996 posts
|
Post by nash16 on Jan 27, 2017 1:25:24 GMT
Isn't there already a thread for this? Anywho, I'm booked! Let's hope so!!
|
|
996 posts
|
Post by nash16 on Jan 27, 2017 0:15:59 GMT
Revival of the Schwartz/Taylor show, with new additional material from none other than Lin Manuel Miranda.
Expect a LMM super-fan onslaught when booking opens!
Luke Sheppard rumoured to be directing, but not choreographing.
|
|
996 posts
|
Post by nash16 on Jan 26, 2017 21:24:22 GMT
Sssh... Don't say that... You'll MAKE it news...
|
|
996 posts
|
Post by nash16 on Jan 26, 2017 20:42:41 GMT
Great news to hear about this new production of this musical.
It was wonderful at the National, a few years back now.
Michael Longhurst to direct.
|
|
996 posts
|
Post by nash16 on Jan 17, 2017 18:39:34 GMT
|
|
996 posts
|
Post by nash16 on Jan 16, 2017 12:09:07 GMT
They switched off the SELECT YOUR OWN SEATS option within 3 minutes! Wow!
|
|
996 posts
|
Post by nash16 on Jan 14, 2017 15:52:27 GMT
You see, it's always interesting to see other people's views of the same production that you've seen. I didn't get what was particularly moving about the end myself. I found Hedda just so deeply unlikeable in this production that the end result couldn't have come quick enough for me. I do agree Ruth Wilson was terrific though, especially as she made no attempt whatsoever to try to elicit any sympathy from anyone (the other characters or the audience). It did give the production quite a clinical feel though. We felt the same way. And the ending was very much laughable to us. They made no effort to make those, let's face it, slightly ridiculous sounding final lines, make more sense or be in any way moving. All stilted and placed bodies. From the moment Rafe Spall's Brack started going psycho (tomato sauce time onwards), it lost us. Ruth Wilson was cold, yet impossible not to watch. Ivo van Hove seems to specialise in clinical productions. The heating never seems to be on in his shows…if that makes sense?
|
|
996 posts
|
Post by nash16 on Jan 13, 2017 0:44:50 GMT
£89 top price.. wow. Broadway greed hits London. And premium £200. And just wait for the Ticketmaster "fees" too. It's gonna be through the roof!
|
|
996 posts
|
Post by nash16 on Jan 12, 2017 3:34:47 GMT
Maxwell Takes A Holiday.
|
|
996 posts
|
Post by nash16 on Jan 11, 2017 0:41:27 GMT
|
|
996 posts
|
Post by nash16 on Dec 23, 2016 20:34:19 GMT
If this does transfer Good for them It has to be the least mainstream thing since The Nether And would perhaps also become the most credible thing also since that play It could go the the Noel Coward The sooner the better Inspector Calls wraps up around the time this finishes at the NT. Likely? Ruth Wilson will be off filming as soon as the extended run ends in March, so doubt a transfer is possible at all.
|
|
996 posts
|
Post by nash16 on Dec 19, 2016 23:49:55 GMT
Charley: great news!
Danny: awful! Cheese o rama!!
Now torn as to whether to see it at the Lowry. I don't think a Ken Doll is right for that role.
|
|
996 posts
|
Post by nash16 on Dec 17, 2016 0:38:51 GMT
Saw this tonight.
Rob Icke really needs to go and direct films for the cinema. He seems to have little interest in making theatre for the theatre, instead theatre as film.
Williams was slightly OTT but Stephenson was much more engaging and restrained. The "soundtrack" drove us nuts. Stolen from van Hove. Now feel this. Now feel this. What on earth was he doing with that folk song at the end from Laura Marling? Mortimer joined the OTT camp, and Jon Light who is normally brilliant was seriously underwhelming.
I'd say go for the performances on the leading ladies. The rest, not so sure.
|
|
996 posts
|
Post by nash16 on Dec 14, 2016 9:51:43 GMT
Twitter friends, obviously. Surely that was implicit! Ah, ok, I don't really call people I follow on Twitter "friends", I just follow them for their opinions. Probably where we got mixed up. My 50+ age is showing.
|
|
996 posts
|
Post by nash16 on Dec 14, 2016 9:21:18 GMT
People rarely say negative things about theatre shows on Twitter. Why is this? Is it because it's mostly public domain? I'm genuinely intrigued. I'd guess you don't have the right friends, I follow a wide circle of theatre fans and very few of us are civilised enough to hold back when we hate something. Though if you're interested, one of my friends very purposefully avoids commenting on a show she has hated because she knows it would be so easy for her comments to get to the cast and crew. So maybe some people fear confrontation, or maybe - as in the case of my friend - they realise that there is a real person on the other end of the Twitter account and thus don't say anything they wouldn't say to someone's face. Aaaaand I suppose for some people the realisation that the cast and crew could very easily find their tweet leads to their seeking approval from the cast and crew by loudly tweeting their approval first. (Also if you follow theatres and haven't muted their retweets, then you're going to get nothing but a neverending stream of "I SAW THIS PLAY AND IT WAS TERRIFIC BEST THING ALL YEAR OMG", especially the day after press night. That'll tip the balance like nobody's business.) "I guess you don't have the right friends" ??
|
|
996 posts
|
Post by nash16 on Dec 14, 2016 9:20:13 GMT
Saw this last night. Impressed as always by Ruth Wilson. Not the most emotionally diverse Hedda I've seen, but has a beautiful way of playing and is exceptional in her silences, especially in the last act.
The big trouble we had was with the male casting. Chuk Iwuji is a great actor, but completely lost here. No sexual chemistry with Ms Wilson and he fails to bring any of the hedonism of Lovborg onto the stage, or out and out distress in the second half act.
Also, Rafe Spall looked too much like he was acting, to be creepy/bad. It doesn't seem to come naturally to him and you can see his funny bones aching to come out, but he knows it's wrong for this part. So he tried his hardest, but it all looks too effortful, not just in delivery, but also in movement (watch the way he walks). I didn't believe him for a sec on, especially when he suddenly turned master manipulator at the end. That could also be down to the fact that van Hove goes very heavy handed, almost knocking the audience over the head to make sure we now know that Hedda is under his control. It's done in quite a sick way too, which you could say works, but in another dimension just looks beyond demeaning and a step too far.
The repetition of the the Joni Mitchell song is also way to obvious. I'm surprised van Hove is this slightly condescending to his audience.
Wilson survives both these men though to come out trumps, with Sinead Matthews and Kyle Soller also adding value.
The onstage maid doesn't work, not does the whole walking through the audience thing. Reviewers have said there is no door in the room, Hedda is so trapped. But there IS a door in the far corner of the stage, at least the outline of one. Why did no one use that?
Richard Eyre's production is still the the best I've seen, but this one was interesting. And Ruth Wilson deserves the plaudits. It's just a shame they miscast two vital parts so badly.
|
|
996 posts
|
Post by nash16 on Dec 13, 2016 0:09:21 GMT
There's been a lot of very positive comment on twitter. I'm seeing it (and a handful of other shows to round off the year) the week after next. People rarely say negative things about theatre shows on Twitter. Why is this? Is it because it's mostly public domain? I'm genuinely intrigued.
|
|
996 posts
|
Post by nash16 on Dec 8, 2016 12:39:30 GMT
It sounds like the Proscenium is a bit of a red herring and these will actually be played at Nimax's new theatre nr Tottenham Court Road maybe? It should be open by then.
|
|
996 posts
|
Post by nash16 on Dec 7, 2016 22:55:55 GMT
Do we know if the alternates would have been rehearsed fully for this show? I'd always heard that the rehearsals and Preview are for the main cast, with cover rehearsals coming after Press Night. Does anyone know what the situation here has been?
|
|
996 posts
|
Post by nash16 on Dec 2, 2016 8:52:32 GMT
|
|
996 posts
|
Post by nash16 on Nov 25, 2016 0:30:17 GMT
Saw the mat yesterday and have had a sleep to reflect. It just wasnt that good im afraid! Celia Imrie was miscast and some of the other roles undercast, Kent and Edmund for example. The whole thing moves at a dnails pace and the huge expanse of the stage is completely wasted. Clearly a lot of love for Glenda esoecially at curtain, which is a bit curious as she hasnt appeared on a London stage for about 30 years. A disappointment. Great to hear someone who agrees with me on this. So disappointing. It could have been great.
|
|
996 posts
|
Post by nash16 on Nov 18, 2016 3:28:00 GMT
But it's awful! (she's not bad, but the rest of it…) How is this allowed to happen? Because it's strongly cast People want to see Glenda Jackson It's SOLD OUT And it got very good reviews Remaining tickets went for £100 plus based on the dynamic pricing All of the above despite the sniping on this forum It may surprise you But the fortunes of producers aren't related to or affected by predictions or comments here Strongly MIScast. E.g. Why is Miss Babs playing Goneril with a wink and a smile? DIG Celia. Dig deep and you shall find a character that is not actually like you. Play that!
|
|
996 posts
|
Post by nash16 on Nov 18, 2016 0:20:47 GMT
Of *all* the things The Old Vic could transfer to the West End But it's awful! (she's not bad, but the rest of it…) How is this allowed to happen?
|
|
996 posts
|
Post by nash16 on Nov 7, 2016 0:42:02 GMT
However.., we saw it the other night and LOVED it. Yes it's dated and some jokes fall flat as a pancake, but the performances are so good. Gatiss really is a class act. Dare I say possibly turning into one of our finest actors? The other one who impressed me the most was Nathan Nolan found him incredibly moving (and attractive). Bravos all round. Definitely fancied Nathan a bit when I saw it. Ian Hallard has the best part though and he's fantastic! Ian Hallard, aka Mr Mark Gatiss. Love that they're married and get to tour!
|
|
996 posts
|
Post by nash16 on Nov 7, 2016 0:38:59 GMT
Maybe they just liked it. I mean, we've all liked things that maybe don't seem too great when broken down into component parts but damnit we can't help but enjoy the whole, right? Maybe. It's so mad though as so many DISliked it on here. Audience around me on Wednesday at the interval were all in the negative. And yet these reviews...
|
|
996 posts
|
Post by nash16 on Nov 6, 2016 22:21:06 GMT
How did the get 4* reviews? Even reading the reviews, yes, they praise Glenda Jackson, but sort of demolish the rest of the production. Yet still 4*.
Are the bowing down to the Old Vic, Glenda, or none of the above?
|
|
996 posts
|
Post by nash16 on Nov 2, 2016 0:58:43 GMT
The guy looked happy to be there, and, if anything, was focusing on his chord playing intently, so as to give a great performance. Looked all good from here.
|
|
996 posts
|
Post by nash16 on Oct 29, 2016 23:04:40 GMT
Of course. Forgot about her family circumstances… so sad...
|
|
996 posts
|
Post by nash16 on Oct 29, 2016 23:00:08 GMT
I don't understand why they are not up to speed with this first preview. The show ran at Chichester, it has been re-rehearsed for London largely, I think, with the original cast. It is not that technically demanding a show either.... Cameron. Mackintosh. (If you saw The Sound of Musicals on Channel 4 (available still on 4oD), you'll understand why he is a very strong reason for today's/tonight's fiasco.)
|
|
996 posts
|
Post by nash16 on Oct 29, 2016 22:12:25 GMT
Agree that Penny Downie is superlative in this one. Why is she away from the stage so much recently?
|
|