2,452 posts
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Post by theatremadness on Feb 12, 2018 22:10:54 GMT
Rather surprised no-one has commented on this in months..has anyone been yet? I'm interested but holding out for offers, if I'm honest. Only began performances on 9th Feb!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2018 8:20:14 GMT
I'm going this weekend, and I'm tremendously disappointed that my performance at least has sold extremely well, I was *really* hoping for an upgrade.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2018 9:09:51 GMT
I thought this was very impactful at the Park a few years ago; I sort of feel like I should see it again, but I'm not overwhelmingly keen - the subject matter is not a place that's pleasant to go to.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 16, 2018 10:28:50 GMT
Saw this on Monday and found it excruciatingly bad. I have always loved the play but the tone here is all wrong, and the production is overnlown. There is a lack of intimacy and urgency in the storytelling, and the focus has been shifted from Ralph to the mother (her name Is escaping me now). Ralph is played as a one-note villain making the title irrelevant and the character of Agneta unnecessary. How anyone can have sympathy for the “frozen” mind by the end of the play is beyond me.
Lots of technical problems too: noise backstage, set pieces crashed into each other, lighting cues late (or early) and sound levels wrong.
This director is a bit of a mess, if you ask me. Would be hard to refocus the production at this point, so I doubt we will see improvement in previews.
The performances are, at best, middling. Suranne Jones comes off as schmacty and inauthentic.
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816 posts
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Post by stefy69 on Feb 16, 2018 10:39:29 GMT
Saw this on Monday and found it excruciatingly bad. I have always loved the play but the tone here is all wrong, and the production is overnlown. There is a lack of intimacy and urgency in the storytelling, and the focus has been shifted from Ralph to the mother (her name Is escaping me now). Ralph is played as a one-note villain making the title irrelevant and the character of Agneta unnecessary. How anyone can have sympathy for the “frozen” mind by the end of the play is beyond me. Lots of technical problems too: noise backstage, set pieces crashed into each other, lighting cues late (or early) and sound levels wrong. This director is a bit of a mess, if you ask me. Would be hard to refocus the production at this point, so I doubt we will see improvement in previews. The performances are, at best, middling. Suranne Jones comes off as schmacty and inauthentic. So other than that you enjoyed it ?
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615 posts
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Post by jamb0r on Feb 16, 2018 14:42:52 GMT
Just picked up an unsold dayseat for this on the website, front row centre for £15. If anyone's looking for a cheap ticket and doesn't fancy braving the cold looks like they were released online at 2:30pm today (I've been refreshing the page most of the day).
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5,319 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Feb 16, 2018 21:10:41 GMT
I’m yet to be convinced how good an actress Suranne Jones is. For my money she registered no emotion at all in any moment of Doctor Foster. I think she’s been VERY lucky in her career.
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3,482 posts
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Post by showgirl on Feb 17, 2018 5:11:09 GMT
TRH seems to me completely the wrong size and type of venue for this play, which I found worked very well in the intimate, informal setting of Park 90. It could certainly stand being seen in a slightly bigger space; ideally something a little more wrap-around like the Donmar, Minerva or Orange Tree but nothing barn-like.
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888 posts
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Post by lonlad on Feb 17, 2018 7:33:21 GMT
I gather it has an advance nudging £1.5 million, which is pretty good ---- whether the production is or not? well, we will see
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Post by ensembleswings on Feb 18, 2018 17:48:51 GMT
Was thinking of seeing this in March, I've got a Thursday matinee slot to fill and this is one of the few shows on I haven't seen that I'd like to (with a Thursday matinee that is). May hold off booking and see if I can get lucky with dayseats (or reduced price tickets) when I can get to the theatre - won't be until around an hour before the performance begins though.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2018 12:42:41 GMT
Well. I think I may have got the wrong end of the stick entirely with this play but it really did strike me as telling us that we should feel a bit sorry for a serial killer. I didn't as it happens. Heaven knows what will happen if Bryony Lavery gets her hands on Jacob Rees Mogg, Oscar Pistorius or Robbie Williams as the subject matter for her next play.
I didn't care much for Nina Sosanya as the doctor, she seemed to play a different character in every scene. Although she was very good handling a PowerPoint presentation. Jason Watkins was suitably unpleasant as Ralph and I found Suranne Jones very watchable although having her as a 50 year old woman with a 33 year old daughter was stretching her talents a little. Surprisingly there are several laughs in this play and the very end is really rather beautiful.
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137 posts
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Post by jason71 on Feb 20, 2018 13:19:33 GMT
What is the correct running time?
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4,601 posts
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Post by Mark on Feb 20, 2018 14:32:54 GMT
Going tonight so will let you know later if nobody posts before then
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4,601 posts
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Post by Mark on Feb 20, 2018 22:28:45 GMT
Running time tonight 2:25, finished at 10pm but started around 5 mins late.
I thought it was very good. The writing was very engaging and nothing really left to the imagination. Having not really known anything about the play before, I can see why some feel this may be the wrong venue (ie too big). I guess it might be if you were far back but I was 6 rows back in the stalls which was perfect for this.
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4,631 posts
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Post by Phantom of London on Feb 21, 2018 1:48:46 GMT
So with the very dark subject nature of this play, so did anyone turn up as Princess Elsa?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2018 10:21:35 GMT
So with the very dark subject nature of this play, so did anyone turn up as Princess Elsa? No. Of course not. That would just be ridiculous. I went as Olaf.
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4,601 posts
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Post by Mark on Feb 22, 2018 9:18:41 GMT
Reviews
4 stars - The Guardian, The Independent, Daily Mail 3 stars - Whatsonstage, The Telegraph, The Times, The Stage, Radio Times, Timeout, Evening Standard
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8 posts
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Post by jampow on Mar 2, 2018 13:45:20 GMT
Anyone else noticing how poorly this show is selling? Looking tonight, the vast majority of stalls is unsold and has been the same most nights.
Surpirsing considering the cast
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821 posts
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Post by ensembleswings on Mar 2, 2018 16:30:16 GMT
I've noticed that dynamic pricing is well and truly in place here, working to my advantage as I plan to see the show when I'm in London on Thursday. Looks like I can see the show without breaking the bank (and without sitting in the gallery)
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4,631 posts
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Post by Phantom of London on Mar 3, 2018 1:59:44 GMT
Saw this Thursday afternoon, where I found the play harrowing, uncomfortable and absolutely absorbing, even though the director didn’t get the plays messages across the best. The main bloke character who I hated and would love to take backstage and give him a good whacking and that is the character Ralph and not that the actor Jason Watkins is the best singular compliment I can pay him, his character made my skin crawl. The 2 female leads were mildly enjoyable.
3 Stars.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2018 10:21:01 GMT
Amazing
An actress having a career high
Based on an unbelievable melodrama
Chooses to appear in this sh*tty play
Lack of judgment
Her last stage role in London was also at the venue if I recall correctly A Few Good Men
She is nothing more than a 3 star actress
An ex glorified soap star Who has done nothing to expand her repertoire outside of that domain
Add to that mediocre reviews Many of which comment on her acting as not serving the play to its best
Is it any wonder the show is not selling
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3,107 posts
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Post by Rory on Mar 3, 2018 14:01:47 GMT
You're wrong on several counts @parsley about Suranne Jones who is an immensely watchable and talented actress in the eyes of many, myself included.
Her last London stage appearances were actually in Top Girls at Trafalgar Studios and Beautiful Thing at the Arts. She also had the lead role in Orlando at the Royal Exchange in Manchester. Hardly an actress to rest on her laurels.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2018 15:31:20 GMT
You're wrong on several counts @parsley about Suranne Jones who is an immensely watchable and talented actress in the eyes of many, myself included. Her last London stage appearances were actually in Top Girls at Trafalgar Studios and Beautiful Thing at the Arts. She also had the lead role in Orlando at the Royal Exchange in Manchester. Hardly an actress to rest on her laurels. I am sorry But she is hardly Worthy of the west end She isn’t any Carey Mulligan Or Lesley Manville She is a lower level actress in every sense That’s my point She is not going to be winning any theatre acting awards Or Oscars Most people have only heard of her from Dr Foster And this choice of play wasn’t the best follow up to that
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2018 16:52:27 GMT
I happen to REALLY like this play. Saw the original Broadway production. It was stark, intimate and exquisitely acted. This production is overblown, mis-directed and poorly acted. Suranne Jones tries. But she's too young to be believable in the role, and I found her performance mostly one-note.
The play should really be about Ralph. Part of what makes it so bravely imagined is how Byrony actually tries to make you feel sorry for him and his "frozen" mind. This production is directed to be one-note and in-your-face. We don't need to see Rona. We don't need all the guards, or the stewardess. Just get to the text. Let the TEXT do the work.
Really hated it. The worst thing I saw on my last trip to London in a whirlwind 11 shows, 8 days.
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1,119 posts
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Post by martin1965 on Mar 3, 2018 16:52:45 GMT
You're wrong on several counts @parsley about Suranne Jones who is an immensely watchable and talented actress in the eyes of many, myself included. Her last London stage appearances were actually in Top Girls at Trafalgar Studios and Beautiful Thing at the Arts. She also had the lead role in Orlando at the Royal Exchange in Manchester. Hardly an actress to rest on her laurels. He is always wrong on several counts.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2018 17:52:36 GMT
You're wrong on several counts @parsley about Suranne Jones who is an immensely watchable and talented actress in the eyes of many, myself included. Her last London stage appearances were actually in Top Girls at Trafalgar Studios and Beautiful Thing at the Arts. She also had the lead role in Orlando at the Royal Exchange in Manchester. Hardly an actress to rest on her laurels. He is always wrong on several counts. “The eyes of many” The show is far from sold Out 😂😂😂 Those A list venues Trafalgar studios Arts Royal exchange 😂😂😂
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3,107 posts
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Post by Rory on Mar 3, 2018 18:09:43 GMT
He is always wrong on several counts. “The eyes of many” The show is far from sold Out 😂😂😂 Those A list venues Trafalgar studios Arts Royal exchange 😂😂😂 Size isn't everything our kid!
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2,206 posts
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Post by theglenbucklaird on Mar 4, 2018 8:55:47 GMT
Not very good this. I left at half time. Would have left earlier if I had the chance.
A bad day at the theatre. Saw Carey Mulligan in Girls and Boys and that just about scraped three stars and then got to this. Staging, subject matter, writing. Is there really a play here? And that wailing from Suranne Jones??!! Made worse in a manc accent. And this isn't mancist. My best friend is a manc and has that lovely drawl that sounds like David Lloyd. Suranne Jones doesn't. Not for me this one so I made my excuses and left early. I scored this one point, mainly as they all turned up and on time.
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Post by jasper on Mar 4, 2018 9:38:02 GMT
Not very good this. I left at half time. Would have left earlier if I had the chance. A bad day at the theatre. Saw Carey Mulligan in Girls and Boys and that just about scraped three stars and then got to this. Staging, subject matter, writing. Is there really a play here? And that wailing from Suranne Jones??!! Made worse in a manc accent. And this isn't mancist. My best friend is a manc and has that lovely drawl that sounds like David Lloyd. Suranne Jones doesn't. Not for me this one so I made my excuses and left early. I scored this one point, mainly as they all turned up and on time. What does mancist mean? I assume its connected to racist, sexist etc, but what then is manc? Or is it something only the coterie know?
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1,192 posts
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Post by theatrelover123 on Mar 4, 2018 10:01:31 GMT
Not very good this. I left at half time. Would have left earlier if I had the chance. A bad day at the theatre. Saw Carey Mulligan in Girls and Boys and that just about scraped three stars and then got to this. Staging, subject matter, writing. Is there really a play here? And that wailing from Suranne Jones??!! Made worse in a manc accent. And this isn't mancist. My best friend is a manc and has that lovely drawl that sounds like David Lloyd. Suranne Jones doesn't. Not for me this one so I made my excuses and left early. I scored this one point, mainly as they all turned up and on time. What does mancist mean? I assume its connected to racist, sexist etc, but what then is manc? Or is it something only the coterie know? Manc is Manchester
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