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Post by mattnyc on Nov 9, 2021 20:11:16 GMT
I quite enjoyed this last month. I’m a huge fan of horror/suspense and (at least here in America) nobody ever really attempts to try and stage anything in those categories. I think it’s the hardest genre to pull off on stage since you’re so limited as to HOW you can scare people. On film you have jump cuts, closeups, trick editing etc but on stage it’s all out there.
I’m impressed with the poster who said he saw what was coming at the end because even I had no idea that was what was going to happen. But I thought it was a very smart show and knowing what I know now, Id love to go back and see this new cast and watch it again.
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Post by happytobehere on Dec 6, 2021 14:11:02 GMT
Has anyone here seen this with the new cast yet?
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Post by jamb0r on Dec 8, 2021 12:05:31 GMT
£20 day seats available from DMT online just announced. Just checked and there's lots of availability front stalls and dress circle for tonight, mostly in groups of 2 (not allowing a single purchase) but a couple of groups of 3. Been wanting to see this for a while but been put off by the last of rush/day seats or discounts, so I'm glad they're finally offering something!
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Post by edi on Dec 9, 2021 19:32:45 GMT
My partner says he guessed what was going on almost straight away, he picked up all the clues, but still enjoyed it regardless.
I was on the wrong track, expected something what BurlyBeaR predicted a few posts back (in spoilers). I think the play is geared towards misdirecting the audience towards expecting that outcome.
Anyway, we both enjoyed it, but I also saw all the faults others mentioned. I think the "Allen" character is directed to shout and be incoherent at times, maybe to portray her distress. I wished it was played a bit more subtle sometimes. This version was also "saved" by the "Jake" character, who has most of the funniest moments. Anyway I liked it, even the screaming and lighting that signaled the end of each episode didn't bother me, it was clearly not part of the story, just a devise to signal a short break. I did not enjoy the bright red light straight into my eye - sitting in the front row.
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Post by jaqs on Dec 16, 2021 23:29:20 GMT
I really enjoyed this. Thought it was good fun, screams, domestics and wasted wine. It quite cheered me up, in that it did engage me and took me out of my head for the evening.
I didn’t guess until near the end. I kind of liked that it wasn’t trying to be too clever.
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Post by Mark on Dec 23, 2021 22:08:22 GMT
Saw for the second time this evening. Really liked the new cast and very good to see it with knowing what happens.
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Post by luvvie23 on Dec 24, 2021 8:05:26 GMT
That is harder. Lennie Henry out my original list. Quite a few comics have transitioned to actors - often musical - Josie Lawrence. I shall have to put my thinking cap on. A friend of mine, Sally Bankes, was a bank manager until her 40s and then turned to acting. Worked with Victoria Wood on Housewife 49 and, on stage, Acorn Antiques and was in The Watsons at the Menier and west end transfer until the pandemic hit. Lenny Henry, yes. Still a primarily performing in acting capacity. Josie Lawrence started her career acting, including at RSC. Sally Bankes was fab in The Watsons.
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Post by luvvie23 on Dec 24, 2021 8:08:44 GMT
That is harder. Lennie Henry out my original list. Quite a few comics have transitioned to actors - often musical - Josie Lawrence. I shall have to put my thinking cap on. A friend of mine, Sally Bankes, was a bank manager until her 40s and then turned to acting. Worked with Victoria Wood on Housewife 49 and, on stage, Acorn Antiques and was in The Watsons at the Menier and west end transfer until the pandemic hit. Lenny Henry, yes. Still a primarily performing in acting capacity. Josie Lawrence started her career acting, including at RSC. Sally Bankes was fab in The Watsons.
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Post by luvvie23 on Dec 24, 2021 8:09:51 GMT
That is harder. Lennie Henry out my original list. Quite a few comics have transitioned to actors - often musical - Josie Lawrence. I shall have to put my thinking cap on. A friend of mine, Sally Bankes, was a bank manager until her 40s and then turned to acting. Worked with Victoria Wood on Housewife 49 and, on stage, Acorn Antiques and was in The Watsons at the Menier and west end transfer until the pandemic hit. Lenny Henry, yes. Still a primarily performing in acting capacity. Josie Lawrence started her career acting, including at RSC. Sally Bankes was fab in The Watsons. Sally Bankes is a fantastic actress!
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Post by luvvie23 on Dec 26, 2021 9:45:24 GMT
Giovanna IS a trained actor. She went to Sylvia Young. And I don't think Lily Allen (who previously did the role) is a trained actor either. I don't understand the hate the Fletchers get on this board. Seems like jealousy to me. Excuse my ignorance, I didn't realise she was trained as such, I should have done more research. And I probably would have done if she wasn't such a crushing bore. Turns out she went to Rose Bruford which carries a bit more weight than Sylvia Young but I'm still not impressed. I know it's down to producers wanting names but it's a bit of a kick in the teeth to those who have honed their craft by working harder than her by performing constantly. I think the animosity (I think hate is too strong a word) towards the Fletchers comes from their prominence within the industry despite their sheer blandness. And it's certain not jealously on my part, I definitely wouldn't want to be responsible for some of the popular fiction they've put out into the world or have such a wide social media profile without a hint of self-awareness. I have to agree with you on this subject of Fletcher taking a role from an actress with an extensive CV. Especially at a time like this when well known actresses can’t get a job. Also very very surprised at the director Matthew Dunster, who is known to be seriously heavyweight in the industry. Seems like he just wants a cash cow. Very strange move indeed.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 5, 2022 17:55:42 GMT
Giovanna Fletcher is temporarily out of the show due to injury. Rhiannon Handy covering.
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Post by zahidf on Jan 6, 2022 9:05:41 GMT
Wasnt very scary but a fun play overall! guessed the ending by the halfway point
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Post by jamb0r on Jan 23, 2022 15:16:50 GMT
Caught this the other night. Managed to get a premium seat in the dress circle for £20 by booking a day seat direct with DMT. I only really went because I adore Stephanie, and I also decided to go last week because I saw the Giovanna was currently off due to an injury and I was hoping to see her understudy (alas, the night I went was Giovanna's first night back, complete with moon boot). Thought this was entirely mediocre and a story we've seen done much better so many times before. Stephanie was wonderful and I'm glad I went just to see her live. James was good, Elliot was fine, Giovanna matched my very, very low expectations. The jump scares between scenes made me roll my eyes - they were so cheap and unimaginative. Glad I went, but glad I didn't pay the full prices they're charging. Spotted the ending within the first 20 minutes or so {Spoiler - click to view} Instantly guessed it when the Alexa didn't respond for the first time. This felt like such an obvious giveaway to me I don't know how anyone could miss it! Then when the ending did come it just sort of fizzled out.
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Post by Dave B on Jan 24, 2022 11:57:04 GMT
£20 by booking a day seat direct with DMT. Was this online or had you popped by? My better half isn't interested but for that price, I'd take a solo visit. Thanks!
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Jan 24, 2022 11:59:03 GMT
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Post by Dave B on Jan 24, 2022 11:59:59 GMT
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Post by andrew on Jan 26, 2022 0:40:36 GMT
Caught this the other night. Managed to get a premium seat in the dress circle for £20 by booking a day seat direct with DMT. I only really went because I adore Stephanie, and I also decided to go last week because I saw the Giovanna was currently off due to an injury and I was hoping to see her understudy (alas, the night I went was Giovanna's first night back, complete with moon boot). Thought this was entirely mediocre and a story we've seen done much better so many times before. Stephanie was wonderful and I'm glad I went just to see her live. James was good, Elliot was fine, Giovanna matched my very, very low expectations. The jump scares between scenes made me roll my eyes - they were so cheap and unimaginative. Glad I went, but glad I didn't pay the full prices they're charging. Spotted the ending within the first 20 minutes or so {Spoiler - click to view} Instantly guessed it when the Alexa didn't respond for the first time. This felt like such an obvious giveaway to me I don't know how anyone could miss it! Then when the ending did come it just sort of fizzled out.
These were my feelings entirely. I honestly couldn't have been more underwhelmed if they'd tried. Every time someone mentions the show my blood pressure goes up. I'm flabbergasted by all positive reviews. It's been a difficult few months.
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Post by asfound on Jan 26, 2022 19:06:44 GMT
I thought the first iteration of this was awful and exemplified all that is wrong with trying to do horror on the stage. Got dragged to the second and it was even worse somehow.
I felt like I was going mad when it got a standing ovation.
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Post by scarpia on Jan 26, 2022 20:42:32 GMT
This is worrying me slightly, going next week and on the basis of the strong reviews booked myself for the stalls! :/
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Post by properjob on Jan 26, 2022 21:22:35 GMT
Well I liked it when I saw it last week. Giovanna was wearing a foot brace but actually that works fine as she is playing a stressed new mother who isn't getting enough help from the baby's husbund who has been away so it just seems like one more thing she is dealing with. I guessed the thing early in the second half and was quite pleased with myself. Although that may have been influenced by this thread telling me there was something to work out. It was then enjoyable watching the rest of the play seeing if I was right. {Spoiler - click to view} Seeing how they applied the rules that applied in world of the play about not touching any props The jump scare scene transition effects annoyed me at the time but in retrospect I think they were artistically justified. {Spoiler - click to view} I think it was part of the deception suggesting this was a jump scare type show and a scary ghost will appear when in fact it was can you spot the twist type show.
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Post by happytobehere on Jan 26, 2022 23:38:32 GMT
I really enjoyed it. I got spooked.
I don’t watch many things like this so I didn’t guess what was happening. I do think reading this thread will potentially damage your experience though because now you’re going to be approaching the show eager to try and ‘work it out’ rather than just enjoy it.
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Post by edi on Jan 27, 2022 21:10:23 GMT
Spotted the ending within the first 20 minutes or so {Spoiler - click to view} Instantly guessed it when the Alexa didn't respond for the first time. This felt like such an obvious giveaway to me I don't know how anyone could miss it! Then when the ending did come it just sort of fizzled out.
I didn't spot the ending because {Spoiler - click to view} I expected the ghost story to be a red herring concealing a crime story, so my concentration was elsewhere
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Post by westendboy on Feb 2, 2022 15:11:39 GMT
Saw this last night and I had a good time. Both James and Stephanie were the strongest in my opinion. Giovanna and Elliot were fine, but I felt they're performances were less naturalistic than the other two. James particularly surprised me with how good he was! I kind of wish I saw this with Lily Allen, so I could compare that cast with this one.
After a while, the jump scare scene transitions did get a bit old, but I got used to them.
I honestly didn't clock the twist, instead I assumed it would be something else.
But overall, a fun night at the Gielgud. It's not as clever as 'The Woman in Black' or 'Ghost Stories', but it did have it's chilling moments.
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Post by scarpia on Feb 3, 2022 11:13:52 GMT
I went last night and treated myself to front of the stalls with SOLT's New Year Sale. I really enjoyed it and shouldn't have worried. I liked the performances and found myself glued much of the time Elliot Cowan (who I haven't seen on stage since Streetcar at the Donmar), who was fascinating to watch.
All horrors have some clichés and this is no exception, but I liked the twist/gloss it gave on those and particularly liked the (admittedly not very subtle) social commentary beneath some of it.
The audience seemed to love it and were very engaged. It was quite a young audience too full of millennials and Gen-Z-ers and all of them seem to be delighted with having something 'real' in front of them rather than a digital screen. Lots of gasps/laughs etc.
I preferred this to Ghost Stories and would recommend.
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Post by andrew on Feb 6, 2022 16:14:49 GMT
but I liked the twist/gloss it gave on those and particularly liked the (admittedly not very subtle) social commentary beneath some of it. Very genuinely how much social commentary do you think there was? What commentary was it? I just found so little in this, there was the faintest murmuring about gentrification and the vandalism of the traditional to suit contemporary tastes, but it was fleeting and more just a brief conversation than any actual commentary running through the piece. The denouement seemed to have nothing to do with it at all. Did I miss a large chunk of the point?
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Post by scarpia on Feb 6, 2022 19:38:47 GMT
but I liked the twist/gloss it gave on those and particularly liked the (admittedly not very subtle) social commentary beneath some of it. Very genuinely how much social commentary do you think there was? What commentary was it? I just found so little in this, there was the faintest murmuring about gentrification and the vandalism of the traditional to suit contemporary tastes, but it was fleeting and more just a brief conversation than any actual commentary running through the piece. The denouement seemed to have nothing to do with it at all. Did I miss a large chunk of the point? I don't think there was much, but I don't think what you identified was fleeting. What you describe as the point about "gentrification and the vandalism of the traditional" I saw as a bit more profound than that. It was about the arrogance of dismissing ways of living and people's entire lives that have been built on, and into, the domestic space - with upper middle-class people going around criticising how people have lived for the last half century, sometimes in front of them, before buying them out and then destroying any trace of those lives in that space rather than respecting the social history that's intertwined with the space. I thought it was an interesting point and threaded well into the whole text rather than in occasional moments.
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Post by fiyero on Feb 7, 2022 15:55:53 GMT
I loved this yesterday. Glad I went for a front stalls ticket as it meant I felt much more part of it. I won't say too much as I'm bound to include accidental spoilers but the cast were all great, as was the play. When it played its original season I assumed it was a gimmick but it isn't I hope this can tour with a suitable cast.
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Post by Dave B on Feb 9, 2022 23:01:56 GMT
Caught the matinee today (thanks again to thistimetomorrow for posting the day seat link a little while ago). Nice seat in row 4 in the stalls for £20 which actually turned out to be £10 because of DMT now easily accepting TheatreTokens online now. Stephanie Beatriz was fab and I'm quite happy just to have seen her (be still my beating heart). Thought James Buckley was pretty good, especially as the role developed and both Elliot Cowan and Giovanna Fletcher were fine. All appeared to be engaged and having fun and so
{Spoiler - click to view}Spotted the twist a bit in advance, kicking myself for missing the Alexa bit but it was the whiskey cup that twigged it for me. All in all, not such a great play but I'm glad I saw it.
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Post by Rory on Feb 14, 2022 17:18:20 GMT
Plans are obviously afoot.
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Post by Dave B on Feb 14, 2022 17:37:08 GMT
Well surely an announcement on Tuesday next week then if they have any sense; 2/2/22!
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