3,575 posts
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Post by showgirl on Mar 5, 2016 22:49:56 GMT
It's well done and was well-received, too. The play is however quite long and seemed it to me as the action unfolds slowly and gradually, building up to the surprise denouement mallardo mentions. At the end I felt it had been worth it, but unusually, I really wasn't sure until that point. Probably not a play I'd want to see again, unlike, say, a Rattigan, but then at present August Wilson's work isn't programmed that often anyway - though a good, high-profile production like this could help to change that.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2016 23:33:15 GMT
But she didn't walk out of half a dozen shows in a row without getting to the end, so swings and roundabouts. If "swings" is "something everyone does at least once in their life, sometimes you just can't help it" and "roundabouts" is "I mean it's only your own ticket money you're wasting but honestly now", anyway...
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2016 0:11:54 GMT
But she didn't walk out of half a dozen shows in a row without getting to the end, so swings and roundabouts. If "swings" is "something everyone does at least once in their life, sometimes you just can't help it" and "roundabouts" is "I mean it's only your own ticket money you're wasting but honestly now", anyway... Rarely pay |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2016 10:54:37 GMT
It's well done and was well-received, too. The play is however quite long and seemed it to me as the action unfolds slowly and gradually, building up to the surprise denouement mallardo mentions. At the end I felt it had been worth it, but unusually, I really wasn't sure until that point. Probably not a play I'd want to see again, unlike, say, a Rattigan, but then at present August Wilson's work isn't programmed that often anyway - though a good, high-profile production like this could help to change that. Although you also fell asleep during a show which runs less than 90 mins Is there anything in the forum rules about trying to provoke other posters or insulting them? |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2016 11:05:20 GMT
Although you also fell asleep during a show which runs less than 90 mins Is there anything in the forum rules about trying to provoke other posters or insulting them? Try telling the headteacher? |
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968 posts
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Post by TheatreDust on Mar 6, 2016 12:59:48 GMT
We ask that all forum members show respect for other users, as per our rules: 3. Be respectful of your fellow members – stay courteous; don’t be insulting or offensive If any member is offended by a posting, then you can click the 'report' button which notifies moderators and we will review the posting/history and potentially take action. This might include having a 'quiet word' with the poster, deleting a posting, locking threads or in extreme circumstances may lead to a member being banned on a temporary or permanent basis. HOWEVER, we hope that nobody will deliberately try to be offensive and that in turn we are tolerant of each others' natural communication styles. People in general (including at 'the other place') have really appreciated the positive/constructive/respectful/witty tone that our discussions generally have. It shouldn't need saying: We should expect to disagree with each other's views, but when replying take aim at the poster's opinion rather than the poster themselves. |
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1,494 posts
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Post by Steve on Mar 7, 2016 23:25:15 GMT
interested in thoughts on {Spoiler - click to view}
{Spoiler - click to view}
For a few months, I lived north of a neighbourhood in Los Angeles, where there was a lot of black on black violence, relating to drugs turf. I heard distant shots every night, and one day, I found the dead body of a 16 year old black girl in the communal dustbin of our building. She had been caught in the gunfire, transported and dumped there. At the time, the police didn't much bother with the drugs trade: the attitude was "let them kill each other, let's not risk our lives going down there."
The tragedy of lives born into that bleak lack of everything, surrounded by gunfire and the easy money of drugs, with awful educational opportunities, with no concerted societal effort to turn things around, with children growing up scarred by the exposure to these things, just went on and on. That was the nineties, a decade after this play was written, and 70 years after this play was set.
When I saw that black on black violence erupt in this play, an innocent with a promising future die, as a pent-up consequence of those musicians living in that racist society, to me, it looked like a documentary. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2016 9:03:49 GMT
Well. The Oliver awards committee should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves by ignoring O.T. Fagbenle's performance in this. It is a sensational performance and you just can't take your eyes off him (and not just because he is incredibly handsome). The whole cast (especially the four leading men) are terrific but he is really terrific - you love him, hate him, feel sorry for him, cry with him, laugh with him and at him - he just extracts every ounce of emotion out of it. It really is a better performance than any of those actors nominated at the Oliviers this year. By miles.
Special mention to the other three lead actors - Clint Dyer, Lucian Msamati and Giles Terera who are all equally strong and manage not to be overshadowed by such a dazzling performance.
The play is actually better when Ma Rainey isn't in it - it's a shame that all of the really good stuff takes place in a really cramped narrow set as the majority of the stage is unused for huge chunks. Thought that while Sharon D Clarke played the part well for what she had to work with. Which isn't much.
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642 posts
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Post by Stasia on Mar 24, 2016 11:01:11 GMT
Well. The Oliver awards committee should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves by ignoring O.T. Fagbenle's performance in this. It is a sensational performance and you just can't take your eyes off him (and not just because he is incredibly handsome). The whole cast (especially the four leading men) are terrific but he is really terrific - you love him, hate him, feel sorry for him, cry with him, laugh with him and at him - he just extracts every ounce of emotion out of it. It really is a better performance than any of those actors nominated at the Oliviers this year. By miles. Special mention to the other three lead actors - Clint Dyer, Lucian Msamati and Giles Terera who are all equally strong and manage not to be overshadowed by such a dazzling performance. The play is actually better when Ma Rainey isn't in it - it's a shame that all of the really good stuff takes place in a really cramped narrow set as the majority of the stage is unused for huge chunks. Thought that while Sharon D Clarke played the part well for what she had to work with. Which isn't much. O.T. Fagbenle's performance stunned me. I forgot how to breath when he was telling his family's story. I had no idea what to expect from the play and booked it mostly because of Sharon D Clarke but I left thinking of him. Definitely one of the highlights of my trip |
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Post by peelee on Mar 24, 2016 16:43:23 GMT
This is some play and some production.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2016 17:06:12 GMT
Completely agree Stasia. I'd booked mainly because of Sharon D Clarke too but during and after the play it became all about O.T. Fagbenle for me. The part of the play you mention was astonishing. You could have heard a pin drop in the theatre. It brought tears to my eyes. I truly hope this is his 'star making' performance and that he goes on to do more and more. He's someone I definitely want to see in other things.
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716 posts
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Post by theatre-turtle on Mar 29, 2016 21:33:40 GMT
I was at the performance tonight and it's easily one of the best things I've seen for many many months.
Hope it wins the Olivier Award.
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Post by liverpool54321 on Apr 30, 2016 21:37:20 GMT
We saw the matinee today. Very powerful play, as others have alluded, primarily focuses on the lives of the 4 session musicians. Great performances all round. Would also have liked to hear more music but the full on script leaves little room for the odd song. I liked the stage set and the way the basement was spread thinly across the stage. Having been on a tour round the Lyttelton yesterday and discussed at great length the limitations of the stage equipment, I doubt they could have done much more than this.
Possibly because it was a Saturday matinee but by far the noisiest audience I have experienced for an adult play at the National. Lost count of mobile phones going off and constant rustling of sweet and crisp packets. People along our row started having picnic lunch during first half - constantly pulling stuff out of plastic bags. At least the final scene seemed to finally shut them up. Surprised by the number of young children there given the language used throughout.
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Post by perfectspy on May 1, 2016 0:24:26 GMT
I saw this play in the early days of being staged at the National. The four leading men were excellent. A great performance by Sharon D Clarke, though underused, dominated the second act.
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