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Post by foxa on Oct 6, 2016 8:17:09 GMT
I don't know a lot about this, but got interested partly because it's by the South African group who did The Magic Flute and the ROH is also involved with this production: www.youngvic.org/whats-on/a-man-of-good-hopeI find myself with a spare £10 ticket for this Saturday 7.30 - message me if you'd like it. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2016 8:21:33 GMT
The Isango Ensemble are terrific, I'll book for anything they do. It's so nice to see them at a theatre I actually like as well!
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Post by foxa on Oct 9, 2016 13:26:20 GMT
Show report
Running time: 2 and a half hours, no interval.
Dogs: Not a one.
Programmes: Yes, £3, plus they were selling the books that the play is based on after the show and (I think) possibly CDs as well (that's what it looked like the usher was holding.)
Special effects/scary stuff: Some guns, some realistic looking but most not.
Take-away message: A refugee's journey requires resilience, hope and luck.
Seating: We bought £10 tickets before they had the seating plan but ended up front row centre so very happy with that (and with ample leg room so theatremonkey would approve.)
Audience reaction: Warm, small section of audience gave it standing ovation.
This was one of those shows that beforehand I was beginning to wonder why I'd booked for it, but once we were there (I dragged my daughter to this) we were very happy to have seen it. It's a big cast, big-hearted show and when they sing the sound just envelopes you. It was more operatic than I had expected and which I liked. The main character is played by four different actors and the little boy who plays him in the first quarter of the play is one of the best child actors I've ever seen on stage. There is a scene when he is learning and teaching English which is a real stand-out. For me, the show dipped in the second half, possibly because the focus switched from the boy's survival to the more complicated and contradictory demands of adulthood.
I would recommend this - a solid 4 stars, with some 5 star moments.
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Post by tmesis on Oct 9, 2016 20:44:55 GMT
NB there is an interval!
Also saw it Saturday night and agree with foxa's excellent review. I also agree that the young boy's scenes are on balance the best bits but all round, a fantastically talented cast.
A few other points...
The production fits the Young Vic space really well
The opening instrumental on just marimbas is fabulously atmospheric
The whole cast have big voices that really project - I'm fairly sure it wasn't miked
The ending is a bit formless and abrupt but I thoroughly enjoyed it and you leave with a warm glow and a great feeling of, well, affection for the cast.
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Post by foxa on Oct 9, 2016 21:17:47 GMT
Sorry you're right I meant WITH ONE interval but can't edit it!
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Post by jek on Oct 11, 2016 7:50:17 GMT
Thank you for the reports on this. My younger son is off to see it with his sixth form college next week and it is always nice to be able to say to him 'it's meant to be really good' as he reluctantly shuffles out of the door!
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Post by foxa on Oct 11, 2016 7:53:37 GMT
I honestly think he will like it (and well done to his teachers for choosing to bring a group to see it - there will be so much for them to discuss,) I was there with my daughter who is only a few years older than your son and she loved it.
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Post by mikey on Oct 26, 2016 22:58:44 GMT
Really enjoyed this tonight - really want to read the book its inspired from now. An amazing cast!
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Post by showgirl on Oct 29, 2016 22:26:56 GMT
Didn't enjoy this as much as I'd hoped, so left at the interval, though given that I'd only bought a £10 ticket - which turned out to be for an excellent seat - I'd probably had more than my money's worth by then. I liked the operatic parts but for me it wasn't musical enough: there was too much percussion where I'd have preferred a wider range of instruments. As for that opening instrumental which tmesis loved, it got to the point where I felt if it went on much longer, I'd get up and leave there and then!
I can't fault the energy and commitment of the performers and I know the show is based on a true story, but it was so episodic that that aspect also contributed to my disappointment, in that there was no opportunity to get to know any of the characters better and to put some meat on the bones of their interactions as you would in a play. Still, if nothing else I satisfied my curiosity and tried something different.
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