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Post by theatreian on Nov 3, 2017 18:54:31 GMT
Just wondered if anyone has seen this yet. It only started yesterday. Seeing it on Monday night.
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Nov 4, 2017 0:07:51 GMT
It’s a play isn’t it? Nothing in the publicity suggests it’s a musical as far as I’ve seen.
I’m going next Saturday.
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Post by Honoured Guest on Nov 4, 2017 0:32:41 GMT
The Royal Exchange says it contains music and dance but I'm not expecting to experience a musical.
I'm REALLY looking forward to being there.
At best, it may be uncategorisable.
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Post by TallPaul on Nov 4, 2017 13:24:57 GMT
There has been quite a debate amongst the cast and creatives, I understand, about whether to include references to Myra Hindley. It has been decided that they would be too sensitive for a Manchester audience, though they may be re-included for the London run.
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Post by crowblack on Nov 4, 2017 13:39:54 GMT
I'm hoping to see this in a couple of weeks on the post-show discussion night. I love the film!
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Post by theatreian on Nov 7, 2017 17:06:22 GMT
Mm saw this last night and it is difficult to comment. It is pretty much uncategorisable as Honoured guest referred to above. The nudity and language is the most I have ever witnessed. I was sat on the bottom level so was fully privy to all the nudity and there was plenty of both male and female!! I will not attempt to outline the show as such as it is too weird to describe. I am sure some will love it. I am not one of those I am afraid! Still it is probably one of the strangest shows I have ever witnessed. Toyah as Queen Elizabeth 1st singing one of her hits I want to be Free, was one of the more up moments in what was a pretty depressing view of modern Britain.
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Post by perfidious_albion on Nov 8, 2017 10:50:04 GMT
Mm saw this last night and it is difficult to comment. It is pretty much uncategorisable as Honoured guest referred to above. The nudity and language is the most I have ever witnessed. I was sat on the bottom level so was fully privy to all the nudity and there was plenty of both male and female!! I will not attempt to outline the show as such as it is too weird to describe. I am sure some will love it. I am not one of those I am afraid! Still it is probably one of the strangest shows I have ever witnessed. Toyah as Queen Elizabeth 1st singing one of her hits I want to be Free, was one of the more up moments in what was a pretty depressing view of modern Britain. I was there Monday too. Definitely not one for the film purists (although not a movie buff, I do like the film a lot). Beforehand, I wasn't aware the story was to be updated. I did think there were some nuggets of inventiveness in the show, in terms of making it more topical, such as exploring identity politics, but it felt like it didn't really gel overall. In fact, it had the semblance of a work in progress and at any early stage at that. I suppose it pushed the envelope as far as it could for the Royal Exchange (I recall the theatre offering a gay play opt-out for its subscription package in the 1990s when it was collaborating with Brad Fraser). But it had none of the menace of the film, although I did fear being revealed as a non-participative audience member in the second half! Some good performances and the set design, particularly around the 'walls' of the theatre module, looked terrific. If you like the film, I would certainly suggest seeing it for comparison's sake. PS I saw Follies at the National two days before and I kept thinking how much fun it would be if Toyah and Imelda Staunton swapped roles. |
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Post by Honoured Guest on Nov 11, 2017 23:34:46 GMT
I found this a very comfortable experience - one of those occasions when you go to the theatre and relax, while paying close attention, because everything chimes with reality. Jan Brock would hate this.
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Post by crowblack on Nov 15, 2017 11:40:53 GMT
Definitely not one for the film purists I love the film, but I actually thought some of the most interesting bits of the play was where they innovated, rather than recreated scenes - I'd have liked it to go even more off-piste, to use the film as a springboard. A great deal of energy and gusto, and we really enjoyed it. Ariel's final speech, my favourite moment in the film, was beautifully done. We had to slip off after 5 mins of the post-show talk, which was a pity - hope it didn't seem rude, but we had a train to run for. |
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Post by drmaplewood on Feb 20, 2018 6:46:30 GMT
Saw the last preview at the Lyric Hammersmith last night. It’s as subtle as a brick to the face but I found myself enjoying it none the less, some very good performances and the air of unpredictability means I was never bored. I do feel it might struggle to find an audience at this venue, though.
A few walkouts, one couple who couldn’t even wait until the interval.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2018 12:53:33 GMT
Well. I feel like I've been repeatedly slapped around the face by Channel 4. It's rather full on and probably not for everyone but it's a rather effective updating of the film about the state of Britain today. Terrific cast with Rose Wardlaw, Travis Alabanza and the delicious Craig Hamilton as the standouts for me. Travis (as Miss Amyl Nitrate) gets a fabulous moment with the Union Jack that will live on in the memory every time I see it flying above Buck House. It's very funny in parts but strangely there are some incredibly beautiful moments which are staged incredibly well. There's a LOT of nudity, and I mean A LOT. Mainly thanks to Craig Hamilton and Tom Ross-Williams as a pair of incestuous brothers. I didn't know where to look. Well, I mean I did but . . .
Some people didn't come back after the interval. Lightweights.
Get there early enough and you get to see Toyah putting on her wig. She spends most of the time up in one of the boxes watching the show so you have to keep craning your neck but if you loved her as a pop star, the sight of seeing her dressed as Elizabeth I singing 'I Want To Be Free' will no doubt make you very happy indeed.
It could have done with a tap routine though.
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Post by Latecomer on Mar 6, 2018 22:18:22 GMT
I'll pack my tap shoes for tomorrow's matinee!  |
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Post by Latecomer on Mar 7, 2018 22:21:36 GMT
Saw it this afternoon - found myself sitting next to our Steve as well. Had a really good chat. Didn't really work that brilliantly for me. Way too long, the second half had me lose interest as I thought it was repetitive. It felt like a bunch of actors had been given the money to improvise a work, and these were the ideas they presented for consideration. Still, there was at least less sex, violence and nudity than "Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em" the night before, thank goodness  . Oh, and for those who want to know, it's 2 hours 30 or so, 15 minutes at least longer than they advertise. So....I was the Mary they sang a song for at the start of the second half! Sorry I missed you and Steve! I rather liked it....I enjoyed the politics and found some bits rather moving....the bit about violence being invisible....and who could resist Toyah belting her song out like that at the end? It gave me a lot to think about, even if I did feel rather old, white and guardian reading!!! Plus I enjoyed all the naked people and dancing/singing/smooching. it was rather lovely to just "experience" it without knowing anything about it. |
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Post by bellboard27 on Mar 7, 2018 23:24:31 GMT
I was there this afternoon also! I went in a bit wary and ended up really enjoying it!
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Post by Steve on Mar 10, 2018 13:10:38 GMT
For an updating, this is not outrageous enough, not angry enough, it's way too pleasant.
In no way did this express how nihilistic and angry I feel about the things that are happening in the world right now.
Some spoilers follow. . .
I can't ever imagine the director of this cuddly production telling one of his actors (the cop) to punch another one (Adam Ant) in the face for real, the way Derek Jarman did.
So the half -hearted critiques of now, in the first half failed, and felt like tamely retreading old ground (which was what Theatremonkey was saying to me, in fewer better expressed words).
The second half was a lot of fun though, when the performers and director gave themselves over to singing and performing communally. Toyah Willcox's song was great fun (and a great callback to the film). I liked that her placid Elizabeth reveals herself intrinsically to be no less ultraviolent than the killer she played in the film.
Most of all, I liked how Rose Wardlaw's Crabs walked down a bannister super slowly, to music, with a self indulgent cheeky grin on her face. That felt like the only true punk moment of the show, to keep us waiting like that.
Best of all though, was meeting Theatremonkey, co-creator of this board, and responsible for the best website in British Theatre. He's such a distinguished gentleman, I was a little cowed, so I had to remind myself continually from this board what he's REALLY like lol.
Sorry I missed Latecomer. I think I spoke to you once though, at Ruth Wilson's Eugene O'Neal Trilogy, when my friend crashed through the doors like a truly angry punk, when he was denied his pole position in the queue lol. Your daughter was far smarter, and negotiated her way to a seat in a far more civilised way. My friend should have directed this play.
2 and a half stars
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Mar 10, 2018 20:54:49 GMT
I saw it in Manchester, I really liked Albanza but wanted much more anarchy. Proper anarchy that is, stuff that makes the audience a bit scared about where it's all going, not the safety of what the production had (and appears to still have).
After I'd seen it I planned an all out expletive strewn review that would substitute for the lack of danger in the show itself but had second thoughts as it would probably have got me banned....
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Post by Latecomer on Mar 10, 2018 23:14:20 GMT
For an updating, this is not outrageous enough, not angry enough, it's way too pleasant.
In no way did this express how nihilistic and angry I feel about the things that are happening in the world right now.
Some spoilers follow. . .
I can't ever imagine the director of this cuddly production telling one of his actors (the cop) to punch another one (Adam Ant) in the face for real, the way Derek Jarman did.
So the half -hearted critiques of now, in the first half failed, and felt like tamely retreading old ground (which was what Theatremonkey was saying to me, in fewer better expressed words).
The second half was a lot of fun though, when the performers and director gave themselves over to singing and performing communally. Toyah Willcox's song was great fun (and a great callback to the film). I liked that her placid Elizabeth reveals herself intrinsically to be no less ultraviolent than the killer she played in the film.
Most of all, I liked how Rose Wardlaw's Crabs walked down a bannister super slowly, to music, with a self indulgent cheeky grin on her face. That felt like the only true punk moment of the show, to keep us waiting like that.
Best of all though, was meeting Theatremonkey, co-creator of this board, and responsible for the best website in British Theatre. He's such a distinguished gentleman, I was a little cowed, so I had to remind myself continually from this board what he's REALLY like lol.
Sorry I missed Latecomer. I think I spoke to you once though, at Ruth Wilson's Eugene O'Neal Trilogy, when my friend crashed through the doors like a truly angry punk, when he was denied his pole position in the queue lol. Your daughter was far smarter, and negotiated her way to a seat in a far more civilised way. My friend should have directed this play.
2 and a half stars
I remember the incident well, Steve, when we all queued by one door and then they insisted on opening another instead but we were having none of it and went all "anarchy, we are GOING THROUGH THIS DOOR"! I was with daughter and adopted "theatre daughter" Peggs from the forum, and both of them moved like lightening to secure front row seats, on either side of the theatre (there was a lot of confusion!) leaving me to saunter in and choose between them! Never a prouder moment.... And yes, this was really a bit too cosy but I liked the text. My favourite bit was where the actress playing Crabs was discussing violence and said that the violence we see is often just a response to invisible violence that has gone before. I thought she was a great actress and I loved this scene. |
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