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Post by alessia on Feb 12, 2024 22:24:32 GMT
I am the lone voice here but I really did not like this- I felt like I was sitting through 2 hours of Eastenders (fine if you are a fan, I can’t stand soap operas) I am truly baffled by the reviews. I feel like I’ve seen a different show to everyone else. The acting was fine but the script is so basic that it doesn’t matter almost. Not for me
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Post by parsley1 on Feb 12, 2024 22:57:58 GMT
I am the lone voice here but I really did not like this- I felt like I was sitting through 2 hours of Eastenders (fine if you are a fan, I can’t stand soap operas) I am truly baffled by the reviews. I feel like I’ve seen a different show to everyone else. The acting was fine but the script is so basic that it doesn’t matter almost. Not for me For 99.9% of people Life is basic This play and indeed Eastenders Reflect the predictable nature of life And the basic errors people make And have made since year dot |
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Post by aspieandy on Feb 12, 2024 23:24:47 GMT
Full disclose: I have never seen an episode of Eastenders (though I once watched half a Christmas special with Dirty Den, under threat of a barrage of Brussels sprouts). This is not the same. This is an entirely different format in a completely different environment. Also, you don't even need a special license to watch this (nor are you threatened with prosecution if you don't have a special license). There are plenty of people who don't watch serial TV. Or licenced tv. Or even tv. Ergo: there is no crossover. For many this will be fresh, different, heart-warming.
I don't know: why do people who go to Stranger Things or the Harry Potter production? Much more of the same available on streaming.
Final point: I haven't had time to reflect on other substantive difference (maybe there are, maybe not). Is every episode a three act mini drama, story and character arcs carry over, how many of those are they juggling. I don't know.
/aspie out
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Post by showgirl on Feb 13, 2024 3:51:18 GMT
There are plenty of people who don't watch serial TV. Or licenced tv. Or even tv. Ergo: there is no crossover. For many this will be fresh, different, heart-warming.
Hear hear! And whilst I find it hard to know how familiar others are with theatre actors or venues, I do find the opposite frustrating and puzzling at times, eg when members assume that performers, whom they know from tv (terrestrial or otherwise), and their work, will be familiar to all. |
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Post by alessia on Feb 13, 2024 6:51:06 GMT
When I said it’s like watching a soap opera I didn’t mean any particular actor on stage- I meant the storyline - and how it is so predictable, and on your face, everything that happened was hinted at minutes before it did actually happen. It felt like I was hand held throughout rather than letting me see between the lines. I respect that most people loved this and so did the critics but I just didn’t. There is always one isn’t there 😆
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Post by bryan99 on Feb 13, 2024 8:36:56 GMT
Saw this last night. Enjoyed the first half more than the second. At best - a v strong comedy (reminded me of Jonathan Harvey, back in the day) with some messages (about everything from family to class to the environment) nicely stitched into things. But the 'descent' into chaos and collapse (especially the very end) didn't work for me. All of a sudden we were in surreal/Greek territory. Also - the Polish accent/stereotyping etc has gotten a bit of a free pass which is weird. But - as ever - great to have new writing getting a great production and loads of attention.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Feb 13, 2024 8:51:10 GMT
Saw this last night. Enjoyed the first half more than the second. At best - a v strong comedy (reminded me of Jonathan Harvey, back in the day) with some messages (about everything from family to class to the environment) nicely stitched into things. But the 'descent' into chaos and collapse (especially the very end) didn't work for me. All of a sudden we were in surreal/Greek territory. Also - the Polish accent/stereotyping etc has gotten a bit of a free pass which is weird. But - as ever - great to have new writing getting a great production and loads of attention. I agree re the Polish aspect. It’s a bit icky |
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Post by aspieandy on Feb 13, 2024 12:24:19 GMT
There isn't a Polish accent, anymore than there is an English accent - there are 50 English accents, from Highland Scottish to Etonian, from South African to Geordie, from Scouce to Essex. And each of those starts from that place when speaking another language.
"Vocal/dialect coach: Charmian Hoare, Cathleen McCarron, Tamsin Newlands" - it's possible they needed 3 women to teach the cast to 'speak East Midlands' (whatever) though I'd guess not all 3.
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Post by clarefh on Feb 13, 2024 13:32:07 GMT
I have a ticket for this evening on the notice board if anyone is interested ( note it’s a 6.30 start!).
Happy to accept an offer as it so late in the day.
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Post by bordeaux on Feb 14, 2024 15:23:42 GMT
This is as fabulous as everyone says it is. Very funny, real, full of believable characters and situations, moving too and with the politics under the surface rather than dominating. More important than a transfer, it should tour - it would be great to see how it was received in areas around where it is set.
Enjoyed the 6.30 start - out by 9.00 and back in Bristol by 11.03 rather than the usual 1.30 a.m. I'd like to see that as a regular option.
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Post by adamkinsey on Feb 14, 2024 20:34:06 GMT
Producer David Pugh - Pride & Prejudice (Sort Of) among others - just posted this on X:
"Went to the @nationaltheatre tonight to see ‘Till the stars come down’. Paid £65 and couldn’t hear. As it happened it was a signed performance but unfortunately I don’t understand sign language so I went home."
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Post by Jon on Feb 14, 2024 20:43:06 GMT
Producer David Pugh - Pride & Prejudice (Sort Of) among others - just posted this on X: "Went to the @nationaltheatre tonight to see ‘Till the stars come down’. Paid £65 and couldn’t hear. As it happened it was a signed performance but unfortunately I don’t understand sign language so I went home." Wonder where he was sitting, I went and sat in the cheap seats and heard every word. The cynical side of me wonders if he wants a freebie from the National. |
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Post by adamkinsey on Feb 14, 2024 21:01:47 GMT
Producer David Pugh - Pride & Prejudice (Sort Of) among others - just posted this on X: "Went to the @nationaltheatre tonight to see ‘Till the stars come down’. Paid £65 and couldn’t hear. As it happened it was a signed performance but unfortunately I don’t understand sign language so I went home." Wonder where he was sitting, I went and sat in the cheap seats and heard every word. The cynical side of me wonders if he wants a freebie from the National. I noticed someone posted on this thread last week and said they missed some of the dialogue, so I was interested to see someone else (albeit on X) saying even worse. |
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Post by artea on Feb 14, 2024 23:53:43 GMT
On the sound: £65 tickets today front row circle, sound did come and go, probably according to which direction character was facing and maybe the pitch of the voice. Some lines were inaudible but not so many. You can't really can't leave before the end - it's just too gripping - you hear enough.
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Post by n1david on Feb 19, 2024 21:19:58 GMT
Gutted. At this evening’s performance, thought that the interval was running longer than usual, back into the auditorium and told second half cancelled due to cast illness. Have managed to book for Weds matinee in the hope that the cast member recovers, otherwise out of luck on this one…
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Post by blobble84 on Feb 19, 2024 22:01:44 GMT
Gutted. At this evening’s performance, thought that the interval was running longer than usual, back into the auditorium and told second half cancelled due to cast illness. Have managed to book for Weds matinee in the hope that the cast member recovers, otherwise out of luck on this one… I’ve just done the same! Out of interest - will you see act 1 again? I’m just going to come in for act 2. |
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Post by n1david on Feb 19, 2024 22:12:03 GMT
Discussed this with my fellow attendee and I do plan to see Act 1 again, but I don't think they will. When the major plot development was revealed towards the end of Act 1 I thought, that's interesting, could I have spotted this background if I'd been watching more closely? So I think I will go back and watch Act 1 again with an eye to seeing whether I could spot later plot developments in the initial acting.
Out of interest, did you notice anyone in the cast underperforming in Act 1? I really couldn't see anyone who was under par, I thought everyone was firing on all cylinders.
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Post by blobble84 on Feb 19, 2024 22:15:16 GMT
Everyone seemed fine to me!
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Post by dlevi on Feb 20, 2024 7:35:59 GMT
I was there as well last night and thought it was pretty terrific. (Although it did take a while for me to get used to the thickness of the accents.) I didn't notice anyone under performing so it was a shock when after the extended interval they told us to go home. What I resented was that the probably could have told us 10 or 15 minutes earlier. To extend the interval , get us all back in the theatre have us settle down and then say: "Sorry" was disrespectful of our time and our effort to get there. What are we supposed to do? Go back and sit through act one again? I'm taking this badly because on Saturday the performance of King Lear at the Almeida was cancelled "due to illness - not COVID" That's two shows in a four day period. I understand that the economics of the subsidized sector are difficult. However, it's a new world and they just have to factor in understudies to their budgets. I am a die hard theatregoer but to have my time and effort disrespected ( as the prices go up and up and up) is forcing me to hesitate in buying tickets in the first place.
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Post by n1david on Feb 20, 2024 10:05:31 GMT
I would certainly have appreciated it if they had stopped the "Thanks for coming to see..." email this morning before the Box Office has got in touch about refunds!
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Post by lonlad on Feb 20, 2024 10:16:58 GMT
Well, to paraphrase a David Hare play title, stuff happens. LEAR missed two performances so a crucial cast member could recover fully from an injury sustained on press night (and so they could re-block some sections to accommodate that performer when they returned on Saturday night). The theatre is a fragile place and COVID has only amplified that but it's far from the only culprit.
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Post by Jon on Feb 20, 2024 14:04:33 GMT
Honestly, performers aren't robots and do get sick.
It is frustrating to have performances cancelled but it's not something theatres do lightly.
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Post by n1david on Feb 20, 2024 16:22:22 GMT
Cancelled again tonight. With the rest of the run completely sold out, there are going to be some disappointed punters out there..
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Post by aspieandy on Feb 20, 2024 16:26:58 GMT
A decent amount of guaranteed money down the crapper, as well.
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Post by carraway on Feb 21, 2024 12:47:41 GMT
Loved this. Writing, acting and directing are all spot on. The best production at the Dorfman for years.
5 Stars.
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