202 posts
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Post by harry on Feb 15, 2016 23:59:56 GMT
Afraid I'm in the "this was painful" camp. I have enjoyed all of Icke's previous shows here (yes, even including Mr. Burns) but this is a very embarrassing evening for all involved.
I get that the characters are all bored but the audience shouldn't be. And the non-specificity of time and place means that there is no underlying political or social landscape so it's just unrealistic people behaving bizarrely.
The set designer has clearly been down the Young Vic and thought he'd stick the four walled View From The Bridge box on the Streetcar slow revolve and leave it at that.
Can't wait to see the Chichester Chekhov trilogy again this summer to remind myself that done well his plays can be emotional and thrilling. This is turgid and soporific.
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2,767 posts
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Post by n1david on Feb 16, 2016 0:19:10 GMT
What's the running time for this now please? I can't see anything on the website but am assuming it's fairly set now it's opened. (Virtual) curtain down at 2250 tonight. |
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2,389 posts
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Post by peggs on Feb 16, 2016 10:45:13 GMT
Thanks re running time info.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2016 0:08:19 GMT
The set designer has clearly been down the Young Vic and thought he'd stick the four walled View From The Bridge box on the Streetcar slow revolve and leave it at that. The set designer is the very female Hildegard Bechtler, indeed many of our current crop of excellent set designers are as well; Lizzie Clachan, Es Devlin, Bunny Christie, Rae Smith, Miriam Buether, Soutra Gilmore. Interestingly both Bechtler and Buether moved from Germany early in their careers to work here. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2016 11:12:15 GMT
Just returned an £18 ticket for tomorrow's sold out matinee - bookable on the almeida website if anyone fancies it! Decided I couldn't handle this + Master Builder in one day  |
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1,064 posts
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Post by David J on Feb 19, 2016 11:46:57 GMT
A thousand thank yous xanderl, I have exchanged my evening ticket for that
Am very conscious about running time too, and there is a show I fancy that's only on in the evening
There's now a £9 ticket in the evening of anyone wants it
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2016 11:57:02 GMT
Splendid, glad it went to a good home!
Hopefully I'll also find another date I can do, just couldn't cope with it on a two show day, particularly with the need to trek from the Almedia to the Old Vic
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2,767 posts
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Post by n1david on Feb 19, 2016 12:44:01 GMT
Particularly with the need to trek from the Almedia to the Old Vic Straight through on the no.4 bus, almost door to door! Don't blame you for electing not to spend nearly seven hours seeing two shows though... |
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Post by alexandra on Feb 19, 2016 15:20:14 GMT
Only you chose the wrong one. In my humble opinion. MB is good, but it's not extraordinary.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2016 13:25:08 GMT
Load of seats for 11th March and 16th March just gone on sale 11th March is a 7:00 start Just used David J's £18 to rebook myself  |
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1,064 posts
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Post by David J on Feb 20, 2016 13:42:23 GMT
Just used David J's £18 to rebook myself Er, what?!?!?!? |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2016 14:03:45 GMT
The £18 you paid them for my returned ticket |
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1,064 posts
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Post by David J on Feb 20, 2016 15:15:55 GMT
Seriously Icke, seriously
You're extending the play with silence
Not that I'm complaining too much
But seriously
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76 posts
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Post by bingomatic on Feb 20, 2016 19:07:19 GMT
Enjoyed it. Despite the length, I think the 3 intervals helped ease the pain of the uncomfortable benches. Great performances from all although Susan Wooldridge didn't get much of a role.
It's the second time I've seen Jessica Brown Findlay and if she stays in theatre I think she's a real talent for the future.
Not sure how to announce spoilers...
Don't read on if you're worried about it...
Here goes....
The rotating stage was annoying. Just glad I didn't go for my usual restricted view seat since I would have been doubly affected.
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1,064 posts
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Post by David J on Feb 20, 2016 19:25:28 GMT
Okay I am glad Icke didn't fill the extra time in with nothing but long silences
And I am glad to say I enjoyed this as well.
This show belongs to Jessica Brown Findlay and Vanessa Kirby. Both excellent performances, especially the moment when they put aside their differences and become friends. A very personal moment that they portrayed beautifully and naturalistically
This is the first updated/modernised Chekhov that worked for me. The performances are still naturalistic, and even though the rotating set feels like the show is punching ideas from Streetcar, it was nice to see to see the action from different angles. It was certainly clear that the scenes were choreographed to suit this. I liked the moment when the professor told everyone his intentions to sell the house that is rightfully his daughters. Him standing at the back, whilst Onya remains detached outside the room at the front end
I'll say more later
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2016 20:14:57 GMT
First interval. Enjoying it. Revolving stage is annoying. Samuel West is on my row.
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152 posts
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Post by alnoor on Feb 23, 2016 22:11:41 GMT
Seating advice please
I have been offered choice of 2 seats by some friends.
Both are the cheap stalls restricted ones.
One is row A 01 and one is row G 10
Those who have seen it mention the revolving set.
Any advice on which may be the better seat.
Thanks
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Post by bingomatic on Feb 23, 2016 22:18:22 GMT
Seating advice please I have been offered choice of 2 seats by some friends. Both are the cheap stalls restricted ones. One is row A 01 and one is row G 10 Those who have seen it mention the revolving set. Any advice on which may be the better seat. Thanks I'd be tempted to go for G10, then at least you've got more of a straight on view of the action. At least the rotating set democratizes the partially restricted view |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2016 22:49:55 GMT
Yep, go with G10. It's behind a pillar, but Almeida pillars are narrow, and you're going to have your view blocked by the set itself anyway. And some bits I think would really benefit from your not being tucked right round the side of the stage.
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433 posts
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Post by DuchessConstance on Feb 23, 2016 22:56:11 GMT
I agree. The front row is too low down because the stage is so high up.
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184 posts
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Post by caa on Feb 25, 2016 8:48:46 GMT
Really enjoyed seeing this production last night, but not convinced that the revolving set is that great an idea, I think its hard to single out any one in the cast as all were good.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2016 8:58:59 GMT
I think the revolving set was more effective for when it didn't revolve. For most of the show it revolved in one direction, then for the final act it revolved in the other direction before finally coming to a stop. It was a nice subtle indication of how everyone's lives had been set in motion by the arrival of the Professor and Yelena, with a subtle unwinding as things returned to how they had been before, then a final settling back into stagnation. So yeah, a nice bit of symbolism, and as someone who always sits behind a pillar I appreciated the equality of everyone being obstructed at various intervals, but very subtle and maybe not that necessary but hey.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 29, 2016 11:37:07 GMT
I thought it was a really beautiful production, but the revolving set annoyed me, especially when you knew some great acting was being hidden from view. And at least stop it from creaking so loudly! I'm sure I'm missing an important metaphor and being too literal, I usually am.
Very strong performances throughout - obviously Paul Rhys, but the two female leads really stood out - maybe more so than in any other production of this that I've seen. And Tobias Menzies in his pants was an unexpected treat.
Oddly, for me the smaller roles lost their impact - not sure why - was the text cut? I don't know it well enough to be able to tell. I'm sure I recall the old nurse and 'Waffles' (can't remember the alternative name in this version) having much more of a presence in other productions.
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1,506 posts
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Post by foxa on Mar 5, 2016 0:32:08 GMT
Really enjoyed this - certainly one of the best things I've seen so far in 2016. I had been slightly dreading it due to its length, but it was so engrossing it flew by. Paul Rhys - wonderful - as was most of the rest of the cast. Jessica Findlay Brown was terrific as Sonya (despite being far too beautiful) - raw, surprising. Her scene with Vanessa Kirby was one of the highlights. I liked the revolving set though we drew a short straw for views in two important scenes, but felt the proximity and element of surprise made up for it. And as Baemax says, I'm someone who always gets a pillar seat, so a bit of obstruction is nothing new. For one scene I was watching Tobias Menzies through a glass cabinet, but that was okay. I don't know how much longer it's on, but if you get a chance, do go.
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2,389 posts
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Post by peggs on Mar 5, 2016 22:01:29 GMT
Didn't feel long at all, we seemed to have barely started before we hit the first interval. Frustrated by the revolve at times especially when it meant I lost an important exchange behind a wooden pillar, what with sitting behind a pillar, I was somewhat pillared out but I like Baemax's interpretation of it and it was much less annoying than in Street Car since there was less to obstruct you. Turned out the Anglicizing of names didn't bother me at all, it still all felt very Chekhov and created in me the desire to shake male characters who failed to see the love struck woman in front of them. Paul Rhys very strong, rather sinking further into despair as you watched him and a nice turn in rage. Vanessa Kirby and Jessica Findlay Brown both brilliant and lovely scene together.
Profoundly irritated by man determined to get last possible bit out of ice cream tub who made excessive noise and then kept rustling, even Latecomer's best Paddington stare did not shut him up.
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