725 posts
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Post by theatremiss on Mar 19, 2022 18:33:47 GMT
Just been to the matinee. Wilson was great as usual, but I have to say I didn’t really like it much. The “box” for those wanting to know is a window than she is behind. I was row B in the Stalls and there was a seat in row A empty in front of me and a lot of seats empty in the stalls. I noticed this via the reflection in the window on stage. Wilson went through all sorts of emotions and actually was more engaging than the play itself. Worst thing about my afternoon……the Pinter theatre was so goddamn cold at one point I saw steam coming out of my mouth and my glasses steam up. I was fidgeting so much trying to keep warm and failed. Really wasn’t a great afternoon and felt so awful I decided not to go to Small Island this evening. I think Small Island would have been a better show
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725 posts
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Post by theatremiss on Mar 19, 2022 18:35:02 GMT
I don’t mind Ivo Van Hove in general, but was bored senseless watching Hedda Gabler, so no way would I book this. Out of curiosity is there any random WTF moments like her stapling-the-flowers-to-the-wall in HG or is it just her in a box the entire time? Didn’t staple flowers but stuck a poster with a message she wrote on the window…..I can’t even recall what it said now |
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547 posts
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Post by drmaplewood on Mar 21, 2022 14:46:09 GMT
It sounds tedious. Pedro Almodóvar made a short film out of this with Tilda Swinton. Might be worth checking out. And this is not selling well at all, is it The film was excellent, currently on Mubi I think. |
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Post by ruperto on Mar 22, 2022 8:44:06 GMT
I really liked this, but I don’t think it’ll be for everyone.
I found Ruth Wilson mesmerising - she plays the part in a very naturalistic way. It’s quite the masterclass. And IMHO it’s been skilfully adapted and updated by Ivo van Hove. I preferred it to Pedro Almodovar’s recent cinematic take.
I think many of us will be able to identify with her character’s situation - it got me thinking back to my younger days…
I can see why people might have a problem with the ending, though from a theatrical point of view, I liked it.
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Post by teamyali on Mar 23, 2022 10:21:38 GMT
Yikes…mostly two to three stars from major critics. Ruth Wilson is great as always, the problem is the source material which has not aged well.
At least this is only for three weeks.
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Post by minion on Mar 23, 2022 11:42:27 GMT
Love this at the Standard : "The Human Voice review: Ruth Wilson shouldn’t have answered the phone to Ivo van Hove"
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5,186 posts
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Post by Being Alive on Mar 23, 2022 13:24:09 GMT
Love this at the Standard : "The Human Voice review: Ruth Wilson shouldn’t have answered the phone to Ivo van Hove" God what a mood |
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Post by floorshow on Mar 24, 2022 22:43:16 GMT
Saw it tonight and despite it having so many issues, still walked out with a smile on my face.
The box is a mixed blessing, it really works as a location. But it did mean there were lengthy spells when we could only see her from the earlobes up (stalls B) which grows tiresome.
I love How to Disappear Completely but after the first 2 uses, it's third outing tramples over the last scene and was so long it let all the tension out of the room.
Applause started quite measured and nervy but did build into a decent response without any actual standing. And she deserves it cos she was great, really good but this shouldn't have been padded like it has been.
It would have worked better paired with something suitable.
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1,863 posts
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Post by NeilVHughes on Mar 24, 2022 22:54:00 GMT
Also there tonight, strong performance in a poor play, special mention to the blue dress a stunning transformation.
Centre row C stalls, view was OK but did find the box pointless and an unnecessary barrier and agree the musical interludes disrupted the flow.
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Post by floorshow on Mar 25, 2022 14:00:36 GMT
We snuck a peak into the circle on the way out, the elevated view did make it much easier to see into the box but the distance isn't ideal for her performance which was quite minimal at times (in a good way!)
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Post by inthenose on Mar 25, 2022 15:19:40 GMT
Dog of a play, isn't it!
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Post by floorshow on Mar 25, 2022 15:59:30 GMT
As a concept it's a single idea dragged out too long and dated.
Tighten it up to 45 mins and it would be infinitely better, update it and it's a different play...
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Post by talkingheads on Mar 25, 2022 18:15:53 GMT
Meant to be seeing this tomorrow, but tonight's show I was going to at Ronnie Scotts got cancelled, so I'm no longer going to London. Filled in the ATG form and a request for a credit voucher was flat out refused. Never had that before. How quickly the theatres are reverting to their greedy, money grabbing ways.
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630 posts
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Post by jamb0r on Mar 26, 2022 22:30:44 GMT
Got front row stalls in the TodayTix rush. Definitely feel like I got my £20 worth watching the performance alone. Thought the play was fine but nothing special.
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395 posts
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Post by lichtie on Mar 28, 2022 17:44:59 GMT
Thought this was a production of three parts. The good - Ruth Wilson almost manages to make it worthwhile. The middling - the set sort of works; reminded me a lot of Hedda Gabler at the NT (also IvH, and RW) so not really an original though. The view further back in the stalls was fine. The poor - not really sure this play needs resurrecting. I can see it would have been cutting edge when Cocteau wrote it - now it just seems very very tired and out of date. Generally well received on Saturday night, though not by all (a few walkouts during the performance).
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2022 9:54:02 GMT
I was another of those moved from a previously selected seat due to sight line issues:in my instance I was moved to seat D1 in the dress circle which, though it cut off a tiny fragment of the right hand side of the box, offered a fantastic view.
I didn't leave the theatre thinking I'd seen something amazing though, equally, I didn't feel I'd seen something awful either.
I think Wilson gave a good performance though occasionally over played elements but the problem here is Van Hove's direction which adds an unnecessary additional 20-30 minutes to the play and, for me at least, stripped the play of a significant part of the emotion via some of his decisions such as Wilson facing the wall for the entire length of the Radiohead song towards the end of which I can't have been the only one wishing things would 'get a move on'.
With regards to Van Hove, I may rely on feedback from those who have seen his future plays going forwards because for every 'A View From the Bridge' which left me in awe, there's an 'Antigone' which left me on the cusp of falling asleep despite it being one of my favourite plays.
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Post by floorshow on Mar 29, 2022 13:56:43 GMT
Antigone is still his low point for me, what a waste of Binoche too  . |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2022 14:02:08 GMT
Antigone is still his low point for me, what a waste of Binoche too . I couldn't believe how bad it was. |
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1,865 posts
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Post by Dave B on Apr 9, 2022 17:34:32 GMT
Rushed (front row stalls) the matinee on the final day today. Ruth Wilson is great and the only thing that really holds it together. I adore Radiohead, seen them a couple of dozen times but the same song three times and while RW just faces the wall. Ugh. Felt slow and disconnected from everything. A chunk of empty seats and in a rarity in my experience at the Pinter, FoH were actively taking people from upstairs and moving them down to stalls about 5 minutes before it began.
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