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Post by joem on Dec 16, 2018 0:18:35 GMT
Agreeable Restoration froth from Congreve which director Selina Cadell cleverly updates to make it seem fresh despite some of the archaisms in the language and the Byzantine turns in the plot. Fourth wall not in place giving rise to nervousness in front rows and good banter from the cast.
This is a deceptively slick production, using the Orange Tree space well with plenty of fast entrances/exists from all sides and using the upper level as well. Great comic timing throughout from a cast of experienced troupers with a couple of welcome younger troupers. Despite the 2 hours 40 minutes length and the convoluted nature of the resident villain Maskwell's (an excellent Edward MacLiam) machinations it did not sag in the second half, if anything the tempo picked up and the cues were even sharper.
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Post by samuelwhiskers on Dec 16, 2018 1:24:12 GMT
The plot's nonsense but a lot of fun.
Broadbent needs to enunciate a little clearer. I thought he kept saying "Jews" and winced that they hadn't updated it, but I see from the script it was actually "deuce."
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Post by showgirl on Dec 16, 2018 5:58:08 GMT
I'm so glad this is now sounding far better than early reviews (several 2-star and one 3-star) suggested, as it was the only production from the current season that I wished to see and I'd been looking forward to it. Also years since I've seen it whereas other restoration comedies come round regularly.
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Post by learfan on Dec 16, 2018 8:00:55 GMT
Yes, the reviews havent been good. Im going on 19 Jan. Its a rare revival of this play and a decent cast so they wont put me off.
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Post by showgirl on Dec 16, 2018 9:40:18 GMT
Indeed & I'm also going regardless. Maybe it has now settled in a bit more & I've seen a 4-star review.
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Post by Fleance on Dec 16, 2018 20:29:51 GMT
With I could see this but won't be back in London for a while. The last production of The Double Dealer I saw was at the NT in 1978, directed by Peter Wood, with Ralph Richardson, Dorothy Tutin, Sara Kestleman, Brenda Blethyn, and of course Michael Bryant, who was in almost everything in those days.
I did see Ms. Cadell's production of The Rivals at the Arcola a few years ago, starring Gemma Jones and Nicholas Le Prevost. It was great fun -- totally satisfying and enjoyable production.
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Post by joem on Dec 16, 2018 21:34:36 GMT
I read one of the most stupid reviews in a long while today on this production by Ann Treneman in the Sunday Times. It may be her first visit to the Orange Tree, as she confuses staging for physical features in the venue and on top of this she thinks an accident in the play is an accident when it's part of the production. Ignore this poor review.
I'm not saying this is fantastic but the audience enjoyed it, probably more than I did, it is not remotely as poor as this unfair review makes it to be.
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Post by NeilVHughes on Dec 20, 2018 22:49:06 GMT
A boisterous and utterly enjoyable production, simply staged, using the intimate Orange Tree to enhance and engage.
Great fun in the company of a charismatic pantomime villain.
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Post by samuelwhiskers on Dec 20, 2018 23:38:48 GMT
I read one of the most stupid reviews in a long while today on this production by Ann Treneman in the Sunday Times. It may be her first visit to the Orange Tree, as she confuses staging for physical features in the venue and on top of this she thinks an accident in the play is an accident when it's part of the production. Ignore this poor review. I'm not saying this is fantastic but the audience enjoyed it, probably more than I did, it is not remotely as poor as this unfair review makes it to be. Baffling. The “accident” she refers to is clearly an intentional physical comedy gag because a) it happens about six times and b) you can see where the relevant area has been padded to allow the actors to perform the “accident” safely. I dread to think what she made of The Play That Goes Wrong. |
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Post by lonlad on Dec 21, 2018 0:10:51 GMT
Ann is the daily Times, not the Sunday Times. Worth knowing when her alter ego takes over as theatre critic of the ST in the New Year ... Quentin Letts
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Post by showgirl on Jan 13, 2019 15:47:03 GMT
I quite enjoyed this yesterday and thought it was performed and directed very well, but I found the doubling baffling and inappropriate. No-one here has referred to it though some press reviewers have: there is just a single member of the cast of 10 who mysteriously has to play 2 parts, and at one point, both characters are supposed to appear in the same critical scene. So for one thing it looked awkward and for another, the actor was completely the wrong age for one of her 2 roles. Why on earth could they not cast 11 instead of 10 actors? Or was this bizarre choice meant to convey something significant which I missed?
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Post by learfan on Jan 13, 2019 17:43:50 GMT
Going next Saturday, when i first saw the cast it seemed odd, as you say surely the budget stretched to one more actress? Still its a rare revival so looking forward to it.
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Post by learfan on Jan 19, 2019 18:06:11 GMT
This was a joy! Fast and furious. A great cast, lots of fourth wall breaking which suits these plays. Another feather in the cap if Selina Cadell in her ongoing crusade to rehabilitate restoration comedy. Wonder why she hasnt been invited to Chichester? They love this kind of thing there. She would have a bigger budget too.
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Post by itsabouttogdown on Feb 7, 2019 18:54:55 GMT
I thought this production was trash. The clarity of storytelling was awful, the weird meta element added into the production made no sense. The cast did their best but I really really hated it.
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