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Post by theatremiss on Aug 23, 2023 16:54:29 GMT
Thanks rumbledoll at lest I’ll have plenty of time to get to Waterloo |
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Post by Rory on Aug 24, 2023 7:39:58 GMT
A great review in Time Out but panned by The Times and Evening Standard.
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Post by n1david on Aug 24, 2023 8:41:29 GMT
A bit like Next to Normal, it's always interesting when critics don't reach a consensus... I haven't seen either yet, but I'm intrigued...
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Post by rumtom on Aug 24, 2023 10:35:56 GMT
A great review in Time Out but panned by The Times and Evening Standard. I shouldn't be surprised but I am, I thought this was one that either the critics would love it or at least really liked. It's so well acted, not self absorbed, entertaining but thought provoking.. anyway I can't read The Times one due to the paywall! |
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Post by Mark on Aug 24, 2023 21:06:18 GMT
£10 standing tix released across the run.
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Post by jm25 on Aug 24, 2023 22:41:32 GMT
I struggled with this. Interesting ideas but it felt like it was trying to be a bit too clever.
The cast is great though, especially Jonny Lee Miller, and the ending was very good. Definitely agree with the comments saying that this has echoes of The Pillowman (which I also struggled with!).
I'm not usually fussed about being in the stalls or circle at the Almeida, but there are a few interactive elements in this so I'd recommend the stalls for the full effect.
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Post by showgirl on Aug 25, 2023 3:23:50 GMT
I did book ( a cheap seat as usual) for this due to FOMO & it sounds... interesting. However, given what I've read about it, I'm not sure I'm going to understand it, which is always frustrating and makes me feel stupid. I don't mind being challenged and "thought-provoking" is great, but I couldn't even follow one of the reviews I read - which was almost as long as the play - so goodness knows what my chances are with the performance itself. And no interval, either, in which to escape if it's clearly over my head.
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Post by rumbledoll on Aug 25, 2023 4:44:38 GMT
I did book ( a cheap seat as usual) for this due to FOMO & it sounds... interesting. However, given what I've read about it, I'm not sure I'm going to understand it, which is always frustrating and makes me feel stupid. I don't mind being challenged and "thought-provoking" is great, but I couldn't even follow one of the reviews I read - which was almost as long as the play - so goodness knows what my chances are with the performance itself. And no interval, either, in which to escape if it's clearly over my head. The choice remains yours I just wanted to say that I don’t think it’s hard to understand for an average mind (like mine, for example), it’s rather transparent once you become peeling the layers one by one. It’s not some niche production for enlightened or chosen ones, it’s not ‘too clever’, but clever enough to enjoy it through and through. Even if the meaning of the piece in its entirely is not 100% clear (I am sure I missed a thing or two), there’s something for everyone as this play comments on many things, including those naturally close to the people who love arts and going to the theatre in the first place. |
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Post by vickyg on Aug 25, 2023 9:24:26 GMT
I loved this last night! I purposely went in knowing nothing other than it being a wedding and I felt that really benefitted my experience. It does catch you off guard but I often find it difficult to follow film plots, for example, and I could manage plenty of this to make it worthwhile. I loved getting to know the characters and the three or four main performances were excellent. Two hours straight through did feel a little long but only by about 10 mins or so and getting us to stand part way through helped with any restlessness. It was very hot upstairs though. {Spoiler - click to view}
My seat was B29 in the circle which was right on the end by the door and when the soldiers ran in at the end they were right by me shouting in my ear. I was so scared I actually cried so it was definitely effective!
This could be 5 stars from me, my first in a while! |
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Post by rumtom on Aug 25, 2023 17:12:45 GMT
I loved this last night! I purposely went in knowing nothing other than it being a wedding and I felt that really benefitted my experience. It does catch you off guard but I often find it difficult to follow film plots, for example, and I could manage plenty of this to make it worthwhile. I loved getting to know the characters and the three or four main performances were excellent. Two hours straight through did feel a little long but only by about 10 mins or so and getting us to stand part way through helped with any restlessness. It was very hot upstairs though. {Spoiler - click to view}
My seat was B29 in the circle which was right on the end by the door and when the soldiers ran in at the end they were right by me shouting in my ear. I was so scared I actually cried so it was definitely effective!
This could be 5 stars from me, my first in a while! Yes, I felt the same, I don't particularly like surprises or gimmicks but this was just something that definitely benefits from knowing as little about it as possible. There's nothing that requires prior knowledge in this. The story is straightforward and there is nothing particularly confusing to follow. |
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Post by alessia on Aug 27, 2023 16:29:42 GMT
I also liked this a lot, nothing much to add to what people above have already said. Surprisingly funny and perfect length, I enjoyed the way it was framed as a play inside a play, and as a wedding. Maybe the very last bit when the surprise is revealed was a bit too on the nose with the explanation (but saying that, I had not realised what was going on until 5 minutes before). Apart from that, I have nothing negative to say. I'd never seen Jonny Lee Miller on stage before, he is incredible. Some empty seats in the back stalls at the matinee yesterday, which I found surprising.
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Post by theatrefan77 on Aug 27, 2023 23:11:14 GMT
I was there on Saturday matinee too and was also surprised by the amount of empty seats including quite a few in the second row of Stalls. Maybe some people could not make it as it's supposed to be sold out.
I did enjoyed the play although I find it a tad pretentious in parts. Very well acted. Jonny Lee Miller was really excellent.
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Post by theatremiss on Aug 28, 2023 12:01:12 GMT
I was there on Saturday matinee too and was also surprised by the amount of empty seats including quite a few in the second row of Stalls. Maybe some people could not make it as it's supposed to be sold out. I did enjoyed the play although I find it a tad pretentious in parts. Very well acted. Jonny Lee Miller was really excellent. There was a rail strike on Sat so perhaps people couldn’t make it. I didn’t make La Cage |
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Post by dlevi on Aug 30, 2023 9:41:27 GMT
God how I hated this play - not at first but then as it droned on and on I couldn't help but think that Lucy Kirkwood did it better with her play at the Royal Court last year. This was Pillowman-lite crossed with a bit of "Trouble in Mind" . (SPOLIER? I don't think so. The play they're performing is just scenes which serve the author's purpose - and so there was nothing believable or threatening about it. And at the performance I attended there was simply no electricity between the actors. Just a misfire on everyone's part as far as I'm concerned.
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Post by cavocado on Aug 30, 2023 10:41:45 GMT
God how I hated this play - not at first but then as it droned on and on I couldn't help but think that Lucy Kirkwood did it better with her play at the Royal Court last year. This was Pillowman-lite crossed with a bit of "Trouble in Mind" . (SPOLIER? I don't think so. The play they're performing is just scenes which serve the author's purpose - and so there was nothing believable or threatening about it. And at the performance I attended there was simply no electricity between the actors. Just a misfire on everyone's part as far as I'm concerned. I came out of this feeling the opposite. I liked how cleverly and rapidly this unfolded. Some bits were quite predictable, but I still felt a lot of tension and found the ideas interesting and lots of it quite disturbing. Jonny Lee Miller was excellent. I preferred it to the Lucy Kirkwood, but I thought that play's manufactured mystery about the playwright was badly judged, so maybe I went into the RC in the wrong frame of mind. The framing scenario for A Mirror was less self indulgent and annoying, so I felt more able to go with it, enjoy the play, and go along with the audience participation. |
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Post by foxa on Aug 30, 2023 11:05:30 GMT
The framing device for the Kirkwood play really did backfire. Going to see this on Saturday so fingers crossed it's not too annoying as I am going with someone who can be annoyed.
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Post by drmaplewood on Aug 30, 2023 13:23:25 GMT
I saw this last night and really enjoyed it, 2 hours whizzed by for me.
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Post by Latecomer on Aug 30, 2023 18:21:55 GMT
I agree with both sides on this one. I enjoyed it, mostly down to some good acting and it is funny, but at the same time I think it’s quite simplistic?
I can think of a few ways I would have gone with this one, however, I did not write a play, so respect! And it’s great fun! I think I may just be a cynical old theatre-goer these days!
Lovely to see JLM and thought all the cast were really good!
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Post by romeo94 on Aug 30, 2023 20:55:52 GMT
Does anyone know if there is any audience participation for those sitting in the side stalls wedding-style seats?
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Aug 30, 2023 21:59:33 GMT
Does anyone know if there is any audience participation for those sitting in the side stalls wedding-style seats? audience participation is everywhere in the theatre, doesn't matter where you're sat |
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Post by showgirl on Aug 31, 2023 3:24:54 GMT
Does anyone know if there is any audience participation for those sitting in the side stalls wedding-style seats? Don't worry: no-one is singled out, so it's not the kind you may be asking or concerned about. Plus the chap next to me yesterday didn't join in once. |
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Post by showgirl on Aug 31, 2023 3:31:41 GMT
I saw the matinee yesterday and really enjoyed it for a good hour but after that it began to seem too long and quite an ordeal; not because of the play itself but being forced to sit in those cramped, uncomfortable seats for 2 hours with no interval was quite gruelling and definitely impacted my ability to concentrate and the overall experience. Plus I had a huge person on my right who impinged on my space and a leaner on my left (no doubt due to the pillars), so I had even less room than I should technically have done. In my opinion the play should and could have been a bit shorter - by at least 15 minutes - or should have included an interval. I'm sure others would argue against an interval on the basis that it would break the continuity, but in that case, edit it a little. Besides, though it was very clever and layered, I felt it became a little too intricate and could have lost some of its complexity, or the final stage could have been reached sooner with some pruning in the middle. Based on my initial reaction I would have enthused about it and said it was one of the best things I'd seen in ages; it was still very impressive but somewhat less could have been more.
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Post by romeo94 on Aug 31, 2023 6:54:09 GMT
Does anyone know if there is any audience participation for those sitting in the side stalls wedding-style seats? Don't worry: no-one is singled out, so it's not the kind you may be asking or concerned about. Plus the chap next to me yesterday didn't join in once. Ah great. Thank you! |
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Post by Latecomer on Aug 31, 2023 16:42:24 GMT
I saw the matinee yesterday and really enjoyed it for a good hour but after that it began to seem too long and quite an ordeal; not because of the play itself but being forced to sit in those cramped, uncomfortable seats for 2 hours with no interval was quite gruelling and definitely impacted my ability to concentrate and the overall experience. Plus I had a huge person on my right who impinged on my space and a leaner on my left (no doubt due to the pillars), so I had even less room than I should technically have done. In my opinion the play should and could have been a bit shorter - by at least 15 minutes - or should have included an interval. I'm sure others would argue against an interval on the basis that it would break the continuity, but in that case, edit it a little. Besides, though it was very clever and layered, I felt it became a little too intricate and could have lost some of its complexity, or the final stage could have been reached sooner with some pruning in the middle. Based on my initial reaction I would have enthused about it and said it was one of the best things I'd seen in ages; it was still very impressive but somewhat less could have been more. Framing would easily have allowed a “disco in the foyer” break in proceedings as an interval (and could have been quite fun!) ! I too was “taken out of the play” after a while…that chair at the front of the stage blocked my view for some of the time…and I always find that hard not to take personally!!!!! I wonder if there was a moment where the pacing just fell and we stopped being delighted and surprised? Maybe an interval would have helped and then a change of tone for the second half? |
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Post by barelyathletic on Sept 6, 2023 9:18:09 GMT
I saw this last night and though it was a really excellent night of theatre. Funny and smart (without being annoying) and provocative, with plenty to chew over when you come out. I thought JLM was astonishingly good, even though I had a cheap side seat stage right so got a fair amount of back acting. The rest of the cast was strong and I loved the ideas and the way it was staged and directed. It very much reminded me of Sam Holcroft's excellent Edgar and Annabelle that I saw at the National nearly ten years ago, and once again she's shown herself to be a really gifted playwright who's not predictable or easy to pin down, and who I think deserves a lot more attention. One of the best of the year for me and I hope it has further life somehow.
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