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Post by noboiscout on Mar 15, 2019 12:38:28 GMT
Thought I'd try for a ticket, given the good reviews, even though I find Pinter depressing most of the time. Strange how there are no balcony tickets available for the run - ATG wouldn't be trying to flog all the expensive tickets in the stalls and circle, before they decide to release the balcony seats - or possibly every balcony seat has already been sold?
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Post by kathryn on Mar 15, 2019 12:40:57 GMT
Thought I'd try for a ticket, given the good reviews, even though I find Pinter depressing most of the time. Strange how there are no balcony tickets available for the run - ATG wouldn't be trying to flog all the expensive tickets in the stalls and circle, before they decide to release the balcony seats - or possibly every balcony seat has already been sold? There was still the odd balcony seat available this morning - mainly mid-week. Few and far between though. The cheap seats always sell first.
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Post by kathryn on Mar 15, 2019 13:38:19 GMT
I’m surprised that they haven’t announced an NT Live screening, to be honest.
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Post by jamesxxx on Mar 15, 2019 14:20:10 GMT
I'm sorry but I thought this was dreadful. I dunno but I sensed the audience thought it was dreadful too. People walked out. TV and film acting on a stage does not work. Lazy acting, Lazy design too. Sorry.
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Post by lynette on Mar 15, 2019 17:06:40 GMT
I'm sorry but I thought this was dreadful. I dunno but I sensed the audience thought it was dreadful too. People walked out. TV and film acting on a stage does not work. Lazy acting, Lazy design too. Sorry. Don’t worry, we are very inclusive here. 😂
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Post by Marwood on Mar 15, 2019 19:25:06 GMT
Forgive me if I’ve missed someone posting previously, but what’s the running time (I’m seeing it next Friday)?
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Post by altamont on Mar 15, 2019 19:34:35 GMT
The website says 90 minutes no interval
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Post by Marwood on Mar 15, 2019 21:48:04 GMT
The website says 90 minutes no interval Cheers
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Post by foxa on Mar 16, 2019 12:29:27 GMT
Yeah, I was there last night and it was 90 minutes, no interval. I was disappointed. I've read the play several times and, I suppose, had imagined a production in my head which this didn't live up to. I had thought that these three characters loved each other - perhaps in a very English middle-class way - sometimes under-stated, sometimes twisted or hurtful - but that there was passion. In this cold, minimalist production, I didn't get that. No one seemed to fancy anyone all that much and what I had thought was a rather glorious final speech went for pretty much nothing, with Cox's slow, considered performance of what I had imagined was a passionate, off-the-cuff, creative, thought-associated improvised declaration. However, my enjoyment was possibly impeded by our poor seats. In the pre-sale, I'd snapped up £25 Row B Royal Circle tickets which were meant to have a slight restriction due to a safety railing. I've deal with many a safety railing before so wasn't too worried, but the positioning of the seats, especially when behind a large-headed fidgety man, big on tilting his head and leaning forward meant that large portions of the stage, even with my leaning to the side, were blocked out. Since the staging is very static and most scenes are duologues, it usually meant that, at best, I could choose to lean and look at one of the actors, or lean the other way to see the other way. So perhaps there was some great stuff going on that I missed. BTW - we weren't going to the stage door, but exited by there and the queue was HUGE - one of the longest I've ever seen, snaking around the corner. Also {Spoiler - click to view} the minimalist design made a nonsense of some of the nuanced moments - such as when she proudly puts out the tablecloth she has bought in Italy. The cloth chosen was very small and very plain - something no one could imagine getting excited about or evoking Italy - and was placed on a little flimsy folding table. The audience laughed and Cox looked at her as if she was slightly mad, rather than being charmed by it or whatever.
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Post by sweets7 on Mar 16, 2019 18:48:43 GMT
Saw it today and really liked it. My friend and I were perplexed by all the people going for the Hiddleston casting who were chatting about other big celeb shows they went to. Loads of people left as play ended to get to stage door. But as my friend said, it is the nearest you get to these people ìn real life I suppose.
Anyway the play itself was very good. With the staging almost an extra character. A simple story told exceptionally well. Although I bet Joan Bakewell wanted to kill him. Not nice people at all and Jerry in particular came across as a pig. With not much chemistry between any of them to really feel they cared. That may have been a directorial choice though as I have never seen the play before.
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180 posts
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Post by sweets7 on Mar 16, 2019 19:28:17 GMT
Great review but think you meant Joan Bakewell! I did. Wrong Joan. Change now.
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Post by harrie on Mar 17, 2019 17:39:56 GMT
I saw this last night and really enjoyed it. I think the only other Pinter I’ve seen is No Man’s Land, and although I enjoyed the performances in that I found Betrayal much more accessible and for me a much better play. I loved the simple staging and thought having the third character constantly on stage was very effective, particularly in one scene where Robert is sat right to Jerry in a scene with Jerry and Emma. All three actors were fantastic.
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Post by londonpostie on Mar 19, 2019 0:31:02 GMT
well, I'm still digesting this. For anyone who'd like a contrast, Youtube has the 1983 BBC version, screenplay by H. Pinter:
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Post by peggs on Mar 19, 2019 9:34:10 GMT
well, I'm still digesting this. For anyone who'd like a contrast, Youtube has the 1983 BBC version, screenplay by H. Pinter: How was standing?
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Post by londonpostie on Mar 19, 2019 16:01:34 GMT
Hi, standing was fine (90 mins). I didn't realise you pitch up along the back where you want; standing in the centre went by 19:05, not behind a pillar by 19:15, etc. Could add 20+ mins to your standing estimate.
For £15 the view is fine. It is a play where you do want to see slight facial nuances, but that will cost you perhaps £150.
Didn't know what to make of it last night. As time passes today it feels more and more impressive. I think he absolutely nailed what he wanted to nail. The BBC version will also be interesting given it's his own screenplay. Cheers.
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Post by crowblack on Mar 19, 2019 18:06:01 GMT
It is a play where you do want to see slight facial nuances, but that will cost you perhaps £150. Surely a good candidate for a Tennant or Scott Hamlet-style recording for BBC2 or 4?
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Post by kathryn on Mar 20, 2019 18:29:47 GMT
The cast are on Front Row tonight.
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Post by andrew on Mar 20, 2019 23:43:56 GMT
The online rush thing was a lifesaver for those who qualify. Very cheap stalls seats obtained and I saw it tonight. It's really excellent, it's better than the celebrity hunters deserve, confirmed by hearing someone whisper "it's a bit boring isn't it?" halfway through. I didn't find it boring, the undercurrent of tension and sadness weaving it's way through the whole play. Loved it.
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Post by peggs on Mar 21, 2019 10:38:25 GMT
Was there last night too though somewhat different experience standing and feeling somewhat far away though good clear view I did miss proximity of faces. Not quite sure what i think yet, so different from my only other betrayal experience at the other end of intimacy spectrum at the donmar. For those who want to know the three stage door for about 15 mins each night and probably 10 on matinees so I was told. That said the queue went right round to the front of the theatre in the time it took me to get out. Front of house person said whilst it is understudied and rehearsed she thought they might cancel if Mr Hiddlestone was off because of the perceived reaction they'd get. Don't know if this was just her view. As I was standing I was there earlier and it was an interesting dynamic of people, some clearly there because of the casting, some new to theatre which was good. Audience very well behaved where I was and very appreciative come the end. Had a nice chat with a young drama student and tried to not feel so old.
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Post by kathryn on Mar 21, 2019 10:50:22 GMT
Well, there's a Saturday in April with no performances at all - presumably because Charlie Cox was already committed to Wales Comic Con. So that's an indication that they'd prefer to avoid understudies.
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Post by crowblack on Mar 21, 2019 11:25:50 GMT
some clearly there because of the casting, some new to theatre which was good. I appreciate theatre isn't a 'social service' and it's market forces and all that, but it is a shame that the high-profile productions with Hollywood / lead-actor-off-the-telly casts are usually so astronomically expensive. They often pull people in who aren't normally theatregoers but they're then left with the impression that theatre is incredibly expensive and all you see is a dot on stage or the top of the actor's head. The impression this is something for a wealthy elite is driven home if they also buy a drink.
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Post by peggs on Mar 21, 2019 13:50:09 GMT
some clearly there because of the casting, some new to theatre which was good. I appreciate theatre isn't a 'social service' and it's market forces and all that, but it is a shame that the high-profile productions with Hollywood / lead-actor-off-the-telly casts are usually so astronomically expensive. They often pull people in who aren't normally theatregoers but they're then left with the impression that theatre is incredibly expensive and all you see is a dot on stage or the top of the actor's head. The impression this is something for a wealthy elite is driven home if they also buy a drink. Well some of the potentially new theatre goers must have bought the expensive seats and had a good view. The lad to my right whether he wanted it or not got a thorough versing from me or where to access cheap young people tickets and the person on my left who was on their second theatre visit and very excited told me his friends had gone expensive but we agreed that was a lot of money and we could see perfectly well from where we were for a fraction of the price. And aren't refreshments generally expensive both in london and when you're out at places? I do get what you're saying and star casting does often mean prices can be high but if you enjoyed the experience and wanted to try something else it's relatively easy to find out information that dispelled the theatre equals riches idea. Most people there just seemed really glad to be there.
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Post by kathryn on Mar 21, 2019 15:36:34 GMT
Gosh, peggs, you just took me back to the time I day seated the Donmar Othello - which was the production that got me well and truly hooked - and an old hand in the queue told me everything I needed to know about getting hold of cheap tickets. And it worked!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2019 16:00:32 GMT
Gosh, peggs , you just took me back to the time I day seated the Donmar Othello - which was the production that got me well and truly hooked - and an old hand in the queue told me everything I needed to know about getting hold of cheap tickets. And it worked! Was it in face @theatremonkey ? it's the old bit that gave it away
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Post by kathryn on Mar 21, 2019 16:04:29 GMT
Hmm, there was a faint aroma of bananas about him...
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Post by peggs on Mar 21, 2019 16:44:34 GMT
Gosh, peggs, you just took me back to the time I day seated the Donmar Othello - which was the production that got me well and truly hooked - and an old hand in the queue told me everything I needed to know about getting hold of cheap tickets. And it worked! I assumed you were an old hand at theatre you seem knowledgeable, I had been going a while by that production, feel even older now. We have to share the important information, look at the joy we're spreading.
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Post by kathryn on Mar 21, 2019 17:00:52 GMT
Oh yeah, at work I am known as a theatre enabler!
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Post by Latecomer on Mar 21, 2019 19:13:41 GMT
Gosh, peggs , you just took me back to the time I day seated the Donmar Othello - which was the production that got me well and truly hooked - and an old hand in the queue told me everything I needed to know about getting hold of cheap tickets. And it worked! This was the first theatre production that I ever saw (booked tickets in a startling piece of good luck when daughter changed A levels rather late in the term and she had to do Othello, so just googled it and came up with the Donmar production....2 seats left in the Christmas holidays that I could make, no idea of the cast!) ....also got me hooked on theatre completely!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2019 19:32:25 GMT
Donmar Othello was the first show I ever dayseated. I rocked up at 8:30am and got a standing space, and to this day I'm not entirely sure how.
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Post by peggs on Mar 21, 2019 19:51:09 GMT
Not guilty on that one - but I did give out some theatreboard cards to a couple of people at "Alys Always" yesterday, as well as dispensing "the gift" we here share. We have cards?!
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