Category Archives: work

theatre

High Society (2015)

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Oh my, it seems a long time between drinks, but Rupert’s back on stage again, doing what he does so sublimely well …

Rupert is starring as CK Dexter Haven in High Society at the Old Vic Theatre – and for a lovely long run, too, from 30 April to 22 August 2015. I just went to see the first show this evening, and loved every minute of it.

Although the Old Vic is a ‘traditional’ theatre with a proscenium arch, it has been transformed so that this production is played ‘in the round’, with the action centring on a circle surrounded (rather closely!) by the audience, and the musicians in two balconies above. Some of the set transformations have to be seen to be believed; these are nimbly aided by about half the cast and ensemble who play the staff of the estate.

The setting is Seth Lord’s (Christopher Ravenscroft) estate on Long Island, on ‘a glorious Saturday morning in June 1958’. Family and guests are gathering as Seth’s daughter Tracy (Kate Fleetwood) is getting married on Sunday to George Kittredge (Richard Grieve). Amidst a happy swirl of staff, the silk-rustling whirl of a ball is being prepared. In the midst of all this, Dexter Haven (Rupert) shows up. We discover that he is Tracy’s former husband – and we soon realise that ‘he’s a right guy’, if for no other reason than that Tracy’s little sister Dinah (Ellie Bamber) adores him. Complicating matters in charming ways are the undercover journalist duo Liz Imbrie (Annabel Scholey) and Mike Connor (Jamie Parker).

Ellie Bamber is a delight throughout the show as Dinah, and Rupert was absolutely wonderful as her friend, especially in the affectionately playful song ‘Little One’. Rupert is also great as Dexter relates to his former mother-in-law (Barbara Flynn), and he absolutely shines in the clever banter of ‘Well, Did You Evah?’ Of course the beautiful duet ‘True Love’ was guaranteed to have me in tears. I love how an article in the program describes Dexter as embodying ‘easy wit and gentle irony’ – the sort of thing Rupert does so deliciously well. But leaving Rupert aside for just one moment, I have to say I also enjoyed the love stories involving the more mature characters, both upstairs and down.

Rupert with Barbara Flynn, in a rehearsal photo by Johan Persson.
Rupert with Barbara Flynn, in a rehearsal photo by Johan Persson.

The entire cast and ensemble is wonderful, as are the musicians, including consummate showman Joe Stilgoe. It seems wrong to single anyone out for special praise (except Rupert, of course, being the subject of this site!) as everyone delivered their role beautifully – and everyone seemed full of a happy energy. The show is a great deal of fun, and there are some terrific set pieces, which I won’t spoil for you here. Director Maria Friedman has obviously brought a great deal of creativity to the project! But at the heart of it all is a moving story of love and of personal growth.

The bottom line is: Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a fun night of theatre!

Reviews

Rupert Young’s Dexter Haven is loose-limbed and lovely-voiced, with an old-fashioned cheeky chivalry that lets the character sneak by as lightly charming rather than manipulative. The Independent, 16 May 2015

… although Rupert Young cannot banish memories of Kevin Spacey’s CK Dexter Haven in the Barry play, he nicely suggests the gilded privilege of wealth. The Guardian, 16 May 2015

Rupert Young is positively dreamy as the cool and endearing Dexter. Official London Theatre, 16 May 2015

Rupert Young’s CK Dexter Haven (Bing Crosby’s screen role) is refreshingly natural and undemonstrative: a really seductive leading man. The Arts Desk, 16 May 2015

… Tracy Lord’s old flame, Dexter Haven, here played with a modicum of charm but minimal dash by Rupert Young. What’s On Stage, 16 May 2015

… former beau CK Dexter Haven – handsomely taken by Rupert Young – completes the triumvirate of her admirers. London Theatre, 16 May 2015

As the charming, yacht-loving C K Dexter Haven, Rupert Young gives his all. He is genuinely pleasing in most respects, and his scenes with Ellie Bamber’s bratty Dinah are genuine and awash with rapport. He mostly gets away with the singing, but that is not his forte. (Indeed, apart from Parker and Rawle, there is no one in the principal cast whose forte could be said to be singing – a curious position for the cast of a musical to be in.) Young brings a casual masculinity to his scenes which is endearing, but, in truth, the part requires more than that. Deep down, the audience has to want Dexter to end up with Tracy rather than either Mike or her current fiancée, George. But as Mike is by far the most charismatic and persuasive, that is not how things play out. British Theatre, 16 May 2015

voice work

Matisse Live from Tate Modern (2014)

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Rupert took part in the cinema event Matisse Live from Tate Modern on the evening of Tuesday 3 June (with further screenings from 4 November). He was the narrator for the film, with Francine Stock presenting and Simon Russell Beale standing in for Matisse.

Matisse banner

Thanks to Manuela, we discovered that the director Phil Grabsky had some lovely things to say about Rupert in his blog:

… I moved on to the narrative of the Matisse film. For this important role, we’d chosen Rupert Young. My younger viewers will know him from Merlin. He is, as my daughter explains, the knight that never dies. Very nice guy and I liked his approach to the reading – nothing pompous or arty – just good strong storytelling. That’s exactly what we’re trying to do.

Of course you’ll get no disagreement from me on the ‘very nice guy’ remark – and the rest was absolutely true as well. I’ve just come home from watching the event, and I enjoyed it greatly.

Continue reading Matisse Live from Tate Modern (2014) →

theatre

Tonight at 8:30 (2014)

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This is an ambitious production featuring nine Noel Coward plays, presented in three groups of three. You can see one ‘Trio’ of plays a day – or you can do what we’ve just done, and go on a day when all three Trios are played back to back.

Known collectively as Tonight at 8:30, this production comes courtesy of the English Touring Theatre (ETT), and is directed by Blanche McIntyre. It is currently running at the Nuffield Theatre in Southampton, and will then be touring English regional theatres (details below).

My main motivation for attending was that Rupert is in the cast, but he is joined by eight other wonderful actors, and they made for a great ensemble.

The triple bill was an awesome marathon, filled with plenty of wit, humour and drama. There were some plays in which I laughed until I cried, while others were absolutely heart–breaking. All were interesting, even intriguing. There is no doubt that Coward was a clever, observant and witty writer. As Sam Hodges (Creative and Executive Director of Nuffield Theatre) says in the program, ‘where theatre is at its best is when, behind the manners and etiquette and wordplay, lies loss, love, hope and truth. These Coward captures in spades.’

Luckily for me and my fellow Rupert fans, he is in eight of the nine plays – though only briefly in a couple. He gets the chance to really shine in two of them, though.

Rehearsal photo of Kirsty Besterman and Rupert, courtesy of Nuffield Theatre. Photo by Mark Douet.
A rehearsal photo of Kirsty Besterman and Rupert, courtesy of Nuffield Theatre; photo by Mark Douet.

In We Were Dancing (Trio 1), Rupert plays Karl. He and Louise (the marvellous Kirsty Besterman) are strangers who have fallen deeply in love while waltzing at a party, and start making immediate plans to spend their lives together. This has to take into account Louise’s husband Hubert (Peter Singh), but the three of them strive to deal with the ramifications of this heartfelt emotional moment with honesty and rationality. The results are very funny and occasionally very moving. Rupert gets to play … well, a gorgeous decent man who has suddenly found himself to be a romantic lover. Even while Karl and Louise fully acknowledge and accept this life–changing moment, however, they still need to negotiate the details and the practicalities. Not to mention learn each other’s names. It’s all just delightful – and Rupert sings a charming song as well! He has such a great voice, so subtly expressive and never less than evocative throughout a very long day.

Continue reading Tonight at 8:30 (2014) →

television

The White Queen (2013)

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Rupert appeared as Sir William Herbert in this adaptation of The White Queen, a novel by Philippa Gregory. The tv series runs for ten episodes, but alas Rupert was only in one of them. Filming took place in Bruges and Ghent, Belgium.

And here’s a delicious promotional still from the production, which I copy here with respect but without permission. (All rights remain with the photographer and BBC One.)

Rupert in The White Queen
Rupert as Sir William Herbert in The White Queen

Rowr…

advertising

Philadelphia Simply Stir (2013)

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Rupert appears in this ad for the Philadelphia cream cheese product ‘Simply Stir’ … and how very delicious he looks, too!

Rupert for Philadelphia Simply Stir
Rupert for Philadelphia Simply Stir
Rupert for Philadelphia Simply Stir
Rupert for Philadelphia Simply Stir

Thanks to Kay for the heads-up re the ad and for the lovely screencaps! ♥

I’m not sure of the exact date, so I’m going to list it for 30 May along with the Vodafone ad, in which he also appears with brown hair.

The screenshots are shared here with respect but without permission. All rights remain with Kraft Philadelphia.

audio plays

The Confessions of Dorian Gray (2012)

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Rupert featured as the character James Moriarty in the following episode of this audio  play:

  • Ghosts of Christmas Past (December 2012)
  • Director: Scott Handcock

The play starred Alexander Vlahos (Mordred in Merlin) as the main character Dorian Gray. It was recorded on 11-12 August and 23 September 2012, at Warwick Hall Studios.

The Confessions of Dorian Gray is a downloadable audio play in five half-hour episodes, with this sixth hour-long episode as a Christmas special. You can purchase this episode from the Big Finish website.