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Post by Spectator on Nov 3, 2017 19:39:46 GMT
Saw this last night and really enjoyed it even if I didn't really believe the ending. Youngest theatre audience I've been with for a long time - I was up in the gods, but even so. Agreed on the audience. This section was a bit PAd-heavy when I went - exposed by the spontaneous raising of right hands whenever the Red Flag was played. |
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Post by showgirl on Nov 4, 2017 6:11:21 GMT
Saw this last night and really enjoyed it even if I didn't really believe the ending. Youngest theatre audience I've been with for a long time - I was up in the gods, but even so. Agreed on the audience. This section was a bit PAd-heavy when I went - exposed by the spontaneous raising of right hands whenever the Red Flag was played. Can you explain "PAd-heavy, please, Spectator, as I've no idea what you mean? |
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Post by Spectator on Nov 4, 2017 13:44:54 GMT
Agreed on the audience. This section was a bit PAd-heavy when I went - exposed by the spontaneous raising of right hands whenever the Red Flag was played. Can you explain "PAd-heavy, please, Spectator, as I've no idea what you mean? Sure, PAd: political advisor. Basically Malcolm Tucker wannabes. |
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Post by lynette on Nov 4, 2017 23:07:40 GMT
I would not have known that the original idea was a different one. It seemed v clear to me that Graham wanted to express the division in the Labour Party and needed a totally political context for this.
I really enjoyed it. Those clips! Tragic. Superb performances from Greig and
Freeman. And of course the wonderful Stirling. The second act was really engaging and the ending v well earned.
This writer is precociously clever.
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Post by alece10 on Nov 7, 2017 8:22:06 GMT
I am probably one of the last forum members to see this play but went last night with my tenner ticket. Better view than I expected from the Grand Circle slips but with a bit of leaning forward missed very little.
I am not really a play person as I am easily bored but I really enjoyed this one. Very funny and so clever. Loved the way it went backwards and then forwards with clever scene changes and loved the video clips.
I originally booked because I wanted to see Sarah Lancashire and listening to it you can almost hear her saying the words as if it was almost written for her (maybe it was) but Tamsin Grieg was superb and didn't disappoint. Martin Freeman likewise excellent and loved the subtle changes in his northern accent during each scene. Some great one liners all of which I have forgotten unfortunately.
Quite a young audience and house was full with several people standing.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2017 9:27:23 GMT
I saw this yesterday afternoon and, as a fan of James Graham's works, was very disappointed.
The first half didn't work at all for me accept, possibly, the last scene; Freeman, yet again, seemed to get standing ovations for being in Sherlock rather than the what I thought was an a decent but ultimately average performance.
There were some plus points though. Greig is a tour de force at times and the second half was fantastic at moments to.
However, after This House and Ink Graham has set the bar incredibly high and he failed to meet his own standards here.
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Post by drmaplewood on Nov 11, 2017 16:25:39 GMT
I have 2 €10 stalls tickets for tonight but I'm not well so looking to shift them. DM me if interested.
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Post by tmesis on Nov 11, 2017 17:35:05 GMT
I at last saw the matinee today and hugely enjoyed it. Although I'd already seen This House and Ink I hadn't realised Graham was from Mansfield and didn't realise it was about a local MP specifically from that area. Since I'm from that area originally myself it had great resonance for me with nostalgic references to The Chad newspaper and The Lammas Estate.
Terrific performance from Sterling, Freeman and, of course, Greig.
The most enjoyable and satisfying play this year for me.
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Post by Jon on Nov 12, 2017 2:03:18 GMT
Saw it tonight and it's a very solid play, I really liked Ink and This House and while Labour of Love isn't as strong as those, it's still very good, Tamsin Greig was terrific as always and Martin Freeman was good as well.
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Post by showgirl on Nov 12, 2017 6:43:07 GMT
I feel as though I'll almost have had a surfeit of James Graham this year, what with already having seen Ink and having Labour Of Love and Quiz coming up within 24 hours of each other. However, to compare him with Mike Bartlett, another popular contemporary also currently enjoying a success (Albion), I have found JG's work much more enjoyable and reliable from the outset, whereas Albion is for me the most successful of any MB I've seen so far and some have hugely disappointed me (eg Love, Love, Love, which I found very feeble and sketchy and Charles III, which was an improvement but still exhausted my patience), despite enthusiastic reviews.
I would always book for any new play by James Graham on the basis of his previous work whereas I am only now finding that MB is getting there after a long, uncertain haul - but before others pounce on me, that's just my view and I know others will disagree.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2017 8:15:17 GMT
I hope that James Graham can match the standard of his plays I have seen so far: he's young so a lot of writing years ahead I hope. Like Showgirl I would book on the basis of This House, Ink and Labour of Love (not seeing Quiz until December but bodes well).
Enjoyed this yesterday: for the first scene I wasn't so sure but by the end of act one totally sold. Act two excellent. Lovely to see Rachel Stirling and the reliable Tamsin Greig, still like Martin Freeman although he does seem to play the same sort of role at present. Like the dance as well!
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Post by theglenbucklaird on Nov 12, 2017 9:46:07 GMT
I saw matinee also yesterday. Brilliant this, really clever I thought. Excellent cast and sets. Tamsin Greig was very good and I was pleased Martin Freeman only did one 'Tim from the Office' look at the audience. After the dance as it happens.
Been in a few constituency offices on election day myself over time. The 'clipboard' in my ward was also owned by Jean who couldn't quite get to grips with technology when it came in. My Jean had history of elections going back decades. She could tell you her core vote and at what times households voted and when to worry they had not been to the polling station.
Did you notice the cheer when Thatcher was leaving Downing Street? Reminded me of the Princess Diana Candle in the Wind moment. Started in the cheap seats and rippled down from the balcony, through the dress circle and the back of the royal circle before stopping in the VIP and expensive seats. With the Premium stalls seats and boxes scratching their heads and wondering what had rattled the cages of the hoi polloi.
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Post by altamont on Nov 12, 2017 10:03:15 GMT
Bit of a long shot but does anyone know the name of the song that was played at the end, as in after the lights have gone up? It might be a different song each evening I suppose but it's been bugging me for a few days! Elvis Costello & The Attractions - (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding It's an Elvis Costello song, but I think it was the Nick Lowe cover they were playing. I can only echo the recent comments, a very enjoyable evening, and very clever the way things set up in the first half had their payoff in the second |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2017 11:29:13 GMT
Did you notice the cheer when Thatcher was leaving Downing Street? Reminded me of the Princess Diana Candle in the Wind moment. Started in the cheap seats and rippled down from the balcony, through the dress circle and the back of the royal circle before stopping in the VIP and expensive seats. With the Premium stalls seats and boxes scratching their heads and wondering what had rattled the cages of the hoi polloi. Excuse me - I was in the "posh seats" for this and definitely not scratching my head! Admit that it was quieter there though I notice a few broad smiles  |
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Post by orchidman on Nov 12, 2017 11:38:56 GMT
Elvis Costello & The Attractions - (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding It's an Elvis Costello song, but I think it was the Nick Lowe cover they were playing. I can only echo the recent comments, a very enjoyable evening, and very clever the way things set up in the first half had their payoff in the second Not 100% sure I remember which version it was but I'm far too much of a music geek to not say that it's a Nick Lowe song made more famous by the Elvis Costello cover. |
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Post by altamont on Nov 12, 2017 11:44:23 GMT
It's an Elvis Costello song, but I think it was the Nick Lowe cover they were playing. I can only echo the recent comments, a very enjoyable evening, and very clever the way things set up in the first half had their payoff in the second Not 100% sure I remember which version it was but I'm far too much of a music geek to not say that it's a Nick Lowe song made more famous by the Elvis Costello cover. Oops - what a schoolboy error! It was definitely Nick - I recognised his voice before i recognised the song |
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Post by l0islane on Nov 12, 2017 18:49:50 GMT
It's an Elvis Costello song, but I think it was the Nick Lowe cover they were playing. I can only echo the recent comments, a very enjoyable evening, and very clever the way things set up in the first half had their payoff in the second Not 100% sure I remember which version it was but I'm far too much of a music geek to not say that it's a Nick Lowe song made more famous by the Elvis Costello cover. I'm severely tone deaf so I can't identify different versions of songs (and barely register the music tbh) so I've no idea how accurate it is, but in case anyone is interested someone has created a 'Labour of Love' playlist on Spotify #_=_ (it doesn't seem to include the song you've been discussing though) |
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Post by skullion on Nov 12, 2017 21:50:18 GMT
Thanks for the updates all, it was funny when I'd listened to the Costello version it didn't quite sound right but I just put it down to my faulty memory!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2017 21:59:44 GMT
It's an Elvis Costello song, but I think it was the Nick Lowe cover they were playing. I can only echo the recent comments, a very enjoyable evening, and very clever the way things set up in the first half had their payoff in the second Not 100% sure I remember which version it was but I'm far too much of a music geek to not say that it's a Nick Lowe song made more famous by the Elvis Costello cover. And I'm far too much of a music geek not to point out the song is written and sung by Nick Lowe but it's by his former band Brinsley Schwarz  |
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Post by nialld on Nov 27, 2017 18:56:49 GMT
Anyone here queued to get day seats for this before? When is it recommended to turn up?
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Post by Stephen on Nov 28, 2017 0:31:34 GMT
Anyone here queued to get day seats for this before? When is it recommended to turn up? I managed to get a good one in the stalls at around 2pm. It has been busy but often not sold out I think. A great play. |
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Post by nialld on Nov 28, 2017 13:43:34 GMT
Went to queue this morning and JUST missed out sadly, I got there at 8am and the person just before me got the last day seat, so I'd recommend getting there before 8 if you're planning on getting day seats this week!
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Post by zak97 on Nov 28, 2017 18:34:39 GMT
Completely didn't realise this was closing this week, time's gone by very quickly. So glad I saw this when the second row came up for £10.
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