1,896 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Apr 11, 2023 21:22:09 GMT
Really enjoyed this last night. Loved the new theatre too (apart from some aspects of the interior design which felt a bit 'cruise ship'). Thought the production was outstanding. Ben D grows in stature and presence every time you see him. I couldn't help but feel that the last couple of minutes didn't 'land'. It's such a powerful scene and yet the denouement seemed to leave things up in the air somewhat, when what you (arguably) need is a clear 'conclusion'. You literally heard half the audience go 'oh - is it finished?'. Was I imagining things? Or was it supposed to be like that? Couldn't agree more
|
|
|
Post by ThereWillBeSun on Apr 11, 2023 22:47:58 GMT
My first visit to this venue - they do a wonderful house red!
As for the play. I thought I was going to be blown away? I wasn’t. I didn’t like the whole sitting within the audience thing. I missed one of them (booked top level) but you’d think the direction would have included the ‘Greek Chorus / women’’ a bit more visible. I didn’t get the slow mo walking - it was so random. I liked the three male roles in one, that was clever as well as the sound design. Sophie undeniably was wonderful. However, didn’t wow me - and the ending didn’t have as much of an impact (as echoed previously)
|
|
4,532 posts
|
Post by Being Alive on Apr 11, 2023 22:58:37 GMT
My first visit to this venue - they do a wonderful house red! As for the play. I thought I was going to be blown away? I wasn’t. I didn’t like the whole sitting within the audience thing. I missed one of them (booked top level) but you’d think the direction would have included the ‘Greek Chorus / women’’ a bit more visible. I didn’t get the slow mo walking - it was so random. I liked the three male roles in one, that was clever as well as the sound design. Sophie undeniably was wonderful. However, didn’t wow me - and the ending didn’t have as much of an impact (as echoed previously) Hard agree with all this
|
|
|
Post by Jan on Apr 12, 2023 8:18:07 GMT
On the stairs: Building regs are beyond me though I guess the minimum requirement is based on evacuation times - in this theatre, how do you get out 600 people.
Hard to escape the conclusion that you don't. This time at the end they had ushers standing next to the (small) lifts at stalls level telling us to use them as "it is the fastest way to get out" - probably true given the minutes-long logjam on the single quite narrow staircase that serves the entire auditorium. With a fire alarm those lifts would be not operating. I can only assume they have some alternative evacuation routes through the backstage area somewhere to an alternative exit - there must be a stage door or loading bay where they bring in scenery or something round the back ? I mean I'm not doubting the building is fully compliant with fire and building regulations but for an audience member it's hard to see how.
|
|
|
Post by bgarde on Apr 12, 2023 10:09:35 GMT
I was overwhelmed by this on Monday evening and thought Sophie deserved one of the most widely sitting standing Os I've seen in a while. I didn't enjoy the slow motion and found it detracted from the drama on centre stage and had to crae around at the end. But yes the very, very long wait to get out of such a newly designed building. We were also encouraged to use the lifts. After such a play it took me away from the high from the performance (just a bit) and back down to earth.
|
|
|
Post by londonpostie on Apr 12, 2023 10:20:55 GMT
@jan You might be right about emergency exits. The aspect I've been stuck on is why the existing staircase isn't mirrored on the other side of the building. Looking at photos, I see it almost is - there appears to be a corresponding staircase on the western side. However, from above it descends and then stops descending at the first floor! It looks a complicated building to me; I don't know a thing about it but it felt like there was considerable vertical integration of what would more normally be lateral, i.e. stacking functionality rather than spreading. On the first floor, public space only exists (narrowly) to the north and east of the auditorium. And, at the end of the performance, we were all shuffled out of two of the four auditorium corner doors (which might speak to your point on emergency exits).
See topmost photo for staircases >>
www.architectsjournal.co.uk/buildings/ahmm-creates-west-ends-first-new-build-theatre-in-50-years
|
|
|
Post by bram on Apr 13, 2023 13:36:25 GMT
Lovely theatre. Wonderful clear production. Powerful.
|
|
|
Post by londonpostie on Apr 13, 2023 22:52:28 GMT
*plot twist*
Walked past tonight and had a closer look; there is a corresponding staircase at the other end that runs the entire way down to the ground floor!! duh duh duuuuuuh
|
|
1,896 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Apr 14, 2023 17:10:52 GMT
I really enjoyed it, but I wanted Medea to be more scary! I felt too much sympathy for Sophie's version - I almost forgave her for her deeds. I didn't like Ben Daniels playing ALL the men. I think having someone else play Creon and the Messenger would have added some variety (instead of taking jackets on and off - maybe a wig and fake moustache might have helped?! ) Have any previous productions showed the slaying onstage, or is it always too horrifying to represent visually?
I also think the lack of set was a little detrimental too.
|
|
2,361 posts
|
Post by zahidf on Apr 14, 2023 17:35:47 GMT
I really enjoyed it, but I wanted Medea to be more scary! I felt too much sympathy for Sophie's version - I almost forgave her for her deeds. I didn't like Ben Daniels playing ALL the men. I think having someone else play Creon and the Messenger would have added some variety (instead of taking jackets on and off - maybe a wig and fake moustache might have helped?! ) Have any previous productions showed the slaying onstage, or is it always too horrifying to represent visually?
I also think the lack of set was a little detrimental too.
I saw a version at the gate theatre years ago from the point of view of the kids waiting in their bedroom and the other characters interacting with them, ending in medea poisoning them. That was intense!
|
|
|
Post by Jan on Apr 14, 2023 20:16:44 GMT
In the Almeida/Kate Fleetwood version that I thought was great (and most others here didn’t) she didn’t kill them at all, not literally at least. I think the other times I’ve seen it the killings were off-stage as in the original.
|
|
940 posts
|
Post by max on Apr 15, 2023 21:34:46 GMT
Great Matinee today. I think one of the joys of this is that using a decades-old version it hasn't been rendered for a particular current interpretation. It would have been easy to commission a new version, and the writer might have delivered the 'Ukraine war version' or 'Me Too version'. Instead, so many extraordinary current/relevant resonances flicker across it, but without a unified or obvious overall 'take'. Instead, the cast make it their own, with surprising, world weary, agonised, and comedic treatment of the lines - far more variety of interpretation than I expected. Really enjoyed the chorus placed amongst the audience (making us the chorus too), and of course the central performances are blazing.
|
|
|
Post by rumtom on Apr 18, 2023 9:52:13 GMT
My first post on this board so go easy on my analysis. I got a day ticket yesterday - £20 Row B in the stalls - I thought it was a great production and having read some of the posts on here I knew a bit of what to expect. I actually thought the slow motion worked really well, and it is probably a practical solution to acting in the round but I also thought it added to the tension by having an ever present figure circling the action. Acting was excellent all round and a well deserved standing ovation at the end. I thought the theatre was great. In the stalls it was great to be close to the action but also felt very intimate with the balconies so tightly built around the stage. A slow exit was pretty frustrating though!
|
|
382 posts
|
Post by stevemar on Apr 27, 2023 16:34:38 GMT
A bit late to this as it’s closed, and seen in mid-April but this was an excellent production.
I thought Sophie Okonedo was superbly intense and took you with Medea’s “logic”. Ben Daniels excellent as usual (though was uncomfortable with the camp portrayal of Aegeus and the laughs which accompanied this). I didn’t mind his slo-mo movement circling of the prey, after the warnings posted here. Better rain than the Almeida Streetcar too.
Much more intense than the director’s jerky chorus movement and additions in the National effort, though Helen McCrory saved that. Didn’t like the Almeida changed ending a few years ago.
This is a great venue in terms of atmosphere and sightliines too. Stars (theatre) restaurant was fine but not outstanding.
|
|