1,503 posts
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Post by foxa on May 11, 2019 22:21:39 GMT
I had advance notice that I was being moved from my pillar seats to middle of Row R on Friday evening and no complaints from me about that.
I enjoyed this production - oddly, though I read the play years ago, I've never seen it - and seeing it, I realised I had misremembered/misunderstood a couple of important plot points before. So good to get that sorted out,
I really liked both Pullman and Field very much. Pullman was believable as a simple, uneducated man (I loved the opening bit where he was reading the want ads) and I found him touching and believable. Field was wily, ferocious and always interesting. I liked Coleman fine. For me, the big (actually really big) weak link was Colin Morgan. He was pretty good in 'Translations', but I didn't get what he was doing in this play. Some of his choices were so odd, as Poster J says above, it pulled me out of the performance. He was so weedy and flailing about I couldn't imagine what Ann saw in his Chris. (As an aside, why do you think he was barefoot in the first act - was he it to show he was artsy/non-conformist - just seemed weird when everyone else was so much more dressed.)
But, other than that, it was a respectful, well-thought out production, and as someone who grew up with Sally Field's work, from Gidget and the Flying Nun, to highlights like Norma Rae and Soapdish, it was exciting to see her on stage.
So 4* from me.
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Post by londonpostie on May 12, 2019 23:01:17 GMT
New seat layout... Q35 is the new Q34. Pillar has moved maybe an inch more over, but there's nothing behind the seat so you can move your head as usual. oh god, just when I'd resigned myself to an awful experience - for about the third time - hope returns .. I'll be so relieved in about three weeks when this is over  t this rate I'll end up with Q35 on my gravestone. |
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3,321 posts
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Post by david on May 13, 2019 22:36:03 GMT
I was at tonight’s performance and overall I thought it wasn’t a bad production and I definitely enjoyed it more than the American Clock production a few months ago. I was sat in Q3 in the stalls and despite the pillar splitting my view of the stage, it really didn’t impact that much. I’m just glad most of the acting was done centrally and on the right hand side as I had to do a fair bit of shifting in my seat every time the cast where on the left hand side of the stage. I’m just glad there wasn’t anyone sat behind me. Certainly for £20 I thought it was a fair price for the seat and view and would certainly sit here again for future productions.
Acting wise Sally Field and BIll Pullman were fantastic. Pullman’s understated portrayal of Joe Keller I think had mixed results. Certainly I think at times he didn’t really come across as a man who was tortured, though by the end of Act 2 I thought he played it better. While with Sally Field, I really did believe she was a woman who was desperate to believe her missing son was still alive and would come home. It was those little facial expressions and hand gestures that really added to that sense of despair. I’m glad I saw this from the stalls as I don’t know whether these little things would have had the same impact being further away. With respect to Colin Morgan, I’d agree with other posters, I thought in Act 1 he did appear to be in a different production acting wise though by Act 2 I thought he was more convincing in his role. As for Jenna Coleman, I’m sorry, but I really didn’t warm to her at all in Act 1. Her portrayal for me was very monotone in the way she came across and there really wasn’t that much difference in her tone of voice whether she was in a comedy moment or a more emotional one (though I enjoy her portrayal of Victoria on ITV).By Act 2, she did seem to inject a bit more emotion, but i really couldn’t invest any emotion into her character at all. A big shout out to the young lad Hari Coles who did very well in his role as the young lad Bert.
Loved the set and the level of detail that the designers have gone into creating the house and the garden area.
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524 posts
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Post by callum on May 13, 2019 23:41:38 GMT
I don’t want to be snobby or personal or anything like that, but Jenna Coleman’s lack of theatre acting experience really shows. And I say this as a fan of contemporaries Lily James, Hiddleston, Mulligan etc. The fact they spent their early 20s at the Donmar, Royal Court etc and not Emmerdale really shows!
Dreary voice projection and really quite an insipid performance. And I know it’s a fairly superficial criticism, but a very poor accent. Ann is the wedge in this family and the catalyst for its ultimate destruction, and I didn’t buy her as such for one minute!
And I had no problem with Colin Morgan’s performance! Strange how different people perceive different things
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Post by justfran on May 14, 2019 21:48:48 GMT
I saw the NT Live this evening and thought it was excellent. Firstly the filming was really clear and sound levels were fine (does Bill Pullman wear a mic? Thought we might have spotted one). The set design was great and overall the acting was superb, especially from Sally Field, Bill Pullman and Colin Morgan (I actually enjoyed his change from act 1 to act 2 and thought he showed real emotion in the final 10 minutes or so). Jenna Colman gave the weakest performance in my opinion, her main acting choice seemed to be raising her voice but not changing the tone and her accent wasn’t the best, minor quibbles though as it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the play as a whole. The small details in Sally Field’s acting such as the wringing of her hands and the looks that crossed her face showed what a fine actress she is. I knew the basic plot but not too much detail so enjoyed watching the story unfold. There were about 50 people at the screening so not massively busy. Would love to have been able to see this in London, 4.5⭐️ from me.
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902 posts
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Post by bordeaux on May 14, 2019 21:50:56 GMT
This came across magnificently in the cinema tonight. Amazing performances by all concerned (even Jenna Coleman, of whom I'd not heard before), beautifully paced and very moving. My 14-year-old agreed that it was a wonderful evening - all those close-ups, the two-shots, the various angles really made it immediate.
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Post by peggysue on May 14, 2019 22:24:24 GMT
Saw NT live tonight and thoroughly enjoyed it. I am a big Bill Pullman fan and he didn’t disappoint. Excellent performances throughout although I thought Jenna Coleman was the weakest link. As I am unable to get to London as much as I would like these screenings are the next best thing. I only wish they would screen more.
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275 posts
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Post by emsworthian on May 15, 2019 9:13:14 GMT
I saw it last night at a local arts centre that has just started doing live screening. Sally Field was amazing. For me, if there was a weak link it was Colin Morgan - somehow I wasn't quite sure about his performance.
I was aware the cast was miked occasionally when they hugged one another and there was a thump but otherwise I was lost in the performance.
(Irrelevant but interesting - I was describing the plot to my taxi driver on my way home and how some people refuse to accept a missing person is dead and he said his father went missing when he (the taxi driver) was 26 and about to get married and nearly 40 years later they still haven't any idea what happened to him).
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Post by frosty on May 15, 2019 12:24:49 GMT
I saw it last night at a local arts centre that has just started doing live screening. Hi Emsworthian - were you at The Spring? If so, we were there too [waves!]. I really enjoyed it, it was definitely the sort of play that works will in a screening, all the close ups and reactions were caught fantastically. It's a shame that a local Arts Centre has to charge the same as a mulitplex cinema for NTLive screenings, but I understand the prices are set by NTLive and aren't allowed to be changed. Looking forward to Small Island! |
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Post by moelhywel on May 15, 2019 14:07:47 GMT
New seat layout... Q35 is the new Q34. Pillar has moved maybe an inch more over, but there's nothing behind the seat so you can move your head as usual. Q3 too has the same view - pillar is only 50cm from the side of the stage, but you can't move your head to see around it. Other rear stalls now are mainly pillar free in the centre of rows. Edge views are about the same as usual. Slightly OT but I just looked at seat Q35 for Endgame and it was coming up at £65 and not £20. Have they decided it’s not worth a restricted view price? |
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2019 14:15:10 GMT
That is weird - I booked Q35 the other day for "Very Expensive Poison" and Q3 for Endgame, both for £20. Looking at a random date for "Poison", Q35 is now £65 despite the pillar, Q3 is still £20. Don't see how Q35 is unrestricted if Q3 is!
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275 posts
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Post by emsworthian on May 15, 2019 14:51:55 GMT
I saw it last night at a local arts centre that has just started doing live screening. Hi Emsworthian - were you at The Spring? If so, we were there too [waves!]. I really enjoyed it, it was definitely the sort of play that works will in a screening, all the close ups and reactions were caught fantastically. It's a shame that a local Arts Centre has to charge the same as a mulitplex cinema for NTLive screenings, but I understand the prices are set by NTLive and aren't allowed to be changed. Looking forward to Small Island! Yes, I was. We could have had a drink together, if I had known. |
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Post by Polly1 on May 15, 2019 16:20:47 GMT
I saw it last night at a local arts centre that has just started doing live screening. Hi Emsworthian - were you at The Spring? If so, we were there too [waves!]. I really enjoyed it, it was definitely the sort of play that works will in a screening, all the close ups and reactions were caught fantastically. It's a shame that a local Arts Centre has to charge the same as a mulitplex cinema for NTLive screenings, but I understand the prices are set by NTLive and aren't allowed to be changed. Looking forward to Small Island! Not sure about the pricing? My local independent cinema £12 At theatre in local Uni £13 Curzon £18.75 Odeon £20.25 Cineworld £20.70 😱 |
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Post by peggs on May 15, 2019 17:40:57 GMT
That is weird - I booked Q35 the other day for "Very Expensive Poison" and Q3 for Endgame, both for £20. Looking at a random date for "Poison", Q35 is now £65 despite the pillar, Q3 is still £20. Don't see how Q35 is unrestricted if Q3 is! Damn that'll teach me for not acting |
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Post by frosty on May 16, 2019 7:20:01 GMT
Not sure about the pricing? My local independent cinema £12 At theatre in local Uni £13 Curzon £18.75 Odeon £20.25 Cineworld £20.70 😱 Wow I didn't realise there were such big differences, I thought it was the same everywhere. It's good to see that the independent place is the cheapest. |
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Post by grannyjx6 on May 21, 2019 15:12:05 GMT
Not sure about the pricing? My local independent cinema £12 At theatre in local Uni £13 Curzon £18.75 Odeon £20.25 Cineworld £20.70 😱 Wow I didn't realise there were such big differences, I thought it was the same everywhere. It's good to see that the independent place is the cheapest. We're on holiday (in the UK) when Small Island has it's cinema screening and the local independent theatre/cinema is charging £17 with no discounts for it. I saw All My Sons at my local Odeon Luxe for £13.95 (senior discount, which no one ever checks) and it will also be the same price for Small Island. |
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Post by learfan on Jun 1, 2019 12:07:58 GMT
Saw this last night. Very impressed, Field was a revelation. She is obviously a consummate film actress but this is something else entirely. Pullman and the rest very good especially Morgan. Full standing ovation at the end.
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Post by missthelma on Jun 1, 2019 13:12:38 GMT
Well colour me unimpressed
I was really looking forward to this but found it all a bit blah to be honest. In the second act I was a trifle bored in fact. Don't remember feeling that at the Suchet/Wanamaker version a few years back. Perhaps my expectation were too high given the generally favourable reports (raves?) and the casting which was extraordinarily tempting. Don't get me wrong it's not bad and there is a lot to recommend it and to enjoy. Who knows maybe I was tired or not in the mood, and this influenced me.
A few observations, Colin Morgan was tremendous in the first half but in the second he seemed listless, awkward and disinterested. Like a totally different character/actor. I know there have been mentions on here about his style of acting changing, is that what people were referring to? It would have made sense in the final moments but he didn't even seem to know where to put his arms and they hung there like old fly paper, bizarre. Jenna Coleman was adequate but no more.
I actually found Bill Pullman quite irritating which didn't help, and as the play wore on he came to resemble Jeremy Corbyn at his allotment more and more. Meanwhile Sally Field who was very good and is a long time favourite of mine (I had considered stage door-ing) seemed to have a touch of the Mrs Overall about her with the slightly hunched back, deliberate steps and clutching at her clothing. Had she worn lumpy tights I would have had to leave. I have the NT live version somewhere which I want to watch as I think a lot of the acting choices, from primarily screen actors, may not have been visible from back of the stalls and that may alter my opinion somewhat.
I will correct learfan slightly, I didn't stand!! The crowd half leapt at the appearance of Morgan/Coleman which left me bewildered and everybody else stood for Field/Pullman although a smattering were putting on their coats to leave including people next to me.
The Old Vic is a complete mess though, hadn't noticed it on other recent visits, ushers out on the street herding people to join queues to have the mots laughable bag search ever. The frankly ridiculous bar and the lack of staff within to help people to their seats. There was a fair bit of confusion inside but obviously more important to have your staff outside giggling and chatting.
Shout out to the fabulous box office staff though who helped me exchange my ticket a few weeks ago, penalty of booking seven months in advance! Especially given how popular this has been, major thanks to them.
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3,040 posts
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Post by crowblack on Jun 1, 2019 13:41:45 GMT
he local independent theatre/cinema is charging £17 with no discounts for it. I saw All My Sons at my local Odeon Luxe for £13.95 (senior discount, which no one ever checks) and it will also be the same price for Small Island. My local Picturehouse in Liverpool charges £22 plus booking fee for NT Live, which is more than the local theatres charge for live theatre (you can get a stalls seat for half that for some productions). Student/retired prices are £17.50 plus booking fee. It's not a wealthy city, and they are not really going to pull new/curious audiences in with those prices - I've been to one, the Madness of George III, and the audience was mostly grey haired. |
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Post by learfan on Jun 1, 2019 15:01:09 GMT
Well colour me unimpressed I was really looking forward to this but found it all a bit blah to be honest. In the second act I was a trifle bored in fact. Don't remember feeling that at the Suchet/Wanamaker version a few years back. Perhaps my expectation were too high given the generally favourable reports (raves?) and the casting which was extraordinarily tempting. Don't get me wrong it's not bad and there is a lot to recommend it and to enjoy. Who knows maybe I was tired or not in the mood, and this influenced me. A few observations, Colin Morgan was tremendous in the first half but in the second he seemed listless, awkward and disinterested. Like a totally different character/actor. I know there have been mentions on here about his style of acting changing, is that what people were referring to? It would have made sense in the final moments but he didn't even seem to know where to put his arms and they hung there like old fly paper, bizarre. Jenna Coleman was adequate but no more. I actually found Bill Pullman quite irritating which didn't help, and as the play wore on he came to resemble Jeremy Corbyn at his allotment more and more. Meanwhile Sally Field who was very good and is a long time favourite of mine (I had considered stage door-ing) seemed to have a touch of the Mrs Overall about her with the slightly hunched back, deliberate steps and clutching at her clothing. Had she worn lumpy tights I would have had to leave. I have the NT live version somewhere which I want to watch as I think a lot of the acting choices, from primarily screen actors, may not have been visible from back of the stalls and that may alter my opinion somewhat. I will correct learfan slightly, I didn't stand!! The crowd half leapt at the appearance of Morgan/Coleman which left me bewildered and everybody else stood for Field/Pullman although a smattering were putting on their coats to leave including people next to me. The Old Vic is a complete mess though, hadn't noticed it on other recent visits, ushers out on the street herding people to join queues to have the mots laughable bag search ever. The frankly ridiculous bar and the lack of staff within to help people to their seats. There was a fair bit of confusion inside but obviously more important to have your staff outside giggling and chatting. Shout out to the fabulous box office staff though who helped me exchange my ticket a few weeks ago, penalty of booking seven months in advance! Especially given how popular this has been, major thanks to them. I thought Mrs Overall!! Agree with the generally awful state of the Old Vic. Still liked it though. |
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Post by oldhasbeen on Jun 2, 2019 8:54:03 GMT
Saw this Monday from the front row and a lot of what I got out of it was all of the facial expressions and small details - I don’t think anyone sat farther back would have the same experience. Sally Field’s stares of terror and she strides towards Ann for example, or the flickers of torment that Bill Pullman is showing on his face. Absolutely worth seeing and a great privilege to see those performances up close. Front row is the way to go if you can get it. Both day seat and stage door process were remarkably well-organised by the Old Vic, I have to say. I saw this at at NT Live screening, during which there were several close-ups on Bill Pullman's face, where, as you say, the small changes to his facial expressions told me a lot. I'm not sure that I would have noticed from the cheap seats at the Old Vic. I thought the first half was rather slow - too much scene-setting fro my taste - but the second half was much more engaging, visually very striking. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2019 16:23:10 GMT
A quick check of the NT Live and it does look different/better to the underpowered acting and direction, especially, direction that I saw on stage. If I go to the theatre I like to see performances that fit the space, it's why A View From the Bridge (and, from initial reports) Death of a Salesman worked so well at The Young Vic, not a series of disconnected star turns that drift around in a limited manner.
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Post by juicy_but_terribly_drab on Jun 2, 2019 17:49:42 GMT
A quick check of the NT Live and it does look different/better to the underpowered acting and direction, especially, direction that I saw on stage. If I go to the theatre I like to see performances that fit the space, it's why A View From the Bridge (and, from initial reports) Death of a Salesman worked so well at The Young Vic, not a series of disconnected star turns that drift around in a limited manner. This is my exact issue with the production. I'm sure it's great from the stalls and maybe even the Dress Circle but up in the Lilian Baylis Circle you lose any of the nuance they're going for and it's just completely flat and like it or not the people up there are paying people too so you have to play to them as well. Obviously TV/film have very different acting styles from theatre and the naturalistic style that Sally and Bill seemed to employ from that background did not work for such a big space. I'll probably watch the NT Live at some point just to see what I missed but it won't change my opinion on the overall production. |
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Post by londonpostie on Jun 3, 2019 22:39:35 GMT
having recently seen Salesman further along the Cut, sad to say this felt a little like after the Lord Mayors Show. Seemed perfectly reasonable, just a little flat, at least in comparison. Couldn't think of anything that stood out.
Sat on the bus on the way home reflecting mostly on fascinating parallels between the two plays and two productions.
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3,040 posts
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Post by crowblack on Jun 4, 2019 8:44:25 GMT
If I go to the theatre I like to see performances that fit the space The problem (for me) with the Old Vic is that very few do - it's a barn and the only thing I've seen there that worked for me from a seat beyond the front stalls is A Christmas Carol. |
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t this rate I'll end up with Q35 on my gravestone. 
