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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2018 18:20:08 GMT
And kudos to the lighting person: the shimmering backlights, threatening half light, silhouettes, and what not, were incredibly atmospheric and effective. Oh golly yes, the lighting was absolutely smashing. Mark Henderson is the Lighting Designer according to the interweb. Round of applause for Mark Henderson!
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885 posts
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Post by lonlad on Feb 26, 2018 23:01:20 GMT
gosh, Nicole Kidman has the most amazing palms --- so intriguing the way they seem to open out ! :-)
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486 posts
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Post by drmaplewood on Feb 26, 2018 23:37:42 GMT
Down to 3hrs 35 tonight, each act basically an hour each. Really really loved it, loved the set and so much to think about. Recommend.
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486 posts
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Post by drmaplewood on Feb 27, 2018 11:33:20 GMT
More £5 tickets
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515 posts
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Post by callum on Feb 27, 2018 12:57:08 GMT
After seeing it last night, I would definitely recommend that the £5 offer is made the most of. Curtain down at 10.35, for those that care. But all in all it was excellent storytelling with a fabulous villain, interesting characters and an engaging plot. Act 2 in particular was superb. Only noticeable sagging was in Act 3. A real treat seeing Penelope Wilton on the stage, and I was pleased she had a fair amount to do. Would also echo Ryan's comment about a particular scene change in A2 - very threatening. I haven't seen the film, so don't have much to compare it to, but I would definitely recommend seeing it.
Attendance in the dress circle seemed a bit sparse, though no big gaps looking down on the stalls. There was a man a couple of seats away from me scribbling on a notepad all the way through - didn't know who it was. Hope the play gets more attention.
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Post by QueerTheatre on Feb 27, 2018 15:30:11 GMT
oh wow - did we see the same show? I was bored stiff. Alexander gives a lovely pre curtain speech promising us wonders and magic, and what we got was a slow dull show with dodgy set changes, and a cast that don't know their lines yet (obviously this is a preview so that's to be expected) but still... gosh it was dull.
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2,389 posts
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Post by peggs on Feb 27, 2018 18:13:00 GMT
And does he promise amongst other things in the pre speech a dog, did I miss that? Not a complaint, was most pleasantly surprised with this.
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515 posts
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Post by callum on Feb 27, 2018 23:53:05 GMT
oh wow - did we see the same show? I was bored stiff. Alexander gives a lovely pre curtain speech promising us wonders and magic, and what we got was a slow dull show with dodgy set changes, and a cast that don't know their lines yet (obviously this is a preview so that's to be expected) but still... gosh it was dull. Yes I'm still waiting to find out what was served for the fourth course when the maid walked off after she forgot her line at the end! Poor thing it was only a preview
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393 posts
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Post by altamont on Mar 2, 2018 10:10:15 GMT
Quick question about this please - have those who have given positive reviews so far been familar with the film? I am not, and just want to check that isn't a possible bar to fully appreciating the play.
Many thanks
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2,389 posts
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Post by peggs on Mar 2, 2018 10:39:14 GMT
Quick question about this please - have those who have given positive reviews so far been familar with the film? I am not, and just want to check that isn't a possible bar to fully appreciating the play. Many thanks I knew nothing about it prior to seeing it and it was fine, perhaps subsequently reading others' thoughts I thought 'oh I missed that' but that is no criticism. See it, it's quite unlike anything I've seen before.
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330 posts
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Post by RedRose on Mar 2, 2018 10:39:36 GMT
Quick question about this please - have those who have given positive reviews so far been familar with the film? I am not, and just want to check that isn't a possible bar to fully appreciating the play. Many thanks I have not seen the film yet but watching this adaption makes me want to finally see it.
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Post by raiseitup on Mar 2, 2018 10:50:01 GMT
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1,465 posts
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Post by foxa on Mar 2, 2018 15:00:41 GMT
Quick question about this please - have those who have given positive reviews so far been familar with the film? I am not, and just want to check that isn't a possible bar to fully appreciating the play. Many thanks i didn't know the film and really enjoyed the play (despite a few longeurs.) I wonder if it might be an advantage - I can see some of the reviews complain that it doesn't capture the magic of the film - whereas if you haven't seen the film you don't feel that loss. I think there is a lot to enjoy simply going to it as a play. There is nothing in the plotting or context, etc. that is too complex if you don't know the background - except possibly the odd Ismael section. Since we saw it, my husband keeps watching bits from the film (and sometimes tries to make me watch it too but so far I'm resisting ;-))
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393 posts
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Post by altamont on Mar 2, 2018 16:25:40 GMT
Quick question about this please - have those who have given positive reviews so far been familar with the film? I am not, and just want to check that isn't a possible bar to fully appreciating the play. Many thanks i didn't know the film and really enjoyed the play (despite a few longeurs.) I wonder if it might be an advantage - I can see some of the reviews complain that it doesn't capture the magic of the film - whereas if you haven't seen the film you don't feel that loss. I think there is a lot to enjoy simply going to it as a play. There is nothing in the plotting or context, etc. that is too complex if you don't know the background - except possibly the odd Ismael section. Since we saw it, my husband keeps watching bits from the film (and sometimes tries to make me watch it too but so far I'm resisting ;-)) Thanks Foxa - yes, I picked that up from the reviews, that some of the negativity came from the reviewer comparing the play to their memories of the movie. As I have no real knowledge of the movie, that won't be an issue!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2018 10:08:59 GMT
Initially I thought this was good
Then I decided it was too long
Then I realised the plot doesn’t go anywhere
The ending was rushed (ironic given the running time)
There were some good isolated scenes
But the acting was really patchy and ropey
The set design cheap and tedious
Overall it was a waste of 3.5 hours
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1,209 posts
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Post by Steve on Mar 4, 2018 23:24:04 GMT
>some of the reviews complain that it doesn't capture the magic of the film - whereas if you haven't seen the film you don't feel that loss. Yes, I think that might have played a part in downgrading this from four to three stars for some. The critics probably just had to rewatch the movie, to compare, which would make it really fresh for them. For me, the fact that there's a movie that's better than a play doesn't invalidate it in any way. I'm delighted there's a play. I've never had many to talk to, about the film, because almost noone I know has seen it. If Max von Sydow (Father Merrin in The Exorcist, The Three Eyed Raven in Game of Thrones, the guy with the map in Star Wars The Force Awakens, etc) had starred as the Bishop, as originally planned, more might seek the film out, but his agent played hardball for money, and Bergman got fed up and moved on. Now von Sydow says not appearing in this is his greatest regret, and blames his agent lol. The existence of the play exposes the content (and the film - check your husband already lol) to more people, and for me, that's delightful, as now there are loads of people I can talk to about it. And looked at independently, without the weight of comparison to the film, this play is richer than other plays these same critics awarded four stars. I mean, Cavendish gave the misses-the-target-by-a-million-miles "Girls and Boys" four stars, and this has much more depth than that, in that it speaks to the role of family in a child's life, as well as addressing the extent to which the imagination (and theatre) can shield and/or help us digest life. And Billington gave that shallow (but rude and intermittently hilarious) David Tennant vehicle, "Don Juan in Soho" four stars. Why not compare this to that rather than the masterpiece of a film?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2018 15:09:56 GMT
Well, Dame Nigella of Lawson loved it! Must have been all that food they talked about.
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1,465 posts
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Post by foxa on Mar 6, 2018 15:22:24 GMT
Steve, I think the comparisons you make with other plays are really interesting - and I agree.
For me, this easily earned its four stars for its warmth, humanity, contradictions and ultimately,its optimism. I am so sick of cynical/shocking/shallow/one-note stuff right now. I want something that has some heart. (I recommended this highly to a friend who I know likes big community, epic plays and she's travelling some distance to see it - I hope I didn't get it wrong!)
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Post by alexandra on Mar 6, 2018 15:22:29 GMT
Don't know whether anyone's mentioned that Misha Handley is Thea Sharrock's son. He's the spitting image of her and rather good, as is Katie Simons as Fanny. Very enjoyable. Love a bit of Swedish singing.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2018 16:52:38 GMT
Don't know whether anyone's mentioned that Misha Handley is Thea Sharrock's son. And Daniel 'Harry Potter' Radcliffe's godson too.
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3,476 posts
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Post by showgirl on Mar 7, 2018 23:33:21 GMT
Add me to the list of fans: I saw the matinee today and loved it - apart from the hassle over seating and having to dash to the Young Vic at the second interval for the loo, as suggested above, rather than risking the Old Vic queue.
Although this is 3 hours 30 mins long, at least 30 mins of that is intervals so each act is only an hour and many interval-free plays are almost double, and feel it, but not only did this never drag; it was positively captivating. Penelope Wilton looked as if she was having the time of her life and not having seen the film (along with all those sitting nearby, judging from our conversations at the interval), I neither felt short-changed by the stage version nor had much idea what to expect - though the prologue did outline the ending.
Small but significant point about the rake in the stalls: having consulted Theatremonkey.com, I booked row J as that's where the rake supposedly begins but honestly, if it does, it was not discernible, and just before the play started, a really tall man sat in front of me, blocking my view of the stage. As there were a couple of empty seats nearby, I moved to the nearest, whereupon the lady behind me said she couldn't see over me - and unlike the man in front of me, I really am not tall. So then I felt an absolute heel and shrank down in my seat as much as possible, which she said was OK, but at the first interval I went to ask the Box Office if I could move officially, and was directed to a seat in row L which really did seem to benefit from a slight rake - so everyone was happy.
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Post by pochard on Mar 20, 2018 19:01:27 GMT
Foxa and Showgirl - absolutely agree. Really enjoyed this - the time flew past. Also happy to have a break from the real world for one evening! Wonder if the future production of "Wise Children" might an interesting comparison...
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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2018 19:28:48 GMT
They are giving away tickets to this
Not a box office success
Papering and offers all Over the place
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3,476 posts
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Post by showgirl on Mar 21, 2018 5:43:01 GMT
I hope it will build support from word of mouth as I and plenty of others here had a brilliant time. Maybe people are deterred by the length, and/or by the earlier start times, but if you can fit this into your schedule, I think it's well worth it.
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Post by Jan on Mar 21, 2018 6:52:43 GMT
I hope it will build support from word of mouth as I and plenty of others here had a brilliant time. Maybe people are deterred by the length, and/or by the earlier start times, but if you can fit this into your schedule, I think it's well worth it. Maybe also people (like me) were deterred by the ticket prices - now they are offering top price £65 tickets for £10 it makes it even less likely I will ever book anything in advance there. Really they should have priced this correctly from the start.
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Post by Latecomer on Mar 21, 2018 8:17:07 GMT
I hope it will build support from word of mouth as I and plenty of others here had a brilliant time. Maybe people are deterred by the length, and/or by the earlier start times, but if you can fit this into your schedule, I think it's well worth it. Maybe also people (like me) were deterred by the ticket prices - now they are offering top price £65 tickets for £10 it makes it even less likely I will ever book anything in advance there. Really they should have priced this correctly from the start. It was a real bargain for £10 and yes, the prices there do put me off (I end up behind a pillar for £21 mostly!) I think also the audience at the OV are quite elderly and winter+long running time (and hardly any loos!) makes it most unappealing....if I were a theatre manager I would put on short plays in the winter and leave my longer ones until the Summer! Transport home can also be a problem for late finishing! The blurb was not really that appealing either...a few pictures of that sumptuous dining table and a better picture of Penelope Wilton (where you can actually recognise her!) would have helped. It all sounded very worthy and rather grey from the blurb but was actually rather jolly and then dramatic! On ticket prices the £10 first previews are good but it is a bit of a bun fight trying to get one! If I were them I'd do a scheme where you got £20 off for the first 2 or 3 weeks to create a buzz and perhaps have a scheme whereby you get discount if you book 3 plays at the same time. Plus get your publicity for the next play ready (and giving some idea of what the play will be like!) and hand it out to everyone leaving with a discount voucher. Reward loyalty! Oh and their website hardly works on my iPad......I tell you it doesn't take much to put you off booking!!!!
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806 posts
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Post by duncan on Mar 22, 2018 0:02:25 GMT
Upgrade to stalls E tonight, Baylis shut and about 15 people in middle tier. Shame as it's a corker of a show.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2018 0:17:13 GMT
Good god
I looked at the OV site
Some dates aren’t even 10% sold
Disaster
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1,016 posts
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Post by andrew on Mar 22, 2018 11:16:32 GMT
I have to admit I was put off buying a ticket last week based on how many seats are available. The reviews are mixed, audiences aren't flocking there, that puts off flighty characters like myself.
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2,389 posts
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Post by peggs on Mar 22, 2018 11:38:39 GMT
I think people are missing out on a really enjoyable and now cheaper evening out, I'd recommend andrew
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