1,316 posts
|
Post by tmesis on Apr 29, 2023 17:15:11 GMT
I found this all a bit well, bland really. The music was perfectly pleasant but never really achieved any melodic, or harmonic distinction and all the songs, musically did what you expected them to do. The story also aimed for a powerful punch but didn’t deliver - towards the end the music could have ramped up the emotional temperature here but it was all pretty pedestrian. And, as others have said, there was way too much of it, particularly as it wasn’t furthering the plot or heightening the tension.
I started looking at my watch towards the end of Act 1 and then constantly in Act 2.
Lovely set design and lighting and an excellent cast.
75% standing ovation at the end so maybe it’s just me.
|
|
1,316 posts
|
Post by tmesis on Apr 23, 2023 19:41:20 GMT
In the end I enjoyed this but I was really unsure by the interval. The story didn’t really engage me and the music was pretty relentless up to that point. After the interval the music was much more varied and the story considerably more interesting. I’m not a fan in the main of through composed musicals and I think this would have benefited from some spoken dialogue, but at least the composer didn’t pad it out with tedious pseudo recitative/arioso something of which ALW is guilty.
Great cast and good production values. Also really excellent sound which is often a problem at their other venue up the road.
|
|
1,316 posts
|
Post by tmesis on Apr 20, 2023 10:51:45 GMT
Regarding other plays about football, I'm surprised no one has mentioned Jumpers for Goal posts by Tom Wells. This was actually on at The Bush a number of years ago and is one of the very best things I've seen there.
|
|
1,316 posts
|
Post by tmesis on Apr 16, 2023 6:32:04 GMT
I went with some trepidation to this last night; I really didn’t enjoy Translations a few years ago at NT, my heart sank when I saw it was basically the same set, and I couldn’t understand why Friel is such a highly regarded playwright. But now I get it - this is very good. I was still a bit sceptical at the start but about half an hour in I was really connecting with these people. Friel quietly but hypnotically draws you in and the tone becomes increasingly elegiac and you just surrender to the characters.
How does he do it? Since nothing happens but everything happens.
Beautifully played by a top notch cast.
|
|
1,316 posts
|
Post by tmesis on Apr 2, 2023 16:22:31 GMT
Has anyone seen this?
|
|
1,316 posts
|
Post by tmesis on Apr 1, 2023 18:28:54 GMT
I also loved this. If anything deserves a West End transfer this does, although how Daniel Rigby could keep up a long run is beyond me, Just one performance would utterly exhaust me. Fantastic version from Tom Basden - hilariously funny.
Go catch it in its final week.
|
|
1,316 posts
|
Post by tmesis on Mar 27, 2023 9:14:01 GMT
I agree cavocado the hit rate has been much higher of late downstairs compared to upstairs. I’m generally happy with their choices downstairs and think they have a better record than many other similar places at the moment like the Bush. Also, where else can you see a preview performance for £5? I was therefore happy to take a punt on this even though it bored me senseless.
|
|
1,316 posts
|
Post by tmesis on Mar 26, 2023 19:18:30 GMT
Agree @lurker - saw it last night.
An interminable play that goes nowhere. The ‘plot’ strands (it doesn’t really have a plot) are difficult to fathom and the audience looked very bored and bemused throughout with a lot of fidgeting and nodding off. There would definitely have been walkouts if there had been an interval. It reminded me a little of a particularly impenetrable Iris Murdoch style tale but without the intelligence, oh, and what’s with the toy lobster running around that no one comments on? - absolutely bizarre.
It’s a shame as Downstairs has been on a roll of late with Big, big Sky, Folk, The Art of Illusion and Blackout Songs.
Any positives? Great set and wonderful atmospheric lighting.
|
|
1,316 posts
|
Post by tmesis on Mar 18, 2023 10:48:03 GMT
I think this one of Bourne’s best efforts. Over the years I’ve enjoyed his productions less and less but this was really good a few years ago at SW.
|
|
1,316 posts
|
Post by tmesis on Mar 14, 2023 9:40:07 GMT
I thought this was absolutely outstanding when I saw Saturday evening’s performance. The interweaving stories were so skilfully and satisfyingly presented and the music was just fabulous. I didn’t feel it held up the plot in anyway and also I think it’s a bit of a misnomer to think that songs in the best musicals should always drive the plot along.
|
|
1,316 posts
|
Post by tmesis on Mar 2, 2023 17:04:19 GMT
I’m seeing it on 11th matinee. This will be my third time seeing it. Saw it when it premiered, at the revival a few years ago and now in a week’s time. I’m not a massive fan of McGregor’s work but this is definitely the best thing he’s done. In fact Acts 1 and 3 reach almost MacMillan - like levels of intensity. But… Act 2 I hate. He’s back there to his more usual shtick and the relentless light show is tedious and seems to go on forever. Think I’ll stay in the bar for that bit.
|
|
1,316 posts
|
Post by tmesis on Feb 25, 2023 18:52:14 GMT
I too was at the matinee and thought it one of the best things at the Nash in a while. I was seriously hampered at the end by being on the end of row B Stalls and the subtitles were very difficult to read there. Shame because this detracted from the amazing intensity of the ending. Overall, some hilarious moments too and it’s fabulously well acted.
|
|
1,316 posts
|
Post by tmesis on Feb 25, 2023 12:44:05 GMT
Already booked without knowing the cast so that’s a pleasant surprise. Let’s hope it’s as good as Arms and the Man.
|
|
1,316 posts
|
Post by tmesis on Feb 24, 2023 13:08:39 GMT
Hate it. You get it a lot at ROH during Royal Ballet performances. Also hate the applauding of the intro of a song when it's one of the performers greatest hits.
|
|
1,316 posts
|
Post by tmesis on Feb 24, 2023 11:25:23 GMT
|
|
1,316 posts
|
Post by tmesis on Feb 13, 2023 9:46:22 GMT
The 2000 NT Nunn production of The Cherry Orchard had an amazing cast: Vanessa Redgrave, Corin Redgrave, Maxine Peake, Michael Bryant, Roger Allam, Eve Best, William Gaunt and Ben Miles and I was lucky enough to see the original cast of Guys and Dolls with Julia McKenzie, Bob Hoskins, Imelda Staunton, Julie Covington and Ian Charleson on my first ever visit to NT.
|
|
1,316 posts
|
Post by tmesis on Feb 12, 2023 16:22:07 GMT
I still think Kinnear is terrible. Plays everything like a tetchy Geography teacher reprimanding a year 10 class.
|
|
1,316 posts
|
Post by tmesis on Feb 9, 2023 6:09:03 GMT
A few years ago I used to love coming to the Young Vic but nothing remotely appeals in the new season.
|
|
1,316 posts
|
Post by tmesis on Feb 5, 2023 6:40:48 GMT
I too was at the matinee yesterday and totally agree. This is a really first rate musical. It’s very cleverly structured to bring out all the plot points and the music is varied and effective to highlighting the shifting emotions. A very good cast. The ‘children’ were particularly good and the band were quite sumptuous at times with cor anglais and harp to the fore.
This really does deserve wider exposure - it would fit Southwark Playhouse particularly well. Or even, with higher production values, a West End run - it’s that good.
|
|
1,316 posts
|
Post by tmesis on Jan 30, 2023 16:33:59 GMT
Really pleased I caught this Saturday night.
It’s a very enjoyable musical. Act One is definitely stronger than Two but most classic musicals are structured in that way. Act Two is just a bit too wordy with not enough musical highlights. Act One is musically very strong. Unlike some I thought the lead performers were all pretty solid and I really liked Michael Ahomka-Lindsay as Jack: charismatic and a great voice. I saw Ethan Sokontwe as Les and he really stole the show - one of the best child performers I have seen (and amazingly he’s studying cello at the Royal Academy of Music!)
The sound was OK where I sat (middle of Manhattan) maybe a bit too loud from the excellent band. More or less a full house too.
|
|
1,316 posts
|
Post by tmesis on Jan 7, 2023 18:23:04 GMT
Saw this at today’s matinee and was very impressed. I too was sceptical about Ferran but she was amazing and now, totally on top of the part. The rest of the cast are all terrific and I loved the simple, intense staging.
|
|
1,316 posts
|
Post by tmesis on Jan 7, 2023 18:15:05 GMT
Count me in for this. Novello’s music is just wonderful. Sumptuous melodies with a wonderful operatic sweep all adroitly harmonised to bring out their maximum impact. All this at one of the loveliest theatres in Britain (Buxton.)
|
|
1,316 posts
|
Post by tmesis on Jan 5, 2023 17:04:54 GMT
I went to this a year ago with very high expectations and a number of recommendations from friends. It did absolutely nothing for me. I couldn't get remotely involved with the characters and I wasn't touched by the storyline. I really wanted to love it but it just didn't happen.
Contrast that with The Band's Visit, which has a somewhat similar premise - I absolutely loved that and was totally swept up by it.
|
|
1,316 posts
|
Post by tmesis on Dec 23, 2022 21:24:21 GMT
I was meant to see this on Wednesday but the trains stopped early to my patch of leafy Surrey so had to miss it. Will try later in the run..
|
|
1,316 posts
|
Post by tmesis on Dec 17, 2022 23:59:00 GMT
This is p*ss-poor, truly terrible. Unbelievable characters, unbelievable plot, one of the worst things I’ve seen at NT. Makes The Sex Party look subtle.
|
|
1,316 posts
|
Post by tmesis on Dec 15, 2022 15:49:17 GMT
Shame - I was positively quivering with excitement for a second there.
|
|
1,316 posts
|
Post by tmesis on Dec 15, 2022 15:46:35 GMT
Yes the counterpoint between the two tunes is particularly delicious, showing Wilson’s classical training in it’s cleverness.* Pine Cones and Holly Berries is a damn good tune in it’s own right and I love the original Broadway version, although The Osmonds version is pretty good too.
* I’m not suggesting that only the classically trained can write a good counterpoint song as Irving Berlin wrote some of the best examples of this.
|
|
1,316 posts
|
Post by tmesis on Dec 14, 2022 22:10:49 GMT
With the Waitrose Christmas advert 'It's Beginning to Look A lot Like Christmas' is getting much exposure this year. It's a classy song by Meredith Wilson (famous for The Music Man) and there are lots of good versions: Johnny Mathis, Perry Como, Michael Buble but I think the successors to Mr. Waite and Mr. Rose have picked the best version with Bing Crosby's.
|
|
1,316 posts
|
Post by tmesis on Dec 12, 2022 11:24:02 GMT
|
|
1,316 posts
|
Post by tmesis on Dec 12, 2022 11:00:10 GMT
Crazy For You - Chichester The Band's Visit - Donmar Peter Grimes - ROH The P Word - Bush Folk - Hampstead Into the Woods - Bath
|
|