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Post by Dr Tom on Apr 7, 2018 20:18:47 GMT
Just watched the discussion of this on Front Low Late (which is up on iPlayer - the last segment starting at about 22 minutes in).
The panelists could well have read this thread as they picked up on much of the same things we have, including Mark Gatiss saying the play could have been shorter. But it's generally a positive response.
Worth a look if you like the play.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2018 8:58:28 GMT
Well. I loved Part 2 just as much as Part 1. It's just a glorious piece of theatre and if it's being compared to that other "AIDS play about the gays" then I think I may just prefer it to 'Angels in America'. The whole cast is sensational but really the main trio of Andrew Burnap as Toby (fabulously flawed but devastating), Samuel H Levine (heartbreaking) and Kyle Soller (MAG-NI-FI-CENT) are probably three of the best performances you'll see in or around London's glitzy West End for a long time. Levine in particular really comes into his own in Part 2 to deliver a wonderful performance but for me this whole production is about Kyle Soller who manages to hold the whole thing together and gives one of the most gloriously warm and engaging performances around. His Eric Glass is just such a delightful character and I can't imagine anyone else ever playing him. Where the play really works for me though is that it's so incredibly funny (there's a chase scene at a wedding which was hilarious) which makes the tragedy even more poignant. Vanessa Redgrave was a delight and gives such a lovely performance, the kind she does so brilliantly and a scene where she talks about her son had everyone in tears. There was a also a marvellous surprise which really deserved entrance applause when . . {Do you dare?} . . . Paul Hilton makes another appearance as E. M. Forster. And it's a smasheroo. And for those who love a bit of hunks in trunks action, you will simply die.
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Post by harry on Apr 11, 2018 12:59:09 GMT
I saw Part 1 last night and was spellbound. All encompassing in a way that I haven't felt in ages. Personally I enjoyed the writing far more than Angels in America which has some astonishing scenes and moments of humanity, but I feel wears its spirituality with a real heavy-handedness.
It spoke to me very personally as a gay man of roughly the same age as Eric and Toby, and I could feel that it similarly reached gay men in the audience of a slightly older generation who had lived through the AIDS epidemic. I'm a real sitter downer while everyone else is ovating kind of person if I don't think a show is truly brilliant, and last night I was on my feet immediately.
I wonder if it doesn't speak as strongly to those of a different persuasion (obviously I'm yet to see half of it and maybe I'll feel different after that, but Billington's complaint that the (almost)-all-male-ness of it is limiting seems to misunderstand the plays point about gay men passing on this "secret" or inheritance to other gay men.
And I love that a play about gay men's history is in itself a piece of that history. Can't wait for Part 2!
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Post by samuelwhiskers on Apr 11, 2018 15:27:05 GMT
Oh crumbs I missed the end of part 1 (food poisoning). Anyone be willing to spoiler tag the ending before I see part 2?
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Post by dlevi on Apr 11, 2018 16:47:07 GMT
I wonder if it doesn't speak as strongly to those of a different persuasion (obviously I'm yet to see half of it and maybe I'll feel different after that, but Billington's complaint that the (almost)-all-male-ness of it is limiting seems to misunderstand the plays point about gay men passing on this "secret" or inheritance to other gay men. Billington may be the dean of our drama critics at the moment but he isn't aging well in terms of his tolerance of the depiction of gay life in our theatre. He's a straight guy of a certain age and while he's on the liberal side of things, he's simply not comfortable watching two men kiss on stage. Don't get me wrong he's a long way from Quentin Letts but he's just not as comfortable with graphic gay content as someone younger might be.
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Post by tmesis on Apr 12, 2018 0:35:19 GMT
Just seen both parts today. I'm probably not the most reliable commentator on this since I love, and have read, Howards End several times so I was really intrigued by a play based on its plot and themes. Anyway I thought it sensationally good and the Forster element just made me love it even more. I really wouldn't have wanted it any shorter either; I've never known sevenish hours of theatre go by so quickly. The play got me on side in the first half hour by extolling two of my favourite things: Ravel's String Quartet and single malt scotch (I recommend both enjoyed together.)
An absolutely superb cast with my favourite being Kyle Soller as Eric (he was just so damned lovable) and it was elegantly directed with pitch-perfect precision by Daldry.
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Post by sf on Apr 12, 2018 9:03:23 GMT
Just seen both parts today. I'm probably not the most reliable commentator on this since I love, and have read, Howards End several times so I was really intrigued by a play based on its plot and themes. Anyway I thought it sensationally good and the Forster element just made me love it even more. I really wouldn't have wanted it any shorter either; I've never known sevenish hours of theatre go by so quickly. The play got me on side in the first half hour by extolling two of my favourite things: Ravel's String Quartet and single malt scotch (I recommend both enjoyed together.) An absolutely superb cast with my favourite being Kyle Soller as Eric (he was just so damned lovable) and it was elegantly directed with pitch-perfect precision by Daldry. I also saw both parts yesterday. I have a few very minor quibbles, mostly about part two, but I agree - it's spectacularly good. Daldry's direction is superb, and Kyle Soller is giving an absolutely astonishing performance. Yes, the seven hours flew by. I loved it.
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Post by harry on Apr 12, 2018 9:53:13 GMT
Oh crumbs I missed the end of part 1 (food poisoning). Anyone be willing to spoiler tag the ending before I see part 2? What are you after? A quick precis of Part 1 Act 3, or did you just miss the final scene?
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Post by addictedtotheatre on Apr 12, 2018 10:01:18 GMT
I loved, loved, loved this and after seeing Part One I urged my friends to see this. One of them was a little slow off the mark and only managed to get a ticket to Part I; he has since seen it himself and is desperate to see Part II. Any advice from my fellow theatreboard members on the best way to get a ticket?
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Post by sf on Apr 12, 2018 10:34:45 GMT
I loved, loved, loved this and after seeing Part One I urged my friends to see this. One of them was a little slow off the mark and only managed to get a ticket to Part I; he has since seen it himself and is desperate to see Part II. Any advice from my fellow theatreboard members on the best way to get a ticket? They appeared to sell a (very) few tickets at the theatre yesterday for individual parts (it was only bookable in advance as both parts together). It's worth a phone call, and they'll probably be lucky dip tickets if anything is available at all, and he'll have to go down there and queue, but it's worth a shot.
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Post by addictedtotheatre on Apr 14, 2018 10:39:24 GMT
I loved, loved, loved this and after seeing Part One I urged my friends to see this. One of them was a little slow off the mark and only managed to get a ticket to Part I; he has since seen it himself and is desperate to see Part II. Any advice from my fellow theatreboard members on the best way to get a ticket? They appeared to sell a (very) few tickets at the theatre yesterday for individual parts (it was only bookable in advance as both parts together). It's worth a phone call, and they'll probably be lucky dip tickets if anything is available at all, and he'll have to go down there and queue, but it's worth a shot. Thanks for the tip. I did call a couple of times but no luck. But, as I was passing by the Young Vic on way to see 'Macbeth' last night at 5:30 I popped in and they had 'just' gotten a £20 ticket. My friend was very, very happy indeed. So it is worth checking!
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Post by foxa on Apr 14, 2018 17:54:56 GMT
You are a good friend!
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Post by showgirl on Apr 14, 2018 21:00:23 GMT
I enjoyed the matinee of part 1 today - eventually, after struggling to stay awake for much of the first act, which was frustrating, though probably due as usual to sitting still and in semi-darkness, as it certainly wasn't lack of interest in the proceedings. I had a good (£20) seat but so far as I could see, all the Lucky Dip ticket-holders were seated and not usurped by late arrivals and there were still a few gaps left.
I'm looking forward to part 2, which I'm not seeing until May 9, so rather a long gap, but there was no way I could have coped with another long play this evening and the scheduling of the two parts made it difficult even to see them at separate matinees, so the gap couldn't be helped. Indeed, according to the Box Office, it wasn't originally intended that people should be able to see the two parts on different days, which would have excluded some with long journeys, etc.
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Post by sf on Apr 14, 2018 22:25:10 GMT
I enjoyed the matinee of part 1 today - eventually, after struggling to stay awake for much of the first act, which was frustrating, though probably due as usual to sitting still and in semi-darkness, as it certainly wasn't lack of interest in the proceedings. I had a good (£20) seat but so far as I could see, all the Lucky Dip ticket-holders were seated and not usurped by late arrivals and there were still a few gaps left. I'm looking forward to part 2, which I'm not seeing until May 9, so rather a long gap, but there was no way I could have coped with another long play this evening and the scheduling of the two parts made it difficult even to see them at separate matinees, so the gap couldn't be helped. Indeed, according to the Box Office, it wasn't originally intended that people should be able to see the two parts on different days, which would have excluded some with long journeys, etc. Presumably if they aren't performing part 2 later in the same day there's a curtain call at the end of part 1?
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Post by showgirl on Apr 15, 2018 4:38:36 GMT
There was indeed yesterday, sf , but oddly, on the day I see part 2 at the matinee, it looks as if the evening performance is part 2 again.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2018 13:08:57 GMT
I do wonder if I would have enjoyed Part 2 more with seeing them on different days- and I'm an advocate for the long play day in general. I think a good deal of my frustration with Part 2 was in some ways bourne out of a long day, in not very comfortable seating and a sense of 'Ok I do just want to go home now'...but we will never know. Especially after loving Part 1 and being so moved by the ending I kind of felt 'done' for the day. Anyway...
What I was coming in here to say was another feather in YV customer service cap, for posting me a programme for this after they ran out on the day I was there. A friend approached the Box Office who happily posted it to save him having to.
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Post by showgirl on Apr 15, 2018 14:08:01 GMT
Incidentally, I was pleasantly surprised to find - for the first time ever that I recall in any theatre I visit reasonably frequently - that because the majority of the audience members were male, the interval queue for the ladies' loos was minimal and probably shorter than the gentlemen found. It may never happen again but it was certainly an unexpected bonus!
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Post by peggs on Apr 15, 2018 16:28:05 GMT
Ditto as above, the ladies queue took great satisfaction last night in being shorter than the gents. Part 1 seen and enjoyed. Quite a gap till part 2 and have only skimmed the thread in case I find out something I don't want to know. Act 1 took a while to warm up but then rolled along nicely with some really strong scenes and acting and the back of my mind thinking about Howard's end. Had read enough on here to be looking forward to the end scene, unexpected, much better for not knowing. For me the most powerful thing was watching the impact on so many gay couples and seeing how hard it hit and how much it meant. That rather brought a lump to my throat. As a human I responded but was aware that for some people it would mean so much more, this isn't a criticism in any way, I felt rather honoured to be able to witness and be part of this.
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Post by tmesis on Apr 15, 2018 16:30:26 GMT
I do wonder if I would have enjoyed Part 2 more with seeing them on different days- and I'm an advocate for the long play day in general. I think a good deal of my frustration with Part 2 was in some ways bourne out of a long day, in not very comfortable seating and a sense of 'Ok I do just want to go home now'...but we will never know. Especially after loving Part 1 and being so moved by the ending I kind of felt 'done' for the day. Anyway... What I was coming in here to say was another feather in YV customer service cap, for posting me a programme for this after they ran out on the day I was there. A friend approached the Box Office who happily posted it to save him having to. So much depends on your mood. I saw AIA with a six week gap between the two parts. This was frustrating since I enjoyed the first part so much but I found the writing and performances so seductive that I didn't lose the impetus when I eventually saw part two. On Wednesday I saw both parts of The Inheritance. On the train in I was apprehensive about this but because I was feeling in a particularly good mood I really enjoyed it, the time flew by, and I'm really pleased I took that option. Conversley I've been to some 90 minute plays and because I was a bit tired/fed up found them interminable and couldn't wait for it to end.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2018 16:42:27 GMT
I do wonder if I would have enjoyed Part 2 more with seeing them on different days- and I'm an advocate for the long play day in general. I think a good deal of my frustration with Part 2 was in some ways bourne out of a long day, in not very comfortable seating and a sense of 'Ok I do just want to go home now'...but we will never know. Especially after loving Part 1 and being so moved by the ending I kind of felt 'done' for the day. Anyway... What I was coming in here to say was another feather in YV customer service cap, for posting me a programme for this after they ran out on the day I was there. A friend approached the Box Office who happily posted it to save him having to. So much depends on your mood. I saw AIA with a six week gap between the two parts. This was frustrating since I enjoyed the first part so much but I found the writing and performances so seductive that I didn't lose the impetus when I eventually saw part two. On Wednesday I saw both parts of The Inheritance. On the train in I was apprehensive about this but because I was feeling in a particularly good mood I really enjoyed it, the time flew by, and I'm really pleased I took that option. Conversley I've been to some 90 minute plays and because I was a bit tired/fed up found them interminable and couldn't wait for it to end. oH totally, (and I have been going to theatre long enough to work this out...I was just musing on this particular one.) To use another example I loathe both Gypsy and have little time for Miss Patti because I hated it with her in NY...but I was at the end of a very long week there, and the man in front of me had an extremely large head! The Inheritance and my not loving it as much as some people has really bothered me I admit. I think for a good part of it I'm too close to the source material it draws it's own theatrical 'Inheritance' from (the use of theatre to talk about HIV/AIDS) and I couldn't ever quite become absorbed in it, because it naturally causes my brain to run a mile a minute analysis and putting together pieces etc etc. For me as well I felt so wrung out but also so satisfied (both theatrically and emotionally) by the end of part 1 I never quite shook the feeling of 'and why are we back here?' no matter how good some parts of part 2 were. (some frankly needed some damn good editing) but I do wonder with a day or week's gap would I have been more curious to go back (and in less pain from those seats granted!)
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Post by showgirl on Apr 15, 2018 18:00:02 GMT
Agree with tmesis that a longer play such as this can be fine, whereas a far shorter one can seem interminable. As with Fanny & Alexander, part 1 of The Inheritance certainly didn't outstay its welcome yet in the evening I went to a one-hour show I had chosen specifically for balance, as it was short and light-hearted, only to hate it so much that I seriously considered escape. And I was in the centre of the front row, so that's how desperate I was. Maybe the evening event seemed too frivolous after such a heavyweight, thought-provoking afternoon.
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Post by partytentdown on Apr 15, 2018 18:27:45 GMT
Any chance of a transfer?
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Post by nash16 on Apr 15, 2018 20:57:32 GMT
Any chance of a transfer? Only to NYC I'm afraid.
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Post by harry on Apr 15, 2018 22:46:15 GMT
Any chance of a transfer? Only to NYC I'm afraid. Oh no. Even with Sonia Friedman’s name in the programme, no chance of a West End run? Such a shame - quite a few people I want to try and encourage to see this but I think constant checking of the YV website/dayseating is beyond their level of commitment!
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Post by theatrefan77 on Apr 15, 2018 23:27:52 GMT
I saw Part 1 for the second time yesterday and loved it again. By the end I was in tears. Having seen an early preview, I'm glad to have seen it again, it's a bit shorter and much tighter.
Look forward to my second viewing of Part 2 next week
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Post by harry on Apr 18, 2018 9:22:51 GMT
Saw Part 2 last night. Taken as a whole this, to me, is one of the greatest theatrical successes I have had the pleasure of witnessing in almost 30-years of theatre going. Full of spine tingling moments, and just a wonderful synergy of writing, acting and direction. Too many highlights to mention although the scene where two characters played by the same actor meet and converse (and despite its unavoidable "unrealisticness" it is completely believable) seems to encapsulate what is so wonderfully theatrical about the whole endeavour. I was very sad to see it finish.
Only one gripe. What was the casting of Vanessa Redgrave about?! Yes she was in the Howards End film, but putting her onstage with real Americans while she was struggling to remember her way through the lines in probably the worst American accent I have ever heard onstage threatened to derail the whole thing 6 1/2 hours into the 7 hour marathon. If it transfers to the West End or Broadway, I do hope she has the sense to give someone else a go!
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Post by crowblack on Apr 18, 2018 9:51:49 GMT
Maybe they'll get Emma Thompson or Helena B-C.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Apr 18, 2018 11:50:12 GMT
Saw Part 2 last night. Taken as a whole this, to me, is one of the greatest theatrical successes I have had the pleasure of witnessing in almost 30-years of theatre going. Full of spine tingling moments, and just a wonderful synergy of writing, acting and direction. Too many highlights to mention although the scene where two characters played by the same actor meet and converse (and despite its unavoidable "unrealisticness" it is completely believable) seems to encapsulate what is so wonderfully theatrical about the whole endeavour. I was very sad to see it finish. Only one gripe. What was the casting of Vanessa Redgrave about?! Yes she was in the Howards End film, but putting her onstage with real Americans while she was struggling to remember her way through the lines in probably the worst American accent I have ever heard onstage threatened to derail the whole thing 6 1/2 hours into the 7 hour marathon. If it transfers to the West End or Broadway, I do hope she has the sense to give someone else a go! I was also there last night and was unsure about VR. My initial thought was it’s late in the drama to introduce a new character / actor VR aside I thought the rest of cast and direction was superb. Part 1. Absolutely adored. One of my all time theatrical highs. Magical and hypnotic and such a stunning ‘finale’. This could make a great opera or musical. Part 2. What went wrong? Was I looking forward it too much? Too much 3 rd person and not enough dialogue? Also I could see the generational circle completing way before the script let it happen. Part 2 really needs a trim and rewrite. For me this really was a play of two halves. I loved it themes and ambition despite it loosing its way.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2018 12:06:30 GMT
PineappleForYouI agree- I'd love to see Part 1 again, because it felt SO perfect. Especially that ending. Part 2 while there were some lovely moments, never reached the same heights for me and sadly left me with an overall dissatisfaction with what (based on part 1) could have been truly incredible. That's not to underestimate that it's still very very good, but for me loses something in the latter half.
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Post by aniviel on Apr 19, 2018 15:40:28 GMT
Any chance of a transfer? It is getting a West End transfer. That's all we can say
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