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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2018 12:49:04 GMT
Caught this in a preview, and it is elevated from being good to hugely memorable courtesy of a completely wonderful performance from Sarah Niles - one of the very best I have seen in recent times. I was totally captivated by everything she did and every word she spoke; she is marvellous.
The play itself is rich, smart and full of heart, but I wasn't a huge fan of the rather basic direction and design. Some of the other performances didn't help - I don't think I've warmed to Adjoa Andoh in anything ever, maybe because her style is very "look at me doing acting" - but Wil Johnson is typically strong, and there are moments in the play that are truly delightful.
I shall say it again - because it deserves over-stating; Sarah Niles is beyond brilliant.
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Post by foxa on Jun 1, 2018 13:09:13 GMT
I'm seeing this 6th June, so happy to hear you enjoyed it. I don't know the play or Sarah Niles' work at all, so should be a splendid introduction. I liked Adjoa Andoh in Julius Caesar - a lot.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2018 13:29:18 GMT
Lots of people seem to really like Adjoa Andoh - in this, in other things - but I just find her too much. In a space like The Bush it doesn't need it - in fact it actively doesn't want it. Be interested to see what you make of her in this - and the production in general. Lovely human play.
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Post by showgirl on Jun 2, 2018 4:54:33 GMT
I held off booking until the reviews were out as though I read those for previous productions, they seemed to suggest the play itself wasn't as good as it could have been. Now, however, the reviews are very positive so I've booked a £10 pot luck seat.
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Post by foxa on Jun 7, 2018 19:30:21 GMT
I saw this last night and really liked it - hard to believe it was written 30 years ago. The space at the Bush works really well in the round and all the performances are ace. Sarah Niles, as mentioned above, is really really first class. But everyone is v. good - I was very taken with Seraphina Beh (I told someone that she reminded me of a young Al Pacino and they didn't know what I was talking about, but there is something so alive and graceful about her, but also a hint that she might explode at any minute.)
There was a fascinating Q&A afterwards. The artistic director Madani Younis explained that while the Bush's focus is on new writing, they were also looking at producing some plays by POC which deserved revisiting. They made a number of lists and 'Leave Taking' was in the top two of many people's lists. I was really taken with it - had I known about it when I was teaching I would have been very tempted to use it with my GCSE or A level students - such great roles for women. Winsome Pinnock still looks very young - she must have been an infant when she wrote this. There were some poignant moments when she talked about her younger self and what her older self thought of her and her writing.
I had a £10 slightly restricted seat - it wasn't a problem but the nice people next to me moved over a seat so I wasn't restricted at all for the second half.
V. nice enthusiastic audience - magical moment when a character was singing a Jamaican song and a small part of the audience quietly joined in.
A highly recommend from me.
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Post by foxa on Jun 19, 2018 10:37:29 GMT
I think it's done quite well booking-wise (I checked a random Thursday and there were only 5 seats available) but given the size of the space, the fantastic cast, the chance to see a rarely performed acclaimed play and the positive reviews I'm surprised it hasn't sold out.
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