Have always gotten a lot of enjoyment going to the cinema to see the National Theatre Live screenings, and love the authentic atmosphere and accessibility. Same with the opera and ballet live broadcasts from especially the Met and Royal Opera. Am also a big fan of Phillip Pullman's writing, with 'Northern Lights' becoming an instant favourite in particular, and have liked a lot of Nicholas Hytner's work on the stage while not considering him a favourite.
This is an ambitious production of the prequel trilogy to 'His Dark Materials', and is proof that ambitious can work extremely well. Have seen some things that try to be ambitious but end up trying too hard, so was worried about that considering that this was an adaptation of one volume of another trilogy. Meaning the danger of over-stuffing and trying to do too much. 'The Book of Dust' turned out to be a marvel of a production, even better than the powerful 'Leopoldstadt' and more accessible and one of the best live cinema broadcasts from last year.
It is a beautiful looking production, with transitions from scene to scene being seamless. The sets are large and elegant, the various settings and lighting handsome and evocative and made even more interesting by the rich use of paint sketching and creative video design. The flood is especially well done. Not to mention some of the best use of puppetry this reviewer has seen on stage with the daemons, that also look very wondrously elaborate. The sound is very vivid and does a great job at making one feel that they are there and immersing one into this imaginative world.
Cannot find fault with the writing, whether it is the witty wry humour with the nuns and even wittier throwaway lines from Malcolm. Or the truly imaginative fantasy elements, that is jaw droppingly beautiful but also darkly foreboding when needed in a story that can be quite dark and dangerous (like with the dark forces, unsettling done here). The action is breakneck, but not in a way that feels too much, but never stops being entertaining and thrilling. There is some nice suspense, a lot of dangerous but not confusing turns in the plot yet staged with clarity and the spectacle is rich without swamping the drama.
Hytner's direction is always tasteful and intelligent and is some of his most inspired. Amazing at how the production was faithful in detail and spirit to Pullman's source material, even when not including everything. Samuel Creasey is very likeable as Malcolm, really liked his cheeky earnestness, and so is steely Ella Dacres. Ayesha Dharkar and Pip Carter are effectively sinister on villain duty, Carter particularly.
Overall, absolutely magical. 10/10.
