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Post by bellboard27 on Jun 15, 2016 8:19:41 GMT
Last night the production was being filmed. I understood this was a trial run. In the foyer there was a notice that there would be cameras and FOH mentioned it. I have seen quite a few productions being filmed, live broadcast, etc., but nothing like this. The stalls are divided into front and back at Row O. In front of Row O there were three large cameras about a metre apart, each with their own camera men standing behind (there were also 2 more cameras near the stage to the side, but these were not in the way). People seated in the central stalls behind this lot would have had real problems seeing much (I tried out some seats before the start). I asked a FOH staff if these people knew what they were getting. I was told yes, but someone overheard and said she did not know, but the ticket was discounted (to what price I do not know). However, even discounted I would not recommend it. So, if future productions are filmed, I would resist the temptation to save a few quid.
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Post by Mr Crummles on Jun 20, 2016 11:11:59 GMT
I really enjoyed this Romeo and Juliet. I had previously seen Rupert Goold's, at the RSC, Dominic Dromgoole's, at the Globe, and some other in the West End I can't remember much about.
This was my favourite. I thought Richard Madden and Lily James were quite good, managing perfectly to convey the passion, youthfulness and pathos of the tragic couple. I thought it was a vibrant production which reminded me of the sudden bust of energy released when a match catches fire that then dies almost as suddenly, as it quickly exhausts itself. I thought the whole cast was good. At the final bow, Benvolio (Jack Colgrave Hirst), announced that it was Richard Madden's birthday and invited the audience to sing Happy Birthday to him, which the audience ebulliently did. I thought it was rather endearing to see Richard Madden, who "for the two hours traffic our stage", cried, laughed, made love to Juliet, fought with a sword, and carried out many other youthful and intrepid deeds, blush and show great shyness at the friendly gesture.
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Post by ncbears on Jul 7, 2016 10:34:34 GMT
Saw this last night. Madden was off even though it was being filmed. Today (7 July) it is being streamed but I don't see how if Madden is off. Young women behind me were disappointed to not see him,. Tom Hanson moved from Paris to Romeo and I thought him handsome enough. More later but I enjoyed the first half but not the second and did appreciate the balcony scene. I was offered a stalls seat for 35£ near a camera which I was told "could" restrict view so I opted from grand circle clear view instead. Well, would have been clear view if not for the tall teenage boy dragged there by his mother.
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519 posts
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Post by jek on Jul 7, 2016 22:04:35 GMT
Was at a Picturehouse Cinema tonight for the live relay. Kenneth Branagh made an announcement at the start that Richard Madden had seriously injured his ankle two days ago and, after extensive physio was able to play the role but that they had made some minor adjustments to the staging. Having not seen the production before I don't know how much it differed from the norm but Richard Madden certainly seemed to be throwing himself around the place with no evident restraint!
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Post by crabtree on Jul 7, 2016 22:06:21 GMT
just seen the screening in Black and white and in widescreen - I loved the darkness, the shadows, but friends did not feel involved because of black and white. I suspect they were too young to have had black and white as staple. There was a great giddy atmosphere to the production, and full of love but not much sexiness about it. I did enjoy it though and there are some beautifully staged scenes. The second half, after a rather inventive first half, is quite straight.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2016 23:18:11 GMT
Saw the cinema broadcast tonight. Richard was back in although apparently some of the staging has been altered to accommodate his bad ankle. I wouldn't have noticed anything being up with him if they hadn't have said so props to him for managing to get on stage for this performance and pull it off. The broadcast was shown in black and white which I was apprehensive about at first but I think ultimately worked.
I really liked the staging, setting, costumes and use of Italian. The music for the most part worked but I felt it sounded a little too modern when the masquerade scene is being introduced. I liked the performances overall. If I'm focusing on the leads, I thought Lily was more consistent than Richard but also much more one-note. Lily just got a little OTT for me at times but I thought she made herself as believable as possible as a teenager. The close-ups of Richard whilst others were speaking did him no favours, I felt like I could see him thinking 'how should I react to this?' He was great during his dialogue moments though.
3*.
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Post by talkstageytome on Jul 8, 2016 1:46:21 GMT
I also saw the broadcast tonight, having opted out of seeing it when my friend offered a spare ticket to the matinee on West End Live weekend.
Cast was disappointingly passionless, and I thought Madden and James were too mature to convey the hormone fuelled attraction that makes R+J's love at first sight realistic. Derek Jacobi was interesting as Mercutio, and played him as a dandy, apparently influenced by Oscar Wilde according to the pre-show talk thing. It's just a shame his death was so... lame.
Although I didn't warm to him immediately, by the end of act 1 I also really liked Jack Colgrave Hirst as Benvolio too, and I missed the swagger and camaraderie of Benvolio, Mercutio and Romeo in act 2, which was a little bit exhausting to be honest. Lily James must sleep well after every performance because her hysterical act 2 Juliet wails and weeps pretty much the whole way through. It must be pretty draining for her. It's devastating, but because she's so hysterical from the start of the act, the play never really reached an emotional high point and it hardly felt like the ultimate tale of woe.
That being said, the subtlety of Lord Montague and Lord Capulet's reconciliation was rather touching.
LOVED the fact that it was in black and white though. Felt very sophisticated. The simplicity of the costumes and set worked for me too.
Over all I thought it was just fine. I enjoyed a few elements but for me there was just not enough passion or connection between any of the actors really. Still, it was nicely filmed and for £14 at my local cinema I'd say I had an enjoyable night out.
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Post by Baemax on Jul 8, 2016 10:48:13 GMT
I thought Madden and James were too mature to convey the hormone fuelled attraction that makes R+J's love at first sight realistic. I thought the problem was that they were both too attractive and confident. In a credible relationship, you need one to love, the other to "be loved." There has to be a small imbalance to build from, I think. Only credible relationships I've ever known, it has been impossible to decide which one loves the other more. An imbalance never works out in the long-term (not that R&J ever got the opportunity to test their longevity...).
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Post by Honoured Guest on Jul 8, 2016 10:57:44 GMT
LOVED the fact that it was in black and white though. Felt very sophisticated. Of course, Shakespeare wrote it in black and white, before colour was invented.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2016 14:13:00 GMT
i would really like to go and see this. but i would just like to know at what percentage of the performance does Richard Madden spend with little or no clothes on ? i'm not shallow but it's a big decision making factor.
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Post by Baemax on Jul 8, 2016 14:17:54 GMT
If that's your main impetus, you may as well stay home and watch old Game Of Thrones episodes, honestly.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2016 14:26:52 GMT
If that's your main impetus, you may as well stay home and watch old Game Of Thrones episodes, honestly. Tell me about it. Learn *that* the hard way! Two and a half hours and all I got was a couple of suicides and a neck ache. Not even a *hint* of a pec. Poor show Branagh, very poor show. Makes you wonder why on earth he got a knighthood. Tsk.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2016 15:27:27 GMT
humpphh
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Post by crabtree on Jul 8, 2016 16:42:55 GMT
a couple of vest and braces, but quite a sexless production, but chic.
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Post by emicardiff on Jul 11, 2016 18:03:53 GMT
Saw this on Saturday minus Richard Madden (I felt for the Box Office/Ushers delivering that news) His understudy-whose name I can't find online right now and can't remember many apologies- was great, I thought (despite yes, forgetting the poor bloke's name). He was cheeky and funny with the early scenes, and suitably engaging and emotionally invested in the heavier moments. He probably doesn't have quite the same chemistry with Lily James as Madden (speculating as I haven't seen them togeher obviously) but still was great to watch. Lily James is delightful as Juliet really sweet without being too sickening.
Overall it was a solid production I thought. A few casting choices I wasn't keen on, but Jacobi I found delightful and I loved Meera Syral as the nurse.
The look/concept I thought was slick and interesting, not quite pulled off in some respects but not jarring enough to be a negative. Would actually love to see the black and white cinema version now.
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Post by Jan on Jul 14, 2016 8:01:29 GMT
Why is Madden out of this ? (He still is). Just curious. Is he going to be back before the end of the run do we think ?
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Post by Baemax on Jul 14, 2016 8:07:16 GMT
Messed up his ankle, apparently. They changed the blocking (and presumably drugged him up the wazoo) for the filmed screening but it must be a relatively serious mess-up if he's still out.
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Post by ncbears on Jul 14, 2016 16:26:45 GMT
Saw this on Saturday minus Richard Madden (I felt for the Box Office/Ushers delivering that news) His understudy-whose name I can't find online right now and can't remember many apologies- was great, I thought (despite yes, forgetting the poor bloke's name). He was cheeky and funny with the early scenes, and suitably engaging and emotionally invested in the heavier moments. He probably doesn't have quite the same chemistry with Lily James as Madden (speculating as I haven't seen them togeher obviously) but still was great to watch. Lily James is delightful as Juliet really sweet without being too sickening. Overall it was a solid production I thought. A few casting choices I wasn't keen on, but Jacobi I found delightful and I loved Meera Syral as the nurse. The look/concept I thought was slick and interesting, not quite pulled off in some respects but not jarring enough to be a negative. Would actually love to see the black and white cinema version now. I believe the understudy is Tom Hanson, who normally plays Paris. At least, that was the understudy I had last week Wednesday - the night before the live streaming. I thought him very good as well and thought he had fair chemistry with Ms. James. Since I also didn't see Mr. Madden, I too can't compare the chemistries. And while I found Jacobi to more of a Polonius, I enjoyed his presentation, even though his death seemed more camp than tragic.
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Post by emicardiff on Jul 14, 2016 18:04:29 GMT
Ah thank you! for the life of me I couldn't find his name anywhere and could only find angry Richard Madden fans on twitter talking about him!
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Post by theatreliker on Jul 16, 2016 21:39:49 GMT
So you have to pay full theatre ticket prices to see it in colour.
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Post by altamont on Jul 23, 2016 8:47:28 GMT
The matinee this afternoon cancelled due to injury to both Madden and his understudy.
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Post by popcultureboy on Jul 24, 2016 7:33:14 GMT
It was cancelled Friday night too. Tom Hanson injured himself at fight call on Friday. Does anyone know if it went ahead Saturday night?
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Post by rumbledoll on Jul 24, 2016 8:45:01 GMT
Branagh himself should step in
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Post by altamont on Jul 24, 2016 11:36:02 GMT
Cancelled last night too, from what I read on Facebook. I also wondered whether Ken could have stepped in!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2016 12:39:09 GMT
Oh poor Richard. If he needs someone to massage his ankle/leg/back/buttocks (delete as appropriate) I'm his man. I have my own tube of Deep Heat.
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Post by Baemax on Jul 25, 2016 8:55:30 GMT
Cancelling multiple performances seems odd. How many understudies do they have? There's quite a lot of young men in the cast, can't one of them go on with a book in hand? I mean, Samuel Valentine's played Romeo, why not send him on and get someone else to stand in for Friar Laurence, with or without book? It's a shame for the audiences and it's a shame for the cast - the show must go on, surely!
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Post by emicardiff on Jul 25, 2016 10:02:06 GMT
I was just about to mention Samuel Valentine! surely a logical option as there must be an understudy for his Friar? And in such a large cast surely there must be some shuffling around that could be done even if it was script in hand. Such a shame to cancel performances for everyone.
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Post by raiseitup on Jul 25, 2016 14:14:48 GMT
Freddie Fox to the rescue
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Post by emicardiff on Jul 25, 2016 14:42:33 GMT
He can rescue me any time!
Damnit I'm almost tempted to go an try and see him in it. But given I've accidentally seen 3 R&J in one month I'm all Romeo'd out.
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Post by Honoured Guest on Jul 25, 2016 14:51:50 GMT
The frustration is that there's no advance schedule of performances.
I suppose there'll be a pre-show stress test of Richard Madden's ankle, to determine whether he or the Fox will go on.
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