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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2019 12:49:54 GMT
Well. The director should be applauded for getting so many great actors in the same production. Shame that they all act like they're in completely different plays but hey ho. I've seen Merlin from 'Merlin'! I've seen Clara from 'Doctor Who'! I've seen Celeste Talbert from 'Soapdish! And delightfully, La Field often heads dangerously close to 'Soapdish' with some of her acting choices. I half expected her to suddenly blurt out "What am I, 70, Joe? Am I 70? Why don't you just put me in a walker? Buy a goddamn walker and put me in it!". Alas, she did not.
It was a preview so I forgive little Colin Morgan for not quite working out which of the 3 or 4 acting choices he was going for seeing as he sports some rather lovely trousers in the show. I do hope he decides on one of the choices by the end of the run though. For those who love it when little Colin rocks the big hair, I fear you will be disappointed here.
The play zips along quite nicely although there was a slightly odd bit at the end of act 2 when everyone thought it had ended and gave it a round of applause. Sally was not impressed when the lights come back up and she was trying to get a start on the final scene. Don't cross the Flying Nun people. I'm sure I'd seen this play before but couldn't remember how it all went so it all came as a bit of a surprise as it went on.
On the plus side, Jenna Colman wears some lovely frocks, Oliver Johnstone wears a comedy hat and for those who loved the set in 'Home, I'm Darling' you'll love this one!
Oh and the poster image does not represent the play at all. The image of Sally & Bill looking for the toilets makes the play seem like it's going to be all modern-like but it's not. The telephone still has a curly cord on it for starters.
Attention: no turbans for Miss Talbert.
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Post by craig on Apr 16, 2019 17:08:58 GMT
Speaking of Soapdish, what ever became of Soapdish the musical starring Kristin Chenoweth!?
I haven't watched it in years and you've put me in the mood for it!
Still hoping to see this at some point during the run but I doubt it can top the Suchet / Wannamaker tour de force of a few years ago. I'll kick myself if I don't see La Field in action though.
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Post by westendcub on Apr 16, 2019 17:34:12 GMT
I loved this last night!
Confession never seen this, read it or knew the story (just about the American dream not being everything it promises to be) so I went to this Arthur Miller cold!
Amazing PWC £10 seat, 2nd row stalls so I was up close & personal.
I loved the set, amazing to think how each production at OV uses its huge stage differently.
I loved Sally Field in this, I most admit having high expectations but I wasn’t disappointed- she is supported by an excellent cast but her character feels so pivotal along with her son that a lot rests on their shoulders! Bill was also great & was a committed performance.
The writing (a classic) is rich but I can’t compare to how it’s been interpreted before but I loved how light and dark the play is.
It zipped along (1st Act is 1 hour) & Act 2 (1 hr 15 mins) but the blackout towards the end is confusing it seems, I did not think it was the end but so many people clapped!!
Stalls situation was fine but I must point out so many people entered on the wrong side & were having to use the front row to get across! Temp toliets are well kept, used before the show & didn’t dare drink a drop as imagined could have got busy in the interval!
Glad I saw this one!
Look forward to more opinions on this play.
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Post by NeilVHughes on Apr 16, 2019 22:25:33 GMT
In agreement with @ryan
"Well. The director should be applauded for getting so many great actors in the same production. Shame that they all act like they're in completely different plays"
"Colin Morgan 'is still' working out which of the 3 or 4 acting choices he was going for"
A play I wanted to enjoy which was let down by the acting especially the younger cast members and as everything resolves could not understand why Ann would return knowing what she does. Initially booked to see it later in the run so will be interesting to see if the young actors find their groove and may give it a miss if the reviews are as per @ryan .
A great set with a great view from the front row thanks to the with the TodayTix front row lottery, a low stage, only issue may be the fallen tree on the right hand side of the stage which may impair the view of the first few rows of the right side aisle seats.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2019 12:40:52 GMT
Any rough ideas of what the running time is? Coming down for it next week and I don't want to be cutting it too fine with coaches. It's probably going to fluctuate as they get a rhythm going during previews, but from a previous post, I'm going to say it's roughly around 2 hours, 30 minutes including the interval?
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Post by NeilVHughes on Apr 17, 2019 12:48:26 GMT
Just over 2 ½ hours last night, started a bit late so out for 10:10
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2019 14:25:46 GMT
Oui, it's supposed to be about 60 minutes then a 20 minute interval and then another 75 minutes. I think they stuck to that when I saw it but it did start a bit late as I recall.
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Post by ftfadia on Apr 17, 2019 15:01:48 GMT
I enjoyed it too! Pretty much spot on with @ryan and westendcub's comments. I am thinking about booking it again later in the run to see how it develops and whether some of the *interesting* acting choices evolve, hopefully for a better outcome. But overall despite some weird moments I was really impressed, and relieved too if I'm being honest, given my first Arthur Miller play was the Old Vic's American Clock a couple of months ago...wasn't a fan of that one at all.
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 17, 2019 20:10:25 GMT
I know people have praised Q34 stalls on here before but just how restricted is it? Especially now there is a seat to the right so you can't easily lean either way. I have that seat in a couple of weeks and don't know whether just to give it up and go to the NT Live instead.
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Post by peggs on Apr 18, 2019 19:48:38 GMT
I went and stood behind q4, it's alright I think as much as I could tell not actually sat watching something, k think you'll end up leaning head, the majority of the stage looked to fall to left of pillar so you'd need to lean that way. I'm on interval and somewhat left cold so far, there are some lines I missed altogether, accents rather than volume. Started late as quite a lot of people only seemed to wander in at gone half seven.
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Post by londonpostie on Apr 18, 2019 20:39:43 GMT
Q34, I'll know in a few weeks when I get to test it again - others on here may use it first, of course. Q35 is now "clear view" .. and breath!
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 18, 2019 21:26:33 GMT
Q34, I'll know in a few weeks when I get to test it again - others on here may use it first, of course. Q35 is now "clear view" .. and breath! I can see your breath when you breathE
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Post by peggs on Apr 18, 2019 21:32:39 GMT
Sadly this couldn't live up to @ryan's review which I found ultimately more entertaining. I've seen the filmed Suchet Wanamaker version of this which might have spoilt me for seeing it again or at the very least meant I knew what to expect. Obviously still a preview and will grow I expect. There were times when I really felt for Sally Field's character, inbetween wanting to shake her but at others times I found some mannerisms a bit much. Rather liked Bill Pulman's very different take but left me a bit cold. For full disclosure everyone around me this evening seemed to be going for max annoyance, bragging swearing men on train detailing their sex lives, use of prostitutes and deflowering of virgins, huffing people on end of row who sat down with 25 mins to curtain and then humphed at anyone trying to join the row, the person who set their alarm for during the last scene, the people behind boasting of all the free tickets they get and famous people they'd seen or the woman sat next to me now on train apparently now eating pure garlic. This might have influenced my evening.
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Post by westendgurl on Apr 18, 2019 21:54:32 GMT
Sadly this couldn't live up to @ryan's review which I found ultimately more entertaining. I've seen the filmed Suchet Wanamaker version of this which might have spoilt me for seeing it again or at the very least meant I knew what to expect. Obviously still a preview and will grow I expect. There were times when I really felt for Sally Field's character, inbetween wanting to shake her but at others times I found some mannerisms a bit much. Rather liked Bill Pulman's very different take but left me a bit cold. For full disclosure everyone around me this evening seemed to be going for max annoyance, bragging swearing men on train detailing their sex lives, use of prostitutes and deflowering of virgins, huffing people on end of row who sat down with 25 mins to curtain and then humphed at anyone trying to join the row, the person who set their alarm for during the last scene, the people behind boasting of all the free tickets they get and famous people they'd seen or the woman sat next to me now on train apparently now eating pure garlic. This might have influenced my evening. Completely agree. The audience were terrible this evening, so many phones going off and people coming in late! I loved Sally Field, Bill Pullman was good although likewise I didn't really feel anything for him. Jenna Coleman was so whiny I think only cats and dogs could understand her, and Colin Morgan. Well. I think there's a reason I never watched Merlin!
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Apr 20, 2019 22:01:32 GMT
In the the end I got something out of this but that’s pretty much down to the text and some performances. Herrin’s usual intelligent touch and invention wasn’t much in evidence here to me. It looked like a staging where the actors were just getting the play on its feet. Lovely set to look at but not utilised much apart from a couple of areas. The house looked like my Great Aunt’s place in Canada, they moved there just after WWII so some unintended resonance there.
It’s rare for me not to tune into something but I just didn’t see what Herrin wanted to say. Maybe they are still tinkering during previews.
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Post by theatrefan77 on Apr 20, 2019 23:35:12 GMT
Q35 is now "clear view" so my guess is that sightlines remain the same. It's a head movement, not a lean, to see around the pillar. For this show, nothing will happen on one side of the stage anyway, as there is a bit of set in the way, so your view to the main action will be clear. Basically, the pillar puts a black stripe through the action about one fifth in from the right as you look at the stage. You move your head to see people when they stand in that spot of stage behind the pillar. Therefore it isn't restricted in the sense that you will permanently lose any action - it is more that you have to move your head to see it. Not actually lean over or around. The other advantage of the seat is that row P is offset well, so you see between the two people in front. Q35 is actually quite restricted! The pillar is right in front of you and cuts the stage in two. The ticket has the warning 'behind small pillar'. Fortunately there were a few empty seats in row K and I moved there, perfect view. Enjoyed the play immensely. Yes, maybe some of the performances need a bit ironing before the opening night, but this is really a great production of a wonderful play.
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Xanderl
Member
Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on Apr 21, 2019 17:11:20 GMT
Q35 is actually quite restricted! The pillar is right in front of you and cuts the stage in two. The ticket has the warning 'behind small pillar'. Fortunately there were a few empty seats in row K and I moved there, perfect view. Very odd - I found a date where Q35 is available for Present Laughter and it's on sale for £65 with no warning of a restriction when you add it to your basket. Q34 and Q3 are still both marked as restricted and on sale for £21 as before. But given where the pillar is I don't see how it can't affect the view from Q35! Also seems very odd having a single top price seat next to a restricted one. There also seems to be a new seat R35 which is £21 due to the pillar.
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Post by londonpostie on Apr 21, 2019 19:53:36 GMT
For All My Sons, I have Q35 for £21. The eticket does mention a 'slim pillar'.
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 21, 2019 20:11:27 GMT
For All My Sons, I have Q35 for £21. The eticket does mention a 'slim pillar'. I have seen that seat on sale for All My Sons for £55 for some performances.
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Post by londonpostie on Apr 21, 2019 20:33:57 GMT
well, I started with a £10 PWC deal, wanted to change my date as I discovered friends were going, and saw this advertised at £21 (on 25th March) .. Looking at it now, the seat is greyed out and round, it was starred (restricted) when I bought it, which presumably means it's been re-classified.
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Post by jampot on Apr 21, 2019 23:56:15 GMT
I am in q34 next sat if no one is going before....
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Post by justfran on Apr 24, 2019 7:55:26 GMT
5 star review from WOS and even that mentions bad behaviour by the audience with mobile phones.
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Post by theatrefan77 on Apr 24, 2019 9:39:43 GMT
The box office sent out official updates last Thursday, when I posted the news. They consider Q35 to be no longer restricted. Q34 remains restricted. R35 is indeed a new seat. With any luck, it may be the new Q34... That must be a mistake. Q35 is very restricted, the 'slim pillar' they mention in the ticket does not seem so slim when you are so close to it, it really cuts the stage in two. Q34 would have the pillar on the right hand side of the stage, so I guess the right corner would be missing, but it should be better than Q35.
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Post by jampot on Apr 24, 2019 10:07:00 GMT
The box office sent out official updates last Thursday, when I posted the news. They consider Q35 to be no longer restricted. Q34 remains restricted. R35 is indeed a new seat. With any luck, it may be the new Q34... That must be a mistake. Q35 is very restricted, the 'slim pillar' they mention in the ticket does not seem so slim when you are so close to it, it really cuts the stage in two. Q34 would have the pillar on the right hand side of the stage, so I guess the right corner would be missing, but it should be better than Q35. My q34 seat sounds the better option then...is there much going on on the right?
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Post by theatrefan77 on Apr 24, 2019 11:25:55 GMT
Well, plenty of in-fighting between leave and remain and an attempt to unseat the leader... oh, you mean the seat? Not been yet, but the famous restricting tree is on that side... The tree is only a problem if you are at the very front in the high numbers.
*There were sighs of relief when Act II began with the son cutting the tree and getting rid of it.
jampot , most of the action takes place centre stage, you won't miss much.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2019 11:50:04 GMT
Any chance that we could do a show swap and send Sally Field to Broadway and bring Annette Bening over to London's glitzy West End?
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Post by theatrefan77 on Apr 24, 2019 12:11:49 GMT
Any chance that we could do a show swap and send Sally Field to Broadway and bring Annette Bening over to London's glitzy West End? Don't be mean!
I'd love to see Annette Bening too, but Sally Field is excellent in the part and we are lucky that she's performing in London. She also got very emotional with the standing ovation at the end. Thought she was going to shout 'You like me, you really like me...'
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2019 12:14:23 GMT
Thought she was going to shout 'You like me, you really like me...' She doesn't like it when you shout that out during the curtain call. Learn that the hard way.
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Post by theatrefan77 on Apr 24, 2019 12:22:48 GMT
Thought she was going to shout 'You like me, you really like me...' She doesn't like it when you shout that out during the curtain call. Learn that the hard way. Haha, really?
To be fair to her, she never said it that way. Enter the Divine Miss M...
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Post by bgarde on Apr 24, 2019 16:08:52 GMT
Had this email this afternoon - I'm in D26/7
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