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Post by Jan on Mar 20, 2018 7:07:06 GMT
Just starting a thread early (opens 28th) to alert anyone interested in this. Restoration comedies are quite rare on the fringe - there's a reason for that but anyway let's see.
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Post by altamont on Mar 20, 2018 9:41:16 GMT
Oddly enough The Country Wife is on in Chichester in the summer as well - different production though
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Post by jasper on Mar 31, 2018 19:01:20 GMT
Stap my vitals! Two productions of this play at different addresses. Saw this this afternoon. It was set in the 1920s, but I felt there was insufficient use made of the period. The scene changes had 20s dancing, but modern pop music, eg Lady Gaga. They were far too frequent and tended to slow the action down. One scene lasted only a little longer than the scene change. Not sure the shift to the 20s added anything. Some updating of language ,but most not updated. I think restoration comedy is so precise in its language it needs to be sharp and is very difficult to pull off completely. Used lighting to show aside to audience. I think some of the remarks about the double standards were rushed and got missed in playing up the comic element. Of course it is still in preview so things may change.
The play was considered too rude to perform for years until revived at the Old Vic. Someone complained to Lilian Baylis it was too filthy, she replied it was filth, but good filth. Now it seems a bit like Carry on where most lines can be read in two ways, although as Ronnie Barker once said the thing about double ententes is they can only be read one way. This production seemed largely to ignore that aspect and treated it as a comedy shading into farce with the china sequence. I liked Mr and Mrs Pinchwife.
All in all cheaper than a trip to Chichester if you like a bit of Restoration comedy and a good stab at it.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2018 19:49:08 GMT
I'd like to take a moment to thank the director of this play for requiring that Eddie Eyre spend the majority of this play in either his underpants, shirtless or wearing quite possibly the tightest white outfit I've had the great pleasure of seeing for some time. Seriously, there were moments I think I could hear the buttons straining. He sure has some guns that I'd support the second amendment for. So, thank you Luke Fredericks. You're on my Christmas card list.  |
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Post by profquatermass on Apr 1, 2018 21:03:19 GMT
I remember seeing this a few years ago at the Haymarket where its opening scene was perhaps the most memorable I've ever seen. Plus, it was the only time I've ever seen a rabbit on a WE stage. And about 30 years ago I saw Gary Oldman in it - I think it was probably his last stage appearance.
Still couldn't tell you anything about the play though
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Post by Polly1 on Apr 1, 2018 22:28:24 GMT
I remember seeing this a few years ago at the Haymarket where its opening scene was perhaps the most memorable I've ever seen. Plus, it was the only time I've ever seen a rabbit on a WE stage. And about 30 years ago I saw Gary Oldman in it - I think it was probably his last stage appearance. Still couldn't tell you anything about the play though Was the Haymarket the one with David Haig? I remember the rabbit but nothing at all about the opening scene, please do remind me (spoiler if necessary). |
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Post by profquatermass on Apr 2, 2018 19:50:09 GMT
The curtain opened on a completely starkers Toby Stephens who stood there for what seemed like several minutes before winking at the audience
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Post by TallPaul on Apr 3, 2018 9:51:11 GMT
The curtain opened on a completely starkers Toby Stephens who stood there for what seemed like several minutes before winking at the audience Calling @caiaphas. Come in, over. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2018 12:51:43 GMT
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Post by noboiscout on Apr 4, 2018 12:43:09 GMT
Production photos up posted on WOS. Such gratuitous and unnecessary exposure of male flesh...I shall be in the front row to make my protests known, face to face.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2018 13:54:24 GMT
Production photos up posted on WOS. Such gratuitous and unnecessary exposure of male flesh...I shall be in the front row to make my protests known, face to face. Seriously, Eddie Eyre spends most of the evening looking Just. Like. That. It's a chest of such utter magnificence that it should be displayed in the Palace of Versailles. |
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Post by noboiscout on Apr 16, 2018 14:22:31 GMT
I have a ticket to see this tonight, but it's Monday, I'm tired, and is Eddie Eyre's chest alone, worth the trip? There must be more to life that giant pecs and a chin you can slice parma ham on???
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Post by Jan on Apr 17, 2018 6:00:12 GMT
I have a ticket to see this tonight, but it's Monday, I'm tired, and is Eddie Eyre's chest alone, worth the trip? There must be more to life that giant pecs and a chin you can slice parma ham on??? Did you go ? I was there. Restoration comedy is a such a difficult and unforgiving genre to do these days and it is very rarely successful - despite all the ideas and effort here it doesn't really work, the only way it can is to have absolutely top-rank comedy actors and performers in it - Simon Russell-Beale etc. |
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Post by noboiscout on Apr 17, 2018 7:10:06 GMT
I have a ticket to see this tonight, but it's Monday, I'm tired, and is Eddie Eyre's chest alone, worth the trip? There must be more to life that giant pecs and a chin you can slice parma ham on??? Did you go ? I was there. Restoration comedy is a such a difficult and unforgiving genre to do these days and it is very rarely successful - despite all the ideas and effort here it doesn't really work, the only way it can is to have absolutely top-rank comedy actors and performers in it - Simon Russell-Beale etc. I bailed I'm afraid. I agree with all you say, and feared it wouldn't be worth seeing if the comedy element was lacking, or poorly done. |
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Post by Jan on Apr 17, 2018 8:23:28 GMT
Did you go ? I was there. Restoration comedy is a such a difficult and unforgiving genre to do these days and it is very rarely successful - despite all the ideas and effort here it doesn't really work, the only way it can is to have absolutely top-rank comedy actors and performers in it - Simon Russell-Beale etc. I bailed I'm afraid. I agree with all you say, and feared it wouldn't be worth seeing if the comedy element was lacking, or poorly done. It was only about 50% full so your absence wasn't noticed. In many ways this was well done but ultimately if it's not funny it has failed - you just need comedy specialists in it - for example I saw Dora Bryan in one once and she was brilliant and lifted the whole thing. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2018 9:34:05 GMT
While I enjoyed it, I think its biggest problem is that everyone seems to be working extremely hard which isn't what you really want from a comedy. Not that I minded being distracted by Eddie Eyre's wonderful pectoral work which was a delight but I thought the comedy from the whole cast just needed to have been a bit more 'punchy'. Granted though, I did see it fairly early on in the run so it might be worth going back once they're all into the swing of the thing and feeling a little more comfortable.
There was some lovely charleston work going on though I recall which was nice.
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Post by Jan on Apr 17, 2018 9:45:06 GMT
While I enjoyed it, I think it's biggest problem is that everyone seems to be working extremely hard which isn't what you really want from a comedy. Yes you are right about that. Plus I think they needed to engage a bit more directly with the audience - the asides were just directed into thin air - if you look at great actors playing classical comedy - Jacobi for example - there's always the knowing glance at the audience to draw them in. |
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Post by Dr Tom on Apr 19, 2018 7:27:21 GMT
I saw this on Tuesday at the matinee (partly because of their not being many choices available for a Tuesday matinee). Glad I went.
Good cast, good view from the front row (although I believe other commentators have oversold just how long Eddie Eyre's has his shirt off for) and easy enough to follow. There are some very witty lines too.
The plot does feel full of cliches, but I presume they weren't cliches when this was written.
The main part that jarred for me? The modern music playing very loudly between frequent scene changes and the bizarre dancing going on at the same time.
I think the audience mostly enjoyed it. Being a matinee audience, almost everyone looked like they were of (or past) retirement age. One poor woman close to me kept falling asleep during the first half, most unfortunate as she was on the front row. She was better in the second half, so I presume a strong cup of tea during the interval did the trick.
There was also someone behind me who, as best I could tell from the noise, was listening to the radio through headphones rather than concentrating on the play. You could hear the occasional blast of songs from someone with the sound up a bit too high. Annoying, but the audience was mostly well behaved and I managed to drown the sound out.
There are some good ticket offers out there if you like this sort of thing.
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Post by jasper on Apr 19, 2018 8:35:17 GMT
I saw this on Tuesday at the matinee (partly because of their not being many choices available for a Tuesday matinee). Glad I went. Good cast, good view from the front row (although I believe other commentators have oversold just how long Eddie Eyre's has his shirt off for) and easy enough to follow. There are some very witty lines too. The plot does feel full of cliches, but I presume they weren't cliches when this was written. The main part that jarred for me? The modern music playing very loudly between frequent scene changes and the bizarre dancing going on at the same time. I think the audience mostly enjoyed it. Being a matinee audience, almost everyone looked like they were of (or past) retirement age. One poor woman close to me kept falling asleep during the first half, most unfortunate as she was on the front row. She was better in the second half, so I presume a strong cup of tea during the interval did the trick. There was also someone behind me who, as best I could tell from the noise, was listening to the radio through headphones rather than concentrating on the play. You could hear the occasional blast of songs from someone with the sound up a bit too high. Annoying, but the audience was mostly well behaved and I managed to drown the sound out. There are some good ticket offers out there if you like this sort of thing. I have been to several productions at the Playhouse recently including this one and I found the music far too loud. I wonder if they employ someone who is hard of hearing to control the volume. I also wonder about the effects on my hearing. I knew someone at work who had a hearing loss at 28 from going to rock concerts and standing too close to loud speakers. |
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