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Post by iwanttix on Mar 31, 2024 14:18:34 GMT
Ha we were in the same row last night! The town hall scene did feel quite lively didn’t it, some people really getting into it. I’m afraid I’m the wag that offered “antidisestablishmentarianism” for the improv bit just before the interval. Sorry, 2 glasses of wine down and it just came out. I hate myself a bit haha. I couldn't even say it so well done on getting it out, especially with wine in you! Cat is more my level 🤣. It was a lively town Hall meeting wasn't it, that's why I wondered if they generally had a lot of people wanting to say something cos they didn't seem to be worried about it overrunning. |
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Post by stevemar on Mar 31, 2024 15:34:47 GMT
I enjoyed this a lot. Some of the choices were odd (the music, the dog and comedy “one two.testing..cat.. antidisestablishmentarianism” - down to “kyvai”), but that mostly added to the “entertainment” rather than the central message/play.
It could have been done in one act but the Town Hall scene was worth the wait (I was also there last night and do think most of the speakers were plants?), and the paintball scene was in synch with Stockmann’s house being attacked by the mob (so was a good touch).
I’d seen the play at the National (Ian McKellan, 1998). Ibsen is so relevant still whether updated or not.
Paul Hilton was the stand out, as with his Iago in Othello.
The ending was definitely a bit different and could someone explain in spoilers if needed their take on this?
8/10.
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Post by stevemar on Mar 31, 2024 15:35:23 GMT
Deleted - duplicate post
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Apr 4, 2024 9:43:20 GMT
Enjoyed this a lot. Had been wanting to see Matt Smith on stage for a while! Paul Hilton is great in everything I've seen him in. Glad I caught it before closing  |
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Post by cavocado on Apr 4, 2024 10:35:24 GMT
Enjoyed this a lot. Had been wanting to see Matt Smith on stage for a while! Paul Hilton is great in everything I've seen him in. Glad I caught it before closing Very much agree about Paul Hilton - brilliant actor. |
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Post by Being Alive on Apr 4, 2024 10:41:47 GMT
This was a bit uneven for me, but I came out having had a good time.
First half take a bit of time to set out it's ideas for me, but it really got into its own for act 2.
Cast are pretty good with one exception.
Paul Hilton is as ever great, and I really liked Priyanga Burford too - both worthy of their Olivier Noms.
I thought Smith was good, but I think it actually confirms for me that he's not a great stage actor actually and is much more suited to film...
However, I couldn't get over how awful Jessica Brown Findlay was in this. Like, borderline offensively bad actually. It was like she was starring in a different play to everyone else, and she also had absolutely no idea what that play was. Bizarre piece of casting. Really unsettled that first act.
4 stars just, because I thought the second act was so strong and the audience participation, which usually makes me want to pull my own eyes out, actually really worked here.
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Post by starlight92 on Apr 9, 2024 22:44:56 GMT
The plant was sat near me in the Stalls the other night. He made a point of shouting out something early to let the cast know where he was. And then he was the ‘last’ person to speak, giving quite an eloquent diatribe, which the cast then used as the point to move on. I’m sure many of the audience didn’t twig but it was quite apparent. Was it a guy with a Scottish accent? We had that tonight. Either he's a plant or he was just very eloquent and sure of his words! Also, despite covering for dear life under the tarpaulin thing, I got splashed! (I was front row). There were maybe a few jitters but overall I really enjoyed this. Thought the town hall thing worked quite well although I was also slightly looking forward to it going back into play mode. As for the paintballing, I didn't see it happen due to having to take cover, but I interpreted it as just a minority of very angry people who strongly rejected Thomas' views, as otherwise pretty much everyone was in agreement with him. |
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Post by clarefh on Apr 12, 2024 22:05:34 GMT
Just back from this tonight. Not quite sure what I make of it.
On the plus side it’s a lot of fun and has energy and there are some very funny moments - which tbf isn’t something you can say that often about productions of Ibsen. And it got a very warm reaction, lots of laughter etc.
Like others I thought Paul Hilton and Priyanga Burford were very good, as was Matt Smith in quite an understated performance. I don’t think the majority of the audience contributors are plants as it was fairly poor this evening, quite a few contributions seemed to be trying to be a sort of Paxman type interviewer. In some ways I quite enjoyed the lights going up and bringing the audience into the play, but not sure overall it added anything.
The downside for me of the humour and staging was it lacked the depth and bite that you can get with Ibsen. Perhaps it was a problem of my expectations - but I wanted something a bit more, to feel this mattered. Whereas on the whole the direction made it a bit knowing, and I never really lost myself on the play, it always felt as if I was watching actors, as if the audience and actors were all playing along.
So although it was enjoyable, it was a bit of a shallow evening for me. And I think I want more than that from Ibsen!
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Post by westendboy on Apr 15, 2024 14:15:18 GMT
Managed to catch this last Friday (12th April) and I wish there was poll up on this thread, because it would be 5 stars from me!
I absolutely loved this production! I was curious to see how they would adapt Ibsen's work into modern day and I think the overall result was a positive one! It managed to retain the core themes and plot of the original work, which just shows how timeless the play is. And of course, it's all held together by an outstanding cast. Matt Smith is of course on top form, but both Paul Hilton and Priyanga Burford deserve their Olivier nominations. Hilton especially is a standout, perfectly embodying both a slimy politician, as well as someone who is trying to keep his brother in check in an attempt to "protect" him. This shouldn't be all too surprising, especially after seeing is phenomenal take on Iago in the National's 'Othello' last year. Priyanga, of course, brings in such a presence and her ability to control the room during the town hall scene in Act 2 is something to admire. Can't forget Jessica Brown Findlay, Zachary Hart, Shubham Saraf and Nigel Lindsay, who all did equally as good of a job.
Going back to the town hall scene, I personally found the decision to incorporate audience participation a stroke of genius and to be quite frank, experiencing this made me realize that this is the type of play that is so desperately needed in this day and age, especially in this country. I didn't participate myself, but listening to what people had to say when they got a mic was intriguing to me. I'm sure other performances may have had more spicy moments during this part, but I found it to be a great way to play around with the original text and now I wish I put my hand up to speak!
If there is one thing I had to "nitpick", I would say that the characterization of Katharina (Jessica Brown Findlay's character) to be a bit muddled, which I believe is probably due to her being a combination of Stockmann's wife and daughter from the original version. This is of course not due to the performance from Brown Findlay, who works well with her material, but there were some times where I felt the writing for her character was a bit all over the place.
But overall, this was an excellent and, if I must say, important production of 'An Enemy of the People' that I hope to see have a continued future life, hopefully either on tour, or abroad!
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Post by drmaplewood on Apr 15, 2024 14:51:07 GMT
I was at the last performance on Saturday evening, I assumed the audience members were actors to begin with, only for one to make a Dr Who reference which was when I twigged (Matt did handle it well, though). I felt that scene went on too long but otherwise was really taken by it. We were in the front row so were provided some useful covers for the paint scene!
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Post by clarefh on Apr 15, 2024 15:46:51 GMT
It’s funny but I’ve found this production has stayed with me more than I thought it would - and some days on I feel more warmly towards than I did immediately afterwards. Had I managed to catch it earlier in the run, I’d have tried for a second viewing cheap ticket I think. I agree about the character of Katharina being muddled, and Jessica Brown Findlay’s characterisation didn’t really work for me personally either.
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Post by westendboy on Apr 15, 2024 16:38:24 GMT
I agree about the character of Katharina being muddled, and Jessica Brown Findlay’s characterisation didn’t really work for me personally either. For me it wasn't her performance that was the issue (I personally found she did a good job), it was more the writing for her that could've used some work. Then again, I suppose it's because, as I said (hate to sound like a broken record), she's basically a combo of two characters from the original text. |
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Post by westendboy on Apr 15, 2024 16:40:19 GMT
Hope you don't mind me asking, but could you give details on how that played out? I'm actually very curious now! XD |
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Post by westendboy on Apr 15, 2024 16:43:49 GMT
Hope you don't mind me asking, but could you give details on how that played out? I'm actually very curious now! XD Just to clarify, I was trying to quote the section which mentioned an audience member making a Dr Who reference, but it's not showing up for some reason. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ |
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Post by drmaplewood on Apr 16, 2024 7:29:24 GMT
Hope you don't mind me asking, but could you give details on how that played out? I'm actually very curious now! XD So the person who had the mic starting saying "Hi Matt. Geronimo!" - my boyfriend had to explain that Geronimo was Dr Who related (I have only ever dipped my toe into Who lore) and Matt replied "What are you on about? Who's Matt? This bloke's mad!" and then swiftly moved on to someone else. |
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Post by greatauntedna on Apr 16, 2024 7:54:38 GMT
Hope you don't mind me asking, but could you give details on how that played out? I'm actually very curious now! XD So the person who had the mic starting saying "Hi Matt. Geronimo!" - my boyfriend had to explain that Geronimo was Dr Who related (I have only ever dipped my toe into Who lore) and Matt replied "What are you on about? Who's Matt? This bloke's mad!" and then swiftly moved on to someone else. He said “First, I just want to sidetrack it a bit. Hi Matt, geronimo! You don’t look a day older.” My recollection is Matt said “Who’s Matt?” but then the others said he’s mad, Matt was stony silent, it was very well handled. Then the guy said “He’s the Doctor” and they cut him off and moved on. |
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