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Post by Ade on Jun 9, 2016 21:50:58 GMT
parsley, you are wasted on here. Really. I can't comment on your comments about The Threepenny Opera, a piece close to my heart, and a production I am really looking forward to, but I find your posts SO entertaining now that I actually look forward to them. (I won't follow you; that would be going too far...) I sincerely hope you are writing in some shape or form, not just watching from the wings, as it were. Because you are worth it! I agree with the above completely.
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Post by Ade on Jun 8, 2016 7:02:09 GMT
That's a bit weird but I assume that they'll add one later on otherwise it'll just be like a really long interval where you applaud but the actors don't come out. I'm sure other two or three part plays like Henry IV and Angels in America have had curtain calls. I really hope they don't. It just ends with 'to be continued…' and the house lights come up, which I thought worked brilliantly. I wonder if this will differ depending on whether it's a consecutive performance or not, ie if it's a consecutive one they won't bother because everyone will be coming back later that same day or the next day, but if it's a non-consecutive they will do one knowing that there's no guarantee people will have booked for part two yet.
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Post by Ade on Jun 8, 2016 5:46:58 GMT
Such a prestigious cast I mean SO talented It's the director Anything he touches turns to sh*t Seeing this on Friday. If I'm not a fan I really am going to have to put a ban on going to anything by Rufus Norris. I keep giving him another chance because he picks some interesting productions, but it's very fair to say I've not enjoyed anything I've seen of his so far at the National.
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Post by Ade on Jun 6, 2016 19:31:47 GMT
It's most definitely me... NICE *blushes*
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Post by Ade on Jun 4, 2016 23:01:31 GMT
Ha thank you very kind of you Is is your photo Or am I being stupid and its someone famous? It's most definitely me...
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Post by Ade on Jun 4, 2016 21:41:45 GMT
So... I have to admit I was slightly disappointed with this. While it was all very panto (and seems to be very aware that it has a panto element to it) it left me rather unimpressed. Enjoyable enough for an evening but I certainly wouldn't rush back to see it again. Also seemed to be quite a large number of wardrobe malfunctions this evening, and you could see how the carpet was done from my spot in Loge 2. I don't think they could have hidden it anymore than they did but you could clearly see how it works. Unless the five minute technical delay before the carpet scene also meant it was malfunctioning in some way that it was more obvious?
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Post by Ade on Jun 4, 2016 21:38:22 GMT
Slightly off topic but I don't like how the NT has lost any sense of branding since Rufus took over. Every production seems to have a completely different look and feel to the design of the promotional materials, so that there's no consistent identity for the theatre. That's probably completely intentional to reflect a more varied programme or to make it less about the theatre and more about the productions, but I think the strength of the NT brand has weakened as a result. Of course, the new website doesn't help, which itself feels more like an out of the box ticketing site with the NT logo stuck on it. Slightly off topic but, Ade, you have one of the cutest avatars on this board. I said it before, and I'm saying it again. Ha thank you very kind of you
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Post by Ade on Jun 4, 2016 14:06:38 GMT
Off to see this tonight. Looking forward to it even more following the good reports on here. I am also going tonight!! First time since rehearsals Oh I say! In the same room as Parsley. I am honoured!
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369 posts
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Post by Ade on Jun 4, 2016 13:43:39 GMT
Off to see this tonight. Looking forward to it even more following the good reports on here.
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Post by Ade on Jun 2, 2016 21:50:31 GMT
Official website updated with running times! Nice to see both parts are a decent length! Certainly getting the money's worth in terms of running time!
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Post by Ade on Jun 2, 2016 19:20:58 GMT
Slightly off topic but I don't like how the NT has lost any sense of branding since Rufus took over. Every production seems to have a completely different look and feel to the design of the promotional materials, so that there's no consistent identity for the theatre. That's probably completely intentional to reflect a more varied programme or to make it less about the theatre and more about the productions, but I think the strength of the NT brand has weakened as a result. Of course, the new website doesn't help, which itself feels more like an out of the box ticketing site with the NT logo stuck on it.
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Post by Ade on May 27, 2016 20:19:37 GMT
Saw this this evening and have to say the ending worked for me. Having witnessed the previous scenes it was all the more poignant to see it acted out again. That said it could easily have finished with that scene and started with something else. An enjoyable enough production - 3 stars from me.
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Post by Ade on May 24, 2016 6:08:55 GMT
I'm not sure how I feel about it either but I absolutely have to see it to find out how it goes down!
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Post by Ade on May 20, 2016 16:42:09 GMT
Sorry if I've missed it but do we have indication of when cast change is likely to fall yet?
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Post by Ade on May 19, 2016 21:53:43 GMT
What a load of tosh this is! Saw it this evening and while I enjoyed it, it was in a car crash TV kind of way. If I'm being blunt it probably shouldn't have made it to the stage, but pleased I saw it none the less.
It actually had nearly a full standing ovation in the stalls, but I can't help but think that was primarily for Kit Harrington's (rather perfect) bottom.
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Post by Ade on May 8, 2016 7:41:07 GMT
Glenn Close's performance in this was better than Imelda Staunton's in Gypsy. By quite a stretch too. Yep, read it twice. That's what I said. I'm in agreement here. While I don't know about it being quite a stretch, I left far more impressed with Glenn's performance.
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Post by Ade on Apr 26, 2016 18:13:57 GMT
If anyone is interested, I've had to exchange the date for when I see this, so two front row tickets have just gone back on sale on the ATG website for this Friday.
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Post by Ade on Apr 26, 2016 18:11:54 GMT
Saw last night. WOW. WE LOVED IT!!! Go and see everyone. Crazy good fun.. Same! That cast deserve to get some good reviews tonight!
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Post by Ade on Apr 26, 2016 9:11:36 GMT
I'm assuming the guy with David Bryan was Joe DiPietro, the other writer? I wonder if they're just here to see the show, or if this visit was business - i.e. if they're responsible for the changes the show's had (the moving of some songs, for example). tbfl, I can totally see why this musical isn't for everyone, and you certainly weren't the only person who left at the interval. At least you weren't the person who left about five minutes before the interval, diving across the entire stage at breakneck speed, and presumably colliding with one of the actors who was coming in through the exit door in the dark! I guess when you have to go, you have to go... Have to say that the broken toilet situation last night felt very in keeping with the show too! The biohazard tape was both decorative and accurate.
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Post by Ade on Apr 25, 2016 21:08:07 GMT
Saw this this evening. That cast is seriously working its socks off. I came out loving it and so did the majority of the audience from what I could see.
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Post by Ade on Apr 16, 2016 17:02:27 GMT
I see baz mentioned changes were going into the show on Friday. Has anyone seen it ? It seems production numbers were to be fleshed out Ah that might explain why it was longer than the advertised 2 hours 30 this afternoon then? Or was it running over anyway?
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Post by Ade on Apr 5, 2016 20:56:59 GMT
I benefitted from the wish list too. Had tickets in October but had to return them because of a family wedding on the same day. While they were being sold, I spotted more availability pop up online and now have tickets for end of July. Worked out well!
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Post by Ade on Apr 3, 2016 7:39:40 GMT
Agree with pretty much all of the above. Saw this from the upper circle last night and it was very almost perfect. The orchestra playing that score was absolutely exquisite! The set, while sparse, was actually incredibly atmospheric and worked perfectly. The ensemble were VERY strong. Close, while not the strongest singer, was spot on for the role and as others have said above, the weaker singing was fitting for the vulnerable, aging character. Five stars from me and I'm going to struggle not making a return trip.
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Post by Ade on Apr 2, 2016 8:20:09 GMT
Off to see this tonight. Massively looking forward to it after these reports!
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Post by Ade on Apr 1, 2016 16:59:44 GMT
I'm actually pretty disappointed with the recording. It's just missing something and doesn't come across as energetic and vibrant as it should. Good vocals but not perfect. And if you have it on loud, there is so much coughing from the audience during the quieter moments! But I'd still rather listen to this than the extremely bad accents on the US one.
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Post by Ade on Mar 28, 2016 10:07:39 GMT
Has anyone done a date exchange at the Southwark Playhouse? I have tickets to the final performance on December 3rd but would want to exchange them to sometime in November. I just did a date change with the ENO and they were so very helpful and relaxed about it. Yep I did one for Toxic Avenger. Took me a while to actually get through on phone but once through it was an easy change
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Post by Ade on Mar 12, 2016 9:17:22 GMT
Oh dear. I've booked to see this in a months time and so far it's hardly been raved about. I am a fan of Jamie Lloyd so hopefully I'll enjoy this though. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed it. As did the majority of the people in the auditorium, I would say.
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Post by Ade on Mar 12, 2016 8:35:38 GMT
The production doesn't do much to make the play more accessible and by going for some over-obvious laughs detracts from its seriousness. And mke no mistake: this is a serious play dealing with issues of identity, alienation and powerplay. If you find camp stuff automatically funny wel ok, I don't. Acting is energetic but I do wonder if the first half isn't too energetic, it means the play is one-paced and makes its verbosity tedious. A more nuanced build-up to a crescendo of activity and then bringing it down to a slower climax is, I feel, the correct way to do this. Genet was fond of sado-masochistic sex and he lets that permeate much of his work; no greater mystery here. He was also a great admirer and student of violence and that definitely also goes into his work. The acting makes it worthwhile but as someone else said this is style over substance and is more of a historical record of what we found shocking than shocking in itself. Agree with much of this and saw it last night. While I think the performances are great (particularly Uzo Aduba) and liked the styling, I spent much of the time feeling like the direction just didn't match the subject matter. There was a broad Jamie Lloyd stroke of paint across proceedings that plastered over paying any real attention to the text. So in summary, I enjoyed it, the performances are brilliant and the visual design and sound production are great, but the latter two just don't feel like there was any consideration of the actual text.
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Post by Ade on Feb 21, 2016 9:27:00 GMT
You weren't far from me at all. I was R43. Agree that the seat was great. No sound issues and perfect view. You were at the beginning of the same row where I was probably: I was in R67 and I could hear and see well (I lost a bit of the left corner but I could see all the important details...). I did not realize that someone had fainted. It was my first Sarah Kane's play: bleak as expected but rather interesting. Michelle Terry is very brave in this: I had only seen her in very different roles. Plenty of us in last night then! After having the night to digest it, I've decided I'd really have enjoyed it if I'd understood it more. Definitely an interesting one! Have to say that the violence was far more tame than I was expecting. There was barely any blood and everything was quite hidden, so personally didn't find it all that shocking in that sense. Full thoughts on the blog if anyone is interested... thewestendwanderer.wordpress.com/2016/02/21/review-cleansed-national-theatre-london/
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Post by Ade on Feb 20, 2016 23:55:26 GMT
I liked my seat very much - R31 in the gallery. But I'll wait until tomorrow to post more.... You weren't far from me at all. I was R43. Agree that the seat was great. No sound issues and perfect view.
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