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Post by showgirl on Mar 31, 2019 5:58:07 GMT
No room in the title bar to say more about where and when you can see this but I caught the final matinee of the run at Birmingham Rep yesterday and it's definitely visiting Northampton, Richmond and possibly other venues soon, so here's an idea of the subject:
"It's Paris, 1895. Edmond (Freddie Fox) is a struggling playwright with writer's block. His last play was a flop. He's down on his luck. Until he helps his best friend Leo woo a girl called Jeanne by writing romantic letters to her as if from him...and has a brilliant idea for the plot of his brand new play, Cyrano de Bergerac. With the help of a celebrated actor called Coquelin (Henry Goodman), a theatrical legend called Sarah (Josie Lawrence), and a faded star called Maria (Chizzy Akudolu), Edmond starts writing again. But will he finish his masterpiece? Will the play be a hit? And will Jeanne ever discover that Leo's love letters were really written by Edmond?"
It needs someone more skilled than I to write a proper review but I was keen to see it as it's "the triumphant hit comedy that took France by storm and now makes its English-language premiere" and it was certainly entertaining - great cast and I do like plays about plays and play-writing.
Alexis Michalik seems to be trending here, as Twitter would say, since this week another of his plays, Intra Muros, also has its UK premiere at the Park Theatre and I'm seeing it soon. I expect others here did see this in Birmingham so do please post your more erudite and literate comments.
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 31, 2019 9:33:23 GMT
I was just about to start a thread! I saw this on Friday at the Rep, wasn't terribly full but the subject matter is not instantly appealing.
It's touring to Richmond as well, as I've just noticed that in an email.
I think Freddie Fox was the draw for a lot of people, although Henry Goodman is really the highlight.
It's a 2 hour 45 minute play, which didn't drag. Only lightly a comedy (or, at least, I didn't find it particularly funny). Unusually, one of those that gets better in the second half. All pretty easy to follow.
As best I can tell, a lot of the plot deliberately parallels Cyrano de Bergerac, which is a play that I don't know very well. You don't need to know it, but I'm sure it will add an extra layer if you do.
Worth seeing on tour anyway. I'm sure there will be ticket offers at most venues.
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Post by showgirl on Mar 31, 2019 10:40:10 GMT
There, if only I'd waited, I could have added to your thread, Dr Tom ! As you say, I expect Freddie Fox will be the attraction for some but Henry Goodman was indeed the highlight - though Josie Lawrence would also seem more prominent if her part allowed and there were other cast members who impressed me but whose names I don't know. The play-within-a-play or play-about-a-play theme isn't new or innovative here so I'm sure it can't be in France, either - thinking of so many examples such as Noises Off, the current Rough Crossing and so on - but it appeals to me and allows the writer twice the opportunity and I liked what Alexis Michalik did, especially the role played by Feydeau and the references to his work and comparisons with that of De Bergerac's. As you also say, you don't need to be familiar with Cyrano de Bergerac, of which I know little. I did find it quite funny and though the running time was advertised as 2 hours 45 (which was alarming, given how tight it made timing for my train back), it actually ran at little over 2 hours 30 yesterday and certainly didn't outstay its welcome for me. I'd also recommend to others here. Reviews from Birmingham have been mixed: I've seen 2-star, 3-star and 4-star vercicts, but for me it's at least a 3-star play/production and enjoyable and entertaining if not ground-breaking. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2019 11:19:15 GMT
For those interested in historical performance there’s an amazing document of Coquelin’s performance, filmed in 1900 with colourisation and synchronised sound!
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Post by Dawnstar on Mar 31, 2019 18:08:09 GMT
No room in the title bar to say more about where and when you can see this but I caught the final matinee of the run at Birmingham Rep yesterday and it's definitely visiting Northampton, Richmond and possibly other venues soon Also coming to Cambridge, 3rd week of April. I'm intending to see it. |
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Post by lynette on Mar 31, 2019 22:24:47 GMT
Sounds promising. Good cast and Mr Goodman not known to put his efforts into a dud.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Mar 31, 2019 22:30:23 GMT
I know nothing of the author - other than a google image search revealing that he is mighty fine...  |
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Post by lou105 on Apr 4, 2019 7:23:02 GMT
Caught this last night. Definitely not a cheaply done tour, with an amazing cast and a great set. Not a genre I would necessarily go for, and for me the second half could have been trimmed a bit, but maybe that was midweek fatigue. It was a joy to see Freddie Fox and Henry Goodman together, and Mischief fans will be happy to know that Harry Kershaw is another highlight. Sadly it hasn't sold too well, so if it comes near you, maybe give it a go.
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Post by harlow on Apr 4, 2019 8:38:25 GMT
Just saw a promotion on Band A tickets for the Richmond run for £20 with code RCEDB. Of course you still pay fees so it’s about £26 but just booked. Hope that helps anyone thinking about going!
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Post by showgirl on Apr 5, 2019 3:21:02 GMT
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Post by talkingheads on Apr 6, 2019 10:18:03 GMT
Glad I read that, love Josie Lawrence but if she's given nothing to do I shan't bother.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2019 17:07:29 GMT
Glad I read that, love Josie Lawrence but if she's given nothing to do I shan't bother. She has a couple of main scenes, but she plays a number of characters. I thought this was a good play, lots of energy from the cast, worth seeing if it's near you. |
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Post by Dawnstar on Apr 13, 2019 19:46:57 GMT
Just saw a promotion on Band A tickets for the Richmond run for £20 with code RCEDB. Of course you still pay fees so it’s about £26 but just booked. Hope that helps anyone thinking about going! You're lucky to have had discounts. It's at my local theatre from Tuesday. There are shedloads of seats available & the circle has been closed for all performances yet still there are no discounts. I want to see it but the stalls as far back as row P are all £45 and only the very back row, V, from where I won't be able to see the facial expressions, is £25. Frustrating. |
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Post by theatreliker on Apr 14, 2019 16:49:43 GMT
Saw this in Birmingham and quite enjoyed it. Lawrence has a fairly thankless role, yes. And I quite liked the whole ramshackle quality of it which, I assumed, was part of it... actors tripping up and props flying everywhere. No?
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Post by NeilVHughes on Apr 19, 2019 8:51:55 GMT
Received a Promo Code for Richmond: NOSE10
Had difficulty applying the code when selecting my own seat, when I requested select best seat was able to get a second row stalls for £15 all in.
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Post by showgirl on Apr 19, 2019 14:13:51 GMT
It's astonishing - and frustrating - how prices for the same production vary so wildly from one venue to another, though very occasionally we hear of the producers exerting an influence. I felt for you, Dawnstar, and nearly asked if it was worth you travelling to see this, regardless of the extra cost. The deal NeilVHughes has posted for Richmond brings the price down to what I paid to see this in Birmingham - though there were, I think, dearer seats. Even adding a one-day Travelcard and 2 advance singles to and from Birmingham made it an affordable trip for me; it was only the extra travelling time I regretted as it meant no film first. It would be interesting to compare prices for other tours. |
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Post by Dawnstar on Apr 19, 2019 16:35:09 GMT
I'd going this evening. I haven't bothered booking, as with 2 hours to it starting there's still about half the stalls unsold (& the circle still closed). I'm going to try asking the box office if they will discount but I think it's highly unlikely. showgirl Richmond doesn't work with my theatregoing schedule as that weekend I'm only in London on the Friday evening. |
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Post by Dawnstar on Apr 19, 2019 23:06:43 GMT
(Apologies for the double post.) I went to the box office 25 mins before the start & still no discounts, so I bought a £25 ticket for the back row of the stalls. As expected, just before it started the ushers said thos of us at the back could move forward to row L. Even with the circle closed & the back half of the stalls moved forward there were still plenty of empty seats in the front half. I'm baffled by their sales policy.
I enjoyed the piece. While I've not seen Cyrano de Bergerac as a play I have seen an operatic version & I think having some knowledge of it definitely helped for this piece. I thought Freddie Fox was brilliant in the title role & it was interesting to see him doing a character role rather than a juvenile lead. Amidst the ensemble I enjoyed seeing Harry Kershaw & Nick Cavaliere, both of whom I've seen in other things, in a number of different roles apice. I particularly enjoyed Harry's seduction by Josie Lawrence!
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Post by drowseychap on Apr 22, 2019 2:19:38 GMT
I caught this in Birmingham had wanted to go and love Josie and always wanted to see Freddie fox too .... but tickets prices were quite high ... finally saw travel zoo offer with 40% off paid around £17 ..... was amazed on the night and not seen it before but half of the auditorium was curtained off which didn’t fill me with much hope .....
So well it had a great set ... Freddie Fox is great in the role such stage presence .... Henry goodman what a star .... both were quality throughout . Josie I felt was wasted in her few small roles .... some great supporting cast and some funny moments but felt the whole piece was 20mins too long ... enjoyed it but felt the cast were better than the piece
And now Chizzy 😱 I felt like she was booked because of strictly .... never seen her before but thought she was very average. Just shouted her lines and her diction was dreadful... grated on me after a while was really shown up by the ability of the rest of the cast I felt.
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