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Post by Jan on Jul 15, 2016 5:51:12 GMT
I saw the first preview of Platonov.
We have two chances to see this play this year. The Michael Frayn version "Wild Honey" which was big hit for McKellen at NT in the 1980s (and bombed on Broadway) is being revived at Hampstead later in the year. This is the Sir David Hare version which we saw in the 2001 Almeida production. The Frayn version is better in my view, but anyway.
With a bit more work this has the potential to be very good. The problems are the text itself with its jarring switches from tragedy to comedy to farce and the unsuitable nature of the Olivier for plays like this (big problems hearing from the Circle and several walk-outs as a result), but good ensemble work from the actors, direction from Jonathan Kent, and a stand-out performance from Joshua James as the archetypal Chekhov Doctor.
Recommended.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2016 6:33:47 GMT
The first rule of Comp Club is do not talk about Comp Club......
If I where a gambling man id say Ivanov isn't doing very well.
In other news, I'm going to see Ivanov in a couple of weeks!
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Post by Jan on Jul 15, 2016 6:37:26 GMT
The first rule of Comp Club is do not talk about Comp Club...... If I where a gambling man id say Ivanov isn't doing very well. In other news, I'm going to see Ivanov in a couple of weeks! Well, honestly, their prices are too high. At Hampstead this play (directed by Howard Davies in a more suitable theatre in my view) has top price £35, the top price here is £65/£56. I only considered seeing these 3 at NT at preview prices. |
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Post by addictedtotheatre on Jul 15, 2016 10:57:53 GMT
Comp Club? I've heard of AC and myboxoffice.
I'm a bit concerned that people aren't able to hear properly in the Circle - isn't everyone miked nowadays? May hold off on Friday Rush tickets (which are at the back of the Circle) and stalk the site for £15 returns.
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Post by Jan on Jul 15, 2016 11:48:14 GMT
Comp Club? I've heard of AC and myboxoffice. I'm a bit concerned that people aren't able to hear properly in the Circle - isn't everyone miked nowadays? May hold off on Friday Rush tickets (which are at the back of the Circle) and stalk the site for £15 returns. They turned the volume up after the interval. But even so back of the Circle is too distant for this type of play. |
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Post by lynette on Jul 15, 2016 18:53:47 GMT
Comp Club? I've heard of AC and myboxoffice. I'm a bit concerned that people aren't able to hear properly in the Circle - isn't everyone miked nowadays? May hold off on Friday Rush tickets (which are at the back of the Circle) and stalk the site for £15 returns. They turned the volume up after the interval. But even so back of the Circle is too distant for this type of play. Of course it is outrageous that actors need to be miked in the Olivier when you can hear fine at the back of the very top of the Old Vic but then the architects of the National were arrogantly positive of the brilliance of this concrete bunker. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2016 16:40:28 GMT
Is it that actors training today are getting more on how to rule the red carpet then getting people to hear u?!
I remember as a scamp reading the controversy over the Nat giving mics to the actors in Trolius and Cressida? Damn you Shakespere
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Xanderl
Member
Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on Jul 16, 2016 16:43:35 GMT
I remember seeing Murray Melvin doing an intro at the NFT and being very offended that they offered him a mike
"I was RADA trained you know!"
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Post by David J on Jul 16, 2016 16:47:48 GMT
Reminds me of another Troilus and Cressida using microphones and all sorts of tech gizzardry in a intimate space called The Swan
And yet it wasn't surprising since the actors attempts at Native American accents were muffled by the continuous use of soundscape
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Post by Jan on Jul 16, 2016 17:45:11 GMT
They turned the volume up after the interval. But even so back of the Circle is too distant for this type of play. As you said, you attended the first preview of the first play so the actors and sound team will all make adjustments and the audibility will continue to improve. Really ? Amazing. I hadn't thought of that. The bigger problem is they probably can't bring the circle closer to the stage, the Olivier is just unsuitable for plays that involve two people talking in a room. |
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Post by peelee on Jul 16, 2016 20:57:28 GMT
I attended the second preview of 'Platonov', which production is very good. What work and thought has been put into the look of the thing at both centre-stage and the sides. The cast do a great job with this young man's early play. Only personal criticism being that as some of it got 'screechy' and melodramatic in the last few minutes, I couldn't wait for it to end. It had me thinking that some of it could be shortened. But do not be deterred, the audience response at the end was very warm and enthusiastic.
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Post by Jan on Jul 17, 2016 8:38:04 GMT
I attended the second preview of 'Platonov', which production is very good. What work and thought has been put into the look of the thing at both centre-stage and the sides. The cast do a great job with this young man's early play. Only personal criticism being that as some of it got 'screechy' and melodramatic in the last few minutes, I couldn't wait for it to end. It had me thinking that some of it could be shortened. But do not be deterred, the audience response at the end was very warm and enthusiastic. When I saw it it ran almost 3hrs - I think that is 20 minutes longer than at Chichester. I expect they will tighten it up. |
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Post by Jan on Jul 26, 2016 12:56:38 GMT
I saw a preview of The Seagull. It is very good. It is worth the price of admission just for Anna Chancellor's performance. The only weak performance was Geoffrey Streatfeild who was unconvincing in the role - it is a pity Sam West dropped out after The Chichester run - but maybe he will improve as the run continues.
The text is a new version by Sir David Hare. It is mediocre. For some reason he has included some jarring Americanisms, maybe after all this time he has forgotten how normal people - those outside his social circle - speak. But the production as a whole overcomes this handicap.
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Post by peelee on Jul 26, 2016 21:33:45 GMT
It must have been the referendum vote to Leave the EU — Samuel West just can't go on, you know.
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Post by Jan on Jul 26, 2016 22:02:09 GMT
It must have been the referendum vote to Leave the EU — Samuel West just can't go on, you know. He's SWP isn't he ? Some of those hard left groups were Brexit enthusiasts. It always somewhat amuses me to see revolutionary socialists like him and Kika Markham appearing in bourgeois pap like "Mr Selfridge", but anyway he is a good actor and has left a big hole in these productions. I saw a preview of Ivanov. This is the Sir David Hare version that we saw at the Almeida in 1997 also directed by Jonathan Kent. Not sure why the programme is claiming these are new versions. Lots of Hare Americanisms in this one too - he has a tin ear for dialogue. I thought this production was good but the least impressive of the three, it is mainly interesting when put in the context of the other two so it is worth seeing them all. If you're only seeing one see Seagull. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2016 22:58:07 GMT
Well. Saw 'Ivanov' for the first time tonight. God bless him, the ever-delightful Geoffrey Streatfeild does try his best but heavens, they might as well have renamed the play 'Whiny Russian Chap'. I mean I love to wallow in a bit of "woe is me" every now and then but really, there is a limit. Especially on a Tuesday night.
On the plus side, it's a lovely set and I am also writing a letter to Rufus whatsit to ask, nay demand, that at least one play per season at the NT has to star Peter Egan, Des McAleer and Jonathan Coy together. They're glorious and worth the ticket price alone.
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Post by lynette on Jul 26, 2016 23:06:43 GMT
Seeing all three later in the season, all on one day. I must be mad but then I am the sort of person who likes to get things over and done with. I saw the Almeida Ivanov whch I though was v good at the time.
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Post by RedRose on Jul 26, 2016 23:48:28 GMT
In these days you would probably think that Ivanov is bipolar. Sam West did the depressive part very well, but was a failure on the manic side! I had high hopes Streatfeild would handle both sides very well. I've always found he is great at portraying mood changes. I once saw a German production where the guy playing Ivanov just got both sides right and made it kind of exciting. You could even at a very brief moment have sympathy for the character.
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Post by Jan on Jul 27, 2016 5:13:45 GMT
In these days you would probably think that Ivanov is bipolar. Sam West did the depressive part very well, but was a failure on the manic side! I had high hopes Streatfeild would handle both sides very well. I've always found he is great at portraying mood changes. I once saw a German production where the guy playing Ivanov just got both sides right and made it kind of exciting. You could even at a very brief moment have sympathy for the character. I hesitate to criticise Streatfeild too much as I saw only previews but he came across as just too nice in Ivanov and especially Seagull, no nasty edge to explain his behaviour. Branagh was good as Ivanov a few years ago, Michael Grandage production I think. |
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Post by peelee on Jul 27, 2016 23:13:46 GMT
Kenneth Branagh was more convincing in the title-part of that production of 'Ivanov' that Michael Grandage presented with three other plays (at Wyndhams?) that year, whereas the rendition in this latest play contributes to a tediousness that made the play coming to an end a small mercy. To my surprise in this series of plays just opened at the National, 'Platonov' worked better than 'Ivanov, the latter seeming as if had been rewritten in some passages involving the three old men posing with each other. I thought 'The Seagull' worked well and I could see why it has been staged as often as it has.
There were some outstanding performances. Yes, Peter Egan was very good in the plays he appeared in, and in 'The Seagull' Anna Chancellor was excellent, but I was especially impressed by Des McAleer who appeared with real presence and so clearly defined in all three of these plays.
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Post by Jan on Jul 28, 2016 4:45:56 GMT
Des McAleer is the only actor to appear in all three plays I think, in a significant role at least. There were more opportunities to cross-cast the plays they didn't take. Kenneth Branagh always wanted to stage the four great (late) Chekhov plays cross-cast and in rep which seems an obvious thing to do and I'm surprised no-one has done it.
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Post by rumbledoll on Jul 28, 2016 7:24:51 GMT
Des McAleer is the only actor to appear in all three plays I think, in a significant role at least. There were more opportunities to cross-cast the plays they didn't take. Kenneth Branagh always wanted to stage the four great (late) Chekhov plays cross-cast and in rep which seems an obvious thing to do and I'm surprised no-one has done it.
Olivia Vinall is in all three as well 
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2016 9:01:44 GMT
Saw Ivanov yesterday. 2.5hrs of not very nice people not being very nice to each other. I really didn't get it although quite enjoyed the production.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2016 20:12:53 GMT
Watching The Seagull tonight. Annoying people being annoying and annoying each other. Can't decide whether to grab the gun from Kostya and put myself out of my misery, or borrow a line from a chap down the road and yell it out loud: 'there are children in Africa starving to death and you don't hear them whinging.'
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Post by Honoured Guest on Jul 28, 2016 20:26:04 GMT
Watching The Seagull tonight. Annoying people being annoying and annoying each other. Can't decide whether to grab the gun from Kostya and put myself out of my misery, or borrow a line from a chap down the road and yell it out loud: 'there are children in Africa starving to death and you don't hear them whinging.' Ironic post? |
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Post by rumbledoll on Jul 28, 2016 20:58:52 GMT
Snapped a front row seat for the press-night next week. There were more avail. Some critics might have read posts here and decided against attending  |
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Post by rumbledoll on Jul 28, 2016 21:01:19 GMT
Watching The Seagull tonight. Annoying people being annoying and annoying each other. Can't decide whether to grab the gun from Kostya and put myself out of my misery, or borrow a line from a chap down the road and yell it out loud: 'there are children in Africa starving to death and you don't hear them whinging.' That's Chekhov for you, Jean! I hope they at least preserved some humour of the original text.. There was humour. Promise!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2016 21:50:22 GMT
I have tickets for Ivanov and Platonov too. Should I just cut my losses now, I wonder?
How did this get raves at Chichester? The dialogue is clunky, a lot of the acting is clunky.
I had to smile at Kostya bemoaning how overwrought his writing was. This whole darn play is overwrought, love.
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Post by rumbledoll on Jul 29, 2016 7:09:09 GMT
I have tickets for Ivanov and Platonov too. Should I just cut my losses now, I wonder? How did this get raves at Chichester? The dialogue is clunky, a lot of the acting is clunky. I had to smile at Kostya bemoaning how overwrought his writing was. This whole darn play is overwrought, love.
If you have this sort of reaction to Seagull, the other two (from the writing point if view) are more uncooked if you let me put in that way. Platonov is Chekhov's first play (written at the age of 18) and is a bit wordy and he gets carried away (I dunno probably David Hare did wonders with the text). And Ivanov is basically about a "whiny Russian chap" as Ryan said - spot on. Though I see some interesting psycological portrait (if played well) and would go for Geoffrey Streatfeild alone. But you might want to skip this one.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2016 7:23:02 GMT
Of the three, I'd say Platonov is strongest (unless something has gone VERY awry since Chichester). If you're dithering about the others, it's worth giving Platonov a go, but if you're feeling quite strongly against them, then at least the NT'll give you credit easily enough. They are all early Chekhov, they do all cover fairly similar ground, after all.
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