All About Eve - Noel Coward Theatre

Asked about dayseats earlier and nothing available, but amazingly won the front row lottery tonight through TodayTix! Never seen the film and not familiar with the material but looking forward to it.

Quick review from me - I really liked it. The front row is really excellent and the stage high at all. Loved Gillian and Lily, loved the story, loved the staging. Cast universally strong, although must highlight Monica Dolan who was fabulous!

An absolute classic

Always thought the film was a poor relation to Sunset Boulevard and undeserving of the Oscar in the same year although haven't seen it for years now.

Thought the play exposed weaknesses in the story, it's pretty silly and inconsequential, and the tone is off, but maybe I'd think that if I rewatched the film. If Eve has such great star quality as we are told she doesn't need all the scheming beyond getting her foot in the door. As soon as she auditions and wins over New York's hottest playwright and leading critic to her talents, everything else is redundant.

It's unclear if she is actually supposed to be obsessed with Margo or only pretends to be so to ingratiate herself. She's portrayed as Machiavellian but badmouthing Margo in the press is actually extremely stupid, as was telling Addison she is going to marry Lloyd before her opening night just when she wants him to write her a rave. For the story to work, I feel like it needs Eve to truly ruin Margo's life. Whereas Margo having to step away from young leading lady parts is inevitable with or without Eve. And Eve fails to seduce Bill which would have added some much needed dramatic punch. Or alternatively, if it's really a story about the brutality of aging for women, it would be better if Eve didn't scheme at all, she really was guileless, and Margo was obsessed with staying at the top but nothing she can do matters because she simply can't compete with a beautiful youth.

Ironically given the title, I'm not sure we actually get to really know Eve and what makes her tick, we know what she wants but her underlying motivations are pretty opaque.

Thought the decision to have a pivotal scene between Eve and Karen filmed off-stage was totally bizarre. That was balanced out with the camera in the mirror stuff which was very effectively done, probably the highlight. Hate the jarring men's costumes, I don't know why van Hove thinks it's clever to have one anachronistic element, it just takes me out of the play, did the same thing with the coffee in The Crucible on Broadway. Within the story there's some total nonsense like high schools across America having fan clubs for a stage actress in the movie era.

Monica Dolan and Rhashan Stone did not make a believable couple, the acting in general was fine but little more. Would have been more interesting to see Cate Blanchett in the part, not necessarily better but to see how her more ethereal presence would have fitted in. Did think mentioning Sunset Boulevard that Gillian Anderson would be a better fit as Norma Desmond.

Mind-boggling to think people will be paying £175 a ticket for such mediocre fare.

I'm not as good on women's fashion but their costumes look contemporary to the film (1950), the men's costumes are very modern. Slim cut suits which hark back to the early 1960s but the cut of them, colour combinations and missing ties much more 2010s than 1960s. I guess the whole thing could have been shifted 10 years to 1960 or even be stylised modern dress but the pop culture references from the film aren't updated. Any which way something is off and it's unnecessary and adds nothing whilst raising these fairly banal questions while you are watching.

That's terrible. They should at least finish their business in the loo before returning to the auditorium!

Well, first of all I was quite grateful for the video stuff so I could see the faces of the actors ( anyone got the phone number of the guy who mixed the martinis?) because I was in row P which is a bit further back than I would have liked though the rake is ok. Yes I 'got it', the Hollywood refs, the reality v illusion, the whole nine yards. But in the end I thought maybe I should have stayed at home and watched the rugby, I mean the tv in my living room. I could have made myself a cuppa and got up and down. When did it become ok to leave in the middle of a play by the way, people did tonight and they came back in! If you can’t wait two hours to pee then book a different show. Two hours with no interval is ridiculous of course, and hey, the same time as a movie! Gosh, how did we miss that?

So mixed feelings. Nice performances from the women, overacting from all the men, sorry I’m right here. ( apart from the guy who mixed the martinis) All a bit trying too hard. It would be nice to see both the leads in something really good..a classic maybe or something cutting edge.

Afterthought: there was a standing ovation. I’ve seen some of the greats in my time and a stand up was a rarity. It irritates me because I can’t see the curtain call if people stand up in front of me and makes me feel I’m not appreciative. Can we save the stand ups for the really great performances? End of grumpy rant. I'll be better when I’ve had a cup of tea ...or a martini. 

Right, Saturday more of an occasion perhaps and indeed there was a general feeling of occasion with the women quite dressed up. I noticed a few sparkly jackets!

No SO when I saw this in a Saturday matinee.

Won the TodayTix lottery for this tonight on my 4th attempt. The stage is significantly lower than it was for The Inheritance so the view from the front row is perfect - definitely give the lottery a go if you’re looking for a bargain!

Enjoyed this a lot more than I was expecting to (after reading comments on here). My main issue was that I have not long ago finished watching Netflix’s Sex Education, so it took me a while to get the image of Gillian Anderson and a cucumber out of my head when she first came on stage.

Yes Emi we do !!! x