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Post by Marwood on May 1, 2018 17:55:36 GMT
Tickets now on sale through Today Tix but no bargains (yet) - I find it hard to believe the French population of London and French tourists will be clamouring to snap up tickets for this so am going to wait, but do people think fourth row stalls will be close enough to both see what is going on and read the surtitles?
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Post by n1david on May 1, 2018 17:59:46 GMT
If it's like my experience with subtitles at the ROH, you may want to be further back if the surtitles are right at the top of the stage, as you would be constantly looking between straight ahead and higher up. But I guess it's impossible to tell until we know the staging.
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Post by viserys on May 2, 2018 14:34:23 GMT
Since surtitles are not a regular thing there (unlike at opera houses) I would assume that they will use the surtitle installation usually used for captioned performances. In most theatres they are at middle height on both sides of the proscenium arch. So Dress Circle is probably the best place to enjoy a show and easily follow the captions - in fact I'm usually given Dress Circle when I specifically book a captioned performance.
The front rows of the stalls are probably too close if you want to avoid looking between performers and surtitles all the time. That said, I've booked Row E in the stalls myself because I rather miss some of the surtitles than the chance to see the lovely Audrey Fleurot somewhat up close.
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2018 17:19:44 GMT
I saw a Swedish thing with surtitles (and Krister Henriksson) a few years ago, can't remember the play. But the titles were projected onto a very fine curtain at the back of the stage, which worked really well from where I was sitting in the front ish stalls.
Dammit, I really want to see this! It's tricky picking a seat that is worth the journey and doesn't break the bank though.
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on May 3, 2018 6:57:10 GMT
I agree Elanor, that play was called Doktor Glas and Krister Henriksson gave a spectacular performance. Shame he's not a very nice man in real life.
I saw that play near from the front and I had no problems with the surtitles (I think they had some on the sides too?).
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2018 22:01:09 GMT
I agree Elanor, that play was called Doktor Glas and Krister Henriksson gave a spectacular performance. Shame he's not a very nice man in real life. I saw that play near from the front and I had no problems with the surtitles (I think they had some on the sides too?). I remember enjoying it! What's wrong with poor old Wallander in real life?
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on May 4, 2018 7:02:22 GMT
I agree Elanor, that play was called Doktor Glas and Krister Henriksson gave a spectacular performance. Shame he's not a very nice man in real life. I saw that play near from the front and I had no problems with the surtitles (I think they had some on the sides too?). I remember enjoying it! What's wrong with poor old Wallander in real life? Oh let's go OT for a bit! I collect autographs and I tried on 2 occasions to see if he would sign my programme because he gave an amazing performance in the play. The first time he left via the front of the theatre which is fine I'm not criticising...so I thought I would try another time on the off chance and he did come out the stage door that time and there was just me waiting...I was very polite and he completely blanked me and looked at me like I was something he'd stepped in on the street. His choice I suppose.
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Post by Deleted on May 4, 2018 18:34:58 GMT
Aw, boooooo!
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Post by Jan on May 4, 2018 20:07:06 GMT
I remember enjoying it! What's wrong with poor old Wallander in real life? Oh let's go OT for a bit! I collect autographs and I tried on 2 occasions to see if he would sign my programme because he gave an amazing performance in the play. The first time he left via the front of the theatre which is fine I'm not criticising...so I thought I would try another time on the off chance and he did come out the stage door that time and there was just me waiting...I was very polite and he completely blanked me and looked at me like I was something he'd stepped in on the street. His choice I suppose. Blanking you is not too bad. A small child once asked Rolf Harris - at the height of his TV celebrity - for an autograph and he simply replied “F*** off”. Could have been worse I suppose.
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on May 5, 2018 7:53:37 GMT
I've had worse experiences!
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Post by Marwood on May 25, 2018 11:12:23 GMT
I've got a £40 row E ticket for tomorrows matinee performance - wish me luck with the surtitles...
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Post by Marwood on May 25, 2018 11:21:12 GMT
Word of warning, just noticed this on TRH website:
'Audrey Fleurot will not be performing on all dates, the role of Elmire will be played by Sophie Duez on the following dates;
June 4, 8, 14, 19, 22, 28 July 3, 5, 9, 10, 20, 27'
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Post by bellboard27 on May 25, 2018 15:18:30 GMT
I've got a £40 row E ticket for tomorrows matinee performance - wish me luck with the surtitles... Bonne chance!
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Post by viserys on May 25, 2018 15:35:43 GMT
Word of warning, just noticed this on TRH website: 'Audrey Fleurot will not be performing on all dates, the role of Elmire will be played by Sophie Duez on the following dates; June 4, 8, 14, 19, 22, 28 July 3, 5, 9, 10, 20, 27' Oh God, nearly gave me a heart attack there, but I'm there on 28 July.
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Post by Marwood on May 25, 2018 16:48:38 GMT
Maybe she is erm une grande diva?Less than a fortnight in and needing a holiday makes me think she’s the French Martine McCutcheon...
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Post by viserys on May 25, 2018 17:25:51 GMT
I don't think so, she's a seasoned theatre performer and not a soap star.
And with this schedule planned ahead I would guess previous commitments or something. She also has a very young son, so maybe she wants/needs to spend more time with him, dash to and fro on the Eurostar or have him come over with Dad?
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Post by mrbarnaby on May 26, 2018 8:59:51 GMT
Maybe she is erm une grande diva?Less than a fortnight in and needing a holiday makes me think she’s the French Martine McCutcheon... Hardly a holiday- they aren’t consecutive dates. She has filming commitments.
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Post by Jan on May 26, 2018 10:29:16 GMT
I don't think so, she's a seasoned theatre performer and not a soap star. She also has a very young son, so maybe she wants/needs to spend more time with him, dash to and fro on the Eurostar or have him come over with Dad? Can we do that then ? Just take a load of days off from work any time we want when we’ve got young children ? That’s handy.
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2018 10:32:16 GMT
I don't think so, she's a seasoned theatre performer and not a soap star. She also has a very young son, so maybe she wants/needs to spend more time with him, dash to and fro on the Eurostar or have him come over with Dad? Can we do that then ? Just take a load of days off from work any time we want when we’ve got young children ? That’s handy. To a certain degree, yes. It's called Parental Leave.
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Post by Marwood on May 26, 2018 12:25:55 GMT
Maybe she should think of her child/filming commitments before agreeing to a run in the theatre abroad?Just saying...
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2018 12:44:54 GMT
Maybe she should think of her child/filming commitments before agreeing to a run in the theatre abroad?Just saying... But she did. She agreed certain days off in advance during the run.
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Post by Marwood on May 26, 2018 14:49:05 GMT
Interval time - a LOT of French to take in, and no explanation why characters switch between French and English. Surtitles are at either side of the stage and right at the top, so don’t sit in the front two rows unless you’re fluent in French.
Audrey Fleurot is indeed loveliness personified (and the maid is rather lovely too), Paul Anderson quite good so far, although he doesn’t get to speak until 40 minutes or so into proceedings. Not exactly comedy gold so far, but at least I’m not tempted to do a Parsley and bail (its two and a half hours long)
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Post by ATK on May 26, 2018 15:40:28 GMT
I saw the performance last night. The French characters speak French to each other, and English with the American characters. My own French is very basic, but they seem to be using Moliere’s French text in rhyming couplets but translating it into English surtitles using Hampton’s idiosyncratic prose. The French actors speak very quickly and Hampton uses more words than Moliere did, so it is quite hard to follow because there is a disconnect between what the two languages are doing. The acting is animated and fun to watch but unless you are bilingual you will have to choose between reading the quickly changing surtitles and watching the performances when they are speaking in the language you don’t know.
I loved whatever of Hampton’s text I managed to read — although there is a version of the final scene I won’t spoil that may not be to everyone’s taste.
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Post by Marwood on May 26, 2018 16:30:16 GMT
I thought it was OK rather than anything special - I wasn’t as enamoured with the ending as the chuckling hordes sat behind me. First time I’ve seen a production of this so I’m not sure what shoe horning mentions of Amyl Nitrate, bikinis and Twitter into proceedings brought to the table either.
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Post by Snciole on May 26, 2018 17:27:02 GMT
Sorry to be that person but how long is it running at the moment?
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2018 17:55:18 GMT
Gosh. This sounds a bit like hard work does it not?
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Post by Marwood on May 26, 2018 18:44:37 GMT
Sorry to be that person but how long is it running at the moment? It was 2 hours 20 minutes today, but it’s still in previews so might come down.
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2018 18:54:31 GMT
Sorry to be that person but how long is it running at the moment? It was 2 hours 50 minutes today, but it’s still in previews so might come down. Oh a come down during a preview is the *worst*.
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Post by nash16 on May 26, 2018 22:07:59 GMT
Well, it would be wrong to say we were disappointed with this as we didn't go in expecting anything too special in the first place. It was, as ever, interesting to read the flyer/note the way it's being sold after watching it, as, like Consent, it just doesn't match what is on the stage. The French/English works quite well, to a point. As others have said, make sure you've got a good view of the surtitles (above the stage at the front, and to the sides of Stalls and upper circle) as when it's the French turn they speak VERY fast. English words are dribbled in before the English speakers roles start to showcase themselves a bit more. The French win, on all levels in this production. Acting and writing. The French lines are nearly all in rhyming couplets and it's lovely to hear these, even if we were constantly looking at the translations. Hampton hasn't achieved or even bothered to do the same with the English/American lines, which are all prose and lack any real poetry. Claude Perron as Dorine is the only one who seems to have the tone (a mix of broad comedy and biting rage) that Moliere seemed to have intended. She's really great. But around her... Also, there is a big weakness at the heart of this production, language aside, and that is the British actors, most especially Paul Anderson* in the title role. Playing him as a hippy guru, Anderson was just annoying and somehow (and we still haven't worked out how) he managed to deflate any sense of comedy or drama from the 40mins prior to his entrance onstage. (Not that there was much of that if we're honest. A lot of it is so light, and just bickering.) He is the black hole of the production. Was it the direction? Was it Paul himself? Was it the complete lack of chemistry/electricity/drama between Anderson & Audrey Fleurot (weak)? Whatever, that first scene between them was just dull dull dull & sounded the death knoll for this production It never really picked up after that. The younger actors played it like a high school play. And the chortling from the audience as mentioned by others was just that. And quite forced at times. The L.A. setting is mentioned in the flyer but given no heed or point in the actual production. In fact, the more we thought about it, the more of a sort of numbing-mess we felt it was. Oh, and there's a "party" with "movement" that Rufus Norris would be proud of at the very start of it all. Note how the performers never engage with each other. They never really engage their audience either. Don't race to it. * Having slated Paul Anderson, we had to admit he is credited for the Lighting and in this arena he is much better. He should probably stick to that side of the theatre profession.
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Post by nash16 on May 26, 2018 23:39:30 GMT
To quote from said flyer, this is meant to be:
"A thrilling new adaptation"
..........
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