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We saw Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere in a little theater (Lifeline, in case anyone can get there) in Chicago, appropriately enough next to the city train tracks, so there were free sound effects for some scenes. I love the tiny theaters in Chicago--seating maybe 200 people (or lots fewer) but with a very clever and talented cast and crew, they do amazing things. This version drew on lots of Chinese and Japanese puppetry traditions for the rats, birds, and Beast (Beast was like a Lion Dance that kept disassembling and reassembling, rats were little puppets whose puppeteers came on stage dressed in black), and Hunter though played by a very Zulu looking woman and dressed in that style did a graceful Beijing opera style of fighting. The costumes were wonderfully lavish and ragtag at the same time, and the acting was fine. One nice thing that happens with a small cast is the irony of who doubles as who--this time, the angel was also Mayhew's drinking buddy, Lamia is Jessica, and Vandemar and Croup also play the Black Friars. The three main characters had no time to double, but were very appealing and skillful actors.

I've seen the TV version, and actually preferred this one. But stage always please me more than screen--I like the way the audience has to participate in the illusions (as with the "invisible" puppeteers), and in these small theaters especially I like seeing how cleverly they solve problems of scenes, etc.