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Post by nash16 on Nov 6, 2016 22:21:06 GMT
How did the get 4* reviews? Even reading the reviews, yes, they praise Glenda Jackson, but sort of demolish the rest of the production. Yet still 4*.
Are the bowing down to the Old Vic, Glenda, or none of the above?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2016 0:22:29 GMT
Maybe they just liked it. I mean, we've all liked things that maybe don't seem too great when broken down into component parts but damnit we can't help but enjoy the whole, right?
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Post by nash16 on Nov 7, 2016 0:38:59 GMT
Maybe they just liked it. I mean, we've all liked things that maybe don't seem too great when broken down into component parts but damnit we can't help but enjoy the whole, right? Maybe. It's so mad though as so many DISliked it on here. Audience around me on Wednesday at the interval were all in the negative. And yet these reviews...
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Post by martin1965 on Nov 7, 2016 6:39:27 GMT
Maybe they just liked it. I mean, we've all liked things that maybe don't seem too great when broken down into component parts but damnit we can't help but enjoy the whole, right? Maybe. It's so mad though as so many DISliked it on here. Audience around me on Wednesday at the interval were all in the negative. Ancd yet these reviews... Happens quite a lot on this board!
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Post by loureviews on Nov 7, 2016 7:39:21 GMT
The audience around me on the Thursday were all in the positive.
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Post by bellboard27 on Nov 7, 2016 9:14:11 GMT
I also liked it. So obviously some diverse views!
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Post by foxa on Nov 7, 2016 9:35:09 GMT
How did the get 4* reviews? Even reading the reviews, yes, they praise Glenda Jackson, but sort of demolish the rest of the production. Yet still 4*. Are the bowing down to the Old Vic, Glenda, or none of the above? This was how I felt about the 4* reviews for 'Oil' at the Almeida. With a few notable exceptions, a lot of us from the board, including those who tend to be generous-hearted really didn't rate 'Oil'. Meanwhile, I hear poor Hotel Cerise at Stratford EAst, which I found flawed by entertaining and relevant, got mainly 2-3*s and I hear is struggling for audiences. If they had a weighty name in that, it probably would have made a difference, but part of what I enjoyed was seeing a lot of good actors who were new to me.
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Post by foxa on Nov 12, 2016 11:58:56 GMT
I liked it and my SO, who usually hates everything, really liked it too. Positives: Very clear. If there were audibility problems in previews these seem to have been remedied with some subtle use of mics. We could hear the lines in the storm scene, for example. There was some good support (sorry didn't get a programme, so don't know all the names.) Sargon Yelda was excellent as Kent - he truly looked different for the transformation and had a real 'Oh my God I can't believe how quickly this has all gone badly' quality (which resonated with the post-Trump audience.) I liked a lot of what Rhys Ifans did - the egg bit worked for me - though I didn't entirely get his relationship with Lear in the way other fools have perhaps established. I'm usually allergic to Jane Horrocks and wasn't crazy about her in the first scene, but then thought she and Danny Webb were chilling. Even the First Lord gave a warm performance - everything he did seemed right to me.
And then, of course, there was Glenda. I do not know how, after a 23 year break from acting, she came back and gave that performance. She was mercurial, subtle, brave, absolutely on it ...There was a bit when she wakes from a sleep and sees Cordelia that was gorgeous. Her defiance, in another scene, when she says 'Every inch a king,' - just wonderful. My SO worried a bit about the carousing soldiers bit - would little Glenda really be sharing their fridge full of beer - it seemed improbable. But I have nothing but admiration for her.
Negatives: My SO wants me to complain about the slurpy phone-viewing man who sat next to him, but I'll put that in Bad Behaviour. Didn't think Cordelia and Edmund were very strong. Not sure that the hoovering of the set added much.
But from my perspective this earned its 4*. Note: I saw 'Threepenny Opera' after Brexit which gave it a certain piquancy. Seeing this after Trump, there were certain lines etc. that I suspect got a different reaction than they would have a week ago. You know: Evil/Power/Handing over...that stuff.
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Post by theatremadness on Nov 17, 2016 23:40:13 GMT
Of *all* the things The Old Vic could transfer to the West End
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Post by Jon on Nov 18, 2016 0:20:21 GMT
Not sure where it could go as everything is booked up until late Spring.
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Post by nash16 on Nov 18, 2016 0:20:47 GMT
Of *all* the things The Old Vic could transfer to the West End But it's awful! (she's not bad, but the rest of it…) How is this allowed to happen?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2016 0:44:29 GMT
Of *all* the things The Old Vic could transfer to the West End But it's awful! (she's not bad, but the rest of it…) How is this allowed to happen? Because it's strongly cast People want to see Glenda Jackson It's SOLD OUT And it got very good reviews Remaining tickets went for £100 plus based on the dynamic pricing All of the above despite the sniping on this forum It may surprise you But the fortunes of producers aren't related to or affected by predictions or comments here
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Post by nash16 on Nov 18, 2016 3:28:00 GMT
But it's awful! (she's not bad, but the rest of it…) How is this allowed to happen? Because it's strongly cast People want to see Glenda Jackson It's SOLD OUT And it got very good reviews Remaining tickets went for £100 plus based on the dynamic pricing All of the above despite the sniping on this forum It may surprise you But the fortunes of producers aren't related to or affected by predictions or comments here Strongly MIScast. E.g. Why is Miss Babs playing Goneril with a wink and a smile? DIG Celia. Dig deep and you shall find a character that is not actually like you. Play that!
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Post by martin1965 on Nov 18, 2016 6:24:14 GMT
As Parsley says despite the comments here all the reviews ive seen have been good. With Jacksons name in the states a broadway transfer was always on the cards, not surprised at all. Im going next wed.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2016 10:14:43 GMT
Boom! G.Jack is BACK baby!
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Post by wickedgrin on Nov 18, 2016 11:03:07 GMT
Yes, a huge shame she ever went away.
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Post by loureviews on Nov 19, 2016 11:06:39 GMT
For all the sniping here this is certainly not awful and if it gets a transfer, good!
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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 19, 2016 11:13:33 GMT
Extra matinee added on 26 Nov, on sale midday on Monday
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Post by crabtree on Nov 19, 2016 13:49:14 GMT
Full marks for Glenda having the stamina and the memory for coming back to the stage and this age, let alone to play Lear. A brilliant actor. Interesting the comment about Celia Imrie above, as the reviews have not really mentioned her.
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Post by littlesally on Nov 20, 2016 0:24:55 GMT
A phenomenal, shattering performance from GJ in a wonderful production. Too many stand outs to mention but do agree that Celia Imrie misjudged this spectacularly. Dinnerladies all over again!
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Post by drmaplewood on Nov 21, 2016 12:05:44 GMT
Extra matinee added on 26 Nov, on sale midday on Monday Thanks for this, booked.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2016 20:42:54 GMT
What's with the Celia hate? I thought she and Jane Horrocks were *fabulous*
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Post by couldileaveyou on Nov 21, 2016 21:14:26 GMT
She was alright, nothing to write home about. They were just too old, Jane was trying to be a milf and when Glenda told Celia that she will never have a child the woman behind me giggled and whispered "too late for that, love"
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Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2016 21:48:55 GMT
It is too often a problem with the casting of Goneril IMO… The fact that the whole Lear-cursing-her-potential-pregnancy thing comes up makes it clear that she should be in her late 30s/early 40s, and Regan probably early 30s (newly married), and Cordelia in her early 20s… Goneril has way too often been cast as a 50/60 year old, even going back to Dorothy Tutin
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Post by DuchessConstance on Nov 22, 2016 17:20:02 GMT
The Michael Pennington tour earlier this year cast all three sisters young (not sure how old but the actresses playing Regan and Goneril looked around 30) and it worked well.
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Post by loureviews on Nov 22, 2016 18:45:13 GMT
I didn't have a problem with Celia's age until that line about not having children came up. It's entirely possible that a King of advanced years could have a child of 50 plus.
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Post by couldileaveyou on Nov 22, 2016 20:08:49 GMT
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Post by talkstageytome on Nov 22, 2016 20:39:10 GMT
I'm so glad. Despite the mixed reviews on here I was hoping to see this, but didn't fancy two Lears in such rapid succession (Only saw the RSC one a few weeks ago). Will definitely have to listen to this...
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Post by crabtree on Nov 22, 2016 22:35:35 GMT
400 years since it was performed for James in 1606. Maths was never my strong subject but........
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Post by d'James on Nov 22, 2016 22:41:52 GMT
400 years since it was performed for James in 1606. Maths was never my strong subject but........ Haha. Glad it's not just me :-)
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