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Post by lynette on Aug 20, 2016 23:08:59 GMT
Just back from this. A long one. Two hours before the interval, then ended at 10.45. As expected a thoughtful reading of the play, attention to textual detail, all spoken well. Nice to look at, some spectacle - an eye to the Barbican transfer I think with its huge lateral stage though I might be completely wrong- the thunder and lightning certainly showed where the money went in the rebuild. Ok, so now you realise I'm stalling..what about Sher and the concept?
There is a great emphasis on the gods and their power. Lear intones his statements and curses as if he is a god or has a direct line to them at least. He terrifies his subjects who don't know what to expect next. But then at the end the play, the writing just takes over and concepts disappear. The scene with Gloucester never fails to move, it is so brilliant and the scene with Cordelia at the end and the ending itself, all pretty foolproof and Sher performs convincingly in them.
Supporting cast super. Kent, Gloucester, The girls, all super. Not totally convinced by Edmund (Hamlet ) who seems ponderous and heavy not the sharp plotter and also opportunist I think he is. Edgar, what a killer of a part, quite good here. I apologise for not giving the actors' names. I've left the programme somewhere....actually upstairs and too tired to go and get it.
Not my favourite King Lear I don't think. But certainly a good 'un. And one that has made me think more about the play, especially the role of the fool and what Sh intended with this part. And also whether Lear is 'more sinned against than sinning'
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Post by danielwhit on Aug 21, 2016 0:53:46 GMT
Thanks for this - I'm seeing it in a couple of weeks time so will be interested in seeing how it progresses as they work towards official opening.
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Post by martin1965 on Aug 21, 2016 9:20:11 GMT
Thanks Lynette, im going on 23 Sept, really looking forward to it. Lear is far and away my favourite shakey play and i love Sher! Congrats for such a long post when you must have been knackered😃
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2016 10:22:45 GMT
Was the beard worth the year's wait? You may recall that Antony Sher said last year that this production is intended as a companion piece to Death of a Salesman but that it would take him over a year to grow the beard. The RSC Wig Department wouldn't be good enough, apparently.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2016 12:01:31 GMT
I'm seeing this on the 24th September. Never seen Lear before so I'm looking forward to it.
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Post by David J on Aug 21, 2016 12:50:20 GMT
I'm seeing this either on 23rd or 24th September as well. What a coincidence
Sounds like Gregory Doran is taking a few notes from the Trevor Nunn/Ian McKellan production with the emphasis on the gods.
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Post by Jan on Aug 21, 2016 15:36:12 GMT
I'm seeing this either on 23rd or 24th September as well. What a coincidence Sounds like Gregory Doran is taking a few notes from the Trevor Nunn/Ian McKellan production with the emphasis on the gods. The point of the Nunn production was that the gods were absent, not a single plea to the gods by any character in this play is answered. How is the Fool played here ? Often a grim moment when he/she comes on. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2016 15:47:16 GMT
Lynette attended the first public preview so lots may change.
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Post by lynette on Aug 21, 2016 18:41:57 GMT
Yes I think they might try to tighten it up a bit. Two hours before the interval was a bit of a bladder buster.
The fool is a middle aged man, as if a long time at the court, dressed in white long johns with a pull on 'cockscomb' hat. To be frank this is the one part I would consider editing. Some of the comments still resonate but much of the 'folk' stuff is now lost. I would keep in the good stuff which and a lot of impact and leave out the rest. The fool 'leaves' after the hovel scene but they don't make a point of it. He just trails off.....
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Post by martin1965 on Sept 2, 2016 17:22:35 GMT
Kinda surprised no fresh comments on here considering the excellent reviews the production and star has jad. Im going on 22 Sept and am really looking forward to it. Sher is 67 now but is fighting fit, what roles are left for him?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2016 17:44:37 GMT
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Post by danielwhit on Sept 2, 2016 21:43:01 GMT
I saw this on Wednesday. It was alright but nothing special.
To me, the entire cast could have been done with a metaphorical kick up the arse to get the pace up a bit. Runs at 3hrs 20 including interval, which frankly feels over-indulgent. There are so many pauses for effect at times I wondered if I had walked into a Pinter lead production.
Staging works well on the whole, although the floor sheet really didn't do anything for me - but I did appreciate the Lear "crack your cheeks" speech with the Fool on the platform. The perspex box torture chamber was one of the better concepts - gave a new edge to that scene which didn't feel totally amiss compared to everything else going on.
Generally well cast, especially the Gloucesters. The Fool I felt had walked in from another production and seemed on a mis-step with everyone else, I just couldn't get where Doran was trying to drive the character. Sher is fine as ever but he is hardly the paciest chap to deliver a line or two hundred, is he? Sisters were all good - Cordelia is a bugger of a role to get right.
Compared to last year's Othello and Merchant, this year feels like a bit of a let down so far. Hopefully The Tempest will go down well.
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Post by Jan on Sept 3, 2016 15:33:45 GMT
Kinda surprised no fresh comments on here considering the excellent reviews the production and star has jad. Im going on 22 Sept and am really looking forward to it. Sher is 67 now but is fighting fit, what roles are left for him? There's a mistake in the NT book I mentioned on another thread when it says Sher played Vanya to McKellen's Astrov - it was vice versa - but I've been pondering about that casting. He could do it but would need strict direction - I feel he has been over-indulged by weak directors throughout his career who have allowed him to play in a histrionic way. |
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Post by martin1965 on Sept 3, 2016 17:46:32 GMT
Kinda surprised no fresh comments on here considering the excellent reviews the production and star has jad. Im going on 22 Sept and am really looking forward to it. Sher is 67 now but is fighting fit, what roles are left for him? There's a mistake in the NT book I mentioned on another thread when it says Sher played Vanya to McKellen's Astrov - it was vice versa - but I've been pondering about that casting. He could do it but would need strict direction - I feel he has been over-indulged by weak directors throughout his career who have allowed him to play in a histrionic way. He prob could do it, once he shaves he looks nowhere near his actual age. You serious re his career? Hardly been unsuccessful! I realise you arent a fan of his anyway which is fair enough so take you wont be seeing this production😉 |
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Post by theglenbucklaird on Sept 3, 2016 18:52:10 GMT
I'm seeing this on the 24th September. Never seen Lear before so I'm looking forward to it. Yeah a good introductory Lear this one |
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Post by theglenbucklaird on Sept 3, 2016 18:54:24 GMT
... Sisters were all good - Cordelia is a bugger of a role to get right. Tell me more?? |
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Post by danielwhit on Sept 4, 2016 0:15:58 GMT
... Sisters were all good - Cordelia is a bugger of a role to get right. Tell me more?? Just because she's there in Act 1 Scene 2, then sods off for presumably a long shower with the King of France - only to return in the last Act asking to sweep up the sympathy cards. It's a tricky role because the actor has got nothing to work with except for "she's back, and she's gonna try to do good". I like Cordelia, but you *should* spend all of Act 2/4 thinking "for God's sake, why didn't she just tell him she loved him? We wouldn't be in this mess..". THAT is a hard audience reaction to come back in from and do any good with. |
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Post by Jan on Sept 4, 2016 8:45:09 GMT
I don't think I can be bothered to see this as I don't much like the play and I don't much like Sher and the combination of the two is therefore doubly unappealing. One interesting feature is that in the Guardian Billington gives it **** but the on-line comments under his review are almost universally negative (and are mostly by well-informed people who have actually seen it). This is a National Treasure status achieved by the likes of Judi Dench where they get praised by critics and the establishment irrespective of the quality of the work.
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Post by danielwhit on Sept 4, 2016 10:02:23 GMT
I don't think I can be bothered to see this as I don't much like the play and I don't much like Sher and the combination of the two is therefore doubly unappealing. One interesting feature is that in the Guardian Billington gives it **** but the on-line comments under his review are almost universally negative (and are mostly by well-informed people who have actually seen it). This is a National Treasure status achieved by the likes of Judi Dench where they get praised by critics and the establishment irrespective of the quality of the work. It's nothing special, honest. It's competent, yes, but nothing ground breaking or particularly great about it. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2016 10:07:47 GMT
It's nothing special, honest. It's competent, yes, but nothing ground breaking or particularly great about it. I respect your opinion of what you saw and heard, but I think it's unfair because it's still so early in a long run and, unless something fundamental is wrong, this production and performances should be expected to mature and develop into something deeper and weightier over the next few months. |
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Post by danielwhit on Sept 4, 2016 10:11:39 GMT
It's nothing special, honest. It's competent, yes, but nothing ground breaking or particularly great about it. I respect your opinion of what you saw and heard, but I think it's unfair because it's still so early in a long run and, unless something fundamental is wrong, this production and performances should be expected to mature and develop into something deeper and weightier over the next few months. I saw it the night before press night - so the show had been frozen and was in a state where they wanted professional reviews. I therefore see no reason why I can't give thoughts on it, just like we all do. Their cinema recording is in five weeks time, it may well have progressed to something else by then. I'll get the Blu Ray when that comes out, no problem. I just wouldn't recommend someone goes trekking to Stratford on the back of this performance alone. |
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Post by Jan on Sept 4, 2016 12:04:19 GMT
I respect your opinion of what you saw and heard, but I think it's unfair because it's still so early in a long run and, unless something fundamental is wrong, this production and performances should be expected to mature and develop into something deeper and weightier over the next few months. I saw it the night before press night - so the show had been frozen and was in a state where they wanted professional reviews. I therefore see no reason why I can't give thoughts on it, just like we all do. Their cinema recording is in five weeks time, it may well have progressed to something else by then. I'll get the Blu Ray when that comes out, no problem. I just wouldn't recommend someone goes trekking to Stratford on the back of this performance alone. It's going to be on at the Barbican too if anyone is interested. |
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Post by lynette on Sept 4, 2016 13:19:56 GMT
So just for general thinking about nothing else: I saw the Mc Kellen Lear in the Courtyard theatre at Stratford, that temporary theatre, ha ha. Anyway, at the end there was a teeny pause and then a spontaneous and unanimous standing ovation, like a release of tension and a jolt out of some thing. Ok, so now the new auditorium with its ups and downsies etc, but importantly the same audience, locals, a few tourists, maybe some Londoners, but basically the same well informed and theatre loving crowd - for this Lear, decent applause but no standing ovation, no sense of shock, awe or wow, or 'what have I just witnessed?'
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Post by martin1965 on Sept 4, 2016 14:33:05 GMT
I don't think I can be bothered to see this as I don't much like the play and I don't much like Sher and the combination of the two is therefore doubly unappealing. One interesting feature is that in the Guardian Billington gives it **** but the on-line comments under his review are almost universally negative (and are mostly by well-informed people who have actually seen it). This is a National Treasure status achieved by the likes of Judi Dench where they get praised by critics and the establishment irrespective of the quality of the work. Well at least you are honest Jan, im the same regarding Mark Rylance who i feel is hugely overrated. I love Lear its the greatest play imo and i really like Sher. I am therefore looking forward to 22/9😉 will be ibteresting to see why comments on this thread are so at odds with the rrviews! |
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Post by theglenbucklaird on Sept 4, 2016 16:08:35 GMT
I don't think I can be bothered to see this as I don't much like the play and I don't much like Sher and the combination of the two is therefore doubly unappealing. One interesting feature is that in the Guardian Billington gives it **** but the on-line comments under his review are almost universally negative (and are mostly by well-informed people who have actually seen it). This is a National Treasure status achieved by the likes of Judi Dench where they get praised by critics and the establishment irrespective of the quality of the work. Well at least you are honest Jan, im the same regarding Mark Rylance who i feel is hugely overrated. I love Lear its the greatest play imo and i really like Sher. I am therefore looking forward to 22/9😉 will be ibteresting to see why comments on this thread are so at odds with the rrviews! What!! Don't like Sher and Rylance??!!?
You are both factually wrong 😉
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