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Post by rumbledoll on Sept 10, 2023 9:42:50 GMT
Funny enough, how I gave the production 3 stars (still stand by it), yet come back to read the variety of reactions on this thread, most curious. And a month after seeing the production the performances haunt me still, Jamie’s gradual meltdown as Dan and Jack Wolfe’s I’m Alive in particular, still hear it in my head in repeat. First time seeing this actor and I’m already wondering what he’s doing next. It really is quite peculiar now deep this story touched me even though I wasn’t impressed with the songs at all, the essential part of it. Somewhere in the parallel universe this exist as a play that I would rave about…
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Post by rumbledoll on Sept 10, 2023 9:29:21 GMT
What a review, Steve! Wow. I hate to miss it as I needed to move my trip, the run is so incredibly short.. hope it has more life beyond Old Vic walls.
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Post by rumbledoll on Sept 7, 2023 17:53:39 GMT
Any idea on the whereabouts of 10 quid tickets announced on the web? No info on allocation, release in September, seems a bit vague.. Subscribed but got nothing so far.
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Post by rumbledoll on Sept 5, 2023 16:53:00 GMT
Front row for first 5 performances now avail at 33 quid at Old Vic web page. Seen on their FB page, hope would help someone as I myself am too far away to go..
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Post by rumbledoll on Aug 31, 2023 6:46:27 GMT
The best one-person shows I've seen have been from Kathryn Hunter - but then she is an actual shapeshifter and can seemingly physically change into anyone! You should put that in its own thread, it is an interesting question. I generally avoid them but decent ones were Ben Kingsley in Edmund Kean (1983), Alec McCowen in Kipling (1984) and Michael Pennington in Anton Chekhov (1984), and the best I've seen Roy Dotrice in Brief Lives (1967-2008) but of course there have been more notable multi-character ones like John Sessions in The Life of Napoleon (mid-1980s) and both Alan Cumming (2012) and Stephen Dillane (2005) as Macbeth. Misterman with Cillian Murphy was splendid!
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Post by rumbledoll on Aug 30, 2023 8:10:02 GMT
Saw this tonight, I guess I’m the only one who found Daniel Rigby very annoying and not that funny? I preferred him in act 2, but I just found him OTT and annoying. BUT I found the other cast funny and I enjoyed the play as a whole unit. I presume his character is designed to be rather annoying.. But I understand how this can be a bit too much for some.. I do prefer a more subtle acting myself, but considering it’s a farce..
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Post by rumbledoll on Aug 25, 2023 4:44:38 GMT
I did book ( a cheap seat as usual) for this due to FOMO & it sounds... interesting. However, given what I've read about it, I'm not sure I'm going to understand it, which is always frustrating and makes me feel stupid. I don't mind being challenged and "thought-provoking" is great, but I couldn't even follow one of the reviews I read - which was almost as long as the play - so goodness knows what my chances are with the performance itself. And no interval, either, in which to escape if it's clearly over my head. The choice remains yours I just wanted to say that I don’t think it’s hard to understand for an average mind (like mine, for example), it’s rather transparent once you become peeling the layers one by one. It’s not some niche production for enlightened or chosen ones, it’s not ‘too clever’, but clever enough to enjoy it through and through. Even if the meaning of the piece in its entirely is not 100% clear (I am sure I missed a thing or two), there’s something for everyone as this play comments on many things, including those naturally close to the people who love arts and going to the theatre in the first place.
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Post by rumbledoll on Aug 23, 2023 13:23:20 GMT
I was also wondering how Erin Doherty, as brilliant an actress as she is, was perceived as Abigail as she clearly looks her age which is far from being a teenager. Or is it just me?.. Milly Alcock looked pitch prefect for the part though lacked depth.
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Post by rumbledoll on Aug 23, 2023 7:22:07 GMT
I see it has been mentioned a 2hr straight through? I only ever do a Sat matinee at the Almeida as my brain just loses all sense of direction it getting to and from the venue. I am going to a midweek evening show and always panic I’ll get lost and waste time getting to Waterloo. If this comes down at 2130hrs I will be giving a sigh of relief as I have masses of wiggle room to panic and still get my train. Finished at 21:38 when I went and it was a very early preview with a small delay, things should tighten up as they roll. Queue for the loo is a long one though...
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Post by rumbledoll on Aug 21, 2023 17:41:11 GMT
On the night I went a lot of people were waiting to get their programmes signed, both Jacks came out pretty quickly and finally Caissie who was absolutely lovely (first masked which she apologised for, then just ditched it), posed for pictures and was just extremely nice and chatty. Waited for Jamie just to say hi, but he was probably rushing for his train as always.. I’m just wondering where that ‘separate door’ is.. Donmar is do tiny.
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Post by rumbledoll on Aug 20, 2023 15:47:46 GMT
Had to pic only 7 shows for my short trip, this was on the list of top 10, but eventually didn’t make it. I’m neutral to the film, but love Tim Minchin. Besides your incredible inspirational posts made me wanna see it more if this production cones back.
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Post by rumbledoll on Aug 20, 2023 13:40:34 GMT
This is what people in lower numbers in stalls on the side don’t see unfortunately.. as the kitchen sink table he leans on turns on the revolve for that scene. You are only guessing that he justs sits there throughout with that detached look on his face. A nice touch, thank you for mentioning it.
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Post by rumbledoll on Aug 20, 2023 8:01:42 GMT
Posh at the Royal Court/ Duke of York's, A Number at the Old Vic, Faith Healer at the Donmar? Well, maybe it’s just me then.. that only seen disappointing ones from her..
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Post by rumbledoll on Aug 20, 2023 4:38:30 GMT
The recent film was awful… And this production is directed by Lyndsey Turner so most likely a snooze fest.. Mind you, Turner's production of Chimerica was one of the most thrilling things I've ever seen. But anything after that?
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Post by rumbledoll on Aug 19, 2023 17:36:28 GMT
The recent film was awful… And this production is directed by Lyndsey Turner so most likely a snooze fest..
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Post by rumbledoll on Aug 19, 2023 17:33:49 GMT
A cheeky sneak pic from A2 before the start of the show: pasteboard.co/95P9mPyFTPrw.jpgAs for the sink it does get in a way for very small chunks of time but I bet it’s the same for almost anyone in The Stalls because of revolve. You don’t feel you're missing out at all. As for upstairs yes it is out of sight but frankly not much is going on in there..Interesting. I did wonder because in the bootlegs of the original Broadway show I've seen there's quite a lot that happens on the upstairs floors. I'm pleased to know that most stuff happens down on the stage in this version. And WOAH at that picture, everything is so close in the Donmar. Can't wait to go. At one point actors almost sit on your lap! Loving it. Well, maybe my point wasn’t fair on the upstairs life, let the other comment who was sitting more central, but the glimpses I caught was Dan sitting at the top of the stairs dressing up, the slide door behind which the band was placed and basically going in and out of the rooms (kids mostly).
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Post by rumbledoll on Aug 19, 2023 17:03:22 GMT
A cheeky sneak pic from A2 before the start of the show: pasteboard.co/95P9mPyFTPrw.jpgAs for the sink it does get in a way for very small chunks of time but I bet it’s the same for almost anyone in The Stalls because of revolve. You don’t feel you're missing out at all. As for upstairs yes it is out of sight but frankly not much is going on in there..
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Post by rumbledoll on Aug 18, 2023 20:20:04 GMT
I saw this tonight from the very end of the front row, right by the stage stairs. It is a very good row, if giving a rather private angled view from behind a lot of the time. A downside is you can't see anything in the upstairs rooms. I was in the same seat and can highly recommend it (wasn’t sure while booking at first), it’s at reduced price, but the view is great and somewhat wonderfully intimate.
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Post by rumbledoll on Aug 18, 2023 20:09:47 GMT
Seen this week based on rave reviews. The kind of laughter that slowly turns into more of a survival tool and then reduced to nothing at a final reveal. Very effective and clever! Just one thing that got in a way of a 5 star vote.. I am no stranger to a farce and I admit Daniel Rigby gives a tremendous performance, I just wish they had a couple of quieter moments for his words to sink in.. Otherwise the whole thing passes you by like a tornado leaving only the debris behind while you feel like you missed the main part when you were supposed to be in a middle of it screaming or being excited depends on your relationships with tornados, of course..
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Post by rumbledoll on Aug 18, 2023 9:04:35 GMT
I really wanted to love it… but you know, there’s something barely describable, something eerie that separates good theatre from great theatre. This is just good, well done, not special. Lyndsay Turner tries do hard though (as she did with Hamlet), bless her. With the best contemporary designer, can’t-go-wrong-classics and truly remarkable acting talents she creates a production that is beautiful, but static, well-crafted yet lacking spontaneity. You watch it and you can’t quite get your head around of what exactly is missing, one or two pieces of the puzzle just wouldn’t fit and you can’t hide that even behind the spectacular water curtain (wetwetwet on the front row but GORGEOUS!) There are gripping moments in this one there’s no point denying it but the bottom line is The Crucible shall grab you by the throat steel hard from the very beginning and never let you go. I will always come back in thoughts to The Old Vic production as a touchstone with their authenticity, wild and raw, towering the stage, making you wanna leap from your seat and fight for justice with all your might. The Crucible is meant to tear you apart in pieces by the end but all this one does is a tap on your shoulder to make sure you’re looking. The most rememberable performances for me in here are Brian Gleeson (he made some interesting choices I’ve never seen in other Proctors, this scene when he asks to spare him the signature was soaring), Nia Towle as Marry Warren (the arch of the character is impeccably executed) and Fisayo Akinade as Reverend John Hale (his passion and persistence spot on). Millie Alcock not so much (even though she certainly looks the part), I felt in a one-note performance, some of the brightest stars just not made for the stage as brilliant as they may be on screen (Tom Hardy springs to mind) and it’s alright.
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Post by rumbledoll on Aug 18, 2023 8:57:28 GMT
What Steve said! A brilliant piece, being from Russia makes it even scarier.. Hope it will have a life beyond Almeida cause this an essential story to be shared.
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Post by rumbledoll on Aug 18, 2023 7:59:07 GMT
I didn’t get ANY ambiguity from the book at all. It was definitely there and is made apparent in the exact same part of the book as it was in the film. As I recall it was a lot of the problem people had with it when it was first released. Interesting discussion on AP, but just for the record by ‘I didn’t understand it’ I meant only that I did not understand why on Earth you would want to a musical out if it as the score was so poor…
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Post by rumbledoll on Aug 17, 2023 9:36:28 GMT
Interesting comment in here that they lowered the key for Jamie but I felt not enough as he clearly was struggling with higher notes. I got to agree I’m too rather buffled why he was chosen to play this part as it doesn’t serve nor him nor the show. Still I glad I saw him, it’s been ages… I know I may be in the minority here, but I felt his challenges vocally, in a strange way, fit the character. It reflected a fragility/vulnerability that would be true to the character, especially in Act Two. Sure, I adored Brian D'Arcy James in the role but I didn't think Jamie embarrassed himself or let the show down at all. Well, if it wasn’t done by purpose but still works you think that’s good. I don’t think he lets down the show at all (I only meant he’s a bit out of his element in this), on the contrary I believe he’s very touching in the part (I also loved the humour he found in the character) and it suits him well acting wise at least.
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Post by rumbledoll on Aug 17, 2023 8:42:07 GMT
Interesting comment in here that they lowered the key for Jamie but I felt not enough as he clearly was struggling with higher notes. I got to agree I’m too rather buffled why he was chosen to play this part as it doesn’t serve nor him nor the show. Still I glad I saw him, it’s been ages…
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Post by rumbledoll on Aug 17, 2023 8:37:30 GMT
I like the story overall, yet songs seem a bit repetitive, shallow and shouty to me. Maybe I need to see more musicals to understand how they work structurally, but so far it’s the loudest, most sketchy and abrupt score I’ve heard.. Performances are beautiful and incredibly moving though. This is a lot for everyone and I like how each member of the family has their say on how unfair this illness and this tragedy has been on them. As for Jamie, I do agree this type of singing does not complement his vocals, but the fact that he indeed has a wonderful voice can be confirmed by anyone who’ve seen his Sky, High Society or BBC Proms on Lesser. I hope Benjamin Button transfers it sound like a kind of show I would have enjoyed more. I’d say 3,5 from me so I won’t vote until I decide, who knows it might grow on me.. I think what I'd say RE: the score is like many musicals (or music in general), if you're hearing it for the first time it can be hard to really hear all the melodies and patterns click. If you listen to the OBC recording once and then see it again it will probably feel quite different. I think there are a number of beautiful melodic songs (e.g. I Miss the Mountains, A Light In the Dark, How Could I Ever Forget, So Anyway, Light). Yes there are some loud songs too (e.g. I Don't Know, I'm Alive, Didn't I See This Movie, The Break), but I think dramatically it's why it works so well because look at the emotion that is trying to be conveyed in those moments. It's impossible for me to unlearn the score now, but I personally don't consider it repetitive (I would not say the same thing about many ALW shows). For those that know it, I guarantee that, like me at the first preview when they heard band members rehearsing certain passages before the show started, they knew exactly which moment and which song they were from. Yes I get the difference between listening to smth for the first time and knowing the entire score by heart but I’ve seen a couple of musicals and the ones I liked always had catchy tunes that I could not get out of my head just after. I believe Guys & Dolls is a very good example. You can’t help singing these songs walking out of the theatre. In here it’s a almost like a mix of different genres and these songs (with a couple of exceptions) do not sound self-sufficient to me. I don’t know if I am explaining it clearly enough.. Just not enough melody for me.. Musicals I’ve seen and enjoyed as a reference: Once, Memphis, Guys and Dolls, High Society, Matilda, Tammy Faye. Not so much: Gypsy, Any Sondheim, Tailor Maid Man. But this one reminds me of American Psycho somehow which I did not understand at all (even though the story works perfectly well for me in the movie).
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Post by rumbledoll on Aug 16, 2023 22:47:00 GMT
I like the story overall, yet songs seem a bit repetitive, shallow and shouty to me. Maybe I need to see more musicals to understand how they work structurally, but so far it’s the loudest, most sketchy and abrupt score I’ve heard.. Performances are beautiful and incredibly moving though. This is a lot for everyone and I like how each member of the family has their say on how unfair this illness and this tragedy has been on them. As for Jamie, I do agree this type of singing does not complement his vocals, but the fact that he indeed has a wonderful voice can be confirmed by anyone who’ve seen his Sky, High Society or BBC Proms on Lesser. I hope Benjamin Button transfers it sound like a kind of show I would have enjoyed more. I’d say 3,5 from me so I won’t vote until I decide, who knows it might grow on me..
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Post by rumbledoll on Aug 14, 2023 7:10:29 GMT
Who is going Monday and can report back? I’m excited to hear about this. I’m going Wednesday
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Post by rumbledoll on Aug 12, 2023 8:58:03 GMT
Also did you notice the shout out when Southgate was explaining what places we came in each World Cup? The shout out from a bloke in the audience (I nearly wrote crowd) when Southgate said “1974? we didn’t qualify. 1978?” And before he could deliver his line the shout out “we didn’t qualify” came from the stalls somewhere. I saw him putting his palm to his ear as if he was expecting the audience to join.. and they did. It felt spontaneous and made me smile actually as I love theatre just for that.
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Post by rumbledoll on Aug 12, 2023 8:54:14 GMT
Was there last night, a bit louder than usual and a couple of weird annoying single shouters but I would not say it spoilt any bit of the show. Wonderful piece about leadership by caring for people, echoes the recent Ted Lasso that I adored. A football fan myself, different team, but I can fully appreciate the sentiment. Yet again James Graham tells a truly compelling story that I am sure was, is and will be enjoyed by many not associated themselves with the game. I could do without the politics though.. but JG would not be himself leaving it out of the focus. From where I was sitting in the circle (sound was fine btw) Joseph Fiennes looked exactly like Southgate, the supporting cast depictions of famous footballers were spot on. Gotta admit I cried a bit at the end, which says something about me more that the production, which felt inspired and inspiring.
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Post by rumbledoll on Aug 9, 2023 3:56:54 GMT
Thank you. I know next to nothing about the source material at this point, but the mention of 9 songs is enough for me to just dash to the website and grab a ticket Sorry if I offended the fans of the show somehow - I hope I will enjoy it as much. I really appreciate that you helped me with the information I was looking for. Happy to help! Just wanted to manage expectations really, this isn’t going to be a Jamie Parker concert. It’s a relatively heavy book musical about serious themes, with the actor you like playing a secondary role. Really hope you enjoy the show and have a terrific time! I’d rather take a Jamie concert any day lol, but yeah I understand it isn’t that. It being about serious matters actually makes me want to watch it more. Thanks again x
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