavanagh.
Lighting is by Ben Cracknell and
sound is by Peter Cox. The 15 week
tour played many of England's greatest
theatres (see schedule below), and set
the box office record at Peter Hall's
Rose of Kingston Theatre.
Because of the director's illness, Jeff
Baron directed the West End transfer.
Baron was the subject of London
Theatre Guide's Big Interview, which
took one or two liberties with his
grammar.
Gideon Turner
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH REVIEW ***** (5 stars) 13 APRIL
2008
All things considered, Jeff Baron's Visiting Mr Green should come as
a salutary lesson. There are just two actors in the cast, a rather
dingy set of an old man's bedsit and a great deal of talking. And
yet the result is a great piece of theatre. Gideon Turner plays Ross
Gardiner, a sassy, sharp-suited New York businessman ordered by
a judge to make regular visits to the home of Warren Mitchell's
elderly, cantankerous Mr Green, whom he caused to fall over
through his reckless driving. What ensues isn't merely a clash of
generations but also a clash of what's safe and familiar and what's
real.
Baron's story is a cry for humanity, and in the hands of Patrick
Garland, it finds sublime expression. Warren Mitchell is on
spellbinding form in the title role, but Turner is more than a match
for him. The contrast in their acting styles - Mitchell at his technical
best and Turner a lot more expansive and naturalistic - gives
additional pathos to their relationship. It's worth noting, too, that
Garland uses a device in this production that seems to scare the life
out of other directors: silence. He uses it to devastating effect, too.
It's a chance for an audience to absorb a strong line and to think -
and that, I need hardly add, is something not often required of
theatre-goers these days. - Tim Walker
2008
All things considered, Jeff Baron's Visiting Mr Green should come as
a salutary lesson. There are just two actors in the cast, a rather
dingy set of an old man's bedsit and a great deal of talking. And
yet the result is a great piece of theatre. Gideon Turner plays Ross
Gardiner, a sassy, sharp-suited New York businessman ordered by
a judge to make regular visits to the home of Warren Mitchell's
elderly, cantankerous Mr Green, whom he caused to fall over
through his reckless driving. What ensues isn't merely a clash of
generations but also a clash of what's safe and familiar and what's
real.
Baron's story is a cry for humanity, and in the hands of Patrick
Garland, it finds sublime expression. Warren Mitchell is on
spellbinding form in the title role, but Turner is more than a match
for him. The contrast in their acting styles - Mitchell at his technical
best and Turner a lot more expansive and naturalistic - gives
additional pathos to their relationship. It's worth noting, too, that
Garland uses a device in this production that seems to scare the life
out of other directors: silence. He uses it to devastating effect, too.
It's a chance for an audience to absorb a strong line and to think -
and that, I need hardly add, is something not often required of
theatre-goers these days. - Tim Walker
BBC Review: Visiting Mr Green
24 September 2007 - Alison Woollard
Jeff Baron’s poignant play is theatre at its
best: a gradual revelation of the secrets,
griefs and yearnings which lie beneath the
ordinary exteriors which we present to the
world each day.
An old and a young man are forced to meet.
Ross has had a near miss in his car and as
part of his sentence he is made to visit the
elderly Mr Green who nearly became his
victim.
Grumpy dislike on both sides gradually melts
as Ross realises how lonely and vulnerable
the old man is, but each of them has deeper
secrets which take longer to reveal.
Can Mr Green overcome a life time of rigid
beliefs? Can Ross cope with his own father’s
prejudices? Can each of them find love?
Everyone in the audience can relate to this
play whether as a child or a parent, the
holder of strong beliefs or their victim. The
audience's easy laughter at the start of the
evening soon mellowed into thoughtful
concentration.
Warren Mitchell, at the age of 81, gives a
brave and greatly appreciated performance
as Mr Green, accurately capturing his fears
and courage. David Sturzaker proved to be
equally detailed in his approach to the role of
the young man.
An evening of great theatre.
24 September 2007 - Alison Woollard
Jeff Baron’s poignant play is theatre at its
best: a gradual revelation of the secrets,
griefs and yearnings which lie beneath the
ordinary exteriors which we present to the
world each day.
An old and a young man are forced to meet.
Ross has had a near miss in his car and as
part of his sentence he is made to visit the
elderly Mr Green who nearly became his
victim.
Grumpy dislike on both sides gradually melts
as Ross realises how lonely and vulnerable
the old man is, but each of them has deeper
secrets which take longer to reveal.
Can Mr Green overcome a life time of rigid
beliefs? Can Ross cope with his own father’s
prejudices? Can each of them find love?
Everyone in the audience can relate to this
play whether as a child or a parent, the
holder of strong beliefs or their victim. The
audience's easy laughter at the start of the
evening soon mellowed into thoughtful
concentration.
Warren Mitchell, at the age of 81, gives a
brave and greatly appreciated performance
as Mr Green, accurately capturing his fears
and courage. David Sturzaker proved to be
equally detailed in his approach to the role of
the young man.
An evening of great theatre.
My Generation: NG Magazine
Reviews Visiting Mr Green
2007-11-27 11:29:28 - Lauren
Taylor
The New York hit, Visiting Mr.
Green, premiered twelve years
ago and has since attracted
international acclaim, proving that
Jeff Baron's play is relevant for
many different audiences in any
nation, whether they are old or
young. The story is touching and
poignant; two men of seemingly
contrasting lives are forced to
spend time together when Ross
Gardiner (David Sturzaker) is
sentenced to community service
for reckless driving. Mr. Green
(Warren Mitchell) who fell in front
of Ross's car is adamant he
doesn't want the young banker
visiting once a week.
It begins as a comedy of
generation gaps and
misunderstandings but as the
audience laughter dies down, it
evolves into a moving and
involving drama. The men move
from resenting spending time
together to being the only people
each one opens up to. The play is
significant on so many levels, it
explores issues of prejudice,
parent-and-child relationships,
co-dependency, tradition,
religion, loneliness and
modernity, without taking away
any entertainment value.
Acclaimed actor Warren Mitchell is
best known for his bigoted,
loudmouthed television creation
Alf Garnett in Till Death Do Us
Part. Now eighty-one-years-old,
Mitchell has played the part of Mr.
Green several times and it shows.
His perfect comedy timing and
natural movement around the
stage really bring to life the part
of the elderly widower and the
audience becomes quite attached
to the difficult character. His
physical frailty and loneliness
juxtapose his obstinate
monosyllabic responses to Ross's
questions. The character of Mr
Green is a brilliant creation.
Well recommended.
Reviews Visiting Mr Green
2007-11-27 11:29:28 - Lauren
Taylor
The New York hit, Visiting Mr.
Green, premiered twelve years
ago and has since attracted
international acclaim, proving that
Jeff Baron's play is relevant for
many different audiences in any
nation, whether they are old or
young. The story is touching and
poignant; two men of seemingly
contrasting lives are forced to
spend time together when Ross
Gardiner (David Sturzaker) is
sentenced to community service
for reckless driving. Mr. Green
(Warren Mitchell) who fell in front
of Ross's car is adamant he
doesn't want the young banker
visiting once a week.
It begins as a comedy of
generation gaps and
misunderstandings but as the
audience laughter dies down, it
evolves into a moving and
involving drama. The men move
from resenting spending time
together to being the only people
each one opens up to. The play is
significant on so many levels, it
explores issues of prejudice,
parent-and-child relationships,
co-dependency, tradition,
religion, loneliness and
modernity, without taking away
any entertainment value.
Acclaimed actor Warren Mitchell is
best known for his bigoted,
loudmouthed television creation
Alf Garnett in Till Death Do Us
Part. Now eighty-one-years-old,
Mitchell has played the part of Mr.
Green several times and it shows.
His perfect comedy timing and
natural movement around the
stage really bring to life the part
of the elderly widower and the
audience becomes quite attached
to the difficult character. His
physical frailty and loneliness
juxtapose his obstinate
monosyllabic responses to Ross's
questions. The character of Mr
Green is a brilliant creation.
Well recommended.
“I was gripped and moved by this play,
and found its final moments
overwhelmingly affecting. The second
act pushes the play into dramatic
territory reminiscent of King Lear. A
sentimental King Lear perhaps, but the
play's analysis of the strength and
apparent cruelty of devout faith reveals
Jeff Baron to be a dramatist capable of
toughness and rigour. The moment
when these two men suddenly
recognise themselves in each other is
theatre at its potent best." - Charles
Spencer, London Daily Telegraph
“Far from delivering an earnest homily,
Baron uses his sometimes gentle,
sometimes sharp brand of humour to
devastating effect. Both funny and
poignant, Visiting Mr. Green is a piece
of theatre made in heaven."
- Sheena Hastings, Yorkshire Post
and found its final moments
overwhelmingly affecting. The second
act pushes the play into dramatic
territory reminiscent of King Lear. A
sentimental King Lear perhaps, but the
play's analysis of the strength and
apparent cruelty of devout faith reveals
Jeff Baron to be a dramatist capable of
toughness and rigour. The moment
when these two men suddenly
recognise themselves in each other is
theatre at its potent best." - Charles
Spencer, London Daily Telegraph
“Far from delivering an earnest homily,
Baron uses his sometimes gentle,
sometimes sharp brand of humour to
devastating effect. Both funny and
poignant, Visiting Mr. Green is a piece
of theatre made in heaven."
- Sheena Hastings, Yorkshire Post
VISITING MR. GREEN - U.K. TOUR SCHEDULE 2007-2008
Week Commencing Venue Town
10th September Mercury Theatre Colchester
17th September Mercury Theatre Colchester
24th September Alhambra Theatre Bradford
1st October Playhouse Oxford
8th October Belgrade Theatre Coventry
15th October Theatre Royal Lincoln
5th November Yvonne Arnaud Guildford
12th November Key Theatre
Peterborough
19th November Theatre Royal Brighton
26th November Theatre Royal Nottingham
3rd December New Theatre Cardiff
21st January Theatre Royal Plymouth
28th January Theatre Royal Bath
4th February Palace Theatre Westcliffe
11th February Rose Theatre Kingston
25th February Arts Theatre Cambridge
Week Commencing Venue Town
10th September Mercury Theatre Colchester
17th September Mercury Theatre Colchester
24th September Alhambra Theatre Bradford
1st October Playhouse Oxford
8th October Belgrade Theatre Coventry
15th October Theatre Royal Lincoln
5th November Yvonne Arnaud Guildford
12th November Key Theatre
Peterborough
19th November Theatre Royal Brighton
26th November Theatre Royal Nottingham
3rd December New Theatre Cardiff
21st January Theatre Royal Plymouth
28th January Theatre Royal Bath
4th February Palace Theatre Westcliffe
11th February Rose Theatre Kingston
25th February Arts Theatre Cambridge
Warren Mitchell
and David Sturzaker
and David Sturzaker
Back in 1999, Visiting Mr. Green was
one of the most successful plays at the
West Yorkshire Playhouse, one of
England's major regional theatres. It
starred Warren Mitchell as Mr. Green,
Reece Dinsdale as Ross Gardiner, and
was directed by Natasha Betteridge.
The gorgeous set and costumes were by
Francis O'Connor.
one of the most successful plays at the
West Yorkshire Playhouse, one of
England's major regional theatres. It
starred Warren Mitchell as Mr. Green,
Reece Dinsdale as Ross Gardiner, and
was directed by Natasha Betteridge.
The gorgeous set and costumes were by
Francis O'Connor.