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Post by intoanewlife on Mar 11, 2020 12:46:39 GMT
Saw this last night and feel very mixed. There's an earlier comment that said it had a slight tone of Twin Peaks. And I agree. At its best was when it really took the absurdist elements and played with them... Sadly it descended often into very earnest, philosophical speeches which are something I generally enjoy but it just all jarred with the silliness of the plot and just felt unnecessary. I have to confess I wasn't as crazy about the performances of Lesley and Hugo as everyone else..they were fine and certainly not bad performances but they won't ring in my ears. I thought the actor playing the head teacher on t really did connect with the audience and gave a really beautiful performance. All in all its a solid 3/5 for me. I'm glad I went (although I literally go and see everything at the National!) But it definitely wasn't a memorable production. Oh and for all the criticism of Kushner - I generally love his stuff but I couldn't really see his mark on this production.Really? |
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Post by Dave B on Mar 13, 2020 9:54:04 GMT
I thought the actor playing the head teacher on t really did connect with the audience and gave a really beautiful performance. I really liked Hugo Weaving, I was less taken with Lesley Manville but I very much agree with you about Sara Kestelman as "The Teacher", I thought she gave the best performance of the evening. We did enjoy it. It didn't feel as long as it was but it also seemed clear there was no need for that length. Cutting the bit about the newspapers and the TV camera's at the end would have taken absolutely nothing away. On a side note, the theatre was at least 1/3 empty including a number of good seats (and good & cheap seats). When we booked, we had two seperate seats (1 row a, 1 row c) as it was the best availability at the time. Lots available now. A quick look for tonight shows a number of front 3 row seats for £20 still available. |
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Post by perfectspy on Mar 13, 2020 10:37:31 GMT
I saw this play on Wednesday night and enjoyed an upgrade. A very long play and could have cut some of the last act back. I enjoyed the play, and my view from the circle seats allowed a great view of the impressive stage.
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Post by david on Mar 15, 2020 13:41:47 GMT
I was at last nights performance. Thoroughly enjoyed the play, though as others have noted and which I agree with, Act 3 I think could have done with a bit of cutting (the introduction of the media at the end for me didn’t really add anything to the narrative and certainly wouldn’t have been missed if it had been cut.
Performance wise, I absolutely loved Lesley Manville and Hugo Weaving. Sarah Kestelman as the school Principal was a joy to watch and particularly in the shop scene in Act 3 where she totally stole that scene.
I thought the staging was well done and made full use of the Olivier’s stage. As a big fan of the drum revolve, it was great to see it in use in this production. Also, I thought the use the live music from the band of 5 rather than using pre recorded tracks was very effective.
Having a look at the number of people at last performance, there was plenty of empty seats in both the stalls and circle. Picking up my ticket last night, the box office staff where upgrading quite a few people from what I could overhear.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2020 22:40:22 GMT
Cancelled until 4th May
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Post by craig on Mar 17, 2020 0:22:54 GMT
Gutted as I drove into London tonight for this and it was cancelled by the time I arrived at The Nash.
Understandable though. Gutting that I could only drown my sorrows in a small glass of Sauvignon as I knew I had to drive home later in the evening.
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