1,115 posts
|
Post by Stephen on Jan 19, 2022 23:26:40 GMT
Saw this tonight. My first time seeing anything at the Young Vic (having seen a few Young Vic West End Transfers) I liked the space. My 'high seat with footrest' in row K provided great value at £10 - an unobstructed view.
I'm a big James Graham fan but found this to be a bit weaker than his other works. The point above comparing it to Ink but not as good is spot on. Performances were good but the many interludes didn't pace and drive the production forward as much as I expected. I do think this will translate well to the broadcasts planned over the next few days.
It was lovely to see a full house though. My first play since February 2020!
|
|
|
Post by Forrest on Jan 20, 2022 11:16:00 GMT
I loved this: I thought it was intelligent, funny, wonderfully directed (finally genuinely *loved* something Herrin has done!) and superbly acted. Time literally flew by. I especially enjoyed how Graham and Herrin added factual information for context (for us who do not have the luxury of remembering the events, nor knew too much about the story beforehand) without it feeling patronising or "educational" in any way.
I would go see this again if I could, in a heartbeat, for me it's that level of good.
|
|
484 posts
|
Post by drmaplewood on Jan 20, 2022 18:14:24 GMT
Did enjoy this but didn’t really add anything that the excellent 2015 documentary it’s based on of the same name did. I’d probably suggest to people to watch that rather than see this. Sadiq Khan in front of me seemed to be enjoying himself though.
|
|
|
Post by c4ndyc4ne on Jan 22, 2022 0:15:22 GMT
Did anyone watch the stream? Was it good?
|
|
852 posts
|
Post by bordeaux on Jan 22, 2022 9:22:29 GMT
Did anyone watch the stream? Was it good? Yes, I did. As a live-stream I thought it worked. The play was only so-so for my - three stars. There seemed to be quite a lot of effortful exposition before the drama got going and the acting came across as a little over-ripe in places. Graham makes interesting parallels between then and now and successful shows that today's culture wars and political arguments were already getting going then.
|
|
1,115 posts
|
Post by Stephen on Jan 22, 2022 12:03:53 GMT
It is interesting having now watched clips from the debates (especially the famous moments) that the real life delivery of insults was much more mild mannered and I think effective. I suppose that's just theatre putting a bit of mustard on it. Walking home from the theatre my friend and I were discussing the necessity for the moment to be significantly heightened in the play as the insults lose weight in todays society compared to then. I personally think the "and you'll stayyy plastered" line as delivered in real life is one of the best insults of all time!
|
|
|
Post by teamyali on Jan 22, 2022 17:11:09 GMT
Just finished watching the livestream broadcast and I just truly loved it! I’ve struggled with my internet connection on the first half of the play (living in the Philippines sucks for that), but everything was so much better on the second half. I’ve tried Google Chrome and it really sucks (this was what YV was suggesting to use as a browser). Opera browser works much better.
I’ve known Charles Edwards primarily because of Downton Abbey and The Crown, and I’m glad he took on this role. It was also my first time watching him do an American accent. All the actors were fantastic. Charles and David Harewood have an electric chemistry. Ironically their way of debate also damaged our way of political thinking - to that of personality-driven politicians, to having the media dictate our way of thinking, and that of politics being a spectacle.
I can see this play doing really well, awards-wise, especially the Olivier. In terms of New Play, probably the nearest rival is 2:22 A Ghost Story. Charles and David getting Best Actor nods is very possible. (And the likely idea of Charles versus Ben Daniels battling it out…loving it!)
I hope the Young Vic continues this Best Seat in Your House endeavor. Nothing beats live theatre, of course, but this broadcast is one way to recoup costs and to reach more audiences especially overseas.
|
|
|
Post by marob on Jan 22, 2022 23:10:56 GMT
I watched the live stream this afternoon, but unfortunately wasn’t in the right mood to sit and stare at an iPad for 2.5 hrs. My mind kept wandering and so just could not get into it. Wish I’d seen it properly, as I’m sure I would have enjoyed it so much more in person.
|
|
4,038 posts
|
Post by kathryn on Jan 23, 2022 0:14:57 GMT
I really enjoyed this today! Perhaps it helped that I was totally new to the events, and had coincidentally been explaining to someone on Twitter that the insult in question really was a very offensive slur during that time particular period and not a ‘reclaimed’ identity yet.
Feels like the first properly good new play I’ve seen for ages. Graham does such a good job of juggling complex events and a huge number of characters into a coherent historical narrative that also works as contemporary commentary. Ok, so it’ really not saying anything about today’s media that we didn’t already know, but nevertheless it was interesting to to see a representation of how we got to where we are now.
|
|
|
Post by wannabedirector on Jan 23, 2022 1:53:20 GMT
Really enjoyed this tonight, feel lucky to have caught this before the end of the run. I remember watching the documentary that serves as the source material ages ago and finding it really interesting, and I feel this adaptation did it justice. Maybe the best play I’ve seen in these pandemic times.
|
|
1,265 posts
|
Post by mkb on Jan 23, 2022 9:12:04 GMT
I have never been a fully paid-up member of the James Graham fan club. (I thought This House particularly overrated.) And yet, at last Tuesday night's Best of Enemies, I found myself swept along in the unfolding narrative, and enjoying it immensely. (It helped that I had no prior knowledge of the real-life events featured.)
Maybe you have to be gay? Because much of the fascination in watching these portrayals of Vidal and Buckley Jr. comes from the undercurrent of homosexual tension in their verbal jousting. Vidal lives a hedonistic lifestyle while it is suggested his adversary is a closet case. Of paramount importance to each is that he land a triumphal sucker punch on the other.
What on the surface is an intellectual debate between political opposites, is in reality two alpha males squaring up on a more primal level. Each acerbic put-down and barbed retort seeks to knock just a little bit more stuffing out of the opponent.
The journey from highbrow discourse to below-the-belt personal attacks, all for the cause of television ratings (and personal aggrandisement), while truth and honour are lost along the way, is frighteningly uncomfortable to witness yet impossible to turn away from. The parable is not original, the parallels not exactly subtle, yet, like the best soap opera, one is captivated from start to finish.
The dialogue, much of it verbatim with actuality, and some spoken in perfect synchronisation with historical video clips, fizzes with wit. A superlative cast effortlessly draw characters you at once want to spend time with, whether hero or villain.
Graham frames the piece in flashback, showing the fallout first. The drama is in how we got there. The actual dénouement is rather underwhelming -- is that *all* he said? -- but it's a brilliant ride.
Full marks too to the sound designer. The miked-up cast are fully audible (using only gentle amplification on top of their direct voices) and correctly placed in the soundscape at all times, not an easy job in an in-the-round format.
So, on exiting the auditorium, it was an easy five-star rating from me.
But have I been too kind? Subsequent YouTubing reveals the real Vidal to have been less camp, more polite, and altogether less entertaining to watch. Conversely, Buckley Jr. is more articulate, intelligent and definitely not triggering my gaydar. There is a discussion to be had about the choice to cast a black actor as a deeply conservative white man, and what that does to the dynamics of the piece, but I fear this forum is not the place (previous discussions on race in casting having become heated and shut down).
I cannot help feeling a little manipulated. That's not a criticism: it's to the credit of Graham and director Jeremy Herrin that they have transformed a mildly engaging footnote from television history into an epic duel, but let's not pretend it's real.
Act 1: 19:37-20:44 Act 2: 21:01-21:59
(The slightly late start seemingly due to the time taken to seat lucky-dip ticket-holders.)
|
|
|
Post by budd on Jan 23, 2022 18:48:10 GMT
I saw the stream. I appreciate what they were trying to do with the provision of different camera views but I didn't find them to be particularly useful, and only relied on the director's cut. This is not a critique on the quality, which was great, just that this feature was not really needed.
The mechanics of the staging are dynamic and it's remarkable how they are able to evoke the vibe and sentiment of that period with such economy. I'd say it does drag a little, and think some minutes could be shaved off. Harewood and Edwards are charismatic and largely faultless (some loudness could be curbed). The epilogue though, is only 50% successful. Overall, as a piece of theatre it's just superb, even if doesn't tread any new ideas or is likely to inspire great debate. It works very well (and best) as a portrait of two people at a very specific time, and keeps you completely engrossed all the way through.
|
|
484 posts
|
Post by drmaplewood on Jul 8, 2022 14:09:25 GMT
|
|
1,093 posts
|
Post by samuelwhiskers on Jul 8, 2022 14:11:24 GMT
And Broadway next year, iirc.
|
|
1,187 posts
|
Post by theatrelover123 on Jul 8, 2022 14:13:28 GMT
What a shame. Really don't think it deserves to transfer.
|
|
3,072 posts
|
Post by Rory on Jul 8, 2022 14:28:14 GMT
It's going to the Noel Coward.
|
|
6,323 posts
|
Post by Jon on Jul 8, 2022 14:59:47 GMT
It's going to the Noel Coward. Is that confirmed? I was thinking it’s either that or the Wyndham’s
|
|
3,072 posts
|
Post by Rory on Jul 8, 2022 15:32:21 GMT
The Delfont Mackintosh website says the Noel Coward.
|
|
|
Post by marob on Jul 8, 2022 15:34:53 GMT
It's going to the Noel Coward. Is that confirmed? I was thinking it’s either that or the Wyndham’s Yes, it doesn’t say on the sign-up email, but it’s on the Delfont-MacKintosh website as the Noel Coward.
|
|
|
Post by basi1faw1ty on Jul 10, 2022 18:31:59 GMT
Told ya it would come back 😉
So yes, I heard it would be Wyndham's to begin with too, but as Noel Coward is literally next door, it wasn't so far off the mark anyway.
Casting unconfirmed as of yet, frustratingly. I know Syrus Lowe is coming back as James Baldwin (confirmed on his Twitter bio) but Justina Kehinde (Aretha Franklin) won't be as she is on a UK/Ireland tour with Girl From the North Country until March '23. Emilio Doorgasingh who played Vidal's partner Howard looks likely to come back too. Seemed to hint he was returning on socials but can't say for certain.
As for leads Harewood and Edwards, I'm uncertain but optimistic. Edwards is (or was) busy filming season 2 of the Amazon Lord of the Rings show, but has expressed keen interest in returning if BOE got transferred. No idea with Harewood, but he very much enjoyed his time back at the theatre after a long hiatus.
I think I said previously James Graham was very eager to keep the two leads at least for the transfer, so let's see...
|
|
1,093 posts
|
Post by samuelwhiskers on Jul 10, 2022 22:10:38 GMT
Barring unforeseen circumstances, Charlie Edwards is coming back. One of the reasons they delayed the transfer till November was to accommodate his schedule.
|
|
6,323 posts
|
Post by Jon on Jul 11, 2022 9:27:27 GMT
The Noel Coward must be James Graham's favourite theatre as this is the third play of his to transfer there after Quiz and Labour of Love.
|
|
|
Post by A.Ham on Jul 15, 2022 7:37:23 GMT
Thinking of getting a ticket for this when it goes on sale for the Noel Coward run - any idea whether things like the £10 front row seats some of you have mentioned will be available here too, or are those sort of prices just a Young Vic thing?
If not I might go for a slip seat somewhere but didn’t rate it much for comfort when I saw DEH from up there!
|
|
3,072 posts
|
Post by Rory on Jul 15, 2022 8:32:54 GMT
Why have they not just announced it's the Noel Coward? The preceding show, DEH, had already announced its closing date and Best of Enemies is on the DMT website as 'Coming Soon' and there's only one of their theatres free in November, so why the big mystery about venue? Their website had it originally as the Noel Coward and then it changed in line with the shows marketing to 'West End, November'.
Similarly, why didn't The Lehman Trilogy just announce it was going to the Gillian Lynne when it was first announced?
|
|
6,323 posts
|
Post by Jon on Jul 15, 2022 9:14:14 GMT
Why have they not just announced it's the Noel Coward? The preceding show, DEH, had already announced its closing date and Best of Enemies is on the DMT website as 'Coming Soon' and there's only one of their theatres free in November, so why the big mystery about venue? Their website had it originally as the Noel Coward and then it changed in line with the shows marketing to 'West End, November'. Similarly, why didn't The Lehman Trilogy just announce it was going to the Gillian Lynne when it was first announced? I assume they don't want to confirm just in case it falls through.
|
|
|
Post by basi1faw1ty on Jul 16, 2022 14:14:21 GMT
I dunno how reliable Seatplan is but on their site it states BOE starts 4th Nov and runs till 25th Feb.
|
|
462 posts
|
Post by djdan14 on Aug 19, 2022 12:04:41 GMT
Taking a while for this to come on sale - considering patriots has just announced for after it at the same theatre with an on sale date
|
|
1,093 posts
|
Post by samuelwhiskers on Sept 2, 2022 10:26:17 GMT
Tickets on sale this Monday.
|
|
|
Post by A.Ham on Sept 2, 2022 11:49:17 GMT
Tickets on sale this Monday. The email I got still doesn’t mention venue - is it definitely the Noel Coward? Guess we’ll know on Monday anyway!
|
|
3,072 posts
|
Post by Rory on Sept 2, 2022 12:36:09 GMT
Tickets on sale this Monday. The email I got still doesn’t mention venue - is it definitely the Noel Coward? Guess we’ll know on Monday anyway! It is.
|
|