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Post by Afriley on May 13, 2024 19:40:43 GMT
Started v v shakey but warming up. Lots of jump scares. Lots of whispered dialogue which I’m not too keen on.
Leads have chemistry galore. Freema is hilarious.
Vibe is “rival London estate gangs”.
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Post by BVM on May 13, 2024 19:41:22 GMT
Reading some of these comments, it's just like the Sunset Boulevard thread all over again... and we know how that turned out, many Olivier awards later... This! |
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Post by nash16 on May 13, 2024 19:53:34 GMT
Started v v shakey but warming up. Lots of jump scares. Lots of whispered dialogue which I’m not too keen on. Leads have chemistry galore. Freema is hilarious. Vibe is “rival London estate gangs”. Not estate gangs... #edgy |
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Post by blamerobots on May 13, 2024 20:25:57 GMT
Jump scares. Ohh honey
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Post by oxfordsimon on May 13, 2024 20:36:12 GMT
Ah yes. Tom Holland's background of Kingston and then Wimbledon will have given deep personal insight into London Gang culture.
I know it's acting
But couldn't they have come up with something a bit more original?
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Post by Seriously on May 13, 2024 20:46:51 GMT
So we're moaning before the first show has even finished?
Now that's original.
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Post by marob on May 13, 2024 20:49:51 GMT
This is theatreboard, we’ve been moaning since it was announced!
The Royal Exchange did it a few months ago in modern dress with a gang theme. Was pretty good.
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Post by solotheatregoer on May 13, 2024 20:53:47 GMT
I said it at the start of this thread that Tom Holland is not that great of an actor and he is by far the weakest link in this production. Way out of his depth and the others completely outshine him. It needed a grittier performance and Holland is way too clean cut in my opinion. Comes across as a bit of an imposter. This could have been so much better with a different Romeo.
3 stars from me but mostly just for the production value and for the rest of the cast (special shout outs to Freema Agyeman and Nima Taleghani).
I am a huge JL fan and will watch anything he produces but this is by far my least favourite production of his.
On the more positive side of things, a very polished performance by all considering the drama over the past few days.
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Post by sophie92 on May 13, 2024 20:59:54 GMT
There's a few photos of the stage on twitter already, the warning didn't work then 😂 I didn’t see any FOH staff ask people not to take photos before the show started (and there was plenty of opportunity for them to, so maybe they’re not actually that bothered pre-show, despite the email warning), but the usher near me did get a couple of people near to the aisle to stop filming the curtain call (though loads of other people got away with it). |
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Post by nash16 on May 13, 2024 21:28:35 GMT
And what of the drones? The balcony scene?
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Post by solotheatregoer on May 13, 2024 21:34:10 GMT
And what of the drones? The balcony scene? No drones in use at all. Balcony scene is almost non-existent with just both actors sat at the front of the stage staring into the audience for the most part. The roof is used in the second act but completely pointless and adds nothing to the story. Not a lot of return on investment in my opinion. Overall the camera work and filming around the theatre is very underwhelming (although maybe I have high expectations now after Dorian Gray?). In terms of the whispering dialog, it is very present here. It’s clear that Holland took some inspiration from James McAvoy’s Cyrano but unfortunately he is nowhere near as technically astute. The cadence of his delivery was way off tonight, especially in Act I. He almost sounded bored. May be nerves though and hopefully he gets better throughout the run. Instant standing ovation though and lots of cheering but mainly from Holland’s fan girls. Lots of bad behaviour on show tonight with chatter throughout in the stalls, phone use and noisy eating. I got out as quickly as possible only to be met with a barrage of fans waiting at stage door. Back safe and sound and exhausted in my hotel room now 🙂 |
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Post by Afriley on May 13, 2024 21:39:25 GMT
Enjoyed it and can presume it will get better with previews. Tom’s acting was inconsistent yes, but he had moments that were great. Francesca started poorly but warmed up - she’s able to be very charismatic.
Production is nice. Not on par with Sunset but some effective moments (I liked the “ball” scene). The deaths were oddly anticlimactic but maybe they were going for something without melodrama?
Agree roof thing was totally pointless.
Accents a bit here and there in places.
Some lovely moments of humour, especially with Freema.
3.5/5 but be a 4/5 later I think.
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Post by ceebee on May 13, 2024 21:47:58 GMT
Thanks for the early reviews from those who went tonight - really helps to build a picture of what to expect!
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Post by Afriley on May 13, 2024 22:18:28 GMT
Oh and current runtime around 1 hr 45.
Majorly stripped text.
Edited: 2 hrs 15! Sorry.
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Post by Dave B on May 13, 2024 22:20:41 GMT
Oh and current runtime around 1 hr 45. No interval then I assume? |
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Post by Afriley on May 13, 2024 22:21:35 GMT
Yeah there’s an interval.
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Post by Afriley on May 13, 2024 22:22:04 GMT
Sorry my bad, 2 hrs 15! Sleep deprivation…
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Post by mattnyc on May 13, 2024 22:54:07 GMT
Is the text “updated” or anything along those lines?
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Post by Afriley on May 13, 2024 23:08:28 GMT
Is the text “updated” or anything along those lines? Not to my knowledge. I did R&J a decade ago to be fair. A couple of quips (mostly Freema) - an odd “ok” and such but no major updates of substance. |
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Post by parsley1 on May 13, 2024 23:11:10 GMT
Enjoyed it and can presume it will get better with previews. Tom’s acting was inconsistent yes, but he had moments that were great. Francesca started poorly but warmed up - she’s able to be very charismatic. Production is nice. Not on par with Sunset but some effective moments (I liked the “ball” scene). The deaths were oddly anticlimactic but maybe they were going for something without melodrama? Agree roof thing was totally pointless. Accents a bit here and there in places. Some lovely moments of humour, especially with Freema. 3.5/5 but be a 4/5 later I think. I just love it “Inconsistent” “poor” “pointless” For a show charging £250 plus for seats This is what I meant earlier People happy to compromise on quality and be ripped off Because they needs to console themselves they are seeing art |
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Post by David J on May 13, 2024 23:16:43 GMT
And what of the drones? The balcony scene? No drones in use at all. Balcony scene is almost non-existent with just both actors sat at the front of the stage staring into the audience for the most part. The roof is used in the second act but completely pointless and adds nothing to the story. Not a lot of return on investment in my opinion. Taking a guess, is it Romeo's banishment scene where he receives the wrong news. Logically makes sense, and yes does not scream needing to be filmed outside |
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Post by Afriley on May 13, 2024 23:22:31 GMT
Enjoyed it and can presume it will get better with previews. Tom’s acting was inconsistent yes, but he had moments that were great. Francesca started poorly but warmed up - she’s able to be very charismatic. Production is nice. Not on par with Sunset but some effective moments (I liked the “ball” scene). The deaths were oddly anticlimactic but maybe they were going for something without melodrama? Agree roof thing was totally pointless. Accents a bit here and there in places. Some lovely moments of humour, especially with Freema. 3.5/5 but be a 4/5 later I think. I just love it “Inconsistent” “poor” “pointless” For a show charging £250 plus for seats This is what I meant earlier People happy to compromise on quality and be ripped off Because they needs to console themselves they are seeing art I didn’t pay anywhere near £250 (despite being third row stalls) and knew I was going for 1. First preview and 2. a Jamie Lloyd show. I like his style so may be a little more forgiving, granted. Having said that; I dislike Shakespeare’s tragedies (I tend to find them too long and dull) and this managed to be dynamic and pacey. |
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Post by aspieandy on May 13, 2024 23:50:32 GMT
Has Jamie peaked ..
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Post by c4ndyc4ne on May 14, 2024 0:00:12 GMT
People were saying that with Faustus, then he did the Pinter season/ Betrayal and audiences were awed. Then he did Evita, and some people loved it, others said it was too minimalist. Then he did Cyrano, and they were amazed. Then the Seagull came along and it was a shrug. Then Sunset/The Effect got glowing reviews. If Romeo and Juliet doesn’t work; he’ll try something different with a different cast. He’s got clout and a talented company of creatives to work with. |
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Post by ceebee on May 14, 2024 5:28:14 GMT
If he has, I'd buy him a drink and thank him for achieving way more than most in making his work accessible and for reaching new audiences. |
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