Post by Dave B on Feb 22, 2023 10:14:30 GMT
We took a trip to the new Southwark Playhouse venue last night. About as far a walk from Elephant & Castle station as the existing venue just in the opposite direction. It only opened at the tail end of last week and last night they had a photographer in to do full publicity shots so the evening's amusement started a little early as he tried to nudge staff into exactly the pose he wanted.
First thoughts.. go around the corner and look downstairs! There is a basement bar too, I hadn't realised for quite a while as we went straight to the bar (naturally) at the main door. Bad news and I really have no idea why given the main has a deal with one of the local brewery and always has a good selection - but no beer on tap. Oh well, I'm told the white wine was quite nice and my canned Sambrooks was fine.
Slight hicups still being worked out, a row had been removed so some double tickets but BO sorted it out in seconds. The doors to the auditorium are still settling and quite loud and bang on closing so opening 'em during the performance is quite distracting.
Right, the theatre itself. Very reminiscent of Park Theatre, a similar balcony running around three sides. The stage is *very* wide. We were centreish front row and still were turning heads throughout to follow as action moved around. Somewhat comfortable fold down seats but with a lot of legroom including the balcony from the looks of it.
And the play, well the title covers it really. An enjoyable evening as long as you just go with it. A few people who weren't prepared to go with it left at the interval. The staging and use of wigs and swapping between characters is really well done. Broad and fast comedy, a lot thrown at the audience to keep up with or to try and decipher but one that pays off when it comes together. Some jokes for the Irish, the name of the snake didn't seem to land with anyone other than me and one moment where I realised I was the only person laughing and quite loudly at that. Oops.
{Spoiler - click to view}To go into slight spoilers, the tragedy doesn't land so well. It feels overshadowed by the farce too much and while I have not seen this performed before, I don't think that is the intent. The ending should be strong but it just felt tonally slightly off - like it just needs a little more oomph and a little less farce. This was the second or maybe third preview so hopefully that might be something they are working on. The cast are very good, the loop and the sense of being trapped hinted at nicely and then coming to the front.
Finally, a huge deduction for Southwark proudly tweeting that they have boxes and boxes of Tayto available for this show - but having made the rookie mistake of stocking Northern Irish Tayto instead of real Tayto. Shocking stuff 
So no beer and wrong crisps... it'll be a wonder if I ever go back 
