Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf w/ Imelda Staunton

Wasn't this totally amazing. I was thinking about which actresses I'd love to see do George and Martha - Jessica Lange would be fantastic. Has this been revived as much as Williams/Miller etc?

And was anyone in the dress circle last night? A man whooping and gasping and groaning and clapping all the way through, he was loving it!

Saw this last night and was completely blown away by what can only be described as acting masterclasses from all four of them. We were on the end of row B and it was a complete and utter privilege to be so close-up to those who surely must be the winners of many awards to come.


I do have to add, however, that I struggled to see 2 major sections of the stage.  The entire drinks cabinet side was completely obscured (ok, I know it was a restricted view ticket, but I still paid £49.50x2) but, more annoyingly, there is absolutely no rake whatsoever and the 2 blokes in front of us had heads and necks as wide as a small island, so much of my view of the central sofa was obscured.

Some very minor spoilers follow.

Hill and Staunton were in a realm I cannot remember seeing before in a theatre.  They were perfection, never in danger of going over the top and neither of them trying to outdo the other - they were a team and, wow, did it work!  It was an honour to see such work close-up.

Some comments up-thread suggest that the part of Nick is not a great one (due to the writing) and that Luke Treadaway was perhaps cast for his prettiness.  I would have to disagree here. (Well, he is pretty for sure!)  I don't think anyone has mentioned the relationship between Hill's George and Treadaway's Nick.  I only have the film version to compare, but George Segal was on his way to becoming a fine comedy actor and played Nick in a more light-hearted manner, constantly on the back foot to Burton's George.  I preferred Treadaway's portrayal in that he'd cottoned on to George's resentment and envy of him early on and I liked the antagonism and hostility and gradual lack of respect he managed to convey in his one-liners.  I really enjoyed their two-handers.  (I liked his hair by the way - maybe it's been toned down from earlier in the run - you could see the dark underneath.)

I loved Imogen Poots - particularly brilliant were the subtle changes she managed to convey on each entrance, slightly drunker and more dishevelled - a touch more mascara down her face, another couple of strands of hair out of place, a slightly bigger sway to her step.  She's definitely one to watch.

One thing I would like to know - has anyone seen this from higher up?  There are four levels.  We didn't think they were miked up and wondered if certain comments got missed.  

I thought James MacDonald's direction first class.   Lots of attention to detail and movement in what is a wordy play to say the least!  There was a full standing ovation.  The bow was brief.  The cast looked absolutely exhausted. 

Finally, at the risk of being carted off to the tower, I would like to be so bold as to give a note to Ms Staunton.  Does she realise it's actually Luke TREADAWAY up there on stage with her that she is supposed to be snogging?  Does she?  Because that old theatre trick of using a well-positioned hand to hide the fact you are not actually kissing the minger you've been lumbered with night after night is really So Very Not Necessary in this instance.  In fact I'd go so far as to say it's an insult to Mr Treadaway's gorgeousness.  So put your hand somewhere else Ms Staunton, pucker up and ENJOY!

Honestly, they looked completely shattered at the bow.  They didn't really smile and just looked sort of bewildered!  And that was after a one-show day so I cannot imagine...

I'm confused.  The drinks cabinet was on the high seat numbers side so should have been diagonally opposite from seat 3?  Over on that side wouldn't it have been George's chair that was slightly obscured?

Deleted - got my days mixed up.

Saw this yesterday and was totally blown away by it, I must admit I didn't realise it had so much humour in it , all four parts played to perfection and if I had to pick the stand out performance it would be Conleith Hill.

The three hours did fly by, a sign of a good time...

Yes, indeed! What an actor!

I saw yesterday's matinee (15th April), and can only concur with what is being said above.

Imelda Staunton offers yet another tour-de-force performance, excelling at all sides of this complicated character's personality - she can be sexy, demure, funny, frightening and heart-breaking in equal measure. There was a moment in the third act, when she gives a scream, a howl of anguish, and I had shivers down my spine. What an actress! She never disappoints. Not only have I always admired her acting since seeing her first ad Mrs Lovett in SWEENY, but her RE-acting to other characters. What she can say with just the flick of her eye is extroadinary. She makes it very difficult for you to take your eyes off of her.

She is supported by other strong performances. Conleth Hill was also a very nice discovery for me, as George, and a nice match for Staunton's Martha, and the two younger roles were also very good in their descent into the madness.

A stunning production of a play that is new to me!

5 stars.

Saw this today. Shame they cut out all the songs but still very good. Loved Imelda's silent scream/choke thing at the end. Definitely enough to put you off marriage, academia & alcohol though.

Sat in E1 in Dress Circle which was green on Theatremonkey but wasn't a great view. Could only ever see the legs of whoever was sat in the chair next to the sofa on stage left. Managed to move to A1 after the interval though which was ace. Was sad to leave behind a nice New Yorker in E2 though. He recently paid $300 to see Hello, Dolly on BW and I never got to tell him that was my going rate for the evening too! Nevermind, there'll be others.

Had a strange experience before it started where the Fire Marshall removed by rucksack from the theatre while I'd gone to the non-unisex lavatory. Apparently, you can't trust anybody nowadays, even if they are a friend of Imelda!

Just looked at my ticket and worked out why C1 stalls was £15 - restricted legroom...

Now, I'm 6ft 4, am I going to be in agony for 3 hours? and whats the view like? Help me out Theatreboard...

I'm quite used to having to sit on an angle so that's not necessarily a problem. Just hoping I can somehow fit round the pillar. Does it still give a good view of the majority of the stage though?

Here tonight - this £15 limited legroom seat is a bloody steal. I'm 6ft 4 and no issues at all.
I'll let you know my thoughts at the end.