642 posts
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Post by AddisonMizner on Apr 15, 2023 22:12:42 GMT
The matinee of this was stunning today! Incredible performances across the board - I think I actually forgot I was watching actors at points, I was so engrossed in the world that was created. The four hour running time absolutely flew by, and despite not being an easy watch, I could have sat through the whole thing again this evening had I not had a train to catch. James Norton is a tour-de-force, will probably win the Olivier next year, and deservedly so. What he is doing is so brave, emotionally raw and physical, I am not sure how he is doing it night after night, let alone on two-show days.
The direction is excellent, and there are moments from the staging that will stay with me for a long time, such as the use of lighting, although I do think some of the mise-en-scene is a little too busy at points, particularly in the first act.
The adaptation is very good and faithful to the book, even though moments are jumbled around and seen out of order. The play has to cover a lot of ground over its relatively short running time however, and therefore a lot of the detail and nuance is missed - the lives of the other characters surrounding Jude, their work, their relationships etc. Sex for example becomes such a focus in the second act of the play, but within the novel there is so much more to it than that. It is totally understandable though why dramatically it is the way that it is. I do wonder if a longer format, such as a TV miniseries, or even two-part play a la HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD would do more justice to the source material.
I surprisingly didn't really get emotional watching this, save for a few moments where I could feel my eyes welling up. The way everything is done is indeed very graphic - the most graphic and realistic depictions of anything like this I ever thought possible in a theatre. Not that the self-harm etc really bothered me etc. I think it is so much (and more so on stage) that I became numb watching it. It was clearly a lot for some people though, including the lady sat next to me who seemingly left at the interval.
With all of that being said, it is the best thing I have seen so far this year, and probably the hottest ticket in town.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2023 13:18:04 GMT
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Post by karloscar on Apr 16, 2023 21:18:27 GMT
With a TV series they have the obvious problems of how to depict the decades of abuse with young actors. You can't rely on a theatrical device on screen, and the story falls to bits if attempts are made to sanitize it too much.
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184 posts
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Post by dillan on Apr 19, 2023 10:12:35 GMT
They've not sent a link for the 12pm release have they?
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87 posts
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Post by justinj on Apr 19, 2023 10:21:48 GMT
They've not sent a link for the 12pm release have they? I haven't received anything yet. |
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Post by yokollama on Apr 19, 2023 11:04:06 GMT
I've still not received it either...
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184 posts
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Post by dillan on Apr 19, 2023 11:06:36 GMT
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87 posts
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Post by justinj on Apr 19, 2023 11:06:36 GMT
No link, you can just go ahead and book.
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7,198 posts
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Post by Jon on Apr 19, 2023 11:14:29 GMT
There is a lot more stage seats this time but I guess they have more space at the Savoy compared to Richmond and the Pinter.
There is also going to be a pop up bar beneath the stage.
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Post by craig on Apr 19, 2023 11:16:24 GMT
Just booked stage seats in row A for late July. Lord help us!
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Post by yokollama on Apr 19, 2023 11:25:28 GMT
Very stoked to have have snagged tickets for closing night - the tickets were all being snapped up as I tried to reserve it in my basket. Now to exchange my booking for Dear England.
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80 posts
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Post by theatrekiwi on Apr 19, 2023 12:14:37 GMT
How is the stage seating positioned? Is it directly at the back of the stage (as the seat plan suggests) or toward the side?
For some reason I imagined them as a block on each side of the stage.
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Post by craig on Apr 19, 2023 12:20:48 GMT
How is the stage seating positioned? Is it directly at the back of the stage (as the seat plan suggests) or toward the side? For some reason I imagined them as a block on each side of the stage. That's what I had imagined, but definitely looks like a block at the back. |
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7,198 posts
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Post by Jon on Apr 19, 2023 12:23:09 GMT
The way the set is laid out, a block at the back was the only feasible option.
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Post by yokollama on Apr 19, 2023 12:30:05 GMT
How is the stage seating positioned? Is it directly at the back of the stage (as the seat plan suggests) or toward the side? For some reason I imagined them as a block on each side of the stage. That's what I had imagined, but definitely looks like a block at the back. Having side blocks flanking the stage would be quite restrictive as they have screens set up and props coming in from the side of the stage. It also detracts somewhat from the theory that the on stage audience acts as bystanders, looking on as the abuse plays out in front of them. |
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Post by jamb0r on Apr 19, 2023 13:49:12 GMT
There's an FAQ for the onstage seating on the play's website, including an image of how it is laid out (though the image doesn't include the additional few rows they've added for the Savoy, but gives you an idea). My £25 on stage seat in Richmond is now £45 at the Savoy! |
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Post by shady23 on Apr 19, 2023 13:56:09 GMT
FOMO has meant I have booked an onstage seat. This forum is a bad influence on my bank balance  |
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5,204 posts
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Post by Being Alive on Apr 19, 2023 14:41:09 GMT
This was, as expected, utterly relentless, brutal and devastating - but I still don't know if I could tell you if I thought it was any good or not.
James Norton is fantastic, and whilst I don't know what he needs to do in order to get through it, I hope he's got a good therapist or someone to talk to because it's just enormous what he's doing.
In terms of audience, a lot left at the interval. A woman in front of me left during act 2 and we heard her throwing up in the bathroom (and I didn't get the vibe that it was because she ate something bad) and the people she was with quickly followed her into the bathroom. There was a point in Act 2 where three people (sat apart and not part of the same group) all got up and left at the same time - seemed to be a moment that just people gave up.
I understand why it's been done (because you couldn't do this as a film or a TV show and show what's been shown on stage - too much of it would have to be implied - but I did find myself at the end just trying to get the point of the piece.
It's probably four stars? One thing is for sure, I was standing and it absolutely flew by (I didn't have a watch on but I very much didn't think I'd been stood for nearly four hours.)
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692 posts
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Post by mrnutz on Apr 19, 2023 16:09:51 GMT
I'm seeing this on Sunday from the front row of the on-stage seats and I don't think I'm looking forward to it. 😂
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Post by A.Ham on Apr 19, 2023 16:17:07 GMT
I'm seeing this on Sunday from the front row of the on-stage seats and I don't think I'm looking forward to it. 😂 Let us know what it’s like - I’m in A on stage next weekend! |
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4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on Apr 19, 2023 18:00:51 GMT
One £72 seat left for the 19th July but apart from that there's nothing left for under £100 for the Savoy run now.
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Post by digne on Apr 19, 2023 18:18:12 GMT
I saw it last week from the stage seats - definitely a heavy four hours, but I'm very glad I went. I didn't actually see a lot of people leave, and the theatre looked pretty much as full for the second act as it did for the first. Although the woman sitting next to me had to leave for a few minutes two times during the second act.
So all the warnings for the stage seats in the info email really aren't true - if you have to leave at any point, an usher goes out with you and apparently lets you come back in.
The email also said to be at the box office 60-90 minutes before the show, and that if you arrive later than 30 minutes before the show you won't be able to get to your seats. Actually, when I collected my ticket the box office told me that we'd meet in the foyer 15 minutes before the show to be led backstage. So there really was no need to come as early as we were told. You also only get a 10 minute interval because they've got to let you back backstage again. They check a list of names off for the second act just as they do for the first act, so that's always quite the procedure.
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Post by A.Ham on Apr 19, 2023 19:32:00 GMT
Thank you digne, that’s all great to know, especially about the arrival time. Thanks for sharing.
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Post by max on Apr 19, 2023 20:23:11 GMT
An email I got said there is an under-stage bar they're calling 'The Greene Room' at the Savoy, for that section of the audience (including washroom facilities).
I've booked On Stage for Week 2 of the Savoy.
Any views so far on what the experience is watching it from the stage? i.e. how good the view, or feeling like watching the back of the action.
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Post by max on Apr 19, 2023 20:30:29 GMT
I loved the experience of the on stage seats, such a great view looking out into the auditorium and seeing what the actors see. You really feel part of the cast and the production is set up well so you never feel as though you're watching from behind. Getting to walk backstage was also fun. I've now scrolled further up and see that solotheatregoer answered my question about how the view of the stage action is from 'on stage' seats. Sounds good. Any other opinions? |
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