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Post by lynette on Oct 1, 2023 22:04:32 GMT
The Donmar’s The Way of the World showed how it can be done these days. I would love to see more
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Post by lynette on Sept 29, 2023 21:11:32 GMT
Guess who has tix for Uncle Vanya on Wednesday afternoon? I know, buses do exist but an hour an half on a bus with the walks between and it will be crowded…any suggestions?
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Post by lynette on Sept 28, 2023 19:05:01 GMT
Quite, particularly as they have a huge database of past sales to analyse statistically to tell them what actually happens when they raise or lower prices for a whole range of different types of production. On another topic, how about this: "National Theatre director Rufus Norris has praised America for being "so much better" at musicals, claiming the form is taken “seriously” there." To me this seems not only untrue in general (the West End and subsidised sector is full of musicals) but the NT under Norris seems to have taken musicals far less "seriously" (whatever that means) than any of his predecessors on the South Bank - for example his conclusion that with no experience at all he could write the lyrics of one himself bears this out. Also rather disrespectful to the musical they staged which just won the Olivier and is transferring to the West End... Sounds like ‘they didn’t take my musical seriously’ kind of whinge
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Post by lynette on Sept 28, 2023 14:28:36 GMT
I know we are all used to blind casting these days but for this a mixed cast would be problematic . So much of it is based on the family relationships and the only person who could therefore be of a different race is the woman and the nature of that part would bring into play another whole layer of associations which Pinter didn’t have in mind. This is my view of it. An all black or other all non white cast would work of course. So I suppose they plumped for this way.
I know, I know, Henry V etc etc but Willy is different isn’t he?
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Post by lynette on Sept 28, 2023 14:21:35 GMT
NH knows how to do a Shakespeare from what I’ve seen at the NT and Bridge. His prod of Othello best I’ve ever seen.
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Post by lynette on Sept 17, 2023 22:59:08 GMT
The WEL performance was not enticing to me. I've seen this plot idea in films and TV but never known any school that actually did the fake baby for a week thing. And, the "students" seem oddly excited by the project - when, in reality, I would think they would think the exercise is stupid and a waste of time and resent the whole project. But, then, that's just my thoughts. My school did this with the childcare students and everyone was so excited for it all year. Honestly a fair few students picked childcare just so they could do the fake baby thing. When my sister had her fake baby the teacher caught her delicately placing a cig in its mouth and they failed her 🤣 Loved this, undeuxtrois, true undermining of the intention. That sister will go far…or not…
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Post by lynette on Sept 17, 2023 22:56:28 GMT
Why anyone would want to stand fails me except for the cost of the ticket of course. It doesn’t look immersive to me - I sat of course - because I remember in the olden days the immersive or promenade performances as they were called then, in the Cottesloe, as it was named then. They were immersive as you became absorbed by the action. The Julius Caesar they did at the Bridge was more immersive because of the crowd scenes where the people are actually another character so to speak. Midsummer Night’s Dream was probably more immersive for a similar reason maybe. I suppose they think having the staging this way will attract people to it.
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Post by lynette on Sept 17, 2023 22:47:34 GMT
“Sorry, Alexandra, I didn’t get back to you sooner. I can see my comments are rather convoluted. What i mean is that calling the play Hamnet is trading on the name of the Play Hamlet. This play, Hamnet, attempts to show how WS was inspired by his son, the son’s tragic death and thereby became the brilliant playwright we know he became.” Still nonsense I’m afraid, Lynette. The play is called Hamnet because it’s a dramatisation of the book called Hamnet. And it’s a marvellous book which earns its title; I cannot recommend highly enough that you read it. You may feel that the play doesn’t work and/or doesn’t do justice to the book; I felt it was a decent stab at dramatising the book, and enjoyed it in its own right. Either way, to call it something else would have been like calling the adaptation of Wolf Hall “Cromwell” because Wolf Hall hardly featured in Hilary Mantel’s novel. It reminds me of those rip off products that just change one letter of a name or slightly change the font or the face of a caterpillar cake to pass off as the original..it seems to me that whereas the book is of itself a novel and as you say, good ( other people have recommended to me to) making it the title of the play that the RSC puts on in Stratford is leading punters up a misleading path.
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Post by lynette on Sept 13, 2023 18:41:57 GMT
If this is going to be better than a titter titter joke about getting old but remaining sarky, coming to terms with old age etc…please let me know.
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Post by lynette on Sept 11, 2023 16:24:07 GMT
O please spare us another bold reimagining. If you are that good at boldly reimagining write your own play.
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Post by lynette on Sept 11, 2023 16:22:34 GMT
Do LW Theatres do senior discounts at all of their venues? (Asking for TallPaul ) Appears it's just on Crazy for You, as it's also a discount for 18-25 year olds. Guessing the sales aren't exactly where they're wanting them, as it seems to be papering this week too. If they had extended the discount to kids they would not have had a problem filling the theatre. I had discount but had to pay full price for tow kids. Ridiculous. Half term should be discounted.
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Post by lynette on Sept 5, 2023 19:08:21 GMT
Fab - that will be a big boost to him. Great story.
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Post by lynette on Sept 5, 2023 19:06:21 GMT
Neat.
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Post by lynette on Sept 5, 2023 19:05:47 GMT
It’s interesting hearing the more positive responses about this here. I saw it on press night and thought it a load of drivel. A production which really missed the point and was let down by some seriously poor casting. Oh well! Maybe it got better over the summer months? Maybe Lily Allen developed a third tone of line delivery? We saw it 24 June did not enjoy it all Maybe it isn’t a very good play…..
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Post by lynette on Sept 5, 2023 19:03:22 GMT
I’m very sorry if any theatres have been affected - terrible for all but you don’t think that the NT has any of this faulty concrete do you, do you…do you..? According to The Stage it’s been found in backstage areas but is safe and will not require repairs. So no knocking it down and starting again then?
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Post by lynette on Sept 5, 2023 11:34:30 GMT
I thought I read that Lady Macbeth was Irish and that was to make her more of an outsider Just checked and Valene Kane is, indeed, from NI O marvellous. Can’t wait for actors having to submit DNA and heritage status for future casting. Seeing it later in the month and knowing that WS can survive almost anything in production ( sticks for swords, R&J anyone?) I will keep an open mind.
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Post by lynette on Sept 5, 2023 11:31:04 GMT
I’m gonna say it and then go away. This play is the one play that is better as a musical. My Fair Lady is an improvement on the play. Whatever you do with the ending, just hearing a couple of lines of dialogue and a song emerges… said it. Bye.
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Post by lynette on Sept 5, 2023 11:27:34 GMT
Not diggin in, though not sure what you mean by that. I might well read the book as many have praised it. But good books do not always make good plays. Imo, it isn’t a good play. It’s a docudrama 😁 The title isn't alright is it? The play has to be about the son to be so titled. It isn't. And it isn't about the son making his father into who he became, by having similar name to a Danish Prince. That is just silly. Diggin in enough for you? Not sure what your last para means. Are you saying the play IS about what you say it isn’t about? Otherwise what’s the point of saying it isn’t about that? It also isn’t about Martians landing - that would be silly too. You are excluding an awful lot of play titles if the play has to be all about the title in your prescriptive world. Cymbeline for one. Hundreds more. A resonant connection is enough for me. Or, actually, whatever the writer wants to call it. Sorry, Alexandra, I didn’t get back to you sooner. I can see my comments are rather convoluted. What i mean is that calling the play Hamnet is trading on the name of the Play Hamlet. This play, Hamnet, attempts to show how WS was inspired by his son, the son’s tragic death and thereby became the brilliant playwright we know he became.
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Post by lynette on Sept 5, 2023 11:21:43 GMT
I’m very sorry if any theatres have been affected - terrible for all but you don’t think that the NT has any of this faulty concrete do you, do you…do you..?
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Post by lynette on Sept 4, 2023 11:19:00 GMT
Video, sound, a caravan. And a good lead. Brilliant play to tour
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Post by lynette on Sept 4, 2023 11:16:30 GMT
We often get ‘Indian summers’ with warm days in Sept and October. Plays hell with marketing winter clothing.
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Post by lynette on Sept 2, 2023 14:39:47 GMT
People, people, this is a play with a time span in it. If you want to discuss current football do it on the general section or write another play with new time span. And we will discuss it. Promise.
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Post by lynette on Sept 2, 2023 14:35:49 GMT
Are all the cast really Scottish? I once was taken round an acting school and a class was going on. I was mesmerised. All the actors were Scottish…it was a class on accents.
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Post by lynette on Aug 29, 2023 17:17:24 GMT
Are the dress rehearsal tix to try it out? So they may make a few changes. Reading the comments above, ‘you have to concentrate’ and ‘hard work’ I think not for me. Uncle Vanya is a peach of a play though
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Post by lynette on Aug 26, 2023 12:47:01 GMT
Perhaps it's because I don't live in London, but even the Elizabeth Line shocks me as to how primitive it is in the 21st century. The seats are incredibly uncomfortable, there are no on-board toilets, and the time to get from Heathrow Terminal 5 to Tottenham Court Road (just under 19 miles) is a staggering 37 minutes. That's an average speed of just 31mph. And all this for how many millions! Toilets? It’s a tube train. I’ve been on Japanese trains and they are certainly fab but they are for longer journeys. The tube is for short journeys. We do suffer from a lack of public loos for sure but you can access loos in cafes, pubs etc all over London and even in stations. I’ve got a very acceptable loo in my local station.
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