|
Post by Laineee on Mar 16, 2016 21:37:09 GMT
After many attempts to convince myself otherwise, I have accepted that Ibsen and I just don't get along. So much so that the Lyceum's Hedda Gabler saw my first interval escape last year - it just did absolutely nothing for me and I couldn't bear another minute of it.
|
|
|
Post by Laineee on Mar 10, 2016 23:03:03 GMT
Cats - saw it when I was about 9 or 10, and wild horses couldn't drag me back to see the revival. Rock of Ages is a close second.
|
|
|
Post by Laineee on Feb 27, 2016 13:19:51 GMT
Great post, Nicholas. Given the apparent shortage of Shakespeare up here this year, I think I'm going to have to go with the film option and give him a choice of the Tennant Hamlet or Much Ado, and possibly even the Hollow Crown (Henry V being probably the best option of these). A date has been set for 2 weeks hence, so I shall report back
|
|
|
Post by Laineee on Feb 25, 2016 21:58:39 GMT
The first thing I remember seeing was an am-dram production of Oliver, which I adored - I was particularly invested in that because my aunt was in the chorus, and my dad was the company pianist. I'd also been at a lot of rehearsals (in lieu of a babysitter) and had been adopted as the 'official rehearsal page-turner', since I was a little too young to have been eligible to audition for one of Fagin's gang. The first professional production I saw was the Cats tour somewhere in the mid/late 80s.... even at the tender age of about 10 I despised it, and it's a wonder I gave theatre another chance....
|
|
|
Post by Laineee on Feb 25, 2016 21:14:20 GMT
I think the fear of not understanding every word is spot on, Peggs. I've tried to explain that you really don't need to follow it perfectly to enjoy it - even with an English degree there are some passages that still leave me perplexed.
I also agree that star casting has helped to open it up for a lot of people - it entices them in and they realise it's not as scary as they thought.
I have at least made some progress with my colleague as he's agreed to come with me to see a play.... but I will have to choose very carefully!
|
|
|
Post by Laineee on Feb 25, 2016 14:01:57 GMT
I have been set the challenge of converting a particular sceptic, who was put off by both the way it was taught and by a bizarre decision to go to Alan Cumming's one man Macbeth, knowing nothing at all about the play. I did consider a recorded version (I have a few of the ones you mention), but I think there's something that bit more compelling about the live experience. That said, if nothing good comes up, I might resort to the David Tennant Hamlet after all
|
|
|
Post by Laineee on Feb 25, 2016 13:35:33 GMT
Thank you both for your helpful replies. I was fortunate to have an excellent English teacher who understood that actually seeing the plays performed was the key to engaging with them, and I've been hooked since about 14 as a result. I'm going to have to keep my eyes peeled for some quality productions of Baemax's 7 suggestions, although we're not particularly well served by Shakespeare north of the border so it may take some time for me to complete my dastardly plan
|
|
|
Post by Laineee on Feb 25, 2016 10:48:26 GMT
A conversation with a colleague about why people are put off seeing Shakespeare (mainly due to the perception that they wouldn't understand the language), got me racking my brain on how to change their mind.
Has anyone successfully managed to convert a sceptic? And if so, what do you think would be the most accessible play for a newcomer to the bard?
|
|
|
Post by Laineee on Feb 15, 2016 21:14:51 GMT
Does anyone know if Scott Davis has any planned dates coming up? Nothing against Ben, but I've never seen Scott before. Scott is currently doing a series of concerts with Michael Xavier, Robyn North and Sally Ann Triplett - not sure how long the series is, though it can't be too extensive as MX must be starting rehearsals for Sunset Boulevard reasonably soon.
|
|
|
Post by Laineee on Feb 14, 2016 22:10:22 GMT
Ok, having now listened to this version, I think my issue is definitely with the Tron production. Or more specifically, the portrayal of M. Andrew Scott was just so much more nuanced, so you did get a sense that there was a relationship between him and John. Thank you Rumbledoll and Johnnyutah
|
|
|
Post by Laineee on Feb 13, 2016 22:19:36 GMT
Just spotted that this is paying a brief visit to Dundee in July. Looks like a trip north is in my future.
|
|
|
Post by Laineee on Feb 13, 2016 22:13:40 GMT
Thank you Rumbledoll, I'll try to hunt it down.
|
|
|
Post by Laineee on Feb 13, 2016 20:18:19 GMT
Newcastle is the nearest they will be (other than the single weekend in Glasgow), so unfortunately I think I've missed my chance.
|
|
|
Post by Laineee on Feb 13, 2016 20:14:54 GMT
Perhaps the issue was with this particular production - like I said, I enjoyed much of the writing. Did the boyfriend come across as something other than an unpleasant bully in that production, or was it possible to understand John's dilemma?
|
|
|
Post by Laineee on Feb 13, 2016 19:51:04 GMT
I seem to be destined not to see these - having missed out in Edinburgh last year, I couldn't make it through this week and now I find they're playing in Glasgow on a weekend I'm in London
|
|
|
Post by Laineee on Feb 13, 2016 19:49:04 GMT
Saw this today, knowing absolutely nothing about it beforehand. Although there was much to enjoy in the writing and staging, I'm afraid that it left me utterly cold due to the complete unlikability of the boyfriend. Whether or not this is down to the way the character is written (like I said, I knew nothing about the piece going in) or simply the way he is portrayed here, it meant that I simply couldn't take John's decision (or indecision) seriously and left the theatre decidedly underwhelmed.
|
|
|
Post by Laineee on Feb 12, 2016 21:02:16 GMT
I thoroughly enjoyed this in New York last year, so very happy to hear that it's heading our way (just happy from a bank balance perspective that it's not until next year!)
|
|
|
Show Boat
Feb 12, 2016 10:21:44 GMT
via mobile
Post by Laineee on Feb 12, 2016 10:21:44 GMT
Very happy to find that the first preview coincides with my next trip to London.... just have to hope that they don't end up cancelling!
|
|
|
Post by Laineee on Feb 10, 2016 16:22:45 GMT
Good to know, I'm not really a meet and greet kind of girl :-)
|
|
|
Post by Laineee on Feb 10, 2016 12:56:09 GMT
You won't be alone in looking out of place there - I got a ticket in the centre of row B before they labelled the first 4 rows as meet & greet (which I probably would have passed on if I'd known that's what they were).
But likewise, at least I'm going!
|
|
|
Post by Laineee on Feb 7, 2016 20:31:10 GMT
Thank you, looks like I shall go to the ball after all!
|
|
|
Post by Laineee on Feb 7, 2016 19:18:53 GMT
Can anyone give a rough running time for this please? Thinking of catching it via NT Live, but engineering works might make it tricky to get a train home afterwards if it goes much past 10:30pm.
|
|
|
Post by Laineee on Feb 4, 2016 21:14:49 GMT
I'm filled with regret over not seeing this in Edinburgh last year - hoping that I can find a way to fit it in to a London trip now.
|
|
|
Post by Laineee on Jan 23, 2016 17:14:47 GMT
I'm Laineee - mostly lurked on the old board and expect that I'll mostly lurk here too. I travel from central Scotland to London for theatre a few times a year and found the forum an invaluable source of information about upcoming shows. When not in London, I can often be found loitering at the Citz or Tron in Glasgow, or the Lyceum in Edinburgh.
|
|