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Post by showgirl on Jun 6, 2017 6:27:24 GMT
Inviting ire but reading wickedgrin's post re Sweet Bird Of Youth at CFT, I was reminded yet again of several playwrights whose work I've given up seeing. So here's my list; anyone else have any "No more, thank you" writers?
Henrik Ibsen
Arthur Miller
Sam Shepherd
Tennessee Williams
Yes, I know these are mainly US playwrights; not sure whether there is any significance in this.
Plus - and now I really do need to take cover: I'm not saying "never again" re Shakespeare but I'm giving him a very long rest which shows no sign of ending.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2017 6:50:18 GMT
I've quit Harold Pinter, Richard Bean, and Neil LaBute all together. If an irresistible cast pops up, I might reconsider on an individual production-by-production basis, but generally speaking I'm done. Nice article from Exeunt Magazine about the glut of Shakespeare: exeuntmagazine.com/features/lets-put-one-year-ban-staging-shakespeare/ I'm quite fond of the man's plays, but even I'm pretty bored of him at this point. I'd let the Globe and the RSC off if they didn't think they could participate in this idea, given their names and all, but I'd be extremely happy if all the other theatres across the country could sign off on it and give us all a little break. |
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jun 6, 2017 7:07:55 GMT
I'm with you on Richard Bean but then why did I book tickets to see Young Marx? Well I do like to snoop around a new theatre plus you get the chance to see RK in a wig
If Martin Crimp could pull off a similar coup then I'd see his latest
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2017 7:31:08 GMT
I'm inclined to agree on the Shakespeare point. I'd make exceptions for interesting concepts/castings but generally I could live without for a bit.
Richard Bean is high on my list, I live in fear that I will somehow miss that he's written a play and end up watching it.
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Post by Mr Snow on Jun 6, 2017 9:38:34 GMT
Plus - and now I really do need to take cover: I'm not saying "never again" re Shakespeare but I'm giving him a very long rest which shows no sign of ending. +1, or more, judging from the above comments. I sit there just longing for them to shut up and someone to sing a song...and then the Director hits the hip-hop button to show how relevant it still is. I'm just smart enough to know I'm stupid and that Shakespeare's not really for me. |
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Post by mistressjojo on Jun 6, 2017 11:38:44 GMT
Caryl Churchill
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Post by TallPaul on Jun 6, 2017 12:20:16 GMT
The theatre community's obsession with William Shakespeare can be summed up in just four words - the emperor's new clothes. When I become Prime Minister, all public funding for the RSC will be transferred to the Royal Godber Company.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2017 12:49:33 GMT
Oooh I that a reference to John Godber?? I love his work. we did a production of Teechers back in college. Such great characters in his plays.
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Post by Jan on Jun 6, 2017 13:06:16 GMT
Tennessee Williams
Eugene O'Neill
George Bernard Shaw
Bertold Brecht
Terence Rattigan
Sir David Hare
Alan Bennett
John Osborne
Joe Orton
Edward Bond
Howard Barker
Howard Brenton
Peter Barnes
Samuel Beckett
Sean O'Casey
Eugene Ionesco
Jean Genet
.... that's just off the top of my head, if I really thought about it there'd be others
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Post by Mr Snow on Jun 6, 2017 13:39:37 GMT
The theatre community's obsession with William Shakespeare can be summed up in just four words - the emperor's new clothes. When I become Prime Minister, all public funding for the RSC will be transferred to the Royal Godber Company. Waiting for Godber to do something memorable. (Sorry couldn't help myself). |
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Post by bellboard27 on Jun 6, 2017 14:04:07 GMT
Tennessee Williams Eugene O'Neill George Bernard Shaw Bertold Brecht Terence Rattigan Sir David Hare Alan Bennett John Osborne Joe Orton Edward Bond Howard Barker Howard Brenton Peter Barnes Samuel Beckett Sean O'Casey Eugene Ionesco Jean Genet .... that's just off the top of my head, if I really thought about it there'd be others Haven't you just copied the list announced for the next 17 seasons of retrospectives at the National Theatre? |
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Post by lynette on Jun 6, 2017 15:37:47 GMT
No more Bean
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2017 15:39:32 GMT
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Post by martin1965 on Jun 6, 2017 15:41:31 GMT
The theatre community's obsession with William Shakespeare can be summed up in just four words - the emperor's new clothes. When I become Prime Minister, all public funding for the RSC will be transferred to the Royal Godber Company.  ?? |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2017 16:04:36 GMT
Including Sean?  |
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Post by Jan on Jun 6, 2017 16:27:56 GMT
Including Sean? Richard, Sean and Mr. The whole lot of them. |
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Post by hal9000 on Jun 6, 2017 18:16:37 GMT
Skipping Chekhov and Stoppard will give me the opportunity to partake in activities that are a more valuable use of my time, such as napping, playing Pokemon Go, listening to podcasts, watching Michael Bay movies, having sex and lying on a chaise longue being fed figs and champagne from platters served by divine shirtless men.
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Post by Dawnstar on Jun 6, 2017 18:53:57 GMT
Chekhov. I've seen 2 full-length plays, The Seagull and Uncle Vanya, plus one short, Swansong, and that was more than enough. If I want to be depressed, I'll read the news for free!
Since my play-going tends to be limited to comedies, many of the playwrights on people's not-to-see-again lists above would be on my never-going-to-see-full-stop list (not that I have an actual list for that as it would be far too long).
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Post by showgirl on Jun 6, 2017 18:57:57 GMT
Now I think I should have been bolder, and should not have feared the pro-Shakespeare camp, who seem remarkably quiet - yet I was attacked before for daring to diss the bard, or rather, over-frequent productions of his work, as I saw it.
Interestingly, about half Jan Brock's list are some of my favourite playwrights (e.g. Barnes, Bennett, Rattigan, Shaw), but many of the others would have featured on my own "never again" list had I reflected for longer.
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Post by showgirl on Jun 6, 2017 19:02:22 GMT
Skipping Chekhov and Stoppard will give me the opportunity to partake in activities tat are a more valuable use of my time like napping, playing Pokemon Go, watching Michael Bay movies, having sex and lying on a chaise longue being fed figs and champagne from platters served by divine shirtless men. Now that would pose an awful dilemma in one of those questionnaires which allow you only 2 options, e.g. "Watching Chekhov/Stoppard or lying on a chaise longue being fed figs and champagne?" as I hate figs and champagne. Oh hell, it'd have to be the Chekhov/Stoppard option, then... |
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Post by hal9000 on Jun 6, 2017 19:44:43 GMT
I would like a stop on HAMLETS. The steady stream of talented stage actors between 20 and 45 have enough pull from TV or film name recognition/fandom to have his own Hamlet mounted at the rate of one a year, which is what the market seems to bear...
But how about taking 5 years off?
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Post by hulmeman on Jun 6, 2017 20:41:45 GMT
Bear in mind Shakespeare is performing rights free and with stretched budgets many more will be on the way methinks.
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Post by crowblack on Jun 6, 2017 21:27:01 GMT
I would like a stop on HAMLETS. Mixed feelings on that - I really dislike the play, but enjoyed seeing the Andrew Scott version. Or rather, I enjoyed his performance and some of the other cast, whilst still disliking the play. And the ending is ludicrous. |
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Post by samuelwhiskers on Jun 6, 2017 21:41:18 GMT
Not all of Shakespeare but I never need to see another production of Twelfth Night, Julius Caesar, Anthony and Cleopatra, or Henry V.
I can never see too many Seagulls.
Precious few plays need to be 3+ hours long. (Unless Mischief Theatre feel up for a challenge in which case I'll happily sit there all day.)
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2017 22:34:22 GMT
My answer is none, not even Shaw who has always disappointed me.
Why? Life's too short. As I get older my tastes move back and forth so any such barriers would just stop me from benefitting from those changes or even realising that they exist.
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