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Post by Snciole on Feb 22, 2019 10:16:55 GMT
Snciole , there is always the Open Air Theatre production at Regent’s Park. Always something special watching Shakespeare outdoors, especially if you’re there on a balmy summer’s evening. That does sound nice, even it if it rains!
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Post by Snciole on Feb 22, 2019 10:10:11 GMT
Nothing 'wrong' with the cast but I am just not interested in paying £25 to see them in this. For me none of them are must see in the way that Julius Caesar was. I would rather get my credit back and see something that will appeal to me more.
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Post by Snciole on Feb 21, 2019 16:19:24 GMT
I returned for credit because I am just not interested in this cast. I am aware I am the problem. If I am to get free/heavily discounted tickets at some point during the run I might give it a go but struggling to find the enthusiasm for this after Julius Caesar had some huge names.
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Post by Snciole on Feb 21, 2019 9:38:23 GMT
Nicholas Lyndhurst at the Man of La Mancha launch said that he and Jason had no interest in reviving OFAH without John Sullivan's writing and due to death of many cast members, which could be taken as a dig at this but this sounds like it has no original writing in the book.
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Post by Snciole on Feb 21, 2019 9:26:46 GMT
I went to the launch of this on Tuesday and the timing was odd. Rehearsals haven't begun, the cast only got the script on Monday and as others have said this was last performed in 1968 in London when Michael Linnit fell in love with it and nobody else did. I think coming so soon after RSC's Don Quixote is an issue BUT I think there are audiences who have a lot of faith in the April/May ENO musical and Linnit confirmed that they were awaiting news of another big name to complete the cast, which may improve ticket sales. The cast seem enthusiastic about the musical though, I hope for their sake it translates to audiences.
I think DND's Glyndebourne commitments will be problematic and one of those shows where she is used to sell the show but you will see more of Janson.
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Post by Snciole on Feb 20, 2019 17:43:39 GMT
Did you dress up, TM? I bet you would make a charming Janet.
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Post by Snciole on Feb 19, 2019 22:13:10 GMT
So my hot take is that musically I found it very difficult to warm to in the first 30-40 minutes but warmed to book and characters. The songs all sound the same and it felt like musically it had a boring identity because it needed to establish these characters with only minimal props.
For me it all comes together during the Newfoundlander song, the welcome the plane people get felt like musically the show was able to trust its audience and provide diverse memorable tunes and it came together as musical rather than a play with songs.
There isn't a weak link amongst the cast or casting, what I like about it is that if I were involved in Amdram I would be looking for the rights for this because it is such a feel good community production about being being kind and the emotional rewards kindness can bring when we break down out borders and trust each other.
For the reasons above I can see why professional critics haven't raved about it, the fact it feels like it would well in Amdram suggests an unprofessional feel, the lack of star names don't help and the lack of memorable tunes throughout. Perhaps for critics if they didn't warm to it immediately then it's general niceness isn't enough. It is much deeper production, especially in the book, that a lot of critics are giving credit for but in the long term I am sceptical if it can survive on word of mouth/strong social media alone.
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Post by Snciole on Feb 18, 2019 15:41:04 GMT
Yes, Branagh was totally miscast as well-tap dancing aside, he's a good actor and handsome man but he just lacked that old vaudeville charisma that he needed.
A shame because it was otherwise a well-cast production but it is a very stale story that is hard to get into.
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Post by Snciole on Feb 15, 2019 16:36:01 GMT
Whilst I know I will regret asking this, what pray tell is a 'shag tree'? Both Maggie Smith and Pat Quinn slept with (and married in this case) the same man, Robert Stephens. I knew Ryan would know. Just be glad I didn't use the more obscene name for 'Shag Tree'
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Post by Snciole on Feb 15, 2019 10:22:25 GMT
It is blows my mind that her and Patricia Quinn are on the same 'shag tree'
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Post by Snciole on Feb 14, 2019 9:55:05 GMT
NOW GONE, the power of Twitter
BUMP: I have a spare ticket for this because I foolishly booked a date where I will be knackered due to 8 hours + of wine and spirits exams and I managed to get a free pair for later in the week.
I have ONE ticket for 12 March show Section OS Row B Seat 16
It is a collection ticket but I can email over the confirmation I have. Free to a good home.
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Post by Snciole on Feb 13, 2019 11:46:51 GMT
The Under 35 membership scheme is great value (I am still under 35, thank the lord) so I've booked two £15 tickets for Maggie. Still a lot remaining so I am guessing there will be something for public booking.
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Post by Snciole on Feb 12, 2019 11:02:33 GMT
The loss of cast makes sense as Clarke Peters was playing a lot of roles (I personally think the narrator should be separate from Moe, Farmer Taylor etc) but it felt cluttered with so many people on stage as it is now I am not sure how they would have fitted a couple more in. I didn't find the earpiece distracting, he was probably one of the more coherent and interesting performers on stage.
The three families were so unnecessary, you could have just had one family and spread out the cast. They had some good actors on stage, particularly amongst the younger cast and they were either overworked or wasted. Ewan Wardrop is a real coup but his scene could be cut for time as enjoyable as it is.
Ultimately I don't think it is Miller's strongest material, all the subtleties of his youth and have long gone by the time this is written in 1980 and loses something in its direct nature.
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Post by Snciole on Feb 11, 2019 15:56:56 GMT
The Heff has a skill, much like SRB where he doesn't necessarily do anything different across performances, but I find him sincere, engaging and watchable.
I am also distracted by Ryan's "He's STRAIGHT?" comment whenever I see him.
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Post by Snciole on Feb 9, 2019 18:47:03 GMT
I got called by the Old Vic last week letting me know that my seat was now restricted view and I could either keep it or move. They moved me very easily and I am seeing it on Monday.
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Post by Snciole on Feb 4, 2019 16:43:41 GMT
There used to be a pub near me that advertised "English Tapas" which turned out to be small portions of egg and chips. I am here for this.
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Post by Snciole on Feb 2, 2019 18:21:43 GMT
I had a lot of NT credit so got Rutherford, Small Islands and Anna at bargain prices.
I am really looking forward to Anna, if done well the binaural experience should be done really well.
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Post by Snciole on Feb 2, 2019 18:17:16 GMT
Is anyone else still laughing at the NT's "higher than expected returns" line. Are they really clutching their pearls in shock at this?
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Post by Snciole on Feb 1, 2019 10:54:39 GMT
I once saw a mouse climbing the wall in the Royal Court bar, very brazenly. Also it was a comparatively smooth patch of wall, so it was pretty impressive too. An all mouse production of Assassins Creed?
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Post by Snciole on Feb 1, 2019 10:28:42 GMT
I think he always was a gay icon since he appeared in his pants in The Business.
Though John Heffernan is clearly a big icon on this board.
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Post by Snciole on Jan 31, 2019 11:30:04 GMT
I agree with Shenton, judging a work before it is seen is unfair to all involved but as I wrote in this blog based on the synopsis, based on Mamet's previous work I don't trust or expect him to write an appropriate play viewfromthecheapseat.com/2019/01/30/bitter-wheat-an-inappropriate-play-at-an-appropriate-time/ It is already being described as a "black comedy" and Mamet's politics don't suggest a sympathetic portrayal will happen but I look forward to him surprising me (if I even bother getting a ticket)
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Post by Snciole on Jan 29, 2019 10:17:47 GMT
As I said on Twitter, David Mamet is great writer, for men. He struggles with women (we are very complex after all) and his strongest plays look at the relationships between men (Glengarry Glen Ross, American Buffalo) perhaps Mamet will prove me wrong but I suspect Malkovich's character will be unashamedly sleazy, Doon Mackihan's character will be a hard woman who doesn't believe the other women because Fein is her boss and Ioanna Kimbook will play the young victim.
I hope Mamet does something interesting with this but as Ahmed says in the age of great documentary makers do we need to hear a fictionalised account, from a man, about the brutality of other men?
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Post by Snciole on Jan 24, 2019 15:31:33 GMT
I am sorry but the South Bank/Waterloo/Strand area has lots of nice restaurants, why would audience members choose to hang around the NT Foyer? Whenever I go to the NT, which isn't often, I never struggle to find a seat before the show or during the interval. It helps they let audience members in quite early too.
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Post by Snciole on Jan 22, 2019 12:45:14 GMT
Rini was great in Barbershop Chronicles (also I really fancied him) so it good casting and looking forward to seeing Clarke Peters in the role.
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Post by Snciole on Jan 19, 2019 12:21:43 GMT
I once saw a fight over coffee between a shoplifter and Waitrose staff. I live in Croydon though so every day is a drama.
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Post by Snciole on Jan 19, 2019 11:32:29 GMT
I agree it is not a great script. It is unsure whether it wants to be a drama about relationships or whether it wants to look at the cruelty of war and the casualties of war we may not hear about (er...some birds on uninhabited island) it seems a bit scared to confront why Robert and John want to be isolated together on this island and Ellen is such a well explored character. It is a beautiful production, I felt the claustrophobia and isolation at all times. viewfromthecheapseat.com/2019/01/16/outlying-islands-kings-head-theatre/
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Post by Snciole on Jan 18, 2019 10:51:07 GMT
Set up an NT membership direct debit because I really fancy Roger *front row centre* and this sounds very good.
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Post by Snciole on Jan 17, 2019 16:03:12 GMT
The first person in the queue arrived at 3am today Ludicrous that the National have created a situation where people feel they have to do this. Unless I was offered a threesome with Idris Elba and Alex Jennings no way would I be up and OUT at that time for anyone or anything.
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Post by Snciole on Jan 16, 2019 16:45:38 GMT
Hello all, I have a ticket (just one, ever alone) for Waitress on 19 Feb, free to a good home because I have managed to get a pair for a later date and I cannot remember how terrible the seat I booked was. PM me if interested x Now gone, thanks for the interest
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Post by Snciole on Jan 16, 2019 13:08:50 GMT
Hello all, I have a ticket (just one, ever alone) for Waitress on 19 Feb, free to a good home because I have managed to get a pair for a later date and I cannot remember how terrible the seat I booked was.
PM me if interested x
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