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Post by crowblack on Jun 25, 2017 12:57:05 GMT
perhaps you should try and let it go now? It's a discussion board! That's what it's for! It's very unusual to hear three articles on a play in the mainstream media - today's happened to be on in the background while I was online so, yeah, I'm going to comment.
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Post by kathryn on Jun 25, 2017 13:05:39 GMT
perhaps you should try and let it go now? It's a discussion board! That's what it's for! It's very unusual to hear three articles on a play in the mainstream media - today's happened to be on in the background while I was online so, yeah, I'm going to comment. Not really that unusual - there's been loads more than that about Angels in America. A new Stoppard or Bennett gets similar levels of coverage. Jez Butterworth is one of the pre-eminent living English playwrites, so it's not surprising that his latest work generates interest. Plus the director has just come off James Bond, which always gets extra press interest.
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Post by crowblack on Jun 25, 2017 13:34:47 GMT
there's been loads more than that about Angels in America On BBC1 / Radio 5? I think that's rare these days (I hadn't noticed Angels in America reaching that far but I may have missed it). When I was younger there were lots of arts reviews on mainstream TV but these days its relegated to Radio 3 and 4, and even Radio 4 is cutting back, axeing Saturday Review. Lyn Gardner's blog has been cut from the Guardian and is now behind the Stage's paywall. I'm glad theatre is getting mainstream coverage - it would be nice if there was more of it rather than just when there's a TV star or Bond movie director's name attached.
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Post by wiggymess on Jun 25, 2017 13:47:02 GMT
there's been loads more than that about Angels in America On BBC1 / Radio 5? I think that's rare these days (I hadn't noticed Angels in America reaching that far but I may have missed it). When I was younger there were lots of arts reviews on mainstream TV but these days its relegated to Radio 3 and 4, and even Radio 4 is cutting back, axeing Saturday Review. Lyn Gardner's blog has been cut from the Guardian and is now behind the Stage's paywall. I'm glad theatre is getting mainstream coverage - it would be nice if there was more of it rather than just when there's a TV star or Bond movie director's name attached. It's not only being focused on due to 'a TV star or Bond movie director' though, is it? It's because it has been incredibly well-received and is, regardless of your personal opinion, a huge success already, with a lot of buzz and hype around it. It's now opening in a major theatre in the middle of the West End, and I think it's great there's so much attention surrounding it. Hopefully it will attract 'non-theatre goers' who will be intrigued enough to keep coming. You didn't like it, that's fair enough, you don't understand all the adulation from the press and the majority of audiences, also fair enough (I have similar feelings with People, Places & Things) but it's silly to dismiss all the attention as being about things other than the play itself.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jun 25, 2017 13:59:43 GMT
A lot of the fuss is due to the fact it's a major new play by one of our best writers.. that can only be a good thing.
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Post by crowblack on Jun 25, 2017 14:08:50 GMT
it's silly to dismiss all the attention as being about things other than the play itself. A strong point made often in the publicity for this play was that it sold out on the first day of booking, back in November 2016. That's when I booked, and did so on the strength of the writer's name and the Royal Court. For many others I presume it was also for Sam Mendes (I haven't seen much of his output but presumed if his name was attached it would be a big project). No-one at that point knew what the play was about (vaguely - the Troubles) or who would be cast, but the buzz had already started months before its first previews. It's a Sonia Friedman production so has also had that powerful machine behind it. I don't think this mass of attention is all due to the play itself.
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Post by wiggymess on Jun 25, 2017 14:36:16 GMT
it's silly to dismiss all the attention as being about things other than the play itself. A strong point made often in the publicity for this play was that it sold out on the first day of booking, back in November 2016. That's when I booked, and did so on the strength of the writer's name and the Royal Court. For many others I presume it was also for Sam Mendes (I haven't seen much of his output but presumed if his name was attached it would be a big project). No-one at that point knew what the play was about (vaguely - the Troubles) or who would be cast, but the buzz had already started months before its first previews. It's a Sonia Friedman production so has also had that powerful machine behind it. I don't think this mass of attention is all due to the play itself. I also booked on the strength of the writer and the theatre. It's a very big jump then, to assume that Mendes was a big reason for the quick sell out. As you point out, it wasn't cast then, so you can't say the hype has been built on that either. The hype, realistically, mostly sat with the fact that Jez Butterworth is the writer. The current hype and attention it's getting are is due to the play itself. The reviews are a direct result of the quality of the play, of course. So it stands on its own merit now. Just because you didn't like the play doesn't mean it is getting the attention for any other reason than a LOT of people like it. It is critically acclaimed, that's a fact. Some have said it's a modern classic and one of the best they've seen in a long time. That's another reason for the hype, and again, a direct result of the actual play.
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Post by crowblack on Jun 25, 2017 15:42:01 GMT
This is like the tennis. Do you think this play would have got five star reviews absolutely everywhere if it had been put on anonymously?
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Post by wiggymess on Jun 25, 2017 15:51:00 GMT
This 'anonymous' route is ill thought out, overused and doesn't interest me - dismissing the play for what it is and instead making assumptions that the reviews are based on who was involved rather than the play itself. I thoroughly thoroughly enjoyed it, and despite your assumptions, that wasn't because of who was involved, mostly it's because I think it's an epic, heartfelt, warm, engaging, tense and beautiful piece of WRITING. Are you suggesting that I would never be disappointed by something written by a writer I'm a fan of? I don't understand your point. It's a bizarre argument to make in my opinion. The writer gets good reviews because he is a good writer, with a good track record, and he's just written another good play. Issue? Are you that desperate to portray your opinion as correct and everyone who enjoyed it wrong for thinking it was a great piece of theatre? Can't you just accept that YOU didn't like it, and it wasn't to your taste?
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Post by crowblack on Jun 25, 2017 16:10:27 GMT
Why are you getting so angry (and rude!) about it? For the umpteenth time, I didn't hate it, but I don't think it's the greatest thing since sliced bread and I was surprised by the cross the board five star reviews from reviewers who have a track record of being far more parsimonious. I think the prior reputation of the makers has a lot to do with the extreme adulation. You don't. We differ on that. You repeatedly use the word "good" but five stars are for something truly, lastingly great, which I don't think it is.
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Post by wiggymess on Jun 25, 2017 16:13:58 GMT
Rude? How? That's the second person you've accused of being rude on here. You're clearly much happier not engaging with people who have different opinions, so I'll just leave it there.
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Post by crowblack on Jun 25, 2017 16:52:15 GMT
You're clearly much happier not engaging with people who have different opinions If this isn't "engaging", I'd love to know what is!!!! A discussion board where everyone was of the same opinion would be a pretty dull thing. Btw, words like 'stupid' and 'desperate' are rude, and the first bits of rudeness I've experienced on here so thanks for that, though I'm surprised you bothered to go and look up the other thing, hey ho.
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Post by wiggymess on Jun 25, 2017 17:02:07 GMT
So tempting but I can't be bothered, not going to be trolled into replying. Bye xx
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Post by showgirl on Jun 25, 2017 17:06:41 GMT
I shall be so interested to see this as I seem to be the one and only person who didn't like Jerusalem, which was why I didn't bother to book for this at the Royal Court. Then, of course the rave reviews and comments made me fear I'd be missing something which, this time, really would be worth seeing, so I booked for the transfer. "Emperor's new clothes" was how I felt about Jerusalem but I'd be delighted if Mr B redeemed himself in my eyes this time round.
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Post by crowblack on Jun 25, 2017 17:12:31 GMT
Wow, that's the first time in my entire life on the internet I've ever been accused of 'trolling" so congratulations! First time ever. I've got to say a discussion on plays wasn't where I was expecting it to happen.
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Post by wiggymess on Jun 25, 2017 17:38:59 GMT
Aaaaaaaaaanyway
Is there any news on the extension / ticket details?
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Post by kathryn on Jun 25, 2017 17:46:52 GMT
there's been loads more than that about Angels in America On BBC1 / Radio 5? I think that's rare these days (I hadn't noticed Angels in America reaching that far but I may have missed it). When I was younger there were lots of arts reviews on mainstream TV but these days its relegated to Radio 3 and 4, and even Radio 4 is cutting back, axeing Saturday Review. Lyn Gardner's blog has been cut from the Guardian and is now behind the Stage's paywall. I'm glad theatre is getting mainstream coverage - it would be nice if there was more of it rather than just when there's a TV star or Bond movie director's name attached. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08njtm8/segmentsI'm sure Emi could point you to more AiA stuff, here's the Front Row segment. Front Row is the arts programme, it always covers major theatre productions. And high-profile actors always turn up on the Graham Norton Show on BBC1 to talk about them. I suspect the only reason you are noticing press coverage of The Ferryman is that you didn't like it, and so feel it's disproportionate. It's not. It's completely normal for a high-profile production to get this much press. This production is high-profile predominantly because of the writer and a little bit because of the director. That's actually quite a refreshing change - it's more often a star in the cast creating this sort of buzz.
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Post by crowblack on Jun 25, 2017 18:03:34 GMT
I suspect the only reason you are noticing press coverage of The Ferryman is that you didn't like it That's not it at all! I've had a long-term beef about the lack of arts coverage on the mainstream media (by which I mean the non-middle-class, non-broadsheet media) compared to the amount of coverage years ago (1 hour Arena progs on Genet or Peggy Ramsay, for instance) . Front Row and the soon-to-be-axed Seaturday Review are where I'd expect to hear about plays. The stars sometimes turn up on chat shows - Hayley Squires was on Ch4 a couple of weeks ago, but it's surprising when a writer or director turns up on the 10 O clock news or Radio 5, as the Ferryman did this week. The days when the likes of Joe Orton did quiz shows are long gone.
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Post by popcultureboy on Jun 26, 2017 7:07:33 GMT
Aaaaaaaaaanyway Is there any news on the extension / ticket details? Given that press night is this Thursday, I imagine any planned extension will be announced if the reviews are a repeat of the Court ones on Friday.
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Post by wiggymess on Jun 26, 2017 7:50:34 GMT
Aaaaaaaaaanyway Is there any news on the extension / ticket details? Given that press night is this Thursday, I imagine any planned extension will be announced if the reviews are a repeat of the Court ones on Friday. Lovely, ta
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2017 13:39:29 GMT
If anyone's interested, Delfont Mackintosh currently has a row C stalls ticket available for tonight at £29.50.
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Post by popcultureboy on Jun 27, 2017 7:29:13 GMT
Which, had you queued up for it in the morning, is a £12 day seat. DMT love a dynamic price up don't they?
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Post by theatre-turtle on Jun 28, 2017 22:25:23 GMT
I loooooooved this. Very Pinter-esque, I was gripped from start to finish. I reckon this is a play kids will be studying in school one day. I was laughing one moment, crying the next.
5* from me.
The final scene is incredible.
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Post by theatre-turtle on Jun 28, 2017 22:43:48 GMT
Was it a real baby?
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Post by popcultureboy on Jun 28, 2017 23:07:15 GMT
Yes. They have six of them for the show.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2017 8:36:29 GMT
Yes. They have six of them for the show. I now have this image of a rack of 6 babies ready for each performance - the one not crying or needing a nappy change being selected as required.
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Post by lynette on Jun 29, 2017 9:53:58 GMT
I look forward to the book- my first appearance was as the baby in The Ferryman...
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Post by peggs on Jun 29, 2017 11:28:07 GMT
Yes. They have six of them for the show. I now have this image of a rack of 6 babies ready for each performance - the one not crying or needing a nappy change being selected as required. The script says 'crying baby' at one point but yes seem to have opted for smiley baby on stage, can't beat a smiley baby.
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Post by Snciole on Jun 29, 2017 22:51:58 GMT
It just feels very unfocused. In light of NI's continued issues I hoped this would feel more poignant but the issue of The Disappeared seemed tacked on to an average family drama. The issue I had is that 5-6 average tales loosely threaded together doesn't make a 5* play. It isn't bad but 5* suggests perfection, suggests a classic that will be performed for decades to come. I don't think it will for both practical (that cast size, see Incident at Vichy for example) and artistic reasons. It feels tedious to direct and what actor/actress would want to be part of this large ensemble. Imagine a Ralph Fiennes type banging down the door to play Quinn.
Laura Donnelly, Brid Brennan and Dearbla Molloy were great though as were many of the teenage cast. I think Butterworth is much better at writing for women and young people than men. Quinn is meant to be this virile stud and I just wasn't convinced. Too quiet, too weak and just too uninteresting set in a time that is still having repucusions to this day. I wanted a sprawling epic and got an anthology.
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Post by alnoor on Jun 30, 2017 6:25:40 GMT
Aaaaaaaaaanyway Is there any news on the extension / ticket details? Now booking until 6th Jan 2018 on Delfont M website
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