Billy Crudup brings his A-game to the classic Hollywood western High Noon, imbuing the iconic role of Will Kane with a fresh sense of urgency and purpose. The production, helmed by Thea Sharrock, takes the original 1952 film and infuses it with a modern relevance that feels eerily prescient in today's America.
While some may find the format odd, switching between brief filmic scenes to song and dance numbers, Crudup anchors the performance, his earnest and desperate portrayal of Kane holding up remarkably well. Denise Gough, as his Quaker wife Amy, brings a grittier, more modern spin to the character she originated in the 2011 TV series Call the Midwife.
The supporting cast is where the production falters, with some characters feeling underdeveloped and one-dimensional. Billy Howle's deputy marshal Harvey Pell and Rosa Salazar's Mexican businesswoman Helen, for example, feel more like cardboard cutouts than fully fleshed-out characters.
However, Springsteen's music brings a welcome injection of American politics and passion to the production. The singer-songwriter's songs are woven seamlessly into the narrative, with some, such as "Land of Hope and Dreams" and "The Rising", serving as powerful commentary on the state of the nation. Gough shines in her solo performances, particularly when belting out Springsteen classics like "I'm on Fire".
While the musical numbers may feel a tad reluctant at times, the technical aspects of the production are consistently impressive. Neil Austin's lighting design is a particular highlight, imbuing the set with emotional clarity and intrigue. Tim Hatley's clock-inspired set design is also noteworthy, managing to contain tension and drama as the story hurtles towards its iconic showdown.
Ultimately, High Noon feels like a reluctant musical that finds its footing over time. The political message speaks loudest, harnessing the McCarthyist fear of yesteryear and the Trumpian terror of today. It's a powerful exploration of collective inaction and civic responsibility, one that feels remarkably relevant in these uncertain times.
With Crudup and Gough at the helm, this production is worth experiencing – even if it doesn't quite live up to its full potential. Bring on the drama, bring on the tension, and for goodness' sake, bring on the justice! Until March 6th, High Noon will be playing at the Harold Pinter theatre in London.
While some may find the format odd, switching between brief filmic scenes to song and dance numbers, Crudup anchors the performance, his earnest and desperate portrayal of Kane holding up remarkably well. Denise Gough, as his Quaker wife Amy, brings a grittier, more modern spin to the character she originated in the 2011 TV series Call the Midwife.
The supporting cast is where the production falters, with some characters feeling underdeveloped and one-dimensional. Billy Howle's deputy marshal Harvey Pell and Rosa Salazar's Mexican businesswoman Helen, for example, feel more like cardboard cutouts than fully fleshed-out characters.
However, Springsteen's music brings a welcome injection of American politics and passion to the production. The singer-songwriter's songs are woven seamlessly into the narrative, with some, such as "Land of Hope and Dreams" and "The Rising", serving as powerful commentary on the state of the nation. Gough shines in her solo performances, particularly when belting out Springsteen classics like "I'm on Fire".
While the musical numbers may feel a tad reluctant at times, the technical aspects of the production are consistently impressive. Neil Austin's lighting design is a particular highlight, imbuing the set with emotional clarity and intrigue. Tim Hatley's clock-inspired set design is also noteworthy, managing to contain tension and drama as the story hurtles towards its iconic showdown.
Ultimately, High Noon feels like a reluctant musical that finds its footing over time. The political message speaks loudest, harnessing the McCarthyist fear of yesteryear and the Trumpian terror of today. It's a powerful exploration of collective inaction and civic responsibility, one that feels remarkably relevant in these uncertain times.
With Crudup and Gough at the helm, this production is worth experiencing – even if it doesn't quite live up to its full potential. Bring on the drama, bring on the tension, and for goodness' sake, bring on the justice! Until March 6th, High Noon will be playing at the Harold Pinter theatre in London.
i mean billy crudup as will kane is everything he's got that classic western feel but also a modern edge that makes you wanna jump up and do something about all the injustices going on today 
denise gough as amy kane is fire 
too, her gritty spin on the character is so refreshing. springsteen's music is the real MVP though - it adds this extra layer of depth to the story that's just perfect for these times we're living in 
the only thing i'm not loving is how some of the supporting cast feels a bit one-dimensional 
but overall, high noon is a must-see, even if it doesn't hit all the right notes every time 
Billy Crudup is absolutely captivating as Will Kane, gives so much depth to the character 
The musical numbers are a bit weird at first but Springsteen's music really brings a message that feels super relevant today 
Neil Austin's lighting design is insane, totally makes you feel what Will Kane is going through 
, like 100 million tons of radiation and plasma is gonna wipe out all our tech and we're literally unprepared...and it's not even like we've got a good plan to stop it or anything 
. and can we talk about how some of the supporting characters are basically cardboard cutouts? it's like they forgot to flesh them out or something 
. but on the bright side, springsteen's music is straight fire 
- Billy Crudup brings so much depth to Kane's character, it's like he's carrying the entire weight of America on his shoulders 
. And can we talk about how great Denise Gough is? She totally owns that Quaker vibe and adds a whole new layer to Amy's story. 
But, oh man, some of the supporting cast feels like they're just going through the motions... Harvey Pell needs more than 5 seconds of screen time 
. The production design is also top-notch - Neil Austin's lighting design is giving me LIFE 
. Anyway, if you haven't seen High Noon yet, GET ON THAT 
!
i loved how Crudup brought Kane to life, so urgent & desperate it was like watching him have an existential crisis 
& Gough as Amy was amazing too! her Quaker vibes were on point 
but ugh the supporting cast kinda fell flat, felt like cardboard cutouts at times 
bummer tho 'cause springsteen's music was EVERYTHING 
and that set design? WOW Neil Austin's lighting was on point too 
so yeah def worth a watch! btw just got into a fight with my bae over high noon, now i'm single again 
. Denise Gough was also amazing as Amy, her character 
. I think what really stood out to me was how well Springsteen's music wove into the narrative - it gave the whole thing an extra layer of depth and emotion 
. The technical stuff was top-notch too, especially Neil Austin's lighting design - it was like a punch in the gut sometimes 
. But honestly, Billy Crudup and Denise Gough are absolute rockstars for bringing this classic story to life with such passion and heart 
. I mean, using Springsteen's music in the musical numbers is pure genius - it adds this extra layer of depth and emotional resonance that just takes the whole production to a whole new level 
and that set design with clocks everywhere is kinda genius... 
The production design is also top notch - that clock-inspired set is seriously cool 
. My only complaint is that some of the supporting characters feel kinda one-dimensional 
I'm loving the vibe of this modern retelling of High Noon, but gotta say, some characters feel like they're just going through the motions 
. Give me a pass on the song and dance numbers - while Springsteen's music adds an extra layer to the production, I'd love to see more of the story unfold without all those interludes 
The clock-inspired set design is also super cool 
! All in all, I'm excited to see this production live and feel the energy of High Noon coming together 
. I mean, it's like they're just there to serve as foils for Kane and Amy - Harvey Pell in particular feels like a bit of a cardboard cutout 
.
. Can't we just have a decent thread without all the drama and personal attacks? It's like some people forget that this is a platform for sharing thoughts and opinions, not for airing grievances 
.
. I mean, I love Springsteen as much as the next person, but some of those musical numbers felt forced and awkward at times 
. And don't even get me started on the supporting cast, it's like they're just cardboard cutouts 
. But hey, at least Neil Austin's lighting design is on point 
, but the supporting cast is a bit of a mess 
. and can we talk about how much better this movie would be if they just left out the musical numbers altogether? 
still, springsteen's music does bring a certain energy to it