270 posts
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Post by littlesally on Nov 4, 2016 1:13:38 GMT
Why would everyone scupper Glenda? Am I missing a huge leap? She is an unassailable force of nature. I Am nearly 60 so have a real fixed, perfect view of her based of her NEVER putting Foot wrong?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2016 9:38:27 GMT
Worst production I've ever seen of Lear…and I've seen a few.
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117 posts
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Post by ldm2016 on Nov 4, 2016 11:56:59 GMT
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1,064 posts
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Post by bellboard27 on Nov 4, 2016 12:50:11 GMT
Well tonight is press night (early start at 6.30), so it will be interesting to see those reviews roll in. I'm heading there tomorrow.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2016 15:44:16 GMT
Loved the production - bold, new, spacious, batsh!t crazy, all the things I want in a Shakespeare.
Glenda Jackson is a tour de force, and is not to be missed.
Harry Melling was rather annoying personally, I thought he overdid the role in parts.
I particularly loved Horrocks and Imrie.
And Edmund's magnificent ass.
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Post by profquatermass on Nov 4, 2016 15:45:06 GMT
Has Parsley seen the first half of this yet? I'm on tenterhooks for his/her verdict
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2016 8:34:49 GMT
Guardian 4* Times 4* Telegraph (reads as a) 4* Daily Hate 3* (added bonus in this review is the shock that Lear is played by a girl! And she votes labour! The HORROR)
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617 posts
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Post by loureviews on Nov 5, 2016 10:34:28 GMT
Even that 3 star review grudgingly admits she's good. Really pleased with all three reviews so far, well deserved.
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219 posts
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Post by PalelyLaura on Nov 5, 2016 10:49:12 GMT
Hey, don't diss King Lear With Sheep! That was highly entertaining :-P
(Incidentally I took a friend to that who'd never actually seen King Lear before. She was proper weirded out)
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1,064 posts
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Post by bellboard27 on Nov 5, 2016 11:13:34 GMT
Hey, don't diss King Lear With Sheep! That was highly entertaining :-P I heard it wasn't baaaaaddddd. And that the baaaard would have liked it. I'll get me (sheepskin) coat. Was the acting a bit woollen?
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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 Nov 5, 2016 11:44:40 GMT
Lear: are you shearing that sheep? Poor Tom: no, get your own
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806 posts
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Post by duncan on Nov 5, 2016 11:50:48 GMT
Flock off with these sheep puns!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2016 16:25:43 GMT
So is Glenda now a lock for Best Actress at the Oliviers (a nomination at least)? What about any other noms - Harry Melling (despite my own disapproval) for supporting? Any of the ladies?
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1,465 posts
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Post by foxa on Nov 5, 2016 17:16:58 GMT
TM is determined to 'ram' these 'woolly' puns down our erm...yarn, sheeple, erm...sorry ran out of steam there.
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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 Nov 6, 2016 8:53:56 GMT
Glenda was great but the production as a whole was v disappointing. If I hadn't seen Lear before I would have had no idea what was going on and I still had no idea who most of the male characters were each time they turned up
Plus is it just me or does the Old Vic have the rudest and most officious snooty front of house staff of any London theatre? No you can't go and use the loos upstairs, you must keep your ticket at all times, we will demand to see it after the interval and we're going to stand in the aisle and glare at you during the curtain call.
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18,842 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 6, 2016 13:17:20 GMT
Most people seemed decidedly "meh" about this when previews opened, things seem to have turned around somewhat.
Emperors new clothes?
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617 posts
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Post by loureviews on Nov 6, 2016 13:35:53 GMT
I agree it might not be a good choice for a first Lear but I did like it and I didn't have problems with who everyone was.
Thoughts from anyone in the top tier seats? Stage too far forward perhaps?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2016 14:07:08 GMT
Most people seemed decidedly "meh" about this when previews opened, things seem to have turned around somewhat. Emperors new clothes? It seems like the critics have had a wildly different reaction to the people on this board who have seen it, certainly. Skimming the reviews (and admittedly I haven't read them all), it seemed like Quentin Letts came closest to reflecting the majority of our opinions. Maybe we're going all Daily Mail in our old age. Now there's a terrifying thought! ;-)
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2016 14:22:55 GMT
I think you'd have to be an idiot, frankly, to not know what was going on in this production. It was not concept-heavy in spite of the set and costume design. To me, it was perfectly spare, and the ensemble of actors told the story in the clearest way possible. The staging was crisp, and the characters were clear-cut in their executions. What's the issue?
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18,842 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 6, 2016 14:28:02 GMT
Is it not the case that Glenda is one of those actors who never manage to transcend the fact of "being Glenda Jackson"? So while we can admire their talents, we never quite forget who they really are? Maggie Smith is another one, Judi D, Julie W possibly (at least she'll have a crack at an accent). Ian McKellan, Liam Neeson... Throw in the fact that Glenda has been in politics for 20 years plus the gender-blind casting with this play and you add yet another layer of unbeleivability to the proceedings. Honestly, those who have seen it, did you ever really really believe her in it?
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3 posts
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Post by charlotte72 on Nov 6, 2016 14:35:23 GMT
I admit Jackson undoubtedly is a great actress and she gives a powerful performance here, but critics have to review the whole show to encourage or not the spectators to buy a ticket. Although I admit, as I said, that Jackson is a talented performer, I wouldn't recommend that show to anyone. I spent a terrible time seeing that production : theatre is about entertaining the audience, and I don't see that thing as an entertainment of any kind. I value Billington as a critic, but I cannot believe that he enjoyed it as much as he pretends. I have on my desk the harsh, violent review he wrote about one of the greatest, funniest English actress of our time who was having a triumph in the West End in the early 1990s : the house was packed for months, the audience was in stitches every night, but nevertheless Billington demolished her performance, saying it was a disappointment. But he is not disappointed with that Lear. Just like BurlyBeaR, I'd use the expression "Emperor's New clothes"
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Post by Bickers on Nov 6, 2016 14:45:57 GMT
I'm going on the 15th of this month. I normally only go to musicals, rarely plays, and this will be my first professional Shakespeare production and I've never seen or read King Lear before. Feeling quite nervous after all the negativity bandied around on here, so I'm hoping I come down on the side of the critics...
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18,842 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 6, 2016 14:48:36 GMT
I'm going on the 15th of this month. I normally only go to musicals, rarely plays, and this will be my first professional Shakespeare production and I've never seen or read King Lear before. Feeling quite nervous after all the negativity bandied around on here, so I'm hoping I come down on the side of the critics... Welcome to the forum Bickers come back and tell us what you thought of it.
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393 posts
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Post by altamont on Nov 6, 2016 14:52:46 GMT
I'm going on the 15th of this month. I normally only go to musicals, rarely plays, and this will be my first professional Shakespeare production and I've never seen or read King Lear before. Feeling quite nervous after all the negativity bandied around on here, so I'm hoping I come down on the side of the critics... I would recommend you at least read about the play - the Spark Notes website has pretty good synopses of classic plays. Shakespeare can be hard work the first time, if you're not familiar with the play
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Post by Bickers on Nov 6, 2016 14:52:54 GMT
Thanks Burly, will do - I've been lurking for so long I've shocked myself that this is my first post!
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724 posts
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Post by Latecomer on Nov 6, 2016 15:28:55 GMT
Thanks Burly, will do - I've been lurking for so long I've shocked myself that this is my first post! I wouldn't read a synopsis....I love coming to Shakespeare all fresh and not knowing the story! The first time I saw Lear was brilliant.....I had no idea what was coming! Welcome to the board!
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2,389 posts
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Post by peggs on Nov 6, 2016 16:32:54 GMT
To answer several posts. Yeees I did believe in this Lear rather than it was just Glenda Jackson doing Lear Burley Bear. To be honest sometimes any kind of entertainment, theatre/tv/film is best for me with unknowns as you completely believe they are who they play (well if they're any good) rather thank thinking 'oh it's so and so' but then when you get a good actor you can know who they are and still believe they're someone else at the same time. Perhaps I was helped by knowing who Glenda Jackson was but that was about it. A week and a bit later i'm still not convinced by some of the direction and the staging but her Lear worked and was surrounded by enough good other parts to hold it all together. And for some reason seeing it has raised my theatre going in my mother's estimations too!
Like Latecomer I wouldn't read a synopsis either, I always used to as I was convinced I wouldn't understand what was going on and subsequently missed the revelations you'd get from seeing things for the first time. Sure a lot of people are named after counties in Shakespeare and everyone seems to be cousins or unhelpfully call each other brother when they're not but the plots are generally ok to follow. If you can conquer that initial 'ahh what's everyone on about' feeling that you can get with different language after 5 minutes yours ears tend to click in and if you don't then worry about understanding every line as I certainly don't it should be fine.
And ladyfluff welcome to the board, I hope it's a good first Shakespeare experience for you.
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1,119 posts
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Post by martin1965 on Nov 6, 2016 18:17:19 GMT
Thanks Burly, will do - I've been lurking for so long I've shocked myself that this is my first post! Crikey! You are brave choosing Lear as your first Shakey. Mind you imo it is the best play of the bard. Personally i would recommend reading a synopsis or some sory of background, it will help. Enjoy!
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617 posts
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Post by loureviews on Nov 6, 2016 18:40:07 GMT
Is it not the case that Glenda is one of those actors who never manage to transcend the fact of "being Glenda Jackson"? So while we can admire their talents, we never quite forget who they really are? Maggie Smith is another one, Judi D, Julie W possibly (at least she'll have a crack at an accent). Ian McKellan, Liam Neeson... Throw in the fact that Glenda has been in politics for 20 years plus the gender-blind casting with this play and you add yet another layer of unbeleivability to the proceedings. Honestly, those who have seen it, did you ever really really believe her in it? Yes, without a doubt.
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4,038 posts
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Post by kathryn on Nov 6, 2016 21:36:52 GMT
Most people seemed decidedly "meh" about this when previews opened, things seem to have turned around somewhat. Emperors new clothes? I doubt very much this production would get similarly enthusiastic reviews with a cast of unknown actors giving the exact same performances.
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