1,289 posts
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Post by theatrefan77 on Sept 26, 2019 21:20:01 GMT
I enjoyed this last Saturday matinee, preview performance. It's a play that promises more than it actually delivers though, which is a pity. Zrinka Cvitesic was the standout for me, a performance worth the price of admission. . Unfortunately Zoe Wanamaker forgot her lines several times and i found her performance weak but I guess she must have learnt her part properly by now. The worst part for me was the cliché speech given by the press aid about female independence, nothing that we've never heard before and just a distraction from the main plot.
Overall for me this is a three star play. Enjoyable up to a point, mildly amusing but nothing to write home about.
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3,580 posts
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Post by showgirl on Sept 27, 2019 4:01:47 GMT
I saw it last night and as many have said, I enjoyed the performances but the plot was preposterous. Thought I had booked front stalls but was surprised to find that for the 2nd time, I'd actually chosen one of those tip-up seats on the end of an aisle further back. After my 1st experience I had resolved "never again" as though they're cheaper and the view is great, they are so unstable that if you inadvertently lean slightly to either side, the contraption threatens to collapse and deposit you in the aisle. Maybe they're designed for someone with more ballast; on the other hand, that could be an even worse combination.
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1,500 posts
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Post by Steve on Sept 28, 2019 10:04:54 GMT
3 and a half stars.  Loved the review... until the last sentence. Have a real dislike of half out of five. That's seven out of ten. I want to know if it is a three or four. Sorry. For those who don't like halfs, it's a 3.
Obviously, I'm just rating according to my own taste, but in my mind, 4 stars is the cut off point whereby infrequent theatregoers might get interested, so I won't give 4 stars unless I feel excited by the show as a whole.
I try to see at least 2 shows a week, so I can afford to welcome entertaining filler (3 stars) into my theatrical diet, but if I wasn't seeing that many shows, I'd try to stick to the 4 star ones. When I say 3 and a half stars, I mean that the show is basically entertaining filler, with at least one exciting element that boosts it a cut above, which for me, here, is Zrinka Cvitesic's Melania.
And if I say 5 stars, I mean that, for me, it's not only exciting, but all round exceptional. And 4 and a half star rating, for me, would mean: an exciting show with an exceptional element or two.
God forbid, 2 stars means I respect the effort but regret buying a ticket, with two and a half meaning, there's an element or two that makes me not regret buying a ticket. Less than two means I've lost my respective for the creatives (eg a racist show), but I can't think I've ever seen a show that deserved less than two stars.
Even "The Mistress Contract", a really dull and repellent show about conceited people reveling in being conceited, I respected the wonderful Danny Webb's efforts to lift the thing lol.
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642 posts
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Post by Stasia on Sept 28, 2019 22:11:39 GMT
My verdict is also 3,5. Loved Zrinka, loved some of the ideas and lines but the main one was so ridiculous and the way it escalated to the end... ouch.
Paid 15 for a second row side seat, it’s supposed to be a restricted vie but it’s a bargain!
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Post by londonpostie on Oct 8, 2019 14:20:58 GMT
Paid 15 for a second row side seat, it’s supposed to be a restricted vie but it’s a bargain! Yep, also just picked up one of these. Available on various dates but not a huge number left. Saturday 19th looks okay. |
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426 posts
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Post by dlevi on Oct 13, 2019 20:59:36 GMT
I saw this yesterday afternoon and found it to be a thin, predictable and dull. I can see that on paper it was full of possibilities but in execution it was a s bland an evening as possible. Ms Wannamaker was of course good but everyone else was ... dull. And the play itself didn't have much going on. I felt it was a waste and I think I'm probably going to skip seeing new plays at the Bridge for awhile because their track record isn't strong in that department. Julius Caesar and Midsummer were terrific and thanks to Dame Maggie, A German Life was worthwhile. But the others? Not so good.
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328 posts
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Post by barrowside on Oct 14, 2019 14:33:26 GMT
Nancy Harris's other play The Beacon which opened in Galway the night before Two Ladies is a big hit at the Gate in Dublin. Fabulous writing, direction, acting and design in a Gate / Druid co-production.
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1,348 posts
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Post by tmesis on Oct 26, 2019 15:32:12 GMT
Very enjoyable but, I also found the last half hour strained credulity to the limit. Stonking performances from the two leads with Wanamaker now totally on top of the part - perhaps as well since this is the last day.
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Post by vickyg on Oct 28, 2019 9:16:18 GMT
I saw this on Saturday night after having first seen it in previews and it was much improved. Zrinka is still hugely the standout for me and stole many of the moments when I was 'supposed' to be looking elsewhere on the stage. She was far funnier than in previews during her washing in the bucket and absolutely gut wrenching during her story. I really hope she does more London theatre. I agree that Zoe Wanamaker was on top of the role by the end of the run. For me the play isn't about what happens in the last 20ish minutes which is just a mechanism for some way of the ladies taking back power. I really enjoy the rest. Although it is even more annoying than half marks, I think this moved up to 3.75 stars for me!
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