|
Post by oxfordsimon on Mar 13, 2018 13:47:40 GMT
I think nash16 was making a Macbeth funny...
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2018 14:04:58 GMT
Ahhh. Possibly not appropriate considering how raw and pained those who've already seen Macbeth seem to be feeling...
|
|
|
Post by cat6 on Apr 9, 2018 14:42:47 GMT
|
|
4,369 posts
|
Post by Michael on Apr 9, 2018 14:54:27 GMT
Threads merged
|
|
|
Post by basi1faw1ty on Apr 9, 2018 16:36:25 GMT
I'm excited for this (not because my favourite actor is a lead, oh no, notforthatreasonwhatsoever).
My only issue is what Joe Hill-Gibbins is gonna do to it, having read about his past productions, notably his Midsummer Night's Dream. The play is controversial to start with (at least it was back in the 50s or whenever it was penned, partly due to having the lead male be a gay character), so I'm slightly anxious what he has up his sleeve. Also I rather like this play and don't want anything bad to happen to it.
|
|
|
Post by basi1faw1ty on Apr 13, 2018 17:01:08 GMT
Erm... I don't want to potentially put anybody off seeing this but... That run time is quite something. Of course this could alter as the weeks go by, but my goodness me. I know there are numerous plays that go on for much longer than this, but this'll be the lengthiest production I've witnessed to date.
|
|
1,064 posts
|
Post by bellboard27 on Apr 13, 2018 17:04:52 GMT
Erm... I don't want to potentially put anybody off seeing this but... That run time is quite something. Of course this could alter as the weeks go by, but my goodness me. I know there are numerous plays that go on for much longer than this, but this'll be the lengthiest production I've witnessed to date. The clue is in the title.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2018 17:11:58 GMT
So... finishing at 10.40pm? I am DEFINITELY taking a cushion.
|
|
|
Post by oxfordsimon on Apr 13, 2018 17:12:07 GMT
That is how long the play is. It is a large cast of characters with many different stories to tell. It needs a large canvas and room to breathe. Cut it and you lose the richness of the tapestry being woven.
|
|
6,276 posts
|
Post by Jon on Apr 13, 2018 17:29:39 GMT
Having sat through The Inheritance and AIA, 3 hours 40 minutes is nothing.
When the start time is 7pm, you know it’s not going to be 90 minutes no interval type show
|
|
Xanderl
Member
Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
|
Post by Xanderl on Apr 13, 2018 17:34:22 GMT
Glad I booked a matinee although not sure I can face the front seats in the Lyttleton for that long.
|
|
5,582 posts
|
Post by lynette on Apr 13, 2018 17:55:47 GMT
So... finishing at 10.40pm? I am DEFINITELY taking a cushion. Whole bag of jelly babies
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2018 18:24:50 GMT
It wasn’t that long when Judi did it.
And she didn’t speak that fast...
I hope the Nash gets ready for another stampede to return tickets...
|
|
3,070 posts
|
Post by david on Apr 13, 2018 19:41:46 GMT
So... finishing at 10.40pm? I am DEFINITELY taking a cushion. Whole bag of jelly babies If this is the running time, that’s 1 bag per hour for me then!
|
|
1,186 posts
|
Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 13, 2018 19:49:03 GMT
That’s 3 one hour blocks. That’s more than manageable.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2018 20:58:32 GMT
It wasn’t that long when Judi did it. And she didn’t speak that fast... I hope the Nash gets ready for another stampede to return tickets... I don't remember it being that long either. This can only mean one thing...lots of directorial flourishes, probably involving Bob Dylan's music and physical theatre. Or it might be immersive. Fasten your seatlbelts etc...
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2018 11:57:38 GMT
I don't know whether to feel nervous or excited about this new production... It's such a good piece, I really don't want to see it ruined.
It's actually written in two acts so I have no idea why it's now three acts with two longer intervals.
|
|
2,706 posts
|
Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Apr 14, 2018 12:27:18 GMT
Always know the director, it’s a much better gauge of what a production will be than booking because of an actor or play.
Hill-Gibbins, on his record, will not present the play as a piece of realism, being likely to not use a historically accurate setting, to use symbolic staging and to punctuate the action with non-naturalistic elements, such as contemporary music and a rough design aesthetic.
Of course, he might suddenly decide to do the opposite, but I doubt it.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2018 13:00:37 GMT
His name isn't familiar to me but now I've Googled I see he did The Beauty Queen of Leenane at the Young Vic which I saw and liked. Seemed pretty 'straight' and faithful to the original from memory.
|
|
2,706 posts
|
Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Apr 14, 2018 13:21:54 GMT
His name isn't familiar to me but now I've Googled I see he did The Beauty Queen of Leenane at the Young Vic which I saw and liked. Seemed pretty 'straight' and faithful to the original from memory. Since then he’s directed The Changeling, Measure for Measure, The Glass Menagerie and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Young Vic, Edward II at the National, verbatim play Little Revolution at the Almeida, operas Powder Her Face in an environmental staging for ENO and Greek for Scottish Opera. I saw all but the last and none were straightforward stagings (by faithful, do you mean to the original production?). He may go back to a style he used six or seven years ago but that goes against how most artists develop. Just a warning to people really, otherwise there are going to be a lot of moans about this potential approach.
|
|
81 posts
|
Post by jasper on Apr 14, 2018 13:26:22 GMT
Having sat through The Inheritance and AIA, 3 hours 40 minutes is nothing. When the start time is 7pm, you know it’s not going to be 90 minutes no interval
|
|
587 posts
|
Post by Polly1 on Apr 14, 2018 17:49:10 GMT
The NT publicity for this specifically mentions 1940s Soho...
|
|
|
Post by basi1faw1ty on Apr 15, 2018 18:41:55 GMT
I've seen behind the scenes pics of props and costumes and part of the set, and it all seems close in keeping with the time period at least. Where JHG's supposed maverick direction will come into play with this I'm not sure.
(Side note: turns out AH is not the longest play I'd've seen so far. When you take out the intervals, it falls 5 minutes short of the Simon Godwin-directed Strange Interlude, which is/was also a Lyttelton prod.)
|
|
|
Post by alexandra on Apr 16, 2018 15:01:34 GMT
"Powder Her Face"
I'd forgotten about the Almeida's production of this, years ago. The Duchess of Argyll and the Headless Man and all that (source of the immortal joke: "What do you give a Headless Man?") It was a fabulous production.
|
|
Xanderl
Member
Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
|
Post by Xanderl on Apr 16, 2018 15:12:30 GMT
I found a review of a US production of this which was 3 hours 15 minutes with one interval. So given the two intervals, this running time sounds about right.
|
|
|
Post by basi1faw1ty on Apr 19, 2018 6:12:44 GMT
First preview reviews coming in:
Mixed to slightly leaning more on the positive side, overall.
Positives are it's funny and heartbreaking with great acting from everyone involved.
Negatives are mainly about the run time. Also there were some fluffed lines. Some people left at interval 1.
But even the not so enthusiastic commenters did like the song the ensemble sing at the beginning. A rendition of "La Vie En Rose", which is also the name of the club AH is set in for those unaware.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2018 6:21:06 GMT
^ Thank you for that...
With regard to La Vie En Rose, the play was originally called The Pink Room* (subtitled The Escapists) until it was rewritten in parts and revived in 1988 under the new title Absolute Hell.
*original production financed by Terence Rattigan
|
|
|
Post by basi1faw1ty on Apr 19, 2018 9:51:36 GMT
^ Thank you for that... With regard to La Vie En Rose, the play was originally called The Pink Room* (subtitled The Escapists) until it was rewritten in parts and revived in 1988 under the new title Absolute Hell. *original production financed by Terence Rattigan Pleasure Didn't know the original was financed by Rattigan! Also is it true that I read the original had no Christine, and Hugh Marriner had a wife?
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2018 13:20:48 GMT
I think the part of Christine must have always been the main character- she’s on stage more or less throughout and most of the other characters have scenes with her. The original played down all the gay references that Ackland had wanted to put in, but he reworked them into the rewrite. I found this which might be of interest. www.lgbtarchive.uk/wiki/Rodney_Ackland
|
|
1,064 posts
|
Post by bellboard27 on Apr 19, 2018 22:51:42 GMT
2nd preview: they say 3 hours 45 minutes, but curtain down at 3 hours 26 minutes. 1st interval was after 90 minutes.
The place was packed to start with but thinned out after the first interval. Those of us in the front stalls got to spread out as a result!
I liked Charles Edward’s performance, but his was the only character I cared for. Rambling and drawn out. Audience started out quite engaged, but I felt this declined over the 3.5 hours.
|
|