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Post by tmesis on Aug 1, 2017 18:17:40 GMT
As if Man in An Orange Shirt wasn't brilliant enough straight after were 2 episodes of this.
The first one, The Man on the Platform, was written by Mark Gatiss, set during WW1 and has a heartbreaking performance by Ben Whishaw. After setting the bar this high I expected to be less impressed by the second one, A Grand Day Out by Michael Dennis but this was equally engrossing, with a superb performance by Fionn Whitehead. This was set in 1994 on the day they voted to change the age of consent to 18.
They are similar in tone to Bennett's Talking Heads and, I think, almost in that league.
I notice they are all directed by Gatiss.
Tonight it's Russell Tovey and Rebecca Front.
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Post by bellboard27 on Aug 1, 2017 19:37:33 GMT
I went to the 2nd four of these yesterday at the Old Vic. An enjoyable hour indeed.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Aug 1, 2017 21:22:12 GMT
Mr Tovey knocked it out of the park with that one - best so far.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Aug 1, 2017 21:42:59 GMT
And Rebecca Front did that beautifully
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Post by tmesis on Aug 2, 2017 18:47:45 GMT
Yes Russell was superb.
Loved the Rebecca Front episode also: the most Bennett-like so far.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2017 9:36:50 GMT
Russell has been my favourite out of them all so far, loved it!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2017 9:46:53 GMT
Fun fact there's a picture of my friend Matthew 'in his youth' in the background of the Tovey one...we all had fun playing spot the 80s quiff!
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Post by hulmeman on Aug 3, 2017 19:44:24 GMT
All four I have seen are superb and, as has been said have an Alan Bennett, Talking Heads vibe. Truly wonderful.
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Post by peggs on Aug 4, 2017 20:20:39 GMT
Just watched the first one, beautiful.
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Post by justfran on Aug 4, 2017 20:31:06 GMT
Ben Whishaw was excellent, as ever. Also really enjoyed the Alan Cummings episode.
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Post by kathryn on Aug 4, 2017 21:33:01 GMT
Yes, just watched the first one too. Whishaw is just brilliant.
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Post by peggs on Aug 4, 2017 21:53:22 GMT
Turns out they're rather addictive, watched four in a row, really very touching and quite, quite beautiful.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Aug 5, 2017 2:29:57 GMT
Have finally watched the last two. Gemma Whelan is an actor who continues to impress me. She has a very watchable face but married with a considerable range. There is a Lady Macbeth in her somewhere as well as a sparky Beatrice. Even a St Joan (if she is quick about it)
The script by Jackie Clunes had some really lovely touches and the final look of hope in her eyes was wonderful.
And what to say about Alan Cumming (who was sort of channeling some Simon Callow from Four Weddings throughout).... really touching. That moment about the biscuit aisle in Sainsbury's will linger a long time.
Going back to numbers 5 and 6 - Ian Gelder trod the line between caricature and humanity brilliantly. He had his mask and then let it slip to reveal the joy and sorrow of his life.
There was a lot to admire about 'Safest Spot in Town' but it didn't quite hit home as much for me as some of the others. It gave a real insight into a life that few of us have ever considered but it didn't pack the emotional punch as many of the other pieces.
I hope these scripts get a life beyond this series. They captured so many facets of gay experience and were afraid to tap into the seedier side of life. They could have gone further - but it still doesn't take away from the quality of acting, writing and directing.
I know Gatiss came in for considerable criticism for having a relatively narrow focus for his selection. But for me, it really did capture what has been gained and lost by the 57 Act and the changes that followed in the 50 years since then. That moment of partial decriminalisation set in moment a domino effect that had many intended and unintended consequences. There is time enough to consider that in a broader way - and I hope that we see more shows go out under the Gay Britannia branding. Much has been achieved and much remains to be done - a season like this every now and again will allow those voices to be heard louder and clearer than ever before. And one day, we may never need to fight again. But until that time, let us celebrate every victory however minor and redouble our efforts in the face of any setbacks.
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Post by loureviews on Aug 5, 2017 9:30:44 GMT
I'm not a Gatiss fan but the first one was brilliant and I really enjoyed the rest.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2017 14:56:38 GMT
the 57 Act and the changes that followed in the 50 years since then. It's fifty years since 1967. You're thinking of the number of Heinz varieties.
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Post by vabbian on Aug 5, 2017 19:47:24 GMT
Russell's was touching.
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