716 posts
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Post by theatre-turtle on Mar 17, 2018 17:14:40 GMT
Was just at the matinee
I really enjoyed this a lot and I was quite affected by it. It’s very melodramatic and there were a lot of people weeping around me. There were a smattering of people giving a standing ovation at the end.
Agree with the comments that act 2 is far superior to act 1. I think that’s because it does take a bit of work to buy into the premise which is a hard sell. Act 1 takes some twisty directions and spends a lot of time setting the scene.
It very much comes together in act 2 though and it’s very intense and fast paced. The audience really seemed engrossed by the end.
For me it’s one of the best new plays I’ve seen for a while and I say this as someone that sees ~ 2 a week. I thought it was much better than Mosquitoes for example.
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3,475 posts
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Post by showgirl on Mar 17, 2018 23:13:18 GMT
Thank you, jamb0r and Snicole, as your posts persuaded me to book and I thought this was fantastic, whereas I hadn't been considering seeing it until early reports started appearing. I was riveted and though it was sentimental and cliched, the human interest hooked me as not only is it a compelling narrative but told through believable and sympathetic characters, with no heroes or villains - with the possible exception of the unseen dictator. I didn't see or hear anyone crying and can't see any reason for a reaction that strong; what I did notice was the positive response at the end, so I hope this translates into good reviews and sales.
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1,064 posts
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Post by bellboard27 on Mar 18, 2018 12:21:08 GMT
I found this interesting, but not as interesting as I was hoping for, but happy I went. The acting was variable in quality. I also felt there were some lost opportunities to explore North Korean and Japanese culture further.
The stage looked quite high. I was in the circle, but I wonder what view from the front row of the stalls is like. There are lighting effects that are projected onto the stage floor (which would not be visible from at least the front rows of the stalls), but these are not important as the lighting effects occur on the rest of the set.
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614 posts
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Post by jamb0r on Mar 18, 2018 22:12:01 GMT
I wish they had used a real lantern though Not one with an electric light and a balloon inside it You mean a real PAPER lantern with a FLAME in it? Sent floating up into the lighting rig? It really isn't difficult to see why they couldn't do that.
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3,475 posts
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Post by showgirl on Mar 19, 2018 4:36:01 GMT
The stage looked quite high. I was in the circle, but I wonder what view from the front row of the stalls is like. There are lighting effects that are projected onto the stage floor (which would not be visible from at least the front rows of the stalls), but these are not important as the lighting effects occur on the rest of the set. I think the NT has the pricing wrong for this but other than tweaking the cost of a few of the seats below top price, I don't know what they can afford to do and/or which wouldn't upset those who had already booked at top price. The reason I say this is that as others have noted, the stage is very high, meaning that those in the front stalls are below stage level and you'd have to be quite a way back to have a clear view. On the other hand, those in the side stalls seats (rows L and M), as I was, have a good view, at the right height, albeit sideways on. I was far happier with my (cheaper) seat there than I would have been in the front stalls - though I know people who have sat there have said it's OK. However, something for people to bear in mind if they haven't yet booked but are considering doing so.
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614 posts
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Post by jamb0r on Mar 19, 2018 8:05:47 GMT
I sat in the middle of the front row of the stalls. Yes the stage is high, but I wouldn’t say the view was restricted - I could still see everything just fine (apart from the lighting on the floor). I think it was well worth the £20 I paid in the Friday rush (the whole front row was reserved for Friday rush when I got my ticket).
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Post by turbo25 on Mar 19, 2018 11:13:53 GMT
The stage is certainly high, but I felt that my £20 seat in the front row was priced about right.
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3,475 posts
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Post by showgirl on Mar 19, 2018 14:16:44 GMT
£20 is great for the stalls but is that not the Friday Rush price? If not, and they are all £20, so much the better but it'd be unusual for any stalls seat to be that cheap.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2018 15:00:51 GMT
I've got a £20 front row seat for this week, which I believe was a leftover Friday rush ticket. I'd been holding off on booking 'cos I could only find restricted view seats or £40 stalls seats and I wasn't into either of those.
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294 posts
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Post by dani on Mar 20, 2018 14:14:15 GMT
There seems to be a lot of critical love for this. The only mildly dissenting voices appear to be Time Out (Lukowski) and ES (Hitchings).
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716 posts
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Post by theatre-turtle on Mar 20, 2018 16:25:44 GMT
I’m glad the reviews for this are good - it’s the kind of thing the National is perfect for and I’m always glad when they give a voice to quality new work and upcoming writers.
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2,348 posts
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Post by zahidf on Mar 21, 2018 20:49:03 GMT
Saw this last night. Was really good and moving by the end. Great acting and plot
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4,564 posts
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Post by Mark on Mar 21, 2018 21:24:09 GMT
Went this afternoon. The stage is high - above head height for 5ft 10, but the view is fine in the centre, particularly. First half felt shallow, but the second really paid off. Felt the North Koreans were slightly stereotyped, and I did like the British Standard sticker on the TV set, but it was an interesting watch and I did invest in the characters and outcome by the end. More rambling on my site if anyone cares. Aah I was there too! Really enjoyable and worth a watch. I was in one of the “flip” seats for £15, bargain.
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Post by duncan on Mar 21, 2018 23:58:47 GMT
Me 3, lovely play.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2018 11:57:56 GMT
I must say I'm deeply offended not to have got the memo about the group outing, I was there yesterday too but evening rather than matinee. As a not particularly tall lady, I'd just like to confirm that the stage wasn't problematically tall. You'd occasionally lose an actor to crouching or lying down but that wasn't a major issue for me. I agree that it started off messy but really tightened up as the evening progressed, and I will admit to some hearty weeping when it came to one particular scene near the end.
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Post by bramble on Mar 22, 2018 18:20:37 GMT
A really worthwhile play Very exciting and very moving.
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806 posts
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Post by duncan on Mar 23, 2018 15:37:01 GMT
7 - The Great Wave - National Theatre - Dorfman - March 21stHanako is lost to the sea on a stormy night but her mother and sister refuse to believe she is dead. And indeed she isnt, she has been kidnapped by North Korea to become a teacher. Over the course of 24 years whilst one family falters with their loss another develops via that loss but in the end decisions will have to be made around love and loss. A bizarre sounding plot but based on actual events of North Korea kidnapping Japanese people. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Korean_abductions_of_Japanese_citizensGripping! Powerful! Emotional! An intriguing look at love, loss, devotion, sacrifice and survival. A revolving set allows us to see both sides of the story, a cheap way to compare and contrast the emotions and actions of both sides however it works really well. Whilst Hanako is indoctrinated into the world of North Korea we revolve the stage to see her sister being indoctrinated into a obsessive quest to find her missing sibling. Whilst we see Hanako being introduced to the man that the government has decreed she must marry we revolve to see Reiko losing her chance of happiness owing to her obsessiveness and its the obsessiveness that drives the play - the obsession of finding your missing daughter/sister and the obsession of doing what is best for the glorious leader. Coupled with some subtle lighting, Japan is orange and warm whilst North Korea is white and stark, the sparse set allows the characters to take centre stage. Hanako and Reiko being our eyes and ears into two vastly different cultures, Rosalind Chao takes centre stage for the first half hour or so as the girls mother but then over time moves into the background as the girls grow up and take more and more of the plot. The whole cast are on top form. I think the end is a bit contrived but the 100 or so minutes before hand are engrossing as we become embroiled in hoping Hanako and Reiko can survive their travails. 8/10
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Post by theatrelover123 on Mar 23, 2018 16:11:57 GMT
I really want to see this and its likely I will get a Friday Rush front row ticket. Before I do I just want to double check just how tall the stage is. I know a few people have given their opinions on here. I am just under 6 foot but get quite uncomfortable if I have to look up too much/too steeply. Is it worse than say the cheaper seats at the front of the Olivier or Lyttleton? Is it bearable for 2 x one hour blocks?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2018 17:27:47 GMT
It is worse than the Lyttelton or Olivier, but it's totally bearable. And I'm several inches shorter than you are.
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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 Mar 23, 2018 19:30:27 GMT
Sitting there RIGHT NOW - I would say stage is about 4 feet off the ground, platform in the middle of stage about another foot
For me stage is about head height while I’m sitting down
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3,475 posts
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Post by showgirl on Mar 24, 2018 4:51:54 GMT
theatrelover123, if the option is available, I'd advise trying to get one of the side stalls seats (row L), as you'd be at the right height and the view isn't affected by being at right-angles.
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1,187 posts
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Post by theatrelover123 on Mar 30, 2018 22:05:22 GMT
Sitting in seat L3 tomorrow. On the side. Same level as stage. 3 seats from stage. I know it’s restricted view but does anybody have a sense of how restricted? Will much be lost? I remember watching the people in those seats for John and it looked like people were getting super frustrated with their lack of view (although that was a deep set)
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Post by nash16 on Mar 30, 2018 22:38:06 GMT
Sitting in seat L3 tomorrow. On the side. Same level as stage. 3 seats from stage. I know it’s restricted view but does anybody have a sense of how restricted? Will much be lost? I remember watching the people in those seats for John and it looked like people were getting super frustrated with their lack of view (although that was a deep set) You'll be absolutely fine. JOHN had the side walls of the B&B coming right to the front of the stage. TGW is very much Open Plan (like when they take the front walls out at the Almeida), so even sitting close on the sides, you're going to have a great view. The revolve set does have dividing/sliding walls, but they're normally angled so you can see without obstruction. Tbh, I think the only thing you're really going to miss is the effect of the projections of waves, etc, and they're not that important.
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3,475 posts
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Post by showgirl on Mar 31, 2018 3:41:06 GMT
L3 will be ideal: I said in a previous post that L is the row to aim for if you have a choice.
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Post by theatrelover123 on Mar 31, 2018 7:41:00 GMT
L3 will be ideal: I said in a previous post that L is the row to aim for if you have a choice. You did indeed, showgirl, and I took your mighty fine advice when booking so thanks!
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Post by tmesis on Apr 3, 2018 11:50:04 GMT
This is a really absorbing play that held my attention from the start. The second act is the more engaging but I found the first act very involving too. I agree with others that some of the performances could have been stronger but it was a very evocative production and the plot was handled with great skill and clarity by Francis Turnly.
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Post by david on Apr 3, 2018 23:27:23 GMT
Saw this at the matinee today. Overall, a play that I really got into and held my attention throughout the entire performance. I must admit I really wasn’t expecting it to be emotionally draining as it was and by the end, I’ll admit I shed a tear or two and by the look of some of the audience, I don’t think I was the only one. I think the fact that it was based on real events and the impact both on the kidnapped and their families was clearly shown made it that all more harrowing, particularly the ending. Just to make people aware there is one gunshot during the show!
I thought the staging was simple but effective and made good use of the revolve. The projections used on the stage really were effective, and from my seat L5 which was sold as a restrictive view, where very clear and there where no sight line issues, so a bargain at £25 rather than paying the front stalls seat prices.
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Post by NeilVHughes on Apr 7, 2018 11:09:29 GMT
Bit late to this one, saw it last night.
Found the first half slow and did not really cover the indoctrination in any depth, a young girl with a dislike for language becoming fluent in a year, suppose the true hell that she went through would be difficult and overpowering.
More than made up for it after the interval, have to admit I got quite emotional at the heartbreaking conclusion.
Staging was also one of the best I have seen at the Dorfman, the rotating set made the scene changes seamless.
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Post by lichtie on Apr 7, 2018 17:45:56 GMT
Thought this was great. I can see we have to take on trust the indoctrination to some extent in first half, but I thought it was believable just because of the age of the character. And immersion really guarantees you will learn a language... Excellent design, cast were great and all believable.
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Post by dlevi on Apr 11, 2018 6:12:14 GMT
I saw this last night and while there are moments which are theatrically effective and some sincere performances, I felt that it was more of a TV Movie of the Week than a hard-hitting expose of political compromise and deception. There's also a sizable spoiler in in one of the essays in the programme. I suppose that given that it's a factual drama there is an assumption that all of us in the audience know what the outcome is, but I didn't and so wishing to be enlightened I read the programme. That knowledge lessoned the impact of the play significantly.
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