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Post by Jan on May 31, 2017 10:20:15 GMT
I thought the Travelex sponsorship was supposed to develop a new NT audience. Instead they are using it to boost audiences for shows which are potentially "difficult" and of limited appeal. I think this is counter-productive, how many first-time theatregoers who went to Salome or this would be likely ever to go again ?
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2017 10:30:36 GMT
Would be interesting to see whether likes/dislikes for this split down gender lines.
I remember dreading seeing The Suicide at the NT and while it was definitely not my usual cup of tea I ended up rather enjoying it. Always worth going in with an open mind. Though I confess I did return my Salome ticket...
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on May 31, 2017 10:32:53 GMT
I thought the Travelex sponsorship was supposed to develop a new NT audience. Instead they are using it to boost audiences for shows which are potentially "difficult" and of limited appeal. I think this is counter-productive, how many first-time theatregoers who went to Salome or this would be likely ever to go again ? After one random person's comment? Whatever happened to waiting for a range of opinions and considered reactions or is that considered too old fashioned a view nowadays? In times gone by, productions would be able to use previews of new plays effectively, now something is dismissed after its first contact with an audience. The internet is great but it really is destructive in many ways (not suggesting Russians have hacked into theatre reviews, they probably have enough on their plate with the election).
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Post by Jan on May 31, 2017 11:02:00 GMT
I thought the Travelex sponsorship was supposed to develop a new NT audience. Instead they are using it to boost audiences for shows which are potentially "difficult" and of limited appeal. I think this is counter-productive, how many first-time theatregoers who went to Salome or this would be likely ever to go again ? After one random person's comment? Whatever happened to waiting for a range of opinions and considered reactions or is that considered too old fashioned a view nowadays? In times gone by, productions would be able to use previews of new plays effectively, now something is dismissed after its first contact with an audience. The internet is great but it really is destructive in many ways (not suggesting Russians have hacked into theatre reviews, they probably have enough on their plate with the election). My comment is a general one based on the last three shows in Travelex alongside those that aren't. Would a first-time theatre-goer be more likely to enjoy Twelfth Night or Salome ?
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Post by theatrelover123 on May 31, 2017 11:12:18 GMT
OTOH, a quick tour of twitter* reveals other positive comments. Could well be a divisive play (in divisive times). * other methods of gauging public response are available. I would say that about 80% of the comments on Twitter under #NTCommon are pretty damning. What a shame. Giving it a chance waiting for more comments though
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2017 11:16:05 GMT
Yet if you just search "common @nationaltheatre" the only real dissenting voice thinks it needs to be shorter but otherwise likes the acting and the staging.
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on May 31, 2017 11:17:38 GMT
After one random person's comment? Whatever happened to waiting for a range of opinions and considered reactions or is that considered too old fashioned a view nowadays? In times gone by, productions would be able to use previews of new plays effectively, now something is dismissed after its first contact with an audience. The internet is great but it really is destructive in many ways (not suggesting Russians have hacked into theatre reviews, they probably have enough on their plate with the election). My comment is a general one based on the last three shows in Travelex alongside those that aren't. Would a first-time theatre-goer be more likely to enjoy Twelfth Night or Salome ? I would have imagined Salome but its potential wasn't realised. There should be a mix of new plays and revivals but the former are more difficult to gauge. They will not have programmed it thinking that it would be a dud, from someone who had directed big successes and a known title it was a decent call.
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Post by viewfromthecheapseat on May 31, 2017 11:23:17 GMT
One of the issues last night was a problem with sound levels - some of it was inaudible. I hope they sort it out. The acting and staging are fine - it's the writing that's the problem.
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on May 31, 2017 11:24:11 GMT
OTOH, a quick tour of twitter* reveals other positive comments. Could well be a divisive play (in divisive times). * other methods of gauging public response are available. I would say that about 80% of the comments on Twitter under #NTCommon are pretty damning. What a shame. Giving it a chance waiting for more comments though Easy to do the maths, it's 50/50 on that one but much more positive on others. As I say, divisive.
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2017 11:27:59 GMT
After one random person's comment? Whatever happened to waiting for a range of opinions and considered reactions or is that considered too old fashioned a view nowadays? In times gone by, productions would be able to use previews of new plays effectively, now something is dismissed after its first contact with an audience. The internet is great but it really is destructive in many ways (not suggesting Russians have hacked into theatre reviews, they probably have enough on their plate with the election). My comment is a general one based on the last three shows in Travelex alongside those that aren't. Would a first-time theatre-goer be more likely to enjoy Twelfth Night or Salome ? Depends what they're into, surely? First time theatregoers are likely to be as diverse in their interests as the rest of the population.
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Post by Jan on May 31, 2017 15:59:50 GMT
My comment is a general one based on the last three shows in Travelex alongside those that aren't. Would a first-time theatre-goer be more likely to enjoy Twelfth Night or Salome ? Depends what they're into, surely? First time theatregoers are likely to be as diverse in their interests as the rest of the population. No. The answer is Twelfth Night (with a TV star). That's why it's been revived every couple of years for the last 50 years.
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on May 31, 2017 16:16:32 GMT
Depends what they're into, surely? First time theatregoers are likely to be as diverse in their interests as the rest of the population. No. The answer is Twelfth Night (with a TV star). That's why it's been revived every couple of years for the last 50 years. Well, having been given two different answers, it suggests there isn't a correct answer. Personally, I find that non theatre goers initially shy away from Shakespeare. Anyway, this one has Duff and Jumbo.
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Post by theatremiss on May 31, 2017 16:24:37 GMT
I'm there Friday night, so hope it's not too long
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2017 16:54:20 GMT
I'm there Friday night, so hope it's not too long According to their website it's 3hrs
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Post by zak97 on May 31, 2017 17:28:17 GMT
I'm there Friday night, so hope it's not too long According to their website it's 3hrs Oh I'm concerned about tonight. The content and the length. I'm going to go in as positive as possible, but if it is bad I'll have no shame in leaving at the interval.
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Post by peggs on May 31, 2017 19:07:23 GMT
Gore report please
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Post by zak97 on May 31, 2017 20:53:57 GMT
Left at the interval, as did a few others. Did not like the play, didn't hate it, but didn't like it enough to endure the seat I was in for another a hour and half. The non-existent legroom and back support was dire. Not too much gore really, on visuals for blood on the face in one fight scene that would probably only be visible from the front of the stalls.
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2017 21:47:06 GMT
I will stay until the end
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Post by peggs on May 31, 2017 21:57:46 GMT
I will stay until the end parsley are you unwell?! I am curious now!
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Post by jadnoop on May 31, 2017 22:08:24 GMT
It's difficult to tell whether the tweets about walk-outs represent a vocal minority, or a more significant proportion of the audience, but if the play is really dividing the audiences this much I feel a little sorry for the actors. I can't imagine working for months and months on something and then have to perform day after day to bored/bewildered faces and empty seats.
Having said that, I seem to recall a fair few interval walk-outs at Annie Baker's The Flick last year, and that was easily one of my favourite plays I saw that year, so I'm not sure that a hugely divisive play is necessarily a bad thing.
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2017 22:11:22 GMT
I will stay until the end You'll do what?? Who are you and what have you done with parsley you fiend?
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Post by Coated on Jun 1, 2017 8:31:53 GMT
I did leave at the intermission, mainly because the first half used up all my patience. It was way way way way too long and needs some fierce cutting and tightening up.
I'm seeing it again with a friend later in the run, and clearly didn't feel the need to know how the play ends on the day.
There's some rather good acting, a nice stage design (though perhaps that adds to the feeling of repetitiveness through its largely brown colour scheme) and a story that could be extremely topical. What happened with the commons then is happening in the modern job market now. Instead of giving way to sheep and being imported as factory fodder to the cities, people now are making way for automation and end up in service industry jobs if they're lucky.
I'm optimistic and hope that they really cut incisively to remove the bloat. If not, I don't think I'll manage the 2nd half at a later viewing. It's bad enough to sit 1hr 40 min for an entire play, it zaps my will to live if it's just for the first half.
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Post by foxa on Jun 1, 2017 9:33:17 GMT
I will stay until the end ;-) I am going tomorrow night....I don't know - it sounded interesting. My husband who is meant to be coming to see this with me is doing some elaborate contortions to get out of it.
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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 Jun 1, 2017 10:46:24 GMT
If he tells you he's "staying at home to prepare for Brexit negotiations" he's lying.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2017 11:03:11 GMT
I did leave at the intermission, mainly because the first half used up all my patience. It was way way way way too long and needs some fierce cutting and tightening up. I'm seeing it again with a friend later in the run, and clearly didn't feel the need to know how the play ends on the day. There's some rather good acting, a nice stage design (though perhaps that adds to the feeling of repetitiveness through its largely brown colour scheme) and a story that could be extremely topical. What happened with the commons then is happening in the modern job market now. Instead of giving way to sheep and being imported as factory fodder to the cities, people now are making way for automation and end up in service industry jobs if they're lucky. I'm optimistic and hope that they really cut incisively to remove the bloat. If not, I don't think I'll manage the 2nd half at a later viewing. It's bad enough to sit 1hr 40 min for an entire play, it zaps my will to live if it's just for the first half. This is one of the really annoying things about the NT Friday night tax - I'm much more accepting of a long play if I don't have to worry about my alarm clock the next morning. As it is I'm due to see this on a sodding Wednesday...
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Post by foxa on Jun 1, 2017 15:58:31 GMT
Just received this from the National: Common: performance cancelled on Friday 2 June
With regret, we have taken the decision to cancel Friday's preview performance. Please accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience caused by this late change. Common is an ambitious and technically complex new play, and the company need additional time on stage to work on the production during the preview period.
Because the performance has been cancelled at short notice, we will automatically refund the cost of your tickets. If you would like to attend a performance later in the run, our Box Office will be happy to arrange tickets for you.
Please see dates and current availability for future performances here.
To book for a different performance please call the Box Office on 020 7452 3000 or email boxoffice@nationaltheatre.org.uk, including your preferred dates.
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Post by lynette on Jun 1, 2017 16:05:36 GMT
I love that. It's rubbish folks. Why didn't anyone say?
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Post by showgirl on Jun 1, 2017 16:12:58 GMT
I booked a matinee in case this was long, but a 2.15 pm start is annoyingly early and if the first act is longer than some whole plays (I know it may be trimmed somewhat) and early reports are unfavourable, I may as well just ditch my ticket and take the £2 hit. It would have to be very good to be worth a prolonged session in the cheap seats but I'm not sure anything is worth 1 hour 40 mins for a single act. (And no, I did not book for Angels!)
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Post by Honoured Guest on Jun 1, 2017 16:15:26 GMT
a 2.15 pm start is annoyingly early Matinees are at 2.00.
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Post by Snciole on Jun 1, 2017 17:02:39 GMT
I keep seeing Anne-Marie Duff in tedious productions at the NT, where she is stunning to watch. She must be doing it on purpose.
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