158 posts
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Post by broadwaylover99 on Sept 20, 2018 22:36:47 GMT
I'm ever so slightly worried. I've booked a seat on the front row on the £15 deal thinking I'd be fine as I'm under 30 but you lot seem to think you have to be everything that's listed. Will I be okay? If anyone has been, are they strictly checking ID?
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Post by ladyofshalott77 on Sept 21, 2018 0:11:07 GMT
I got a 15 pound ticket for row A for Part II on Monday directly from the box office after Part I today and no restriction whatsoever. I'm ever so slightly worried. I've booked a seat on the front row on the £15 deal thinking I'd be fine as I'm under 30 but you lot seem to think you have to be everything that's listed. Will I be okay? If anyone has been, are they strictly checking ID? |
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Post by mallardo on Sept 21, 2018 6:53:16 GMT
Pinter One is definitely a grim theatrical experience with Pinter at his most political, sparing us nothing. One For The Road, which I had seen at the Young Vic a few years ago in a very different production, is difficult to watch - an Interrogator (a wonderfully evil Antony Sher) tormenting three family members in successive one-on-one scenes. Yet the piece has gut-wrenching power. One feels that it's one of those plays that needed to be written and kudos to Pinter for being the one who cared enough to take it on.
Ashes To Ashes, in the second half, is the prize of the group. It's also an interrogation play of sorts but, this time, between a husband and wife (or are they?) searching for an indecipherable truth somewhere in a past that seems part real and part fantasy. Both Papaa Essiedu and Kate O'Flynn are amazing, especially O'Flynn, devastating as the besieged wife struggling to interpret her life in the wake of what seems to be the loss of her child.
This is the Pinter we know - elusive and oblique, drawing us in to a situation we understand only in fragments yet, as the fragments accumulate, finding a profound and, in this case, shattering truth.
If the mosaic of playlets in the first half of this "collection" demand audience stamina, the second half is the reward.
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Post by RedRose on Sept 21, 2018 9:31:02 GMT
Not sure if I walked past Steve this afternoon. Anyway, I saw Mountain etc. I think they over-did it a bit, adding so many short plays - I wanted to digest each a little. Still, writing up (should be online tomorrow) I got the whole micro to national to genocide theme pretty quick. Anyhow, the performances are outstanding, much of the work is interesting and those in N7, if they keep the stage the same for the whole run have got a total bargain as the pillar lines up with the edge of the playing area. Fingers crossed then, have booked that for most of the run. |
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Post by Kenneth_C on Sept 21, 2018 15:46:20 GMT
I caught Pinter 2 last weekend. Though I was unfamiliar with either play, I thought it was one of the best things I saw during my London vacation. The 2-play structure worked brilliantly, with the cotton-candy-colored "The Lover" serving as the appetizer to "The Collection". Terrific performances all around. It was a truly delightful evening at the theatre. At the Stage Door after: There were 20-25 people waiting. David Suchet came out first to either sign or take photos (not both, per staff instructions). John Macmillan and Hayley Squires left together, but did not stop for any interaction at all. (I suspect they thought no one was interested in them, but I would have happily asked them to sign.) Last, but not least, was Russell Tovey -- who was apparently having a blast and spent a good 20 minutes or so with us. Once again, staff had instructed us that he would only pose or sign, not both. However, I was one of the first people to have a picture taken and, when he saw the programme in my hand, he asked if I wanted it signed. I told him that staff had told us it was either one or the other; he just rolled his eyes, took the programme out of my hand and proceeded to sign it.  |
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Post by Steve on Sept 22, 2018 12:41:23 GMT
Not sure if I walked past Steve this afternoon. Yes you did, clever Monkey, and given the torture theme of the show, I'm surprised you didn't treat me to a conversation. Just joking, sorry I missed you. I'm with Mallardo on the Pinter One show being a "grim" affair in terms of content, and if you are a light-hearted theatregoer looking for a good time, and only have time for one of the first two Pinter shows, I urge you to see the delightful comedic "Pinter Two" combo. That said, the Lia Williams directed "Ashes to Ashes," that closes the show is a gem, with a Kate O'Flynn tour de force bonkers performance. The Jamie Lloyd directed pieces in the first half, clustering one vignette after another featuring banal gleeful torturers were oppressive for me, and I felt like escaping, until Antony Sher showed up. Prior to his arrival, I felt "what's the point?" You see, in my mind, part of the genius of Pinter is that he depicts everyday people as being one step away from being power crazy torturers. In so doing, he bridges the gap between cultured people and holocaust, and shows how within one, you can get the other. Therefore, for me, I don't need Pinter plays about actual torturers. It seems unnecessarily on the nose, since in Pinter, everyone is a "torturer" anyway. Some spoilers follow. . . However, in "One for the Road," I did feel that Antony Sher brought something special to the role of torturer. His avuncular little man persona, and appealing sing-song staccato voice, is particularly chilling in phrasing sly Pinterisms involving charged boasts about his little finger, and repeated banal references to having a "one for the road" drink. Memorable. The play of the afternoon, for me, was "Ashes to Ashes," in which Pinter places a remove, between himself and torturers. In this play, Kate O'Flynn's character admits that nothing much has happened to her, but appears to fantasise long and hard about the Holocaust, reaching a mesmeric fever pitch of excitement, bordering on sexual, with regard to dead baby "bundles," visions of torture and death, and a cruel ex-lover. Maybe she lost a baby, maybe her family was in the camps, maybe she's just a well-read masochist, but for whatever reason, her mind is lost in Auschwitz, and O'Flynn is so lost in performance that she is like a hallucination. As O'Flynn's partner, Paapa Essiedu effectively depicts a man at once apart from, as well as sorely tempted to participate in, O'Flynn's fantasy world. 3 and a half stars: One for the Road 4 stars: Ashes to Ashes. |
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Post by andrew on Sept 22, 2018 13:27:29 GMT
Currently standing in the box office collection queue for Pinter 2, I’m estimating that it’s at least 200 people long, I’ve never seen a queue like it. I’m still only standing by the stage door at what’s presumably ‘places’ inside.
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Post by learfan on Sept 22, 2018 17:39:22 GMT
Going to one and two Friday and Saturday, cant wait. I've booked for all the others so have further double headers in November and January before finishing with Dumb Waiter in February. Anyone know who is playing the lead in Moonlight? Wondered if was going to be Sher.
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1,255 posts
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Post by theatrelover123 on Sept 22, 2018 18:20:18 GMT
Currently standing in the box office collection queue for Pinter 2, I’m estimating that it’s at least 200 people long, I’ve never seen a queue like it. I’m still only standing by the stage door at what’s presumably ‘places’ inside. I think maybe it’s because both shows are being comped/papered lots at the moment and so more people are picking up tickets. |
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1,057 posts
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Post by David J on Sept 22, 2018 21:07:54 GMT
Going to one and two Friday and Saturday, cant wait. I’m seeing both next Saturday as well. Where are you sitting for no 2? I’m going to be in the front row |
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Post by learfan on Sept 22, 2018 23:04:56 GMT
Dress Circle E, matinee. Pinter one Friday night.
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Post by crowblack on Sept 24, 2018 12:35:12 GMT
Well, I tried, but god his politics are crude, teenage binary stuff.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2018 8:39:55 GMT
Hoorah! The Heff is joining 'Pinter at the Pinter'. He'll be outshining Danny Dyer and Martin Freeman in 'A Slight Ache/The Dumb Waiter'. And wait, . . . . . . there's more. Other people . . . . are . . . . . also in . . . . . it. Dyer Straits |
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Post by crowblack on Sept 26, 2018 9:28:22 GMT
The Heff is joining 'Pinter at the Pinter'. Darn, wasn't going to bother with the rest of the season but might for that. |
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Post by Jan on Sept 26, 2018 21:02:29 GMT
I saw Pinter 2 on a £20 TodayTix Rush deal, very good front stalls seats. The Lover is really thin, just a sketch, interesting because it prefigures some later plays but weak as a stand-alone piece. The Collection is very good, a much stronger play with an amusingly camp turn by David Suchet. Jamie Lloyd is not to my liking as a director though, too cartoonish, a bit like Richard Jones.
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Post by Jan on Sept 27, 2018 8:35:55 GMT
Hoorah! The Heff is joining 'Pinter at the Pinter'. He'll be outshining Danny Dyer and Martin Freeman in 'A Slight Ache/The Dumb Waiter'. And wait, . . . . . . there's more. Other people . . . . are . . . . . also in . . . . . it. Dyer StraitsSo how is the casting for that organised ? The Dumb Waiter is a two-hander (2 men) and A Slight Ache is a two-hander ( 1 man 1 woman) plus a silent character. Dyer would obviously be in The Dumb Waiter, not sure about the other two. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2018 10:40:12 GMT
Hoorah! The Heff is joining 'Pinter at the Pinter'. He'll be outshining Danny Dyer and Martin Freeman in 'A Slight Ache/The Dumb Waiter'. And wait, . . . . . . there's more. Other people . . . . are . . . . . also in . . . . . it. Dyer StraitsSo how is the casting for that organised ? The Dumb Waiter is a two-hander (2 men) and A Slight Ache is a two-hander ( 1 man 1 woman) plus a silent character. Dyer would obviously be in The Dumb Waiter, not sure about the other two. No idea. Perhaps Danny Dyer and Martin Freeman are in 'The Dumb Waiter' and The Heff and a yet-to-be-announced actress in 'A Slight Ache'? |
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Post by Jan on Sept 27, 2018 11:43:21 GMT
So how is the casting for that organised ? The Dumb Waiter is a two-hander (2 men) and A Slight Ache is a two-hander ( 1 man 1 woman) plus a silent character. Dyer would obviously be in The Dumb Waiter, not sure about the other two. No idea. Perhaps Danny Dyer and Martin Freeman are in 'The Dumb Waiter' and The Heff and a yet-to-be-announced actress in 'A Slight Ache'? Heffernan and Freeman could play either of the available parts (I have seen both plays before). Personally I’d prefer to see Heffernan in both and Freeman in neither. The part in The Dumb Waiter is much superior to the one in A Slight Ache. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2018 11:46:40 GMT
No idea. Perhaps Danny Dyer and Martin Freeman are in 'The Dumb Waiter' and The Heff and a yet-to-be-announced actress in 'A Slight Ache'? Heffernan and Freeman could play either of the available parts (I have seen both plays before). Personally I’d prefer to see Heffernan in both and Freeman in neither. The part in The Dumb Waiter is much superior to the one in A Slight Ache. I guess Martin Freeman might get first choice on the better part because he's the bigger 'name' than The Heff. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2018 11:47:40 GMT
I'm going to predict Dyer and Heff in Dumb Waiter, and Freeman and unannounced actress as the couple in Slight Ache with Heff as Matchseller.
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Post by Jan on Sept 27, 2018 12:40:26 GMT
I'm going to predict Dyer and Heff in Dumb Waiter, and Freeman and unannounced actress as the couple in Slight Ache with Heff as Matchseller. I fear it will be Freeman in Dumb Waiter - I mean he’s suitable for the part but I just don’t like him. Lee Evans played it once, that’s what you need, someone who can project insecurity. |
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Post by dani on Sept 28, 2018 11:47:30 GMT
I'm going to predict Dyer and Heff in Dumb Waiter, and Freeman and unannounced actress as the couple in Slight Ache with Heff as Matchseller. I fear it will be Freeman in Dumb Waiter - I mean he’s suitable for the part but I just don’t like him. Lee Evans played it once, that’s what you need, someone who can project insecurity. I'd say Martin Freeman can project insecurity. Unlike Lee Evans, he can also act. |
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Post by mallardo on Sept 28, 2018 11:56:06 GMT
Lee Evans can certainly act. I saw him in The Dumb Waiter (with Jason Isaacs) and he was terrific - quite perfect for the part.
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Post by Jan on Sept 28, 2018 11:56:25 GMT
I fear it will be Freeman in Dumb Waiter - I mean he’s suitable for the part but I just don’t like him. Lee Evans played it once, that’s what you need, someone who can project insecurity. I'd say Martin Freeman can project insecurity. Unlike Lee Evans, he can also act. Yes I said Freeman was suitable. Did you see Evans in this previously ? It seems he is appearing in this season too, but with a monologue I think (?). Freeman can act but only versions of the same part. He was poor in R-III for example. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 28, 2018 12:57:47 GMT
The whole shebang had a launch this week. All the names were there. Although it didn't look like Cher turned up. Nice to see Jamie Lloyd turning up as Bet Gilroy. Although I don't think anyone else got the "fancy dress" memo.  Other people were there . . . . . . . too . . . . |
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