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Post by Rory on Aug 4, 2018 22:32:21 GMT
Some people are so over the bloody top. A few self indulgent audience members at the impromptu 'Audience with' this aft also. I know that sounds a bit harsh but my cringeometer was peaking at various stages. I think Sir Ian was pretending he couldn't hear them on occasion and I didn't blame him.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2018 23:34:39 GMT
Oh he's a class act that Sir Ian, isn't he? Many a young 'un nowadays could take note. *cough* Vanessa Kirby *cough*
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Post by mrbarnaby on Aug 4, 2018 23:40:16 GMT
Oh he's a class act that Sir Ian, isn't he? Many a young 'un nowadays could take note. *cough* Vanessa Kirby *cough* What’s with the Kirby shade?
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Post by Rory on Aug 4, 2018 23:44:05 GMT
It's like when Dame Diana Rigg was reportedly, recently, less than pleased when the leading lady of Broadway's My Fair Lady, decided against Sunday matinees, allegedly without the rest of the cast being formally notified. Dame Diana was not amused!
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Post by Rory on Aug 4, 2018 23:56:34 GMT
A good thread on Twitter below about some of Sir Ian's anecdotes today. He is a total ledge.
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Post by n1david on Aug 5, 2018 6:28:17 GMT
Oh he's a class act that Sir Ian, isn't he? Many a young 'un nowadays could take note. *cough* Vanessa Kirby *cough* What’s with the Kirby shade? She’s been absent from “Julie” for some time. Take a look at that thread.
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Post by n1david on Aug 5, 2018 16:33:36 GMT
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Post by Marwood on Aug 6, 2018 12:11:11 GMT
So to the actual show itself, I didn't dislike it as much as this review: The Spectator but I wasn't really that impressed: maybe it was a combination of being in a theatre on one of the hottest days of the year, the delay in starting the second act (and the lighting not working correctly during it) and the aforementioned big mouthed nob and his acolytes sat behind me but I was disappointed by this. I really don't take to productions that needlessly update the settings of a play to make them more modern and 'relevant': I'm assuming this was inspired by the filmed McKellen Richard III but the soldiers in modern day uniform carrying machine guns added nothing whatsoever (the Mexican standoff near the end held no suspense whatsoever). As the denouement of most of the characters takes place off stage at the end, I really didn't care much about how things ended: although McKellen does do a super corpse (is ithat a spoiler?) If this is McKellens last Shakespeare then I'm glad I saw it (I saw his Shakespeare on Screen at the BFI a few years back but have never seen him actually play a Shakespearean role until now) but I couldn't honestly recommend this - certainly not at the £145 premium ticket price anyway.
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Post by wanderingranger on Aug 12, 2018 19:35:23 GMT
For those who have been, does Sir Ian sign after the show? The only big star I've ever stage doored is Angela Lansbury and there were barriers up and she wasn't allowed to sign. What's the stage door situation like here? If he signs it's worth waiting but if it's barriers, security and people who don't know how to behave then there isn't.
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Post by popcultureboy on Aug 12, 2018 22:36:11 GMT
There are barriers and security, but he does sign. Doesn't pose for selfies and only signs King Lear merchandise, which weeds out all the people who don't know how to behave :-)
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Post by Phantom of London on Aug 18, 2018 22:36:41 GMT
I saw this last night.
I started a thread a year or two and what makes great acting and the question didn’t really get answered, as it is such a subjective and difficult thing to quantify. However Ian McKellan answered my question last night and that is making acting seem so natural and simple, with nothing forced.
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Post by sfsusan on Aug 19, 2018 21:47:22 GMT
...that is making acting seem so natural and simple, with nothing forced. This is why I loved this show, especially the second part, where "the king" is now simply a vulnerable old man. He's so real, it's heartbreaking. But I noticed something odd both times I saw the show (I got sick and missed the first act so decided I had to go see it again)... several people left at the interval! The first time I was in the Royal Circle and the three seats to my left were empty (although they had been occupied originally, as there was litter under the seats), along with some others. The next time I was in the Stalls and two seats behind me and a couple in front were abandoned for the second part. Did anyone else see this? Are these people who just buy tickets to say they saw it, and don't care to sit through the three plus hours?
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Post by lynette on Aug 19, 2018 23:24:30 GMT
Tourists.
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Xanderl
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Post by Xanderl on Aug 20, 2018 5:37:39 GMT
Or still queuing for the loos after the 2 hour first half When I saw it the other week I was sitting next to an American couple who had flown in specially for the weekend to see it.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2018 8:36:05 GMT
Maybe they just weren't enjoying it. No matter how good a production of King Lear is, it's still King Lear, and some people legitimately do not enjoy it as a play, plus it's easy for people who get on with Shakespeare to forget just how impenetrable he can be for some (and I know a great cast and director who know what they're doing *should* be able to overcome that for audiences, but it's easier said than done, especially as actors and directors by and large are people who do tend to get on with Shakespeare).
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2018 9:13:57 GMT
Well. If I'd been on a ham only diet for the past week I still wouldnt have had as much ham as Kirsty Bushell displays here. If you'd seen the Anna Maxwell Martin performance as Regan a few years ago and thought "she could have taken that up a few more notches" then you will LOVE it. She wriggled about so much I wondered if perhaps she'd forgotten where the ladies was. I almost shouted out to let her know mid-show but thought twice as I didn't want to put Dame Ian off his stride. I think it was infectious though as even La McKellen got a bit hammier as the show went on. I'll forgive him though because he's a national treasure and he has such a lovely twinkly presence.
For those missing America's Next Top Model you'll be delighted by a stonking great runway running through the middle of the stalls, although sadly only Claire Price gives any hint of a sashay. She's fabulous though. I wouldn't want to cross her. Those who also love being splashed on of an evening will also be advised to sit in the front row to get the full 'Singing in the Rain' effect.
I will admit to booking the ticket for dear old Jonny B but as he jumped ship to board the SS LuPone we got Luke Thompson who was just delightful. A knockout cutie pie and a genuinely lovely performance in a play of not very nice people being horrid to each other. His scenes with Danny Webb as Gloucester were absolutely lovely.
BUT for me the play was all about James Corrigan as Edmund. Oh my. Foxy alert! All pantomime villain with sexy eyes and (strangely) a touch of the James Middleton about him but I thought he was smashing. I think he should be allowed to play any sexy villain he wants in London's glitzy West End from now on.
But how on earth we're expected to take any play seriously that names one of its characters after an STD I'll never know.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Aug 20, 2018 9:16:22 GMT
BUT for me the play was all about James Corrigan as Edmund. Oh my. Foxy alert! All pantomime villain with sexy eyes and (strangely) a touch of the James Middleton about him but I thought he was smashing. I think he should be allowed to play any sexy villain he wants in London's glitzy West End from now on. I shall tell him when I next see him!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2018 9:18:51 GMT
BUT for me the play was all about James Corrigan as Edmund. Oh my. Foxy alert! All pantomime villain with sexy eyes and (strangely) a touch of the James Middleton about him but I thought he was smashing. I think he should be allowed to play any sexy villain he wants in London's glitzy West End from now on. I shall tell him when I next see him! Oh please do. And tell him to call me.
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Post by sfsusan on Aug 20, 2018 18:43:26 GMT
I can see any of these reasons for leaving early (especially the queue for the ladies' loo), but it was just more than I've seen at any other show, so it seemed... odd. Although I'm grateful because the departure of the large and tall gentleman in front of me meant that I could see the second act without moving my head back and forth. (And if the people directly behind me had left, I would have thought perhaps my movements were the cause, but it was the people next to them.)
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2018 21:13:20 GMT
Well. If I'd been on a ham only diet for the past week I still wouldnt have had as much ham as Kirsty Bushell displays here. If you'd seen the Anna Maxwell Martin performance as Regan a few years ago and thought "she could have taken that up a few more notches" then you will LOVE it. She wriggled about so much I wondered if perhaps she'd forgotten where the ladies was. I almost shouted out to let her know mid-show but thought twice as I didn't want to put Dame Ian off his stride. “Ham only diet”. You have such a way with words. She was dreadful and she made me itch.
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Post by partytentdown on Aug 23, 2018 7:53:24 GMT
Dare I ask what time it finishes?
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Xanderl
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Post by Xanderl on Aug 23, 2018 8:03:57 GMT
It's about 3 hours 30 minutes.
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Post by stevemar on Aug 29, 2018 13:35:08 GMT
Am really looking forward to this show. I've posted a notice in the noticeboard section as I have a spare seat, in the stalls on Sat 3 November, 130pm. Stalls M13 or M14, central, next to the "runway". Face value £75 (waiving ATG booking fee) Read more: theatreboard.co.uk/thread/5304/king-lear-november-matinee-130#ixzz5PZe1IojRI'd ask Ryan to get Jonny Bailey to come as my guest, but of course he is performing in Company instead...
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2018 16:27:06 GMT
This was my first time seeing Lear yesterday and what a great Lear to start with. I loved it all so much, a nice simple staging with edge tube lighting and sound. Mckellen was great as you would imagine however a leading actor is only ad good as his supporting cast and they were so brilliant and it was just performed very well. Was in box L in the upper circle and I felt very fancy and for £25 it's a steal as you do have to lean a bit but it is worth it as you can see most the stage and walkway. I just feel so lucky to have seen it and it feels like a very special experience I will remember.
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Post by lonlad on Sept 26, 2018 15:46:14 GMT
this Thursday night is also the NT Live performance so that will be the perf captured for all time .... !
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Post by peggs on Sept 27, 2018 20:19:00 GMT
Watching nt live (on interval) and am curious as to how Regan was portrayed at Chichester? I know they've changed actress but is the portrayal similar? Trying and failing to imagine Dervla Kirwan doing this interpretation.
We've had the people complain about the lack of bar. Those who turned up late then took out minutes whilst they complained loudly about their seats. Now it turns out we may have accidently had subtitles on. Oh and sound bit iffy every time someone hits their Mic.
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Post by peggs on Sept 27, 2018 20:25:50 GMT
Have started reading thread and seems Kirsty Bushall has always been Regan. The interpretation is not to my taste I'll admit, much prefer Clare Price. 2nd half....
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Post by NeilVHughes on Sept 27, 2018 20:31:14 GMT
Definitely a childish excitable edge, same characterisation as the Chichester production.
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Post by poster J on Sept 27, 2018 21:53:45 GMT
Sound issues seemed down to late cues rather than people hitting their mics from what I could hear - the start of a few bits of dialogue was cut off. And we had one slight sound glitch where we lost about 5 seconds, but otherwise crystal clear.
I very much enjoyed this - McKellen is excellent, and I also thought Sinead Cusack was outstanding, but there isn't really a weak link in the cast.
I agree the characterisation of Reagan was a bit irritating, but I can understand the intention behind it and for me it worked rather well.
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Post by Rory on Sept 27, 2018 22:06:30 GMT
I really enjoyed it, and it was brilliant to finally see it after the matinee I attended in August was cancelled.
McKellen was excellent but I thought it was a universally strong cast. The design was very clever, and I loved the use of the music. I have seen Sinead Cusack twice on stage before this (The Birds and Our Few and Evil Days, both in Dublin), and she has such a magnetic stage presence.
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