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Post by londonmzfitz on May 29, 2016 10:46:27 GMT
Ok, who nicked my review ... Blooming sure I posted last night ..
Ok, saw this last night and am underwhelmed. Dialogue by Jessie delivered very fast. My kid laughed at some of the comedy lines but I was pretty much meh about it. Cast work well together, I'm not convinced it's the stuff of West End.
My memory of the evening will be predominantly of the God Awful seats, B23 & B24, on the curve which means I was suffering from bum numb for most of the show. Great view, but the width of the seats seems off.
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Post by foxa on May 29, 2016 12:07:47 GMT
I was curious about this because of Eisenberg and the Today Tix 'deal' (not all that cheap.) From what you say, I'm not missing much...
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2016 16:34:41 GMT
I had to see the matinee today and forego PN as seeing Oedipe this evening In fact it is an attempt to write and star in ones own work which pays off for the most part Matthew Perry take note The acting is really excellent and the connections between the actors are first rate There are really distinct personalities Eisenberg is really outstanding and obviously inhabits his character So many little quips and tics In some ways it's a performance to rival Denise Gough and reminded me very much of the startling performance Tom Sturridge gave in Punk Rock Unfortunately there are these actors raring to go places in a plot and development that doesn't take them anywhere at all I am also unsure if it's a comedy or drama and the fact that I felt the need to try and categorise it rather than take it at face value exposes the weakness It's worth seeing for the acting but something significant is missing and I can't quite put my finger on it I also have to say the characters as a whole are quite babyish Who recalls whole stories from the age of 10 when they are in their late 20s I had an afterthought It reminded me a lot of Bad Jews But not as funny And a male lead to match the lead girl in that play who was quite hysterical Can't recall the name
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Post by bellboard27 on Jun 2, 2016 17:28:52 GMT
Thanks Parsley for that. Very useful. Hope you enjoy Oedipe!
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Xanderl
Member
Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on Jun 2, 2016 17:52:47 GMT
Omg! I'm in the building with Parsley!
(Checks clothing labels for man-made fibres)
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1,064 posts
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Post by bellboard27 on Jun 3, 2016 13:33:04 GMT
Some reviews:
Telegraph (DC): 4* The Stage (MS): 4* WOS (MT): 4* Eve Std (HH): 3* Guardian (MB): 3*
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Post by jaqs on Jun 3, 2016 14:45:36 GMT
What's the running time? Going tomorrow still says tbd on atg site.
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1,064 posts
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Post by bellboard27 on Jun 3, 2016 22:09:35 GMT
Todaytix has running time as 2h 45 min.
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Post by jaqs on Jun 4, 2016 21:15:56 GMT
Was out just after ten.
The two women were really excellent reactors, and great at all the couple stuff and that made it worthwhile. But it got steadily more and more self indulgent, and I got tired of it, probably in line with my bum numbing from trafalgars ghastly seats, and I was on a bigger end seat, can't imagine how the squeezed middle felt.
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Post by charliec on Jun 9, 2016 12:23:35 GMT
Saw this last night, packed audience with about half a standing ovation at the end.
I found the show as a whole just a bit disappointing, it ends quite weirdly and I didn't think the women were very well written.
I did enjoy Kunal Nayar's performance, it was nice to see him do something more dramatic and less cartoony than Big Bang Theory.
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Post by Steve on Jun 13, 2016 8:01:57 GMT
The acting is really excellent and the connections between the actors are first rate There are really distinct personalities Eisenberg is really outstanding and obviously inhabits his character So many little quips and tics In some ways it's a performance to rival Denise Gough and reminded me very much of the startling performance Tom Sturridge gave in Punk Rock Unfortunately there are these actors raring to go places in a plot and development that doesn't take them anywhere at all I am also unsure if it's a comedy or drama and the fact that I felt the need to try and categorise it rather than take it at face value exposes the weakness It's worth seeing for the acting but something significant is missing and I can't quite put my finger on it I also have to say the characters as a whole are quite babyish Who recalls whole stories from the age of 10 when they are in their late 20s Saw this Saturday matinee, and loved it. I agree with everything Parsley says above, so I won't bother to repeat it. What I will add is that: (1) Katie Brayben's understudy, Amani Zardoe, was excellent as Sarah, the obect of Eisenberg's Ben's desire. Brayben was at a wedding; (2) Jesse Eisenberg cries real tears early on, which is the only reason I can stomach the otherwise wholly phony positive ending. The tears were the clue that this egotistical cruel spoiled monster had a deep well of pain, which earned him enough empathy from me that I'm not completely begrudging him his ending, though I'm begruging it a little; (3) Eisenberg's characterisation, an entitled fantasist and liar, with sadomasochistic fantasies, neediness, arrogance, is so excellent that I dearly want to see this character in a play that has more of a plot. In this play, as is, he is like Sesame Street's answer to the question "Which of these kids is not like the others?" but is not really tested beyond that; (4) Kunal Nayar's flatmate is the nicest and most likeable guy ever to grace this earth, leaving me with warm palpitations all over, and he's funny too, since Eisenberg generously gives him better punchlines than he gives himself. I hope I meet someone like this one day. Extremely fun, if thin play, with terrific charactisations and comedy. 4 stars
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2016 8:29:57 GMT
The acting is really excellent and the connections between the actors are first rate There are really distinct personalities Eisenberg is really outstanding and obviously inhabits his character So many little quips and tics In some ways it's a performance to rival Denise Gough and reminded me very much of the startling performance Tom Sturridge gave in Punk Rock Unfortunately there are these actors raring to go places in a plot and development that doesn't take them anywhere at all I am also unsure if it's a comedy or drama and the fact that I felt the need to try and categorise it rather than take it at face value exposes the weakness It's worth seeing for the acting but something significant is missing and I can't quite put my finger on it I also have to say the characters as a whole are quite babyish Who recalls whole stories from the age of 10 when they are in their late 20s Saw this Saturday matinee, and loved it. I agree with everything Parsley says above, so I won't bother to repeat it. What I will add is that: (1) Katie Brayben's understudy, Amani Zardoe, was excellent as Sarah, the obect of Eisenberg's Ben's desire. Brayben was at a wedding; (2) Jesse Eisenberg cries real tears early on, which is the only reason I can stomach the otherwise wholly phony positive ending. The tears were the clue that this egotistical cruel spoiled monster had a deep well of pain, which earned him enough empathy from me that I'm not completely begrudging him his ending, though I'm begruging it a little; (3) Eisenberg's characterisation, an entitled fantasist and liar, with sadomasochistic fantasies, neediness, arrogance, is so excellent that I dearly want to see this character in a play that has more of a plot. In this play, as is, he is like Sesame Street's answer to the question "Which of these kids is not like the others?" but is not really tested beyond that; (4) Kunal Nayar's flatmate is the nicest and most likeable guy ever to grace this earth, leaving me with warm palpitations all over, and he's funny too, since Eisenberg generously gives him better punchlines than he gives himself. I hope I meet someone like this one day. Extremely fun, if thin play, with terrific charactisations and comedy. 4 stars Glad to see you enjoyed It works well for what it is Bit overlong though 2H 10M would be better Who was getting married?
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Post by eatbigsea on Jul 6, 2016 22:44:32 GMT
Hated all the men. Adored Reshma (why on earth did she have to do all the work) and Katie Brayben, whose New Jersey accent was subtle and excellent. Millennial silliness.
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Post by drmaplewood on Jul 7, 2016 9:01:22 GMT
Assuming there hasn't been any cheap(er) ticket offer for this?
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Post by Ruby Sue on Jul 7, 2016 9:38:11 GMT
I'm guessing when Kunal Nayyar leaves at the start of August some might deals might crop up. I've kept my eye out for any but other than "no booking fee" ones I haven't spotted anything.
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Post by lou on Jul 7, 2016 14:49:34 GMT
Rush tickets are available from TodayTix too.
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Post by firefingers on Jul 7, 2016 14:56:56 GMT
Rush tickets are available from TodayTix too. I forgot where I was for a second and thought you meant the Canadian rock band. Very confused.
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Post by Phantom of London on Jul 10, 2016 18:54:55 GMT
I saw this last night, it was alright, but nothing decent, I thought the British actors were better, than the imports, however the book was leden.
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Post by romeo94 on Jul 16, 2016 14:26:50 GMT
Does anyone know what the song played at the end of the play is?
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Post by n1david on Jul 19, 2016 11:27:23 GMT
Can't help you I'm afraid. I was there last night, seat B6. Couldn't see anything in the kitchen (B5 was listed as 'partially restricted view', but B6 wasn't). Tix were £59.50 which I only booked after the initial reports intrigued me.
Added to the missing kitchen, with the limited rake in the front rows and Mr Bighead in front, couldn't see the main sofa or the right-hand chair without dodging from side to side as if watching a tennis match, and even then missed reactions which are important in a play like this.
Quite enjoyed the dinner scene as I could see the table. But decided it wasn't worth the second act. Went to Busaba Eatthai where they hadn't enough staff on so the service was immensely slow and they couldn't reconcile dishes ordered to customers, so after three goes at getting the bill and it being (differently) wrong each time, they let us go without paying. Which would have been OK if we hadn't been in there for over two hours trying to have one course each...
Just one of those delightful nights in London's glamorous West End.
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Post by popcultureboy on Jul 21, 2016 7:36:04 GMT
I've had such hideous service the last two times I've been in that Busaba that I won't be going back for a third visit.
Speaking of hideous, Jesse Eisenberg has written such a hateful character in Ben that it made the show a tough watch for me. Great performances, some lovely writing too, but Ben being so weird and having exactly zero redeeming features made this a difficult one to invest in.
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Post by trapdoor on Jul 21, 2016 9:49:28 GMT
Does anyone know what the song played at the end of the play is? No idea but other than the TLC Waterfalls moment, it's all Billy Joel
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Post by romeo94 on Jul 23, 2016 14:17:29 GMT
Does anyone know what the song played at the end of the play is? No idea but other than the TLC Waterfalls moment, it's all Billy Joel Thanks, I've found out it is Summer, Highland Falls - worth checking out, such a good song!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2016 9:05:56 GMT
Oh my. I'm torn. Ben is such a loathsome, irritating and sometimes horrible character but at times incredibly funny that I want to absolutely hate him but can't quite do it. And I think that's all to do with Jesse Eisenberg. It is a magnificent performance, truly magnificent and if it cleans up at awards time next year it will be thoroughly deserved. He manages to make you see all of his pain and issues buried underneath without making a huge point of it. He's matched by the rest of the cast, Alfie Allen is really nice, Kunal Nayyar is very, very sweet and Katie Brayben great (and much better than she was in 'Beautiful'). The only one I didn't quite buy was Annapurna Sriram. I did wonder where it was going and the end seems a bit tacked on but it's a minor gripe and there was a bit that actually (and strangely) brought tears to my eyes, for those who've seen it . . {Spoiler - click to view} . . it's the bit where Ben rips the pages out of Kalyan's book . . Be prepared to laugh, gasp and cringe in equal measures. Ben's dream. Oh my goodness. *shudders*
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Post by Tibidabo on Aug 16, 2016 14:40:37 GMT
I saw this recently, just before Kunal Nayyar's departure. Was a little worried as he can be a bit 'pantomimey' in Big Bang (in a goodish way!)
I shouldn't have been concerned - he stole the show for me. His timing and stillness were outstanding. An excellent theatre actor. I'd pay to see him in anything after this.
As someone else said (sorry, not got to grips with the quote thing yet!) Jesse Eisenberg spoke far too quickly and I missed lots of what he said.
I must be in a minority, but I really like the Trafalgar Studios! (Maybe because I'm small?)
Embarrassing moment when I was going up the stairs a the interval and my daughter from behind called out 'Mum! Mum!' in that Extremely Urgent way..... and when I turned round I was literally face to face with Richard Ayoade (I was UP the stairs from him or else I would have been face to navel! He is very tall (and lovely!)
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2016 14:42:46 GMT
What happened to Kunal? Why did he leave?
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6,232 posts
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Post by Jon on Aug 16, 2016 14:48:31 GMT
What happened to Kunal? Why did he leave? Big Bang Theory commitments as that shoots in mid August.
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