2,548 posts
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Post by n1david on Apr 18, 2024 14:51:40 GMT
Reviews seem to be mostly three stars, some twos and a four (Time Out). Which seems to be the rule that when Theatreboard members discover a marmite show that is either loved or hated, the reviews fall solidly in the middle (see also 'Opening Night')
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Post by theoracle on Apr 21, 2024 21:36:53 GMT
I rather liked this - the 3.25hrs went by rather seamlessly. The songs are a little jarring at points but as they continue, they do heighten the emotion of the moment so aren’t entirely superfluous. The Bella song in Act 2 was probably my favourite if I had to pick The show felt like an ode to London, both past and present and I thought the large ensemble of actors did a terrific job of bringing the story to life against the minimalist set. There’s a lot of plot to cram into the play and by the end, it ties itself up together quite nicely. Of course, I can see this won’t be for everyone but I thought it was a very satisfying way to spend a Saturday evening and the cast got a nice round of applause at the end.
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486 posts
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Post by drmaplewood on Apr 27, 2024 22:32:21 GMT
Another one who left at the interval tonight. Dreary enough to match the London weather and couldn't wait to flee.
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Post by edi on Apr 27, 2024 22:43:32 GMT
Wow so many people leaving at the interval.
People who didn't leave - is there a noticeable drop of audiences? Must be awful for the cast
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Post by aspieandy on Apr 27, 2024 23:16:43 GMT
ouf.
I imagine the source material proved too unwieldy, and that must have been at the end of an absolute shed load of development.
Don't want to criticise artistic choices because we can't know the basis, though I'd loved to have heard several of those conversations.
Unlike others, hope remained at half time but I was shaking my head, staring at the floor, with 40+ minutes left.
They've had such a good run recently at the NT. Bound to happen at some point.
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2,361 posts
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Post by zahidf on Apr 28, 2024 9:24:25 GMT
I thought this was decent, if overlong.
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Post by mrekko on Apr 28, 2024 11:22:40 GMT
On the fence whether to book this or not. Our Mutual Friend is my favourite Dickens novel but, like almost all of his work, it would be difficult to adapt on stage due to its length and number of different characters and subplots..
Frankly, I think any Dickens adaptation gets a disservice for that reason, unless it is something very long like the BBC production of Bleak House or the notorious Nicholas Nickleby 9hr play from the 80’s (I imagine). A Christmas Carol is an exception to the rule, being quite short and with one plot line.
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Post by Fleance on Apr 28, 2024 11:54:30 GMT
I love the novel, and the 1998 miniseries with Keeley Hawes as well. I'm looking forward to London Tide.
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Post by theatre2023 on Apr 28, 2024 15:24:51 GMT
Utter waste of time ... seriously low budget show. The use of a giant sheet of plastic bag to mimic a drowning was the cherry on the cake.
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Post by aspieandy on Apr 28, 2024 16:07:14 GMT
LOL. Waving not drowning /stevie smith
Anyone buying the original cast recording ..
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360 posts
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Post by lichtie on May 10, 2024 19:11:31 GMT
I'm glad I ignored the naysayers on here as I rather enjoyed this. There are obviously lots of things not right - having cast members that can't sing being a particular low point (maybe the felt they were being empathatic to PJH's own style with that production choice...), and there's too much exposition (though it's hard to see how to avoid it with Dickens), but the stripped back production and basics of the story worked OK I thought. I actually thought the plastic sheet for the drowning scene was OK - why would you need anything more for such a short thing? It serves the necessary dramatic purpose fine. They'd chopped more time off when I saw it on Wednesday - down to 3 hours including the interval - which may also have helped. There were hardly any departues that I could see at the interval so maybe it's settled down - or maybe I just got an afternoon of people who know the original well (one woman nearby was critiqueing it on the basis that it had simplified Dicken's original convolutions too much...)
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Post by solotheatregoer on May 14, 2024 22:26:55 GMT
I enjoyed this more than I thought. The story itself kept me interested and I stayed until the end (a few people around me left at the interval and it wasn’t sold out to begin with). I was just put off by the singing which was very cringeworthy in places. The production would have been fine without this altogether as the songs didn’t really move the plot along either.
3 stars.
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