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Post by oxfordsimon on Apr 19, 2018 13:23:40 GMT
It's a shame Dervla Kirwan and Jonathan Bailey aren't transferring, they were great in Chichester. Well there's a ticket I don't need anymore. Luke Thompson is just as pretty
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2018 13:35:39 GMT
Nice to see Luke Thompson breaking free of Robert Icke, but I don't think I can even be tempted to NT Live this. I feel like I want to care, because both casts have been great and McKellen is terribly good at what he does, but I just can't get past the fact it's Lear and I've absolutely reached my limit with the damn play.
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Post by artnouveau on Apr 22, 2018 18:09:27 GMT
A bit of a downer to know Dervla Kirwan and Jonathan Bailey are not transferring with the rest of the cast...
Any ideas why? I hope it's because both of them are committed to other projects and not some internal conflict with the cast or company...
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Post by Rory on Apr 22, 2018 19:07:33 GMT
Shame Damien Molony not moving into town either.
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Post by adolphus on Apr 29, 2018 22:56:10 GMT
Missed getting decent tickets for this but NTLive broadcasting this on 27 Sept. Hardly a surprise but very good news
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Post by Adara on Jun 6, 2018 15:23:38 GMT
I have tickets for this at DOY on 26 July. Was contacted that this performance should not have been on sale and they're trying to move me to 25 July.
Anyone else hear of this?
(I have no reason to disbelieve it. Except that ATG still shows a performance on the 26th.)
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Xanderl
Member
Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on Jul 7, 2018 10:00:30 GMT
Thanks for that, lots of those still available
Also the upper circle boxes are available for £25 a seat for quite a few dates, not sure if those are newly released too? Had a go at it will sell you a single seat in a box I think.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2018 10:40:14 GMT
Am quite happy the box seats are for sale but how good are the views from them(box O and L)?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2018 21:10:16 GMT
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Post by jgblunners on Jul 15, 2018 16:00:21 GMT
I saw this last night - my first ever Lear! I hadn't appreciated just how bleak it is, but I suppose as it is a Shakespeare tragedy I shouldn't have been surprised by that.
Firstly, I think Jonathan Munby has done an amazing job with this. The modern setting isn't jarring at all, and the 3.5 hours fly by (even the Icke Hamlet started to drag a bit for me, but this didn't). I also thought the set design was fantastic - deceptively simple but very stylish. McKellen is, of course, marvellous. He is particularly strong in Acts I, II, and V, although I felt that he definitely went for 'unravelled' rather than full-on 'mad' in the middle acts. I would've liked to see him take it a little further. The stand-out performance for me, though, was Kirsty Bushell as Regan. I thought her portrayal was spot-on in the context of this production. She really came into her own in the eye scene, where she showed the Regan's true nature uninhibited.
I thought that Acts I-III were better than IV and V, but I have a feeling that's down to the text rather than the direction. In the former, it's all about the build-up of tension and compounding of lies and deceit, whereas in the latter we basically just watch everything fall apart. Regardless, I never lost interest and remained engaged in every scene. Definitely worthy of the transfer to the West End, and it'll be interesting to see whether it yields any Olivier noms.
4 stars
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Post by crowblack on Jul 22, 2018 12:46:15 GMT
I've just got an email saying row A get rained on. Might have to wear lenses instead of glasses, then.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 22, 2018 14:28:24 GMT
I've just got an email saying row A get rained on. Might have to wear lenses instead of glasses, then. It was very heavy tropical rain in Chichester too - the cast got absolutely drenched! The front rows were well away though with the rain contained in a circular trough/dais. Hopefully you will only catch the edge of the storm!!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2018 9:34:38 GMT
I thought McKellan was a three star Lear in an almost four star production. He mumble-mouthed his way through acts 1-3, only really understandable in the final scenes. When you stand back you can see that he has delivered Lear, but it’s Impressionistic at best. If you are a fan of, say, the text, you will find it wanting.
This production emphasises the regal with a beautiful opening scene. They make full use of the stage, a wonderfully cinematic storm and the white cliffs of Dover. That said, I go to the theatre too much to be glamoured by rain on stage. The rain was so noisy it interfered even more with understanding what Lear was saying.
Regan was an odd take. I’m listening to the Stephen Fry Harry Potter audio books at the moment and Kirsty Bushell’s performance felt a bit too much like one of the voices he does. She was just being a bit too deliciously evil *leg kick* with little nuance.
I liked Danny Webb (even though I thought he was Simon McBurney for the first act) and the female Kent worked for me, probably because of Sinead Cusack
I came away wishing I could have transplanted Glenda Jackson into this staging. But sadly theatre does not work like that.
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Post by crowblack on Jul 25, 2018 11:09:19 GMT
cast got absolutely drenched! Illness and heatwave meant I had to postpone it till October so I can't yet report on the row A rain.
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Post by emsworthian on Jul 26, 2018 11:48:49 GMT
I thought McKellan was a three star Lear in an almost four star production. He mumble-mouthed his way through acts 1-3, only really understandable in the final scenes. When you stand back you can see that he has delivered Lear, but it’s Impressionistic at best. If you are a fan of, say, the text, you will find it wanting. This production emphasises the regal with a beautiful opening scene. They make full use of the stage, a wonderfully cinematic storm and the white cliffs of Dover. That said, I go to the theatre too much to be glamoured by rain on stage. The rain was so noisy it interfered even more with understanding what Lear was saying. Regan was an odd take. I’m listening to the Stephen Fry Harry Potter audio books at the moment and Kirsty Bushell’s performance felt a bit too much like one of the voices he does. She was just being a bit too deliciously evil *leg kick* with little nuance. I liked Danny Webb (even though I thought he was Simon McBurney for the first act) and the female Kent worked for me, probably because of Sinead Cusack I came away wishing I could have transplanted Glenda Jackson into this staging. But sadly theatre does not work like that. I confuse those two as well.
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Post by Marwood on Jul 28, 2018 22:40:56 GMT
I’m going next Saturday, row A stalls: should I be prepared for a soaking?
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Post by nash16 on Jul 29, 2018 0:32:43 GMT
I’m going next Saturday, row A stalls: should I be prepared for a soaking? Well, he got it out for his 2007 RSC one, so potentially, yes.
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Post by Marwood on Jul 29, 2018 9:48:27 GMT
I’m going next Saturday, row A stalls: should I be prepared for a soaking? Well, he got it out for his 2007 RSC one, so potentially, yes. Him getting it out and splashing people is more likely to take place at his pub down river after the show, but thanks for the heads up all the same...😉
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Post by Marwood on Jul 30, 2018 8:54:05 GMT
row A stalls: should I be prepared for a soaking Not from the actual rain storm. A puddle builds on the stage floor, though, and the actors kick some very large drops a long way. I was in A1 and took more than a few direct hits a couple of times. I think the other side (5 to 8) are dryer. Cheers, I will have to remember not to wear anything too bling.
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Post by Rory on Aug 4, 2018 15:02:19 GMT
Well, poor Sir Ian injured his leg this morning and after a delay of around 30 minutes the matinee today was cancelled. However, clearly in some pain and discomfort, he gamely came on to sit and entertain the audience which he did with some panache for around 80 minutes. Plenty of juicy anecdotes and a bit of audience Q&A thrown in for good measure. Disappointed obviously not to have seen the production but he was entertaining and generous with his time. Will now make sure I don't miss the NT Live screening as I don't think I'll have the opportunity to re-book before 3rd November.
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Post by sherriebythesea on Aug 4, 2018 15:35:38 GMT
That is amazing that he did that. If it is possible he has risen even higher in my theatre gods ranking
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Post by Marwood on Aug 4, 2018 16:59:05 GMT
I did ask at the theatre earlier if he’d cancelled because it was too hot and he just thought ‘sod it’ and cancelled but the gentleman at the box office wouldn’t comment 😃
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Post by Rory on Aug 4, 2018 17:16:43 GMT
No, he was rushing for a train and went over on his ankle. He was trying his level best to go on and the delayed start was due to him having physio but in the end he was advised not to risk it and rightly so. I am assuming tonight's is off too but I'm not certain.
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Post by Marwood on Aug 4, 2018 17:28:30 GMT
I’m booked for tonight and they told me it’s going ahead but I’ll soon find out
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2018 17:28:41 GMT
Having a chauffeur
So much safer
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2018 17:29:25 GMT
This reminds me
Of when Joyce di donato
Did an opera
In a wheelchair
With a leg in plaster
Amazing
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Post by Marwood on Aug 4, 2018 20:18:28 GMT
There’s a prize c•nt in row B telling all of his friends at full volume about what awesome seats he has and how he is going to get Ian McKellen to sign the heap of sh*te he has with him. I hope McKellen takes an hour to come out then tells him to f*** off- equally loudly.
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Post by sherriebythesea on Aug 4, 2018 21:42:39 GMT
After having to cancel matinee because of injury he expects McKellen to stand there and sign his crap? How rude!!!
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Post by Rory on Aug 4, 2018 22:11:48 GMT
Apparently there have been problems with the lighting tonight after the interval. No doubt Marwood will tell all. It hasn't been their day at the Duke of York's!
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Post by Marwood on Aug 4, 2018 22:21:51 GMT
Yes, the second act started about 15 minutes late, also no Danny Webb either tonight. It REALLY hasn’t been this plays day today.
Our ‘friend’ in row B was making equally loud huffing noises and lots of ‘wows’ after the play finished, like he’d been scuba diving in the Mariana Trench, or shagging a particularly hefty elephant: he was telling his compadres in the interval that he’d seen many shows at the Duke of York’s, and Lear beats them all: I wasn’t aware that the Teletubbies and In The Night Garden had done shows there...
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