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Theatre

The Fever, Almeida at the May Fair Hotel

07 Jan 15 – 07 Feb 15, 7:30 PM – 10:30 PM

A devastating dramatic monologue penned by Princess Bride star Wallace Shawn and performed by Tobias Menzies in the intimate surroundings of a hotel suite. 

By Lucy Brooks on 15/9/2014

Almeida Theatre; The Fever
Almeida Theatre; The Fever
The Fever, Almeida at the May Fair Hotel The Fever, Almeida at the May Fair Hotel Lucy Brooks
The Fever is a dramatic monologue written by Wallace Shawn who, although by far best known for his role as Vizzini in The Princess Bride, has been a huge influence on American theatre over the last fifty years. This 1990 play is one of his best works, and a devastating railing against the capitalist system, and particularly the way in which we as individuals are used to support it. 
Site-specific show
Shawn originally intended The  Fever to be performed outside of a theatrical setting. Honouring this and showing a bold creative move the show will be performed in an as yet unspecified suite at the May Fair Hotel to only 28 people each night. The trend for site-specific performances is growing, with companies such as LIFT utilising city spaces as stages and SHUNT creating their own theatrical realms. This is experimental territory, though not completely new ground, for the Almeida: in August 2013 they presented I Do, which was performed in a series of rooms at the Hilton Hotel. We are excited to see how the hotel setting figures in this production, though undoubtedly the tiny capacity will work to reduce the sense of performance, and emphasise the relationship between speaker and audience. 
Cast and Creatives
Tobias Menzies will perform the monologue in a heavy, intense ninety minutes of theatre. As a one man show, it is heavily reliant on the lead's charisma and willingness to engage the audience in critiquing the capitalist system of which we are a part. Menzies is a familiar small screen presence, most famous as Brutus in Rome and his tragic-comic minor turn as Catelyn Stark's younger brother in Game of Thrones. Although he has been on stage several times in his career, the weight of a one man show will be a real test of his ability, particularly as he has some big shoes to fill. When last staged in the U.K, Fever was performed by Claire Higgins to rave reviews, and in the first run of performances, Wallace Shawn himself took on the role. 
Robert Icke directs following fresh from epic dystopias of Mr Burns and 1984, both of which had large casts and big stages. It will be interesting to see how Icke adapts his direction to draw out the directness of a monologue. Thematically, however, Icke is in his element: the strong dystopian lean of The Fever should be handled with expertise. And this is a sense of the disconcerting that doesn't stop at the stage: the play works to convince its audience that the dystopia is happening now, and we are either too ignorant or too scared to acknowledge it.



What The Fever, Almeida at the May Fair Hotel
Where May Fair Hotel, Stratton Street, , London, W1J 8LT | MAP
Nearest tube Green Park (underground)
When 07 Jan 15 – 07 Feb 15, 7:30 PM – 10:30 PM
Price £28-£30
Website Click here for more information and to book via the Almeida



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A little more...

  • The Almeida new season

    This new season is united by an examination of worth and value against capitalist concepts. Along with this site-specific show, there's Game , a world premiere from Mike Bartlett, the London outing of Simon Stephen's newest play, Carmen Disruption (which reimagines Bizet's opera) and a madcap Merchant of Venice relocated to Vegas, directed by Rupert Goold.

    UNDER 30?

    Those not yet in their third decade can take advantage of the Almeida's discount scheme. You can bag the best seats available for just £18 each every Monday of the run if you use the discount code: UNDER30. Remember to bring proof of id with you to the performance. 

    Wallace Shawn on site-specific performance

    The playwright described his reasons for wanted The Fever to be performed outside of a traditional theatre for The Paris Review.

    'I didn’t want to give someone an agreeable feeling of agitation. I was trying to speak as a friend to a friend, from one human being to another. And that isn’t possible in a theater, because in a theater, even if an actor has a heart attack and dies onstage, the audience always interprets it as part of the show. '

    Practical

    The May Fair Hotel is just what you'd expect from Mayfair: the height of luxury. Since opening in 1927, it has become known for its exquisite architecture and furnishings, as well as hosting many celebrities and glittering social events. We're intrigued to see how the show slots into proceedings.

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