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Post by wiggymess on Apr 16, 2024 10:10:21 GMT
Let's see: basic storytelling, dull characters, repetitive dialogue, all padded out to fill a 90 minute running time, and then a nothing of an ending. The nicest thing I can say is that it's not quite as inane as 'seven methods of killing kylie jenner' which the critics previously pretended was evidence of a promising playwright. But this should never be transferring to a venue like this in a million years and the poor box office performance shows the limits of all the pretence. File under the soft bigotry of low expectations. 2 sold out runs at the Bush says otherwise.
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Post by wiggymess on Mar 11, 2024 12:34:24 GMT
Denise Goughs career should have gone stratospheric after she first played this, and it just hasn’t. I find this news a little depressing She has been in loads of things on TV Many high profile stuff And one theatre role doesn’t translate to international fame and Oscars It’s a very niche market Using theatre to become famous inefficient Better to become famous from film and dabble in theatre She must be kicking herself she never thought of this...
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Post by wiggymess on Mar 4, 2024 14:06:50 GMT
For me personally that's a really nice looking season, especially considering the past few announcements have been really disappointing. Although the whole 'a new performer takes to the stage each night unaware of what's on the script' thing has really had its day now surely?
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Post by wiggymess on Nov 29, 2023 14:43:41 GMT
Edit: now sold.
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Post by wiggymess on Nov 21, 2023 7:13:23 GMT
It keeps bugging me that Laura Donnelly has been cast in this. Controversial one here but I think that both of his ‘hit’ plays are massively overrated, overhyped and overlong. A friend and I recently had a conversation about the best filmmakers and one thing they have in common is writing and directing very ‘lean’ pictures. Butterworth is the antithesis of this. I have no doubt that this will sell out but I also have no doubt that alongside the ‘we see all great theatre at £150 per ticket’ wealthy west end crowd will be a lot of people there to say they’ve seen the play or because of the hype (or both) Most come out of his plays confused and pretend to understand what the hell was really going on having sat through hours of meandering, dreary, and often pointless dialogue. That said, there have been some well directed moments, nice stage performances and design elements in his plays but for me that’s about it. I understand this could all sound a bit on the bitter side but I’m just not enthused at all by another new Jez Butterworth play. Just my one opinion though and it will remain in the unpopular minority! Why do people feel the need to assume that people who enjoy things they don't enjoy must be pretending to enjoy it? Of course there's hype around the play and that is a reason people want to go because some of us are excited about it. But in order to make your point you have to belittle people who enjoy his plays and claim "most" people come out confused and pretending to understand them. Nonsense and you've absolutely nothing to base that on. Having an opinion is fine- making silly statements like that is just daft. Just my opinion of course.
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Post by wiggymess on Oct 18, 2023 11:10:01 GMT
Got pre-sale link from Live Theatre into my Junk Mail. Is it unique to your email or are you able to post it? thanks
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Post by wiggymess on Oct 18, 2023 11:01:44 GMT
Argh, still no link. This is getting annoying now...
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Post by wiggymess on Oct 18, 2023 9:14:45 GMT
Does seem to be 12pm despite what the email said yesterday - Ambassadors twitter replied to someone saying 'a couple of hours' for those who signed up via the website, so everyone has been sent incorrect information & I planned the morning around it being onsale at 10am. Great.
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Post by wiggymess on Oct 18, 2023 9:07:03 GMT
ATG presale at the moment. I think the website presale is at 12 but who knows at this point.
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Post by wiggymess on Oct 18, 2023 9:05:02 GMT
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Post by wiggymess on Sept 19, 2023 10:29:08 GMT
It won a 'best new play' award, which is probably why it came back! Maybe, but the cynic in me thinks that the fact that it must be relatively cheap to stage (small cast and almost no set) could well explain some or most of its return. Sales would suggest otherwise - it's pretty much completely sold out. It was, and remains, a very popular play and one that brings in new and non-regular theatre audiences which is a fantastic achievement. It's acclaim during its first run and subsequent litany of nominations and awards have helped with its reputation. Fantastic play, I'm overjoyed it's back & will have seen it 3 times by the time the run ends
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Post by wiggymess on Sept 16, 2023 11:10:32 GMT
Both performances cancelled today. Will be tough to rebook another date - looks to be almost sold out
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Post by wiggymess on Sept 4, 2023 11:49:28 GMT
Get a working caravan, you've also got a way to get the cast from date to date - 2 birds...
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Post by wiggymess on Sept 1, 2023 14:18:11 GMT
You seriously think Southgate's whataboutery in those Guardian quotes improves his argument? Jeez. In life, you start by taking moral responsibility for the things you have charge of, before you start deciding I'm ok because someone else is doing worse. You really are into taking things people have said and changing them to suit your POV, aren't you? I didn't say it "improves his argument" I'm saying you are choosing one line and ignoring all the other things he said - other things which broaden up the topic and the situation and how he has reacted to being put in a very difficult situation. Your comment was disingenuous in that you made him out to be flippant. I have sympathy for him - why should he shoulder the responsibility for someone else's moral decisions? Who are you to tell him he has to? His job is to choose the England team, based on football, and he has done so. I'm sure if you were in his situation you'd be a shining light of morality and we'd all be incredibly grateful and impressed.
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Post by wiggymess on Sept 1, 2023 10:57:18 GMT
Over in the real world, Southgate's latest pearl of wisdom when asked whether newly-selected Jordan Henderson might trigger a bad reaction from England fans for choosing to play football in a country where people can be killed by the state for engaging in homosexual activity and women are second-class citizens: "I don't know why a player would receive an adverse reaction because of where he plays football." Wait till he hears about all the flack sportsmen received for playing in apartheid South Africa. The differences between the touchy-feely character in the play and the real-life version are quite stark. Sigh. As is grimly reliable these days, we have to take one line and decide that is the entirety of the context of the situation. If anyone wants to actually read the details of what Southgate said about a very complex situation, read here: www.theguardian.com/football/2023/aug/31/gareth-southgate-jordan-henderson-england-squad-saudi-arabiaAnd for the record I think it's an incredibly stupid move for Henderson to make and he has undone years of goodwill in certain communities and that's all his own fault. However, it is Southgate's job to pick a team of England players based on their footballing ability. This is not an easy situation for him to be in. He wasn't anywhere near as dismissive as your 1 line quote suggests.
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Post by wiggymess on Aug 7, 2023 11:25:27 GMT
Now on sale to DMT+ members but stalls row D is closest to stage currently available. From the staging at the NT Olivier does anyone think that's likely to remain the situation ? Could I please ask about the pricing for this? Know a fair few non-regular-theatregoers who would love it so I'm hoping prices won't put them off. thanks
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Post by wiggymess on Aug 7, 2023 8:05:20 GMT
West End in October. Onsale Friday
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Post by wiggymess on Jul 26, 2023 23:07:28 GMT
Thought as much. Well then you're massively lost my friend. I study the history of football- to the extent that I regularly have articles published in specialist magazines as I said - and I know the effect the gentrification of the sport by people like Graham has had on the traditional support. I can sleep having not seen one of my favourite playwrights plays far easier than I could fearing I have in some capacity supported what I, and many others, believe to be cultural genocide even if others believe that to be an extreme view. Ah the classic "I haven't actually seen it but it's an act of cultural genocide committed by "Jamie" Graham - my favourite playwright who is also responsible for the gentrification of the sport I'm an expert in" argument. That seems... solid...?
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Post by wiggymess on Jul 26, 2023 22:29:06 GMT
Sometimes - and reading both this post and the one calling Southgate a "loser" are certainly two of those occasions - I'm genuinely jealous of people who have no interest in, or passion for, football. I'm certainly not surprised that someone who proudly proclaims their collection of 5000 football matches on DVD didn't enjoy the play. Point missed completely. I thought it was stunning personally. I never made a comment on the play as I refuse to watch it. First Jamie Graham play I'll have missed but I have no interest in it or what he has to say about the England national team or its place in society. Thought as much. Well then you're massively lost my friend.
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Post by wiggymess on Jul 26, 2023 22:15:11 GMT
Ha. Football can be so tiresome and tedious to debate and I had hoped to avoid that on this forum. My last response to this discussion will be that Croatia and Italy were markedly better than us at the time we played them. I did think that was also the case with France - up until we played them. We were better than them all over the pitch. Unfortunately the low scoring system in football does not always reward playing better. We should have beaten France, we would have beaten Morocco and then god know’s what would have happened against Argentina. 2022 was the only genuine missed opportunity. We were lucky to get as far as we did in the previous two tournaments, in no small part due to the manager. However, opinions are opinions and the only certain fact we can all agree on is that Gareth Southgate is statistically the second best England manager of all time, after Sir Alf Ramsey. If, like me, you grew up watching decades of dirge, you learn to appreciate the better times! Over and out (and, despite our differences, I’m glad there are other passionate football fans on this message board!). Would love to discuss how we were lucky to progress so far in 2018 because of Gareth Southgate... We played Tunisa, Panama, Belgium (lost), Columbia (drew) and Sweden to reach the semi final. It was the easiest run of fixtures (Belguim was a dead rubbber) in English history at a major tournament including 2010. As for being better than France all over the pitch for most of the game I'm interested in your thoughts of the matches against Brazil in 1962, West Germany in 1970, Holland in 1988, West Germany in 1990, Germany 1996 and Argentina 1988 because, in my opinion, anyone who has seen those matches and has studied those eras will not consider the performance against France better than any and would laugh at the suggestion that it was an unparalleled performance. As for statistics, find me a single historian who doesn't believe that Bobby Robson's run to the semi finals in 1990 absolutely trumps Southgate's in 2018... We get it, you know a lot about football and watch a lot of games, give the guy a break man, good grief. It's a fictionalised account of the Southgate era that has a feelgood tone.
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Post by wiggymess on Jul 26, 2023 21:47:04 GMT
As someone who follows England home and away, all I can say is I’m glad you spend your time posting on a theatre forum rather than about football. I suppose we shall have to agree to disagree! He has the backing of England’s travelling fans who actually spend money to follow the team, that’s the main thing. capybara , you are definitely entitled to your own opinions but under no circumstances your own facts. The facts are: 1) In 72 years of competing in finals of major International tournaments England have never beaten a major nation in a knock out match outside Wembley in either a World Cup or European Championships. Gareth Southgate has not improved on this. 2) Gareth Southgate's England beat Tunisa, Panama and Sweden en route to the World Cup Semi Finals in 2018 which is the easiest run by any side to reach that stage - according to FIFA rankings- in any Post War World Cup 3) Alf Ramsey's England side beat Argentina, Portugal and West Germany in 3 consecutive knock out matches in 1966 which is, according to rankings, the toughest run of consecutive wins in a major tournament by any England side in history. 4) Following England home and away is a hobby which does not automatically equate to football knowledge. Some opinions now: 1) England's performances against Croatia in 2018, Italy in 2021 and France 2022 are no better than their performances against Brazil in 1962, West Germany in 1970, West Germany in 1990, Germany in 1996, Argentina in 1998 or Portugal in 2004. They were not better than defeats earlier than the knock out rounds against West Germany in 1972 or Holland in 1988. The opinion that somehow Southgate's England are venturing into new territory with performances is, in my opinion, a myth created by a media desperate to create a legacy for him and lapped up by fans not old enough to have seen those matches I refer to or relatively new to football. I'm more than happy to discuss this 'offline' but must advise that I regularly write for a peer reviewed football history magazine and have an archive of over 5000 football matches on DVD. 2) Southgate has hugely benefited from the expansion of tournaments to include more weaker sides.Better England sides didn't qualify for the finals of the 1972 European Championships (We lost to a West German side in the 2 legged quarters who were World Cup semi finalists in 70, European Champions in 1972, World Champions in 1974 and European Runners Up in 1976), 1974 World Cup (due to only 1 team qualifying from the group- the greatest Polish side in history who finished 3rd in West Germany) and, finally, 1978 World Cup (We were in a group in which only 1 side qualified and that was Italy). Again I'm more than happy to take this offline for you to explain which of Southgate's wins were against sides better than those mentioned here. Sometimes - and reading both this post and the one calling Southgate a "loser" are certainly two of those occasions - I'm genuinely jealous of people who have no interest in, or passion for, football. I'm certainly not surprised that someone who proudly proclaims their collection of 5000 football matches on DVD didn't enjoy the play. Point missed completely. I thought it was stunning personally.
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Post by wiggymess on Jul 26, 2023 15:57:40 GMT
The only improvement that could have been made would be more of a nod to the unsavoury side of England fans during Southgate’s tenure. The rioting and violence of thousands who forced their way into Wembley for the Euro 2020 final, for example (I was there - it was appalling). Also the fact that while more level headed football fans totally acknowledge the progress made, even after the France defeat, he receives a huge amount of criticism and calls to go from people who despise him for his political and moral views as much as anything else. No, football fans who like winning don't like Southgate because he has an incredible track record of losing going back to 1996. After that he then lost the two major finals he reached as a player, one as captain. Then as England manager he has had a very strong squad at his disposal with players drawn from the best league in the world under the best club managers and he has had incredibly good luck with the opposition he has faced and the good fortune to effectively be the host nation of the 2021 Euros. And yet he always finds a way to lose. In the knock-out stages of the 2018 World Cup the first decent side he faced was Croatia and he managed to lose despite taking the lead and despite having a much stronger bench when it went to Extra Time. In the knock-out stages of the 2021 Euros he is lucky enough to play an even poxier side in the semi-finals, Denmark, and at home, and still can't beat them in normal time. Then facing a very average Italy side and despite again taking the lead he manages to lose a final at Wembley, despite again having a much stronger bench when it went to Extra Time. Then in the 2022 World Cup he finally faces a decent side earlier in the Quarter Finals and despite France missing key players they get him beat in normal time with that 36-year-old superstar of world football Olivier Giroud landing the killer blow. Some sportsmen are winners and some are losers. Southgate is a loser. He has always been a loser. But he has done a great PR job to convince the FA to continue to pay him £5 million a year to lose. It is a sign of the decline of our country and its spirit that we champion a guy for being nice despite him being the exact opposite of what is needed in his role. Because the purpose of sport is to win. And winners win and losers lose. That's the brute truth which a nice boy like James Graham can't or won't tell you. Who would you have appointed instead, and who would you rather appoint now?
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Post by wiggymess on Jul 10, 2023 9:16:45 GMT
The main problem I had with it, and what I still can't figure out, is {Spoiler - click to view} Why does her brother actually kill those children? What triggers him to do it, and why does he lie to her about having killed the last one, when actually he reenacted the pig story? Unless I completely missed the logic, it seems a huge plot hole. Perhaps that's explained better in the text / with other productions people have seen.
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Post by wiggymess on Jun 29, 2023 20:47:22 GMT
Could i please just ask about the staging for this? We're sat A2+3 on the balcony and a little worried about sightlines. thanks! Fantastic view from balcony C45 (opposite side but - which even had a pillar to see elements that are not crucial at all to the play) but you will be able to see that from A because there is not a pillar! Thank you! Big relief.
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Post by wiggymess on Jun 27, 2023 13:56:07 GMT
Could i please just ask about the staging for this? We're sat A2+3 on the balcony and a little worried about sightlines. thanks!
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Post by wiggymess on Jun 17, 2023 17:52:44 GMT
The actors should have settled into performing their roles months before performing their roles?? That'll be a relief for actors performing in shows at cheaper theatres, knowing they're allowed longer to settle in. They should have been in rehearsals for several weeks and the producer should have been taking notes and trying to push the actors in the right direction: while it’s not all of the original actors that were supposed to be in it, this production has been in the works for ages, so it’s not like it came together in a ‘let’s put on a show!’ concept in a theatrical club last week. I’m sure productions at ‘cheaper’ theatres workshop their productions prior to starting a run. I know all that, but it's pretty obvious performing in front of a packed theatre is a completely different kettle of fish, suggesting otherwise is just strange. Might take time to settle into that. Although I'm aware that doesn't fit into the entitled modern narrative.
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Post by wiggymess on Jun 16, 2023 21:00:57 GMT
This is the first production of a Martin McDonagh play since I saw the Beauty Queen of Leenane at the Young Vic that I’m not tempted to see, it just sounds like expensive rubbish: ‘Hold on, let them settle in, give them a chance’ : for the prices they’re charging everyone involved should have settled in weeks, if not months ago. The actors should have settled into performing their roles months before performing their roles?? That'll be a relief for actors performing in shows at cheaper theatres, knowing they're allowed longer to settle in.
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Post by wiggymess on Jun 16, 2023 12:40:37 GMT
Logged into Friday Rush out of curiosity for a friend, and a bunch of tickets which were £10 at about 3 mins past 1 soon went up to, and are still £69 / £86. Is that standard? What an absolute con.
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Post by wiggymess on Jun 14, 2023 9:53:56 GMT
I just used the link from last week's email. It's not clear, but doesn't seem they are resending it every week unless you sign up every week.
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Post by wiggymess on Jun 2, 2023 11:35:13 GMT
That article is so far from the simple facts of the situation as to almost be irrelevant. It explains why a jews-only night would "deny a precious opportunity to celebrate sharing our experiences, our worlds, our lives, with others. Instead, it would stand for the opposite. It would want to keep us ghettoised, ossifying boundaries with a patronising finger wag instead of knocking them down."
It doesn't shut down the audience's ability to engage with another culture, or reduce the capacity for empathy. The only lack of empathy being shown is by those who are upset by this sort of thing, because they seem incapable of considering historical or societal context.
It. Is. One. Performance. Out. Of. Thirty.
Just another way of blowing it all out of proportion. Living with privilege so easily breeds the notion of "oh my god, whatever next?", or "imagine if it was US excluding THEM."
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