THE HABIT OF ART by ALAN BENNETT at GFT

There was a unique opportunity to see one of the years best theatre events at a local venue near your home , which is a good thing seen as the play is completely sold out for the entire first and second extended runs.

Many venues throughout the world gave a live performance of Alan Bennetts new completely sold out highly regarded and critically acclaimed play based on the life of Auden and Britten called The Habit of Art.

I was very vary of how a live theatre event can be broadcast onto a celluloid format without looking a laboured parody of a scintillating three-dimensional electricity you feel when at the Theatre.But this format was absolutely brilliant , you get a view from a front row perspective with the added delight of the cameras honing in and out the action on the stage to capture close up subtle facial expressions.This show was so good i would have no hesitation whatsoever to go and see a version of Hamlet ,which should be due out later in the season.

As for the play itself Critics have been falling over themselves to give it glowing triumphant reviews.Even the usherettes in the cinema were transfixed by the supreme quality of wit and perception showing the Full Majesty's of Alan Bennetts remarkable talent to speak in entirely subconscious subliminal understated manners things that ultimately brand , in a positive way , ones thinking for life.A Master at his Masterful Best.

The best review comes from the Telegraph , which captures the humble panache which is Bennett at his very best

You can get a review from the normally hard to impress Guardian critic and here is one from the Observer which touches on some of the humour element.


What all the reviews fail to mention is how funny the play is , it is like the very best of Blackadder and Fawlty Towers , with a touch of the Producers ( Springtime for Hitler) all rolled into one.

Alan Bennett has that extra special quality to make the audience laugh and be so entertained at the time , that it is only much later they realise they have been imparted a profound philosophical education without even noticing.Bennett is also a Person of Integrity , shunning new years honours from the establishment ,which the Acting Worlds other better members pant after like desperate dogs , twice.His proudest patronage being a lifetime Patron membership of the National Gallery , which allows him to visit the collection out of hours with private Friends.

Here is a small video about the production from one of the cast:




Here is an article by Alan Bennett himself wrote in 2007 when he was working on the play.It shows just how much research goes into a work we , the audience, watch with casual attention.