Heartsink Plays

I do know what you mean about The Ferryman @emicardiff as, though I hesitate to say this and to you of all people, that was how I felt about Angels In America. But neither production would have suffered from the lack of our custom; in fact, we were probably doing others a favour by not competing with them for tickets!

I've seen enough Pinter already that, by and large, I feel great about my decision to give the entire season a wide berth.

John Heffernan's inclusion will test my resolve though...

It's a pity anyone ever feels they "should" see something, but I know what you mean. In a broader sense, I've often had conversations where it's emerged that I love theatre, and the other person sighs and says "I really should try to see more theatre" as though it's some kind of duty or obligation. I usually say to them, why? If you're not already going regularly, it probably means you're just naturally disinclined so why make yourself go "more", any more than the notion you should go to more football matches or operas? That said, I'll try to put them right if it's obvious they think theatre automatically means daft prices for seats in big posh auditoriums, but otherwise I'll question why they think they should "see more theatre".

But yes with some productions I do sometimes get a feeling of "it would be good for me if I see this play about a 'difficult' subject", consider it for a few moments, then don't book up for it. But to pick up on your comment about  "plays which sound very worthy and which attract good reviews or better, but for which you still cannot summon any enthusiasm" the key thing is the second part of that sentence - anything for which you can't summon any enthusiasm, you shouldn't see. It's that simple - life's too short!

I've only been to the Arnaud twice and disliked the audiences (not you though, I'm sure!).

Re @baemax's comment "I've seen enough Pinter already" - I can never see enough Pinter. Due to not living in London I've so far only seen one of the Pinter at the Pinter programmes, though.

Felt this way about The Jungle. I'm sure it really is as brilliant as everyone says, but the subject matter just does not appeal for a night out.


Have managed to dither so successfully about booking it that it's now sold out/hideously expensive, which has rather taken the choice out of my hands. Oh well.

My heart sink play is a very very very dark matter. I wonder why Martin McDonagh insists on writing about race all the time when he seems so tone deaf in that regard. The idea of a whole theatre audience thinking they are so hip and right on that they can even laugh at racist jokes turns my stomach.

I think I felt this way about Rain Man when it was first released as a film. I still haven’t seen it.