1,287 posts
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Post by theatrefan77 on Apr 21, 2018 23:51:57 GMT
I was there on Friday night and quite enjoyed it. It's not a flawless production but I believe it will improve before the opening night.
Some of the performances were great. The highlights for me were Charles Edwards and Sinead Matthews. The rest of the cast are good in general with maybe a couple of weak ones. Jenny Galloway is wasted here in a very small and thankless part.
Wasn't familiar with the play and I thought it was fascinating, funny and sad. It depicts the post war years as a very confusing time for all. Life can't go back to normal so easily after six years of war. A varied group of people meet regularly at a Soho club. They have very little or nothing in common but somehow rely on each other and we become aware of their insecurities and neurosis.
Loved the set too.
I was in Stalls front row and was really involved with the characters and story. Maybe, like Foxa suggests, it's a play that you need to see in Stalls and not too far away. The lighting is quite dim at times and I don't think it would have had the same impact on me had I sat quite far away from the stage.
I'm probably in the minority here but for me this is a 4 star production.
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Post by basi1faw1ty on Apr 23, 2018 17:25:53 GMT
OK, so on the AH NT page, they started with the slightly daunting "3 hours 40 minutes with two 15 minute intervals" as the approximate duration.
Then they adjusted it to "3 hours 20 minutes with two 15 minute intervals".
Now it's a rather odd sounding "3 hours 10 minutes with 15 minute interval and 5 minute pause".
5 minute pause??
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2018 17:32:18 GMT
^ This is much more sensible and done quite often to break a long show into three parts. (It is actually written as a Two Act play...) We’ll be reminded during “the pause” not to leave our seats and the lights’ll be kept low to discourage an exodus!
It does make you wonder what they’re cutting...
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1,064 posts
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Post by bellboard27 on Apr 23, 2018 17:44:12 GMT
They need some pause to adjust the set, but it makes sense to have a pause rather than a second interval. The resulting run time (having saved 10 mins from the 2nd interval) is only 5 minutes quicker than the 2nd preview, so I don’t expect much if anything has been cut.
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1,260 posts
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 24, 2018 17:23:52 GMT
OK, so on the AH NT page, they started with the slightly daunting "3 hours 40 minutes with two 15 minute intervals" as the approximate duration. Then they adjusted it to "3 hours 20 minutes with two 15 minute intervals". Now it's a rather odd sounding "3 hours 10 minutes with 15 minute interval and 5 minute pause". 5 minute pause??Now showing on the website as 3 hours with 15 minute interval and 5 min pause. Guess they are hacking and slashing. Hopefully it will be 2.5 hours by the time I go tomorrow night  |
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Post by Snciole on Apr 25, 2018 12:49:42 GMT
For anyone who cares one of my (much more senior than me) colleagues was the original Orange Tree director for this and has an article in the programme.
I am seeing this in May and I am so relieved it is getting shorter. The press night is tonight so hopefully it will get even shorter.
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3,040 posts
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Post by crowblack on Apr 25, 2018 13:33:32 GMT
it's a play that you need to see in Stalls and not too far away. Should have been on in the Dorfman? |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2018 13:43:59 GMT
Nothing should be on in the Dorfman, it's an awful theatre.
But yeah, Absolute Hell benefits from you being close up. Especially when Sinead Matthews is doing her thing.
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Post by Jan on Apr 25, 2018 15:32:45 GMT
Nothing should be on in the Dorfman, it's an awful theatre. But yeah, Absolute Hell benefits from you being close up. Especially when Sinead Matthews is doing her thing. Since the NT opened on the South Bank the majority of their best work has been in that theatre, more excellent productions than the other two theatres combined. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2018 15:41:00 GMT
The excellence of the productions does nothing to solve the negative audience experience of sitting in the auditorium itself.
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1,260 posts
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 25, 2018 16:43:31 GMT
Seeing Absolute hell tonight. Knackered and not sure I can cope with 3 hours of it. If I am not feeling it after a 90 min first half in the cheap cramped seats in Row C and we feel like leaving, will we miss much? Obviously I am not going with that intention in mind but it would be good to hear from those who have seen it as to whether we will be missing an unmissable second and third act.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2018 16:55:55 GMT
I enjoyed all three acts but you're not missing a masterpiece or a sudden spike in quality if you get to an interval/pause and have to take yourself home.
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Post by basi1faw1ty on Apr 25, 2018 17:06:31 GMT
I am not trying for one second to put you off, but the slightly more negative reports have said the first hour or so is good fun but then it sort of simmers down by either the second or third part.
Having said that, recent comments have been far more positive than last week's, helped I suspect by the run time being reduced very drastically since preview 1 and the fact that the cast have of course gotten a bit more accustomed to the show.
We shall see how the press will fare tomorrow morning. Eep! (I can already predict the headlines.)
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Post by basi1faw1ty on Apr 25, 2018 17:13:21 GMT
Nothing should be on in the Dorfman, it's an awful theatre. But yeah, Absolute Hell benefits from you being close up. Especially when Sinead Matthews is doing her thing. Good cos I'm in row B stalls (but Sinead isn't the reason I picked to be that close  ). The uncomfortable armrest-less row, yes, but for £7.50, what a steal. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2018 19:40:59 GMT
What a pointless thing this is
Other than keeping a large cast in Work
It’s rubbish nd a waste of my precious time
Again
I didn’t know actors are THIS desperate for work
Shame
Actors I would add
Who need Mikes
For a play
😂😂😂
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5,903 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Apr 25, 2018 20:09:40 GMT
Oh
Dear
This sounds
Like
Another
Disaster
For the
N
T
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2018 20:31:30 GMT
Critics might well like it
Given they arse licked
That turd
At The Almeida last night
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Post by basi1faw1ty on Apr 26, 2018 5:07:57 GMT
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3,578 posts
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Post by showgirl on Apr 26, 2018 9:11:36 GMT
5 stars from Libby Purves (Theatrecat).
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904 posts
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Post by lonlad on Apr 26, 2018 9:19:00 GMT
Scathing review on whatsonstage.com - 2 stars but reads like no stars
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1,260 posts
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 26, 2018 11:29:00 GMT
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1,260 posts
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 26, 2018 11:32:11 GMT
Seeing Absolute hell tonight. Knackered and not sure I can cope with 3 hours of it. If I am not feeling it after a 90 min first half in the cheap cramped seats in Row C and we feel like leaving, will we miss much? Obviously I am not going with that intention in mind but it would be good to hear from those who have seen it as to whether we will be missing an unmissable second and third act. Well I stayed for the whole 3 hours as I was entertained and intrigued after the first half which was fun and done well. I gradually become more disillusioned with the play itself, the various miscastings, the various over-acting and facial mugging (and lack of natural acting apart from maybe Charles Edwards) and the various odd directorial decisions (walking walking walking woman for example) which made me leave thinking less of the production as a whole. 3 stars from me (I think) |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2018 11:37:31 GMT
Scathing review on whatsonstage.com - 2 stars but reads like no stars I bet something about their sales model means they can't sell tickets to NT productions in the same way as they can to West End shows. Less profitable or something. Bet you. |
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Post by Snciole on Apr 26, 2018 12:13:24 GMT
Scathing review on whatsonstage.com - 2 stars but reads like no stars I bet something about their sales model means they can't sell tickets to NT productions in the same way as they can to West End shows. Less profitable or something. Bet you. I was surprised to see they even did. I suspect for most WE shows they buy tickets in bulk then sell on at an inflated cost, maybe with the NT it is a cut rather than a profit. Equally maybe the reviewers are independent but as I have said elsewhere the set up is definitely towards sales rather than pointing people to news and reviews. I think the reviews will be divided by those that like an epic, rambling play and those that don't. |
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3,578 posts
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Post by Rory on Apr 26, 2018 12:59:15 GMT
Why does the Telegraph always seem to be the last to publish its reviews? Come on Dominic!
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). The uncomfortable armrest-less row, yes, but for £7.50, what a steal.