18,845 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 19, 2022 12:40:00 GMT
13th May to 5th June
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Post by oxfordsimon on Mar 19, 2022 13:34:06 GMT
I am struggling to see this working. Goodman doesn't strike me as anything close to a Poirot. But most importantly the claustrophobic nature of the train setting is one that just doesn't feel theatrical to me. Sure the design can create small spaces for the compartments but will it truly work or is this a case of seeking a popular rather than theatrical success? I get that they need to sell tickets but there is a reason why Christie didn't do stage versions of her Poirot stories....
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1,181 posts
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Post by joem on Mar 19, 2022 16:35:41 GMT
Looking forward to this! I like Henry Goodman and this is one of Agatha Christie's finest novels. The difficulties of adapting this to the stage is what makes the proposition all the more intriguing!
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4,967 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Mar 19, 2022 17:44:13 GMT
The world premiere, in Princeton, was exactly 5 years ago last Thursday.
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6,337 posts
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Post by Jon on May 23, 2022 12:58:18 GMT
I would imagine it'll transfer, it's doing a run at Theatre Royal Bath so I imagine it can go to a traditional WE theatre.
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3,927 posts
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Post by Dawnstar on May 23, 2022 17:13:27 GMT
Shame the Gillian Lynne as already got something going in because I think this would have been an ideal summer show - especially for the tourists whereas "Lion,Witch & Waredrobe" surely is more of a Christmas show with all that snow" Except that Murder On The Orient Express also features a lot of snow: the train gets stuck in a snowdrift!
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1,010 posts
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Post by David J on May 23, 2022 19:56:52 GMT
Watching this this evening
Feels a bit disjointed pacing and tone wise
Starts of well setting the tone and introducing poirot and characters.
Then they make a flourish of revealing the orient express carriages on these little platforms. Before we spend a minute or so watching the ensemble trundle them around on the stage. Before they set them in place and the play continues straight on where we left off in the last scene
Couldn’t have thought up a smoother scene transition than that?
Does feel like they’re filling in time occasionally. One moment where the Miss Hubbard character, played with a broad New York accent that quickly gets old, singing Lullaby of Broadway for a good minute
Henry Goodman is the strong point as poirot. Reminiscent of David suchet
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1,010 posts
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Post by David J on May 24, 2022 9:45:19 GMT
Second act was better, especially during the big reveal scene. If anybody has seen the David Suchet adaptation, this play leans on that version's portrayal of Poirot at the end.
Tone goes from serious to Mrs Hubbard on the other side of the spectrum. Was she meant to be comic relief considering who she is?
Play rather simplifies the story with a reduced cast of characters, missing plot details and added dramatic moments such as the end of the first act
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5,292 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on May 25, 2022 9:31:07 GMT
I’m quite intrigued to see this, I feel a Chichester trip coming on,
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3,088 posts
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Post by Rory on May 25, 2022 10:06:26 GMT
I'd really love to see this and The Unfriend. Hope both transfer.
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1,848 posts
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Post by NeilVHughes on May 25, 2022 10:10:08 GMT
Tempted to double this up with The Unfriend next Wed.
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6,337 posts
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Post by Jon on May 25, 2022 10:26:23 GMT
In terms of available theatres, the only one that's available the earliest that is big enough is the Harold Pinter Theatre otherwise maybe a run at the National in November or December?
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5,292 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on May 25, 2022 10:30:37 GMT
In terms of available theatres, the only one that's available the earliest that is big enough is the Harold Pinter Theatre otherwise maybe a run at the National in November or December? Erm the Harold Pinter is tiny. That wouldn’t work for a Chichester transfer at all. Gypsy even struggled to fit into the Savoy.
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3,088 posts
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Post by Rory on May 25, 2022 10:31:10 GMT
In terms of available theatres, the only one that's available the earliest that is big enough is the Harold Pinter Theatre otherwise maybe a run at the National in November or December? Criterion if 2:22 doesn't extend?
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6,337 posts
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Post by Jon on May 25, 2022 10:35:54 GMT
Erm the Harold Pinter is tiny. That wouldn’t work for a Chichester transfer at all. Gypsy even struggled to fit into the Savoy. Normally I'd agree but it's going to the Theatre Royal Bath after the run at Chichester which isn't exactly a big theatre. Criterion if 2:22 doesn't extend? The Criterion is too small for Murder on the Orient Express but it would be more suited for The Unfriend.
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6,337 posts
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Post by Jon on May 25, 2022 11:12:00 GMT
What about the Gielgud after "Mockingbird"? It's selling quite well so I imagine it'll extend beyond November.
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653 posts
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Post by theatremiss on May 25, 2022 12:11:43 GMT
I’m seeing this on Sat and looking forward to it
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Post by jampot on May 25, 2022 12:48:00 GMT
Tempted to double this up with The Unfriend next Wed. That's what I'm doing June 4th..
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Post by c4ndyc4ne on May 25, 2022 19:17:03 GMT
they need to bring back the kings cross theatre!
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5,292 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on May 25, 2022 19:59:33 GMT
Welll....what abour a limited run at the Old Vic as there is nothing booked between "Jitney" and "Christmas Carol" and the Old Vic housed the Chichester production of "Kiss Me Kate" so must be same size stage wise and have already a past link with the theatre. Not going to happen. Orient Express is a commercial show and the Old Vic has a new programme to announce soon I am enjoying everyone mentioning random theatres without a clue about how small they are. Harold Pinter! Criterion! Arts! Southwark Playhouse! My living room!
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1,181 posts
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Post by joem on May 25, 2022 20:11:59 GMT
I’m quite intrigued to see this, I feel a Chichester trip coming on, I've got tickets for Chichester, only been there once before for "Ross". Any recommendations for a good fish restaurant in Chichester would be gratefully received.
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968 posts
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Post by alicechallice on May 25, 2022 22:00:50 GMT
Welll....what abour a limited run at the Old Vic as there is nothing booked between "Jitney" and "Christmas Carol" and the Old Vic housed the Chichester production of "Kiss Me Kate" so must be same size stage wise and have already a past link with the theatre. Not going to happen. Orient Express is a commercial show and the Old Vic has a new programme to announce soon I am enjoying everyone mentioning random theatres without a clue about how small they are. Harold Pinter! Criterion! Arts! Southwark Playhouse! My living room! Knowing how we know you, I’d be very surprised if your living room was smaller than the Southwark Playhouse. Swimming pool, sauna & room for a pony, I’d imagine!
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5,292 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on May 26, 2022 7:26:51 GMT
It’s very modest. Merely a symphony of velvet and opulence
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5,292 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on May 26, 2022 8:19:31 GMT
It’s very modest. Merely a symphony of velvet and opulence I wondered who that was in the bed in the Upper Circle of the Piccadilly. Ya got me
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6,337 posts
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Post by Jon on May 26, 2022 10:41:47 GMT
It's unlikely as I don't think it's particularly big but would Nimax's new theatre be an option for Murder on the Orient Express?
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653 posts
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Post by theatremiss on May 28, 2022 17:41:05 GMT
Just been to the matinee, an enjoyable afternoon out, despite some tweaks to the original I wasn’t too happy with. Nonetheless Goodman was a decent Poirot and it would be good if it got a London run after Bath
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Post by ontheaisle19 on May 30, 2022 0:54:46 GMT
What about the Gielgud after "Mockingbird"? It's selling quite well so I imagine it'll extend beyond November. Might MOTOE find its way into the Noel Coward Theatre once Dear Evan Hansen closes?
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1,221 posts
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Post by Steve on Jun 1, 2022 22:29:55 GMT
Really enjoyed this tonight. An excellent entertainment, with Henry Goodman's Poirot the highlight! Some spoilers follow. . . This is Poirot. It's not going to change the world. But it's a really good Poirot, and it's great fun! I've seen numerous Poirots on screen, even numerous versions of this Poirot story, so I wasn't going to bother. Then I realised Henry Goodman was in it, and he has never let me down in anything (his Arturo Ui was one for the ages), so I wanted to see it for him. And he's great, a combination of my two favourite Poirots: the epicurean experience-hungry sensation of a raconteur, that was Peter Ustinov, and the methodical, precise and eloquent problem solver that is David Suchet. Goodman is buoyant fun, like Ustinov, and confidence-inspiring, like Suchet, and he also has that soft-spoken, thoughtful, heartfelt humanity that he often brings to roles, and does so in spades here, in particular in the opening and closing monologues. I often find Agatha Christie cold and dry, so Goodman remedies that by being warm and effusive. The plot has lost one third of its suspects, so some won't like that, though it makes it easier to stage, and the key suspects are still there. And there is an additional plot element, added to give a dramatic flourish to the end of the first act, that Christie purists might not like either. But for me, Goodman is one of the top three Poirots (eat your heart out, Albert Finney!), the train and train sounds are evocative, the plotting is effective, and all-in-all this is an excellent, if undemanding, night out. 4 stars from me.
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1,848 posts
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Post by NeilVHughes on Jun 2, 2022 10:43:34 GMT
Turns out I have never seen Murder on the Orient Express in any of it’s multiple adaptations, I knew I had not seen any of the recent adaptations but thought I had seen at least one in the distant past.
It was a joy to follow Poirot’s investigation without any idea of how it would resolve and loved the staging, Goodman’s performance kept me engaged and the multiple suspects supported him perfectly.
Surprisingly this was the play of the day for me and so glad I made a last minute decision to make a day of my Chichester visit.
It was good to be back in Chichester again, forgot how beautiful it is and have now booked for a return visit later in the year for Woman in Mind and Local Hero and may make a weekend of it to take advantage of the eateries and hostelries the town has aplenty.
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Post by meister on Jun 2, 2022 11:01:04 GMT
……..make a weekend of it to take advantage of the eateries and hostelries the town has aplenty. And The Ivy opens just near the Market Cross at the end of the month!
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