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Post by Fleance on Sept 30, 2018 19:59:56 GMT
Best line in Carry On Cleo is from Kenneth Williams as Julius Caesar:
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Post by MrsCondomine on Oct 1, 2018 12:19:37 GMT
OK so I've looked this up and Tunji Kasim is absolutely definitely Scottish (not that I doubted any of the posts here, mind you).
Which begs the question, why did I hear an American accent for most of the first half (this was on Thursday 27th Sept, in case it matters)? I'm not *that* bad with accents, I promise!! He didn't even start to sound Scottish until Hannah Morrish came in.
Is he trying something new with the character, or are the seats in the circle doing things to my ears? I'm going to see it a second time in a couple of months so maybe he'll have picked an accent to do?
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Post by crowblack on Oct 1, 2018 12:40:57 GMT
why did I hear an American accent I overheard some Americans complaining about it, though I didn't think it was that bad (see Aristocrats thread for a really bad one). Has anyone ever seen a truly enjoyable production of this play? I'm not saying 'good' because I have a feeling it's a silk purse out of sow's ear situation. It's not really that good a play, is it? The characters as written aren't convincing, and there's a hell of a lot of boring stuff between the good bits.
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Post by Jan on Oct 1, 2018 13:14:00 GMT
why did I hear an American accent Has anyone ever seen a truly enjoyable production of this play? I'm not saying 'good' because I have a feeling it's a silk purse out of sow's ear situation. It's not really that good a play, is it? The characters as written aren't convincing, and there's a hell of a lot of boring stuff between the good bits. I've seen 6 productions and the best (Harriet Walter/Patrick Stewart) was just OK. The play is structurally flawed, I am always ready for it to end shortly after the death of Antony but in fact it drags on for another 45 minutes.
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Post by David J on Oct 1, 2018 13:15:19 GMT
The 2014 Globe Theatre production was the best I’ve seen with Eve Best giving a hilarious but poignant performance. Kathryn Hunter was pretty good in the Michael Boyd one.
Otherwise yeah it’s an uneven drawn out play where you don’t see the lovers together for most of the first half and the ending can go on for an eternity. If you’re unlucky to see a production that is average at best it will drag. The Ivo Van Hove version (despite a great leading pair) and last years RSC production spring to mind
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Post by poster J on Oct 1, 2018 13:55:03 GMT
OK so I've looked this up and Tunji Kasim is absolutely definitely Scottish (not that I doubted any of the posts here, mind you). Which begs the question, why did I hear an American accent for most of the first half (this was on Thursday 27th Sept, in case it matters)? I'm not *that* bad with accents, I promise!! He didn't even start to sound Scottish until Hannah Morrish came in. Is he trying something new with the character, or are the seats in the circle doing things to my ears? I'm going to see it a second time in a couple of months so maybe he'll have picked an accent to do? I heard a mix of American and Scottish, which I found really quite irritating!
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Post by Jan on Oct 1, 2018 14:11:10 GMT
Best line in Carry On Cleo is from Kenneth Williams as Julius Caesar: Significantly that line wasn’t written for the film at all, it was written by Frank Muir and Dennis Norden (who died a few days ago) for the radio series “Take It From Here” years before and was borrowed (with their permission) for the film.
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Post by crabtree on Oct 1, 2018 15:05:53 GMT
To answer an earlier question, yes I have seen several truly tremendous productions of the play - yes there are a lot of chaps chatting for much of it, and you do wish Cleopatra was around longer, but the language is gorgeous, and Cleo's death scene is sublime, and as always the loyal secondary characters, here Enobarbus, are very interesting. But I would say the best, maybe because it was my first, maybe because it was beautifully imaginative and theatrical and downright horny, was Janet Suzman and Richard Johnson in the RSC's 70's Roman season. Mind you Ms Suzman could read the telephone directory (does anyone still read the telephone directory - I can almost hear Patti) in that gloriously cracked voice and I'd be there ready to throw myself on my sword.
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Post by MrsCondomine on Oct 2, 2018 9:38:33 GMT
The play is definitely ready to end after Antony cops it, but blame Shakespeare for that There is some truly moving language ("this pine is bark'd that overtopped them all" unexpectedly made me burst into tears when Fiennes said it - no idea why!! And then I remained crying for a good chunk of the final act, like a lemon), and a LOT of politicking, but I don't think the play is bad, as such. It just requires a bloody-mindedness to concentrate on it. Incidentally I think the length of the current production prevents it being a full five-star production. So much can get the chop from the final two acts to make it pacier - otherwise you are sat around waiting for Cleopatra to get on with it.
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Post by MrsCondomine on Oct 2, 2018 9:49:43 GMT
Best line in Carry On Cleo is from Kenneth Williams as Julius Caesar: I'm fond of the caption in Lucy Hughes-Hallett's book on Cleopatra: Cleo: I've been thinking - Antony: You do?!
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Post by crowblack on Oct 2, 2018 10:22:55 GMT
So much can get the chop from the final two acts to make it pacier I think they could speed things up without losing anything, if they are being precious (is it still an A level set text?) - there were many times where I was thinking wrong word emphasis and too slow. If they just sped it up they'd have got more sense out of the language and a sense of urgency.
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Post by lynette on Oct 2, 2018 10:50:26 GMT
I don’t think it is A level text these days.
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Post by MrsCondomine on Oct 2, 2018 10:58:43 GMT
So much can get the chop from the final two acts to make it pacier I think they could speed things up without losing anything, if they are being precious (is it still an A level set text?) - there were many times where I was thinking wrong word emphasis and too slow. If they just sped it up they'd have got more sense out of the language and a sense of urgency. Yes I agree with the "precious" aspect (the soothsayer particularly, who I don't think was particularly strong). I loved the flashbangs and the spinning ruins in the battle scene, that gave a great bit of urgency!
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Post by Jan on Oct 2, 2018 11:19:18 GMT
Just as one always wonders how directors will deal with the bear in Winter’s Tale there is always an air of anticipation as the Battle of Actium approaches in A&C - I’ve seen some appallingly shoddy work with model ships and choreographed sailors.
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Post by crabtree on Oct 2, 2018 11:43:33 GMT
Ah but Enobarbus' speech about the barge - pure perfection, as are Cleopatra's final speeches. 'I have immortal longings in me'. brilliant.
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Post by crowblack on Oct 2, 2018 13:45:16 GMT
I don’t think it is A level text these days. Lucky them. A level and degree for me... that barge speech brought back instant classroom flashbacks!
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Post by lynette on Oct 2, 2018 18:09:05 GMT
Just as one always wonders how directors will deal with the bear in Winter’s Tale there is always an air of anticipation as the Battle of Actium approaches in A&C - I’ve seen some appallingly shoddy work with model ships and choreographed sailors. I saw the model ships! Where was that? RSC? Do you think it would ruin the theatrical experience to have video stuff for the sea battles in the background with the scenes between Ant and Cleo played in front?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2018 18:51:17 GMT
I’m going to bring something up an bit unrelated and maybe not a big issue for most people, but when I saw Ant and Cleo I noticed that the programme for it no longer has the poster image on but now has the title of the show and is not very appealing and I wasn’t the biggest fan of it and thought it was just for Cleo but I have seen online that the programme of I’m Not Running is this format and I really don’t like it and hope it doesn’t stick for the rest. This is a very much first world problem but how do othe people feel?
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Post by crowblack on Oct 2, 2018 19:03:10 GMT
It might be a first world problem, but I thought it was very dull - looks like a menu. The programme contents and size are actually pretty good, and it's a shame to waste the opportunity to showcase some good, attractive design on the cover. I hope it isn't going to be a 'thing'.
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Post by learfan on Oct 2, 2018 19:42:57 GMT
It might be a first world problem, but I thought it was very dull - looks like a menu. The programme contents and size are actually pretty good, and it's a shame to waste the opportunity to showcase some good, attractive design on the cover. I hope it isn't going to be a 'thing'. As you say not a massive thing but it looks cr*p. Why does it say "official programme" on the cover? Do the NT think us punters get confused.
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Post by Fleance on Oct 2, 2018 22:39:03 GMT
They've done that before, in 2003/2004, for Edmond, The History Boys, many other plays at that time.
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Post by nash16 on Oct 2, 2018 23:50:55 GMT
I’m going to bring something up an bit unrelated and maybe not a big issue for most people, but when I saw Ant and Cleo I noticed that the programme for it no longer has the poster image on but now has the title of the show and is not very appealing and I wasn’t the biggest fan of it and thought it was just for Cleo but I have seen online that the programme of I’m Not Running is this format and I really don’t like it and hope it doesn’t stick for the rest. This is a very much first world problem but how do othe people feel? Total agreement. What made us both laugh was they now also say "Official Programme". 😂 Is someone flogging fake NT probs outside now? Lol.
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Post by Jan on Oct 3, 2018 5:58:34 GMT
Is someone flogging fake NT probs outside now? Lol. If they are then they will say Official Programme on them too - the NT obviously haven't thought of that. On the whole I think the programme covers should match the posters and the posters should be designed by artists and not just be production photos of the actors. I remember some good RSC ones designed by the cartoonist Ralph Steadman for example.
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Post by learfan on Oct 3, 2018 6:15:23 GMT
Just as one always wonders how directors will deal with the bear in Winter’s Tale there is always an air of anticipation as the Battle of Actium approaches in A&C - I’ve seen some appallingly shoddy work with model ships and choreographed sailors. Speak for yourself, its never occurred to me.
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Post by MrsCondomine on Oct 3, 2018 8:08:52 GMT
Just as one always wonders how directors will deal with the bear in Winter’s Tale there is always an air of anticipation as the Battle of Actium approaches in A&C - I’ve seen some appallingly shoddy work with model ships and choreographed sailors. Actium is the big sea battle that Antony should have fought by land, right? If so - this production approaches it with radar, with a big screen, and with flashing lights. It's pretty cool.
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Post by Jan on Oct 3, 2018 8:57:09 GMT
Just as one always wonders how directors will deal with the bear in Winter’s Tale there is always an air of anticipation as the Battle of Actium approaches in A&C - I’ve seen some appallingly shoddy work with model ships and choreographed sailors. Actium is the big sea battle that Antony should have fought by land, right? If so - this production approaches it with radar, with a big screen, and with flashing lights. It's pretty cool. Yes I gather it must be cool due to the number of reviewers who have included spoilers about it.
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Post by Jan on Oct 3, 2018 9:00:53 GMT
Just as one always wonders how directors will deal with the bear in Winter’s Tale there is always an air of anticipation as the Battle of Actium approaches in A&C - I’ve seen some appallingly shoddy work with model ships and choreographed sailors. Speak for yourself, its never occurred to me. I was using "one" in the same way the Queen does as a purely personal pronoun, as in "One is not amused" when Maureen Lipman comes on.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2018 23:37:43 GMT
I went with a friend
She left at the interval
I left about 10 mins into the second half Sophie Okonedo was funny And would make a good panto dame
Modern Shakespeare has been so bastardised by directors it’s sickening
Rarely does anyone succeed in updating it well
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2018 6:48:56 GMT
Oh P, I'm not quite sure if you're insulting Sophie Okonedo or genuinely praising her comedic talents but that's probably one of my favourite quotes about an actor for some time. I hope they put it on the poster.
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Post by MrsCondomine on Oct 4, 2018 7:56:16 GMT
Modern Shakespeare has been so bastardised by directors it’s sickening Rarely does anyone succeed in updating it well But Pompey and his actual submarine!! All the stars for whoever made that update.
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