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Post by zahidf on Jan 1, 2024 10:56:42 GMT
What about closures? Well all these new shows have to go somewhere. From just a quick look at how tickets are selling, wouldn't be surprised if we lose BTTF, Mrs Doubtfire and Guys and Dolls. Guys and Dolls only just extended so I'd be surprised if they closed early.
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Post by zahidf on Dec 28, 2023 21:14:43 GMT
Try to see more new theatre. Visit the Bush theatre more. Avoid Shakespeares I've seen a million times before like King lear
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Post by zahidf on Dec 27, 2023 8:28:02 GMT
Going by the poll, more people like it (3 stars or more) than dislike it. Even if your benchmark is 4 stars or more, a majority of people on the forum liked it Baz seems to say it's transferring after some work has been done on the second act In such small samples, with no controls, it’s impossible to tell what the public think. The only measure of success worth a damn is box office takings. The only use for ratings on Theatreboard is to find an overwhelming consensus - when it happens. Even then, there’s no guarantee an individual person will find a show to their personal tastes. The show ratings are a consensus of generally like-minded people (in that they have an above-average interest in theatre) who have actively signed up to this forum, read the Musicals forum and then chosen specifically this thread, and then seen the show in question and given an arbitrary star rating (often without explanation or justification in the thread itself about how that rating was reached - be it a bad experience at the theatre, a poor cast on the night, the show reminding them of their ex - etc etc etc). Oh and this… Well, 8 people have rated it 5 stars so far at the time of writing, and 12 people have rated it two stars or less. This would mean by the above logic that 60% more voters believe this is a poor or very poor show than a brilliant one. It's pretty much sold out, so seems like the public has spoken! The reviewers have raved about it for the most part as well Not sure why you're comparing the 5 stars to 1 and 2 star reviews. I'm seeing it next week so will review it then. But by most metrics, it objectively seems popular.
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Post by zahidf on Dec 26, 2023 21:21:47 GMT
Going by the poll, more people like it (3 stars or more) than dislike it. Even if your benchmark is 4 stars or more, a majority of people on the forum liked it
Baz seems to say it's transferring after some work has been done on the second act
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Post by zahidf on Dec 22, 2023 16:08:50 GMT
It feels like they should be paying David Mamet royalties for this, it's pure Mamet straight through. You wonder about the development of the project because it's a play which would only work with bona fide star power in the lead but it's not strong enough material to be confident it will attract that kind of star. Not sure if it would be preferable to see Woody Harrelson in a proper play or in this one where he really gets to chew the scenery. It's a surprisingly thankless role for Andy Serkis, it's somewhat surprising he would take this on. You will enjoy yourself if you go in expecting nothing more than a star vehicle, and Harrelson has tangible star power. I would say he's great value but I've seen the prices they are trying to charge. It was a hit at the Fringe 8 years ago without any name actors. It was a little more vicious then, but woody harrelson's role is enhanced by having an actual star in it for sure
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Post by zahidf on Dec 22, 2023 13:26:09 GMT
I enjoyed this a lot last night. Cast were having a blast and a good view from the back seats
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Post by zahidf on Dec 20, 2023 14:02:42 GMT
1. Sunset Boulevard 2. The Motive and the Cue 3. Standing at the Skys edge 4. Streetcar Named Desire 5. Accidental Death of an Anarchist
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Post by zahidf on Dec 20, 2023 10:04:25 GMT
I was going to come on here with a list of recent major Pinter revivals I've seen but then realised that most of them were pre-2002 when I left London. I think Pinter is in a different league to the other writers you mention, Jan, and I can't imagine that the big plays won't get major revivals from time to time over the years. When, though, was the last major Caretaker revival? I can't think of one since the Patrick Marber one with Michael Gambon and that was presumably 2000? The Bath Ustinov is reviving The Lover/The Collection in the Spring with David Morrissey. Ayckbourn is an interesting one, as you say. Down in the west country we seem to get Relatively Speaking in Bath every two or three years, but nothing else on tour. Matthew Warchus did a superb Norman Conquests a few years back. But those big plays where he was at the height of his reputation as a serious comic dramatist haven't had much interest as far as I can see. Has there ever been a revival of Man of the Moment, for example, which was one of Gambon's finest hours? The last major revival of The Caretaker was at the Old Vic in 2016. Matthew Warchus directed Timothy Spall, Daniel Mays and George Mackay. Before that, I think, was the Trafalgar Studios transfer from Bath of Christopher Morahan's revival in 2010 with Jonathan Pryce, Peter McDonald and Sam Spruell. I remember one in 2007 at the tricycle with David Bradley and Con o Neil
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Post by zahidf on Dec 20, 2023 8:34:22 GMT
Apart from Betrayal, there was the Pinter season with All his short plays. And, more or less recently, a West End production of The birthday party with Stepehn Mangan, Zoe Wannamaker, etc. I don't think there is any risk of Pinter plays not being produced. I'm taking the long view. People said that about Emlyn Williams, Arnold Wesker, David Storey, Beverley Nichols, John Osborne, Simon Gray and a host of others. Terence Rattigan went unproduced for decades after his death, likewise many Arthur Miller plays in USA while he weas still alive. There are vanishingly few Alan Ayckbourn plays revived now compared with 30 years ago. It happens to most playwrights, a small number of their more famous works may stay in the repertoire but the rest vanish. It will happen to Pinter too and given its content I don't see this particular play being revived much, in fact I'm surprised the YV did and some of the critics agree. I guess it depends how long a view you want to take: in our lifetimes, i imagine theyll be constant revivals of Pinter. Dumb Waiter seems to get a london revivial every year or so! Ive seen 4 different homecomings in london for example in the last 12 years or so for example
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Post by zahidf on Dec 19, 2023 11:35:38 GMT
Closing 3 months early
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Post by zahidf on Dec 14, 2023 22:20:58 GMT
This would be a great transfer to the dorfman for Indu's first season
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Post by zahidf on Dec 14, 2023 14:34:11 GMT
Shes paid the price for her crime, so if she wants to rebuild her career with a play, thats fair enough.
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Post by zahidf on Dec 13, 2023 13:36:57 GMT
Sounds good: I can't make it to Stratford but hope it comes to london
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Post by zahidf on Dec 13, 2023 12:25:02 GMT
Last year, national has had a whole load of successes which have transferred to the west end or about to transfer. Dear england, motive and the Cue, crucible, e.t.c. I assume alba and the witches will be the same 50/50 (approx) new work. He's regime is clearly ending very strongly in commercial terms On indu, the kiln thing was a storm in a teacup really, no one really cared after a few months. The Jewish film stuff was more of an issue but that's all in the past now as well Commercially and artistically, she's done well at the Kilm, I'm sure she'll do well at the NT Not ‘in the past’ for everyone. Looking back from where we are now, the Tricycle refusal to host the Israeli film festival was somewhat of a canary in the mine, wasn’t it? Institutions are under pressure to cut ties with all kinds of people, things, issues and the NT will come under pressure in just the same way. Maybe being in the middle of extensive dental treatment is dampening my spirits but I am not optimistic, not at all. From the article, it seems they wanted the festival there but without Israeli govt involvement. They even offered to replace the funding. It was a board decision, not hers alone anyway. And the NT already has that pressure.
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Post by zahidf on Dec 13, 2023 11:04:28 GMT
All sounds very reasonable (and a board decision, not hers alone)
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Post by zahidf on Dec 13, 2023 9:04:30 GMT
I think it's an uninspiring appointment, but I don't know who else (if anyone) was either considered or wanted the job. As most of the press coverage prioritises who she is rather than the work she's done I will say I'm concerned by her inept handling of two controversies while running the Kiln (the renaming of the theatre, and their refusal to host the UK Jewish film festival) - the NT job is very high-profile and diplomacy is one of the talents needed. On the programming side I expect she'll continue the Norris trend of tending to programme stuff of interest to Guardian readers, narrowing the audience appeal from Hytner's day. ... Here's Arifa Akbar in the Guardian: "In 2017, he {Norris} was criticised for his focus on new, forward-facing work at the expense at established classics. But that approach was vindicated when the work he chose – Tony Kushner’s Angels in America (1991) and Stephen Sondheim’s Follies (1971) – went on to commercial success with Tony award wins and Broadway transfers". So in her view two established classics from almost 50 and 30 years ago count as "new, forward-facing" work and the measure of success for NT productions is commercial success in USA. Last year, national has had a whole load of successes which have transferred to the west end or about to transfer. Dear england, motive and the Cue, crucible, e.t.c. I assume alba and the witches will be the same 50/50 (approx) new work. He's regime is clearly ending very strongly in commercial terms On indu, the kiln thing was a storm in a teacup really, no one really cared after a few months. The Jewish film stuff was more of an issue but that's all in the past now as well Commercially and artistically, she's done well at the Kilm, I'm sure she'll do well at the NT
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Post by zahidf on Dec 13, 2023 6:14:53 GMT
Bit of a baffling choice to me - to go from Kiln to Nash is a bit too much of a leap I think. Hope I'm wrong and she's great, but something about it just feels a bit off. Quite a few of us predicted it would be her! She has similar experience to other people who have run the place, and has done a few plays there before. Most people jump from a small theatre to a much bigger one anyway...
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Post by zahidf on Dec 12, 2023 22:47:32 GMT
A bit of twitter sleuthing is indicating Indhu could be announced as the next AD soon. Confirmed. Great news
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Post by zahidf on Dec 7, 2023 12:15:23 GMT
Nothing today
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Post by zahidf on Dec 6, 2023 10:20:06 GMT
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Post by zahidf on Dec 5, 2023 18:17:30 GMT
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Post by zahidf on Dec 4, 2023 20:54:33 GMT
Anyone catch an early preview? Is it running nicely at 90 minutes? Done by 9pm on a week with train strikes sounds pretty good to me... ta! Saw it today. Started 7.20, finished 8.40, so seems to be running on time Cod Shakespeare tale of the govt during the pandemic. Very funny in places, good performances. Slightly runs out of steam in places but worth seeing
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Post by zahidf on Nov 30, 2023 7:50:41 GMT
I thought this was ace!
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Post by zahidf on Nov 28, 2023 13:09:03 GMT
good news! really enjoyed doing multiple shows when it was on in Waterloo
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Post by zahidf on Nov 26, 2023 0:06:37 GMT
This was more a play with songs than a musical per se
Was fun overall. Some moving scenes, some funny scenes, some which were out of date
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