Aly doing stage version of "When Harry met Sally"

[emma peel]

Thanks bunches for the link, sprhrgrl.

Janice

[tyche]

Buffy.nu also have the Sun article, and if you scroll down a bit they have a review from someone who saw a preview. I'm going to warn you in advance that the review isn't entirely positive, though the criticism focuses more on the production itself than on Aly.

www.buffy.nu/article.php3?id_article=3237

[kajo 2000]

A couple of people have posted their own brief reviews of the play at the Buffy Cross & Stake.

---------

"I want to be Byron... because I want to date young boys." Amber Benson

[tyche]

The BBC have a competition to win tickets to 'When Harry Met Sally'. NB: BBC competitions are only open to UK residents.

[irulan]

i took part in th bbc contest but i doubt i could win.

The gates of hell are locked from the inside

C.S.Lewis

[helpful information perha]

not much of a news piece on the show but it does have a couple of nice pics



www.playbill.com/news/article/84441.html

[Still Waters Run Deep]

Today's Independent newspaper's review section is running an article on WHMS and an interview with Aly, together with a big 3/4 page photo of her looking adorable [as usual]. I've no scanner so I can't post the piccie, but someone out there might



*Tyche??*



edited to add: here's the link, but no photo though.



enjoyment.independent.co.uk/theatre/interviews/story.jsp?story=492724

-----------------------------------

love and kisses

Still Waters



"just an old, saggy cloth cat. Baggy, and a bit loose at the seams, but Emily loved him"

Edited by: Still Waters Run Deep at: 2/19/04 5:00 am

[kajo 2000]

Still Waters Run Deep: Thanks for the info. I found the article on the newspaper's website and have posted it in its own thread. There was no photo on the site though.





Edited to add: You beat me to it in adding the link!





Edited again to add: quote from US Weekly:

Quote:

---

"I feel bad for the girl. She's going to have to do that orgasm every night. Pray for her sex life!"



Meg Ryan on Alyson Hannigan starring in When Harry met Sally on the London Stage.

---

---------

"I want to be Byron... because I want to date young boys." Amber Benson

Edited by: kajo 2000 at: 2/19/04 5:16 am

[Incarnadine]

The Big Interview: Alyson Hannigan



Alyson Hannigan

It’s not very often these days that you find witches in the West End. Occasionally they make an appearance if Macbeth is playing or enjoy a girls' night out in late October, but generally the bright lights of London’s theatrical hotspots don’t seem that attractive to the be-warted spawn of the devil. So it is with great excitement that theatreland welcomes the bewitching Alyson Hannigan, best known as 21st century teen-witch Willow in Buffy The Vampire Slayer, to the London limelight. Matthew Amer caught up with her at the Haymarket, where she is currently starring in When Harry Met Sally…



Before the nose-twitching antics of sexy sixties sorcerer Samantha in Bewitched, the practice of women using magic to change the world around them was generally frowned upon. Their reputation was not helped by their insistence on wearing black a lot and not utilising an effective skin revitalising cream - this often resulted in warts on the end of the nose or, in some extreme circumstances, a green complexion. In more recent years the balance has been redressed with TV shows like Sabrina The Teenage Witch and Charmed showing that witches can work for the power of good too and may even be attractive. But the queen of the 21st century witches is undoubtedly high school computer nerd Willow who, with the rest of the cast of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, has grown into an icon over the last decade. Anyone who has been a teenager, a student, a sci-fi geek or been related to any of the former cannot have failed to chart Alyson Hannigan’s rise to fame in one of the most popular television series of recent years.



"It’s funny and charming and lovely and now I get to be in it.”

Not content with ruling the television schedules, Hannigan launched an assault on the world of film, starring as the flute-loving Michelle in the hugely successful American Pie trilogy which set a trend for gross out teen-comedies when the first film was released in 1999. Now she is branching out yet again and making her West End debut in the stage adaptation of the genre defining romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally. The effervescent Hannigan is very excited about this new era in her acting career and the theatre it has taken her to. “It has always been a dream to be able to do a play in the West End. I’ve just always had that fantasy and then this came up, and the Haymarket is just the most beautiful theatre I have ever been to.”







When Harry Met Sally’s original big screen release, with Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan in the title roles, helped set the tone for a decade in which romantic comedies ruled the cinematic roost. The story of hate at first sight which evolves in to like, and then a little bit more with time, explores themes of love and sex and evokes that warm feeling in the pit of your stomach usually only achieved through drinking molten chocolate, while still providing more laughs than a pack of hyenas at a tickling tournament. Many consider it the definitive romantic comedy and Hannigan already ranks among its fans. “When Harry Met Sally is a film that I loved so much and a part that I was so envious that somebody else got to play – even though I was ‘however’ old when it came out. I adore Sally and I love their relationship. The difference between men and women is something I still can relate to. It’s funny and charming and lovely and now I get to be in it.”



One particular scene from the film version of When Harry Met Sally sticks in the mind of those who have seen it, is known even by those who haven’t seen it and probably still haunts Meg Ryan to this day. The scene in question sees Sally demonstrating the precise art of faking an orgasm in the middle of a packed restaurant, leading one onlooker to utter the immortal words, “I’ll have what she’s having.” As if faking an orgasm in the middle of a packed theatre wasn’t daunting enough, the prospect of recreating one of the great moments of cinema history is a lot to live up to. Hannigan, though, is fairly calm about the task. “I’ve been practising all the time. She’s a different person than I am so I imagine our orgasms would be slightly different, but it will still be funny… I hope!”



"I imagine our orgasms would be slightly different."

Although the play is based on the film, the success of the movie could prove to be a millstone around the neck of the production. Hannigan, whose infectious enthusiasm knows no bounds, does not see this as a problem. “I hope that once they come to the theatre they have already decided that they are willing to overcome the obstacle of ‘well it is not going to be Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal’, because they have bought the tickets and are sitting in the seats. A lot of people have seen Shakespeare on the stage, then they go and see it again with other actors. There are always going to be comparisons when you are doing something that somebody else has done, but at least it is a different form.”



When Harry Met Sally marks the beginning of a new era in Hannigan’s career. The two characters for which she is best known have both run their course as the final episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer appeared in 2003, as did the last instalment of the American Pie Trilogy. The future that lies ahead is one without the ever-present threat of death by demon or finding oneself constantly wrapped up in comic sexual shenanigans. To mark this change Hannigan is doing something which she has never done before, acting professionally on stage. As far as throwing oneself in at the deep end goes, she may well be redesigning the theatrical swimming pool. “I figured if I’m going to do it then I might as well start at the top! If you’re going to go for it, go big, right? I do feel a bit guilty about starting out here. I’m so spoiled, but I’m thrilled.” The fact that it was something she had never done before was partly what originally attracted her to the play. “One of the reasons I wanted to do it was because it terrified me. I think that’s one of the greatest reasons to do stuff, because you are scared of it; overcome that obstacle.”



With a pedigree built on teen television and movies, the cynics will surely be sharpening their knives as the young actress treads the boards for the first time. Again, Hannigan’s enthusiasm for the project seems to override any fear of critics as she sees the project as a personal challenge. “I love to surprise people, but I’m doing this for myself. I’ve got more to prove to myself than I have to prove to other people. If I can take them along for the ride, then great, but I’m doing it really to prove to myself that I can do it, and I want to do it as well as I can.”



"I’m sure I will be throwing up backstage."

Having only been rehearsing for three days when we meet, Hannigan is still full of unbridled excitement at the prospect of acting on the West End stage. But, it is not her first trip to London. Her new husband, Alex Denisof, star of Buffy spin-off Angel, lived in London for over a decade earlier in his career and the couple have been visiting once or twice a year since they first started dating. Even so, Hannigan still has a touch of the kid in a toy shop about her. “It has been wonderful just walking home and being part of London. I just love this place so much. It is incredible that for a short period of time I get to be a ‘Londoner’.” One gets the feeling that she may be spotted leaving the theatre in a button covered suit, eating some jellied eels and doing the Lambeth walk. But we’d love her for it anyway.



Hannigan is not the Duracell bunny – although science has yet to prove this conclusively – so the boundless energy and lust for life must run out at some point. As exciting as making your stage debut in the West End must be, there must also be some nerves that will play their part. “There is definitely worry. I’m sure I will be throwing up backstage at the opening night, but I’ll have plenty of little mints on hand to get that reek out of my breath so Luke doesn’t water up.” I’m sure he will be relieved to hear it…



www.officiallondontheatre...ntId/78894



There are 4 small pics that go with the article, 3 that appear to be new.

Spike to Giles:



Oh, poor Watcher. Did your life pass before your eyes? Cuppa tea, cuppa tea, almost got shagged, cuppa tea?

[BigGayBear]

Ooohhhhhhhhhh man oh man oh man oh man!!!



I saw it today!!!... ohhh man oh man oh man...



All's I'm saying is I don't care how much it costs, I'm going again, and I'm talking FRONT ROW!...



*slightly hyper* GO SEE IT EVERYONE!



Ali

~Cuteness is more than just a TeddyBear thing~

[daiailun]

After two weeks of previews, tonight is opening night. All good wishes to Alyson and the entire crew and cast for a fun and successful run!

[tyche]

Here's a review which was originally posted on the Angel's Soul Spoiler Board:

Quote:

---

http://www.voy.com/14810/1702.html">

http://www.voy.com/14810/1702.html

Well on Thursday of this week I finally trundled along to the to see Alyson Hannigan in "When Harry met Sally" at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket. The nearly 200 year old theatre is unlike most of the Theatres in Central London, which have a sort of faded elegance, because its guilt is still glittering. This is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful Theatres in the country.



The auditorium is of average size for a central theatre but it feels much less cramped than the Garrick or the Vaudeville. When you enter for this play the stage set is already visible. It is entirely white box with double swing doors on both the right and left sides. A single red heart shaped balloon hovers in the centre of the stage. When I arrived the place was already busy and by the time the play started the theatre was packed. The audience was a good mix of young and old, male and female. To quote a much-used phrase the audience was from 9 to 90.



When the lights go down two large white screens close in from each side of the stage front and are used to form a cinema screen. This is then used to open the performance with a small vignette of an older couple discussing how they first met many decades before. These short long films are interspersed though the play between the scene breaks. This is when we get the first burst of music specially recorded for the play by trendy jazz musician Jamie Cullum.



Then the screens part and the first scene begins. We see the same plain white set as before but now the balloon has gone and a red sofa, ironing board and some cleaning equipment are in it's place. There is a very sparse look to the single white set, which represents every location with minor changes in stage dressing. The back wall of the set now has a door covered with locks and chains. We are in the interior of a New York apartment. On stage as the screens part is Alyson.



The first thing that strikes you about Alyson when you first see her is that she is much slighter than would imagine from her screen appearances. Her character, Sally, is meticulously laying a sheet over the sofa when there is a ring at the door. Sally goes to the door and after unfastening all the locks, opens the door and lets in Harry. Harry is played by Luke Perry who you will all know from Jeremiah, Beverley Hills 90210 and the original Buffy movie. Harry is the boyfriend of Sally's college pal and has agreed to paint her apartment.



Sally is a very uptight and fastidious character who likes things just so. Ally plays her with an American accent that is much more sharp and whiney than her own. For those of us who know her other work this is at first slightly off putting. It is right that the character has this kind of irritating voice and you accept it but in the end it is still grating. Luke plays Harry with very much his familiar "cool dude" persona and you are instantly more comfortable with him in the role. Which explains why typecasting, although irritating to actors, works.



I had never been a big fan of Luke in his heyday and recent pictures had seemed to show that he had aged quite a bit since then. However in the flesh he is much better looking that his photographs would suggest. In fact he looks much better than he did in his 90210 days and as we would see later he is in very good shape.



This first scene is fairly long but is broken down in to smaller sections by the stage going dark. When the lights come up the cast have moved to indicate that this sequence is some time later that day. Following Harry's failed attempt at making a pass at Sally they engage in banter about the difference between men and women. Men and women cannot be friends says Harry, Sally disagrees. Eventually Sally sends Harry away with a flea in his ear and the screens close in front of the stage again.



At this point we get another projection of a couple discussing their first meeting and when this ends we are told with text that the next scene is five years later. The screens part and we have the same plain white set but the sofa and door have gone and have been replaced by six exercise bikes facing the audience. All of the bikes are in use and Sally is on one of them with her new boyfriend Joe on the next bike. Joe gets up to leave and Sally kisses him goodbye as Harry enters. Sally recognises Harry straight away but it takes Harry a little longer to reciprocate. When they finally acknowledge each other Harry and Sally continue their discussion about how men and women react in relationships while exercising on the bikes. Here they at length discus Harry's earlier assertion, central to the play, that men and women cannot be "just friends".



This gentle but funny scene ends and the panels close again for another projection. The next scene is another five years later and Sally and Joe have broken up. I will not describe any more scenes in detail but you can already see that this is not a traditional play with one long scene on a single dressed set either side of an intermission. The play is written like a film rather than a traditional play. There are lots of scenes of between 2 to 15 minutes in length often split by the projections. While we are watching the projection the set is fixed to represent a new location. Bar stools for a bar and back projections of falling leaves of fireworks for the park. This is almost as fascinating to watch as the play itself.



We follow Harry and Sally through various failed relationships as they become friends. This is where we get to the notorious orgasm scene. Harry and Sally are in a cafe discussing their latest love failures. Harry says that his latest conquest had a "good time" the night before. Sally asserts that the girl was probably faking. Sally then decides to demonstrate faking in the middle of the cafe. Even though you know it is coming this and the follow up line form another customer in the cafe is one of the funniest moments in the play. The embarrassed look on the face of the mother of the 12-year-old in the row in front of me was a picture.



One sight Sally gets news that Joe is getting married and she calls Harry to her apartment to consol her. This is a very tender scene but the comfort session changes when they kiss and the panel closes as Sally rips Harry's t-shirt off and throws him back on to the bed. The screens close and then open again on the same set but after they have had sex. It is at this point that Luke (Harry) provides for me the biggest laugh of the night with the simplest of facial expressions that can be summed up as a non-vocal "oh shit". Luke is obviously great at comedy and although the occasional laugh line will fall flat, Luke that pushes the play along.



It is in this post sex scene that Luke has a brief rear nude scene. However, judging from the female squeals of surprise from one side of the auditorium, from a certain angle a few surprised ladies in the audience saw more than they were expecting too. Their reaction was another big laugh of the night and somehow the sight of a naked Luke Perry bending over with his butt pointing right at me is not a sight I will quickly forget. I just thought it was worth mentioning here that Luke is in very good shape.



Sorry, where was I.



Harry fumbles in to his shorts and jeans and tries to make a fast exit only to be discovered by Sally. After this night of passion Harry and Sally fall out as the play moves to its inevitable conclusion. Their friendship is ruined as Harry realises his mistake and tries to patch things up. Where it goes from here is predictable but I still will not spoil it for you.



So overall how did a rate it. Well there are none of the hysterics of an out and out farce but there are a handful of very funny moments and a few good few titter moments. Luke is very, very good and clearly has all the best lines. This was nearly the last preview performance before the formal opening on the 20th of February so you can see that Ally, for whom this is her first stage role, is very much learning her craft here. She does not have the confidence of Luke but she pulls of the job of being highly irritating, as the part dictates she should be. The part is written as a "straight man" role beside the "funny" role of Harry but Ally relishes the opportunity given to her with the set piece scenes. As expected though she is a master at conveying hurt and quiet indignant rage. As always puppy dog eyes have nothing on Ally eyes.

---

[urnofosiris]

It´s Aly or Alyson, one L, get it right dammit. Thanks for posting that Tyche, I am glad to be spoiled a bit. I´ve seen the movie, but I would not have expected having to look at a naked Luke Perry. I´ll bring some binoculars.

[WillowGoddess]

Man, I would do anything to see that...lol Thanks for that article!

[AlexisWillow]

Hey all - very long time since i have been on the boards!



but thought i'd come on and tell ya how fab aly was in the play! Yes! I went to see it on thursday 19th - during the charity showing (which i didnt know it was until my gf and i turned up and saw everyone else dressed to impress - and we were there in our jeans and shirts! - But have to add we weren't feeling so bad after seeing Joss in his trademake shirt and t-shirt affair! )



Aly of course fantastic - there were the luke fans infront of us who kept on trying to wave at him (bedroom scene - he wasnt wearing ANY pants).



And yes the restaurant orgasm scene - OOH MYY GOSSHH - 5 mins appluse for that !

I could write about it for ever - but much tespect to the add -libs after the jaw broke off the "james Brown" doll... and they contunied with much hilairty!



Have to go see it again - hopefully see some of yall there too next time!



Gez

Edited by: Warduke at: 2/23/04 8:31 am

[Repost Moderator]

Originally posted by WannaFriendsBe

---

Hi all,



Just found this review that Times Online did on the official 'First Night' of 'When Harry met Sally' - here's the link



www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,685-1009800,00.html



Now I can't quite make up my mind if it's a good, bad or average review! lol Go figure!!



But here's wishing dear Aly the very best with the long run of the show - Having seen it twice (I saw the very first preview show on 10th of Feb and another about a week later) can I just say Aly was just amazing!! Critics be damned!! She was NO imitation of Meg Ryan at all - her fake orgasm was SOO real and much LONGER than the movie version - it was so funny but so intense as well and we in the audience got all squirmy I have to say!!! ALSO there were some major improvements between the first show and the one I saw a week later - NEEDLESS to say I'll be watching it again now that the show is officially opened!!! OH YEAH in the first show you could see in the first 5 minutes that Aly was just warming up and may have been a bit nervous (it being her first time on stage) - BUT I promise you she was so good afterwards and the 2nd time I watched it a week later she was oozing confidence and in my opinion and without any bias - I preferred her performance to Luke Perry's - Luke was very good, but he comes across as too glib for my liking - to me a performance full of quirks(such as is Aly's style when acting a slightly comedic role) is more 'real life possible' than just having your lines down pat as Luke does, I mean Aly too nailed her lines cold and I disagree with some of the people who said Luke has the best lines - Aly too has some very witty fast talking lines which she adds that special endearing style in delivering!! I think Luke needs to take lessons from Aly on how to use hand gestures properly - on him they come across as exaggerated - but on Aly they're so darn cute!!!



Oh and in case anyone was wondering Luke's little nude butt flash garnered some gasps indeed BUT Aly's orgasm scene brought the house down with rapturous, LONG and excited applause - such that the next line to be said by the other diner had to wait for the applause to die down.....



OH BUT THE BEST PART FOR ME IS THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME I MET ALY!!! I think I've died and gone to heaven - first I get to meet, chat with, hug and take photos with wonderful Amber twice!! (close to Christmas and then in the new year) and now I've met Aly too - Yay!!



I was amongst some diehard Aly fans(about 30 to 40 of us) who after the show waited out in the cold by the stagedoor(okay fine some folks were there to meet Luke too but I was only there to meet Aly) - this was on my 2nd visit to watch the show - some of the supporting actors came out and got some whistles or a call out of 'good show' but no one really wanted their autographs and/or some of them(the support actors) didn't wanna find out 'cos they'd just rush out the stagedoor with head bent and walk away real fast....



As for the stars, Luke and Aly, when they came out they each had a luxurious Benz car/driver waiting for them and a bodyguard type person looking out for them and sort of standing off to the side keeping watch while we fans rushed too surround our favorite to ask for autographs and photos - I was snapping away and now just like with Amber I have some lovely photos of Aly all smiles!! Aly was so sweet and VERY soft spoken - she kept on saying 'sure' to everyone one who nervously asked for her autograph or to take a photo with her and she said it so sweetly and quietly with a smile and then still smiling she'd sign stuff and pose for individual pictures with each of her fans(one fan even asked her to snap him and his buddy and Aly graciously did so with a smile though I think I noticed her hide a very tiny bit of surprise at the request initially - I also snapped her doing the snapping with my own camera - she looked so cool in that particularly pic smiling as she obliged holding a fan's camera!



OH YEAH BY THE WAY - her husband Alexis Denisof was there!!! They sure have the newly wed thing down and I'm happy to say they really look happy and good together!!! He had first walked past us into the stagedoor looking very tall smart and handsome in a dark blazer or something - but I swear everyone was not too sure it was him - or we were all just stunned speechless or too numb from the cold lol !!



Anyway when Luke & Aly came out finally Alexis was by her side smiling proudly - then he went to wait in the Benz(close by) leaving his wife with her adoring fans and the bodyguard type watching from a little distance away....



I wasn't paying much attention to Luke - but I did note that he got away in his own chaffeur driven Benz about 15 minutes b/4 Aly 'cos his autograph and photo requests weren't as many as Aly's or maybe he just wanted to get away quickly due to fatigue - THERE were 2 shows on that day one at 3pm the other at 8pm(it was after the 8pm show I met Aly - and by then it was about 11pm!!). Which just makes me appreciate Aly more for the patience and generosity she showed in giving her fans so much time and attention - I mean, come on her gorgeous hubby was waiting in the car for her and she still gave her time when I'm sure she was just dying to be with him after her very long day.....



When I finally stepped up to Aly to have my stuff signed(I opened my programme for the show to the page with her biography and she signed that page for me) - I told her how much i enjoyed the show and that I wish her a successful run - for which I got a hug(OMG Aly hugged me!! just as Amber did twice - Yay!!) and a thank you along with that sweet Aly smile - and of course I got a photo of me and her to cherish - she looks absolutely beautiful in it !!



The whole thing was all over in about 30 minutes and some people(So NOT including me) were still snapping away with their cameras when Aly got in the back of the Benz with Alexis leaving Mr. Bodyguard to join the driver in front as they all drove off.



I STILL almost have to pinch myself daily to believe that i'm not dreaming that all this has happened to me recently - is it any wonder that I wanna go see the show again? Hopefully I could meet Aly again and get my photo of her and I autographed - Yay!! for that prospect.



ANYWAY this is such a long post so I better sign off soon - just wanted to share the goodness with you all - Willow/Tara, Amber/Aly are good for the soul !!!!!



Finally please could folks kindly post more reviews here as they appear - I'll surely do so if I find any more.... in fact I'm off to search for the 'Evening Standard' one - their theatre critic is supposed to be quite brutal... if anyone finds it b/4 me - do PLEASE post here...



Off to search now....



Here's hoping RL eases up on me soon so I can spend more time at this lovely board!!



Take care everyone

WFB

[Repost Moderator]

Originally posted by Hemiola

---

WFB (or someone else), could you please type up the review for the benefit of those of us who don't want to register in order to read it. Thanks very much.

[WannaFriendsBe]

AlexisWillow - Um, did I read correctly(in your above post) that Joss was at the show??!!!



xita - apologies for not realising this was the right thread to post this in, thanks for moving it here and it's my pleasure to share Aly goodness anytime!!



Hemiola - I thought just by clicking on the link you could get straight to the website even if you're not registered - that's how it worked for me.... but never fear I have copied and pasted the review transcript for you and others below......



Take care

WFB





the link again is www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,685-1009800,00.html



& the transcript is below:



Times Online - First Night reviews



February 21, 2004



When Harry Met Sally

By Benedict Nightingale

Theatre

Theatre Royal, Haymarket





IMAGINE a Much Ado About Nothing that’s been transposed, complete with a cute Beatrice and a vain Benedick, to a pretty bland section of modern Manhattan. Imagine that, though these two don’t possess anything as extreme as nervous systems and so can’t get on each other’s nerves, they do exchange the odd sideways glance and sign of irritation. Imagine a version of Much Ado without tension either hostile or sexual — and you’ve imagined When Harry Met Sally as played by the one-time teen TV stars, Luke Perry and Alyson Hannigan.

It says much for Marcy Kahan’s adaptation of Nora Ephron’s famous screenplay that the comedy largely survives their attempts to inject it with emotional formaldehyde. The story of Harry, who looks for happiness in casual sex, and Sally, who haplessly craves love, still has its nice lines and amusing encounters. When Sally recalls a suitor who flosses with her hair, or Harry tries to get Sally off with a date who spoils the script by falling for the date Sally has arranged for Harry, you feel Woody Allen has emerged from his eyrie to update Shakespeare.







But the point is that the two spend much of the play disliking each other and most of it not seeing that dislike always masks attraction.



And even when Perry’s young Harry introduces himself to Hannigan’s callow Sally by seductively suggesting that friendship between men and women is impossible, you sense neither emotion. It’s no better when the piece fast-forwards from 1987 to 1992, and he describes the boredom of having to hang around for more than three seconds after finishing sex with a girl. So predictable a plot — and we know from the start what will happen by 2000 — needs conflict, energy, attack: much ado, not what it sometimes gets here, nothing.



True, even if she spends much of Loveday Ingram’s production with hair and heart unmussed, Hannigan is pernickety, dismayed and several things she’s meant to be. And though he overdoes the hand gestures, Perry manages to be boastful and blokeish. But what ought to be a strength, the insertion of filmed interviews with couples who have been married for decades, is actually a problem. It emphasises how little the two performers grow in the course of the evening, how inadequately they demonstrate that love comes from knowing people, not sleeping with them.



And what of the film’s best-known scene, the one where Sally makes ecstatic noises in an eaterie in order to disprove Harry’s belief that women can’t fake orgasm? Yes, it’s there and, yes, it’s still funny.



But the follow-up, here given to a gay man and not a frustrated woman diner, “I’ll have whatever she’s having”, goes for nothing. The story of the evening, really.

[tyche]

They gave it 2 stars out of a possible 5 - if you go to the link, there's a photo of Aly and Luke Perry.

Quote:

---

www.guardian.co.uk/arts/reviews/story/0,11712,1153824,00.html

Theatre

When Harry Met Sally

Theatre Royal Haymarket, London



Michael Billington and Peter Bradshaw

Monday February 23, 2004

The Guardian



Is theatre slowly turning into live cinema? After the West End run of The Graduate, we now have this equally tame theatricalisation of Nora Ephron's 1989 Hollywood romantic comedy. Doubtless even now someone is beavering away in a back room on an idea to outdo them all: Citizen Kane - The Play.

If this particular script, adapted by Marcy Kahan, makes for a dull play, there are several reasons. One is that Harry's idea that friendship between hetero couples is a near impossibility comes as no surprise to theatregoers. Dr Astrov says exactly the same thing in Uncle Vanya. More importantly, the theatre demands robuster language, saltier exchanges, more extreme situations than the contemporary cinema provides: compare this script with David Mamet's Sexual Perversity in Chicago or Patrick Marber's Closer and you realise how far behind the cinema lags when it comes to exploring modern sexual mores.



I was also struck by the lack of texture in the writing. What do we actually learn about Harry and Sally other than that he's a corporate lawyer and she's some kind of journalist? At no point do their jobs, careers or family obligations (do they have parents or were they virgin births?) impinge on their endless yackety-yak about relationships. The best thing about a pointless evening is Alyson Hannigan who lends Sally a bright-eyed perkiness that makes the sexual dilatoriness of Luke Perry's under-cooked Harry even more inexplicable than it is already. Loveday Ingram's direction, with its use of filmed inserts, has a certain cool chic but two hours is a long time to spend in a theatre just for a fake orgasm.

Michael Billington



Peter Bradshaw writes... In theory, When Harry Met Sally - the 1989 movie that launched 1,000 romcoms and kickstarted the 1990s "relationship" genre - should be a perfect stage-play. It's talky; it's smart; it's got two big leads with a couple of attractive supporting roles. It could be like a Private Lives in modern Manhattan. But instead of a stage-play with depth, range and intimacy, this production is just concerned to deliver what the public already knows and loves. Seeing this was like a coach-party drive-in video rental.



As Sally, Alyson Hannigan does an unearthly impression of the young Meg Ryan: complete with pert and self-satisfied little smirk and reedy, weedy voice. Short of dyeing her hair blonde, there was nothing more she could do.



Interestingly, Luke Perry wasn't in the least like Billy Crystal, and was able to grow into the role in a way closed off to Hannigan. Jake Broder and Sharon Small tried hard as their best friends Jack and Marie, but couldn't match the comic style and timing of Carrie Fisher and Bruno Kirby. This version had the famous "real old people" bits projected onto a screen, ingeniously explained away as Marie's own video installation, but to me it was as irritating as hearing taped music instead of live. Like everything else, it was apologising for not being a proper film.



The Great Faked Orgasm scene worked reasonably well, but looked like the fake of a fake and the legendary "I'll have what she's having" payoff was made almost meaningless by being given to a young guy Sally's age. It was much funnier as an incredulous wisecrack in the mouth of Rob Reiner's elderly mother. One real success was Harry's post-coital agony with blissed-out Sally, desperately wondering how to go home. The long silences really worked in a theatrical space. But, mostly, the action looked as if it had been pedantically flattened out onto a big 2-D screen: the staging was all weirdly like a frieze or Egyptian painting. The original movie showed two believably real people getting older over 12 years. This West-End-isation shows two famous-ish actors staying exactly the same for a couple of hours. Not the same thing.

Peter Bradshaw



· Peter Bradshaw is the Guardian's film critic. When Harry Met Sally is at the Haymarket until May 29. Box office: 0870 901 3356.

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Edited to add: I can't access the Evening Standard review, since you have to be registered and give them money to read it, but here's the link, which includes another new picture:

www.thisislondon.co.uk/entertainment/



And here's the review from the Daily Telegraph (link won't work unless you're registered with the site):

Quote:

---

arts.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2004/02/23/btcs23.xml&sSheet=/arts/2004/02/23/ixartleft.html

Why try so hard to look like a movie?

(Filed: 23/02/2004)



Charles Spencer reviews When Harry Met Sally at Theatre Royal, Haymarket



You have two options with When Harry Met Sally. You can buy the video for £5.99, watch it at home with your beloved, sharing a large bag of Butterkist's excellent toffee popcorn, and should the mood so take you, enjoy a romantic tryst afterwards.



Alternatively, you can brave London's ghastly public transport or Ken's congestion charge, pay £80 for a pair of top-price tickets and watch this stage version starring a couple of American "stars" I'd never heard of. Then you can stump up another 100 quid or so for dinner, brave the drunks and beggars on the Tube, and arrive home feeling both exhausted and ripped off. As Sally memorably remarks on the subject of the number of women who fake their orgasms: "Do the math."



These days, old films are the new theatre. Where once they made movies based on successful stage shows, now the traffic is all the other way. The West End already has an instantly forgettable Thoroughly Modern Millie, with the more enticing prospect of The Producers and Mary Poppins to come. Other pictures currently being turned into stage properties include Dr Zhivago, Shrek, Legally Blonde, Get Shorty, Edward Scissorhands, The Wedding Singer, The Little Mermaid, The Color Purple, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Pleasantville. Will the line stretch out to the crack of doom?



You can see why theatrical producers find the prospect of old movies attractive. It saves them the slog of coming up with ideas of their own. Just as importantly, audiences seem to like what they already know. But although individual shows based on movies may prove enjoyable, the sheer scale of the phenomenon seems to me symptomatic of a commercial theatre running scared and failing to develop original products.



The saddest thing about When Harry Met Sally, intelligently adapted from Nora Ephron's sparkling screenplay by Marcy Kahan and spryly directed by Loveday Ingram, is that it tries so hard to look like a movie. The designer Ultz has come up with a long, shallow box design in minimalist white, with back-projections of snow and falling autumn leaves. Between scenes, screens cover the stage to show filmed footage of old couples talking about how they met, exactly as in the movie. There are even split-screen devices and a recorded jazzy soundtrack by Ben and Jamie Cullum. The whole thing seems strangely pointless.



Nevertheless, I mildly enjoyed the evening. As romantic movies go, When Harry Met Sally may not be in the same league as the Hollywood greats. But the story, following its likeable Manhattan characters through 13 years, from first meeting, when they find each other obnoxious, through platonic friendship, to the eventual recognition of love, is funny and touching, and Kahan wisely retains all Ephron's best gags.



In its unashamedly middlebrow way, the story also raises interesting issues, most notably the vexed question of whether men and women can ever remain "just good friends". And in the fake orgasm scene, with its great pay-off line, the stage version hits the comic heights just as confidently as the movie.



Until she starts groaning and gasping, Alyson Hannigan seems a subdued Sally, and is certainly nothing like as irresistible as Meg Ryan in the movie. But she becomes increasingly touching as the show goes on, while Luke Perry's rumpled Harry is actually rather more engaging than Billy Crystal.



The show is an agreeable enough diversion, but when romantic comedies remain so popular in the cinema, why on earth is no one writing them tailormade for the stage? I suspect there is an untapped fortune to be made.

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Edited by: tyche at: 2/23/04 12:26 pm

[Boudecia Jones]

Hey WFB.

Many thanks for the review and your interesting account of the play and your subsequent meeting with Aly. I`m not at all surprised by her generous reaction to her fans, both she and Amber appear to be delightful women! I`m going to the show this thursday, can`t wait for my own Aly experience!

Incidently, there`s a review of "When Harry met Sally" in last Saturday`s Daily Mail by a chap called Michael Coveney. I`m not sure whether it`s available online. If you are able to get hold of it, be warned, it`s particularly unpleasant and scathing. I`m happy to relay it for anybody who wants to see it, but believe me it isn`t worth the effort.

[WannaFriendsBe]

Boudecia Jones - Hi there! It honestly was a great pleasure to share my wonderful Aly experience! Here's wishing you lotsa fun when you go to see the show and I do hope you have as much fun as I did if/when you meet Aly - like i said earlier she and Amber are just so great and good for the soul !! My meeting Amber which was for a much longer period and in a less hurried and less formal setting has been one of the best, most enriching experiences in my life and meeting Aly has enhanced that feeling....



As for nasty reviews - I refuse to let them bother me - those darn theatre critics are entitled to their opinions - we good folk go to the theatre for entertainment and MY MY did Aly entertain!! I thoroughly enjoyed the whole show and I'll be sure to tell Aly that over and over and over again WHEN I go to see it again!!



Thank goodness that in one of Aly's interviews, she said, so long as she fulfils what she wants to prove to herself(i.e. that she can carry a stage performance to her own satisfaction as an actress) then she'll be happy regardless of what the critics say - Go Aly!! - that's the right attitude - the world is your oyster - and damn you sure have mega-talent!!!



tyche - thanks for all the reviews/links!! The following quote from the first review you posted, really warmed my heart!!

Quote:

---

The best thing about a pointless evening is Alyson Hannigan who lends Sally a bright-eyed perkiness that makes the sexual dilatoriness of Luke Perry's under-cooked Harry even more inexplicable than it is already. Loveday Ingram's direction, with its use of filmed inserts, has a certain cool chic but two hours is a long time to spend in a theatre just for a fake orgasm.

Michael Billington

---

Though I have to say that it SO was NOT a pointless evening! - It was a celebration of comedy and the Aly part of said comedy was just so precious!!



Take care everyone

WFB

Edited by: WannaFriendsBe at: 2/23/04 1:41 pm

[urnofosiris]

Thank you for the report wannafriendsbe, I am happy to hear you had a great time and got to meet Aly. Your report makes it tempting to try and get an autograph. I have that WT comic with Chris Golden´s and Amber´s autograph and Aly´s would make it complete, but I´ll see how I feel when I am there. I can´t wait to see this play for myself.

[WannaFriendsBe]

DrG - Hi there! - You're more than welcome, I'm glad you're going to see the show too, so you'll see why I'm so enthusiastic about it - do please post here afterwards, I'd like your thoughts on the show also.



I think getting Aly's autograph - is really worth it - i.e. if you don't mind waiting for sometime at the stagedoor('twas only about 20mins wait for me....)



I'm also toying with the idea of asking Aly to sign my W/T comic - it already has Amber's autograph on it.... But when I go to see the show again I'm more keen to get her to autograph the photo I took with her.... or maybe both items!



BTW - I hope you'll keep your promise to catch up with/leave feedback for my fic on Pens - Getting Rid of Wonky Willow (shameless plug!) - it's up to chapter 12 now! but RL has prevented me from updating it or doing replies to the last chapter's feedback for about a month!! HOPEFULLY that'll be rectified soonest.



O-kay I'll stop rambling now.



Take care

WFB

[urnofosiris]

Oh I don´t mind doing the waiting in line thing, no one there will know me, except my partner in crime, so I can wait in line, sqeal when I see her and afterwards pretend to be too cool to do such things.

I have not forgotten about your fic, but I am afraid I have been a very bad reader. The only book I´ve read last year was Harry Potter part 5. I do miss reading about WT, I´ll try and read something every weekend starting this weekend. If you don´t update that might give me a chance to catch up.

[WannaFriendsBe]

Hahahaha!! U're really funny DrG - I know what you mean though - I too have been known to er, act out of character when I know I'm unknown.... does that make any sense?



Anyhow, no worries about my fic - whenever you do catch up with it will be really cool - i'm happy enough knowing you do hope to read more of it - BUT hey!! - u shouldn't let other kittens hear(read) u tell a fic author to sorto 'not' update..... That's a No No !!!



Have fun when you see Aly on stage - and do give us some feedback afterwards....



I'll stop hogging this thread now!



See ya around the board



WFB

[tyche]

Zap2It are reporting that Joss couldn't make an Angel event over the weekend b/c he was in London seeing 'When Harry Met Sally', among other shows.

Also, buffy.nu have a very harsh review of the play from 'The Scotsman'. I'm just going to link to it, as the reviewer does a real hatchet job and says some nasty things about Aly:

www.buffy.nu/article.php3?id_article=3341

[urnofosiris]

Oh darn, I´m so sad I just missed him by a few weeks. I will give those critics a miss too, as interesting as their particular complexes may be, there are other things to waste my time on that are much more fun.

[DaffyQDuck]

Aly is in my new Time---nice photo (wh is not on the website) of Aly & Luke. Here is the blurb....



Fake an Orgasm, Fend Off a Rabbit

In the international commerce of comedy, this qualifies as fair trade. Last week the Brits appropriated a couple of all-American icons — persnickety Sally Albright and her friend Harry Burns — when the stage play of Rob Reiner's 1989 classic When Harry Met Sally opened in London's West End, with American Pie co-star ALYSON HANNIGAN and Beverly Hills, 90210 alumnus LUKE PERRY. Next spring Americans will get their return when the musical version of Monty Python and the Holy Grail debuts on Broadway. The show will be called Spamalot. Say no more.

It wasn't our world anymore, they made it theirs and they had fun - Willow

[Incarnadine]

With the casting of the pilot for her sitcom pretty much done it was just a matter of time until she had to leave the play to shoot it (we all knew it was coming) but this is the first I've heard of the dates she will be away from the stage, March 17-April 3 (also a review in this link)



www.londontheatre.co.uk/l...arry04.htm

Spike to Giles:



Oh, poor Watcher. Did your life pass before your eyes? Cuppa tea, cuppa tea, almost got shagged, cuppa tea?

[urnofosiris]

Well am I not glad we did not plan this a few weeks later. From the moment we booked our tickets I have been slightly worried that the play would get cancelled or Aly would quit it or that she would not be there on the day I would be going to see it. The pessimist in me is expecting such a scenario. I certainly would not be going to see When Harry met Sally if not for Aly. It´s hardly one of my favourite movies. Anyway, even if for some reason she would not be there it won´t be a disaster, I´ve been wanting to go to London again for a while. There will be plenty to see and do to make the trip worthwhile, but seeing Aly act might just make it unforgettable.