I was lucky enough to be able to attend an event at Keats' House in Hampstead this afternoon. It was an open-air performance of a short play about the love affair between Keats and Fanny Brawne. The weather was warm and was kind enough not to rain on us even though clouds did threaten. We were able to enjoy a pre-performance picnic on the front lawn where the mulberry tree was producing a lot of fruit that we were exhorted not to pick as it was already proving very popular with visitors!
The play itself lasted about an hour and the script was based on the poems and letters. The arranger and director was James Veitch who looks very young and is a recent graduated from Sarah Lawrence College, New York. The influence of Jane Campion's film 'Bright Star' was evident but not too surprising. (The performance ends with a recitation of 'Ode to a Nightingale' for example.)
'Keats in Hampstead' opens with 'La Belle Dame sans Merci' recited by the two actors playing Keats and Fanny. Andrew Dawson and Katie Beard are both young actors not long out of drama school and they did a fine job of showing the youthful exuberance of the lovers as well as the ups and downs of first love. They ran about among the audience and used the front of the house and garden very effectively for various entrances and exits. The first acted scene showed Fanny's reaction to hearing of Keats' death followed by Severn's description of his final days in Rome and his physical suffering. Then we go back and see Keats as he was in health and all the liveliness of his personality as seen in his letters. At one point he even picks up someone's bottle of picnic wine when he talks of claret. Keats and Fanny flirt and tease up and down the garden path. At one point she hangs out of an upstairs window as she describes Mr Keats' appearance.
Inevitably the storyline is very much compressed and simplified but it was no less effective for that. Keats' despair at losing Fanny came across strongly, while lighter moments were provided by the actors doing impressions of the critics; both the ones who gave negative reviews and the ones who were later more positive.
Incidental music was provided by a solo violinist (Barbara Bartz) who underlined the emotion a key points with short passages.
My only quibble was the delivery of the poetry could have been better. It was far too rushed in many places.
The whole experience was very moving and all the more so for being played in a place so much associated with the two protagaonists. As the story moved towards its inevitably tragic conclusion, even the breezes suddenly felt cooler. I'm so glad I went as it was a venture well worth supporting. I noticed an amorous young couple in the audience. I hope they came away valuing their lives and love all the more.
didn't stop her loving him, nor make him less attractive... 
