2,818 posts
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Post by couldileaveyou on Feb 11, 2018 21:00:32 GMT
For anyone who's been, would it be possible to ask a spoiler-free 'trigger' question? We've just had a sudden/l illness-related death in the family, and I'm slightly worried that anything too close to that might be too much for my better half. No need for any details, but is there anything like this in the play? {Spoiler - click to view} There are two non illness-related deaths, they do not happen on stage, but they're talked about at length in the second part of the monologue.
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562 posts
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Post by jadnoop on Feb 11, 2018 21:03:56 GMT
For anyone who's been, would it be possible to ask a spoiler-free 'trigger' question? We've just had a sudden/l illness-related death in the family, and I'm slightly worried that anything too close to that might be too much for my better half. No need for any details, but is there anything like this in the play? {Spoiler - click to view} There are two non illness-related deaths, they do no happen on stage, but they're talked about at length in the second part of the monologue. Thanks so much for the info and quick response couldileaveyou.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2018 9:21:55 GMT
The Royal Court are very understanding about the need to balance spoilers with trigger warnings, and do advise that if anyone has any concerns, they should get in touch: royalcourttheatre.com/your-visit/trigger-warnings/I have yet to hear any feedback on how good they actually are (another theatre recently offered warnings for a production; they apparently thought nudity and loud music were worth mentioning, but attempted suicide wasn't), but the fact they seem to understand what a trigger warning really is (unlike, say, mainstream media) hopefully bodes well.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2018 11:56:55 GMT
I recall at the Almeida for a play recently (can't remember which one), there was a warning that there were balloons on stage.
With so many things affecting people nowadays, I wonder what they consider as being worthy of a trigger warning and what doesn't. Is there a list somewhere?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2018 12:00:23 GMT
I think with the balloons, there was a risk of them coming into the audience, which someone with a latex allergy would need to know. Theatres don't seem to do trigger warnings up front, the theatres who think there might be a point of concern leave it for concerned audience members to get in touch with them, so I doubt there's any sort of list for that. You do get content warnings reasonably frequently (minimum age recommendations, gun shots, strobe lighting, sometimes they mention adult themes or explicit language) though, so you can get an idea of the sort of things theatres have had complaints about in the past.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2018 12:04:30 GMT
Oh I see. So it's about someone being allergic rather than just not liking or having a phobia about balloons? I thought it seemed odd at the time to be notified of balloons, that makes sense now I guess.
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4,978 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Feb 12, 2018 13:45:01 GMT
Globophobia, apparently. Who knew???
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1,465 posts
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Post by foxa on Feb 12, 2018 14:17:26 GMT
;-) It might be the latex, or globophobia - or I suppose they could suddenly pop, so loud bangs?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2018 14:19:25 GMT
Indeed, I believe some people's globophobia is based on the fairly rational possibility that a balloon could pop at any time and they just can't take the tension.
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1,064 posts
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Post by bellboard27 on Feb 12, 2018 19:08:43 GMT
;-) It might be the latex, or globophobia - or I suppose they could suddenly pop, so loud bangs? I do have a fear of latext popping. But that’s probably something different.
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1,193 posts
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Post by theatrelover123 on Feb 12, 2018 22:37:30 GMT
Carey Mulligan should start making space in her awards cabinet as she deserve plenty of awards for her performance in this. Captivating to watch, strong writing (although the writing gets slightly clunky and leaden around the mid section but not for long) and held my attention with Mulligan's truthful and varied performance which was a delight to watch. Very funny in the first half hour. Great stuff. Not entirely sure that it needed the set it has though. Could easily have worked just as well without it on the scale it was.
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562 posts
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Post by jadnoop on Feb 13, 2018 0:48:53 GMT
The consensus on twitter seems very positive, so I may be in the minority here, but this really didn't do much for me. I thought the acting was great, and loved the stage and use of light & colour. The first third or so was reasonably funny too, but that was about it.
In my opinion, the script simply wasn't strong enough to justify the change of focus to such an emotionally charged & sensitive topic midway through. The play deals with an undoubtedly important issue, but the structure felt too contrived and emotionally manipulative, and the twist felt overly telegraphed. By the end, the play also seemed to morph into a lecture.
Two and a half stars for me. Maybe three.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2018 11:07:29 GMT
The consensus on twitter seems very positive, so I may be in the minority here, but this really didn't do much for me. I thought the acting was great, and loved the stage and use of light & colour. The first third or so was reasonably funny too, but that was about it. In my opinion, the script simply wasn't strong enough to justify the change of focus to such an emotionally charged & sensitive topic midway through. The play deals with an undoubtedly important issue, but the structure felt too contrived and emotionally manipulative, and the twist felt overly telegraphed. By the end, the play also seemed to morph into a lecture. Two and a half stars for me. Maybe three. I agree with this. I thought the first half was beautifully written - not a word out of place; very understated and insightful, reproducing the poetry of every day language. The writer loses control as we approach the denouement and I too felt manipulated and became aware that the writer was exploiting the subject matter for dramatic effect. The subject is very powerful and, as you say, important. The play left me with a lot of questions and some of the things the writer implies about the differences between “girls” and “boys” are quite worrying.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2018 11:08:18 GMT
Oh, I should add that Carey Mulligan is a genius
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Post by bacon on Feb 14, 2018 12:57:51 GMT
Didn't think much of this either. Full of glib, empty statements about the world: men are sh*t, posh people are sh*t, good-looking people are sh*t...all while being delivered by a posh, good-looking woman...and being written by a man. All the profundity of a hashtag. I suspect, therefore, that it will be universally adored by the critics.
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923 posts
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Post by Snciole on Feb 14, 2018 14:50:36 GMT
I recall at the Almeida for a play recently (can't remember which one), there was a warning that there were balloons on stage. With so many things affecting people nowadays, I wonder what they consider as being worthy of a trigger warning and what doesn't. Is there a list somewhere? My partner has a fear of them popping so I am glad his like are being considered now
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18,917 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 14, 2018 17:48:46 GMT
Didn't think much of this either. Full of glib, empty statements about the world: men are sh*t, posh people are sh*t, good-looking people are sh*t...all while being delivered by a posh, good-looking woman...and being written by a man. All the profundity of a hashtag. I suspect, therefore, that it will be universally adored by the critics. I do like an assertive first post! Also, everything’s better with bacon. Welcome to the board.
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92 posts
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Post by chameleon on Feb 15, 2018 15:21:17 GMT
A few seats available for 7pm tonight..
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Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2018 18:13:42 GMT
I just remembered that Kelly’s The Ritual Slaughter of George Mastromo was the first play VF presented when she took over as AD. It was one of the worst nights I have ever spent at the RC let alone any other theatre. It was really indulgent and (to borrow bacon’s word) glib. I think for me (and this is just me, not necessarily right or wrong) I find that the RC seems to favour really dark pseudo experimental work, portentous yet - underneath the fantastic production values - lacking in substance. I am however looking forward to the new season because there are some veteran writers represented who will probably present more complex work.
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2,206 posts
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Post by theglenbucklaird on Feb 15, 2018 21:41:31 GMT
Didn't think much of this either. Full of glib, empty statements about the world: men are sh*t, posh people are sh*t, good-looking people are sh*t...all while being delivered by a posh, good-looking woman...and being written by a man. All the profundity of a hashtag. I suspect, therefore, that it will be universally adored by the critics. I do like an assertive first post! Also, everything’s better with bacon . Welcome to the board. I like Parsley with my bacon. Could become my Morecombe and Wise
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888 posts
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Post by lonlad on Feb 16, 2018 1:32:21 GMT
Manipulative and even quite silly tosh but Carey M does well with it. And the design is STUNNING.
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294 posts
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Post by dani on Feb 16, 2018 11:05:23 GMT
Aleks Sierz of in-yer-face theatre fame seems to think it is one of the best plays in years. On the other hand, the Times gives it two stars.
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860 posts
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Post by bordeaux on Feb 16, 2018 11:08:10 GMT
Didn't think much of this either. Full of glib, empty statements about the world: men are sh*t, posh people are sh*t, good-looking people are sh*t...all while being delivered by a posh, good-looking woman...and being written by a man. All the profundity of a hashtag. I suspect, therefore, that it will be universally adored by the critics. Clearly not, looking at the reviews. The most positive review seems to be in the Telegraph, perhaps surprisingly. Only three stars from Billington in the Guardian.
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2,389 posts
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Post by peggs on Feb 16, 2018 11:56:04 GMT
My you are coming to see this email references trigger warnings but says no more, without wanting to know what happens really should I be worried? I'm a squeamish fainter.
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562 posts
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Post by jadnoop on Feb 16, 2018 12:34:53 GMT
My you are coming to see this email references trigger warnings but says no more, without wanting to know what happens really should I be worried? I'm a squeamish fainter. Without any specifics, and trying to be as spoiler-free as possible: Nothing is shown on stage in any way, but there is a very detailed description of some pretty horrific violence. It's probably not much more 'extreme' than you would get in your average Scandi-thriller, but it's grounding in mundane 'reality', and the way it's delivered makes it more unpleasant in my opinion.
If you'd like more information then I'm happy to explain further, or it may be worth contacting the RC.
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92 posts
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Post by chameleon on Feb 17, 2018 22:58:16 GMT
A play about an Important Subject that has almost nothing of interest to say about that subject (from the perspective of either character involved). A story with (almost) no tension. A protagonist who makes few (if any) choices of any clear consequence. Lots of detail, and no focus. This makes for a very slow and banal hour and a half despite the best efforts of the very talented actor, director & designer, and a no-expenses-spared production...
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416 posts
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Post by schuttep on Feb 19, 2018 10:36:58 GMT
Telegraph 5 stars; Independent 4 stars; Evening Standard 4 stars; london theatre.co.uk 5 stars.
As Mark Shenton suggests - the denouement is well sign-posted but it's an amazing journey nevertheless.
Carey Mulligan is a revelation and the set is stunning.
I loved it.
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374 posts
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Post by MrBunbury on Feb 19, 2018 11:16:39 GMT
I liked it too. Carey Mulligan is amazing!
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Post by andrew on Feb 19, 2018 22:38:08 GMT
I like Mulligan but I'm in the "second half wasn't good enough" column. I wasn't really sure what I was supposed to do with the 'events' that we're told of. There was no opportunity for me to feel the sadness, the grief with Mulligan because she's recounting events in quite a teachy way. But despite feeling teachy, I'm not sure what about this subject matter I was supposed to learn. I wouldn't have wanted a second half of more jokiness, because I was pulled in a bit more when the play got more serious, but it didn't quite pull it all the way through for me.
I very much liked the set and the projections (which I think one could have not spotted the presence of) and the lighting and Carey Mulligan, and the direction was probably as good with the material as it could have been. Overall I liked the play, but the last 20 minutes of it just didn't present the best version of itself.
So it was all Dennis Kelly's fault basically.
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2,979 posts
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Post by crowblack on Feb 24, 2018 21:45:10 GMT
Oooh, been avoiding reading reviews for this (and only lightly skimming the above) but the snow threatened on Monday means I'm probably going to have to reschedule. Damn.
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