The Inheritance - YV

Many of them are in the high up gallery small uncomfortable seats

For those who's seen Part 1 and also read Howards End, which characters are parallel to each other. I'm putting my comparison in spoilers:

I didn’t see it on Netflix when I looked

So do most Muslims and all Jews, so how does that show he is American? I wonder what the audition for the role was like.

Note to self - trying to make light about nudity will just be treated sarcastically.

I suspect the audition included checking his looks and definition were suitable for the role and that he was willing to participate in a nude scene.

No more performances of Part 1 this week, so will be interesting to hear if any changes are made (although the Part 2 previews are next).

I'm hopefully seeing the two-play day of this next weekend - followed by Kiss of the Spider Woman, if I can keep my eyes open.

The recent four part BBC adaptation of Howards End is on Youtube, screenplay by Manchester by the Sea's Kenneth Lonergan. In many ways it's better than the Merchant-Ivory version, particularly with Leonard and Jacky Bast, much stronger characters here than in the film, and Helen and Tibby are more well-rounded here too, though I think it goes too far in trying to romanticise the Wilcoxes, toning down their darkness to make the relationship more palatable. There's a powerful section in the novel involving a cat which they miss out altogether. Btw, don't let the first 15 minutes put you off - Tracey Ullmann is too panto-ish, I think, but she's mostly absent from the rest of it, and the music beds in more.

That is surely the very first time anyone has ever accused our Tibidabo of being well-rounded!

Part 2 first preview, announced at 3 hours 45 minutes with two intervals.

Compelling so far!

Finished bang on 11pm.

Different to part 1, with a different character focus and without the writing theme. More compelling I think, didn’t want it to end. Similar staging to part 1.

A few twists along the way, one I thought was telegraphed but it got about two minutes of delayed “oohs” as the penny dropped with different members of the audience.

Ending, not as emotional as part 1 but a good close to wrap everything up.

No nudity (just getting that out of the way). There is a party scene with tight swimming trunks involved.

Vanessa Redgrave doesn’t appear until act 3, with one scene and a reappearance for the finale. She commands the stage and did very well for a first preview.

A few funny in jokes and self references, including one joke about first previews which got extended laughter (may not be as funny tomorrow). Not quite as word perfect as part 1, but that’s to be expected. And one prop malfunction turned into a joke when a champagne bottle didn’t pop. I think this is a play where they have to fine tune the jokes when they work out what references a UK audience understands.

Probably more thoughts tomorrow. I think this would be hard going with two shows in one day as it packs quite an emotional punch at different points, so best to split over two nights if you can.

Well, it has horrible posters. Every time I see them, I think they’re nothing to do with the character driven show.

Don’t know if it selling badly? There were apparently returns available tonight, but they might be people who missed part one due to the snow. Seemed pretty full tonight.

Maybe don't market it as (sic) "the play of the generation". Wait for others to name it rather than write your own review. Strange marketing dept at the young vic.