Saint George and the Dragon (National Theatre)

Brilliant! I haven't seen him on stage yet (only recently got back into theatregoing after long illnessy hiatus) but he's always worth watching on TV. I saw him at the Royal Court after a Ferryman preview a few weeks ago and expressed my enthusiasm!

Looks like Entry Pass tickets for this aren't exactly flying off the shelves - still plenty of availability for every performance even though I got around to booking several hours late, by which point there was very limited availability for both Follies and Network. I decided to go for front row for the last performance. Out of interest @theatremonkey - both B and C of the Olivier have been tight (although bearable) on the legroom for me, am I right in thinking I might get a little more room in row A?

I didn't book for this as it sounded like a historical setting (bearing in mind Common) - but it was, as usual, really, unhelpfully, hard to tell. If it's set in the present day, I'll gladly risk it, so does anyone know any more than the website says, please?

Is anyone seeing this next week? I am going on the 13th and the few details that have emerged so far make it look quite fun.

We already had a thread:

www.theatreboard.co.uk/thread/3088/saint-george-dragon-national-theatre

Could BurlyBeaR please merge?

It was a long way back, MrBunbury! I happened to remember because I expressed doubts about quite what sort of play this was, so I'm keen to hear reports...

I'm going on the 14th. I'll be honest, it was cheap seats and the Heff rather than a strong urge to hear tales of St George that swayed me but hey ho.

I'm going on the 20th, so I look forward to reading what the rest of you make of it!

The preview matinee was at standard pricing; only the first two scheduled NT previews (if they happen) are at lower prices. I expect they've cancelled the preview as they need time to assign a new gender to the dragon, in the light of certain criticism.

Good to hear positive things. Baz relayed negative preview reports today and I worried Rufus was going to get another panning about the Olivier.

Well. I rather loved this. It has a lot of big ideas and for the most part approaches them in an interesting way. It all falls apart a bit at the end and goes a bit 'Ferryman' (the first half is the better half and is a slightly bizarre but smashing ride) but for the most part I was thoroughly entertained. For fans of the revolve you'll be pleased to know that it's on good form and I loved the miniature golf inspired set.

Cast is great, Julian Bleach channeling Dot Cotton via Alan Rickman is a delight in the first half and Gawn Grainger giving us his best Richard Briers is lovely and warm but it's really all about The Heff. He does have one of the most deliciously poetic voices in London's glitzy West End and I could listen to him read the Conservative Party Election Manifesto, he's that good. He's been saddled with a wig that I think Chris Hemsworth might have thrown away during 'Thor' but on the whole he's glorious and delightfully funny as George. For some reason I giggled for ages at his "Oh, you heard".

Some great set pieces, particularly a scene in a pub and the fight with the dragon is inventively done.

The campaign for him to be knighted as Sir Heff starts here. He's our new Simon Russell Beale. Just a bit slimmer.

BB said in the print version, which I always glance at in the shop, that there were lots of empty seats after the interval of Wednesday's first preview and that "one fleeing couple" described it as "ponderous". He then said he was sure Lyndsey Turner would turn it around by press night. However Ryan has waxed so lyrically about it that I really want to see it now!