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Post by apubleed on Mar 23, 2022 19:06:37 GMT
They are actually offering exchanges. Nice.
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Post by A.Ham on Mar 23, 2022 19:30:49 GMT
They are actually offering exchanges. Nice. Now I wonder if I should try and go next month?! Good to see they’re ‘doing the right thing’ even if technically they don’t have to. |
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Post by fiyerorocher on Mar 23, 2022 19:56:25 GMT
Wow, the poor understudy. Imagine going on part way through the first show and preventing a cancellation, and they're still offering people exchanges if you're on.
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Post by couldileaveyou on Mar 23, 2022 21:22:18 GMT
Wow, the poor understudy. Imagine going on part way through the first show and preventing a cancellation, and they're still offering people exchanges if you're on. And imagine how sad he must have been when he realized that he's getting paid a fraction of Taron's salary! |
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Post by apubleed on Mar 23, 2022 22:25:39 GMT
Wow, the poor understudy. Imagine going on part way through the first show and preventing a cancellation, and they're still offering people exchanges if you're on. And imagine how sad he must have been when he realized that he's getting paid a fraction of Taron's salary! I don’t think he’d be sad. They aren’t doing the same job - Taron is selling tickets based on his name AND performing a role. The understudy is just performing the role. |
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Post by sph on Mar 23, 2022 22:34:20 GMT
I think if you're understudying a "star name" you know that people aren't going to be overly enthused that you're on. It's a tough job but that's the gig.
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Post by dillan on Mar 23, 2022 22:42:03 GMT
"We’re just going round in circles", W says at a certain point, and for me it's a perfect description of the play. It's pleasant enough but I felt it didn't have much to say about anything. I don't necessarily agree that it's dated, since John is not really worried about labels and the only dated opinions come from the only "dated" character. I thought it took it a while to find its footing and it didn't really work until W shows up: the long opening scene between John and M was a bit clunky, partly because of the writing and party because I didn't see much chemistry between Jonathan Bailey and Taron Egerton. It's true that JB is not doing anything that we haven't seen him do before in Company or Crashing, but he does it so well. I was less enamoured with Egerton, I thought he lacked depth and couldn't stop thinking about what a wonder Andrew Scott must have been in the part. Jade Anouka and Phil Daniels both very good. I hated the "choreography" and thought the whole direction was a bit heavy-handed in the first part of the play, although I really liked John and W's sex scene. Personally I didn't think time flew by and I kinda felt the 105 minutes. I warmed up to it as it went along, but I was pretty bored at the beginning - although maybe I was just distracted by a patron's sh*tty conversation with an usher right before the show. On the whole, I enjoyed it but I'm glad I paid only 20£ for its (row J of the circle, an absolute bargain). Standing ovation at the end, but of those standing ovations that end as soon as the cast leaves the stage. *** I saw this last Wednesday and pretty much feel the exact same way as you - at times I really thought it was dated and I hated the fact that they didn't use labels such as 'bi' or 'queer' etc. I felt like John's character could only be gay or straight and that was it. I agree that the sex scene was hilarious and cleverly done. The acting, however, IMO was a 10/10 from all 4 leads and worth a visit just for that. |
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Post by couldileaveyou on Mar 23, 2022 23:03:42 GMT
And imagine how sad he must have been when he realized that he's getting paid a fraction of Taron's salary! I don’t think he’d be sad. They aren’t doing the same job - Taron is selling tickets based on his name AND performing a role. The understudy is just performing the role. Yeah, I was sarcastic |
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Post by couldileaveyou on Mar 23, 2022 23:06:04 GMT
"We’re just going round in circles", W says at a certain point, and for me it's a perfect description of the play. It's pleasant enough but I felt it didn't have much to say about anything. I don't necessarily agree that it's dated, since John is not really worried about labels and the only dated opinions come from the only "dated" character. I thought it took it a while to find its footing and it didn't really work until W shows up: the long opening scene between John and M was a bit clunky, partly because of the writing and party because I didn't see much chemistry between Jonathan Bailey and Taron Egerton. It's true that JB is not doing anything that we haven't seen him do before in Company or Crashing, but he does it so well. I was less enamoured with Egerton, I thought he lacked depth and couldn't stop thinking about what a wonder Andrew Scott must have been in the part. Jade Anouka and Phil Daniels both very good. I hated the "choreography" and thought the whole direction was a bit heavy-handed in the first part of the play, although I really liked John and W's sex scene. Personally I didn't think time flew by and I kinda felt the 105 minutes. I warmed up to it as it went along, but I was pretty bored at the beginning - although maybe I was just distracted by a patron's sh*tty conversation with an usher right before the show. On the whole, I enjoyed it but I'm glad I paid only 20£ for its (row J of the circle, an absolute bargain). Standing ovation at the end, but of those standing ovations that end as soon as the cast leaves the stage. *** I saw this last Wednesday and pretty much feel the exact same way as you - at times I really thought it was dated and I hated the fact that they didn't use labels such as 'bi' or 'queer' etc. I felt like John's character could only be gay or straight and that was it. I noticed that Mike Bartlett has revised the script to throw in the word 'pansexual', but I can't really say that added much! |
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Post by dlevi on Mar 24, 2022 12:56:29 GMT
I went last night and the news that Taron was out was kept pretty well hidden. There was a slip in the programme £5 which said At this performance the role of M will be played by Joel Harper- Jackson and there was a sign posted halfway down the stairs to the stalls saying the same thing - So one had to know that Taron's role was M. For the prices they are charging they should show a bit more class. Mr Harper-Jackson did a fine job but the fact is that I was there to see two hot male stars and I didn't. I was with a group of people and we discussed asking for a refund but frankly it took too long to coordinate the first time - it was going to be impossible to do it "on the fly" 10 minutes before curtain.
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Post by A.Ham on Mar 24, 2022 13:47:28 GMT
I’m still going this afternoon… train was booked, day off work sorted etc. Debated requesting an exchange but there’s nothing else playing this afternoon that I wanted to see - most of the shows with a Thurs matinee I’ve seen before and not ready to revisit again yet, so I’m off to Cock!
Even if I exchanged there’s no certainty I won’t come next time and find Jonathan is off or Taron again… as we’ve discussed to the ‘n’th degree in the Cabaret thread there’s no guarantees…
So I’ll report back later! If it’s that amazing I’ll book again when Taron’s back.
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Post by Jon on Mar 24, 2022 14:39:06 GMT
Does anyone know how long the ATG exchange request usually takes? I requested to exchange for April last night and I'm meant to be going tomorrow. TBH if they say it can't be done then I'll still go as the ticket wasn't expensive.
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Post by A.Ham on Mar 24, 2022 19:38:52 GMT
Does anyone know how long the ATG exchange request usually takes? I requested to exchange for April last night and I'm meant to be going tomorrow. TBH if they say it can't be done then I'll still go as the ticket wasn't expensive. They replied to my DM on Twitter and provided a phone number as well as the link to the online form. If you need to call them, it’s 03330096690. |
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Post by A.Ham on Mar 24, 2022 19:51:14 GMT
So as mentioned I saw the matinee this afternoon. It was good that they’d announced Taron’s absence yesterday as it meant I had time to get used to the idea of missing him, but I still wasn’t overly impressed with the play if I’m being honest.
I guess the crux of it was I never felt that I actually cared about the characters. Perhaps that’s partly due to there not being any scene setting - we only ever see John and M being unpleasant to one another, and I found the choreographed movement a bit strange. Perhaps I’m just uncultured but it didn’t seem to add a lot for me. And the story frustrated me a little in the way (as another member commented on here) it just goes round in circles. Does John want to be with his boyfriend or the woman? I’m just not sure I cared that much, and (again as others have said) the narrative felt dated in that John was expected to decide if he was gay or straight in very black and white terms. The ‘speech’ from M’s Dad touched on it not being necessary to define, and Jade’s character said the same, yet those comments seemed to fall on deaf ears.
I thought Joel did a good job - not sure how much the performance (or my opinion) would have differed had Taron been on. Jonathan was lovely to look at, and Jade was great. Phil Daniels has a good gig as he can’t have been on for more than 20 mins or so!
Thankfully the audience was incredibly well behaved by modern standards - I only saw the one person go out to the bathroom (not sure she ever returned) and there was only the one rustler in my row which was thankfully short lived!
And re. the comments about stage height - I was in row G and am 6ft - I could just see feet at the back of the stage, even a row further forward and I’ve have missed them - it’s very high! The seats aren’t hugely comfortable and I was definitely getting fidgety in the final half hour. Glad I went but I think ultimately it’ll do well due to the names over the door rather than the content of the production, sadly,
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Post by matty on Mar 26, 2022 22:40:20 GMT
I saw this tonight and it wasn't a bad evening at the theatre, but I wasn't blown away. The cast was all fantastic,but the story itself didn't really do much more. Like others have said, it was 105 minutes of the same discussion over and over again. Still, I only paid £20 for the ticket, so can't complain.
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Post by theoracle on Mar 26, 2022 22:47:15 GMT
Personally I really like Joel Harper-Jackson but still can’t fathom some of the prices for this. Jonathan Bailey I really like too and I LOVE Marianne Elliott but I find Mike Bartlett’s writing so on the nose, it’s made me really hesitant to book, especially after reading the reviews. I would definitely still like to see this at some point in the run - would anyone recommend the lower priced seats in the circle or at the back of the stalls?
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Post by matty on Mar 26, 2022 23:04:39 GMT
would anyone recommend the lower priced seats in the circle or at the back of the stalls? I was in Row J of the Circle and would recommend it. I had a great view, it was just the legroom that was pretty non-existent. |
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Post by A.Ham on Mar 27, 2022 8:22:33 GMT
I was surprised how tiny the theatre it is (I believe it only seats about 400) so even if you’re in the seats at the back you’re still pretty close.
There does seem to be quite an overhang at the back of the stalls though, but as nothing happens above ‘ground level’ on the stage you won’t miss anything.
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Post by orchidman on Mar 27, 2022 13:03:43 GMT
I have no idea how this mediocre play has made it to the West End now when it didn't originally.
We are given no reason to care about the characters, particularly the main character. He is highly irritating and played in an irritating performance by Bailey.
The play is naturalistic enough that it needed to be more believable, while there is no clear justification for the expressionistic touches.
Some amusing moments but stops short of genuine wit.
It is testament to the power of hype, star casting and directorial gimmickry that the audience lapped it up. People are almost being generous when they call the play dated, I don't see how it would have been any good a decade ago.
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Post by A.Ham on Mar 27, 2022 19:49:29 GMT
Totally agree. The crux of my not particularly enjoying it was because I just didn’t care about any of the characters. None of them really gave me any reason to like them.
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Post by apubleed on Mar 28, 2022 17:58:53 GMT
Any idea when this week Taron will be back?
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Post by Stephen on Mar 28, 2022 23:32:37 GMT
I'm going on Wednesday and though not overly fussed about seeing Taron I did think that he'd be back by now.
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Mar 29, 2022 8:50:30 GMT
To be fair to him, it took me 14 days to test negative on a LTF so he might still be out.
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Post by mjh on Mar 29, 2022 14:27:42 GMT
Taron's still off tonight.
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Post by apubleed on Mar 29, 2022 18:00:03 GMT
Apparently they are no longer doing exchanges.
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