247 posts
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Post by barelyathletic on Feb 28, 2023 10:45:44 GMT
Is there a thread for this? Can't find one. Has nobody seen it? I'm going tomorrow on the back of some very mixed reviews, one of which called it 'one of the best new plays in years'. Others were, shall we say, less than complimentary. Hmmm. I'm intrigued and interested to know what anybody else who has seen it thinks.
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Feb 28, 2023 11:07:33 GMT
I saw it a few weeks ago and really didn't enjoy it. The play felt really melodramatic and overacted, especially by some of the ensemble characters. The court scene in Act 2 suffered from attempts at humour that fell flat. Generally I thought it was way too long as well. It's a shame because the real people that the story is based on sounded quite interesting.
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1,864 posts
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Post by Dave B on Feb 28, 2023 11:15:55 GMT
Yes, we saw it a few weeks ago. There are some great performances but some of the staging is odd choices. Loud bursts of music and lights, ugh. The second half is reminiscent of a carry on movie and it's meant to show the farcical nature of the trial and draw modern parallels but it strays too far and becomes a bit tedious. Maggie Bain and Lucy Black are both absolutely excellent and this helps a bit. 3 stars from me. Upstairs at Hampstead not managed to really shine in a long time - another reason I suspect they have moved Blackout Songs up there soon.
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423 posts
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Post by dlevi on Feb 28, 2023 11:39:55 GMT
I saw this a few weeks ago as well and while not the worst play of the current season it was one of the most disheartening given how good the same author's play "The Animal Kingdom" had been. I know its hard times for the Hampstead Theatre but it's starting to feel like the Anthony Clark days all over again. They need someone to come in an actually give it some real life.
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247 posts
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Post by barelyathletic on Mar 2, 2023 10:34:17 GMT
Well. I really, really liked this (as did my group of friends )and I am surprised it's not done a hell of a lot better for Hampstead. A sharp and witty script, great performances (both leads were tremendous) and a strong sense that there is nothing new under the sun when it comes to who you love. Not totally sure about the production choices. I assume the rock music was to underscore how contemporary this 18th century relationship was/is but the play gives you that anyway. It's a terrific story, well told and it flew by. The whole row of students behind us absolutely adored it and it was great to be in a theatre audience that really seemed to appreciate and understand the work. There was a real tangible energy and buzz about the whole evening. Good enough to buy the script after. The best main stage production I've seen at Hampstead in a while. Four stars from me.
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Post by jr on Mar 2, 2023 22:28:33 GMT
A very good play with great acting and direction, nice simple set too. Funny and contemporary.
They upgraded my ticket (not very full) and plenty of discounts. I definitely recommend it; ending this weekend, I think.
The only buts I have is that it could be a bit shorter (specially 1st act), and the couple of scenes before the ending are a bit dull. I loved the proper ending though.
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547 posts
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Post by drmaplewood on Mar 4, 2023 20:46:45 GMT
I caught the penultimate performance this afternoon and really enjoyed it - solid acting all round and although the tone shifts are a bit jarring, I found the last quarter rather moving. 4 stars from me.
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3,577 posts
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Post by showgirl on Mar 4, 2023 22:17:42 GMT
Was also at today's matinee - quite well-attended, which I think the play and production deserved, so glad audience numbers seem to have picked up, if only belatedly.
Having had a ticket for a date 5 weeks ago but for an evening performance which I was unable to face on learning that the estimated running time at that stage was 2 hours 40, I'd hesitated until the last moment about rebooking but am glad I did as I enjoyed it and thought it was well worth the visit. I'm always keen to see and support new writing and whatever the varying views about the merits of the play or treatment of the subject, the author had a clear vision and communicated it, unlike some other current or recent new work of which people here have said that they weren't sure what the subject of the play was meant to be or what the writer meant to say.
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