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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2016 13:47:20 GMT
A new play by John Pielmer, based on the William Peter Blatty's novel (and the film of course). According to Pielmer it recieved enthusiastic audience response in Los Angeles in 2012, but not from the critics so it has gone through a major re-write. Cast and creatives to be announced.
21 October to 5 November at the Birmingham REP.
Kenwright produced so I'm guessing it will be followed by either a UK Tour or West End transfer.
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Post by Honoured Guest on May 15, 2016 15:03:03 GMT
Kenwright produced so I'm guessing it will be followed by either a UK Tour or West End transfer. Or the set will be recycled for the Xmas panto.
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2016 15:21:19 GMT
Kenwright produced so I'm guessing it will be followed by either a UK Tour or West End transfer. Or the set will be recycled for the Xmas panto. I really can't imagine The Exorcist being merged with panto.... Audience: "It's behind youuuuu!" *Head turns 360 degrees* "Oh no it isn't!" *Audience screams and starts crying*
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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 15, 2016 15:43:36 GMT
Be better as a musical!
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Post by mrbarnaby on May 15, 2016 23:15:16 GMT
You lost me with 'Bill Kenwright'.
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Post by trapdoor on May 16, 2016 9:27:32 GMT
Jenny Seagrove as Reagan's mother, Tommy Steele as The Exorcist with a third rate Dorothy left over as Reagan, recycling the bed from Scrooge, the staircase from Evita and the backcloth from Blood Brothers. Probably.
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Post by Someone in a tree on May 16, 2016 19:50:22 GMT
Could this be so bad that' it's good ?
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2016 22:45:57 GMT
HARD!!!!!
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Post by duncan on May 17, 2016 5:53:15 GMT
The power of Christ compels me to go.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 21, 2016 0:46:56 GMT
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441 posts
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Post by theatreliker on Jul 21, 2016 21:14:29 GMT
Well the creative team makes this sound much more promising.
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Post by ncbears on Jul 23, 2016 15:12:29 GMT
Or you could watch the US Fox TV Series:
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Post by crabtree on Jul 23, 2016 18:14:26 GMT
Is that Geena Davies behind that trout pout......that's a special effect in itself. The girl looks considerably older dear Linda Blair..Who is the handsome priest?
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Post by Marwood on Jul 24, 2016 11:49:25 GMT
Ye Gods - what has Geena Davis done to her face?
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Post by martin1965 on Sept 16, 2016 8:39:48 GMT
Peter Bowles as Father Merrin!!😮
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2016 13:55:14 GMT
Mitchell Mullen as Doctor Klein
Joseph Wilkins as Father Joe
Tristram Wymark as Burke
Todd Boyce as Doctor Strong
Clare Louise Connolly as Regan
Peter Bowles as Merrin
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Post by theatreliker on Sept 16, 2016 14:00:22 GMT
I wonder who would take the lead in this (presuming that is the lead?) as much of the play apparently rests on him. A review for the LA production said there was apparently a lot of moralising lectures in the play.
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Post by d'James on Sept 16, 2016 14:25:13 GMT
Can't wait for the TV Show. Bates Motel is great. It's a shame The Omen one didn't work.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2016 15:07:49 GMT
Also starring Jenny Seagrove as Chris and Adam Garcia as Damien!
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Post by trapdoor on Sept 22, 2016 16:55:08 GMT
Jenny Seagrove as Reagan's mother, Tommy Steele as The Exorcist with a third rate Dorothy left over as Reagan, recycling the bed from Scrooge, the staircase from Evita and the backcloth from Blood Brothers. Probably. I was half right then.... Hate to say I told you so, so I won't. I'll just say I hate nepotistic casting.
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Post by popcultureboy on Sept 23, 2016 8:37:43 GMT
Peter Bowles as Father Merrin. Wow. That is a wooden cast they have assembled right there.
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Post by boybooshka on Sept 23, 2016 11:07:56 GMT
We bought tickets for this having forgotten that it was a Kenwright production. The cast announcement reminded me! I'm hoping for a so bad it's good experience.
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Post by Honoured Guest on Sept 23, 2016 19:35:37 GMT
I was expecting Penelope Keith.
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Post by martin1965 on Sept 23, 2016 21:04:28 GMT
Am still looking forward to this on 28 Oct. If im honest i thought we would get Martin Shaw as Merrin.
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Post by wickedgrin on Sept 24, 2016 12:56:31 GMT
A stage version of The Exorcist with a decent budget and cast could have been thrilling. But I fear the worst with this BK production.
Jenny Seagrove is (IMO) the most wooden actress to currently get regular work in the West End. She is going from How The Other Half Loves to The Exorcist which you might think shows a huge range in her acting talent. But I fear not. She will still give the same mannered, stilted performance she does in everything with her strange RP accent, immaculate wardrobe, and her stilted delivery - everything smacks of "look at me acting on the West End stage". Just dreadful. I wish I could say "how does she ever get cast?" but of course I know the answer to that.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2016 19:40:52 GMT
A stage version of The Exorcist with a decent budget and cast could have been thrilling. But I fear the worst with this BK production. As someone who's been going to the Birmingham REP for the past 12 or so years, I've enjoyed most, if not all, things I've seen there so I have a bit more faith in knowing that it's a co-production with them and Kenwright. Also knowing it has a good creative team i.e. Sean Mathias and Anna Fleischle helps and I only know of Adam Garcia in the cast so I don't have any expectations from their previous performances. From what I've read from the writer John Pielmeier about the original production in Los Angeles, I think this play doesn't really rely on a ton of effects so maybe it doesn't really need a big budget anyway. Of course, that could all change in this new production so I maybe wrong. I've finally got my tickets for the first preview. It will be my first "horror" play...and theatre can sometimes scare the pants off me anyway!
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Post by wickedgrin on Sept 25, 2016 20:20:06 GMT
Horror/thriller stage plays are the most difficult genre to pull off. This is why there are so few successful stage thrillers that thrill. Without the benefit of film editing and special effects, the stage thriller usually lacks any sort of shock. So usually they opt for the comedy/thriller option.
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Post by mallardo on Sept 26, 2016 6:42:04 GMT
Let The Right One In at the Royal Court and West End worked extremely well as a horror/thriller piece. It can be done.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2016 0:28:04 GMT
Saw the first preview tonight. Was meant to start at 7.30pm but had an email in the day saying it was moved to 8, then they didn't even open the doors until 8 so it began at 8.15. On top of all that - it had to stop for a few minutes about 5 minutes after Act 2 started!
As for the show itself, I guess I thought it was good and probably did it's job of making me scared and nervous, but I do think as a theatre piece it needs a lot of work.
Ive only seen the film and not read the book, but this felt a bit short and rushed like they could've done more with the script to make it have a bit more substance and development with the characters.
The physical production was ok but at times the set did remind me of Kenwright's Scrooge where it looked a bit dated (which clearly isn't a good thing on the first preview of it's first use!), some effects were good, others were a bit...meh (I could spoil them, but Im not going to right now, but basically just don't expect a replica of the movie).
Obviously some things may get better as the run goes on, but in terms of the story and script it just needs that bit more work so it can probably expect the same sort of response it had in LA.
Also saw Bill Kenwright in the audience! Not sure where he's planning to take this next after Birmingham but it looks like it could be easy enough to tour.
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Post by recused on Oct 22, 2016 8:52:49 GMT
I'm still really keen to see this. I enjoyed both the book and the film even if they're quite pulpy.
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