Elling, Trafalgar Studios - London, review
August 17th, 2007
Here are a 100 reasons why you have to go and see Elling:
That’s it, that’s a 100 reasons.
Here is the story:
Mummy’s boy Elling (Simm) and his roommate, the uncouth reluctant virgin Kjell Bjarne (Bower) are the Odd Couple of Oslo: a pair of confused souls taking their first steps in the outside world after years of an isolated and institutional life. Given a flat in the city by social services, their mission is to re-assimilate themselves into society - it’s either that or a return to the asylum. All they have to do is convince their social worker that they really are ‘normal’, even if it does feel safer sleeping in a wardrobe…
It is an incredibly funny but also very touching story, and John Simm’s performance is stunning, he is one of the best actors I have ever seen on stage. It’s all in the details, the way he speaks, the way he moves, the movement of his eyebrows, he becomes Elling. It was striking to see him leave the stage after the last scene, and come back as John Simm as we know him, in order to get the audiences applause. The audience was roaring for him.
I can only very highly recommend you to see this play, it will make you laugh, it will make you nearly cry, and it will make you think about how “normal” we all are these days.
Elling runs in the Trafalgar Studios until the 6th of October 2007.
Go see it. GO SEE IT!
Rating: 
August 18th, 2007 at 09:49
Okay, okay, I will go and see it, but I thought it was a Norwegian movie? Or is it a remake?
To all Doctor Who-fans out there: Is it ‘The Master’ I see before me?
August 18th, 2007 at 17:24
This is a theatre play based on the Norwegian movie. So you have to come to London to see it …
He was great as The Master by the way.
August 19th, 2007 at 10:41
I won’t go to London any time soon, so I think I must skip this one. Maybe I’ll go for the movie instead.
August 19th, 2007 at 10:47
I wasn’t too impressed about the movie to be honest, there is no John Simm in it! And I found it a bit boring.