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Post by MrBunbury on Jul 14, 2017 12:54:27 GMT
Random thought: could Stephen Daldry be the new AD for the Young Vic? The fact that he has two coming productions when David Lan will be leaving might hint at that. Or I may be imagining things...
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Post by MrBunbury on Jul 10, 2017 17:04:34 GMT
There was a reading of Goats at the Royal Court in March 2016. I found it a bit chaotic but maybe it was the reading.
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Post by MrBunbury on Jul 6, 2017 12:40:38 GMT
I saw it yesterday. Bertie Carvel is amazing (for the first fifteen minutes I thought another actor was playing Murdoch because I could not reconcile him with what I was seeing on stage). Overall a very good play with a slightly unbalanced second half. I also learnt quite a lot...
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Post by MrBunbury on Jul 6, 2017 11:56:50 GMT
Site blocked by work as being suspicious, what is my lunch break for if not for planning to spend more money on theatre?! Haha, same for me. Now I don't know what to do during the lunch break...
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Post by MrBunbury on Jul 3, 2017 11:18:20 GMT
Hello everyone, sorry to bother you: I'm a long-time reader/lurker, but today I decided to join the board, since I would like to ask you for an advice, if possibile. I'm Italian, and next August I'll spend few days of vacation in London (as I do at least once a year) so I'm planning some theatre's visits: among others, I am interested in "The Ferryman", but I'm wondering if it will be understandable for me. Until now, I've always seen plays/musicals of which I've previously read the text, or based on movies: the first exception will be "The Book of Mormon", but a couple of friends talked me about it extensively and they also passed me the recording, so I think I'll be okay with that. This one, instead, would be a complete jump in the dark, since there's no text and I don't want to read spoilers anyway. So, to all the previous viewers: in general, did you found the play's language (and/or accents) particularly difficult? do you think a foreigner "medium english speaker" could understand it? Thank you in advance, have a nice day Hi Otty, I am Italian too (but I have been living here for ten years). The text of 'The ferryman' is available so you could read it. The accents in the play are quite thick (probably not the easiest play to understand) but even if you don't get all what it is said, you should be able to follow what happens.
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Post by MrBunbury on Jul 2, 2017 11:18:26 GMT
I was at the concert on Wednesday. She mentioned that she is quite prone to losing her voice and undergo strain on her vocal chords. Still very disappointing for both her and those who waited for months to see this concert.
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Post by MrBunbury on Jul 2, 2017 8:05:03 GMT
Sunday in the park with George
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Post by MrBunbury on Jun 18, 2017 7:43:45 GMT
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Post by MrBunbury on Jun 17, 2017 7:45:02 GMT
Well. This is a HOT MESS. It's hilarious! It's sort of like Wurzel Gummidge as written by Russell Brand. Anne-Marie Duff is a game gal and gives it some wellie even when she switches to playing Alexis Colby in a corset and she's such a watchable actress. Set looks good (although it's much too big for lots of the two-hander or solo scenes) and the revolve is on form. Great end of act one and beginning of act two as well. Not sure I thought it was as bad as it's been made out to be but have to admit I didn't have a clue what was going on for half of it though. Did you read the programme prior to the performance? It really did assist the understanding of what was happening in my opinion. What does the program me say? I saw it without reading it and I am still wondering what was the plot.
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Post by MrBunbury on Jun 15, 2017 15:57:04 GMT
I hate their website. It's so cluttered, forces you to scroll down at all times and I always get confused by its (lack) of information. How long is the run? Looking at the website, it begins previews December 1st, and has a Captioned Performance booked for March 28th so it will run until at least March 31st. The press release says it will be until April 7th.
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Post by MrBunbury on Jun 12, 2017 15:48:58 GMT
Really sad about this, although it is not a surprise. The Young Vic is quite unique among the theatres in London in terms of variety in the programming. I hope that will not be lost with a new director.
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Post by MrBunbury on Jun 11, 2017 13:04:08 GMT
I was actually about to ask if its been cancelled this year due to weather, I'm going on the 20th and already worrying..!! I am going on the 20th as well!! Fingers crossed...
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Post by MrBunbury on Jun 9, 2017 21:59:16 GMT
I saw this tonight, and whatever hesitations and disconnections existed in previews have been erased: the whole production seemed seamless to me. And I didn't find it the least confusing: it's only very occasionally that several people are talking at once, and although you have to listen carefully (not a bad thing, right?), the three narratives all came through quite clearly. I was engaged and in suspense throughout, and would very much recommend the play and the production. Katie Mitchell is so precise and focused in her directing that the whole thing packs a powerful emotional punch. Five stars from me. I completely agree: I saw it on Wednesday and although it requires attention and concentration (that should not be exceptional), it really delivers. Now I am writing a review for work.
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Post by MrBunbury on Jun 5, 2017 15:00:30 GMT
Great concert. I particularly liked Laura Pitt-Pulford (whom I called by mistake Laura Pitbull-Ford when talking to a friend...) and Fra Free.
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Post by MrBunbury on Jun 5, 2017 14:59:12 GMT
Well I've arrived home from a night shift and for lack of better things to do tonight have booked a ticket, hope I like it as much as you did! Faboo! I'm there tonight too! Say hello! I am going on Wednesday as I need to review it for work. Tonight I will be at the Royal Court for Killology though. Say hello if you see me on the stairs.
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Post by MrBunbury on Jun 2, 2017 14:25:46 GMT
Anyone else going? Looks like it's full apart fron a few gallery seats. The Alex Parker concerts I've been to in the past have been great. I am going! I am really looking forward to this concert.
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Post by MrBunbury on Jun 2, 2017 12:14:26 GMT
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Post by MrBunbury on Jun 1, 2017 11:57:12 GMT
I saw this last night at the Other Palace and was overwhelmed. The sorcery of theatre has never been more vividly demonstrated. Fellini's 1954 film, La Strada, shot on location in an Italy still desperately war-ravaged, was a classic of gritty, almost documentary-like Realism. Apart from its leading actors its people were real people. Its power was in its undeniable truth. And yet, with a bare stage and a few props - a collection of wooden crates, three motorcycle tires, two strategically placed telephone poles - director Sally Cookson has conjured up something that captures and transcends that Realism to find the essential soul of the piece. The narrative unfolds in brief, sometimes disconnected scenes through a series of landscapes and towns wonderfully conjured up and heightened by the fluid and ingenious staging, by the music and the songs, by the endlessly versatile cast of 13 actor/musicians and by a leading lady who might have been born to play her role. Her name is Audrey Brisson and she embodies the waif-like Gelsomina with a sensitivity and power that compels our complete involvement with her. Stuart Goodwin is also excellent as Zampano, the brutal strongman who buys Gelsomina from her impoverished mother, and Bart Soroczynski is equally fine as the acrobat and high wire man known as The Fool, who brings light into Gelsomina's world of darkness. But, as Honoured Guest said above, it's truly an ensemble and company show, every actor and every element fitting perfectly into Ms Cookson's inspired conception. I don't know when I've been as affected by a show as I was by this one. I completely agree. I saw it on Tuesday and it was really moving. I am not objective because I am Italian but the story and the background of a poor Italy really came through. I was mesmerized by Audrey Brisson and only later I realized that she was the lead in one of my favourite shows last year "The flying lovers of Vitebsk". Highly recommended!
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Post by MrBunbury on May 16, 2017 16:43:48 GMT
(This play is mentioned in the general National Theatre 2017/18 season thread, but I couldn't find a specific post for it unlike most of the other NT plays. Since it's starting shortly, it seemed to make sense to start a thread for it, but I can remove it if I've broken some rule.) COMMON
An epic tale of England's lost land.
Mary’s the best liar, rogue, thief and faker in this whole septic isle. And now she’s back. As the factory smoke of the industrial revolution belches out from the cities, Mary is swept up in the battle for her former home. The common land, belonging to all, is disappearing.
DC Moore’s dark and funny new play is an epic tale of unsavoury action and England’s lost land.NT website: www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/commonTheatre Monkey seating info: www.theatremonkey.com/OLIVIERstalls.htmThe blurb seems intriguing, the cast exciting and (I know you shouldn't just a book by it's cover, but) that poster has to be one of the most visually arresting that I've seen for a play in my (admittedly short) recent memory. The aesthetic brings to mind the BBC's recent adaptation of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. If it wasn't for the glut of things I have booked at the moment, this would be an instant buy for me but. Lots of tickets left, but I'm still on the fence. Have you guys booked, and if so, what swayed you? I am going on the 15th June. Both the cast and the story seem interesting so we will see.
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Post by MrBunbury on May 10, 2017 13:34:10 GMT
Sincerely it is not that bad. I saw it last Thursday and I found it rather impressive visually. The two women singing give a very haunting feeling and there are many arresting tableaux. I liked Isabella Nefar’s performance and how her silence in the first half changes to articulation once Jokanaan the Zealot appears (I regretted that preachers do not look like Ramzi Choukair when they stop me in the street. I would be more open to listen...). At the same time, I agree that on this occasion Yael Farber may have lost a little the contact with the audience as the text sounds stilted and some decisions in terms of movement might have worked better in theory. Reading the surtitles when Jokanaan speaks in Arabic is distracting but then, that choice sets him out of the decadent court. It is clearly a divisive play, more conceptual than engaging. Personally, I found Consent next door much more boring since in that play they were talking all the time and I could not care less.
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Post by MrBunbury on May 9, 2017 15:41:25 GMT
Yes, I was out at 9,30 pm. The Almeida website says: Additional information
The running time is approximately 2 hours and 5 minutes including a 15 minute interval.
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Post by MrBunbury on Apr 30, 2017 14:44:16 GMT
"The resistible rise of Arturo Ui" (Donmar) on Wednesday and Salome' (National) on Thursday.
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Post by MrBunbury on Apr 28, 2017 12:24:48 GMT
I saw it last night and I really liked it. Very good and solid play with an impressive big cast (the children were all excellent). A lot is packed in three hours and a half but that gives a chance to most characters to get some depth and shine. I particularly loved Brid Brennan and the style that as usual for Butterworth combines poetic tones, menace and realism. I would give four and a half starts to the production. I am sure it will be a big success (Olivier nomination?). The only downside is that it finished at 11 pm so I cannot exclude that a tiny part of the tension wasn't derived by my fear to miss my train...
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Post by MrBunbury on Apr 28, 2017 9:46:05 GMT
Fabulous news!! I am already so looking forward to this that I have invited my sister to come to London and see it. Oooh! If she accepts, is she making the voyage from Australia or Sarajevo or Inverness or Guildford? Turin, a bit less exotic (excluding Guildford)
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Post by MrBunbury on Apr 28, 2017 8:37:50 GMT
Fabulous news!! I am already so looking forward to this that I have invited my sister to come to London and see it.
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Post by MrBunbury on Apr 27, 2017 10:14:08 GMT
A friend saw this the other night and said it's 90 mins plus interval so 1hr 45/ 50 it seems. She also said when I asked her how it was: Hmmm - not completely convinced. Very interesting piece but we weren't particularly taken with some of the technical things which were a bit clunky (it was a preview) and it's very thinky and meta. Couple of outstanding performances (Indira Varma is a goddess) and impressive set. Not sure I completely got it but I'm a bit thick. x I must agree with your friend. I don’t think I got everything the play is about (especially moving towards the end) but Indira Varma is a force of nature and the ‘travelling’ sections are rather funny. It is only my second Crimp’s play (after ‘In the republic of happiness’, which I really liked) and I find his characters speak in a unique way (you can see what they say and what they mean diverging in real time). Overall, it is an enjoyable play but I had paid 10 pounds so I had no major expectation.
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Post by MrBunbury on Apr 26, 2017 9:42:50 GMT
I am going tonight. Does anyone know how long the play is? Quite a last minute question but I could not find that detail in the website.
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Post by MrBunbury on Apr 22, 2017 10:52:20 GMT
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Post by MrBunbury on Apr 22, 2017 9:23:47 GMT
I am a medical editor
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Post by MrBunbury on Apr 16, 2017 14:45:31 GMT
The Great Wave was announced by the Tricycle on 7 March, along with all the company's forthcoming work ahead of the reopening of their building in Spring 2018. It was reported at the time by WhatsOnStage, The Stage and all the other usual outlets. www.tricycle.co.uk/blogThanks, I realized that after posting my comment. I had really missed the announcement!
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