Xanderl
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Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on Mar 22, 2018 16:57:31 GMT
.. of course we're all assuming that Eccleston will stick around for the second season of Macbeth. Bit of a risk.
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Post by lynette on Mar 22, 2018 17:38:49 GMT
.. of course we're all assuming that Eccleston will stick around for the second season of Macbeth. Bit of a risk. You mean Macbeth II ? Maybe Rufus can commission David Hare to write it.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2018 18:49:40 GMT
I’m just getting a “priority booking for members is open” when I try and book. I believe public booking opens tomorrow, Right?
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Xanderl
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Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on Mar 22, 2018 19:38:30 GMT
.. of course we're all assuming that Eccleston will stick around for the second season of Macbeth. Bit of a risk. You mean Macbeth II ? Maybe Rufus can commission David Hare to write it. Close - David Grieg wrote Macbeth II: DunsinaneI’m just getting a “priority booking for members is open” when I try and book. I believe public booking opens tomorrow, Right? Yes, 10:00 tomorrow morning. But worth checking from 9:30 as they sometimes open booking early on the Barbican site. Loads of availability at the moment including the £10 front row.
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Post by caa on Mar 22, 2018 23:02:03 GMT
Thanks for the heads up about the front row seats, when I called the Barbican box office this morning I was told that the front row wasn't available.....
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Post by Jan on Mar 23, 2018 18:18:05 GMT
But worth checking from 9:30 as they sometimes open booking early on the Barbican site. Loads of availability at the moment including the £10 front row. Except that when I checked yesterday at 9.30am, they did let members book... but the front row wasn't on sale. Long story, but I ended up using the RSC instead to get that row.
Being fair, in the past the Barbican has had the £10 row on sale, though, and more central A seats left than the RSC, too. Barbican still had plenty of £10 front row seats on sale for Macbeth today(first day of public booking) so I bought some. What’s the view like from there ? Must be good.
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Post by sherriebythesea on Mar 23, 2018 18:35:05 GMT
Getting tickets for my first night in London after red-eye flight from the states may not be the smartest move I've ever made but those £10 front row seats were just too good. My last trip I ended up being so high on adrenaline when I landed that I could have easily seen and appreciated a play that evening.
So Oct 27th Stall A15 it is.
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Post by sherriebythesea on Mar 23, 2018 18:41:31 GMT
Luckily, it's RSC Shakespeare. The actors expect people to doze off. They have entire rehearsals covering the subject at Stratford, I'm told Just in case I also have ticket for Nov 9th, same seat. Last year when I saw Andrew Scott's Hamlet I was really wishing I could see it again so I'm taking a chance I'll feel that way about this Macbeth.
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Xanderl
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Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on Mar 23, 2018 18:46:44 GMT
Luckily, it's RSC Shakespeare. The actors expect people to doze off. They have entire rehearsals covering the subject at Stratford, I'm told Taught using my text on the subject - “Pointing at bald men: acting on the Shakespearean thrust stage”
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Post by stevemar on Mar 24, 2018 11:57:49 GMT
Thanks for the tip off for booking - although some mixed reviews (and I am seeing the NT version), easily bagged £10 front row seats when public booking opened yesterday.
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Post by Being Alive on Mar 31, 2018 12:03:46 GMT
Well I’m here this afternoon, I’ll post my thoughts.
Audience demographic is very varied, but I guess that’s the power of Doctor Who!
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Post by NeilVHughes on Mar 31, 2018 12:25:39 GMT
It’ll be interesting to hear your thoughts Being Alive. Seen it twice, in preview and the understudy performance and will be seeing it again in August. Think you can surmise I love this production, found the mixed reviews perplexing. On the understudy performance, well worth going to one if you get the opportunity, very little reduction in the quality of the production , the camaraderie shines through, Niamh became an extra for the afternoon whilst Christopher watched on from the stalls. A surprise was Simon Russell Beale in the audience, had a chance to catch up on how the Lehman Trilogy was progressing.
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Post by Being Alive on Mar 31, 2018 13:45:08 GMT
I’m only staying for Act 2 because my bus home isn’t until 5.
I am so confused and cross at a lot of this - Eccleston seems so out of his depth.
I’ll post more at the end, but I’m not enjoying this one bit.
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Post by Being Alive on Mar 31, 2018 15:18:33 GMT
Well that was an absolute mess of a production. (I have to preface this saying I’m not trying to be horrible or disrespectful, but I’m really cheesed off)
I don’t think I’ve ever come out of a show and feel like I’ve had my time wasted more than I do today. I literally only stayed for the second half because my bus home isn’t for another hour.
I hope me and Polly Findlay don’t meet ever, because I have so many questions for her that I’d probably just end up yelling. I think my main issue ultimately is that countdown timer (which ended up doing the last 90 seconds in 16 seconds because the actors were way in front of it). It made an already dreary production drag even more than it already was - it was like they were torturing us, that we had at least another two hours of this to sit through.
Eccleston is way out of his depth I thought. He forgot his lines 3 times, and went round in a circle with one of them until he could find his way back in for about 10 seconds. I felt like applauding his death because it meant it was finally over. Niamh Cusack was slightly better, but not much. I was constantly thinking ‘she’s going to fall over’ as she’s not good in heels. But she also just feels totally lost in the middle of this play. She came in to her own slightly in Act 2, but I just think they are both utterly miscast in this. I thought the rest of the cast were poor, with edward bennett as Macduff being the best of a bad bunch. And let’s not get me started on the witches. I cannot for the life of me work out where the idea of children in onesies and ugg slippers was a good idea - they made the text sound lifeless, when they should be sinister.
I’m dreading seeing the National’s production now, because everyone is saying it’s worse. But I fail to see how it could be worse than what I just sat through. 1 star - and I’ve never given a production one star in my life before. Ever.
(Please don’t hate me - I really went in wanting to like it)
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2018 15:42:27 GMT
I’m only staying for Act 2 because my bus home isn’t until 5. I am so confused and cross at a lot of this - Eccleston seems so out of his depth. I’ll post more at the end, but I’m not enjoying this one bit. The NT version Is much worse than this You might be better off getting a credit note If you hated the RSC one that much
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Post by Being Alive on Mar 31, 2018 15:44:48 GMT
I’m only staying for Act 2 because my bus home isn’t until 5. I am so confused and cross at a lot of this - Eccleston seems so out of his depth. I’ll post more at the end, but I’m not enjoying this one bit. The NT version Is much worse than this You might be better off getting a credit note If you hated the RSC one that much I got an entry pass ticket for NT - so I’m going to go as it was £7. And I’m already in London the day I’m seeing it for something else anyway. But yes, I really did hate this, and I tried hard not to.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2018 16:11:59 GMT
The NT version Is much worse than this You might be better off getting a credit note If you hated the RSC one that much I got an entry pass ticket for NT - so I’m going to go as it was £7. And I’m already in London the day I’m seeing it for something else anyway. But yes, I really did hate this, and I tried hard not to. There are some confused elements to the RSC staging And some novelty decisions Which are always going to be divisive Child witches as an example But overall the RSC version Has humour and a sense of purpose Although you might not feel This When you see the NT staging You will see what I mean Personally I wouldn’t recommend the NT version Even if someone paid YOU to attend It’s that awful
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Post by lynette on Mar 31, 2018 16:33:01 GMT
I’m a bit surprised about E forgetting his words in Macbeth. Sure it wasn’t a dramatic pause or two? I mean, you only have to go on about blood and muttering about witches and they can pick it up,surely?
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Post by lynette on Mar 31, 2018 16:33:28 GMT
I’m a bit surprised about E forgetting his words in Macbeth. Sure it wasn’t a dramatic pause or two? I mean, you only have to go on about blood and muttering about witches and they can pick it up,surely?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2018 16:39:19 GMT
It’s interesting
RSC remains effectively sold out
Odd tickets come up
But the NT staging has evidently had returns for all dates
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Post by Being Alive on Mar 31, 2018 16:44:10 GMT
I’m a bit surprised about E forgetting his words in Macbeth. Sure it wasn’t a dramatic pause or two? I mean, you only have to go on about blood and muttering about witches and they can pick it up,surely? I thought that might have been the case the first time, but he tripped himself up a few times after that, so no, I’d say he forgot his words. It was sort of the least of my problems with him though 🤷🏻♂️ And yes Parsley, was a full house.
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Post by lynette on Mar 31, 2018 16:48:12 GMT
So good I said it twice, sorry folks.
Well, as I did M for O level ( o the dark ages ) I will help him out on Tuesday by shouting out the line. Eh?
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Post by Being Alive on Mar 31, 2018 16:51:47 GMT
It might have been a off day for him, I’m more than happy to accept that on the line front. Will be interested to see what you think on this one!
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Post by NeilVHughes on Mar 31, 2018 17:12:15 GMT
Love how we uniquely relate to productions, as most of the production specifics are now known here are my thoughts on the two main points Being Alive had issues with. ‘Wyrd’ Children To the Macbeth’s children or lack of are at the core of their relationship, being haunted by the apparition of children would seem natural and make them more likely to believe in their destiny. (Think Yerma) Hesitancy As CE mumbling/forgetting lines has been mentioned and occurred in the performance I saw, think this is intentional to show/highlight the struggle with inner demons Macbeth is fighting and that he is not wholly comfortable with his destiny. In this production he never really portrays the monster and kills off stage as if embarrassed but once the journey has begun momentum takes over. For me this is best shown in the relief as Macbeth pauses and gives Macbeth the sword to kill and release him at the end. Do agree that the countdown becomes irritating and distracting. As said in the critic thread we all have opinions and reading @sochyboyy has made me assess my thoughts and put this together. Looking forward to seeing how this discussion pans out as more people get a chance to see it and comment. One thing for sure there will never be a definitive Shakespeare production which we will all agree on which drives my fascination with his plays. Now off to see RSC’s Hamlet at Hackney Empire, a welcome change from the multiple Macbeths of which I have seen 4 productions this year, did anyone else see the dance version at Wilton’s, thought that was inspired.
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Post by Being Alive on Mar 31, 2018 17:14:30 GMT
Nice interpretations there that I possibly hadn’t considered, but hadn’t done anything to change my opinion I’m afraid.
Glad you liked it though, theatre would be boring if we all liked the same thing!
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Post by peggs on Mar 31, 2018 19:41:25 GMT
Well, as I did M for O level ( o the dark ages ) I will help him out on Tuesday by shouting out the line. Eh? That would only be a kindness surely lynette but better wait a moment just in case it is a pause
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Post by Jan on Mar 31, 2018 21:16:40 GMT
Well, as I did M for O level ( o the dark ages ) I will help him out on Tuesday by shouting out the line. Eh? That would only be a kindness surely lynette but better wait a moment just in case it is a pause There’s that bit in Hamlet where Polonius loses the thread of what he’s saying and stops. I remember Michael Bryant in the Daniel Day-Lewis one did that so brilliantly that it was counter-productive because for a moment even I thought he’d forgotten his lines and it felt awkward.
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Post by samuelwhiskers on Mar 31, 2018 23:13:56 GMT
If it's intentional it's a poor directorial choice, because on press night it certainly felt like he was genuinely struggling (something a couple of critics noted).
I saw the NT's understudy run last week. Seeing it minus the relative star power of Kinnear and Duff really emphasises the flaws in the production, even though the acting from the understudies was perfectly good.
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Post by lynette on Apr 3, 2018 21:24:40 GMT
All the words were there tonight. In funny places occasionally. Since when was Macbeth funny apart from the Porter that is and we don’t understand the porter without a lecture on gunpowder plot and equivocation. So back in the day the porter brought the house down. Now not so much. So...is that why they introduced a few laughs in other places? She should have died hereafter: laugh.
I enjoyed this more than the NT one but we are not talking ecstatic. Nice touches and consistent thinking and good performances spesh Ed Bennet who got the modern concept. I liked the little girl witches and we are all over the child thing now aren’t we? What was the point of the words being projected on back? And the clock was silly. It all held together though. And my favourite touch at the end of bringing on Fleance. Only seen this once before I think an RSC job ( correct me if I’m wrong Jan) One last point. ‘We fail ‘ is not a statement of resignation. It is a tough question as a jibe. Modern directors muck about with all sorts but don’t understand that the punctuation is all up for grabs.
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Post by peggs on Apr 3, 2018 22:08:16 GMT
Since when was Macbeth funny apart from the Porter that is and we don’t understand the porter without a lecture on gunpowder plot and equivocation. Is that what the porter speech is about? I had no idea, but did watch some gunpowder/spy thing on bbc last year I guess so will try and apply that to the speech and see if something other than me wanting it to end happens. Fleance on at the end in a nod to Banquo's line kings here after lynette? mmm not seen that one before but does make sense.
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