1,244 posts
|
Post by londonmzfitz on Nov 2, 2017 14:40:25 GMT
Eating around here - depends if you want a toasted sandwich or a tablecloth and cutlery ...
If you leave London Bridge by the Tooley Street exit you will walk past a Pret. Further on is Hays Galleria; there is a little deli place on the corner with seats. Walk into the Galleria and there is a Café Rouge and a Costa. Walk further and you pass Leons (it’s tiny, and chilly though). Another coffee place (Café Nero?). At the square in front of More London is a Jamies Italian, across the road on the corner of Bermondsey Street is Chilango Mexican (never tried it, sorry). On the same side as Chilango is Shad Indian Restaurant, eaten there twice and enjoyed it. Back towards Jamies Italian and walk down towards the River Thames is Gaucho’s, and next door is somewhere I had very good Chinese dumplings. If you are early, I’d recommend visiting Bermondsey Street which has many bars serving food. Alternately, walk over Tower Bridge to St Katherines Dock (5 minutes from The Bridge Theatre), where there is a Slug & Lettuce serving food, another Café Rouge (sign up for excellent deals, 30% off all food, etc); and other places to eat in the shadow of The Tower of London and overlooking the pretty dock with fancy boats.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2017 20:15:35 GMT
|
|
4,596 posts
|
Post by Someone in a tree on Nov 3, 2017 10:16:12 GMT
Lovely theatre. So easy to find and so central.
Very relaxing foyer space - I’m guessing they are open during the day to catch all passing trade?
But god the play was tedious. Not informative, moving or political. RK was brilliant (he always is) but the production was like time travelling back 10 years to ‘glory days’ of the Travelex Season.
I can’t believe they chose to open a brand new spanking theatre with this dud ... I not sure when I will visit this theatre again
|
|
5,592 posts
|
Post by lynette on Nov 3, 2017 12:28:47 GMT
You remind me of the opening of the Olivier with that dreadful Goldoni farce. They had the choice of the world's Theatre but chose a dud. But this wasn’t that bad. It was entertaining rather than mind expanding.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2017 12:54:03 GMT
You remind me of the opening of the Olivier with that dreadful Goldoni farce. They had the choice of the world's Theatre but chose a dud. But this wasn’t that bad. It was entertaining rather than mind expanding. Indeed! I was thinking about this and Heisenberg as choices to open new companies/theatres with. And I think there's something to be said for playing it safe in some respects. While it might look good to go in guns blazing (So Company for Elliott Harper and perhaps Julius for The Bridge) actually if you're 'testing the water' going in quietly is possibly a better option. If Young Marx doesn't set the world on fire, or sell out the run- it probably won't- it doesn't matter in the scheme of things, it lets Hytner open the theatre, bed in all that stuff with a solid decent play doing solid business. Likewise for Elliott Harper, they got decent if not rave reviews but weren't trashed. And if they can limp on to the end of the run they've lost a limited amount- conversely Company is a big show and a big gamble (it could get utterly trashed in the reviews lets face it). So I think for both companies they're going for a 'play it safe (and cheaper) and build on it' Anyhoo all to say Marx is a fun, entertaining evening out. I saw someone rip it to shreds on Twitter and frankly I can't imagine having that strong a feeling about it either way - it's a well acted, decently written piece of theatre and sometimes that's ok.
|
|
6,326 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by Jon on Nov 3, 2017 13:36:16 GMT
I think Hytner and Starr going for Young Marx, a new play rather than a safe revival was a way of showing that the Bridge is for new plays rather than being the NT 2.0 I’m sure if they have a flop or two down the line, they’ll get a star studded revival for Hytner to direct to fill the coffers
|
|
5,592 posts
|
Post by lynette on Nov 3, 2017 14:45:07 GMT
Guys and Dolls?
|
|
131 posts
|
Post by blobble84 on Nov 4, 2017 17:15:40 GMT
Well, that was dull.
|
|
724 posts
|
Post by Latecomer on Nov 4, 2017 17:53:44 GMT
I rather enjoyed it!However egg mayonnaise sandwich was frankly pathetic. Plus if you had rearranged the small bite sized pieces it would only have made 3/4 of a round. Poor bread, no garnish £6. Coffee,filter only,small cups from an urn. Cakes looked splendid but didn't try. Need to improve this catering!
|
|
587 posts
|
Post by Polly1 on Nov 4, 2017 21:25:30 GMT
I rather enjoyed it!However egg mayonnaise sandwich was frankly pathetic. Plus if you had rearranged the small bite sized pieces it would only have made 3/4 of a round. Poor bread, no garnish £6. Coffee,filter only,small cups from an urn. Cakes looked splendid but didn't try. Need to improve this catering! Lovely to see Latecomer again and meet peggs. Theatre 9/10, they have really put some thought in, much-vaunted loos excellent. Programme 8/10 Play 6/10 fun and engrossing Seats 6/10 (I think I broke mine!) Lack of perspective from front row but nice to be close. Catering 1/10 see Latecomer's comments - disgusting, over-priced sandwich. Cakes looked nice tho. Overall a good experience, pleasant walk along the river, will be lovely in the summer. Oh, and at least 11/10 for the divine Nancy Carroll, as always
|
|
3,475 posts
|
Post by showgirl on Nov 5, 2017 5:21:56 GMT
What, were there 3 of you at yesterday's matinee, Latecomer, peggs and Polly1? I wish I'd known since so far as I can see, I was the only one who posted (in the "This Week I Am Going To See" thread, which is after all optional) that I'd be seeing this - though of course, you might not have wanted to meet me! I quite liked the new theatre but it was frustrating to get there an hour early (over-allowing for rail engineering work and finding a venue new to me) to discover that there was already nowhere whatsoever to sit, as though there was ample seating, it was all fully occupied, so I had to skulk about like a lost soul until the downstairs foyer opened. However, it's obviously good that there is so much seating for those who arrive early enough, and that the theatre seems so popular already with patrons. The setting was really attractive, even on a rather cold, wet and windy November day when you don't want to linger outside: set back from the Thames and at an angle, so with a beautiful view of the north bank and the landscaped gardens; I can imagine the area being thronged in better weather and it's so much more spacious and appealing than the equivalent further west by the NT/South Bank, which is cramped and now horribly overcrowded, as not designed for the numbers now visiting or passing through. Once in the auditorium, I could see why people were comparing it to the Dorfman and my visit provided useful intel for any future bookings, as I'd aim to pay less and sit somewhere else. I had one of those cheaper, tip-up, end-of-row stalls seats, which was still expensive by my usual standards and not worth it; also unexpectedly precarious, as at one point I must have shifted my weight slightly (probably trying in vain to get comfortable!), only for the whole contraption to start to fold up and tip me off. Obviously I don't expect the same comfort as offered by the adjacent seats for a lower price and I had no problem with the seat width, but the seat instability was an unexpected drawback (I have sat in this type of seat in the Dorfman and it felt far more secure) and as for the seat depth - aargh! I suppose the designer(s) had to compromise somewhere to balance cost, comfort and view, but the seat depth is hellishly inadequate and I'm not even tall. Moreover, so far as I could see, it was no better in the more expensive seats alongside, so if I were to return, I'd have to be really keen, rather than booking on spec as I was for this first visit. I'd also aim for something cheaper, as if the view was no worse and the seat no less uncomfortable, I might as well at least save unnecessary expense. As for the play, I agree with Polly1's 6/10: it was fun at times and we were out by 4.40 pm (so sooner than advertised), but it felt under-powered to me and not entirely sure of what it wanted to be or was trying to do.
|
|
4,596 posts
|
Post by Someone in a tree on Nov 5, 2017 8:05:10 GMT
Beyond the Bridge Theatre what future do think the play will have?
|
|
587 posts
|
Post by Polly1 on Nov 5, 2017 11:31:30 GMT
Aw, showgirl, of course we would have wanted to meet you, and could have saved you a seat in the foyer too! Sorry, don't read the 'I'm going to...' thread much. I agree that the depth of the theatre seats wasn't great, the extra legroom in the front row meant I didn't notice but it may be an issue for other rows. Also I was wondering in an idle sleepless moment, how differently would this play and St. George have been received if they'd been in the other's theatre? Did Marx get an easier ride as it was the Bridge's first production? If it had been in the Olivier I think a few more critical knives would have come out, whereas if George had been at the Bridge, I believe more allowance would have been made (plus it may well have benefited from Hytner's wisdom before it got to the stage!)
|
|
724 posts
|
Post by Latecomer on Nov 5, 2017 12:06:32 GMT
Yes, sorry showgirl....always love to meet forum people! Like Polly1 hadn't read thread recently. Apologies. Should have worn forum badge!
|
|
2,389 posts
|
Post by peggs on Nov 5, 2017 16:46:38 GMT
It would in fact be plain mean at this point to say we were there hours early and even had a spare chair you could of used, sorry Showgirl! I'm sure you would have been vastly interested in Latecomers horror at her egg sandwich or my horseraddish making me incapable of speech. I don't read the i'm going this week thread mainly as it makes me very envious. I would have quite enjoyed staring at people and wondering if they were you had I known but would have been too socially inept to actually risk speaking to anyone. I did think that yes if you weren't there pretty early it was something of an open space to try and lurk in for any amount of time, fine when warmer but not so good now. I missed the seat depth, was too busy trying to sit very upright to see over the high stage wondering which of the actors was Nancy Carrol but not daring to ask as knew i'd have horrified Latecomer and Polly1 for not knowing
|
|
3,475 posts
|
Post by showgirl on Nov 5, 2017 18:54:57 GMT
Honestly, ladies (Latecomer, Polly1 and peggs), no harm done if we didn't know the other party was there, and I don't expect anyone necessarily to read, let alone memorise the content of the "This week " (etc) thread - I probably tend to notice mainly when others are seeing something I'm also seeing, or have already seen. I'm just disappointed, as despite being a keen and regular theatregoer, I've never yet knowingly met a single Theatreboard member, so missing the chance to score a hat-trick seems even more of wasted opportunity. And peggs , I assure you, I would have been extremely interested in any feedback (!) on the catering; possibly, and reprehensibly, more so than in the production itself. As for your inability to identify Nancy Carroll, I think I matched that by wondering who was playing Mrs Marx - I only found out afterwards, having forgotten that NC was in this. In fairness I had only seen her on stage once before and that was 7 years ago - though she did make a huge impression on me at the time.
|
|
534 posts
|
Post by jek on Nov 5, 2017 19:13:56 GMT
We really enjoyed this this afternoon. My teens and I were discussing how it owed something to Horrible HIstories (which they are of an age to have grown up watching) and to the more recent Quacks (which also starred Rory Kinnear). Thought all the cast were excellent and good to see Nancy Carroll as something other than Fr Brown's sidekick (daytime TV viewer here!) Also thought the programme was very good - Francis Wheen's piece on how accurate the history is was fascinating. The free Madeleines weren't a patch on the ones that my daughter makes but we get to eat those super fresh. It's a shame there weren't more people in the theatre - I'm sure lots of people would enjoy it.
|
|
4,596 posts
|
Post by Someone in a tree on Nov 5, 2017 21:04:00 GMT
We really enjoyed this this afternoon. My teens and I were discussing how it owed something to Horrible HIstories (which they are of an age to have grown up watching) and to the more recent Quacks (which also starred Rory Kinnear). Thought all the cast were excellent and good to see Nancy Carroll as something other than Fr Brown's sidekick (daytime TV viewer here!) Also thought the programme was very good - Francis Wheen's piece on how accurate the history is was fascinating. The free Madeleines weren't a patch on the ones that my daughter makes but we get to eat those super fresh. It's a shame there weren't more people in the theatre - I'm sure lots of people would enjoy it. They are free ?! How on earth did I miss that ? I’m a bad Yorkshire man ...
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2017 21:06:48 GMT
They are free to ticketholders on, I believe, two very specific Sundays only. I got an email the other day that was far keener on promoting the madeleines than the play...
|
|
2,389 posts
|
Post by peggs on Nov 5, 2017 21:11:44 GMT
The free Madeleines weren't a patch on the ones that my daughter makes but we get to eat those super fresh. It's a shame there weren't more people in the theatre - I'm sure lots of people would enjoy it. They are free ?! How on earth did I miss that ? I’m a bad Yorkshire man ... Just on a couple of pre advertised sundays I think. Well the theatre is a very doable ten minutes plod from London bridge, has noted has amazing views across the river and should work very well in the warmer months with lots of food places, places to wander nearby. In the colder months you've got to pre-plan a bit more and get there early enough to bag a seat. Big open entrance, free water, lots of toilets, double plus, comfy seats, nowhere looked like it would seem that far away from the stage and like those angled side seats. Play a bit mixed, I do like a bit of revolve action and it was nicely acted with some loud blasts of interconnecting music. The play didn't seem 100% sure what it was after, so mainly comedy, some of it unnecessarily broad but with added serious tones layered on top that sometimes sat better than others. i'd have preferred less laughs (especially from the ecstatic couple behind me) and more serious but that would have been a whole different playwright. No if London bridge could just get finished so there were some trains for me could be great.
|
|
3,475 posts
|
Post by showgirl on Nov 6, 2017 4:56:05 GMT
Re the play itself: I listened to the review on R4's "Saturday Review" a week before seeing this and happened to check it again the day after, and what really struck me was the presenter's remark that on the evening he went, Tom Stoppard and Michael Frayn were sitting behind him, so he couldn't help wishing he was watching the Stoppard version of the story. He didn't mention MF in this context, oddly, but I'd have thought the same idea applied, i.e. that it would have been a different but perhaps more satisfying play.
On the other hand, had it been by either of the alternative authors, I might not have understood it, and even had either or both been willing to write such a play, it would have been riskier to open with something less populist.
|
|
294 posts
|
Post by dani on Nov 6, 2017 13:03:23 GMT
It's a shame there weren't more people in the theatre - I'm sure lots of people would enjoy it. How empty was it? I've been wondering if the lack of a really big name would hurt this. Rory Kinnear, Nancy Carroll and Oliver Chris are big names to me, as I'm sure they are to many people on this board, but I couldn't help wondering how great their general appeal is. A lot of reference has been made to the Bridge Theatre having to offer populist shows, but that will surely only cut through if there is also populist casting.
|
|
534 posts
|
Post by jek on Nov 6, 2017 14:55:50 GMT
We were in Gallery 1 and could see quite a few of the back few rows of the stalls were empty. It wasn't like the embarrassing sort of emptiness there is at St George and the Dragon at the moment but it seemed weird for a matinee and a shame when, in particular, I could see what a good fit it was for history/politics A Level students (in much the same way as The Death of Stalin is). Using a cooked breakfast to explain surplus value was very clever. Am recommending it to my daughter's sixth form teachers (we are a short tube journey from The Bridge) but I can see that they would struggle to with the prices - they might be able to encourage youngsters to go to the live screening though.
|
|
1,868 posts
|
Post by Marwood on Nov 12, 2017 0:29:24 GMT
I liked this theatre a lot, and found all the staff to be both totally competent and very friendly, alas I thought this play was a mess - it got to the end and I just thought : why bother? It had its moments (not many though)but it just didn't have enough of a plot to carry it through to the end - I can sort of imagine why this was chosen to open a new theatre in London (a new work by a British writer who wrote one of the NTs biggest hits of the last 10 years) but unfortunately thats about it, there just didn't seem to be a point to this, it trundles along for 2 hours and then the lights dim and thats your lot. I'd definitely go to the Bridge again, hopefully next time it'll be something a bit better than this.
|
|
885 posts
|
Post by lonlad on Nov 12, 2017 0:40:01 GMT
Saw it last night with two friends who walked out at the half, and I can see why --- not in any way shape or form ready for presentation, and the cast looked vaguely sheepish at the curtain call. What a titanic waste of a lot of talent and the attempts to make "Marx and Engels, Engels and Marx" (as the script puts it) into the Bialystock and Bloom of their day just Do Not Work. Kinnear isn't a farceur so is pushing a metaphoric rock up a very steep hill and poor Ollie Chris is reduced to giving precisely the same line readings he gave in ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS (in which he was bliss). Lots of lobby chat after about how poor it is -- "bafflingly bad" as a third friend texted me. Oh well.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2017 10:50:16 GMT
Well, horses for courses, as I had a really nice time seeing this yesterday afternoon – it was just the right weather and the right play for a lovely cosy matinee. I really enjoyed the play, which I thought was perfectly interesting and entertaining. I agree that it’s not doing anything new or ground-breaking but not everything has to. I think I’ve seen a couple of comments about it failing as a farce but I don’t think it’s trying to be that – it’s a comedy with a bit of substance, and as such it worked well for me. My family wanted to see it so I’m taking them over Christmas and I’m quite happy to see it again with them. There was an unexpected talk afterwards with N Hytner and Tristram Hunt, who has written a book about Engels, which was interesting as well.
Front row £25 ticks are a bargain – stage is quite high but you don’t miss anything. Am slightly worried that the front row far side seats that I’ve booked for the family are going to be fairly restricted though – anyone got any experience with those?
The theatre is lovely, though I think it will be nicer in a year’s time when it’s got a few stains and has been bashed about a bit; it’s a bit too shiny at the moment to be able to relax properly! Staff were great and very welcoming, and you can tell a lot of thought has gone into the experience. I actually didn’t find it hard to get out of the stalls at the interval/end as others have mentioned – no worse than getting out of the Olivier from the front stalls (the theatre was mostly full).
Main quibble – the bar is pretty expensive and only serves wine in 175ml (for which the prices START at £6.50 and go up to a massive £11 per glass); however there are a couple of decent-looking beers on tap, so I think that will be my drink of choice here! Even worse (and there are some people who will appreciate my pain more than others) is that the bar couldn’t cope with the number of people wanting an interval drink; I queued through the interval and then finally gave up when they started herding people back into the auditorium. It’s probably good for both my liver and my wallet, but I do like a Sunday afternoon alcohol hit so that was very disappointing…
I also can’t imagine ever eating there – it’s very expensive and there are loads of cheaper places if all you want is a sandwich/snack. But there are people who won’t blink at paying £7 for a glorified egg sandwich and if they want to subsidise the theatre for the rest of us, I’m fine with that.
The location is excellent – it’s a striking bit of river and will be gorgeous in summer to sit outside in the interval with a beer (assuming they’ve sorted the bar out by then).
Overall I really wish this place well – it’s a high quality experience for pretty good value ticket prices, and really deserves to succeed. Will definitely be back for future productions.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2017 16:42:57 GMT
Am slightly worried that the front row far side seats that I’ve booked for the family are going to be fairly restricted though – anyone got any experience with those? If you mean the ends of row AA, @abby , then yes, you are going to lose a fair bit, I think, alas. The balcony 1 seats have a much better angle, being raised, though. Thanks TM - I do mean that - ah well, I'll give the family the seats further in and hope for the best! Thanks for the balcony tip - I might actually see if they'll let me change the booking...
|
|
2,535 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by n1david on Nov 13, 2017 17:01:24 GMT
Bridge Theatre allows you to change your tickets for £2/ticket as long as it's 48 hours beforehand - given it's the same performance, they might do it for free but as a worst case you should be able to pay £2/ticket to change.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2017 17:16:02 GMT
Thanks both - hopefully if I'm upgrading they'll be accommodating. I just looked at the Christmas Eve matinee which we're going to and it's virtually unbooked so they really should be nice to us!
|
|
270 posts
|
Post by littlesally on Nov 13, 2017 18:10:54 GMT
Really enjoyed this yesterday. Such a talented cast and much funnier than I’d expected after reading comments on here. The theatre is charming and we thought the staff were outstanding! Nothing was too much trouble. Didn’t eat (other than the free Madeleines) but the wines were reasonably priced and great quality.
|
|