Post by jojo on Dec 16, 2019 13:16:50 GMT
I saw this last month. I recall a few people saying that it was a bit 'luvvie', but my friend was keen to see it and I'm pleased I went. After my eyes initially watering at the price, I now realise that he's using the tour to raise funds for some worthwhile acting charities, and was in the foyer waving a bucket about as I left.
My main impression was of how much energy he had, although as theatremonkey points out, it was all a bit 'being Ian McKellen', and part of my brain was being cynical, and the other part was being cynical of that part of my brain, because being a performer is his job!
I thought he handled all of the Lord of the Rings stuff well. He gave enough detail to delight those fans, but also made a bit of a running joke of the fans who delighted in telling him that they read the books every year, which is a joke which can appeal both to hardcore LOTR fans and those who think those fans are a bit weird!
I especially enjoyed his stories of growing up and early career. The name dropping became a bit much. Not because he dropped so many, but because my particular audience gasped every time he mentioned anyone a bit famous as if it were a particularly impressive firework. You'd think they'd forgotten that Sir Ian is pretty famous and of course he's well connected and knows other acting royalty. I'm still not sure whether or not people were being ironic with their cooing, because it was getting silly, yet they seemed so earnest.
The Shakespeare section was mainly very interesting, and allowed for some good anecdotes. I liked the shorter quotes/monologues and especially enjoyed his Romeo and Juliet, but towards the end he snuck in a couple of longer monologues, which (and I am revealing my lack of culture here) went on a bit too long for me for that particular evening for that type of show. It was all very impressive, but felt out of place without the context of the rest of the play, and it was that time of night when my mind was wondering about how to make it to the toilets before the queues got too big.
Overall we all very much enjoyed it and hope we have half as much energy when we're his age. To be honest, I'd take it now.
My main impression was of how much energy he had, although as theatremonkey points out, it was all a bit 'being Ian McKellen', and part of my brain was being cynical, and the other part was being cynical of that part of my brain, because being a performer is his job!
I thought he handled all of the Lord of the Rings stuff well. He gave enough detail to delight those fans, but also made a bit of a running joke of the fans who delighted in telling him that they read the books every year, which is a joke which can appeal both to hardcore LOTR fans and those who think those fans are a bit weird!
I especially enjoyed his stories of growing up and early career. The name dropping became a bit much. Not because he dropped so many, but because my particular audience gasped every time he mentioned anyone a bit famous as if it were a particularly impressive firework. You'd think they'd forgotten that Sir Ian is pretty famous and of course he's well connected and knows other acting royalty. I'm still not sure whether or not people were being ironic with their cooing, because it was getting silly, yet they seemed so earnest.
The Shakespeare section was mainly very interesting, and allowed for some good anecdotes. I liked the shorter quotes/monologues and especially enjoyed his Romeo and Juliet, but towards the end he snuck in a couple of longer monologues, which (and I am revealing my lack of culture here) went on a bit too long for me for that particular evening for that type of show. It was all very impressive, but felt out of place without the context of the rest of the play, and it was that time of night when my mind was wondering about how to make it to the toilets before the queues got too big.
Overall we all very much enjoyed it and hope we have half as much energy when we're his age. To be honest, I'd take it now.
