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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2018 20:01:13 GMT
Well that was a bit good! Saw it this afternoon and really liked it.
I especially liked the young lad (he's probably 25 or something!) playing the nephew. I really liked how he was copying mannerisms of the older men, like a young lad trying to look grown up.
And now I really really want to rewatch those mystery plays from the early 80s at the National (or was it the Barbican?) with Brian Glover and Eve Matheson.
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Post by TallPaul on Apr 8, 2018 10:12:15 GMT
I'm a little afraid to admit this, considering the near universal praise it's received both generally and on the Board, but on balance, I think I fall into the BurlyBeaR and grannyjx6 camp. It was less of a play, and more of a documentary. That said, it was very well received by the large Saturday audience, which laughed in all the right places, and applauded with gusto, as did I. I don't want this thread to end negatively, so would someone please post something positive!!!
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Post by Jonnyboy on Apr 8, 2018 10:15:52 GMT
I don't want this thread to end negatively, so would someone please post something positive!!! Okay! I bloody loved it!
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Post by stevemar on Apr 8, 2018 11:12:30 GMT
I went to Sheffield to see this yesterday. Comparing it to the Donmar production, as you’d expect, it was a little less subtle given the larger auditorium. The set looked quite small and I was a little worried that it wouldn’t be as good. The audience laughed a lot more than my viewings in London - notably at the Yorkshire vs London references, and the excellent delivery by all of the cast, but particularly Lesley Nichol.
The pay-off to the “bigger” performances was in act 2 - the desperation and sadness in George’s face almost thoughout the second half, the anger and frustration in their final exchanges in particular came across more so than at the Donmar, but also the passion between them, and the feeling of loss seem greater than ever. I’m afraid I became more certain that there wasn’t an alternative happy ending for John and George. George would end up alone and regretting his decision, maybe Doreen who I think also loved him (more caringly than pasionately) would compromise and marry someone else, and John move on, but always hold a special place for George. Achingly heartbreaking but such a wonderful production and play.
Oh go on, for the forum, maybe John moved to York, started his own theatre company and George joined and pursued his new career as an actor and they had the best of both worlds visiting friends in London and living together on the farm when they weren’t working in York.
PS. I understand the young lad playing the nephew was making his stage debut. PPS. In an interview somewhere I posted, George is referred to as playing one of the soldiers.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2018 11:15:09 GMT
I think it's more likely that John would end up alone and regretting it than George. George seems fully aware of what his life choices will lead to, whereas I fear John will forever be searching for Something and just never quite realise he could have had it if he'd been brave enough to choose George.
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Post by stevemar on Apr 8, 2018 11:22:41 GMT
I think it's more likely that John would end up alone and regretting it than George. George seems fully aware of what his life choices will lead to, whereas I fear John will forever be searching for Something and just never quite realise he could have had it if he'd been brave enough to choose George. I think both would have ended up alone.. George was certainly aware of his choices, but couldn’t see a way out from the farm, his life there and his “lack of ambition”. John may well have had a series of other relationships and regret his choice, but realise that he would never find “the one”. Finally, in better times, they might have been reunited?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2018 11:28:51 GMT
I don't doubt that George also ended up alone, but I believe he would have made his peace with it in a way I don't think John could. So emphasis on "regretting it" rather than "alone". I am now visualising a much older John, nearing retirement, returning to the farm and realising that *that's* the home he's been searching for all this time, and never leaving again.
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Post by stevemar on Apr 8, 2018 12:35:39 GMT
I don't doubt that George also ended up alone, but I believe he would have made his peace with it in a way I don't think John could. So emphasis on "regretting it" rather than "alone". I am now visualising a much older John, nearing retirement, returning to the farm and realising that *that's* the home he's been searching for all this time, and never leaving again. I do like your ending Baemax, where John had learned something from his life and the regrets of the past. Maybe on his return to the farmhouse, the range would still be there, and George would be sitting there at peace. And Doreen would be married to someone else, but still tending the garden. Although, I’d have liked John and George to find each other sooner 😢 By his nature, George would have made peace with the end of the relationship - he doesn’t “delve” (in his own words) into things or overthink as much as John. So, I think he would ultimately have been alright, even though the experience would have changed him forever, and he would have actually thought about things more than he used to (as seen by his heartbroken expression at the end of the play). “Foxes have dens have they, Birds have their nests so gay, But the son of man this day Has not where his head may rest.” I think this means that there is suffering and pain to be experienced still, but the religious connotation is that he and John are refugees almost in that world, with no real home for themselves?
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