This glare from the exquisitely talented British actor Richard Armitage in character as John Proctor in Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” at The Old Vic in London England (my cap above) says to me stand back, or suffer the consequences!
Forget my fear of flying (literally)! Forget that I have other bills to pay! After seeing Richard Armitage in this short video promo for his role as John Proctor in “The Crucible”, how can I not see Richard Armitage in Arthur Miller’s play in London at the Old Vic?
I just have to figure out what I can sell to do it. I mean it! Ha! And thanks to Miss Kitty for sharing the video link!
More from the video About:
“Book now oldvictheatre.com
0844 871 7628
Richard Armitage stars in Arthur Miller’s classic American drama brought vividly to life in this visceral new production by internationally acclaimed director Yaël Farber.
In a small tight-knit community personal grievances collide with lust and superstition, fuelling widespread hysteria. Miller’s timeless parable attacks the evils of mindless persecution and the terrifying power of false accusations.
Sat 21 June — Sat 13 Sept
Film produced by Strike Digital”
Update June 01, 2014: Grati’s new Wallpaper for Richard Armitage as John Proctor in The Crucible:
(Richard Armitage and Samantha Colley images are courtesy of The Old Vic page linked above; RA quote courtesy of Richard Armitage Central video interview transcript linked above; crucible of fire is MS Office Clip Art manip)
Something About Love (A) 
May 30, 2014–Perry at her Armitage Agonistes blog also shares this video, and a tantalizing notion of The Old Vic wondering if there is enough interest to produce a video. Follow the link Perry includes and give them your answer.
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May 30, 2014–Servetus’ MeandRichardArmitage blog has a lovely and insightful (as are all of them) “Emergency *ooof*” analysis of the new Richard Armitage portrait in character as John Proctor in The Crucible by Guylty:
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May 30, 2014–The Richard Armitage Central resource site has uploaded a one page transcript of the Richard Armitage “The Crucible” interview video in my blog post above:
http://richardarmitagecentral.co.uk/main.php?g2_itemId=357764
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May 30, 2014–Morrighan’s Muse shares some RA quotes about his John Proctor role and The Old Vic’s theatre in the round stage, and the hope for a video release:
http://lovesexandotherdirtywords.com/2014/05/30/it-was-one-of-those-roles-that-id-always-coveted/
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Great list of links, Grati. – And go for it, book a flight, make the dream come true. You only live once, and some memories are worth it!
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Thanks for your kind note, Guylty!
And your words of encouragement! I would shoot for one of the September dates for The Crucible in hopes that any RA absences for Into the Storm premiere press would be over by then–and that The Hobbit 3 press whirl will not have started–such that RA would be giving the John Proctor performance, rather than an understudy.
I did look into the notion of how one obtains a passport last night. We shall see. Ha! Thanks and Cheers! Grati ;->
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I think all dates have their advantages and disadvantages. September might be good as flight fares might go down a bit after the summer. (I have been looking at transatlantic flights myself, and frankly, I am shocked.)
A passport always comes in handy :-)
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I know, yikes! I just googled airfare rates and the $2K+ rate I saw is a deal breaker. Though Expedia has a Finnair flight that is $1,137 RT. Seven hours and 40 mintues!!! Yikes!
http://www.expedia.com/Flights-Search?trip=roundtrip&leg1=from:CHI,to:London,%20England,%20United%20Kingdom%20%28LON-All%20Airports%29,departure:09/03/2014TANYT&leg2=from:London,%20England,%20United%20Kingdom%20%28LON-All%20Airports%29,to:CHI,departure:09/10/2014TANYT&passengers=children:0,adults:1,seniors:0,infantinlap:Y&mode=search
When I talked to a local travel agency just now, they said I might be able to get RT nonstop airfare from Chicago to Heathrow for around $1200–with about $225/night hotel.
But if I were to book the airfare and hotel together with the travel agency, the total might be cheaper. Hmmm. I’m going to check The Old Vic website to see if they have any travel package schemes to see the play that they might suggest.
Cheers! Grati ;->
P.S. When my hubby asked me just now why I was talking to a travel agent about London, I told him that I would love to experience RA in The Crucible–but that it was probably too costly for me to go. He said that I shouldn’t rule it out. That is why I love my man and we will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary come December!
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May 31 – June 3, 2014–Thanks for liking this post!
Leila Rage, LadyButterfly, saraobsessed, Marie Astra, crystalchandlyre, Herba, and tully2shoes
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Hi Grati I have my ticket going with my friend we are only a 2 1/2 hour train journey away from London. We are so excited especially after seeing that photo and the video. My word but that is one beautiful man.
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Hi AJDaisy!
I’m thrilled that you are so close and get to experience Richard Armitage perform in The Crucible! And oh yes! Richard Armitage has cornered the market on raw smouldering talent! Sighhhh! *THUD*
Cheers! Grati ;->
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Good luck with this endeavor, Grati – for all the love you pour into this, it will definitely be worthwhile and hopefully you can even enjoy a few extra days in London with Mr. Grati! I would also aim for a September viewing – first for the flight fare reasons – and second, end-of-run performances can often see actors performing at their effortless best!
Those airfare prices look painful – one part is the summer peak travel season – but another is that the British pound is at its highest rate now against the USD since – I don’t know – probably the last 5 years?? It’s been trading between 1.65-1.70 for the past few weeks so this is also impacting your USD purchasing power, I’m afraid.
Do keep us posted – I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you!
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Hi UK Expat,
Thanks for your well wishes about my hoped for trip. It might not happen–due to the cost and my little aversion to flying (Ha!). But I will continue to check into it. You have to dream the impossible sometimes, right?
I agree with you about the final performances possibly being among the actors’ best. They have explored every nuance of portrayal by that point, they know their characters and the other actors inside out. And there is something poignant about saying farewell to a character that I would think also plays into actors performing at their best.
And I would love for my hubby to be able to go with me. The thought of me experiencing London without him seems wrong somehow. I always wondered how some other wives I know with unlimited resources–unlike me–and they take fabulous trips to Hong Kong, etc., with their pals, but not their husbands. It seems “unfair”, somehow, to leave their husbands behind. My hubby and I are equal partners in love and life. And we do everything together–except for our individual activities. Ha! But then, it would be even harder to coax my hubby onto a plane, than to get myself on a plane–with RA’s performance as my destination. Ha! It would be great to see the sights, go to Leicester for the King Richard III exhibits, and other historical areas in England. And it would be lovey to pop over to Paris while I’m there. Sighhhh! I’m keeping my fingers crossed, too.
Love & Hugs! Grati ;->
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May 31, 2014–Fabo was spot on about guessing The Crucible costume design–for John Proctor anyway.
I had linked this post of Fabo’s to an earlier post of mine about The Crucible. But with the new portrait of Richard Armitage in character as John Proctor in The Crucible (see video above) looking nearly identical to the image Fabo pointed out as a potential costume design choice, it makes sense to include Fabo’s post link again here–with a Brava to Fabo for her astuteness!
http://whiterosewritings.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-crucible-hint-about-costume-design.html
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May 31, 2014–NoemíS from FB created a stunning graphic juxtaposing the two recent images we have of Richard Armitage: 1) RA talking about his character John Proctor; and 2) RA being his character John Proctor.
Brava!
Image link:https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10204189454647281&set=a.1614609895844.2086586.1554234973&type=1&theater
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Pingback: Richard Armitage is Set to Give a Powerful Performance as John Proctor in “The Crucible”! May 30, 2014 Gratiana Lovelace (Post #574) | Tinseltown Times
June 1, 2014–Perry at her Armitage Agonistes blog shares a tweet capture of photographer Jay Brooks mentioning his photo shoot with Richard Armitage related to The Crucible interview video:
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Good Luck Grati! Yeah, when I had the chance to see him I completely ignored my screaming bank account lol! It’s a rare chance to see him and it’ll be amazing! :3
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Hi Rashisama,
Thanks for visiting and commenting. I know Richard Armitage and the other actors’ performances will be riveting! And these once in a lifetime moments happen rarely. I just need to get “the planets to align” for me. Of course, if The Old Vic were to mount a Broadway version of The Crucible after it closes in London, I would totally be there–and I could take the train. Ha!
Cheers! Grati ;->
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June 04, 2014–Servetus has a post about whether or not she would go to see the play and why. Not at the moment.
I gave a partial comment about my own thoughts about seeing the play in response to her mentioning fans standing around the stage door waiting to meet RA. I feel that I should be brief “elsewhere” because I am a terribly wordy girl–as in the the lead up to my expanded comment here. Ha!
So no delaying, here are my expanded thoughts about myself in response to Serv’s thoughtful essay:
Grati’s comment:
Oh dear, more food for thought. Apart from possibly experiencing the play, The Crucible–were I to go–I had no thought of trying to meet RA or get an autograph after the performance. I would just be too shy to do it.
I know, “shy” isn’t probably a descriptor my online friends would attach to me. But outside of my circle of friends (in person and virtual), family, and colleagues, I’m rather a circumspect person. Sure, I walk around confidently as I live my life, I’m courteous to others, and I am well regarded. The award plaques on my office wall are more tangible reflections of that positive regard.
And yet, the whole health thing (eyes, immune system, and now asthma (*Grati shakes her head*) has taken its toll on me–especially this past year. And I find that with each additional diagnosis and its attendant treatment regimen–and I’m a very compliant patient, my doctors all love me. Blech! –I almost need to be retired to work it all in. Ha!
Even now, I’m typing this comment three hours past my new 9:30pm bedtime. I’m supposed to get 8 hours sleep each night to help improve my respiratory health. But I spent four hours of my evening tonight at a retirement banquet (which was nice) for a university colleague, rather than being able to write or read or social media as I like to do. So, it was essentially a 13 hour work day for me today. Retirement is looking better and better. Technically, I just have two years to go and I can retire young because I will have thirty years in. It is so tempting, but I do love what I do and I would miss it and the people–most of the time. Ha!
So, would I love to go see Richard Armitage in The Crucible in London? Absolutely! Is it likely to happen? We’ll see. I don’t want to rule it out because I’m a perpetual optimist. And I’m trying to be more of a risk taker. Ha!
P.S. See? I’m a wordy girl. But though this post continues to get several dozen hits a day, I doubt anyone will read my comment here. Besides people tend to hit the like button more than comment–it’s quicker. Life is short, I get it. Ha! I have the cloak of anonymity working for me. So it’s off to bed for me now to try to get 6 hours of sleep. Nitey nite!
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June 05, 2014–Good news for folks who bought tickets to see Richard Armitage in The Crucible–not to mention the travel costs. Perry at her Armitage Agonistes blog ponders The Crucible ticket sales avoiding possible Into the Storm press dates for RA:
1) http://armitageagonistes.wordpress.com/2014/06/05/nyc-premiere-for-into-the-storm-makes-sense/
and
2) http://armitageagonistes.wordpress.com/2014/06/05/the-old-vic-box-office-verbally-confirms-armitage-performance-dates/
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