7,491 posts
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Post by alece10 on Mar 16, 2017 14:49:22 GMT
I totally loved it and it didn't feel long at all! Sounds like a date I once had with an Olivier award winning actor. I can say no more thanks to a super injunction . . . Stop being smutty! Go wash your mouth out.......
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Post by showgirl on Mar 19, 2017 5:07:22 GMT
Saw the matinee yesterday (2 hours 50) and enjoyed it but am still struggling to assess it. Is it really meant to be a straightforward comedy, like French Without Tears? Certainly there was none of the customary Rattigan darkness and though some of the humour was wry, it wasn't the bitter or bittersweet type I associate with much of his work; however, I don't know if there was simply none there or a directorial choice made to play it down. I can't now recall the earlier version (Less Than Kind and which I saw at Jermyn Street Theatre) with which to compare it. Overall, for all the talk of war, rationing, belt-tightening, a new social order and so on, this was drawing room comedy rather than kitchen sink drama - despite some of the later action literally taking place at the kitchen sink.
As an aside, on the subject of Rattigan plays set during or shortly after WW2, whilst Flare Path is relatively frequently seen, I'd love to see a revival of While The Sun Shines; there was a well-reviewed production at the Theatre Royal Bath recently and I was so hoping that it would tour or transfer, but it didn't.
EDIT: though the site is showing sold out, the odd few tickets have popped up if anyone is interested.
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Xanderl
Member
Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on Mar 19, 2017 8:27:37 GMT
Enjoyed this but it's very long! The long winded set change doesn't help although I was impressed that Anthony Head pitched in with shifting furniture There's a detailed article about the two versions of the play here - www.dramaonlinelibrary.com/books/love-in-idleness-less-than-kind-iid-136188/do-9781784601577-div-00000003The tone of Less Than Kind is more serious, and Sir John is far less sympathetic- it's made clear that he's a war profiteer, and that Michael is correct rather than the idiot he appears to be in Love in Idleness However I'm now confused as the article says that another major change is that in Love in Idleness Michael's date is not the ex-wife, and the fact that Sir John has been manipulating him is not there So I'm wondering if this production is actually a hybrid of the two versions, or if there was some interim version by Rattigan - it does appear he did one set of rewrites then more were demanded during rehearsals And I always moan about this but the Menier is damned uncomfortable! They have clearly shoved in 1 or 2 more people than will actually fit on each bench.
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Post by mallardo on Mar 19, 2017 8:40:41 GMT
I saw Less Than Kind in Richmond a few years ago and remember Sir John as being very sympathetic while Michael was something of a spoiled brat - so xanderl's hybrid version idea might be correct.
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Post by wickedgrin on Mar 19, 2017 10:17:42 GMT
And I always moan about this but the Menier is damned uncomfortable! They have clearly shoved in 1 or 2 more people than will actually fit on each bench. I quite agree - loathe the venue, seating and the high prices. I go as little as possible for these reasons although I have booked for Lettice and Lovage
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Post by Tibidabo on Mar 19, 2017 10:23:27 GMT
Another one here who hates the venue. As well as the horrendous seating, those dark stairs should be condemned as I have twice arrived at the bottom somewhat quicker than I'd have liked. I shall be going to both Love in Idleness and Lettice wearing my studded tights....let that be a warning to anyone who tries to sit on my lap.
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Post by showgirl on Mar 19, 2017 15:22:17 GMT
The seating configuration is different yet again and not one I've seen before at this venue. I was fed up to find that what I had taken to be an aisle seat, and had booked expressly for that reason, was, whilst inner end of row, as far as possible from the actual gangway. Hence, having left it until late to enter the auditorium to avoid others having to pass me, I ended up being the one squeezing apologetically past the whole of the row. As for trying to exit at the end and rush to another play with a 7.15 pm start and unreserved seating, aargh - it must have taken a good 5 minutes for everyone to file out; goodness knows what would happen if there was an emergency evacuation.
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7,491 posts
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Post by alece10 on Mar 19, 2017 16:09:48 GMT
That configuration is used quite often. Last used for Travesties and also for The Color Purple. There are 2 further exits for emergencies so the venue would be able to empty quickly.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2017 17:29:15 GMT
Saw this on Friday night. Two hours and fifty minutes (8pm start, interval around 9.20).
Performances are generally very good. Edward Bluemel is terrific - I expect he's going to be in very high demand very soon. Eve Best is typically wonderful. Anthony Head was surprisingly good.
Very appreciative audience. Lots of laughter - especially on lines that reference a part of London in a droll manner (south of the river Thames bearing the brunt here) - which I personally find hugely annoying.
Amusing at times, but very lightweight. I wanted more, but that could be more a fault with me than the play - which is deliberately a bit farcical at times.
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Post by theatrelover123 on Mar 19, 2017 20:23:53 GMT
It is Eve Best is it not?
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Post by theatrelover123 on Mar 19, 2017 20:25:28 GMT
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Post by showgirl on Mar 20, 2017 5:15:43 GMT
That configuration is used quite often. Last used for Travesties and also for The Color Purple. There are 2 further exits for emergencies so the venue would be able to empty quickly. Interesting; thank you, alece10. Whilst I don't go to everything at the MCF (and have moaned about the prices being the main reason), I probably do visit several times per year and have never seen this layout before; I have always entered the auditorium from the rhs and via a rather circuitous route so was temporarily thrown to enter from the left and to find the seating appear almost immediately on my right. I do think it would be worth their while to consider what a very long, frustrating process it is for patrons to enter and leave and if there were any alternative to having all the theatregoers traipse through the restaurant, and at a busy time, that would be helpful, too - but maybe there are no other options. However, at the very least they could make clear on the seating plan where the aisles are - and aren't!
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7,491 posts
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Post by alece10 on Mar 20, 2017 7:13:00 GMT
That configuration is used quite often. Last used for Travesties and also for The Color Purple. There are 2 further exits for emergencies so the venue would be able to empty quickly. Interesting; thank you, alece10. Whilst I don't go to everything at the MCF (and have moaned about the prices being the main reason), I probably do visit several times per year and have never seen this layout before; I have always entered the auditorium from the rhs and via a rather circuitous route so was temporarily thrown to enter from the left and to find the seating appear almost immediately on my right. I do think it would be worth their while to consider what a very long, frustrating process it is for patrons to enter and leave and if there were any alternative to having all the theatregoers traipse through the restaurant, and at a busy time, that would be helpful, too - but maybe there are no other options. However, at the very least they could make clear on the seating plan where the aisles are - and aren't! Southgirl. You did enter the theatre exactly the same way as you normally do. There is just one entrance down the stairs. You were probably thrown by the layout thinking you had come in another way. But I have a feeling that when tickets went on sale the seating plan was different and the same as it was for She Loves Me which would explain the change to the aisle seats. Although don't quote me on this as my memory isn't what it was.
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Post by CG on the loose on Mar 20, 2017 7:24:07 GMT
Spot on alece10 - I noticed the other day that the seating plan had been changed since booking first opened. Have also lost my aisle seat in the process but hey ho!
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Post by showgirl on Mar 20, 2017 7:58:33 GMT
At least you are forewarned, CG on the loose! And I don't want to bore others and stray further off-topic and I know my memory isn't that reliable, either, but I could swear I have previously always entered the auditorium from the right, or maybe centrally from the rear. I'm also sure I attended a production where wandering round a corridor before entering was part of the set, but I can't remember which play or show this was for.
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1,329 posts
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Post by CG on the loose on Mar 20, 2017 8:21:46 GMT
Indeed - I am prepared and shall take my seat early! I always find it a little disconcerting when they've swivelled the whole auditorium on its axis! Love how flexible the space is though
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Xanderl
Member
Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on Mar 20, 2017 8:55:37 GMT
At least you are forewarned, CG on the loose! And I don't want to bore others and stray further off-topic and I know my memory isn't that reliable, either, but I could swear I have previously always entered the auditorium from the right, or maybe centrally from the rear. I'm also sure I attended a production where wandering round a corridor before entering was part of the set, but I can't remember which play or show this was for. I think "Pippin" involved wandering through a corridor set up like a bedroom to get in to the auditorium. As others have said, only one door in but in some cases I think you then walk down a "temporary corridor" and enter the auditorium from another direction. The new food market and bar (Flat Iron Square) next to the Menier is pretty good, incidentally.
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Post by showgirl on Mar 20, 2017 9:12:09 GMT
Thank you, xanderl - I did indeed see Pippin, so that must've been when the way in formed part of the set. And the flexibility of the space is clearly an advantage. I always hope to pop into Borough Market or any other food market near a venue, but there is rarely time, what with dashing from one theatre to the next.
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7,491 posts
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Post by alece10 on Mar 20, 2017 9:21:12 GMT
It's always the same entrance. Just different once inside depending on the seating. Sometimes right into the seats, sometimes curtained off passageway and if anyone remembers Assassins you had to skirt around a puddle oF mud and a dodgem car with Jamie Parker sitting in it to get to your seat.
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Post by jason71 on Mar 20, 2017 9:49:40 GMT
Can you get day seats at this venue?
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7,491 posts
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Post by alece10 on Mar 20, 2017 10:34:23 GMT
Can you get day seats at this venue? No only returns. You can queue from 6pm
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Post by Honoured Guest on Mar 20, 2017 10:51:37 GMT
I hear that for Lettice and Lovage you will go down the stairs as usual but then be directed to climb a narrow vertical diving ladder to reach a platform from which you will be required to abseil into the auditorium.
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7,491 posts
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Post by alece10 on Mar 20, 2017 15:00:55 GMT
I hear that for Lettice and Lovage you will go down the stairs as usual but then be directed to climb a narrow vertical diving ladder to reach a platform from which you will be required to abseil into the auditorium. And bring swimwear as you land into a paddling pool.
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3,926 posts
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Post by Dawnstar on Mar 20, 2017 19:48:39 GMT
I can't now recall the earlier version (Less Than Kind and which I saw at Jermyn Street Theatre) with which to compare it. I didn't realise this is a different version of Less Than Kind. Suddenly interested in seeing it, having seen Less Than Kind on tour 5 years ago. Just had a look at the Menier website & found a single seat in the front row for 8th April matinee, which is my next free London show slot. Perfect. Well, apart from the Menier's rather killing ticket prices!
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3,470 posts
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Post by showgirl on Mar 21, 2017 4:14:20 GMT
I've seen 2 5-star reviews within minutes of logging on this morning; does a transfer beckon or is it already in the pipeline?
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Xanderl
Member
Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on Mar 21, 2017 7:24:24 GMT
Michael Billington's review - www.theguardian.com/stage/2017/mar/21/love-in-idleness-review-terence-rattigan-menier-trevor-nunn - confirms that Trevor Nunn has done a cut-and-shut of the two versions, shoving the final act of Less than Kind onto the first two acts of Love in Idleness. Which seems like a weird thing to do as it's hard to reconcile the lovable avuncular version of Sir John with what he does to Michael with his ex-wife Bit annoying as my main reason to pay Menier prices to see this was to be able to compare the two versions of the play. Maybe this is made clear in the programme? Didn't buy one.
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Post by RedRose on Mar 21, 2017 12:14:10 GMT
Michael Billington's review - www.theguardian.com/stage/2017/mar/21/love-in-idleness-review-terence-rattigan-menier-trevor-nunn - confirms that Trevor Nunn has don Bit annoying as my e a cut-and-shut of the two versions, shoving the final act of Less than Kind onto the first two acts of Love in Idleness. Which seems like a weird thing to do main reason to pay Menier prices to see this was to be able to compare the two versions of the play. Maybe this is made clear in the programme? Didn't buy one. I think it is similarly explained in the programme.
Why do you think so? I think it's no problem at all in which way it is presented and Anthony Head makes this character believable and he is still very likeable {Spoiler - click to view} even though with the seemingly twist concerning his character - he is not an innocent character in the first place, but certainly not that bad character her son thinks he is - it's easy to forgive him what he has done because her son is such a selfish brat and it is a kind of revenge he can bear.
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Post by PalelyLaura on Mar 21, 2017 16:47:11 GMT
I personally didn't find the blending of the two plays a problem from a coherence point of view, but as, like xanderl, I booked in order to compare Love in Idleness with Less Than Kind, I'm a bit annoyed with it.
Having said that, I really enjoyed it, and particularly thought Eve Best was wonderful, so I can live with it.
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3,470 posts
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Post by showgirl on Mar 21, 2017 19:18:27 GMT
A rather frivolous point but several reviews have raved about Edward Bluemel and some have even called him handsome, yet I thought he looked quite weird and definitely not attractive.
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Post by Honoured Guest on Mar 21, 2017 22:02:29 GMT
Maybe "handsome" refers to his period look?
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