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Post by foxa on Apr 22, 2018 9:36:58 GMT
Thanks, Steve - of Hickson's plays I've only seen 'Oil' so it's useful to have that background.
I have a writer friend who saw this and she rated it. It seems to be a play that people want to discuss, so that's good. But it's not going to be an easy sell for me to convince someone to go with me, I suspect...
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Post by greenswan on Apr 22, 2018 14:55:26 GMT
Saw this last night. The stalls weren't completely full but pretty busy. One very elderly couple walked out twenty minutes before the end but everyone else stayed put. 2 hours was ok as the seat next to me was empty and so I had legroom.
The play itself feels all over the place. The first section is somewhat like a typical Guardian opinion piece come to life. Interestingly done though, especially if taken with the Q&A segment. The second section with the partner and the boyfriend I found the most accessible - looking for meaning in life/art and the choices/compromises we need to make.
And then unfortunately I could not follow the second hour at all. I couldn't and still can't make anything out of the excursion into the woods nor the writer with her girlfriend, even a day later.
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Post by alexandra on Apr 23, 2018 12:36:32 GMT
"For example, Hickson asks us specifically what the point of Laura Wade's "Posh" was, if the Hooray Henrys depicted were the ones who enjoyed the play the most?"
And this discussion involved the character played by Sam West, Laura Wade's partner. It was so self-referential that I wondered whether the baby was their second daughter (about the right age).
Interesting that people found the last scene difficult to interpret. I though it was a walk in the park compared with the swim in the woods. I liked the play very much overall, though.
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Post by bellboard27 on Apr 24, 2018 21:24:18 GMT
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 24, 2018 21:26:53 GMT
Oh grow up Sam West
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Post by nash16 on Apr 24, 2018 23:58:36 GMT
They know they're gonna get slammed! |
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Post by popcultureboy on Apr 25, 2018 7:15:44 GMT
I'm not so sure they will. I've read 2 x 4 star reviews so far. The play has positioned itself as having Important Things To Say about gender and sexuality so it's very possible that critics won't eviscerate it for fear of backlash or seeming out of touch with Important Issues Of Today.
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Apr 25, 2018 7:22:20 GMT
I'm not so sure they will. I've read 2 x 4 star reviews so far. The play has positioned itself as having Important Things To Say about gender and sexuality so it's very possible that critics won't eviscerate it for fear of backlash or seeming out of touch with Important Issues Of Today. No, it will be because they liked it. |
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Post by altamont on Apr 25, 2018 7:22:43 GMT
Possibly - or maybe they’ll just like it
Edit - snap!
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Post by bellboard27 on Apr 25, 2018 7:52:05 GMT
I’ve only found 4 star reviews from WOS, BWW and Time Out. Nothing from the bigger hitters yet.
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Post by bacon on Apr 25, 2018 8:12:57 GMT
I'm not so sure they will. I've read 2 x 4 star reviews so far. The play has positioned itself as having Important Things To Say about gender and sexuality so it's very possible that critics won't eviscerate it for fear of backlash or seeming out of touch with Important Issues Of Today. No, it will be because they liked it. Yes, critics never have agendas. Never. |
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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 Apr 25, 2018 8:21:41 GMT
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Apr 25, 2018 8:22:04 GMT
No, it will be because they liked it. Yes, critics never have agendas. Never. I have issues with the importance of critics but they do say what they feel (however useful that may be).
Think about what you are saying, that people who disagree with you actually agree but don't want to say so, that's the height of arrogance.
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Post by bacon on Apr 25, 2018 8:56:24 GMT
I shall think deeply about what I am saying, oh Great One of Theatreboard! I was indeed an arrogant fool, not just in questioning the impartiality of professional critics, but also in questioning your mighty, irrefutable theatrical proclamation. Thank you for putting me firmly in my place.
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Post by alexandra on Apr 25, 2018 9:01:43 GMT
No, actually I think you're suggesting that no-one could in good faith agree with me and the other people who like it.
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Apr 25, 2018 9:06:06 GMT
I shall think deeply about what I am saying, oh Great One of Theatreboard! I was indeed an arrogant fool, not just in questioning the impartiality of professional critics, but also in questioning your mighty, irrefutable theatrical proclamation. Thank you for putting me firmly in my place. So you haven't got any valid argument then? Have you any evidence that critics are not saying what they feel on this production?
I may disagree with pretty much anything that Quentin Letts writes, for example, but I believe that he's putting down his honest feelings, however disagreeable.
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Post by alexandra on Apr 25, 2018 9:22:38 GMT
5 stars in the Standard. Ah, I see xanderl has already said so.
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Post by dani on Apr 25, 2018 9:25:15 GMT
From the ES review by Fiona Mountford, "I do hope that the Almeida is planning a special performance of The Writer for all the male artistic directors and producers in this country. Wouldn’t that be something?"
I don't think this is likely to happen!
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Apr 25, 2018 9:44:59 GMT
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Post by zahidf on Apr 25, 2018 10:00:30 GMT
bloody hell, all these reviewers pretending to like the play just to be WOKE. That clearly is what is going on, rather than then actually liking the play I'm seeing it tonight. I imagine I will give it 5 stars regardless |
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Apr 25, 2018 10:13:40 GMT
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Post by altamont on Apr 25, 2018 11:21:43 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2018 11:26:10 GMT
Oh I'm so glad to have seen the review in The Guardian. It reminded me of how much I recall that I liked Samuel West's cardigan in the first scene.
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Apr 25, 2018 11:26:56 GMT
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Apr 25, 2018 12:14:08 GMT
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Post by bordeaux on Apr 25, 2018 12:20:06 GMT
And failing him there's always that guy in the Spectator, Lloyd Evans, forever baffled by anything remotely demanding. Come to think of it, he's presumably angling for Letts' job if ever retires. |
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Post by chameleon on Apr 25, 2018 14:45:01 GMT
Did anyone see 'Caught' by Christopher Chen at the Almeida a couple of years back - used a similar technique of rug-pulling to look at issues of race...
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Post by foxa on Apr 28, 2018 16:23:30 GMT
Bracing myself to see this tonight - I'm equally curious and worried. Gave Mr Foxa the night off - felt he'd done his theatre-going duty this week - but, in a bizarre turnaround, he read some reviews and says he might come after all... Will report back if he does and if marriage remains intact.
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Post by bellboard27 on Apr 28, 2018 17:03:21 GMT
I rather enjoyed this, this afternoon. A couple of scenes drag a bit, but overall I liked the twists and turns. Believable performances and interesting mixes of design. Came in at 1 hour 55.
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Post by crowblack on Apr 28, 2018 21:02:57 GMT
I rather enjoyed this, this afternoon. Same here - the woman next to me clearly didn't, though, kept looking at her watch, which was really annoying - person in front had a talking watch so didn't need to, argh. I do think the Almeida should either raise the stage or rake their seats, especially if you're going to have actors performing key speeches sitting down on the floor. Even when they were on chairs, one actor was completely blocked from view by the person sitting in front of me, and he wasn't a giant and I'm 5'6", and in row C. |
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