Player Kings - Wimbledon / MCR / Noel Coward / Tour

I was in last night. More empty seats than I expected, although imagine the thankfully called off tube strike put people off booking this date.

I was jealous of and fascinated by the older cast’s mobility. I can’t kneel and get back up unaided so was surprised to see it and was less on edge in the second half when a stick was being used.

Enjoyed it in the main, would have enjoyed it more if it was shorter.

The loud music reminded me of Posh. I was glad it wasn’t every scene change.

I was worried about this but there was an usher at the entrance to the Ladies in the stalls and a FOH person came by to check in on him, so I got the impression they weren't going to start up again until it was cleared.  And they didn't (thank goodness)!

No pause between Parts "2 and 3".

Oh, and McKellen reached a hand out for help getting up the first time he sat on the floor, but in subsequent scenes got up by himself (not easily, but better than I could do at 10 years younger than him!).

McKellen gave an outstanding performance, exercising more restraint than I've seen him do in the past couple of years.  (Which to be fair, have mostly been star turns for him [his birthday tour, Mother Goose and Frank & Percy].)  During the first act, he wiped his nose and sniffed constantly and conspicuously, to the point where I wondered if he actually had a cold.  In the second act, he dropped that for the lip-smacking mentioned earlier.  I now wonder if he was hinting that Falstaff over-used "sugar" when he was carousing at the tavern, then switched to sack when he became 'respectable'.  

Also, for the person who wondered about a reference to BDSM, that was the first party scene at the tavern, with folks snorting 'something' off the back of a half-naked man being led on a dogchain, amongst other bad behavior.

Note about sound effects... even without the gunshots, some scenes are LOUD!  The party scene being the first.  The war scenes are noisy as expected (bombs going off in addition to gunfire) and most of the time the gunshots can be anticipated, but there is one that comes out of the blue.

My biggest disappointment was the fat suit McKellen wore.  Yes, Falstaff needs to be fat, but I thought it slipped over the border to grotesque rather than exaggerated realism.  Still, it's the best thing I've seen him do since Lear in 2017.

Another ticket on the noticeboard - stalls row P for Tuesday 28th May 6:30pm, a £30 U30s ticket for £20.

Gosh I wished I liked it. I thought it was God-awful. There was nothing about which engaged me. I think it was just a paycheck for Robert Icke there was no honest energy in the performance I felt as if everyone was going through the motions. Richard Coyle had some strong moments, and Sir Ian was having a good time but... I feel it will soon be forgotten.

I was on St Martin’s lane last night and saw Sir Ian don a helmet as he was about to get on a bike taxi. I called Thank you Sir Ian, and the poor man genially shouted hello as it went on his head.
They make these national treasures of stern stuff. He’s 85, does a 3 hr 20min Shakespeare play, goes out and greets fans, then takes a motorbike through London home.👏

Ive seen JD quite a lot of times on stage and I’ve never seen her be anything other than average and often miscast. Just out of interest which performances do you think qualify her as GOAT ? I didn’t see her Lady Macbeth for example, or any musicals she has done.

The tv version is on YouTube, restored to HD quality. It’s on the Shakespeare Network channel. 

We’ve just had to leave the theatre this evening. At approx 20:15 Ian McKellan fell straight off stage and we were evacuated immediately. I sincerely hope he is OK.

The show has been cancelled. Sir Ian is receiving treatment and an ambulance has been called.

Hope he's okay. Sounds nasty. I was planning on seeing it this Saturday. Best wishes to Sir Ian.