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Post by swill on Nov 2, 2023 23:43:21 GMT
I have actually, not to be dramatic, never not understood a production more. In its effort to shorten the piece Branagh cuts key points for every character (with a very quick and completely bizarre sudden change in his own characterisation) making the piece confused, especially for eyes that have never seen or read the piece before - which is a complete failure for any Shakespeare piece. I may be alone in this opinion but occasionally the direction of the piece was either completely static or simply bizarre and unhinged (eg, when characters just laid down to not be seen by the light - but still could be) and unessecary humour which felt shoehorned in.
I enjoyed performances by many though many lack development due to the direction and amendments.
2 stars
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Post by ceebee on Nov 3, 2023 21:51:54 GMT
Four stars from me - I thoroughly enjoyed this pacy, breakneck, whirlwind Lear. So many takeaways and some excellent performances. My only reservation is that the pace is so relentless, the play could do with more time to breathe. Some scenes elide, others collide. Some actors step up and shine, a couple look a little lost - spectators on the fringe. The direction is rather linear and like others I feel Ken would have been better served allowing another person to direct. That said, he delivers Shakespeare like no other and is compelling to watch and hear. There are worse places to be than the front of the Wyndhams, awash in the carefully placed roll of the RADA "R". As an experiment in a world where everything seems compressed and condensed, this works. However, whilst no traditionalist, I prefer Shakespeare performed in its full form. That said, for me, a worthy four stars, worth the £90 ticket price and a great way to spend two hours.
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Post by parsley1 on Nov 4, 2023 0:18:16 GMT
I thought this the worst professional production of a Shakespeare play I have ever seen
Why bother to stage Lear if it’s so truncated?
Bizarre
It reminded me of a cheap cast off episode of GOT
And the acting was appalling
Branagh has this odd over enunciation
And the entire cast are reciting lines like a school effort
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Post by ceebee on Nov 4, 2023 9:17:49 GMT
I thought this the worst professional production of a Shakespeare play I have ever seen Why bother to stage Lear if it’s so truncated? Bizarre It reminded me of a cheap cast off episode of GOT And the acting was appalling Branagh has this odd over enunciation And the entire cast are reciting lines like a school effort This is deliberate. Branagh's Lear is a man of detail, abundance, precision and perfectionism, unused to being challenged by those who surround him. His enunciation is deliberately rhythmic and occasionally staccato as he uses the language to beguile and control those around him. It's an acting choice and the way he has been directed to play it. (Heeheehee.) |
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Post by parsley1 on Nov 4, 2023 10:24:19 GMT
I do wonder if like KST a few roads away
Branagh is actually over inflated and over rated as an actor m
The mainstay of his career is now playing Poirot
It’s not exactly high art
There is nothing wrong with Poirot
My point is probably he just isn’t that amazing after all
I saw him as Macbeth and Ivanov and also I am sure at the NT in Edmond a long time ago
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Post by theatrefan62 on Nov 4, 2023 12:50:27 GMT
He's not even good as Poirot!
I've never understood the fuss over Branagh as an actor to be honest. Or KST come to think about it, although I prefer her over Branagh
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Post by justfran on Nov 4, 2023 13:37:18 GMT
Both performances today and also Monday evening have been cancelled.
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Post by n1david on Nov 4, 2023 15:41:26 GMT
Both performances today and also Monday evening have been cancelled. Are they trying to rework aspects of it given the reviews? |
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Post by lonlad on Nov 4, 2023 17:37:52 GMT
How totally weird given that there is zero wiggle room with this particular run. Maybe Branagh has been dispatched to Westfield or somewhere similar to see if he can buy a soul.
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Post by demelza on Nov 4, 2023 18:57:02 GMT
Supposedly down to cast indisposition. If that is the case, hope whoever it is is on the mend quickly!
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Post by Jan on Nov 4, 2023 19:51:49 GMT
Supposedly down to cast indisposition. If that is the case, hope whoever it is is on the mend quickly! As it’s a RADA benefit show couldn’t he have employed some graduates as understudies ? |
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Post by damaskanddark on Nov 4, 2023 20:30:53 GMT
God I'm glad I'm missing this. Sounds disastrous all across the board.
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Post by rumtom on Nov 4, 2023 23:06:47 GMT
God I'm glad I'm missing this. Sounds disastrous all across the board. It really isn't. It's just turned out not to be one of the greats.. which happens all the time and shouldn't be a big shock but more a gentle disappointment. It makes the great plays even greater by having constant disappointments in-between! Just wait for Fiennes in Macbeth! That really will be great (probably not). Presumably it can only be KB that's ill/indisposed. Other parts you would expect could be covered or the action sped up even faster so you don't realise a scene or three's been cut. |
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Post by ceebee on Nov 4, 2023 23:28:16 GMT
I saw it on Friday night and KB's voice sounded like he was carrying a cold.
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Post by mm75 on Nov 5, 2023 9:04:05 GMT
How totally weird given that there is zero wiggle room with this particular run. Maybe Branagh has been dispatched to Westfield or somewhere similar to see if he can buy a soul. I think that people should try and be kind and compassionate instead of writing nasty comments like above .. Something has obviously happened to someone on the cast for them to cancel the show . I’d imagine if it’s Sir Ken is someone wrote on here he had a cold on Friday and he probs doesn’t have an understudy as he is the reason this show is virtually sold out . I do hope they re accommodate those canx tickets by putting on extra performances .. so many people want to see this. Re the show I go and watch a lot of London shows and I’ve never commented before … HOWEVER I think the reviews on this one are very very harsh . We British don’t like successful people for some reason especially when they are as talented / successful as Sir Ken ..acting / directing / writing lots of Oscar nominations .. the critics are also Slamming Lyonesse for similar reasons I feel . Let’s encourage our very successful screen actors to step back on the stage not pull them part when they do .., Sir Ken has made this King Lear for the people .. yes it’s commercial and not what you will see at the RSC but frankly last time I watched KL it was far too long and boring being no Shakespeare expert I couldn’t understand it .I’d much rather watch this . This show is totally different .. Sir Ken and the very talented ex RADA cast make it easy to understand with the pronunciation … it’s shortened yes and 2 hours is long enough . I found it fast moving and extremely well acted . The Stonehenge setting is clever and as he is a young King Lear that makes sense as does the young cast probs all under 35 . Everyone I was with loved it and there was a standing ovation and loud cheers so I guess the rest of the audience did too . Looking at the cast list a couple of brand new graduates who were great ( most of the cast have worked quite a lot post Rada )but why shouldn’t he promote the drama school that trained him and where he is President ? Good for him giving these talented young actors a great showcase . I love Sir Ken’s performance as Lear .. very modern take on it . Almost having a break down in front of us instead of going completely mad .. he is a joy to watch performing Shakespeare for the masses like me . Keeping it simple ! What a wonderful actor and director ( maybe people just don’t like the fact that he does both ?) My favourites in the rest of the cast are hard to pull out as they are all so good ( credit to Rada training ) but doubling of Cordelia and the Fool just like it was done in Shakespeare times played by Jessica Revell needs a special mention . I think people will look back at this show and say how lucky they were to see Sir Ken play King Lear at 62 in the West end |
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Post by richardh on Nov 5, 2023 9:31:11 GMT
I went to this on Thursday night, as someone who is both a big fan of Sir Ken and studied the play for A-level, albeit many years ago now! It gives me no great pleasure to say that this really isn't very good and for a number of reasons. When you essentially lose one-third of the play's running time you lose many of the scenes that establish who is who and what is going on. Is cutting this much making it more accessible? I don't think so. Many of the supporting cast are clearly talented but I don't think this production does them any favours if it was also cast as a showcase for their talents, which may have been one of Sir Ken's intentions. I hope that the poor-to-indifferent response to this production doesn't put Branagh off treading the boards again and drive him straight back to Disney - I'd love to see him do Lear again in a few years time and maybe with someone else directing him. Who he would agree to let do this though is another matter entirely.
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Post by foxa on Nov 5, 2023 9:46:48 GMT
A friend of mine who is a Branagh fan and was excited about this production snuck out halfway through despite there not being an interval - I have never known her to leave a show before, so very uncharacteristic. Since she went in well-inclined to the production, I asked what made it unbearable. She said there was no drama or ideas, just a rush of words. She did hear from others the second half was better, so admitted she may have missed the good bits.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 5, 2023 12:28:09 GMT
I think that people should try and be kind and compassionate instead of writing nasty comments like above .. As a new joiner you were directed to read our rules which show what is allowed when critiquing performers. Rule breaks should reported for moderator review, members should not try to police the tone of the discussion. This is not a fan forum, actors will be criticised, sometimes harshly. |
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Post by nash16 on Nov 5, 2023 12:46:19 GMT
Susannah Clapp nailing the bizarre pronunciation going on in this show in today’s Observer reviews (3 geeat write ups, including poor Lyonesse finally too): “ But why does everyone talk as if they were being jabbed between each word: “What. Is. The. Matter?” Is this ancient Britspeak? The effect is not quite pronounced enough to suggest a distinctive dialect but is more than sufficient to mangle the sense of the verse, with subjects and verbs waving at each other across the gulf of a pause.” I wonder if Ken feels bad about not directing all the RADA grads well enough? They’ve been slaughtered in the reviews. But then maybe that’s karma for promoting students from a drama school that really doesn’t need to give its students any more legs up? I think that people should try and be kind and compassionate instead of writing nasty comments like above .. Something has obviously happened to someone on the cast for them to cancel the show . I’d imagine if it’s Sir Ken is someone wrote on here he had a cold on Friday and he probs doesn’t have an understudy as he is the reason this show is virtually sold out . I do hope they re accommodate those canx tickets by putting on extra performances .. so many people want to see this. Re the show I go and watch a lot of London shows and I’ve never commented before … HOWEVER I think the reviews on this one are very very harsh . We British don’t like successful people for some reason especially when they are as talented / successful as Sir Ken ..acting / directing / writing lots of Oscar nominations .. the critics are also Slamming Lyonesse for similar reasons I feel . Let’s encourage our very successful screen actors to step back on the stage not pull them part when they do .., Sir Ken has made this King Lear for the people .. yes it’s commercial and not what you will see at the RSC but frankly last time I watched KL it was far too long and boring being no Shakespeare expert I couldn’t understand it .I’d much rather watch this . This show is totally different .. Sir Ken and the very talented ex RADA cast make it easy to understand with the pronunciation … it’s shortened yes and 2 hours is long enough . I found it fast moving and extremely well acted . The Stonehenge setting is clever and as he is a young King Lear that makes sense as does the young cast probs all under 35 . Everyone I was with loved it and there was a standing ovation and loud cheers so I guess the rest of the audience did too . Looking at the cast list a couple of brand new graduates who were great ( most of the cast have worked quite a lot post Rada )but why shouldn’t he promote the drama school that trained him and where he is President ? Good for him giving these talented young actors a great showcase . I love Sir Ken’s performance as Lear .. very modern take on it . Almost having a break down in front of us instead of going completely mad .. he is a joy to watch performing Shakespeare for the masses like me . Keeping it simple ! What a wonderful actor and director ( maybe people just don’t like the fact that he does both ?) My favourites in the rest of the cast are hard to pull out as they are all so good ( credit to Rada training ) but doubling of Cordelia and the Fool just like it was done in Shakespeare times played by Jessica Revell needs a special mention . I think people will look back at this show and say how lucky they were to see Sir Ken play King Lear at 62 in the West end |
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Post by ceebee on Nov 5, 2023 14:35:22 GMT
I know BurlyBeaR has already emphasised in a post that this is an open forum and that harsh criticism sometimes happens. Hoever, some of the comments above sadden me as they seem to revel in the misfortune of bad reviews, either at the individual, the case as a whole, or in some cases the school from which they graduated. Envy is not a nice trait, nor is enjoying the downfall of others. I love dialogue and views that differ and am willing to have somebody change my perspective on things, but I wish people could perhaps look through a more constructive lens when commenting. For instance, when discussing with my kids and my mum (a scholar of Shakespeare), I said that it wasn't the best Lear I had seen, but also not the worst. Perhaps Ken Branagh might be the only "star" with the balls to risk reputational damage by truncating the play so much, and perhaps be accused of rewriting Shakespeare. Yes, the cuts did lose some of the character nuances and the pace was relentless, but I love that KB has tried to do something different. (I was going to say accessible, but at £250 a pop for top tickets, that's possibly stretching things!)
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Post by rumtom on Nov 5, 2023 15:53:26 GMT
I know BurlyBeaR has already emphasised in a post that this is an open forum and that harsh criticism sometimes happens. Hoever, some of the comments above sadden me as they seem to revel in the misfortune of bad reviews, either at the individual, the case as a whole, or in some cases the school from which they graduated. Envy is not a nice trait, nor is enjoying the downfall of others. I love dialogue and views that differ and am willing to have somebody change my perspective on things, but I wish people could perhaps look through a more constructive lens when commenting. For instance, when discussing with my kids and my mum (a scholar of Shakespeare), I said that it wasn't the best Lear I had seen, but also not the worst. Perhaps Ken Branagh might be the only "star" with the balls to risk reputational damage by truncating the play so much, and perhaps be accused of rewriting Shakespeare. Yes, the cuts did lose some of the character nuances and the pace was relentless, but I love that KB has tried to do something different. (I was going to say accessible, but at £250 a pop for top tickets, that's possibly stretching things!) Exactly my sentiment. Well said. |
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Post by nash16 on Nov 5, 2023 16:55:44 GMT
For balance, we now invite Parsley1 to reenter the chat.
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Post by Jan on Nov 5, 2023 17:08:00 GMT
For balance, we now invite Parsley1 to reenter the chat. I think we all disagree with Parsley’s view that this is the worst professional Shakespeare production - those of us who saw the Wooster Group/RSC Troilus and Cressida anyway. |
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Post by mm75 on Nov 5, 2023 20:52:33 GMT
I know BurlyBeaR has already emphasised in a post that this is an open forum and that harsh criticism sometimes happens. Hoever, some of the comments above sadden me as they seem to revel in the misfortune of bad reviews, either at the individual, the case as a whole, or in some cases the school from which they graduated. Envy is not a nice trait, nor is enjoying the downfall of others. I love dialogue and views that differ and am willing to have somebody change my perspective on things, but I wish people could perhaps look through a more constructive lens when commenting. For instance, when discussing with my kids and my mum (a scholar of Shakespeare), I said that it wasn't the best Lear I had seen, but also not the worst. Perhaps Ken Branagh might be the only "star" with the balls to risk reputational damage by truncating the play so much, and perhaps be accused of rewriting Shakespeare. Yes, the cuts did lose some of the character nuances and the pace was relentless, but I love that KB has tried to do something different. (I was going to say accessible, but at £250 a pop for top tickets, that's possibly stretching things!) Exactly my sentiment. Well said. |
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Post by mm75 on Nov 5, 2023 20:58:03 GMT
Exactly my sentiment. Well said. This is all I was trying to say .. constructive criticism is fine anywhere but some of the comments I read were just plain old nasty ..I’ve been reading stuff on this forum for a while and I’ve not seen it before ! For those interested Sunday times review of this play today was pretty good and The Mail on Sunday not bad either .. Why I ask do some people on have it in for Rada graduates ? Surely we should be proud of our amazing drama schools and the talent they produce .. |
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