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Post by zahidf on Nov 22, 2022 13:04:16 GMT
Produced in partnership with Manchester International Festival, the Young Vic and Headlong, the piece will run from 24 June to 22 July 2023 before transferring to the Young Vic in the autumn.
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Post by intoanewlife on Nov 22, 2022 15:37:26 GMT
Pass x
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2022 15:40:51 GMT
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367 posts
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Post by MrBunbury on Nov 22, 2022 15:55:20 GMT
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Post by yawningangel on May 9, 2023 12:47:02 GMT
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Post by nottobe on May 9, 2023 20:07:12 GMT
Miss Saigon is a musical not a play.I hate it when people call musicals plays.Same as calling cast recordings "soundtracks". And this is a play so hence the title... |
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Post by c4ndyc4ne on May 10, 2023 15:25:33 GMT
I guess the lack of title IS the title
but yes it's a play
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2,348 posts
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Post by zahidf on Jun 13, 2023 19:12:54 GMT
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Post by orchidman on Jun 13, 2023 19:41:02 GMT
Not sure whether we should have a moratorium on swear words in play titles or if it should be allowed to continue as a strong signal to potential ticketbuyers that the writer is neither big nor clever.
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723 posts
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Post by Latecomer on Jun 13, 2023 20:15:51 GMT
Not sure whether we should have a moratorium on swear words in play titles or if it should be allowed to continue as a strong signal to potential ticketbuyers that the writer is neither big nor clever. I quite like use of the F word. Am prepared to admit it may be only me. Plus they haven’t used it. There’s some *s in there….!!!! |
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Post by david on Jun 14, 2023 22:16:14 GMT
I'm at the 1st preview next Saturday. Looking at the show info on the REX website, it is saying a runtime of 1hr 50 minutes (approx) straight through. Happy days.
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1,465 posts
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Post by foxa on Jun 19, 2023 13:32:14 GMT
I booked for this at the Young Vic despite being a bit meh about the name. However heard the playwright Kimber Lee on the Subtext Podcast and liked her SO MUCH that I'm now much more excited about seeing it. (Absolutely slanted towards American playwrights, the Subtext is an entertaining listen if for nothing else than the host - a struggling playwright himself - vividly conveying his frustration and angst at the writing process and the business of theatre. Kimber Lee spends quite a bit of this episode trying to make him feel better. :-)) www.americantheatre.org/2022/11/22/the-subtext-kimber-lee-isnt-cagey-about-her-process/ |
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Post by david on Jun 24, 2023 17:57:58 GMT
So I’m here tonight for the 1st preview. Had a quick peak inside the auditorium and the tech crew are still at work on the stage. Not much set inside at the moment but outside I’ve spotted a fake supermarket style fish counter and some furniture probably from IKEA.
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Post by marob on Jun 24, 2023 19:48:57 GMT
That’s just reminded me to book a banquette seat. Hope it’s good. I used to have a membership, but have not been there since Wuthering Heights, which I really didn’t like, and nothing much has appealed since they reopened.
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3,081 posts
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Post by david on Jun 25, 2023 13:32:04 GMT
A few thoughts from last night's viewing. The good news is that this is a straight through play which was running at around the 2hr mark last night so anybody booking for an evening show at the YV will be able to get home early.
The play is very much a time travel / dream piece which uses a narrator (Rochelle Rose) at the edge of the edge of the stage. We start off in 1906 with Madama Butterfly before moving onto 1949 and South Pacific, then the 1950s with the Korean War and then the 1975 with Vietnam / Miss Saigon era before quickly moving onto 2023.
It is in this part of the play where the humour is both in the narration and through Kim and Clark's (her love interest) relationship as well as Kim's relationship with her family through a continuous cycle of hope and despair/anguish. In these scenes, we also get a bit of music with songs excerpts from Tina Turner, Cool and the Gang, Debarge, Chaka Karn, Rick James.
Whilst I'd say the first 80 or so was of a comical tone, the last 30 minutes of so is the more serious one in the writing as the play moves to modern day. The point I think that Kimber Lee is trying to make with regards to the representation of the Asian community on screen and how they react to that is made in this part with a long speech given by Kim's mother which is aimed at the audience rather than a particular on-stage character. I certainly found this part of the play heavy going in light of the preceding comical parts.
There are only really 2 large set pieces - a hut-like dwelling with Asian decoration used in the 1906-1975 sections and a modern flat setting for the 2023 section that has come straight from an IKEA showroom.
As a first preview I thought that cast worked well together and the audience response was very positive at the end. We managed to get through the evening without any technical hitches.
Whilst I enjoyed it mainly for the comedy bits, in all honesty it isn't something has made me rush back and book for a second viewing.
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Post by marob on Jul 2, 2023 23:43:43 GMT
Saw it yesterday. I found the first half hilarious and really engaging, with Kim becoming more self-aware each time she goes through a familiar tragic love story with her sexy-sexy white saviour. Second half in the present day is more serious and I’m not sure what to make of that. One of those shows with a playtext in lieu of a programme so will give it a read as I find I keep thinking about it. Will be interested to read others opinions.
Side note about the REx: Sat on a banquette for the first time. Having sat in the second row before, I’m surprised how different the experience is. You don’t have the upper tiers above you there so it feels a much more open space than it usually does. It’s a lot lower than I thought, but even after over two hours (was there early; play’s about 1hr45 with late start) it was no more uncomfortable than any other theatre seat. And because you’re low down and looking up at the actors it meant I wasn’t continually being distracted by the audience on the opposite side. And best of all was only a tenner.
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Post by bobby on Jul 4, 2023 9:33:32 GMT
Saw this on Saturday and I really enjoyed it as well. It’s certainly an interesting angle on the subject and a sharp piece of writing. Reviews have been very good and I think it will find an audience at the Young Vic.
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Post by yokollama on Jul 4, 2023 13:11:40 GMT
Sorry for going off topic: if there are no seats available on the day, I understand lucky dip ticketholders are refunded. Do you still get to watch the show standing? (It's been years since I last purchased a lucky dip ticket so I'm not sure if the terms have changed.)
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2,149 posts
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Post by richey on Jul 12, 2023 21:51:14 GMT
Just come out of tonight's show and I really enjoyed it.
I preferred the first part, thought the humour was well done.
Loads of empty seats so doesn't seem to be selling well but got a good response from the audience tonight. Glad I managed to get a ticket under the 'pay what you like' scheme.
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Post by sallims on Jul 13, 2023 13:48:15 GMT
Excited to see this tonight, having just watched Miss Saigon it makes for an interesting double bill. Seems as though most have enjoyed.
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Post by og on Jul 16, 2023 18:08:41 GMT
What a banger of a play. Incredible with its observation and commentary. An incredibly hard working cast that lifts a very thought provoking piece of writing.
Two very strong plays in a row from REX, a reassuring year after a wobbly recovery post-covid, I hope this is them back on track now.
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Post by crowblack on Jul 16, 2023 20:16:00 GMT
Loads of empty seats so doesn't seem to be selling well Title maybe putting off an older crowd? |
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Post by showgirl on Jul 17, 2023 3:34:46 GMT
The title certainly isn't great (too long as well as the awkward word), but it's more the format which is currently causing me to hesitate as from the comments above (and reviews online), I can't make sense of it and don't want to end up seeing it and still being none the wiser, so frustrated at wasting precious time I could have used to see something else.
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594 posts
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Post by og on Jul 17, 2023 7:53:28 GMT
The title certainly isn't great (too long as well as the awkward word), but it's more the format which is currently causing me to hesitate as from the comments above (and reviews online), I can't make sense of it and don't want to end up seeing it and still being none the wiser, so frustrated at wasting precious time I could have used to see something else. What about the 'format' is causing hesitation? |
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Post by og on Jul 17, 2023 7:54:42 GMT
Loads of empty seats so doesn't seem to be selling well Title maybe putting off an older crowd? Im not necessarily sure it's aimed at the concession crowd, so wouldn't worry about that. |
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Post by Rory on Jul 17, 2023 17:03:00 GMT
Probably unrelated to this play but an email has issued from the Young Vic advising of exciting news tomorrow at 12pm.
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3,474 posts
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Post by showgirl on Jul 17, 2023 17:32:04 GMT
The title certainly isn't great (too long as well as the awkward word), but it's more the format which is currently causing me to hesitate as from the comments above (and reviews online), I can't make sense of it and don't want to end up seeing it and still being none the wiser, so frustrated at wasting precious time I could have used to see something else. What about the 'format' is causing hesitation? Well, as you've helpfully suggested that this isn't aimed at the "concession crowd", maybe I should simply stay in my theatrical lane and stick to fodder more suitable for seniors - whatever that might be. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 17, 2023 18:26:44 GMT
Title maybe putting off an older crowd? Im not necessarily sure it's aimed at the concession crowd, so wouldn't worry about that. Concessions usually applying to the younger, the older, the students, the disadvantaged, the less able… Ok. |
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Post by oxfordsimon on Jul 17, 2023 19:06:52 GMT
Probably unrelated to this play but an email has issued from the Young Vic advising of exciting news tomorrow at 12pm. We get to see: MEO and AND as well as the back of the picture frame. I hope it isn't yet another R&J The world really doesn't need any more productions of that for a while |
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Post by og on Jul 17, 2023 19:22:00 GMT
gee some people are just vying for conflict all the time arent they.
winging because they dont like the title.
winging because they dont like the format.
without even having seen it.
This play is trying to stand up for a marginalised community.
Go see it. Give it a chance. Open your mind. Learn something. Be challenged.
Or stay comfortably ignorant. Your choice.
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