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Post by alnoor on Feb 26, 2018 18:02:51 GMT
Just collected my tickets for tonight's first preview. I asked for running time and have been told it is 3 hrs including interval
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Post by oxfordsimon on Feb 26, 2018 18:31:37 GMT
That's very long for Macbeth. Very long indeed.
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Post by crabtree on Feb 26, 2018 19:30:24 GMT
there looks to be a lot of acrobatic pole work from the witches. I like my Macbeth short, dark and vicious. Under two hours with no interval - brilliant.
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Post by Jon on Feb 26, 2018 19:56:21 GMT
That's very long for Macbeth. Very long indeed. Wasn't the James McAvoy production 2 hours 50 minutes? |
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Post by oxfordsimon on Feb 26, 2018 20:02:08 GMT
That's very long for Macbeth. Very long indeed. Wasn't the James McAvoy production 2 hours 50 minutes? Pass But if so, that would also have been overlong |
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Post by altamont on Feb 26, 2018 20:08:49 GMT
2 hours 35 mins (inc interval) at the Tobacco Factory in Bristol at the moment (very good by the way)
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Post by peggs on Feb 26, 2018 20:10:24 GMT
This is somewhat off topic but relates to Macbeth, my 11 niece had a short story version of Macbeth that she had to summarised for school, so it's just a thin little book don't know if anyone has come across them that tells the story but no Shakespeare. Looks like there's a whole series of them. I just wondered what the point was, I can only guess what my 11 year old self would have thought but my much older, having studies, read, and seen this play didn't get this unless you just wanted a brief premise of the story. I was thinking since lots of Shakespeare plays are based on other people's stories it's not always the plots themselves that are that great but with the development of character, language etc. it all works together. If nothing else I thought well now you're never going to see it and have the ending be a surprise. Oh and my niece's assessment, Macbeth was stupid.
Back on topic, have ticket for this based on cast but not excited by photos so far but then I remind myself i'm not sure I really like this play that much. Though i'd agree I like mine dark and scary and hide behind your hands.
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Post by Snciole on Feb 27, 2018 10:19:41 GMT
I cannot be bothered to write a full review of a preview on my site so you are getting my rant, which I hope to all the Gods it improves because it cannot carry on like this. Too long, too slow and just all round poor production of a play that can be quite interesting, especially the supernatural element and the faith Macbeth has in these witches to commit acts he wouldn't have even considered before meeting them, the dynamic of the marriage just isn't there, the sense of Scottishness or even monarchy isn't there. There aren't bad performances as such but I feel like they weren't given anything to explore in depth so are relying on their own skill at Shakespeare/Performance rather than a refreshed look at the text.
I think RuNo has seen a lot of good directors (Farber, Hytner etc) fill that Olivier stage and taken a lot of their style and signature. I am now wondering if Norris is like Emma Rice and is just indifferent to Shakespeare. I am not saying you need to be an SRB-esque obsessive but it's biggest failing is understanding why it is being staged like that and why now? Hytner's Julius Caesar has clearly looked at the rise of Corbyn, Trump and rally politics. This felt like a passable fringe production that had access to an expensive smoke machine. I expect more of the National Theatre but that probably says more about me.
I did tweet about it if you want to read my interval tweets thread
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Post by lonlad on Feb 27, 2018 10:34:13 GMT
I don't think I've ever seen a Macbeth that had a "sense of Scottishness" -- what would that be? How would it be manifest? I did see the Lincoln Center production in NY with Anne-Marie Duff as Mrs M opposite a ghastly, shouty Ethan Hawke, and this can't be worse than that one.
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Post by nash16 on Feb 27, 2018 10:46:36 GMT
That's very long for Macbeth. Very long indeed. Wasn't the James McAvoy production 2 hours 50 minutes? Yes, and was far too long. The onstage seating seats didn't help. I use the "England" scene to measure the speed of any Macbeth production. If they can make that sleep inducing scene be pacy, they win in my eyes. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2018 10:47:37 GMT
Oh nooo.... This is one of my faves and I had a lot of hope for a Duff/Kinnear partnership. Am still living in hope.
I have GOT to stop booking the expensive tickets on the basis that it's Anne Marie Duff so it will definitely be worth it...
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Post by Snciole on Feb 27, 2018 10:49:28 GMT
I don't think I've ever seen a Macbeth that had a "sense of Scottishness" -- what would that be? How would it be manifest? I did see the Lincoln Center production in NY with Anne-Marie Duff as Mrs M opposite a ghastly, shouty Ethan Hawke, and this can't be worse than that one. I think I need to see a Macbeth where the leads are Scottish to satisfy my needs but in the other adaptations I have seen (Yes, I am personally counting this ) there is a sense of time and place. I saw a great adaptation called Mendoza at the Casa Latin Theatre Festival set in 19th century Mexico and as a result, I am a great believer that as a story Macbeth has some interesting ideas on marriage and power. I had no idea what era (the present, the past, even the future) this NT production was set in and I think all productions have to have a sense of purpose-the who, what, why and where. I am didn't get a sense of any of that to fully immerse myself in this world for 3 hours. It didn't just feel lacklustre, it felt like it had missed the point entirely. |
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Post by crowblack on Feb 27, 2018 11:06:34 GMT
Oh....well, hopefully it'll be tighter be the time I get to see it - which isn't for ages. The Duff/Kinnear scene they did on that Shakespeare celebration a year or so ago looked v. promising.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Feb 27, 2018 11:14:03 GMT
Oh....well, hopefully it'll be tighter be the time I get to see it - which isn't for ages. The Duff/Kinnear scene they did on that Shakespeare celebration a year or so ago looked v. promising. That, of course, wasn't directed by Norris I thought that Kinnear was good in that excerpt - but Duff didn't really match him. But then I haven't seen her do anything that really blew me away. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2018 11:15:06 GMT
She was very good in the NT Christmas Quiz a few years back. Loved her in Husbands & Sons in the Dorfman too.
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Post by bob2010 on Feb 27, 2018 12:45:45 GMT
I cannot be bothered to write a full review of a preview on my site so you are getting my rant, which I hope to all the Gods it improves because it cannot carry on like this. Too long, too slow and just all round poor production of a play that can be quite interesting, especially the supernatural element and the faith Macbeth has in these witches to commit acts he wouldn't have even considered before meeting them, the dynamic of the marriage just isn't there, the sense of Scottishness or even monarchy isn't there. There aren't bad performances as such but I feel like they weren't given anything to explore in depth so are relying on their own skill at Shakespeare/Performance rather than a refreshed look at the text. I think RuNo has seen a lot of good directors (Farber, Hytner etc) fill that Olivier stage and taken a lot of their style and signature. I am now wondering if Norris is like Emma Rice and is just indifferent to Shakespeare. I am not saying you need to be an SRB-esque obsessive but it's biggest failing is understanding why it is being staged like that and why now? Hytner's Julius Caesar has clearly looked at the rise of Corbyn, Trump and rally politics. This felt like a passable fringe production that had access to an expensive smoke machine. I expect more of the National Theatre but that probably says more about me. I did tweet about it if you want to read my interval tweets thread Oh dear, that doesn't sound great. Press night is Tuesday 06 March 2018, which only gives it 1 week to play around with it = nothing much is gonna change. |
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Post by martin1965 on Feb 27, 2018 13:39:08 GMT
Oh....well, hopefully it'll be tighter be the time I get to see it - which isn't for ages. The Duff/Kinnear scene they did on that Shakespeare celebration a year or so ago looked v. promising. That, of course, wasn't directed by Norris I thought that Kinnear was good in that excerpt - but Duff didn't really match him. But then I haven't seen her do anything that really blew me away. Saint Joan? She was astonishing on that. |
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Post by oxfordsimon on Feb 27, 2018 13:46:49 GMT
That, of course, wasn't directed by Norris I thought that Kinnear was good in that excerpt - but Duff didn't really match him. But then I haven't seen her do anything that really blew me away. Saint Joan? She was astonishing on that. I didn't see - so can't comment either way |
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Post by Jan on Feb 27, 2018 14:05:04 GMT
I don't think I've ever seen a Macbeth that had a "sense of Scottishness" -- what would that be? How would it be manifest? I seem to recall in the Michael Bogdanov/Michael Pennington one they all wore kilts. That would qualify ? Has Norris ever directed a Shakespeare play before ? This notoriously difficult one is not necessarily the place to start, many good directors have failed. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2018 14:07:37 GMT
The Wikipedia (that bastion of reliable truth) says that Macbeth is the first Shakespeare he's directed in 25 years, and also has him pegged as a newcomer in 2001, so reading between the lines, this is his professional Shakespeare debut but he probably did one as a student.
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Post by Jan on Feb 27, 2018 14:09:14 GMT
I am not saying you need to be an SRB-esque obsessive but it's biggest failing is understanding why it is being staged like that and why now? Why now ? Because it's a GCSE set book so it's commercial. I'm guessing that Rory Kinnear also wanted to play it. I doubt Norris had a burning desire to direct it - he has been dismissive of directing the work of dead playwrights often enough to confirm that. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2018 15:06:36 GMT
I don't think I've ever seen a Macbeth that had a "sense of Scottishness" -- what would that be? How would it be manifest? I did see the Lincoln Center production in NY with Anne-Marie Duff as Mrs M opposite a ghastly, shouty Ethan Hawke, and this can't be worse than that one. Something like this perhaps?  |
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Post by alnoor on Feb 27, 2018 16:20:27 GMT
I was there last night and I completely agree with Snciole. Disappointed.
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Post by Jan on Feb 27, 2018 16:27:02 GMT
I hesitate to ask, but what do they do with the Porter ? Always a grim moment when s/he comes on, prefiguring the dread moment when the Fool appears in Lear.
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Post by Snciole on Feb 27, 2018 16:51:40 GMT
I hesitate to ask, but what do they do with the Porter ? Always a grim moment when s/he comes on, prefiguring the dread moment when the Fool appears in Lear. A drunk man from the North East, no disrespect to the actor but they don't do anything exciting with the part because nothing has lead to that tension. It is full of missed opportunities to not only please those who know the text too well but those like myself who have seen it a handful of times over the years but want to see something exciting. |
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Post by andrew on Feb 27, 2018 18:10:38 GMT
Nooooooooooooooooooo
Bad first impressions from the board...
I'm starting to feel bad for Rufus.
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Post by david on Feb 27, 2018 18:37:45 GMT
I’m doing a double show day with this and absolute hell at the end of April,so hopefully things will pick up before then. If these few postings are any reflection of the audience feeling as a whole there could be a few returns popping up. This was a play that I was really looking forward to as I have never had a chance to see it before now.
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Post by Ade on Feb 27, 2018 19:00:47 GMT
I cannot be bothered to write a full review of a preview on my site so you are getting my rant, which I hope to all the Gods it improves because it cannot carry on like this. Too long, too slow and just all round poor production of a play that can be quite interesting, especially the supernatural element and the faith Macbeth has in these witches to commit acts he wouldn't have even considered before meeting them, the dynamic of the marriage just isn't there, the sense of Scottishness or even monarchy isn't there. There aren't bad performances as such but I feel like they weren't given anything to explore in depth so are relying on their own skill at Shakespeare/Performance rather than a refreshed look at the text. I think RuNo has seen a lot of good directors (Farber, Hytner etc) fill that Olivier stage and taken a lot of their style and signature. I am now wondering if Norris is like Emma Rice and is just indifferent to Shakespeare. I am not saying you need to be an SRB-esque obsessive but it's biggest failing is understanding why it is being staged like that and why now? Hytner's Julius Caesar has clearly looked at the rise of Corbyn, Trump and rally politics. This felt like a passable fringe production that had access to an expensive smoke machine. I expect more of the National Theatre but that probably says more about me. I did tweet about it if you want to read my interval tweets thread Nooo I’ve taken a chance on this. So nearly gave it a miss but decided to bite the bullet because I’m trying to see more Shakespeare. What had originally stopped me was the Rufus Norris factor. Aside from Mosquitoes which was more passable I have not enjoyed anything I have seen from him at the National because it has always feels like each production has lots of ideas that don’t really amass to anything or end up feeling very disjointed and amateur. Living in hope that this is just one opinion or that it will improve. |
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Post by crabtree on Feb 27, 2018 22:00:52 GMT
I do so love Macbeth, remembering Sher and Walter, and more recently the RSC Jonathan Singer version with the children. Going way back Jonathan Pryce was great, but Nicol Williamson was not. And then the legendary Dench/Mckellen was truly thrilling, and the Hopkins/Rigg was good. The worst, and ye gods it was bad, was the royal exchange's concentration camp version with Threlfall and Francis Barber.....horrorific indeed.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2018 22:13:09 GMT
I had no idea that this production has already announced an 18 city tour starting in Salford in September 2018 (though with tour casting to be announced). Full dates are on the Macbeth page on the NT site.
Granted there may have been various reasons, but I rather wish the NT could have chosen to tour something like Amadeus, Network, Follies or even Pinocchio instead of taking a risk on touring this Macbeth which sounds like it hasn't gone off to a good start.
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