|
Post by alessia on Feb 5, 2024 16:32:58 GMT
When are the press in for this? Timeout critic told me on twitter he would see it on Wednesday this week, so I am expecting reviews on Thursday...I am really interested to see what they all make of it.
|
|
1,019 posts
|
Post by andrew on Feb 5, 2024 17:54:22 GMT
Another one of the SatMat crowd here, mid stalls did not notice a helicopter but did spot the enormous protest happening one street over whilst entering the theatre, bit of drama before you've even started.
It's a fantastic play, really enjoyed it. Acts 1 and 2 are stronger than Act 3 in terms of impact, I think I was expecting a bit more plot to occur towards the end than what we got, but I'm not complaining too hard. Laura Donnelly was terrific, and as others have pointed out it's great to see a play centring around women, sisters, mothers. I wondered if it actually fails the reverse Bechdel test, to make a nice change. Definitely one to see.
|
|
145 posts
|
Post by meister on Feb 5, 2024 18:59:00 GMT
When are the press in for this? Timeout critic told me on twitter he would see it on Wednesday this week, so I am expecting reviews on Thursday...I am really interested to see what they all make of it. Thanks! Me too!
|
|
|
Post by orchidman on Feb 5, 2024 23:51:56 GMT
A very good play but I think it falls short of being great. Jez Butterworth is not a writer blessed with real intellectual depth, and yet he can make that feel irrelevant with his big strengths of energy and atmosphere. The Hills of California isn't as vital as Mojo, Jerusalem or The Ferryman.
Partially that's because this feels like a mish-mash of things we've seen before, and sometimes seen before once or twice too often.
It takes a little too long to get going and then when Laura Donnelly shows up again towards the end you feel it should kick into top gear and it doesn't quite get there.
I would have liked the grown-up Joan to appear earlier and to be more reflective, she was the character who had the potential to give the play oomph.
It's amusing but not hilarious, touching but not emotive, inventive but not inspired.
It's still going to be one of the best new plays of the year and a must-see for any serious playgoer. At 54, and without being prolific, maybe Jez Butterworth will have one more big play in him, maybe not. It's a young man's game.
|
|
382 posts
|
Post by stevemar on Feb 6, 2024 9:19:11 GMT
I enjoyed this, but probably not as much as many of the posters here. The writing is heartfelt and the female characters are given space to breathe. It’s still a good play, but it didn’t speak to me personally so much at the time. I have thought about it more after, so it’s sinking in. I expected more from Act 3, but the behaviour was consistent with the effects of upbringing and versions of events in different ways on them: happysooz2, afterwards, I have since wondered if it was a bit obvious each sister may be a “type”. This is “event” theatre because it’s Jez Butterworth and Sam Mendes. It seems more minor key to me, and felt understated in the storyline (lacking the shocks of the Ferryman). That’s fine as the playwright shows a different side, but fell a little short for me. 4 stars from me. PS. Thanks to greenandbrownandblue for the tip for row B, now front and good view a little up and across to the stage. I love the tips from this forum.
|
|
214 posts
|
Post by frankubelik on Feb 6, 2024 9:44:07 GMT
Slightly disappointed in this. I think we've seen the family dynamics and characters before but the overall quality of performances was excellent. I also felt Act 3 lacked pace and I questioned the behaviour of one sister which seemed inconsistent with previous acts. Partisan audience who seemed to find laughter in many of the lines.
|
|
1,397 posts
|
Post by Dave B on Feb 6, 2024 10:36:45 GMT
|
|
|
Post by thistimetomorrow on Feb 6, 2024 23:18:36 GMT
I had been avoiding this thread until I was in myself, glad I can finally read the discussion. Definitely agree with the consensus so far, really enjoyed this (actually preferred it to Jerusalem) and thought the acting was terrific.
|
|
748 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by rumbledoll on Feb 7, 2024 14:55:23 GMT
Just saw that Rush tickets are now avail via TodayTix app. Fab news, good luck to all bookers!
|
|
|
Post by takeabow on Feb 8, 2024 0:04:35 GMT
|
|
549 posts
|
Post by andrew on Feb 8, 2024 0:14:59 GMT
I'm so surprised she still has her job. It's outrageous.
|
|
1,192 posts
|
Post by theatrelover123 on Feb 8, 2024 0:20:23 GMT
3 stars in the Independent too. 4 and 5 stars elsewhere
|
|
5,319 posts
|
Post by mrbarnaby on Feb 8, 2024 0:45:42 GMT
It’s weird. Even the 4 star reviews read like 2 or 3 stars
|
|
|
Post by sfsusan on Feb 8, 2024 1:19:08 GMT
I think a lot of older people just don't know when their phone is on silent or not. Oh, please. I'm 73 and perfectly capable of putting my phone on silent, or DND, or airplane mode or even turning the darn thing off to prevent it from bothering people (including myself). And I'm not unique among my friends. (My pet peeve is smart watches that spring to life with every movement of someone's arm.)
|
|
|
Post by sph on Feb 8, 2024 1:36:48 GMT
It’s weird. Even the 4 star reviews read like 2 or 3 stars Perhaps when a playwright has attained a particularly high level of success, people become hyper-critical. Maybe even just to make themselves seem a little more "edgy" by not following popular opinion.
|
|
|
Post by alessia on Feb 8, 2024 7:02:04 GMT
Not entirely surprised at the reviews. I think 3 stars is v harsh. I agree with timeout (again!), 4 is a right.
|
|
1,019 posts
|
Post by andrew on Feb 8, 2024 7:25:58 GMT
I think a lot of older people just don't know when their phone is on silent or not. Oh, please. I'm 73 and perfectly capable of putting my phone on silent, or DND, or airplane mode or even turning the darn thing off to prevent it from bothering people (including myself). And I'm not unique among my friends. (My pet peeve is smart watches that spring to life with every movement of someone's arm.) Not going to be baited into a young vs old argument but nomatter what generation you are, the first three modes you mention are exactly the problem; it’s usually alarms (which break through all 3) or phone calls from contacts (which break through DND) that make phone noise during a show. I wish everyone would just turn the thing off.
|
|
382 posts
|
Post by stevemar on Feb 8, 2024 8:06:30 GMT
5 stars - Financial Times, The Stage. 4 stars - Telegraph, Evening Standard, What’s on Stage, Time Out. 3 stars - Guardian, Independent. Per above, I thought this was 4 stars, and clearly was out of step with the majority here. Glad I went before the reviews, as there are as always far too many spoilers in some of them (which is why I only glance at them preshow these days). The FT review is a good read though. Reminded me of the best of Steve’s reviews ;-) - www.ft.com/content/e78cc386-2bb5-416b-bd81-a80a69025573
|
|
382 posts
|
Post by stevemar on Feb 8, 2024 8:07:34 GMT
It’s weird. Even the 4 star reviews read like 2 or 3 stars Perhaps when a playwright has attained a particularly high level of success, people become hyper-critical. Maybe even just to make themselves seem a little more "edgy" by not following popular opinion. Of course critics are entirely subjective, but with the body of work of Jez Butterworth, I think people may have been expecting another 5 star hit. So, arguably some would have been harsher, but others reverential. I think the reviews are generally fair. I was actually nervous posting my 4 star review given the raves here, and did think critics would generally rave too..
|
|
|
Post by parsley1 on Feb 8, 2024 8:47:21 GMT
I 100% agree with her quote “As a portrait of complicated sisterhood, Beth Steel’s wedding drama Till the Stars Come Down, at the National Theatre, has so much more soul and spirit” And noted this myself in terms of parallels with the two plays which have both opened within a short space of time There is NO doubt Jed Butterworth is an amazing playwright But he isn’t an efficient storyteller by any means It is all often rather stretched on for my liking And the balance between characters and actual plot can be off
|
|
|
Post by parsley1 on Feb 8, 2024 8:50:04 GMT
3 stars from The Times
ES refers to his plays as “flawed masterpieces”
|
|
382 posts
|
Post by stevemar on Feb 8, 2024 9:00:18 GMT
I 100% agree with her quote “As a portrait of complicated sisterhood, Beth Steel’s wedding drama Till the Stars Come Down, at the National Theatre, has so much more soul and spirit” And noted this myself in terms of parallels with the two plays which have both opened within a short space of time Yes, I was going to quote you but you got there yourself! At least it’s good we have two excellent plays centered on women/sisters to compare and contrast. And, like you, I saw them within a few days of each other.
|
|
|
Post by budd on Feb 8, 2024 13:27:10 GMT
People are always so pressed by Arifa's reviews, when they never even go past the star rating. It's bizarre. She says where she finds it falling short, it's not arbitrary. You don't have to agree with her, but the 'again with the three stars' is so childish.
|
|
|
Post by takeabow on Feb 8, 2024 13:50:14 GMT
People are always so pressed by Arifa's reviews, when they never even go past the star rating. It's bizarre. She says where she finds it falling short, it's not arbitrary. You don't have to agree with her, but the 'again with the three stars' is so childish. Not pressed, just observant. Of course people read past the star rating. This assumption is not worthy of being labelled “childish”. It’s a board of opinions not a playground.
|
|
|
Post by budd on Feb 8, 2024 14:21:03 GMT
Calling it 'outrageous' that someone has written a review that aligns with their star rating, and implying that doing so amounts to her being unworthy of her job, is pretty pressed.
|
|
90 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by greatauntedna on Feb 9, 2024 15:48:21 GMT
How long is act 1?
|
|
185 posts
|
Post by harry on Feb 9, 2024 15:55:27 GMT
I think they’re all roughly the same length, sort of 50min-ish. Maybe the first one is slightly longer, say an hour. But it feels like 3 pretty equal chunks.
|
|
|
Post by sph on Feb 9, 2024 16:08:26 GMT
There's always going to be one or two critics to disagree with, but that Guardian critic does seem somewhat impossible to please and lukewarm towards basically everything.
I would absolutely call this a 4 or 5 star show though. The three hours flew by and it was well written and acted. It might not have been the intense religious experience (so I'm told) of his other plays, but it was bloody good! I laughed out loud a good few times too, which I actually don't do that often at the theatre.
|
|
1,296 posts
|
Post by mkb on Feb 9, 2024 18:59:18 GMT
It may be heresy to say it out loud around these parts, but not only was I underwhelmed (and a tad bored occasionally) by Butterworth's latest, but the flawed predecessor at this venue (Lyonesse) was the more engaging and enjoyable watch for me.
The actual story here is quite slight and has been covered many times. It's stretched to over three hours by dialogue that doesn't always sound authentic, despite good performances, and the daughters and mother do not have a lot to say that makes them interesting. It's melodrama but with the melodramatics largely removed. Peripheral characters threaten occasional interest but vanish before they have chance.
If this were a new writer, I would be keen to see how they would develop, but being from an experienced hand, it falls short of expectations.
Three stars.
Act 1: 19:03-20:00 Act 2: 20:21-21:04 Act 3: 21:09-22:05 (Friday 2 February)
|
|
|
Post by justfran on Feb 10, 2024 13:00:13 GMT
|
|