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Post by David J on Mar 2, 2020 12:50:20 GMT
Felt this production was good but it was the lesser of the three I've seen (the Roger Allam and Roger Icke productions being the other two)
What elevates this production is Toby Jones. A true natural actor he is. Not only funny but he is spontaneous in his acting bringing pathos to the role. Never felt rehearsed. An example of how you can elevate above the perception of Chekhov's plays being dreary and full of characters who do nothing to improve their situation.
The problem is the rest of the cast doesn't rise up to the occasion. I can't blame those that don't like Chekhov and weren't converted by this production because it plays safe and it tells when Toby Jones is off. His spontaneous acting really contrasts with the rest.
Not that the acting isn't bad. Though I feel I need a lottery card for the hand gestures Peter Wight constitutes for acting in every performance of his. From the hand on forehead 'you're giving me a headache' to the hand on mouth 'im about to make a point' gestures.
The women are the next best thing in the quieter moments. Aimee Lou Wood's yearning for Richard Armitage's attention as Sonya is touching. So is the scene between her and Rosalind Eleazar as Yelena trying to consolidate with each other. I only suggest Aimee Lou Wood slow down in her line delivery at times. I also liked Anna Calder as Nana
But the issue is best exemplified by the meeting scene in the second act. The Professor is pretty much the catalyst of the play, who is the reason the characters are in the position they are. The other times I've seen the play that scene was pretty tense. Here Cirian Hinds plays on a surface level, showing the Professor's sense of self-importance but barely working off the others. It's pretty much Toby Jones who is carrying the scene
Richard Armitage was fine as Astrov but does act out the 'woe is me' moments he has, shouting out with that brooding accent of his.
The set was beautiful to look at with some lovely lighting with the candles.
A shame because I really liked Ian Hickson's Rosmersholm last year with such beautiful performances from Hayley Atwell and Tom Burke. But it does feel like he focussed more on Toby Jones than the rest of the cast.
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330 posts
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Post by RedRose on Mar 2, 2020 13:43:55 GMT
Felt this production was good but it was the lesser of the three I've seen (the Roger Allam and Roger Icke productions being the other two)
A shame because I really liked Ian Hickson's Rosmersholm last year with such beautiful performances from Hayley Atwell and Tom Burke. But it does feel like he focussed more on Toby Jones than the rest of the cast.
Really? I like this much more than the other two you mentioned as in my opinion this has the best ensemble of any Uncle Vanya productions I have ever seen - this is my sixth - although as a total production The Print Room version with Iain Glen as Vanya and William Houston as Astrov is still my favourite. I cannot remember that much of the other two you have mentioned only that Roger Allam and Tobias Menzies were really good and Alexander Hanson as Astrov was incredibly boring.
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Post by Jan on Mar 3, 2020 7:29:33 GMT
Felt this production was good but it was the lesser of the three I've seen (the Roger Allam and Roger Icke productions being the other two)
A shame because I really liked Ian Hickson's Rosmersholm last year with such beautiful performances from Hayley Atwell and Tom Burke. But it does feel like he focussed more on Toby Jones than the rest of the cast.
Really? I like this much more than the other two you mentioned as in my opinion this has the best ensemble of any Uncle Vanya productions I have ever seen - this is my sixth - although as a total production The Print Room version with Iain Glen as Vanya and William Houston as Astrov is still my favourite. I cannot remember that much of the other two you have mentioned only that Roger Allam and Tobias Menzies were really good and Alexander Hanson as Astrov was incredibly boring. I saw this with a really good stalls seat from TodayTix Rush, only £20. I have seen 9 productions of this play, Chekhov's greatest in my view. I mostly agree with David J., Anna Calder-Marshall is really excellent, but apart from that it's a one-man show, but fortunately that one man, Toby Jones, is so good it is still a worthwhile evening. Elsewhere the casting is mostly functional but no more. Astrov is a really difficult part to cast (and play) and it just didn't work here for me, I think about the best I've seen was William Houston in that Print Room production, the worst the dread Sher in the NT McKellen one. I thought the Professor was weak too, lacking in depth and interpretation. But, I liked the version by Conor McPherson and it has a nice set and lighting and it's is a perfectly decent "traditional" production. For those already familiar with the play the Robert Icke production was really revelatory. I also recommend the film "Vanya on 42nd Street" which is an excellent version.
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3,068 posts
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Post by Rory on Apr 3, 2020 10:06:10 GMT
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Xanderl
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Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on May 2, 2020 11:07:47 GMT
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1,187 posts
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Post by theatrelover123 on Sept 4, 2020 14:22:46 GMT
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3,068 posts
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Post by Rory on Sept 5, 2020 12:14:04 GMT
This is obviously very welcome news. I note Roger Allam has taken on the role of Serebryakov as Ciarán Hinds was unavailable.
Just a pity that they won't be resuming performances next year.
I wonder if SFP are planning something similar for Leopoldstadt. I am still hoping that it will resume next year and that I'll still get to see it live.
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Post by Jan on Sept 5, 2020 14:04:06 GMT
This is obviously very welcome news. I note Roger Allam has taken on the role of Serebryakov as Ciarán Hinds was unavailable. Just a pity that they won't be resuming performances next year. I wonder if SFP are planning something similar for Leopoldstadt. I am still hoping that it will resume next year and that I'll still get to see it live. Allam is an upgrade.
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5,585 posts
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Post by lynette on Sept 6, 2020 12:40:01 GMT
Excellent. Leopoldstadt was going to New York so maybe they have first dibs on some kind of filmed show. I hope it does get recorded properly as it is a flawed but important production. ( ps agree Allam is an upgrade )
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Post by Jan on Sept 6, 2020 20:46:47 GMT
Excellent. Leopoldstadt was going to New York so maybe they have first dibs on some kind of filmed show. I hope it does get recorded properly as it is a flawed but important production. ( ps agree Allam is an upgrade ) That part in Vanya - The Professor - is rarely done well, too often we get a two-dimensional old ogre (as in this production) when the character in the text is far more ambiguous. I remember in the Katie Mitchell production he was played as if he was just a prissy local headmaster - it was funny and insightful - I think Allam could also play him in an interesting way. I’d like to see him played as simply a successful version of Vanya himself - that fits with the way the other characters see him, and Vanya.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2020 22:39:24 GMT
What welcome news. This was one of the last things I saw before lockdown. It will be bittersweet to see it again.
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306 posts
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Post by MrBraithwaite on Sept 7, 2020 9:09:08 GMT
Was supposed to see this in March, great to hear it will be filmed...and with Allam. Also hoping for some recording of Leopoldstadt.
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1,244 posts
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Post by londonmzfitz on Sept 7, 2020 15:39:36 GMT
I had my buddy from Nebraska coming to the UK specifically for this in April (Richard Armitage fan), she was seeing multiple performances over the 10 days she was due to be here, I was booked for one. I cannot begin to tell you how heartbroken she was that her trip to London was cancelled because of Covid (we were going to Wiltons for Pinafore and some other stuff too). She got ticket refunds but held her flight to come over in 2021 - then lost her job a few weeks ago, after 16 years with the company (Grand Island Independent Newspaper, she handled their social media and got lots of tweets aimed and missing for the UK Independent newspaper. She probably knows more about Brexit than I do). Her Mom worked there decades ago, her daughter works there too. I told her they had filmed and would be screening - I cannot tell you guys how much that meant to her. Might not be in the room but at least, very least, she gets to see it (*hopefully* - if it's available in the US).
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4,960 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Nov 24, 2020 17:19:40 GMT
We already knew that the filmed version was going to be shown on the BBC at some point, but it was announced today that it will be part of the Christmas lineup on BBC4. Exact details TBA.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2020 10:40:12 GMT
I believe it’s on on the 30th December. Possibly 31st. I checked the other day and have not fully committed to memory. I assume it’s on iPlayer after.
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1,244 posts
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Post by londonmzfitz on Dec 19, 2020 11:57:13 GMT
YES! Just checked the TV listings, on Wednesday 30 December 2020 on BBC4 at 10pm - "Uncle Vanya - Recording of the 2020 production of Chekhov's play, starring Toby Jones".
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1,244 posts
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Post by londonmzfitz on Dec 19, 2020 12:14:57 GMT
Hey Hey! Anyone know if my Nebraskan pal can see this anyway from the US? (She's not in Nebraska anymore, the loss of job & income meant both she and her daughter have legged it to Massachusetts to be a bit nearer to her sister in Salem and are loving it!) ...
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Post by lichtie on Dec 19, 2020 15:49:07 GMT
Hey Hey! Anyone know if my Nebraskan pal can see this anyway from the US? (She's not in Nebraska anymore, the loss of job & income meant both she and her daughter have legged it to Massachusetts to be a bit nearer to her sister in Salem and are loving it!) ... Not entirely legally... But a VPN can be configured to make your computer/tablet look like it is sitting in the UK.
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5,585 posts
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Post by lynette on Dec 31, 2020 0:38:03 GMT
Beautifully filmed. Just as good as in the theatre though having seen it I think added to the enjoyment as I knew how the piece was paced etc. Roger Allam a joy and Toby Jones a revelation. I saw Anna Calder Marshall many, many moons ago when she did a season at the old B’ham Rep playing the heroines. So young...so talented...as was she of course.
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Post by londonpostie on Dec 31, 2020 1:45:00 GMT
It was all a bit Tier 4
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3,074 posts
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Post by david on Jan 1, 2021 14:13:11 GMT
I gave this a watch is morning and totally agree with lynette's comments. I never got the chance to see this live but the filmed production was a fantastic watch. A beautifully crafted piece of theatre with a stunning set and great cast who kept me thoroughly entertained.
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Post by londonpostie on Jan 1, 2021 14:29:22 GMT
What did people think of Aimee Lou Wood (Sonya)? Only previous professional experience was in Netflix's Sex Education.
Some big judgement calls in that decision I'd imagine (in also wanting to appeal to the young Netflix crowd). Heck of a West End debut, I thought.
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1,846 posts
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Post by NeilVHughes on Jan 1, 2021 14:38:50 GMT
Thought she was excellent, the missed kiss was heartbreaking.
The filmed version really bought out her performance as on the stage Toby did dominate and her nuanced performance was always in the shadows.
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Post by Forrest on Jan 1, 2021 16:23:55 GMT
I watched it last night as a way to say goodbye to 2020, and I loved it as much as I did in the theatre, with the minor difference that I actually preferred Roger Allam to the original Professor.
It's such a nuanced, gentle version with brilliant performances all around... There really isn't anything about it not to like, is there?!
I agree that Aimee Lou Wood was amazing. Her Sonya felt incredibly relatable to me, and she managed to find the perfect balance between the character's vulnerability and strength, which was just wonderful to watch. Also, Toby Jones was just perfect. There's not one thing about his performance that I would change.
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Post by londonpostie on Jan 1, 2021 18:05:03 GMT
th, I often struggle with Toby Jones and I wondered if they intentionally managed to tone him down a little As an aside, at the end of this very strange year I can now spot some things that previously would have gone unnoticed. Seemed to me, unknowingly, in Dr Astrov, Chekhov depicts a classic example of Asperger's Syndrome - about 50 years before it had a name. Anyway, tonight it's either Bleak House on the iPlayer or the Almedia's recent Hamlet on 'download'. Lets start as we mean to go on
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