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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2017 10:27:49 GMT
OMG, I was in the same audience as Parsley! I really hope he/she/it was the cantankerous woman sitting next to me who grumbled about everyone in the vicinity and told me off in the interval for brushing my hair while she was eating an ice cream.
I loved this; I really like the play anyway and this production got everything possible out of it - only weak link for me was the actor playing Viola/Cesario who was adequate but not much more. Every strand of the play and every character was allowed to shine. Tamsin Greig was brilliant (infuriating and moving at the same time), but I don't remember seeing a production in which Maria made such an impact before and Belch and Aguecheek were amusing where they are usually just tedious. Feste was also used (and played) very well. I'm not going to get too engaged with the suggestion that the gender swapping is just 'to be modern' - great actors are doing great things with those roles, which is what you want. If you didn't know they were originally male parts, I don't think you'd suspect it - it doesn't jar in the slightest. (I've never understood why Ariel in the Tempest is so rarely played by a woman, but that's another conversation).
Very engaged and enthusiastic audience (to a fault sometimes - I don't need people 'aaahing' loudly at Malvolio at the end and ruining the moment). Reminded me of seeing the NT Much Ado - not in content or style but in the feeling of a whole audience coming out buoyed by having seen something special.
Three hours and the interval wasn't till 9.15pm. It feels slightly too long and some of that is directorial self-indulgence which could be cut with no loss to the production. But that's a minor quibble.
Am even contemplating looking for another ticket later in the run despite the price. Would imagine the reviews will be very good so will probably sell out quickly after that.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2017 10:51:11 GMT
OMG, I was in the same audience as Parsley! I really hope he/she/it was the cantankerous woman sitting next to me who grumbled about everyone in the vicinity and told me off in the interval for brushing my hair while she was eating an ice cream. I loved this; I really like the play anyway and this production got everything possible out of it - only weak link for me was the actor playing Viola/Cesario who was adequate but not much more. Every strand of the play and every character was allowed to shine. Tamsin Greig was brilliant (infuriating and moving at the same time), but I don't remember seeing a production in which Maria made such an impact before and Belch and Aguecheek were amusing where they are usually just tedious. Feste was also used (and played) very well. I'm not going to get too engaged with the suggestion that the gender swapping is just 'to be modern' - great actors are doing great things with those roles, which is what you want. If you didn't know they were originally male parts, I don't think you'd suspect it - it doesn't jar in the slightest. (I've never understood why Ariel in the Tempest is so rarely played by a woman, but that's another conversation). Very engaged and enthusiastic audience (to a fault sometimes - I don't need people 'aaahing' loudly at Malvolio at the end and ruining the moment). Reminded me of seeing the NT Much Ado - not in content or style but in the feeling of a whole audience coming out buoyed by having seen something special. Three hours and the interval wasn't till 9.15pm. It feels slightly too long and some of that is directorial self-indulgence which could be cut with no loss to the production. But that's a minor quibble. Am even contemplating looking for another ticket later in the run despite the price. Would imagine the reviews will be very good so will probably sell out quickly after that. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2017 10:52:13 GMT
No!!!
I wasn't that lady!
I agree with you
The acting is top notch and as good as any you will see and the set is very ambitious in its rotating
Although as I said a shame they need so many stage hands to move it about as well which ruins the effect somewhat as it is evidently not automated
I just think the play is a bit of a lame story and the production makes it seems more protracted than ever
Is Twelfth Night usually 3 hours long? I do not think so but correct me if I am wrong
What is most odd is that I feel compelled to go back and see it again just for Tamsin Greig
But I know I won't
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2017 10:59:31 GMT
Were the stage hands needed before the set came to a halt? I assumed they were just there to make sure it was alright after that - will be interesting to hear whether they are there for subsequent performances.
I agree, I think Twelfth Night is usually around 2 hours 30/45 at a push. Three hours was ok for a Friday night and didn't drag but if I had work the next day I'd be checking my watch.
Disappointed I didn't sit next to you, but glad I didn't spoil your ice cream...!
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Post by crabtree on Feb 20, 2017 11:50:27 GMT
I've lost track of how many times I have seen this play, and yes, I've even been in it, and I don't recall ever have seen a terrible production of it. I loved the Mark Rylance Olivia, though surprisingly Stephen Fry was a very dull Malvolio. The Desmond Barritt Malvolio in a very touristy pretty RSC version was great. I have enormously fond memories of a Colchester Mercury production designed a la book of Hours. The Trevor Nunn film was a bit dire though, saved by the sheer weight of names in the cast and a glorious score. And the melancholy RSC version with Miles Anderson as Orsino with the set dominated by an image of Narcissus,if I remember, or was he in the one with the big tree. Ah so many productions. And then the Tony sher Greek version. Oh yes just remembered the Hollywood movie she's the Man or something, with Orsino, or 'Duke' as a college soccer player. Hmm. I wonder that there has never been a ballet of it. I've still not scene, and this could be just my dirty mind, a production that really plays on the fluid sexuality as much as it could. Maybe the new NT production is just that.
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Post by Mark on Feb 20, 2017 11:55:03 GMT
I saw a production at the NT about 6 or so years ago in the Cottesloe. It was awful. Might give this one a try though since I love Tamsin and it seems to be getting relatively good word of mouth.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2017 11:57:39 GMT
yes do try it
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2017 12:12:03 GMT
The Cottesloe production was DIRE. I still get flashbacks. Maybe that's what my friends are thinking of when they say they just don't think it's a very good play to begin with. I think it's a brilliant play, but has been burdened by productions that just don't live up to the writing. Some have come close, but no one production has managed it all yet.
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Post by vdcni on Feb 20, 2017 12:56:05 GMT
My first Twelfth Night was the Donmar West End with Jacobi which I loved but the two I've seen since I haven't rated.
The Cottesloe had a decent cast but they got it all wrong, Rebecca Hall was utterly lifeless in that.
I really didn't enjoy the Globe version. I know few will agree but for me Rylance was a major part of the problem, putting on a turn rather than playing a character, he did nothing for me and Stephen Fry was awful as Malvolio. The only one I thought came out with any credit from that disaster was Samuel Barnett.
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Post by Mark on Feb 20, 2017 12:59:27 GMT
Glad it wasn't just me then!
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Post by Jan on Feb 20, 2017 13:42:27 GMT
The Cottesloe production was DIRE. I still get flashbacks. Maybe that's what my friends are thinking of when they say they just don't think it's a very good play to begin with. I think it's a brilliant play, but has been burdened by productions that just don't live up to the writing. Some have come close, but no one production has managed it all yet. Trevor Nunn says it is an impossible play to cast for the theatre. His dismal film version would suggest it's impossible to cast for that too. I've seen it 12 times. The best was the Branagh-directed 1980's one with Richard Briers. I also thought the Grandage/Jacobi one was very good. The least successful Malvolios were Sher's self-admittedly terrible turn as some sort of Greek orthodox priest who was literally insane, and even worse than that Richard Wilson's effort which was one of the worst performances I've ever seen not just in this play. |
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Post by lynette on Feb 20, 2017 22:22:36 GMT
Agree Branagh prod with R Briers best TN I've seen. And o have I seen many, many, many.....
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Post by lynette on Feb 20, 2017 22:24:48 GMT
Anyone know when this is running to? I think it is going thru May but not sure.
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Post by bordeaux on Feb 21, 2017 7:39:55 GMT
Anyone know when this is running to? I think it is going thru May but not sure. NT website has last performance as Sat 13th May, and there's a gap between Tues 25th April and Fri 12th May. |
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Post by lou105 on Feb 21, 2017 13:28:34 GMT
All this talk of past productions led me to dig out the DVD I bought of the 1980 BBC version with Felicity Kendal. I think I bought it in a fit of nostalgia for my O level days (!)..It's a very straightforward production, and of course looks dated now, but it was fun to see some familiar TV faces (Trevor Peacock from Vicar of Dibley was rather good as Feste, I thought). I am less familiar with those who were presumably better known for their stage work at the time, though i did note that Malvolio is played by the recently deceased Alec McCowen, for those who have been discussing him. It's a bit of a thankless role really, isn't it. I'm looking forward to seeing what the National have done with it, though I think it may have to be cinema this time round.
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Post by zahidf on Feb 21, 2017 13:33:56 GMT
I thought this was excellent, one of the better version's I've seen. Tasmin Greig was a very sympathetic Malvolia, and the comedy was extremely well done.
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Post by theatrefan77 on Feb 21, 2017 13:37:51 GMT
Saw this last and thought it was quite wonderful. Loved it so much that I'm going again next month. Top notch cast, brilliant set with great use of the revolve, love the costumes too. I really can't fault this production at all. I was very entertained and loved every single minute of it. Highly recommended.
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Post by lynette on Feb 21, 2017 22:42:47 GMT
Anyone know when this is running to? I think it is going thru May but not sure. NT website has last performance as Sat 13th May, and there's a gap between Tues 25th April and Fri 12th May. Such a short run. Annoying. |
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Post by nick on Feb 22, 2017 10:23:22 GMT
Yay. Thanks everyone. I had a ticket for last night but couldn't go. I looked at your comments this morning which prompted me to hop onto the website and I bagged 2 centre row B seats for £15 each.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2017 14:05:44 GMT
Such a short run. Annoying. 62 performances over 13 weeks. So not really "such a short run". In the olden days, over thirty years ago, when more productions played in rep at any one time (all cast from the same company of actors), plays were in rep for more weeks than nowadays but the total number of performances was about the same. It would cost the NT much more to run Twelfth Night for five or six months, playing just two or three performances a week, which is what used to happen. |
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Post by theatremadness on Feb 22, 2017 15:36:54 GMT
Really gutted I didn't get my EP ticket when tickets first went on sale after reading such great comments on here. Wasn't around this morning for the next set of EP tickets that have of course, now, sold out, but managed to find a £15 ticket near the centre of the 2nd row in the middle of April so went for that! Very, very excited. I really love the play - with Hamlet at the Almeida the week before, too!
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Post by lynette on Feb 22, 2017 16:08:46 GMT
Such a short run. Annoying. 62 performances over 13 weeks. So not really "such a short run". In the olden days, over thirty years ago, when more productions played in rep at any one time (all cast from the same company of actors), plays were in rep for more weeks than nowadays but the total number of performances was about the same. It would cost the NT much more to run Twelfth Night for five or six months, playing just two or three performances a week, which is what used to happen. Will they move it the West End? |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2017 17:15:57 GMT
Surely not!?
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Post by lynette on Feb 22, 2017 18:59:06 GMT
Just asking, HG , don't get too worked up. It is possible. It sounds like it is v good from what people are saying here and she is a bit of a draw, no?
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Post by bordeaux on Feb 22, 2017 22:19:17 GMT
Just asking, HG , don't get too worked up. It is possible. It sounds like it is v good from what people are saying here and she is a bit of a draw, no? I wonder when the NT last transferred a Shakespeare to the West End. Did the Richard Eyre/Ian McKellen Richard III make it? None of the great NT Shakespeares I can think of did: Hytner/Lester Othello, Eyre/Holm Lear, Nunn/Goodman Merchant, though that transferred from the Cottesloe to the Olivier, I think.
Come to think of it, when was the last time the NT transferred a play to the West End that wasn't a new play? It rarely happens, if at all. The odd musical, I suppose: Carousel, My Fair Lady.
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