1,291 posts
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Post by theatrefan77 on Sept 23, 2018 12:51:37 GMT
I thought this was quite wonderful. For me both leads were just perfect and have great chemistry. I also liked the set very much especially the Egypt parts.
Overall this is a brilliant productions and it didn't feel long at all. There were some amusing touches added which I found quite funny, like the soldiers rolling their eyes while Antony and Cleopatra kiss passionately.
I'll be quite happy to see this again later in the run. Highly recommended
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2018 18:58:04 GMT
I have to admit I struggled with the length, particularly following Ralph's exit from the second act. It's definitely a competent production however, and paid up members of the Olivier Drum Revolve Appreciation Society (ODRAS) will be glad to see it doing it's most impressive trick, which I won't spoil. I was pleasantly surprised to see a live cat on stage at the Pinter this afternoon, I was equally impressed at the live creature they give Sophie to play around with. Tell me there is not a live snake on the stage. |
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374 posts
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Post by popcultureboy on Sept 23, 2018 20:34:47 GMT
Tell me there is not a live snake on the stage. I'm afraid the NT website tells you quite the opposite: Please note: This production features strobe lighting. It also contains a real snake, gunshots and scenes that some people may find distressing |
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2,859 posts
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Post by couldileaveyou on Sept 23, 2018 20:40:17 GMT
Salome forced me to watch vaginas. Antony and Cleopatra is shoving snakes in my face. The Olivier really wants me to face my fears, doesn't it
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1,064 posts
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Post by bellboard27 on Sept 23, 2018 21:04:37 GMT
I think it’s a harmless type of king snake which mimics the venomous coral snake. I was in the front stalls and it seemed a lovely creature.
Just be grateful that when Antony is describing a crocodile he doesn’t bring one on to assist in the process.
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1,089 posts
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Post by andrew on Sept 23, 2018 22:00:20 GMT
A behind the scenes snake fact is that when it's time on stage is done, it hangs around in the hands of it wrangler behind the monument for the rest of the show and all the bows, only exiting when the cast all walk offstage. I can say this because I spotted the snake being carried away as the lights came up. EXCLUSIVE FACTS.
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5,707 posts
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Post by lynette on Sept 23, 2018 22:34:39 GMT
A real snake? Can’t they act a snake anymore?
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5,707 posts
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Post by lynette on Sept 23, 2018 22:35:16 GMT
And oh...shouldn’t there be two?
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Post by Jan on Sept 24, 2018 5:33:52 GMT
The NT production with J.Dench and A.Hopkins had a real snake too though by the time it came on I was too bored to care. |
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2,859 posts
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Post by couldileaveyou on Sept 24, 2018 6:28:44 GMT
Didn't a real snake occasionally poo in Harriet Walter's hand?
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Post by Jan on Sept 24, 2018 8:27:48 GMT
Didn't a real snake occasionally poo in Harriet Walter's hand? That production had a real snake too but I can't confirm the additional information. |
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1,064 posts
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Post by bellboard27 on Sept 24, 2018 9:43:44 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2018 11:20:40 GMT
A real snake? Can’t they act a snake anymore? I’m not sure what I think about animals being used in plays. I don’t think I like it. The goats at the RC last year were adorable and the use of various live creatures (including a baby) was enchanting in The Ferryman but the animals have no say in the matter and I feel we should leave them alone. |
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Post by Jan on Sept 24, 2018 11:22:47 GMT
A real snake? Can’t they act a snake anymore? ….. the animals have no say in the matter and I feel we should leave them alone. I agree. Also applies to audience participation. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2018 13:05:51 GMT
I love animals, so I don't think live ones should be on stage. Not necessarily because of worries over potential mistreatment or their lack of agency (animals aren't polite, if they're unhappy with what's going on then they will absolutely let their trainers know and they will not co-operate, and plenty of creatures demonstrate genuine enjoyment over doing a few tricks in front of a crowd and getting rewarded for it, so as long as the agency is ethical, there's no moral issue), but because I'm NOT going to waste my time looking at the humans spouting out words when there's a GOAT on the stage! The worst offender was easily Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, bringing a live puppy onstage (and letting it pee on the floor if it chooses to do so) is the absolute kiss of death for audience attention spans.
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5,707 posts
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Post by lynette on Sept 24, 2018 19:09:31 GMT
I agree, once a live animal or baby comes on, I am not watching the actors.
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923 posts
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Post by Snciole on Sept 24, 2018 19:45:32 GMT
A real snake? Can’t they act a snake anymore? Where o where are the recent drama graduates doing some Tales of the Unexpected intro dancing and pretending to be a snake |
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5,910 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Sept 24, 2018 19:57:53 GMT
So annoyed that Okonedo was cast in this. I adore Ralph Fiennes- I think he’s truly our greatest actor, but she is just useless IMO. Her voice has no variation to it, flat as a pancake.
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Post by MrsCondomine on Sept 25, 2018 11:09:11 GMT
So annoyed that Okonedo was cast in this. I adore Ralph Fiennes- I think he’s truly our greatest actor, but she is just useless IMO. Her voice has no variation to it, flat as a pancake. Are we watching the same actress...? Also he's a ham. He's a bloody entertaining ham but nevertheless... |
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Post by crowblack on Sept 25, 2018 13:16:59 GMT
Question/help! - I've just bought a returned central row A seat and am intending to return the £64 row F I had. Is row A agony to sit in, and will I be staring up their noses? I'm 5'6" and the nearest I've sat here is row C which I thought was fine.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2018 13:52:19 GMT
If your legs are long you might feel a little scrunched, and I think row A doesn't have armrests, but then C doesn't have armrests either, so if you survived C, A shouldn't be noticeably different (except there's no one in front of you, which is much better).
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60 posts
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Post by skullion on Sept 25, 2018 19:39:55 GMT
The live animal on stage is not good news at all, I was quite looking forward to this but having second thoughts. How long is it on stage for?
Maybe a petition to replace it with a bit of garden hose could work!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2018 19:51:46 GMT
Pass on an anonymous tip to PETA, they got Jamie Lloyd to stop using live goldfish in Richard III just by kicking up a stink.
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Post by crabtree on Sept 25, 2018 21:37:02 GMT
I've seen Ant and Cleo many times _ I love the Cleopatra sections so much. The best Cleopatra? Probably Janet Suzman, or Mark Rylance.
Incidentally, I've just directed Playhouse Creatures which features the Cleopatra death scene. I used fabric as a design theme, and our asp was simply a length of green fabric, and it worked beautifully and was taken seriously in the context of the design.
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Post by adolphus on Sept 25, 2018 22:00:18 GMT
The snake should stay! Performs beautifully and is amazingly coloured, although those further from the stage may not get this (or Ralph Fiennes painted toenails for that matter).
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