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Post by parsley1 on Nov 1, 2023 0:28:59 GMT
Gracious
Nothing other than the dreaded 3 stars so far
Guardian
WOS
Telegraph
Independent
Time Out
NYT states it is “shallow”
Not ideal for a great Shakespearean actor really
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Post by mrbarnaby on Nov 1, 2023 7:06:54 GMT
This doesn’t look good at all. Guessing it’s sold out so doesn’t matter really, except for Ken’s ego.
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Post by sam22 on Nov 1, 2023 7:45:07 GMT
Gracious Nothing other than the dreaded 3 stars so far Guardian WOS Telegraph Independent Time Out NYT states it is “shallow” Not ideal for a great Shakespearean actor really 3 stars from WhatsonStage too with the final line 'The only consolation is that he is tackling it so early, he can always have another go.'... The Daily Mail meanwhile has given a brutal 1 star! |
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Post by sam22 on Nov 1, 2023 7:46:34 GMT
This doesn’t look good at all. Guessing it’s sold out so doesn’t matter really, except for Ken’s ego. Yep albeit isn't it transferring for an Autumn 2024 season somewhere in New York? |
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Post by parsley1 on Nov 1, 2023 10:00:21 GMT
So many lukewarm and pointless plays in the WE this year
Little Life
Lyonesse
King Lear
At the prices charged
Some serious quality control is needed
It’s a shame they are all so well sold
And I wonder if the egos of the actors and directors of these substandard offerings are dented at all
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Post by lonlad on Nov 1, 2023 10:28:26 GMT
These reviews are all too kind except the Mail. Branagh has precisely nothing to say about this timeliest of plays but at least, in his favour, speeds through less than two hours saying that nothing. He hasn't bothered to direct the cast in any meaningful way, so all but two of them flail along as if they were in drama class -- fine in that context, not fine at inflated West End ticket prices.
As the play itself puts it: "nothing can come of nothing" .....
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Post by Rory on Nov 1, 2023 10:43:42 GMT
I think Branagh is so overrated.
He's awful in the Poirot movies and Belfast was really underwhelming.
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Post by lonlad on Nov 1, 2023 10:58:30 GMT
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Post by Jan on Nov 1, 2023 12:36:53 GMT
Gracious Nothing other than the dreaded 3 stars so far Guardian WOS Telegraph Independent Time Out NYT states it is “shallow” Not ideal for a great Shakespearean actor really He’s not a great Shakespearean actor though is he ? None of his stage roles were really great - Hamlet, Leontes, Macbeth, Richard III, Coriolanus. His best was HenryV but that was in a really great Adrian Noble production which Branagh then borrowed freely from for his film. I thought his film of Hamlet was very good - I think he’s a better director than actor. |
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Post by Jan on Nov 1, 2023 12:41:54 GMT
This doesn’t look good at all. Guessing it’s sold out so doesn’t matter really, except for Ken’s ego. Jon would classify this as a “smash hit” (just like Hamnet and Lyonesse) because they’ve sold all the tickets. I suppose it is in a way. |
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Post by lonlad on Nov 1, 2023 12:45:31 GMT
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Post by bordeaux on Nov 1, 2023 13:24:36 GMT
Branagh is clearly a talented actor but has been seduced away from what could have been a great theatre career by cinema. He was a brilliant Benedick in the Renaissance Much Ado (directed by Judi Dench) and a hilarious Touchstone in As You Like it (directed by Geraldine McEwan) in the late 80s. I thought his Hamlet for Adrian Noble was superb (I haven't seen the film). But I haven't seen any of his Shakespeares since then and haven't wanted to. He shouldn't be directing them for one thing. I can imagine him being a good Leontes, but he's too young for Lear (though I've seen younger Lears who were convincing). He was an excellent Ivanov in 2008 for Michael Grandage. But if he were cast as Vanya or Trigorin, would I be interested? It would depend on the director, to be frank.
Instead he's spent his time directing uninteresting-sounding films. The exception being Belfast, which I thought was extremely good, very funny and a poignant view of the Troubles.
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Post by Jon on Nov 1, 2023 13:30:35 GMT
I think Branagh works best when he's just acting or directing rather than both at the same time, the likes of Christopher Nolan and Michael Grandage bring out the best of his abilities.
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Post by ceebee on Nov 1, 2023 15:14:22 GMT
Though in fairness, reviews by "The Stage" are barely credible these days. Might as well be written by GCSE students. |
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Post by rumtom on Nov 1, 2023 22:33:10 GMT
Though in fairness, reviews by "The Stage" are barely credible these days. Might as well be written by GCSE students. I don't like to dismiss other people's reviews/opinions on a show as it is so subjective but writing an article should be more than a personal opinion - as, unsurprisingly, there will always be things you see that may not be your cup of tea but you can still see the brilliance in them. I hate scary films but I don't therefore think they're all rubbish. I'm not saying this Lear is brilliant but it is not 1-star-bad. There is just no way. The only reason to review it so badly is because more people will read the review and that's what keeps The State going. And because some like to see KB fail so they can criticise him for making poor decisions in his career. Even if you don't like the pace; scenery; sound; acting this is not a play that falls completely flat. He probably shouldn't have directed it and starred in it. They probably should have explained the cast were all RADA graduates so people could make an informed decision on whether to buy expensive tickets. Either way he has given a new crop of theatre actors a solid start and I thought they all performed very well. |
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Post by oxfordsimon on Nov 1, 2023 23:34:52 GMT
The new graduates do have a big West End credit on their CV
But they also will have their names associated with a high profile flop in terms of critical reaction. It takes a long time for this sort of thing to stop appearing high up when you search for a name.
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Post by theatrefan77 on Nov 2, 2023 0:20:53 GMT
Branagh was probably hoping for a big hit with great reviews, so he could be to be in the run for the top job at the National. King Lear was announced at the time when the National theatre was starting to look for a new artistic director. I think it has backfired.
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Post by Jan on Nov 2, 2023 7:42:20 GMT
Branagh was probably hoping for a big hit with great reviews, so he could be to be in the run for the top job at the National. If Branagh was interested in the NT job, which he plainly isn't, all he'd have to do is show them the box office takings and they'd jump at it. As far as I can recall he's only ever done one thing at the NT in his whole career. Actually he'd be the perfect AD for them because he's a brilliant producer who is able to attract star actors, has a high profile in UK and USA, and is a very good director too. |
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Post by ceebee on Nov 2, 2023 7:50:29 GMT
Branagh was probably hoping for a big hit with great reviews, so he could be to be in the run for the top job at the National. If Branagh was interested in the NT job, which he plainly isn't, all he'd have to do is show them the box office takings and they'd jump at it. As far as I can recall he's only ever done one thing at the NT in his whole career. Actually he'd be the perfect AD for them because he's a brilliant producer who is able to attract star actors, has a high profile in UK and USA, and is a very good director too. Agree with this 100%, though I sense Branagh enjoys films more as he can fine-tune things until they are perfect. I think the reviews for Lear will hurt him (inside) but doubt it will damage his bankability. Personally, I am off to see it twice - this Friday and then in December, and I am very much looking forward to it. I rarely agree with the critics anyway. |
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Post by Jan on Nov 2, 2023 8:37:31 GMT
If Branagh was interested in the NT job, which he plainly isn't, all he'd have to do is show them the box office takings and they'd jump at it. As far as I can recall he's only ever done one thing at the NT in his whole career. Actually he'd be the perfect AD for them because he's a brilliant producer who is able to attract star actors, has a high profile in UK and USA, and is a very good director too. Agree with this 100%, though I sense Branagh enjoys films more as he can fine-tune things until they are perfect. I think the reviews for Lear will hurt him (inside) but doubt it will damage his bankability. Personally, I am off to see it twice - this Friday and then in December, and I am very much looking forward to it. I rarely agree with the critics anyway. Yes all the evidence suggests that film is his main interest. Remember when he walked out at short notice on Michael Grandage when he had agreed to direct Jude Law in Hamlet so he could direct Thor instead - a pretty stark indication of his priorities. |
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Post by Sotongal on Nov 2, 2023 11:04:05 GMT
We watched this on Monday evening and enjoyed it.
Notable actors have ‘helped out’ RADA before by acting with students in the RADA studios - Tom Hiddleston appeared in Hamlet (directed by Ken Branagh) a few years ago there.As RADA President, it isn’t really surprising Ken should act in and direct Lear. I suspect the two hour non stop running time, is maybe partly to try to engage younger people with shorter attention spans than the three plus hours Lear usually needs. (Though it does mean the deterioration of Lear, etc, is speeded up a bit!)
But think that’s Branagh’s big problem-he can be a great actor and a great director, but he cannot/shouldn’t direct himself (not many actors can). He would be better off doing one or the other, but not both at the same time. (Does he give himself notes?!)
However, he is one of the few great Shakespearean actors, alongside McKellen and Dench, in as far as he has a way of delivering the lines which make them instantly understandable - many times we’ve had to ‘tune in’ to the Shakespearean language with other actors, but with these three you don’t, it’s understandable straight away.
Couple of observations re Branagh. Gorgeous hair, makes him look more older Thor like, than old Lear. We were sat quite near the front in the stalls so could see facial expressions pretty well-he didn’t seem to feel it in his face(if that makes sense) his eyes pretty much didn’t change expression. Oh also, the ending was the theatrical piece you might expect from Olivier. 😉
Would say McKellen’s version is by far the best Lear we’ve ever seen, but this is perfectly fine, but could have been better (and the RADA cast were good enough, particularly the older ones who’d been off and done other things and came back to perform in this).
And yes, it is pretty much sold out.
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Post by ceebee on Nov 2, 2023 11:09:41 GMT
I didn't see McKellen Lear but I did see Robert Stephens who was truly majestic and broken. He played it brilliantly despite his illness that ultimately took him way too soon.
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Post by Jan on Nov 2, 2023 11:16:56 GMT
I didn't see McKellen Lear but I did see Robert Stephens who was truly majestic and broken. He played it brilliantly despite his illness that ultimately took him way too soon. McKellen has played it twice. Neither were as good as Robert Stephens. Derek Jacobi was good too, there have been plenty who weren't. |
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Post by nash16 on Nov 2, 2023 11:21:11 GMT
Ah yes, those RADA actors, that need that break so much more. We watched this on Monday evening and enjoyed it. Notable actors have ‘helped out’ RADA before by acting with students in the RADA studios - Tom Hiddleston appeared in Hamlet (directed by Ken Branagh) a few years ago there.As RADA President, it isn’t really surprising Ken should act in and direct Lear. I suspect the two hour non stop running time, is maybe partly to try to engage younger people with shorter attention spans than the three plus hours Lear usually needs. (Though it does mean the deterioration of Lear, etc, is speeded up a bit!) But think that’s Branagh’s big problem-he can be a great actor and a great director, but he cannot/shouldn’t direct himself (not many actors can). He would be better off doing one or the other, but not both at the same time. (Does he give himself notes?!) However, he is one of the few great Shakespearean actors, alongside McKellen and Dench, in as far as he has a way of delivering the lines which make them instantly understandable - many times we’ve had to ‘tune in’ to the Shakespearean language with other actors, but with these three you don’t, it’s understandable straight away. Couple of observations re Branagh. Gorgeous hair, makes him look more older Thor like, than old Lear. We were sat quite near the front in the stalls so could see facial expressions pretty well-he didn’t seem to feel it in his face(if that makes sense) his eyes pretty much didn’t change expression. Oh also, the ending was the theatrical piece you might expect from Olivier. 😉 Would say McKellen’s version is by far the best Lear we’ve ever seen, but this is perfectly fine, but could have been better (and the RADA cast were good enough, particularly the older ones who’d been off and done other things and came back to perform in this). And yes, it is pretty much sold out. |
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Post by Sotongal on Nov 2, 2023 15:26:04 GMT
Ah yes, those RADA actors, that need that break so much more. We watched this on Monday evening and enjoyed it. Notable actors have ‘helped out’ RADA before by acting with students in the RADA studios - Tom Hiddleston appeared in Hamlet (directed by Ken Branagh) a few years ago there.As RADA President, it isn’t really surprising Ken should act in and direct Lear. I suspect the two hour non stop running time, is maybe partly to try to engage younger people with shorter attention spans than the three plus hours Lear usually needs. (Though it does mean the deterioration of Lear, etc, is speeded up a bit!) But think that’s Branagh’s big problem-he can be a great actor and a great director, but he cannot/shouldn’t direct himself (not many actors can). He would be better off doing one or the other, but not both at the same time. (Does he give himself notes?!) However, he is one of the few great Shakespearean actors, alongside McKellen and Dench, in as far as he has a way of delivering the lines which make them instantly understandable - many times we’ve had to ‘tune in’ to the Shakespearean language with other actors, but with these three you don’t, it’s understandable straight away. Couple of observations re Branagh. Gorgeous hair, makes him look more older Thor like, than old Lear. We were sat quite near the front in the stalls so could see facial expressions pretty well-he didn’t seem to feel it in his face(if that makes sense) his eyes pretty much didn’t change expression. Oh also, the ending was the theatrical piece you might expect from Olivier. 😉 Would say McKellen’s version is by far the best Lear we’ve ever seen, but this is perfectly fine, but could have been better (and the RADA cast were good enough, particularly the older ones who’d been off and done other things and came back to perform in this). And yes, it is pretty much sold out. Well, any well known actor could help out any drama school of any level, anywhere, if they so wish. Branagh is President of RADA so it’s not surprising he’s supporting it. |
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