Title: A Reimagined Brokeback Mountain: The Good, the Bad, and the Missing Intensity Brokeback Mountain, a literary masterpiece written by Annie Proulx, has become a cultural phenomenon since its release in 1997. A new adaptation of this story has been brought to the West End, starring Lucas Hedges and Mike Faist. While the cast and the idea of a memory play are intriguing, the adaptation lacked the intensity and emotional depth that made the original story so powerful. As a reviewer, it's difficult to avoid drawing comparisons between the two versions, and it's clear that the new West End adaptation falls short. Despite having a talented cast, the chemistry between the characters failed to capture the audience's attention. The emotional moments that were meant to be gut-wrenching fell flat and failed to leave a lasting impact. The memory play format was a clever idea, but it didn't quite work. There were moments where the characters' memories overlapped, which created a jarring effect that made it difficult to follow the story. It was easy to get lost in the timeline of events, and at times, it felt like the plot was disjointed. Despite its flaws, the new adaptation had its strengths. The set design and staging were impressive, and the use of projections and lighting added an extra layer of depth to the performance. The cast did their best with the material they were given, and their individual performances were solid. In conclusion, the West End adaptation of Brokeback Mountain had its good moments, but the missing intensity was a significant flaw. While the memory play format was a great idea, it needed to be executed better to be effective. Despite the flaws in this adaptation, it's a reminder of the timeless and powerful story that Proulx created, and it's always worth revisiting. Lucas Hedges and Mike Faist star in a West End adaptation of Annie Proulx's 1997 short story 'Brokeback Mountain', recast as a memory play. However, Matt Wolf in his review finds the play lacking in intensity.
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