Emerald Coast Theatre Consultant

To be honest with you, I was not prepared for the impact of seeing Brian Bedford reading “Ever Yours, Oscar” at the Patterson Theatre this afternoon (June 19, 2009 at 2pm). I don’t know what I was expecting. Nor, I suspect, did anyone else. I have read and seen plays about Oscar and read books on his life, but this afternoon’s performance by Mr. Bedford was illuminating beyond words.

Bedford is a small man, thin, pleasant looking. He came out onto the almost bare stage (a music stand with script/letters and a simple side table with a glass of water) wearing a simple dark suit with a white tie, and stood a small pool of light. He glanced around the hall, as if to make a personal contact with each individual there, smiled, and began.

As he picked up the first page, it became quite apparent to the audience that he had not memorized what he was going to say. There was a slight murmur, some rustling of programs and a lot of audience movement.

Once he started to read, however, you were a goner. The entire audience became instantly glued to his every word. As he spoke from each page, you could see his entire body take on the tone of what he was going to read. That physical technique alone moved you so far into the words that there was no escape.

Years ago, an actor at Stratford told me that when you do a classic play, you do it “then, but now”.

With nothing but Wilde’s letters and his own talent, technique, and creativity; he instantly moved the audience back to Oscar’s time and place. It was one of the most arresting moments in my life. To hear him read, just simply read, was something I will never forget. It seemed like I did not breathe for the hour and twenty minutes he held that audience.

We were honored to be in the audience today. A memory I will cherish the rest of my life.

We see Cyrano this evening at 8 at the Festival Theatre.

I will be Blogging on Julius Caesar, West Side Story and Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum that we have already seen, but I had to share with you the absolute joy in hearing a master at the helm.