Daily BirthdaysSteven Berkoff Forum
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| by isabella whitehead Clara Flemons i completley agree with you as you met him in person you are obvisously the rght one he cant be as arogent and pig headed as people are saying because no man or women is . Isabella  Comment on this... |
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| by Mike Fair enough Clara, I agree the man is far less rough and arrogant than many have a false picture of. He is an artist and a gentleman, it looks like to me. That said, his one man band approach to everything he does professionally on stage, at least, does him few favours, critically. He is not a novelist, but a dramatist- Occasionally writing other actors into his plays would do his reputation no harm! The incredibly personal and physical elements to most of his works are also not to every serious theatre goer's taste, I don't mean the mass musical theatre market but the serious theatre, a large proportion of which, now, must be the citics themselves. He has therefore become a fringe act and no more, which is a very cool thing to be, but probably can't bring him the real kudos his very committed act seems to be desperate for. His relationship with the critics is famously tense, but I myself, of liberal theatrical taste, as long it's well written, can find little fault with the critical consensus on Berkoff-He tries a little too hard to be great, achieving overwritten and overwrought theatre instead of great theatre. But I think he'd rather not be known at all than be known as a traditionalist in style, and he definitely doesn't want to be just another luvvy playing second-fiddly parts in wornout staples-his whole being screams 'writer-player' at you and although his technique is classically based, his brand is really contemporary-The trouble here, is, there is not much that hasn't been tried, making it very hard to be that new, or that controverial, or that different any more to the modern audience. (What's more likely to be now, is a traditional 3 act drawing room melodrama.) However, I cannot fault the man's effort or work ethic, or even his theatrical credentials and ability. (He is drenched in classical physical theatre-more to Oriental or Italian taste really, than British) In a way, he is the right man, but with the wrong style. Comment on this... |
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| by Clara Flemons Firstly Natasha I hope you do not mind me pointing out that amazing is spelt thus! I saw Steven Berkoff very recently in Messiah at the Old Vic . which was very beautiful , splendidly choreographed a real credit to Steven's umatched talent . An artist of such eloquence. I had the additional pleasure of visiting Steven in his dressing room after the performance , as I had requested an opportunity to speak to him about his work,to assist with the disseratation that I am writing in 'Praise' of his achievements in Theater and Film, not forgetting his awesome Poem written in response to Sept 11th , and of course his other literary work . Steven was very gracious when I spoke to him and wished me luck with my dissertation and thanked me for calling by what a nice man. As for being arrogant and big-headed well there was absolutely no trace of this. These traits have really been projected onto him , in his writings he actually comes across as very human with anguish and self doubt like most professional artists , but equally he does not suffer fools gladly!! Clara Flemons Comment on this... |
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| by Natasha Malyon Steven Berkoff is an arogant big headed person who should be condemned. But his plays are amasing! Comment on this... | |||||||||
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