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Post by mrnutz on Dec 8, 2022 14:37:09 GMT
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Post by lonlad on Dec 8, 2022 15:04:52 GMT
The Grauniad review is spot on. Funny that they and the ideologically opposed Times think the same. The Telegraph has weighed in with a whopping two stars. Now all we need is the FT.
4 stars by the way from WOS - a critic there I've never heard of (Gareth Carr).
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Dec 8, 2022 15:16:30 GMT
Oh dear, sounds like Manor all over again. It might be nice to have a poll on this thread BurlyBeaR to see what non-critics think? Poll added.. vote away! |
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Post by showgirl on Dec 8, 2022 15:33:44 GMT
Certainly sounds a very Marmite play. I'll make up my own mind when I see (whatever I do see) from my RV Friday Rush seat this Saturday. It sounds as though, should I be in the "enjoyed it" group, that will mark me out as a lowbrow, but better that than being disappointed and having wasted my time and money. And all the more so as there are now very few days left when trains/tubes aren't impacted by strikes.
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Post by mkb on Dec 8, 2022 16:16:34 GMT
Certainly sounds a very Marmite play. I'll make up my own mind when I see (whatever I do see) from my RV Friday Rush seat this Saturday. It sounds as though, should I be in the "enjoyed it" group, that will mark me out as a lowbrow, but better that than being disappointed and having wasted my time and money. And all the more so as there are now very few days left when trains/tubes aren't impacted by strikes. I don't think it's as simple as highbrow vs lowbrow tastes. I don't think the play is lowbrow at all. It's rare that characters like the title one are given voice on the stage in a way that paints them as human rather than villains, a product of circumstance as much as personal choices. Some critics have made comparisons to sitcoms. I'm generally not a fan and find most unfunny, yet I laughed out loud at this. I had to smile at this line in the Guardian: "there is a fleeting resemblance to Cheers, just without the depth or sharp one-liners". That's a bit like saying there was subtlety and diversity in Love Thy Neighbour. But then again, I enjoyed Manor and raved about Cinderella, so what do I know? |
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Post by mrnutz on Dec 8, 2022 16:32:06 GMT
Oh dear, sounds like Manor all over again. It might be nice to have a poll on this thread BurlyBeaR to see what non-critics think? Poll added.. vote away! Excellently posed. |
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Post by lonlad on Dec 8, 2022 16:35:10 GMT
Except she isn't remotely painted as human - she's a crassly conceived parade of self-contradictions that don't begin to add up, though I laughed out loud at the notion that she would actual stop everything to bone up on her Ibsen. AS IF ! The tiramisu scene is so ludicrous as to be contemptible.
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Post by mkb on Dec 8, 2022 17:00:30 GMT
Except she isn't remotely painted as human - she's a crassly conceived parade of self-contradictions that don't begin to add up, though I laughed out loud at the notion that she would actual stop everything to bone up on her Ibsen. AS IF ! The tiramisu scene is so ludicrous as to be contemptible. I can only say that I've known/know people not entirely dissimilar from the characters here. They rang true for me. |
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Post by showgirl on Dec 10, 2022 21:19:12 GMT
Whatever it says about me and/or my intellect, I enjoyed this today, laughed quite a lot and my £10 Friday Rush supposedly RV seat was one of the best I've ever had in the Dorfman at any price and probably offered a better and closer view of the stage than some of the more expensive front-facing stalls in the central section as some of those were well below stage level whereas mine was at the same height.
Yes, the play had its faults and was certainly implausible: so much happened in so short a time and the main characters lurched from one strong opinion to the opposite apparently more to suit the plot than to convince as real people but it was nevertheless entertaining (especially the singing and dancing!) and a welcome change to see a production on a smaller scale and focusing on a few people in a local area after so many large-scale, epic plays with huge casts playing multiple roles so before you can work out who they're meant to be, the action has moved on.
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Post by tmesis on Dec 17, 2022 23:59:00 GMT
This is p*ss-poor, truly terrible. Unbelievable characters, unbelievable plot, one of the worst things I’ve seen at NT.
Makes The Sex Party look subtle.
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Post by edi on Dec 19, 2022 22:56:32 GMT
I found it believable and sometimes too believable. The characters were often a caricature but I recognised all of them. I found it very telling that the most "normal" and troublefree character was the one who was facing real problems: possible deportation and was often portrayed as second class citizen.
Second part was less funny but better for it.
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Post by dlevi on Dec 19, 2022 23:44:18 GMT
It's faint praise to say I've seen worse but I have. I didn't mind it all except for the ridiculous last scene with everyone coming into the restaurant to give their conclusion. I thought Fay Ripley was rather wonderful and Gavin Spokes was charming in probably the most offensive role in the play. I wasn't bored which I quite often am these days.
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Post by joem on Jan 2, 2023 22:42:40 GMT
For those who want their theatre to be earnest, didactic and affirmatory of their beliefs - give this a miss. For those who quite enjoy coarse entertainment and morally imperfect characters, you may well enjoy this. It is funny in parts and incredible in large measures too but, as someone has already said, it certainly isn't boring and certainly the audience tonight mostly enjoyed it if their
I'm surprised this got through the NT censors, but not unpleasantly so. Diversity should mean diversity not uniformity, even though I do not accept this play is meant to offend.
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Post by cartoonman on Jan 12, 2023 9:58:06 GMT
I enjoyed this play. The only thing I didn't like was Fay Ripley's mockney accent. Fay is a Londoner so she should know better. The character is from Chelmsford but no trace of an Essex rural accent. Not that you hear that much in Chelmsford apart from the odd old person. Fay shows talent as a dancer and singer and all the characters were almost believable but far worse than people I have come across.
Clever set that revolves to show the tapas bar on one side and the home of Kelly's friend/lover/protagonist on the other.
References to Walthamstow in the play: Rectory Road and Blackhorse Road, is the writer from Walthamstow?
Lots of swearing, not really needed. I would give it ****. It is well worth seeing. The audience on my night seemed to really enjoy it. Well acted by all the cast. Well done NT for putting it on.
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Post by mrnutz on Jan 12, 2023 10:04:54 GMT
References to Walthamstow in the play: Rectory Road and Blackhorse Road, is the writer from Walthamstow? I don't know if she's from there, but she lives there now. There is a real tapas restaurant on that road that's very similar in décor - orfordtapas.co.uk |
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Post by jr on Jan 12, 2023 17:26:45 GMT
Saw this last Friday evening. I'd say 70% full and lots of comps (mine included).
Not a good play but bearable and I laughed a few times. Cast is fine and there is a good chemistry among them.
I have certainly seen worse and think The Guardian's * review is quite harsh on everyone involved.
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Post by tommy on Jan 22, 2023 20:20:43 GMT
Quite a special play, didn't know what to think exactly (would have been good to discuss thoughts with someone who also saw it - the disadvantage of going solo to the theatre:-), but found that this production certainly included several strong moments (especially after the interval).
Also liked the natural acting and approach, but perhaps by painting some characters more strongly (not sure whether in writing, directing, acting or a combination at some point) without turning them into caricatures, and adding some strong silences towards the last scenes it would perhaps have become more memorable to me. Just a thought, and I agree with the comment above that such * review is not correct towards everyone involved, this deserved more in my opinion. If having to give stars I would at least go towards ***
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