Bookwitch

We were too exhausted to make the journey to Stratford in January, to see Noughts & Crosses at the theatre there, even though Malorie Blackman herself was coming to talk to the audience. We went across to Liverpool this weekend instead, to see the play on tour, when luck struck and Malorie decided to turn up there as well. So, we got our Q&A session after all.

I had wondered how well the book would translate to the stage, but needn’t have been concerned. It worked really well. Noughts & Crosses is a long book, and only a third of the trilogy, but this bare minimum carried the whole thing perfectly.

I’d say most of the audience had read the book beforehand. The Resident IT Consultant and the witch had, too, but not Daughter, who was a bit young when the book first turned up. So it was good to observe how the play worked as an introduction to the books.

Luckily Daughter didn’t force me to give the plot away in advance this time, but I think that even in her wildest imagination, she couldn’t have foreseen what it would be like. So the whole force of the story came totally fresh.

I’m always amazed how drama these days manages with so few props. This play starts with a bare stage, and it’s very effective. I’d wondered how they’d deal with the big love scene, and it was settled by the actors simply saying their lines rather than acting them out. Very powerful.

Let’s hope the RSC will tackle the remaining two books as well.

Meanwhile, Malorie admitted to having a new book on the way, featuring some of the same characters, but not a straight continuation. Sounds promising.