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Post by Rory on Sept 15, 2020 19:18:59 GMT
I wonder how this will pan out with Life of Pi presumably wanting Wyndhams again, too? I have tickets held for both.
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5,585 posts
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Post by lynette on Sept 19, 2020 23:38:43 GMT
Email update today, just saying that they “continue to work alongside the producers on the return of Leopoldstadt to Wyndham’s Theatre”. So they are still planning to bring it back, but no news yet... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Or YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSS 😂
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2,529 posts
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Post by n1david on Dec 16, 2020 14:07:45 GMT
Booking now open for DMT+ members for a 12-week run from 12 June. I've been moved to a date in mid-August, and my email offers me a chance to change to another date, however in doing so I am offered dates from Jan-March!
Have now requested a refund and I will rebook from scratch.
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5,585 posts
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Post by lynette on Dec 16, 2020 19:31:09 GMT
I would like to see this again and I don't usually do twice. I’m reading the big of TS which is very interested. So often he has been criticised for being ‘intellectual’ ( he didn't go to uni btw) but now an older writer this play has him on the stage exposed I think and all emotion. All.
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1,427 posts
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Post by showtoones on Dec 17, 2020 6:47:58 GMT
Booking now open for DMT+ members for a 12-week run from 12 June. I've been moved to a date in mid-August, and my email offers me a chance to change to another date, however in doing so I am offered dates from Jan-March! Have now requested a refund and I will rebook from scratch. Life of Pi is now on sale from sept through the first week in January, so maybe Leopoldstadt will come back for a return engagement after Life of Pi?
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4,960 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Dec 19, 2020 10:48:29 GMT
Public booking now open. 12 June to 4 September 2021. 'Traditional' schedule with matinees on Thursdays and Saturdays. No performances on Sundays.
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2,529 posts
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Post by n1david on Apr 22, 2021 11:25:03 GMT
Now taken off-sale, all performances showing as Sold Out.
Going into My Bookings on DMT, I've been moved to a date in mid-August so they're obviously shuffling it back a bit.
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2,529 posts
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Post by n1david on Apr 23, 2021 10:47:49 GMT
Now 7 Aug - 30 Oct.
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Post by jamesxxx on May 19, 2021 17:46:05 GMT
Looking forward to this opening. I understand its a 'big' play. Any advice on how best to prepare before watching. I can be a bit thick sometimes and if my mind 'wonders' I've had it. I've heard buying the programme and giving it a thorough going over helps. Thanks.
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1,187 posts
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Post by theatrelover123 on May 19, 2021 21:40:42 GMT
Looking forward to this opening. I understand its a 'big' play. Any advice on how best to prepare before watching. I can be a bit thick sometimes and if my mind 'wonders' I've had it. I've heard buying the programme and giving it a thorough going over helps. Thanks. It was decidedly average and forgettable imo.
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851 posts
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Post by bordeaux on May 20, 2021 13:53:40 GMT
Looking forward to this opening. I understand its a 'big' play. Any advice on how best to prepare before watching. I can be a bit thick sometimes and if my mind 'wonders' I've had it. I've heard buying the programme and giving it a thorough going over helps. Thanks. The programme is always a good idea with Stoppard but most of the time his plays actually teach you what you need to know in order to get the jokes and understand his ideas. In the first scene, as the plays opens, three books are being discussed, all by Jewish writers: Arthur Schnitzler's play La Ronde, scandalous at the time, about a series of sexual encounters (a copy of the book becomes important later); Freud's Interpretation of Dreams; Theodor Herzl's book calling for a Jewish state in Palestine. Mahler is chief conductor of the Philharmonic and also Jewish. With Stoppard it's also always worth buying the playtext as it's worth reading afterwards as well as seeing - and there are always little things (jokes, connections) you don't pick up first time I loved it - it's a brilliant family drama, is on occasion very funny and is also very moving.
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Post by jamesxxx on May 20, 2021 17:02:35 GMT
That's great Thank you! I'm looking forward to it.
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3,927 posts
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Post by Dawnstar on May 20, 2021 21:14:08 GMT
The programme is always a good idea with Stoppard but most of the time his plays actually teach you what you need to know in order to get the jokes and understand his ideas. I can't say I found that when I saw both Arcadia and Travesties. I had to look up a bunch of references & background information after I saw each of them to understand much of what was going on.
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5,274 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on May 21, 2021 21:33:17 GMT
Looking forward to this opening. I understand its a 'big' play. Any advice on how best to prepare before watching. I can be a bit thick sometimes and if my mind 'wonders' I've had it. I've heard buying the programme and giving it a thorough going over helps. Thanks. It was decidedly average and forgettable imo. Entirely agree. I think everyone feels they HAVE to say they loved it because it’s Stoppard and a BIG IMPORTANT PLAY. But actually, nothing really happens, he has nothing to say and it’s not remotely moving or engaging. The sheer size of the cast is also incredibly distracting. It’s big but it ain’t clever.
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5,585 posts
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Post by lynette on May 21, 2021 22:13:41 GMT
It was decidedly average and forgettable imo. Entirely agree. I think everyone feels they HAVE to say they loved it because it’s Stoppard and a BIG IMPORTANT PLAY. But actually, nothing really happens, he has nothing to say and it’s not remotely moving or engaging. The sheer size of the cast is also incredibly distracting. It’s big but it ain’t clever. Disagree. I think it is an important play. Tbh perhaps not his best work in terms of the sheer genius of say Arcadia but this is the play he has been leading towards all this time. It is personal and unsettling. My one piece of advice is to get the programme so that you can check the family over your interval drinking. There are Jews being attacked on the streets of London right now. Go see this play.
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Post by NeilVHughes on May 21, 2021 22:59:32 GMT
A play written by Stoppard that isn’t a Stoppard play. It does not have the intellectual gymnastics of his usual work but is a ‘simple’ (or as simple as Stoppard gets) story of a family that endured the worst of the 20th Century. This is not to say there aren't complex themes but they are more human, the large cast is required to to make real the impact of the 20th Century on the Jewish community which for me is the power of the play in a similar way to the end of Inheritance pt 1. A play that I am glad I saw and may be tempted back if I can find a good deal as most probably missed a lot of the nuances as it is a busy play but this did not diminish it in my opinion as the core theme is simple and as lynette says is never far below the surface, as it moves from living memory to history it is a tale that needs to be told in perpetuity and especially by a great playwright.
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Post by Dr Tom on Aug 10, 2021 9:11:17 GMT
I attended last night, having missed this during the truncated run last year.
It really is a memorable play and I'm glad I saw it. The 2 hours 20 minutes (no interval) flies by.
I don't think I picked up on everything. There are a lot of characters and links and I'm not always the best at following people as they age rapidly and change roles. But the gist of it is powerful and moving.
I was able to get a Rush ticket, which is a story in itself. Initially, they were only selling in pairs and these sold out quickly. Later in the day, some singles became available and I was able to get the fourth row of the Dress Circle, a bit off centre. I prefer Stalls, but it is a clear view from this seat. The seat and leg room are rather cramped though.
Quite a lot of German speakers in the audience. I had a pair immediately to one side and another pair behind. They laughed (quietly) at things where I didn't immediately pick up on a joke. Unfortunately, there was one other woman with a very loud laugh who thought that several of the least appropriate moments were hilarious, I don't even think it was nervous laughter which could almost be understandable.
The Stalls and Dress Circle both seemed full. The audience was generally good (apart from phone screens lighting up). Most people were wearing masks and Covid-19 passports were checked on entry.
Like others, I might be tempted back to pick up on more of the detail, although I expect the impact won't be as strong the second time around.
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5,585 posts
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Post by lynette on Aug 10, 2021 16:10:35 GMT
May I repeat advice that was given to me at the beginning of the run and which I found very useful - get a programme. It makes the family relationships clear and is worth a read.
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Post by couldileaveyou on Aug 10, 2021 16:16:31 GMT
Bringing this back for future goers, it's very useful
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Post by fossil on Aug 10, 2021 16:18:13 GMT
Just had a look at the official Leopoldstadt web site and it is showing excellent stall seats for tonight all at £29.50. For tomorrow the best stalls are £40 with the front row and row H and beyond at £29.50.
I cannot go this week but will certainly go next week if the deals are still available.
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Post by Dr Tom on Aug 10, 2021 19:43:47 GMT
Just had a look at the official Leopoldstadt web site and it is showing excellent stall seats for tonight all at £29.50. For tomorrow the best stalls are £40 with the front row and row H and beyond at £29.50. I cannot go this week but will certainly go next week if the deals are still available. Some excellent deals there certainly and you can see the dynamic pricing in effect. It looks like they are discounting on the day before and then again on the day. It is definitely worth going and getting a decent seat at those prices (although there is obviously the risk with dynamic pricing that some dates will sell really well and so nothing will be available, or prices may actually increase).
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Post by danielwhit on Aug 13, 2021 22:47:48 GMT
Shame there doesn't seem to be any scope for NT Live to pick up the broadcast of this they had planned for last year. Unless I've missed something.
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Post by orchidman on Aug 16, 2021 23:43:03 GMT
Very average play. There is a surprising lack of artistry on show, in particular the 1938 section is something we have seen done so many times before, you could have cut it completely and the audience would have filled the gap themselves easily, it's boilerplate stuff.
Didn't really get to know a single character well, and worse, didn't particularly care to because they weren't that interesting.
Feels like this could have been written by almost anyone, save the autobiographical character tacked on at the end which doesn't really cohere with what has gone before.
Good play for Stoppard to bow out on given it was always going to get respectful notices given the subject matter and the personal element. But really not a major play and anyone wondering if they absolutely have to go and see this story told again can relax that they wouldn't be missing anything profound.
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Post by MrBraithwaite on Aug 17, 2021 6:03:30 GMT
Well, I finally booked and will hopefully see it in two weeks, looking forward to it.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Aug 17, 2021 23:23:18 GMT
Very average play. There is a surprising lack of artistry on show, in particular the 1938 section is something we have seen done so many times before, you could have cut it completely and the audience would have filled the gap themselves easily, it's boilerplate stuff. Didn't really get to know a single character well, and worse, didn't particularly care to because they weren't that interesting. Feels like this could have been written by almost anyone, save the autobiographical character tacked on at the end which doesn't really cohere with what has gone before. Good play for Stoppard to bow out on given it was always going to get respectful notices given the subject matter and the personal element. But really not a major play and anyone wondering if they absolutely have to go and see this story told again can relax that they wouldn't be missing anything profound. Couldn’t agree more. If someone else had written this it would sink without a trace. A real waste of money all round. Kind of amazed they’ve bothered remounting it with the huge costs involved.
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Post by caa on Aug 18, 2021 8:46:11 GMT
I agree its not quite as good as it could have been and its been lucky to return. Its a shame that they didn't film it with the original cast as I thought Adrian Scarborough was the star of the show.
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277 posts
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Post by fossil on Sept 8, 2021 13:23:27 GMT
Shame there doesn't seem to be any scope for NT Live to pick up the broadcast of this they had planned for last year. Unless I've missed something. If you access the bookings for 28th September on the Leopoldstadt web site there is a caption "This performance will be filmed for future broadcast"
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306 posts
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Post by MrBraithwaite on Sept 14, 2021 12:27:15 GMT
Saw it two weeks ago, may not be the greatest play, but very glad I saw it. Would have been even better with Adrian Scarborough, would have loved to see him. Surprised, there was no intermission. Only theatre that checked vaccination status. Watched the IMAGINE doc about Stoppard and the play after, makes even more sense now. 7/10
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Post by schuttep on Sept 17, 2021 10:25:40 GMT
I saw this yesterday. What an amazing play. Highly recommended in a West End concentrating on re-commencing musicals.
As has been said, not TS's usual intellectualised content but quite complex family relationships played out over 56 years by the same cast can be confusing; but even without a programme, everything did seem to fall into place.
Listen out for a cracking joke about a business man wanting to smoke a cigar being mistaken for the mohel attending to conduct a circumcision.
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Post by scarpia on Sept 26, 2021 12:13:03 GMT
I saw this yesterday. What an amazing play. Highly recommended in a West End concentrating on re-commencing musicals. As has been said, not TS's usual intellectualised content but quite complex family relationships played out over 56 years by the same cast can be confusing; but even without a programme, everything did seem to fall into place. Listen out for a cracking joke about a business man wanting to smoke a cigar being mistaken for the mohel attending to conduct a circumcision. Out of curiosity, how full was it and how was the audience behaved, esp re masks? I REALLY want to see this before the end of the run (I had tickets in 2020), but am terrified by the behaviour I'm seeing at West End shows as shown in photographs/videos.
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