3,927 posts
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Post by Dawnstar on Nov 3, 2023 18:03:09 GMT
The Queen mother was a Queen before she was a mother Is this meant as some sort of statement of philosophical importance? Because in a literal, chronological sense she certainly wasn't, as her daughters were born in 1926 and 1930 and she didn't become Queen until 1936.
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Post by A.Ham on Nov 3, 2023 18:21:08 GMT
I saw this last night too, and really enjoyed it. Lots of laugh out loud moments from the farce-style scenes and plot, but it did have more solemn and thought-provoking moments. Kerr's speech about the evils of homosexuality made it very clear how much has changed, and yes, I agree with Steve's review that perhaps a job 'in service' within the Royal household was a safer choice for many when society was less accepting. I also agree it would have been nice to see some of Billy's relationship with Reg, as given there's no mention of him in the play, Billy is presented as being somewhat more one-dimensional and one-track-minded in a 'romantic' sense than he was in real life.
I thought both Penelope Wilton and Luke Evans did a great job, as did the supporting cast, young Billy in particular. The more tender moments between the two leads felt heartfelt. Much as it was wonderful to see Penelope on stage, I accepted Luke as Billy more than I did Penelope as the QM - she played it in pretty much her own voice so the QM and Isobel Crawley from Downton didn't feel too far removed. I liked that they'd kept the 'when you two... this old Queen would...' line which may be more myth than fact but it did cement the QM's legend for some. I could see it being made into a one-off or two-parter for TV at some point.
Was sat in BB stalls - very very close, and for the first few minutes it was like being too close at the cinema, but I got used to it after a short while. Lovely to be able to see every detail of the beautiful set up close, and of course every expression and look from the cast. Probably a 4/5 for me, an enjoyable night out, and I even managed to make it into central London and out again without getting drenched in the storm!
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1,199 posts
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Post by Steve on Nov 3, 2023 20:12:59 GMT
The Queen mother was a Queen before she was a mother Is this meant as some sort of statement of philosophical importance? Because in a literal, chronological sense she certainly wasn't, as her daughters were born in 1926 and 1930 and she didn't become Queen until 1936. It means I got it wrong, Dawnstar. I meant it when I said I wasn't an "expert" on the Royal Family lol. Thanks for setting me straight. It's especially helpful as it's too late to edit the original post.
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3,927 posts
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Post by Dawnstar on Nov 3, 2023 22:24:42 GMT
It means I got it wrong, Dawnstar . I meant it when I said I wasn't an "expert" on the Royal Family lol. Thanks for setting me straight. It's especially helpful as it's too late to edit the original post. Thanks. As I haven't seen the play, I wondered if I had misunderstood something.
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4,451 posts
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Post by Being Alive on Nov 3, 2023 22:38:46 GMT
I really enjoyed this tonight.
On paper, it didn't sound like my cup of tea, but it's genuinely one of my favourite evenings in the theatre for a while.
It's properly funny, but crucially it's intelligent, classy humour that warrants the laughter, whilst still having it's poignant moments. I thought Penelope Wilton was pretty marvellous and really enjoyed Luke Evans too - such a lovely pairing and you just felt completely at ease watching them on stage.
It loses its way at the end (I think they basically just didn't know how to end it, and I didn't like what they did do with the last 5 minutes) but it still comes out at a strong 4 stars for me.
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5,278 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Nov 3, 2023 23:19:26 GMT
Quite staggered by people enjoying this on here.
I found it was like watching a sub par sitcom- Every joke is painfully old fashioned and obvious.
That Luke Person is not a good enough actor to make his (terrible) dialogue work. The character is a cliche gay . His forced campiness became wearing very quickly.
Penelope Wilton rises above the material but what a waste of her talents. A couple of supporting performances are strong- but Michael Simkins absolutely wasted again.
Would love to know what on earth they were thinking putting this on.. and in 2023. Quite the most pointless evening I’ve spent in a theatre for a long time.
2 stars for me. Both For Penelope Wilton.
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7,509 posts
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Post by alece10 on Nov 3, 2023 23:40:03 GMT
I rather enjoyed this. It had some real laugh out loud moments. Thought both Luke and Penelopie were excellent and it was lovely seeing such well known names on stage. Great chemistry between the two of them. As others have said the end scene was a bit odd and jarring. Set was lovely. Do think the corgis should have taken a bow at the end. I seldom go to plays but glad I saw this.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2023 1:15:49 GMT
That Luke Person is not a good enough actor to make his (terrible) dialogue work. The character is a cliche gay . His forced campiness became wearing very quickly. We have only read about and seen pictures of Billy, so hopefully Luke did him some kind of justice to what he was like in real life. Seeing Billy in private or with other servants, alone with the QM and then when he introduced guests and if he acted differently depending on the situation. I could imagine Billy doing his serving with a flourish especially the drinks almost like an artist at work.
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Post by karloscar on Nov 4, 2023 13:41:54 GMT
Does anyone else still expect the QM to sound like Beryl Reid from the original Spitting Image series? It was heard far more often than her actual voice by the general public.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2023 14:45:10 GMT
Does anyone else still expect the QM to sound like Beryl Reid from the original Spitting Image series? It was heard far more often than her actual voice by the general public. There was a rumour she sounded more like Les Dawson in real life but that might have been something started on maybe Have I Got News For You. This is a rare clip of her talking in a fairly informal setting for her 90th birthday if people want to know what she sounded like. :-
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Post by bimse on Nov 4, 2023 17:28:23 GMT
Does anyone else still expect the QM to sound like Beryl Reid from the original Spitting Image series? It was heard far more often than her actual voice by the general public. There was a rumour she sounded more like Les Dawson in real life but that might have been something started on maybe Have I Got News For You. This is a rare clip of her talking in a fairly informal setting for her 90th birthday if people want to know what she sounded like. :- I apologise if this takes this thread off course. Thinking about how the Queen Mother sounded made me recall that Barry Humphries, as Dame Edna did an advert for Advocaat in the Netherlands, because Edna apparently sounded just like either Queen Juliana or Wilhelmina , I can’t remember which . Mind you Beryl Reid speaking Dutch might have done just as well .
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885 posts
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Post by lonlad on Nov 4, 2023 17:45:23 GMT
Saw this last night and liked it a lot. Some of it is pretty silly - think Joe Orton on the props front - but then there are shafts of genuine emotion and it's beautifully acted down the line. (And the design is gorgeous as might be expected.) After the spate of West End debacles of late, here is a play and production that more than earns its place on the West End and how lucky is Marcelo dos Santos to follow this play up with an opening a week later at the Bush that comes feted already.
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Post by adamkinsey on Nov 4, 2023 21:24:06 GMT
Am planning on booking for this in the run up to Christmas as Dame Penelope is pretty much the only dame I've never seen on stage so interesting to see the varying opinions. I'll generally see anything that the Great Simkins is in, too (although too often he's wasted).
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529 posts
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Post by drowseychap on Nov 4, 2023 23:52:40 GMT
Saw this tonight Row AA omg 😱 it’s close says high stage but wasn’t too high for us I’m 6ft lots of leg room under the stage overhang but you face is literally next to the stage lol ….
Great view you could see every nook cranny and crease I’m not saying where either 🤔😊 but omg 😱
A fun evening I agree with all other comments Luke and Penelope have a great connection a couple of stumbles over lines from both tonight but we can forgive them anything
Some of the one liners made me think of Margo / Audrey Forbes Hamilton …. A few real laugh out loud moments quite a few chuckles and some more poignant moments
One ruined by the women behind ooo ing and coooing at the corgis awwww how cute awwww bless look at his face … totally ruining Penelope’s lines ..
I see what people mean about that scene. Did seems a bit extreme compared to the rest of the evening but I get what it means
A really great supporting cast. Lovely set. Great theatre staff too which really helps an evening out
Looked like a full house and standing ovation 👏 for final bows I’d go again 4/5
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Post by greenandbrownandblue on Nov 5, 2023 8:20:55 GMT
Saw this last night as a replacement for the cancelled Lear. I enjoyed it (though didn't enjoy the awful rake in the Duke of York's stalls!). It's a nicely constructed play with moments of hilarity and tenderness. I wasn't too sure about the flashbacks - or at least the staging of them. This is very different in style to Dos Santos' Feeling Afraid… (which is amazing and you should book to see at the Bush), and I look forward to seeing what he writes next.
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Post by emilytemple on Nov 5, 2023 10:24:57 GMT
Anyone try ticket rush for this? I was 👀on this show but i was waiting for soma reviews. They've come and i look at website and all cheaper tickets are gone on stalls (in like theater but 95 pounds for ticket is too much) For all these 3 shows i was 👀 this is the most costly one
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Post by greenandbrownandblue on Nov 5, 2023 10:26:41 GMT
Anyone try ticket rush for this? I was 👀on this show but i was waiting for soma reviews. They've come and i look at website and all cheaper tickets are gone on stalls (in like theater but 95 pounds for ticket is too much) For all these 3 shows i was 👀 this is the most costly one I was too late for Rush yesterday but I got a discounted stalls seat at the box office. It's also been on tkts.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 5, 2023 13:17:49 GMT
Poll added.
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Post by A.Ham on Nov 5, 2023 15:53:08 GMT
Yes I saw there were discounted tickets for last night’s performance on TKTS so definitely worth a look if no luck with rush!
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Post by A.Ham on Nov 5, 2023 15:54:43 GMT
Great view you could see every nook cranny and crease I’m not saying where either 🤔😊 but omg 😱 Haha, I was in BB on Thurs, I know exactly what you mean!!
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Post by emilytemple on Nov 5, 2023 16:44:13 GMT
Yes I saw there were discounted tickets for last night’s performance on TKTS so definitely worth a look if no luck with rush! I hope maybe some discount will be show up soon er of date perf. I looked at week before date i can go and same seat seem in different price "box". Cheap one. Never been at tkts 😐 (I wake up and 3 weeks before London trip and i had only 2 show ticket 😶)
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Post by greenandbrownandblue on Nov 5, 2023 16:54:15 GMT
{Spoiler - click to view} Odd question this, but when the new footman (Gwydion) runs on in his initiation, is he meant to be nude? Yesterday he was covering his private parts with his hands and Billy screamed when he lifted his hands, yet he was wearing pants the whole time... just seemed a bit odd.
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7,509 posts
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Post by alece10 on Nov 5, 2023 18:47:58 GMT
{Spoiler - click to view} Odd question this, but when the new footman (Gwydion) runs on in his initiation, is he meant to be nude? Yesterday he was covering his private parts with his hands and Billy screamed when he lifted his hands, yet he was wearing pants the whole time... just seemed a bit odd.
Don't want to frighten the corgis do they.
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Post by parsley1 on Nov 6, 2023 20:50:37 GMT
I found this a pitifully sad endeavour
Again another poor piece of writing straight to the WE
Utterly bizarre
I wonder if actors are genuinely this desperate for work
This Lear and Lyonesse all playing close to each other
It’s like a Theatrical Triangle of Turd
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5,278 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Nov 6, 2023 22:32:39 GMT
I found this a pitifully sad endeavour Again another poor piece of writing straight to the WE Utterly bizarre I wonder if actors are genuinely this desperate for work This Lear and Lyonesse all playing close to each other It’s like a Theatrical Triangle of Turd Yes Parsley ! 🤣
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Post by parsley1 on Nov 6, 2023 22:48:18 GMT
I found this a pitifully sad endeavour Again another poor piece of writing straight to the WE Utterly bizarre I wonder if actors are genuinely this desperate for work This Lear and Lyonesse all playing close to each other It’s like a Theatrical Triangle of Turd Yes Parsley ! 🤣 I suppose Michael Grandage has to pay for Christmas costs Needs must
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5,278 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Nov 6, 2023 22:54:23 GMT
I’m wondering if I dislike anyone enough to buy them tickets to see this?
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Post by parsley1 on Nov 6, 2023 23:14:47 GMT
Joking aside
I actually found some of the jokes and caricatures with respect to gay characters incredibly offensive
We are in 2023
Homosexuality remains illegal in 64 countries
7 still have the death penalty in place
I don’t need to see a pantomime version of perceived historical hardships
For some people this remains a dangerous reality
The whole project smacks of a back slapping exercise for the playwright, director and actor
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2023 12:37:42 GMT
There were a lot of homophobic jokes around in that period, if it is a drama set in that time do you use words which now are found offensive, the same about BAME issues or wider LGBT issues. I'd hope that offensive comments in the play made about Billy's sexuality or anyone else's to their face would then have been balanced out by Billy commenting about them maybe not to the person's face or shown to have been hurt by the comments.
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1,265 posts
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Post by mkb on Nov 7, 2023 12:53:55 GMT
As someone normally sensitive to dialogue or characterisation about which lurks something with an unpleasant whiff of homophobia, I had not the slightest problem with this piece. Perhaps also worth noting that the lead is openly gay himself.
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