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Post by bellboard27 on May 12, 2017 14:37:28 GMT
Bellboard - I think I have been at the same performance as you. Were you seated in the centre area near the edge of the circle towards the bit of the stage where some dramatic scaffolding/smoke appeared? I'm only guessing that person might have been you because he looked a bit like you avatar.... Unfortunately my avatar diverges from reality! I was in row A (the lower, less comfortable seats than the usual benches). I do wonder if being in the centre circle and lying down as the stars, planets, sun, etc., are projected in the planetarium space overhead is the best place to be!
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Post by bellboard27 on May 11, 2017 21:43:22 GMT
At Three Sisters tonight at the Piccadilly people were coming in in a steady stream for the first 25 minutes of the play. Quite distracting. I suspect a 7.15 rather than a 7.30 start caught some out.
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Post by bellboard27 on May 11, 2017 21:40:06 GMT
At Three Sisters tonight at the Piccadilly were Caroline Blakiston, Joanna David and Gemma Jones.
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Post by bellboard27 on May 9, 2017 15:55:44 GMT
This was mad and brilliant. An excellent score and singers. I had to laugh when the sheep were put on in one back corner with a hand trying to encourage them to move further one stage. Given what happens to them, their reluctance was understandable!
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Post by bellboard27 on May 7, 2017 17:17:00 GMT
I saw this last night (6th May) at the ROH, and absolutely LOVED it! It is absolutely bonkers, with music to match, but it is so well-written and theatrical. I wasn't bored once. I particularly liked the music for the young lovers. Loved the staging - very simple but effective, and the cast of singers were superb. I will definitely be seeing this again with the Met HD in November, which I believe is then being released on DVD/Blu-ray. Excellent! I'm going tomorrow.
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Post by bellboard27 on May 6, 2017 22:25:29 GMT
So. Got out at 10.45, but we started 10 mins late and interval lasted extra 10 mins - much of that was due to getting people seated.
Note the action does also take place in the central area amongst those sitting on the floor. As a result those there cannot take in coats or bags. For those in the centre inevitably action takes place behind them so there might be a need to shuffle around a bit.
Row A seats are quite low (not the usual YV benches), so are not particularly comfortable.
As to the production - well they have turned the YV into a planetarium. As the sun looms overhead the music shakes your body! I liked the performances, esp Galileo and Andrea. It's Brecht, of course, with music, puppets, comments to the audience, etc.
Finally, for the audience participation phobes, as stated earlier, there really isn't any. Some in the centre circle are spoken to, but it doesn't amount to anything.
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Post by bellboard27 on May 6, 2017 18:25:17 GMT
Am at first preview. To clarify on seating. The stage is a circle with four areas at cardinal points for further action. Stalls are 4 rows in 4 sections in between these 4 areas. Inside the circle is a padded floor with scattered cushions. This is the stage seating. Will report later on how this works out.
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Post by bellboard27 on May 4, 2017 15:00:27 GMT
I believe Martin Crimp has been inspired to write "The Announcement". Royal officials from across the UK (used to symbolise different UK communities) are summoned to the Palace to persuade Prince Philip to retire. As they struggle behind closed doors, outside the World waits expectantly not knowing what the future will hold. Will our lives change forever?
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Post by bellboard27 on May 4, 2017 8:17:34 GMT
Could there be a half way house between carrying on and abdication? Could the Queen "retire" on health grounds and Charles take over as Regent?
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Post by bellboard27 on May 2, 2017 23:05:30 GMT
However I know many people like to go in "blind"* and therefore I'd never discuss in the theatre what's going to happen before it happens. *No offence intended to blind people - see the no clapping thread in the General section! I understand the PC phrase is now, "to go in jazz-handed," Dawnstar. I'm afraid "jazz" excludes the syncopationally challenged.
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Post by bellboard27 on Apr 29, 2017 12:50:10 GMT
Even seeking out the isosceles triangles couldn't lift our spirits. I apologise for using the word "isosceles." Using it was the most fun I had with that word since I foolishly caved in to coaching my nephew Sundays on his GCSE maths, for which he was predicted a D and needs to be lifted to a B. Next stop, I'm throwing out references to "Pythagoras," "half the base times the height" and "sohcahtoa." You have been warned. Also, as soon as there's a tube strike, I'm jumping in there with bo--ocks like "if Foxa arrives at Farringdon station at 1.50pm and walks at 3 miles an hour towards the Barbican, will she make it to the theatre by 2pm to see her favorite play, Obsession, again?" Those keen on geometry should pop over to the National for a play about transatlantic trigonometry - Angles in America
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Post by bellboard27 on Apr 28, 2017 8:48:11 GMT
Trailer:
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Post by bellboard27 on Apr 28, 2017 8:00:58 GMT
Wouldn't jazz hands exclude blind people?
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Post by bellboard27 on Apr 27, 2017 10:31:02 GMT
Hate it! I particularly remember from around 22 years ago, in what was a very funny show actually, a few of us cowering in absolute dread in about Row E of the stalls when Dame Edna was on the lookout for serious audience participation. Thank God we weren't chosen! I remember Dame Edna spotting a group of gentlemen sitting together and referred to them all night as "my little Brideshead boys". They loved it! Obviously, when I'm playing panto dame, I need audience participation (otherwise the show is about 20 minutes long!) and I usually pick on an audience member for more "prolonged" attention. I have on occasion got it wrong, but once you have started you have to carry on, I just tone it down a bit. As for participation in more "legit" theatre, I have to change sides and say, no. Leave me alone to enjoy your participation. I ended up on stage at the Palladium due to urging from Dame Edna's alter ego Les Patterson. Ended up cooking a barbecue and sitting down for a rather horrible meal. I enjoyed the experience! Generally I am happy for audience participation although it is perfectly possible to design it badly.
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Post by bellboard27 on Apr 26, 2017 23:29:54 GMT
I was there also!
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Post by bellboard27 on Apr 26, 2017 6:32:35 GMT
I once heard that you could fit the entirety of the Fortune Theatre, foyer, box office, toilets, auditorium, stage etc, just on the stage of the Dominion. Does anyone know if that's actually true? I don't know, you could certainly work out the perimeter measurements of the Fortune easily enough if you had a decent map, then it would simply be a matter of finding out the area of the Dominion stage. Up-and-down would be a little harder, but you could certainly do the side-to-side and front-to-back. But how do you propose to get the entirety of the Fortune Theatre into the Dominion? Would you knock a massive hole in the back wall of the Dominion and then drag the entirety of the Fortune through it on to the stage? Or would you painstakingly demolish the Fortune, carefully labeling the fragments, and then take them into the Dominion by the usual stage access and rebuild the Fortune on the Dominion's stage? Neither method would be free of potential pitfalls. And how do you propose to support the weight of the entirety of the Fortune Theatre on the Dominion's stage? I doubt that it is feasible. Better to leave the Fortune Theatre where it is, I feel. No. Why not have it as a project for the next theatreboard meet up? Better surely than just sitting around drinking.
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Post by bellboard27 on Apr 23, 2017 9:38:49 GMT
Thought it useful to summarise some reviews: The Stage, WOS: 4 ⭐️ Express, Telegraph: 3 ⭐️ Evening Standard, Guardian, Time Out: 2 ⭐️
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Post by bellboard27 on Apr 22, 2017 17:08:59 GMT
Went to the matinee today. Excellent time - great fun! Agree with others about issues with Claudius' diction, but that is a minor point.
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Post by bellboard27 on Apr 22, 2017 12:17:32 GMT
Seeing this tonight! Any warnings on what the audience participation is and how to avoid it would be very welcome - we're not going to have to actually goose step round the stage are we...? Downstairs various audience members are involved as a dead body, carriers of kerosene, defendant in a trial, etc. There is also one simple request for all audience activity right at the end. If you are downstairs, before it starts you might get to have a dance with some of the cast as the jazz plays in the Chicago club.
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Obsession
Apr 21, 2017 22:25:03 GMT
via mobile
Post by bellboard27 on Apr 21, 2017 22:25:03 GMT
Good grief! That leaves me with 3 weeks of glorious anticipation before I go!
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Post by bellboard27 on Apr 21, 2017 22:14:58 GMT
Started 10 mins late, run time 3hrs. Out at 10.45.
Big changes in the layout. Downstairs seating gone and replaced by tables and wooden chairs so action is in the round. Even the circle goes to 4 sides rather than 3.
Spent the first half with a grin on my face - very enjoyable performances and direction. Tom Edden steels several scenes from the prologue on. 2nd half darker, more violent.
There is quite a lot of audience participation - several individuals and collectively.
Overall it was in good shape for a first preview. Audience very enthusiastic.
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Post by bellboard27 on Apr 21, 2017 14:15:54 GMT
Seems there is not a separate thread on this. First preview tonight (21 April). I'm going so will see how this is.
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Post by bellboard27 on Apr 20, 2017 23:20:53 GMT
The Almeida apparently is not to be outdone. It has lined up over 60 actors to read Das Kapital in its entirety and for it to be livestreamed.
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Post by bellboard27 on Apr 20, 2017 20:01:02 GMT
Let us know how busy it is. Presumably you will get there after 10.30 pm on Saturday after Butterfly, so curious to know what it is like then. Have a great time!!
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Post by bellboard27 on Apr 20, 2017 18:32:35 GMT
It's press night at The Philanthropist. All sorts going in, from the younger contingent like Jack Whitehall and Joe Thomas, old timers like Lesley Joseph and Nigel Havers to journalist types like Greg Dyke and Simon Jenkins. I was just passing by!
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