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Post by David J on Dec 17, 2020 9:38:53 GMT
I liked this production I went on the fact that Jonathan Slinger was in it and he didn't disappoint. I've been gaining a new perspective on acting and saw that he gives his all to Rosie Sheehy. He doesn't simply act the lines in a set way he devised, he feels natural. Even down to the moments he talks on the phone to someone he has to imagine. Which is why I enjoy nearly every performance I've seen him do since Richard III. And oh boy does he give the Richard III I remember at the end Its no surprise the box office was warning someone that if they take a seat in the front row there's a strong possibly something will be thrown in their direction.  Both performances were good. There were times where the two actors rushed the interjections they gave each other. Rosie Sheehy held back at times but still good. The play I feel is of its time and tame. The discourse on Me Too and accusations has moved on since this play came out. I've heard the characters' arguments before but in the end David Mamet has no argument of his own. Instead he resorts to a superficial ending. At the very least you get to see that neither character comes out the better for it. You feel bad for the professor's situation but at the same time agree that he is a bit full of himself whilst letting the girl walk all over him and when he does try and stand up for himself he does it in the worst possible way. I couldn't watch at the end of the second scene. The student meanwhile makes some points but otherwise twists the things he said to suit her narrative. And whilst she accuses him of aggrandizing and acting like he has power over her she does exactly the same thing (though she acknowledges it). And she never stops to see the full consequences of her actions until it is too late. Okay play held up by wonderful performances |
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Post by Dave B on Apr 21, 2021 10:48:22 GMT
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Post by ThereWillBeSun on Apr 21, 2021 12:51:35 GMT
Amazing! I’ve always wanted to see this onstage - good it still have a life beyond Theatre Royal Bath ✅ |
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Post by fiyero on Apr 23, 2021 11:20:35 GMT
Coming to Southampton’s Mayflower Studios (formerly Nuffield Southampton Theatres City). I’ve booked a socially distanced pair in the front row. Ages since I’ve seen a nice challenging play.
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1,061 posts
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Post by David J on Apr 23, 2021 11:32:24 GMT
Coming to Southampton’s Mayflower Studios (formerly Nuffield Southampton Theatres City). I’ve booked a socially distanced pair in the front row. Ages since I’ve seen a nice challenging play. Warning - the bath studio advised not sitting in the front row when I saw it. And I can testify to that |
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1,743 posts
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Post by fiyero on Apr 23, 2021 12:54:45 GMT
Coming to Southampton’s Mayflower Studios (formerly Nuffield Southampton Theatres City). I’ve booked a socially distanced pair in the front row. Ages since I’ve seen a nice challenging play. Warning - the bath studio advised not sitting in the front row when I saw it. And I can testify to that Rain poncho or riding helmet needed? |
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1,061 posts
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Post by David J on Apr 23, 2021 14:11:09 GMT
Warning - the bath studio advised not sitting in the front row when I saw it. And I can testify to that Rain poncho or riding helmet needed? Riding helmet |
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4,804 posts
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Post by Mark on Jul 29, 2021 21:32:01 GMT
Has anyone else seen this since it’s transfer to the Arts?
I knew very little about the play, and found the first 40 minutes or so to be fairly slow, but much needed to set up the second and third acts of the play which I found very engaging. Two great performances from Jonathan Slinger and Rosie Sheehy here.
The final moments are indeed very tense!
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1,865 posts
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Post by Dave B on Jul 29, 2021 21:51:37 GMT
Yes, we saw it last weekend. Loud and visceral reactions throughout the audience to the ending. Still an impact even having seen it before and knowing it was coming. Rosie Sheehy notably still pulling herself back together through the curtain call.
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Post by cavocado on Aug 14, 2021 9:02:33 GMT
I saw this a couple of days ago after getting a heavily discounted seat on TKTS. Two very strong performances, and the debate felt more evenly balanced than the original, and with more focus on social class - times have changed, but still well worth seeing. Lots of empty seats so hard to gauge the audience's reaction - no gasps of shock or outrage.
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3,320 posts
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Post by david on Aug 21, 2021 15:57:19 GMT
First ever trip to the ARTS theatre this afternoon to watch this production. A nice little theatre but dear lord what is going on with the gents facilities? There is absolutely no room in there at all. Anyway, having watched Mamet’s “Bitter Wheat” at the Garrick back in 2019 and being absolutely bored senseless watching it, I was hoping for a better experience with “Oleanna”. Having never heard of it prior to booking a ticket (grabbed a premium seat for half price) to see it, I went in not knowing what to expect. For me this was a far superior play both in in its writing and performances and I’m just glad I was able to watch it. Two powerful performances from Slinger and Sheehy. The fact that it is a slow burner over the 80 minutes makes that final scene that much more powerful when it arrives and certainly gives you plenty to think about post show.
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Post by talkingheads on Aug 21, 2021 16:09:55 GMT
First ever trip to the ARTS theatre this afternoon to watch this production. A nice little theatre but dear lord what is going on with the gents facilities? There is absolutely no room in there at all. Anyway, having watched Mamet’s “Bitter Wheat” at the Garrick back in 2019 and being absolutely bored senseless watching it, I was hoping for a better experience with “Oleanna”. Having never heard of it prior to booking a ticket (grabbed a premium seat for half price) to see it, I went in not knowing what to expect. For me this was a far superior play both in in its writing and performances and I’m just glad I was able to watch it. Two powerful performances from Slinger and Sheehy. The fact that it is a slow burner over the 80 minutes makes that final scene that much more powerful when it arrives and certainly gives you plenty to think about post show. Yes, the way Mamet shifts your sympathies as you watch is wonderful writing. Then the final scene reminded me of why theatre is such a communal experience, as a collective gasp filled the auditorium. |
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Post by joem on Sept 2, 2021 21:06:35 GMT
A Mamet I only knew by reputation. He is a playwright who hits and misses me but this is powerful writing. I don't think this is a play of its time, its time is our time too; there are many ways and directions in which injustices can be committed, it is not a one-way process. It is very cleverly crafted to demonstrate the changing power-play between the two characters.
Two excellent and committed performances from Singer and Sheehy. Shame the theatre was more than half empty.
Not the play but - daft to only sell programmes at the bar, if you are going to sell programmes. One humungous queue.
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Post by bee on Sept 5, 2021 16:10:43 GMT
I didn’t like this. It felt dated and the characters were like crude stereotypes. I also found the style of it, with the characters continually interrupting each other, really irritating. In the first act especially, I was desperate for someone to be allowed to finish a sentence.
Having said that, Jonathan Slinger and Rosie Sheehy were acting their hearts out up there and in an odd way I was able to enjoy their performances while wishing they were in a better play. They both seemed to be struggling to pull themselves together at the end when taking their bows.
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Post by inthenose on Sept 6, 2021 18:01:43 GMT
I also found the style of it, with the characters continually interrupting each other, really irritating. In the first act especially, I was desperate for someone to be allowed to finish a sentence. Ah... Was this your first Mamet play? They are all like that, it's his signature style. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_MametUnder critical reception down the page, where is a section on "Mamet Speak" with an example from Glengarry Glen Ross. I don't mind Mamet's plays generally... |
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Post by edi on Sept 15, 2021 15:33:26 GMT
[quote author=" David J" source="/post/375540/thread" [/quote] Warning - the bath studio advised not sitting in the front row when I saw it. And I can testify to that[/quote] Hi David, Would you please let me know, in spoilers if needed, what the issue is with the front row? Thanks |
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Post by David J on Sept 16, 2021 11:36:03 GMT
[quote author=" David J " source="/post/375540/thread" Warning - the bath studio advised not sitting in the front row when I saw it. And I can testify to that[/quote] Hi David, Would you please let me know, in spoilers if needed, what the issue is with the front row? Thanks [/quote] {Spoiler - click to view}
At the end, Jonathan Slinger's character gets into such a rage that he flings stuff at Rosie. Some of which flew close to the edge of the stage. |
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Post by cavocado on Sept 16, 2021 12:29:04 GMT
I sat in the front row at the Arts Theatre and I was fine! I'd definitely recommend it if the seats are as heavily discounted as they were when I went (I think I paid around £16 on TodayTix for middle of the front row).
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Post by edi on Sept 16, 2021 13:09:08 GMT
Thanks both. I will be fine with that. I just don't like bodily fluids 😂😂
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Post by londonpostie on Sept 16, 2021 21:23:12 GMT
I should think this was powerful in the early 90s, and so much of it has come to pass, at least in US academia.
{Spoiler - click to view}
Unusual in the sense you could use what there is - now - as the first half, and bolt on a whole second 80 minutes. Still relevant but society has enveloped the straight forward Liberal academic vs. teenage Marxist trope.
Still a lot of legs in feminine emotional violence vs. masculine physical intimidation/violence. |
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Post by edi on Sept 29, 2021 6:11:53 GMT
This certainty triggered some hot debate / arguments on the way home.
With various offers around well worth catching it before it closes.
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Post by theoracle on Oct 19, 2021 11:45:25 GMT
I brought a friend along for his first ever theatre trip and we were both pretty stunned and exhausted by the end of it. I felt a little awkward clapping at the end after that final scene but there were genuine gasps around the theatre. It takes some time to digest but certainly well worth it for the performances on offer.
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Post by G on Oct 19, 2021 18:00:53 GMT
Concur with the feeling of exhaustion, exiting the theatre I promised myself the next play I would see would be Anything Goes with the new lead (it wasn't). I did find the ping-pong dialogue puzzling. Very glad I saw this. Someone above commented on the play being written to shift sympathies between the characters which I felt was very accurate. Or perhaps shifting antipathies from one character to the other, and towards both in the end. I was ignorant about the play and was devastated that from an interaction with so much positive potential {Spoiler - click to view}
the two ended up destroying each other's lives (I realize this is more of a premise than a spoiler). |
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