Judgement Day

Andrew Lucre really needs to set the record straight on something in case he mysteriously falls under a train one day.  Believe it or not I have just read for the first time a Google extract (roughly page 39) from Wendy Lesser’s book about director Stephen Daldry. The references to the production of Judgement Day are factual incorrect. My admiration for Meredith Oakes knows no bounds (she is a far more talented writer and translator than many gave her credit for). However, it was not Meredith who introduced the play to Mr Daldry. The play was my choice from the very beginning. Inspired, if that is the word, by Britain’s then hopeless transport system- later to exhibit many many serious accidents on the London Underground. Having read an American translation when plowing through dozens and dozens of plays to produce (I had already acted in and produced Maria Irene Fornes’ Mud) Judgement Day was the choice also because of the very qualities in its characters that Mr Daldry is oft cited for illuminating in Lesser’s book. Mr Daldry directed a very fine production for me.  It won Best Production at the London Fringe Awards (though not Best Director: there of course could not have been one without the other).

Originally I intended directing Judgement Day myself (not having directed before). Acting on stage every night plus 2 matinees at the Old Vic doesn’t leave much time though- producing itself was enough! In fact I remember Fiona Shaw (in the Old Vic As You Like It cast) when inviting cast members to a party or something turning to me and saying words to the effect “well you don’t have any time!” in a rather strange somewhat dismissive way. Sadly. Irony being she was later directed by the then unknown Mr Daldry on the National Theater stage in Machinal.

Meredith Oakes I had known as a fellow music journalist and it always occurred to me that she had far greater talents: indeed she was translating into English the definitive biography of Gustav Mahler. So I asked if she’d be at all interested in being my dramaturg- a completely foreign German concept unknown in English theater. And she agreed. My instinct was unsatisfied with the existing translations (having a rudimentary knowledge of German), though, as I recall she was not asked and had no intention of doing a translation at that point. Long story that I shall not prolong any further. However....I also just read:

Mr Stephen Daldry: I have nothing against you. I can't say I am a great admirer of your film work but you clearly made a life for yourself out of the talent that I saw in you. It was your then agent Pauline Asper who is responsible for 'hooking us' up. However: there is another factual in accuracy in an article about you. Sadly, in a newspaper that I used to write for The Independent. So I am beginning to wonder just how massaged is the truth of your life (something I have no interest nor time to enter into).
Caroline Maude was beguiled early on when she helped him produce Von Horvath's Judgement Day at the Old Red Lion. The play done, he went back to washing up in a Greek restaurant in Camberwell, she to temping; then he got the Gate and tracked her down to be general manager.

Again: I had a lot of faith in Ms Maude's abilities. But the implication of the article is that Mr Daldry produced the play along with Ms Maude. They did not. And if it wasn't for me badgering my contacts in the press many of the critics cited in Lesser's book wouldn't have reviewed the fringe show. Mr.Daldry didn't particularly like the fact that it was Andrew Lucre who was accepting an award. Furthermore he fauxly dismissed the fringe awards ceremony and was very concerned about whether I was applying for the job of running the Gate Theatre- a known springboard for greater things in the theater community.  Mr Daldry did not "track down" Caroline Maude. On the contrary. When she applied for the job at the Gate (I was co-producing a play there for Daldry) Daldry was VERY reluctant to take a chance on Caroline Maude because of her inexperience and the volume of other better qualified applicants. I responded "are you kidding..she's perfect". She got the job and proved terrific. I guess I was the only one to be immune to Mr Daldry's "charm". Well: I certainly know that isn't true. Long story that I shall not prolong any further.

[Just as a postscript]: I had some emails from a wise old c*** who basically advised: forget about all that ***. Indeed correct. But the reason I posted (coldly without relative emotion) was not just out of astonishment but also hoping that it may help others to whom such a thing happens. Annually I Google myself (short of having a publicist to do so). I did indeed know there was some sort of reference to the Daldry book but never went beyond a few lines and never saw the newspaper article. Now: if I’d posted this during the recent Broadway run of The Queen /Skylight (Daldry stage productions) then all sorts of ‘vindictive’ accusations would have been leveled at me. And maybe I would have done such. But: it happened to cross my eyes at 5pm last Saturday.

It’s not an unusual story at all for American entertainment- e.g. Jerome Robbins…West Side Story! As re: helping people- if THAT happens to you, don’t jump. They are full of greed and betrayal and alas, sadly, talent: YOU are a better person for not following in their footsteps. (Or if you do decide to ‘top yourself’ then either make sure all their dirty doings are safely in a deposit box or alternatively send them all to me and I’ll make sure they are released in a timely fashion). There really is no escape for ‘those’ people.

I also knew David Levaux the same million years ago (100 times a more interesting a person/theater director than Stephen Daldry- no offense Steve)- I’m not aware the world needs a ‘safe’ box for Mr Levaux. Oh god: have I just got him shot by writing this! David was directing Maximilian Schell at the Volksbühne (auf Englisch- Berliner Ensemble;) before you were in diapers Steve ('no names no pack drill' David- climbing through the window...). In something called a 'drama'. Hello? This is sounding like a TRUE blog now. Remember when people spoke their mind and didn't set out to blog to be a TV Kardashian show?

I'm just jealous for never having had the courage to be Brian Sewell or Waldemar Januszczak or Charlie Brooker oops: they're still alive. AHHH! Chose dead people Andrew- they can't talk!

Thank you for the great direction of Judgement Day Mr Daldry. I expected no reciprocal thanks (though – you did give it verbally- I remember the place/date/time)- as many many other things. I didn’t, however, expect the betrayal and erasure of my name in history through many key players in that production. Never mind Stephen D. when Ken Branagh turns down the Bambi remake it's yours. Good luck with that one. No: seriously. Bambi needs a friend in the forest of the night. Actually: David Cameron might be on the phone to you after his term in office to be a 'member' of that cast. All publicity is good publicity sprach Nietzsche.

[1am addition- just had an email in from Neil Patrick Harris who wants to be Bambi's werts and all tree (remember Bambi's talking tree?). I smell Tony Steve....hmmm I really DO smell Tony: could the tree be a Brit with raspy voice and a dubious welt rhizome action...even better: I'm sensing The Producers in faux fur- Springtime for Bambi and Hollywood...never, never, never, never: THIS is OSCAR. Really. Not a hanging chad in sight.

Interesting that 'twas I insisted on a very simple Ödön von Horváth quote in the programme notes and that you wanted slightly more cerebral philosophical offerings….:

Und die Leute werden sagen
In fernen blauen Tagen
Wird es einmal recht
Was falsch ist und was echt
Was falsch ist, wird verkommen
Obwohl es heut regiert.
Was echt ist, das soll kommen -
Obwohl es heut krepiert.

And people will say
In far away blue days
It will become clear
What is false and what is true.
What is false will perish
Although it rules today
What is true shall come
Although it dies today. 
- Ödön von Horváth (found in his pocket after his death)