A Long Days Journey Into Night - Bristol Old Vic

Saw this last night and absolutely loved it.

Everything I have come to expect from Richard Eyre - classy direction with deep character exploration and detail.

The set is much more remarkable than first appears - a pretty good metaphor for the play as a whole. As the lines become increasingly blurred between realism and dream, so does the set, the areas behind the set increasingly visible. It's also a set which never fully reveals itself, which, in a way, leaves you uncomfortable.

It's pretty much Lesley Manville's show, and she's giving a wonderful performance. At first I was surprised at how close to surface the pains of her character seemed to be, but as the play went on (especially in the third act) it began to make perfect sense - she really was a woman nearing the end of her journey, not just in a generic state of crazy, longing or regret.

Special mention must go to Bristol Old Vic Theatre School graduate Billy Howle as Edmund - he very much stands out in the latter acts and his explosions seem so reluctant but also necessary and earnt - a great actor of the future.

This production really only has one main problem - Jeremy Irons. Struggling to remember his lines (it is still in previews and a very long play, so this is somewhat excusable), and unable to do a convincing accent of any kind, his performance is something of a black hole for the enormous amounts of energy his fellow actors are committing to the production. Frequently seeming passive (a result of trying to keep one mental eye on the script, one assumes), and with little truthful or honest reaction, his casting is the obvious weak link.

Could have done without the silly swooshy sound effects (which seem to be featured in every play production nowadays) and the BOV's horrible Pit seating, but overall a brilliant production of one of the great masterpieces of the American theatre.

Glad there is a thread on this.

I saw this last night, going in with absolutely no knowledge of the play at all and was kept gripped for the duration (not an easy task at 3 hours 20).

I couldn't tell if Jeremy was struggling with lines or not last night. Yes there was a bit of stammering getting lines out, but I do that myself in general conversation so to me that worked fine. Though Jeremy was definitely the weak part of the other three leads. But that's not to say I didn't enjoy his performance.

Lesley Manville was simply magnificent. And Billy Howle really impressed me.

I've fallen in love with the Bristol Old Vic (having lived here over 10 years and only making my first visit about a year ago). Keep up the great work BOV.

Seeing this on Saturday-great to hear so many good things so far.

I've been umming and ahhing over this...if it's worth it I might give it a go.

Cheers Theatremonkey!

I am not a fan of anywhere in the BOV other than the pit. I feel you need to choose seats quite carefully due to the amount of pillars around the auditorium.

I only sat anywhere but the pit once and perhaps it was a bad seat choice on my part, but I couldn't relax with a pillar at the corner of my vision.

Can't really be much help, just throwing my opinion out there. Though I am one of those seat snobs :/

Given the positive reviews and the combination of Irons/Manville I would have thought a dead cert for a WE transfer.

I came in to the end of a programme on the radio on Saturday I think, which was reviewing this and was talking about transfers and said something like 'Jeremy Irons has said he will only transfer to the national or the lincoln', I wasn't sure if I had misheard the last word as that doesn't ring a bell as a westend theatre or whether it was a broadway/New York theatre? As I say it was end of the programme and I was only half listening so I may have misunderstood.

I doubt it will go to New York any time soon, since they're currently having their own revival with Jessica Lange.

Sat there in the front row and a bit further back. Loved the front row seat A25.

Indeed! Also the purpose of regional theatre isn't only as a 'try out' for West End. Sometimes it's an end unto itself. (but god forbid those outside the M25 be allowed their own quality theatre)

But yes, NY is unlikely as theirs opened this weekend with Lange (at 3hours 45 mins you get more for your money or are stuck there longer depending on your view)

This was supposed to be broadcast via NTLive - maybe the layout of the theatre scuppered plans? I couldn't see where they would position cameras. If it transfers - and I hope it does as its magnificent - it would work best in a venue as intimate as the BOV where the audience feels as if they are in the house too. Its an uncomfortable experience - and there were times, particularly when the superb Lesley Manville as Mary was talking about her child who died, when I had to take my eyes off the stage. But this immersion in the family was surely what O'Neill intended. Eyre takes things briskly, but rightly so as it is Edmond's diagnosis with tb in the early afternoon which accelerates everyone's journey into the night(and the past.)

Highly recommended

They'd have to take the first couple of rows off sale in order to position a camera in the pit aisle (stage right), then they'd have to be positioned in the boxes/sides of the circle.

The problem with the BOV is that every last inch is filled with seats.