4,038 posts
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Post by kathryn on Sept 1, 2018 22:21:10 GMT
Well, I made it through to the end! Not too awful actually - the second play is not as good as the first, and really sags in the middle, and the female characters in both parts are underused. I had the usual difficulty keeping everyone straight because I have a shocking memory for names and there’s just so many of them turning up for a bit and then wandering off again for ages. You really feel the loss of Peter De Jersey so early in part 2.
But overall they were just about engaging enough to keep me awake for the duration.
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Post by orchidman on Sept 6, 2018 23:27:02 GMT
Having seen Part 1 and Part 2 the wrong way round, I'm not sure it's that Part 2 is particularly worse, it's more that the story isn't worth nearly 7 hours of our time.
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Post by Fleance on Sept 7, 2018 2:22:37 GMT
Ralph Fiennes will soon be giving us a Mark Antony at the National. I wonder if he studied Joe Dixon's interpretation.
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14 posts
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Post by george123 on Sept 7, 2018 6:46:33 GMT
Got my 15£ ticket and am looking forward to this production. Imperium ends tomorrow and will see Part II then.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2018 7:21:03 GMT
Ralph Fiennes will soon be giving us a Mark Antony at the National. I wonder if he studied Joe Dixon's interpretation. Good God, one would hope not. But did the late great Leonard Rossiter ever play Mark Antony? Because if so I think we can safely say that's what we'll see from Ralph at The Nash.
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Post by Jan on Sept 7, 2018 15:21:18 GMT
Ralph Fiennes will soon be giving us a Mark Antony at the National. I wonder if he studied Joe Dixon's interpretation. Good God, one would hope not. But did the late great Leonard Rossiter ever play Mark Antony? Because if so I think we can safely say that's what we'll see from Ralph at The Nash. I think the only notable Shakespeare role Rossiter played was Richard III - Ralph’s subsequent tribute act at the Almeida was disappointing. Once David Baddiel had to leave one of Ralph’s plays at the interval as he was so like Rossiter in Rising Damp he couldn’t stop laughing.
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3,085 posts
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Post by david on Sept 8, 2018 23:18:11 GMT
Well after surviving the 7hr marathon day today, what can be said considering that I went in cold with not having read the novel prior to seeing the performance? Talk about a play having two completely contrasting tones. Part 1 was something straight out of a Carry On film or an episode of the 70s tv show Up Pompeii. How you are supposed to take anything seriously when it’s seemingly played for laughs? Any political drama that was present in Part 1 was completely lost because of this and I now get why a number of people who have posted comments about Part 1 decided not to bother with the second instalment. I think all that was missing was having the late great Frankie Howard on stage passing some comments every now and then. Though because it was presented in such a comical way, it did make the 3.5hrs go pretty quickly. Have to say, the head in the pan at the end of Act 2 was certainly interesting and got a response from the audience. Personally, I found that a great ending.
With Part 2, if I hadn’t known, it might as well have been directed by a completely different director such was the contrast in its overall presentation with a much more darker and mature tone. Ok, there where a few laughs, and the odd sly Brexit reference, but because Part 1 was done the complete opposite way, if kind of felt an uneven piece because of it. Either stay with the comedy or play it straight throughout to keep it balanced. Though while the tone was uneven, the fact that the plot was broken down into separate plays was a great help as it allowed the story to be followed a lot more easily with the large number of different characters.
Richard McCabe was absolutely brilliant and the fact that he was barely off stage the entire time is a remarkabke feat. Though I must say, Joe Dixon’s Mark Anthony character really didn’t offer much in terms of a threat in the drama considering it was played for laughs and at times I thought he came across as too much of an idiot rather than as a military man. I imagine Ralph Feinnes will not be taking this approach at the NT in a few weeks time, I thought the other cast members gave strong performances alongside McCabe.
While I had hoped for a more serious drama today, I’m glad I saw it, even with its faults. Being sat in the Grand Circle G18 gave me a great overall view of the stage, and having an isle seat was greatly welcomed with having a bit more space to stretch the legs. Overall, an interesting play in a day experience, but for me the weakest one in contrast to Angels, the Inheritance and Harry Potter which I also did as day events.
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885 posts
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Post by lonlad on Sept 9, 2018 23:10:20 GMT
I love the concept of an isle seat, somewhere in the tropics :-)
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3,085 posts
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Post by david on Sept 9, 2018 23:14:08 GMT
I love the concept of an isle seat, somewhere in the tropics :-) I’d imagine it would be expensive, but definitely worth it!
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