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Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2017 23:07:32 GMT
Good god so much to say. The cast are fantastic, that can't be denied, especially Adam and the girl playing Regan. This play really disturbed me. It really did. Some of the special effects are chilling, and truly left audience members gasping for breath. I really found it chilling, the whole thing.
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Post by Deal J on Oct 22, 2017 10:49:36 GMT
Glad they were brave enough to get rid of the interval, I found it broke the tension significantly in Birmingham.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2017 12:47:32 GMT
What I should also say is, there is qbout a metre of legroom between front row and the stage, and the stage is really low, like chest height on me, so there was no need to look up at all.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2017 15:01:13 GMT
By the look of it from pictures of the FOH sign on social media, there's a new character 'Sharon' (played by Isla Lindsay) who wasn't in the Birmingham production. Anyone know what part the character plays in the story?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2017 15:18:36 GMT
By the look of it from pictures of the FOH sign on social media, there's a new character 'Sharon' (played by Isla Lindsay) who wasn't in the Birmingham production. Anyone know what part the character plays in the story? She was the one part of the production I had NO clue what she was doing there. I assumed she was someone who was assessing Regan, or caring for her as there is a mention of nurses and stuff, but she wears black and grey and just follows Regan when she comes down the stairs or lurks in the hallway taking notes. I don't think she even had any lines. I didn't understand her role at all really. Her name is never mentioned either and she is never referred to or brought to attention by any of the other characters, so she is literally just there. No one even looks at her. That said, they are probably working it out. It was only 3rd preview so maybe they don't know what to do with her. I'd cut that role personally, it would not take anything away. |
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Post by crabtree on Oct 22, 2017 15:29:07 GMT
maybe she is a puppeteer or working on the special effects or a body double or an ASM as well.
So are the effects good in this?
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Post by Marwood on Oct 22, 2017 15:37:29 GMT
I see the very front row of seats for this are now available (£25) - row AA which I paid £15 for, now on sale at £45 each, still quite a few seats available for next Friday night - I'm beginning to think I should have gone for the earlier show, coming out of the theatre onto the Charing Cross Road at quarter to eleven on a Friday night is filling me with dread, but more at the pissed up forces of darkness that will be out and about (and on the tubes to the train station too) more than anything on stage.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2017 15:43:56 GMT
maybe she is a puppeteer or working on the special effects or a body double or an ASM as well. So are the effects good in this? She wasn't a puppeteer, there was no reason for one, at least to my knowlage, and not in th scenes she was present as Regan didn't do anything extreme in those scenes. The special effects were impressive as hell!
{Spoiler - click to view}
The head spinning floored me! I didn't know how they did it, and even after learning since how they did it, it blew my mind just how real it looks! There is some really impressive use of projection, especially some projection thst happens with Regan that was so effective with the demons fsce projected over hers. And then the scenes with Regan being possessed and transferring into others that was really cool. There is obviously also the vomit and gore aspects. The vomit isn't that extreme, it just spurts all over a wall, but it is disturbing, and toward the end there is a part with alot of blood involving Adam's character, but its really effective. And a scene where something happens to one of the characters, its really simply done, but the shock of it had the entire audience gasping and covering their eyes. There is also a scene involving Regan, erm, masturbating and putting a bloody crucifix in herself, that is sp disturbing to watch because of all the shock sound effect and everyhting. Added with the simple effects of the bed moving and things flying around and simple lights flickering, the effects all in all really worked for me, I was pretty shocked for alot of it.
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Post by Deal J on Oct 22, 2017 18:21:09 GMT
Is Regan's possessed voice {Spoiler - click to view}still provided by Dame Ian McKellan ? |
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Post by Rory on Oct 22, 2017 18:23:30 GMT
Is Regan's possessed voice {Spoiler - click to view}still provided by Dame Ian McKellan ? Yes, and unlike Birmingham, now publicised. |
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Post by Deal J on Oct 22, 2017 18:26:34 GMT
Oh yes! I see he's on the cast list of the theatre website. I quite liked that it was a surprise when I saw it in Birmingham, although I suppose this way it stops people from whispering "Is that...?"
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2017 18:28:02 GMT
Oh yes! I see he's on the cast list of the theatre website. I quite liked that it was a surprise when I saw it in Birmingham, although I suppose this way it stops people from whispering "Is that...?" Interestingly enough though, not listed anywhere in the programme! But yes, it is definately him. |
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Post by Rory on Oct 22, 2017 20:13:04 GMT
It seems to have been a last minute decision to publicise his involvement, given that he was always going to be a part of the West End production, having been involved in the Birmingham version. If your show has an asset like Sir Ian in any capacity, you may as well tell people to boost sales.
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Post by crabtree on Oct 22, 2017 21:23:54 GMT
now I do want to see this so much......have they been allowed to use Tubular Bells?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2017 21:36:31 GMT
now I do want to see this so much......have they been allowed to use Tubular Bells? {Spoiler - click to view}
They do... twice I think, as the curtain comes down at the end and I believe when the Exorcist guy comes through the front door and down the long hallway. They make a big point of that scene, its all backlit as it is obviously the iconic picture from the film, so you just see his shadow down a long corridor. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2017 11:44:42 GMT
Hmmm... I think they just used it once, at the end.
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Post by jampot on Oct 23, 2017 12:01:46 GMT
You guys are reallly starting to make me look forward to seeing this.I go to the early showing on the 4th Nov...
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2017 22:07:52 GMT
Well. I found it all a bit hokey really and not all that scary although it's well done on the whole. There's more than a touch of the French & Saunders about it though I'm afraid. It also wasn't a good idea to use Dame Ian as the voice of the demon in my opinion. He has a delicious voice but demonic it is not. Although if you love the thought of our favourite pantomime dame using any number of expletives including the C word then you'll love it.
On the plus side, Jenny Seagrove wears the most hideous pair of pixie boots for those who love a poor fashion choice, there's some clunky scene changes to keep you amused, you get a touch of Tubular Bells right at the end as pay off for staying the whole hog and Adam Garcia looks suitably DILFy especially in his priestly attire which gave me all kinds of Thorn Birds-esque hot flushes.
Now, where did I put that crucifix?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2017 23:32:48 GMT
Oh, you and your priest attire fetish... 😁
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Post by theatrefan77 on Oct 23, 2017 23:53:56 GMT
Well, this was diabolical and not in a good way... I didn't enjoy it at all. Didn't expect it to be wonderful but I really thought it would be at least entertaining. I'm really struggling to find something positive to say but the truth is I was bored to tears.
Both Jenny Seagrove and Peter Bowles were imho quite bad. Maybe it's all down to direction but I didn't believe their characters at all. Adam Garcia was at least believable as father Damien and Clare Louise Connolly was ok as Regan. I love Ian McKellen but for me it was a mistake to use his very recognisable voice as the devil. It would have been better to use a voice people are not so familiar with, although my friend thought it was fun listening to Gandalf using the C word.
Set and costumes would be acceptable for an amateur production, but in a West End house they look really cheap and tacky considering the prices they are charging. The scenes changes were badly done and you could see the crew moving furniture around rather clumsily. This play was clearly nowhere near ready for a West End transfer.
The Upper Circle was closed. Stalls about 80% full and Dress Circle looked about the same.
I think the critics are going to hate it and it won't last very long.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Oct 24, 2017 8:25:08 GMT
Well, this was diabolical and not in a good way... I didn't enjoy it at all. Didn't expect it to be wonderful but I really thought it would be at least entertaining. I'm really struggling to find something positive to say but the truth is I was bored to tears. Both Jenny Seagrove and Peter Bowles were imho quite bad. Maybe it's all down to direction but I didn't believe their characters at all. Adam Garcia was at least believable as father Damien and Clare Louise Connolly was ok as Regan. I love Ian McKellen but for me it was a mistake to use his very recognisable voice as the devil. It would have been better to use a voice people are not so familiar with, although my friend thought it was fun listening to Gandalf using the C word. Set and costumes would be acceptable for an amateur production, but in a West End house they look really cheap and tacky considering the prices they are charging. The scenes changes were badly done and you could see the crew moving furniture around rather clumsily. This play was clearly nowhere near ready for a West End transfer. The Upper Circle was closed. Stalls about 80% full and Dress Circle looked about the same. I think the critics are going to hate it and it won't last very long. Business as usual for Kenwright then. All is right in the world. |
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Post by theatreguyny on Oct 24, 2017 10:41:42 GMT
I couldn't disagree more. The Play that I saw was scary, shocking and both me and the person that I was with were mesmerized. Its a play about choosing "faith" If one does not come away from this play a bit disturbed, and thinking about the idea of choosing "faith" then they missed the whole point of the evening and probably were seeing it just to find something snarkey to say about a very famous popular work
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2017 11:00:04 GMT
If one does not come away from this play a bit disturbed, and thinking about the idea of choosing "faith" then they missed the whole point of the evening and probably were seeing it just to find something snarkey to say about a very famous popular work Ummmmmmm. No, that's not it. |
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Post by theatreguyny on Oct 24, 2017 11:40:39 GMT
If one does not come away from this play a bit disturbed, and thinking about the idea of choosing "faith" then they missed the whole point of the evening and probably were seeing it just to find something snarkey to say about a very famous popular work Ummmmmmm. No, that's not it. How can you miss it. Damian is forced to choose in the face of a completely inexplicable and horrible situation. It could not be simpler. That's all its about. Choosing "faith" over hopelessness, bitterness, anger, etc etc. This Play points that out with such clarity its probably why it has endured as a popular work for over 40 years. IMHO the Play does exactly that with great brevity and the fact that it is happening in front of you, live, makes it that much more visceral. |
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Post by Mr Wallacio on Oct 24, 2017 14:44:50 GMT
Seeing this tonight. Lost out on the YF lottery and saw most of the front row was still available on the ATG website. Something spooky in the run up to Halloween  |
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