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Post by Honoured Guest on Feb 26, 2017 0:02:24 GMT
I am going to make my first trip to Theatr Clwyd on Wednesday to see Skylight, never been there before, going to catch a train from London to Chester, then get a bus to Mold, it is going to be an evening performance and Skylight finishes at 10pm the last bus to Chester is 10:20pm and nervous if I make it? When I saw it, it ran six or so minutes longer, so did you catch that bus? If not, I'm sure you were fine with the 22:55 to Chester from the bus station. I'm glad I saw this - fantastic set design and the lead actor playing Kyra was okay - but the play was, for me, David Hare at his worst and the other two actors were unconvincing, although much of the blame for that may lie with David Hare's dreadful play. I also question the new open casting policy, in contrast to Terry Hands's time at Theatr Clwyd when he built up a large team of Welsh and Wales-based actors, both official Associates and unofficial regulars. Compare the weak acting of the random "incomers" of Skylight with Christian Patterson (longstanding Theatr Clwyd Associate) and Sophie Melville ( Iphigenia in Splott, Insignificance) who were both outstanding in last autumn's production of Blackbird at The Other Room in Cardiff. It's good to see a wide range of different dramas at this venue, even though I'll be giving David Hare a wide berth again after seeing this one. |
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Post by Phantom of London on Feb 26, 2017 1:08:26 GMT
A great day out, really enjoyed this and found it to be absorbing, also thought Jeany Spark was fantastic, although agree with you on the other 2, but who could compare to Bill Nighly, who played the role more subtle. I enjoyed the play more than you did, great premise to build tensions, but unconvinced with the son bit and thought you could cut that part out, would the father really follow his son in, of a jilted loved 10 minutes later.
Cannot comment on Theatr Clwyd artistic policy, but Walse has always been a great oasis for acting.
Loved the space and reminded me of the West Yorkshire Playhouse.
Loved the set design, where they used building blocks to resemble flats opposite, very clever.
I didn't have time to catch the 22:20 bus, knew I wouldn't make it back to town in 15 minutes, so thought according to the timetable the bus 4 stops at Theatr Clwyd, so tried to catch it from where the council offices/law courts are, but no but turned up, the driver said buses don't go up there anymore. So in the end I did catch the 22:55 back to Chester, where I overnighted and Doris run me ragged!!!
I reckon It is doable to do a double theatre day with Theatr Clwyd, as I sometimes do, especially when I am doing a road trip.
I reckon if I caught the bus 3/4 or taxi to Buckley/Hawarden and then catch the train to the Wirral to Bideston, then catch the MerseyRail to Liverpool Lime Street (only when trains start running round the loop again), or the journey in the opposite direction - this would be achievable?
Nice tour where I saw this and The House of Bernada Alba/Funny Girl in Manchester and Thoroughly Modern Millie in Liverpool.
Then back to London for Love Labour Lost and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woofe last night.
4 Stars for Skylight.
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Post by Honoured Guest on Feb 26, 2017 3:01:06 GMT
I didn't have time to catch the 22:20 bus, knew I wouldn't make it back to town in 15 minutes, so thought according to the timetable the bus 4 stops at Theatr Clwyd, so tried to catch it from where the council offices/law courts are, but no but turned up, the driver said buses don't go up there anymore. So in the end I did catch the 22:55 back to Chester, where I overnighted and Doris run me ragged!!! Yes. no buses now go through the civic centre so you have to walk down the hill to the bus station. But you pass a bus stop on your right where the path is narrow on King Street and the No. 4 will pick you up there, scheduled two minutes after the bus station. No.4 is the only route that goes out of Mold in that direction. I haven't investigated your Buckley suggestion because I usually travel back to Cardiff by rail after a matinee and can do that from Chester but not from Buckley. I think Skylight is a real situation with real characters but the dialogue and action are purposely written and constructed as stylised and artificial. But here the father and son were just played straight, which doesn't work. I would also have preferred some more lighting changes (and perhaps movement) to "point" the play more, instead of just letting it run along and hope we got something out of it. I agree that the set was terrific, with the detailed flat amidst a representation of all the surrounding housing units. |
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Post by Phantom of London on Feb 26, 2017 13:14:03 GMT
Oh you do a round trip in a day, long day out.
It would be similar for me, it is doable in a day for a matinee, but a very long day, so prefer to hotel and see 2/3 things, which I did this week.
Even when I saw this Wednesday there were many empty seats, but saying that a lot of money, time, commitment and love goes in creating these pieces of work, so hope the production finds an extended life and would be great if it did the small UK playhouse tour.
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