3,575 posts
|
Post by showgirl on May 15, 2016 4:12:36 GMT
Saw this last night and it's one of the best new plays I've seen at this venue, where I find the standard more reliable than in the main house upstairs. In what for me is turning out to be a good year, it's also one of the best plays overall. A 4-hander, 90 mins straight through, really intense at times but also funny, and very well cast.
It's about a journalist writing a story on charitable giving but the wider meaning of giving is explored, too, with interesting and painful results.
|
|
1,503 posts
|
Post by foxa on May 15, 2016 19:12:44 GMT
I was there last night too. I am a fan of the theatre downstairs, especially due to the £5 previews,the sweet FOH staff and no matter where you sit you are going to be very close. (Though a bit sad that they got rid of the themed bar downstairs - does that reflect badly on me?) I loved 'Pine' which was their Christmas show and thought 'Firebird' was admirable too. I enjoyed 'Giving' and think it is an interesting subject and it did make me reflect on my own attitude towards charity and also about corporate sponsorship. It was very much a preview performance, some flubby lines and one poor actor falling over not once but twice during the arty scene changes. But what I LOVED was Sylvestra Le Touzel's performance - it's a great character and I don't think I've ever seen her better. The interview scenes between her and Sinead Matthews bristled with tension and were absolutely believable. I could imagine an enterprising tv producer building a series around that character. I was wishing the play itself was more daring and Dominic Rowan's role was disappointing and under-developed.
Simon Evans, who directed 'Bug' is doing the next show downstairs show, 'Alligators,' so that might be booking for as well (I have.)
|
|
3,575 posts
|
Post by showgirl on May 16, 2016 3:33:59 GMT
Agree about Sylvestra Le Touzel's character and acting - though I thought all the characters and cast good. I would not like to meet "Mary Green" in real life and this is a very different role to anything in which I've seen the actor before, and the best.
|
|
91 posts
|
Post by gazzaw13 on May 23, 2016 8:02:12 GMT
Ageed, I thought this was excellent with fine performances by two of my favourite actresses, Sinead and Sylvestra. Disappointing to see so many empty seats and I wonder if Hampstead's policy of not showing Downstairs productions to the critics works against them. This play needs some positive reviews and word of mouth. Go and see it, fringe theatre at its best.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 23, 2016 8:47:19 GMT
I like going to the Hampstead, but they don't seem to announce their seasons as far in advance as other theatres. I only have limited days on which I can go to the theatre, and there have been several times when they've announced a season and I've already booked plays for the entire period. I can usually squeeze in the Upstairs productions, but though I have had a good time at some of the Downstairs productions I've seen (and always appreciated the pricing even when I've loathed the productions), I just can't fit them in any more by the time they're announced. I feel they would benefit from a greater lead time. (Although tbh if they're still charging £5 for previews and £12 for the rest of the run, they can't be *that* fussed about the money that Downstairs brings in, or doesn't. And that's great, because it shows they really are about cultivating new plays.)
|
|
3,575 posts
|
Post by showgirl on May 23, 2016 11:56:41 GMT
Puzzling + disappointing to hear about empty seats as it was sold out the night I went, but that happened to be for a £5 preview as I'd already booked for Lawrence in the main house. Maybe people are willing to take a chance for £5 but not for £12, and I agree that the lack of reviews is a bizarre policy, but I find enough on blogs and there have been good reports since.
I do though wish that Hampstead would at least announce new productions for both houses at the same time, as this leapfrogging booking for the same venue is annoying and, as Baemax notes, can leave people unable to find a free slot.
|
|
2,389 posts
|
Post by peggs on May 28, 2016 20:27:43 GMT
Really enjoyed this today, some uncomfortably tense scenes (but in a good way), good acting, bit of a pause for thought and bits of scenery sliding through the walls, what's not to like?! Only booked last minute for this and was refreshing to just go and see something that sounded interesting but I hadn't had to book 5 months in advance and could no longer remember why I'd thought I wanted to go. Small intimate theatre is spoiling me though, don't want any of this sitting behind the curtain malarkey.
|
|
