2,389 posts
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Post by peggs on Aug 26, 2016 21:02:47 GMT
Have seen the photo, why is he sitting on top of that? Off topic i know but my back row seat for the entertainer is sounding even less appealing so need distracting. Do you mean the box in Lear? Well, it shows off the amazing techie stuff they have now cos it goes up and down and backwards. Other than that I'm not sure why it is there. I did yes, thanks. Sounds amazing  |
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Post by Snciole on Aug 27, 2016 22:46:06 GMT
Add me to the people who thought this was a dull production. It felt like it had been directed by different people. I thought Kenneth Branagh's Archie shone most when doing the music hall bit, even if he does look like Eddie Izzard now but he didn't look that right for the part. An American lady next to me asked if he had work done because he was just too polished with his cyclist's legs and smooth skin.
The issue is that it isn't sure how to blend the musical and drama elements well and it all feels a bit of mess. Greta Scacchi looks and sounds like she did her own better homework away from the rehearsal, such bland performances from McShera-whose character Jean screams about Archie's lack of emotion whilst being monotone throughout and Gawn Grainger, who just is not exceptional in an unexceptional part of Billy. I also felt that the story wasn't very clear, perhaps it has dated or it is Osborne but people came and went with no explanation of who they were and why the audience should care.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2016 10:42:03 GMT
Ooh I'm glad I'm not the only one getting an Eddie Izzard vibe from him!
I thought it was a solid production, I didn't see the Robert Lindsay one, which seems to be the benchmark to compare on. But all round thought it was a good production of a play that has possibly dated a bit now. I did love the chance to see Kenny B at work, and agree he really shone in the music hall moments. I was also at times really confused about the story/who was related to who and who wasn't, but in all honesty I was tired and it was hot, so that could be my fault.
Also from the back of the stalls Kenneth Brannagh really shows up the rest of the cast in terms of PROJECTION DARLINGS. (Seriously I struggled to hear most of the others at times)
But I will say, Kenny B has aged wonderfully, and if it wasn't already hot I might have been fanning myself with my programme anyway.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2016 18:34:44 GMT
Sounds like Ken's finally listening to criticism; in the first three plays of this season he was in, he was the one consistently inaudible cast member.
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2,058 posts
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Post by Marwood on Aug 29, 2016 23:08:25 GMT
I thought Ken was perfectly audible in The Painkiller - alas, it was still about as funny as that remake of Are You Being Served.
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923 posts
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Post by Snciole on Aug 30, 2016 16:20:16 GMT
Slightly off-topic but who is the sexy voiced man who does the turn of your mobile announcement at Garrick and used to do NT Live trailers...
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Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2016 23:36:15 GMT
Guardian 3*
Telegraph 4*
Stage 4*
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904 posts
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Post by lonlad on Aug 31, 2016 0:05:06 GMT
Times 2*
The Arts Desk 3*
I would give it 3 --- second act a lot livelier than the first - quite a few walkouts, it seemed, up in the Circle -- not a patch on the Lindsay/Ferris production
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3,575 posts
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Post by showgirl on Aug 31, 2016 4:15:20 GMT
Libby Purves (Theatrecat) 3*
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Post by stefy69 on Aug 31, 2016 6:43:49 GMT
Off to see this tomorrow and so looking forward to it, loved the film and love KB...
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Post by Snciole on Aug 31, 2016 10:58:29 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2016 9:03:31 GMT
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Post by tlt on Sept 1, 2016 15:14:58 GMT
Yep I also wrote a review. My main feeling is that Branagh's interpretation will probably work better as a broadcast on screen than live on stage. For me, like you, Greta Scacchi was the stand out performance. bit.ly/2bBwFG0 |
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816 posts
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Post by stefy69 on Sept 2, 2016 4:49:26 GMT
Saw this yesterday and loved it very much a star vehicle for KB but certainly none the worse for that.  Booked to see it again in a couple of weeks. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2016 6:39:05 GMT
very much a star vehicle for KB but certainly none the worse for that But contrast it with No Man's Land where the two stars have drawn an eager mass audience and satisfied their star-seeking hopes but have also served up a proper production of an excellent play. Cardiff's New Theatre hasn't seen either a play like this or audiences like this for years and years. No Man's Land will show up the weaknesses of The Entertainer when it comes in just along the road. |
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Post by Snciole on Sept 2, 2016 9:14:52 GMT
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Post by partytentdown on Sept 2, 2016 9:26:35 GMT
I'm afraid I'm in the 'left at interval' club. I found it interminably dull and poorly acted. Not for me.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2016 9:28:26 GMT
very much a star vehicle for KB but certainly none the worse for that But contrast it with No Man's Land where the two stars have drawn an eager mass audience and satisfied their star-seeking hopes but have also served up a proper production of an excellent play. Cardiff's New Theatre hasn't seen either a play like this or audiences like this for years and years. No Man's Land will show up the weaknesses of The Entertainer when it comes in just along the road. Having seen the two within a couple of days, I agree. I don't think The Entertainer or Ken B are bad by any stretch, both are solid production/performance. But No Man's Land is a really excellent production of a better piece of theatre, and with two leads who just take it to another level. And damn right the New hasn't seen the likes in years...I think those walls have forgotten what a proper play looks like! |
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Post by sondheimhats on Sept 3, 2016 5:51:38 GMT
I saw this last night via the TodayTix lottery. I found the play itself to be a real miss. It seemed to be juggling several different themes and ideas without really committing enough to any one of them. As a result, it felt very jumbled and confused to me, and really didn't leave me with anything.
However, I have to admit, I was extremely impressed with KB. I've seen all of his Shakespeare performances that are preserved on film, as well as The Winter's Tale and a few of his other film roles, and I've always had very mixed feelings about him as an actor. I'm frequently bothered by his lack of subtlety, and I often get the sense that he is hardly acting, but rather saying his lines with a predetermined (often self-indulgent) "mood." However, I did not find that to be the case at all in The Entertainer. I think he brought levels of nuance, honesty and groundedness that I have never before seen him display. I truly thought it was an excellent performance. Also, I've almost always enjoyed Branagh's work as a director. Though I was unimpressed with this play, I think he and Ashford did as good a job as can be expected with the material. I found the other performances to be strong as well.
(in case anyone is wondering why this is my first post - I'm a student from the US, studying here in London for my 3rd year at Uni. The Entertainer is the first show I've seen since arriving, and thus, the first thing I've felt compelled to post about. I look forward to discussing more shows here in the coming year!)
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Post by sondheimhats on Sept 4, 2016 6:02:19 GMT
^Thanks!
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Post by theatremiss on Sept 5, 2016 13:46:29 GMT
very much a star vehicle for KB but certainly none the worse for that But contrast it with No Man's Land where the two stars have drawn an eager mass audience and satisfied their star-seeking hopes but have also served up a proper production of an excellent play. Cardiff's New Theatre hasn't seen either a play like this or audiences like this for years and years. No Man's Land will show up the weaknesses of The Entertainer when it comes in just along the road. I'm seeing both shows on the same day......the most 'Sirs' I'll ever see in one day? |
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Post by lynette on Sept 5, 2016 19:51:50 GMT
What an interesting point about the way a comic works, TM. I didn't book for this because , hey, seen it a couple of times.. No actually I didn't book because I would have had to book so far in advance and then I forgot. But I wonder if the comic is meant to engage with the audience here like they do at the RSC which works sometimes and often not. V hard to do within the context of a 'serious' play. I have liked KB's work in the past. I love his movie of Much Ado where he does the comedy well ( his stuff, not Dogberry which is nigh impossible)
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Post by martin1965 on Sept 5, 2016 20:34:25 GMT
Am seeing this on saturday so will be interesting. Its the only play on the season i am going to, ive somehow not seen it before and i quite like KB. Finny enough monkey, i think he is a good comedy player, his benedict and touchstone all those years ago were imo very good. Oh well i will make io my mind sat.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 5, 2016 22:33:26 GMT
A stunningly decrepit set and a glimpse of Sir Ken's stunning, not-at-all-decrepit calf muscles sadly do not make up for an exceptionally boring play. Actually, the stuff with the shadow at the end was fab, too. But the rest of it...oh dear.
Why is this seen as the test of a great actor? Archie's on, he's off, he's on, he's off. You have to wait ages for him to actually engage with another character and then when he does, he's mostly drunk. I don't think there's a single sympathetic character on the stage (OK, maybe Frank, but it's like he's wandered in from another play). And unpleasant characters are fine - great, even - so long as they're interesting. This lot just weren't.
It picked up marginally when Branagh was reflecting on Archie performing for an audience as dead behind the eyes as he was. It made me wish there had been more moments allowing for that level of drama and (much as Archie denied it) feeling. But so much of the action and the lines felt pedestrian.
I stuck around after the interval but I noticed a few people around me didn't. What a shame to make this the play to end the season.
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1,103 posts
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Post by mallardo on Sept 6, 2016 11:17:24 GMT
Your point is well taken, TM. It's why I thought Robert Lindsay was so perfect in the role. He has that old time hammy vaudevillian thing in his bones and he was totally credible as a performer.
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