|
|
Post by Always@thetheatre on Jun 15, 2024 8:51:03 GMT
Saw this last night from the front row with a £25 key worker ticket, I wasn't asked for any evidence so they must have given up checking now. I had the aisle seat but the view was great, they spend a lot of time right at the front of the stage luckily. I really enjoyed act 1 but felt act 2 dragged until close to the end. We had the understudy Juliet and I thought she was great. To me it felt like a mixture of Cyrano and Sunset. Glad I've seen it and seen Tom Holland & Freeyma on stage but I wouldn't rush to see it again.
The crowds outside after were insane! I've seen some busy stage doors over the years but this was something else. There's also security sat by the stage every night making sure everyone behaves inside the theatre! I was chatting to the security next to me and he'll have sat there for over 90 shows by the end of the run 🙈.
|
|
202 posts
|
Post by harry on Jun 18, 2024 8:32:33 GMT
Oh god this was bad. And DULL.
A sort of strange phenomenon - a very young and extremely well behaved audience (no phones, no chatter) but audibly bored, fidgeting, yawning - honestly don’t blame them - but then who Pavlov-style got to their feet at the end. Maybe they were enjoying it and I misread the situation but it really didn’t feel that way.
The most interesting bit of the whole evening was the feverish crowd outside the theatre afterwards. The road blocked with people trying to catch a glimpse, both pavements PACKED with people. Then screams when Tom came out of the stage door and waved. People so far back they couldn’t se a thing holding phones in the air taking pictures which surely will just be the backs of people’s heads and a sea of hands holding phones in front of them and possibly a tiny bit of Tom somewhere in the distance. What a weird life he must lead if that follows you everywhere.
But the show. First half, irritating (“Oh for goodness sake just talk to each other instead of whispering into microphones miles apart! What are we learning here?!”) but enough loud noises and flashing lights to keep you from drifting off. Second half interminable (“Just speak faster! When will it end?!”). It’s great that Jamie Lloyd is getting young people excited to go to the theatre and to see Shakespeare, but honestly if I’d seen this production at school, I think I’d have been put off for life!
|
|
1,442 posts
|
Post by theatrefan62 on Jun 18, 2024 11:23:19 GMT
Oh god this was bad. And DULL. A sort of strange phenomenon - a very young and extremely well behaved audience (no phones, no chatter) but audibly bored, fidgeting, yawning - honestly don’t blame them - but then who Pavlov-style got to their feet at the end. Maybe they were enjoying it and I misread the situation but it really didn’t feel that way. The most interesting bit of the whole evening was the feverish crowd outside the theatre afterwards. The road blocked with people trying to catch a glimpse, both pavements PACKED with people. Then screams when Tom came out of the stage door and waved. People so far back they couldn’t se a thing holding phones in the air taking pictures which surely will just be the backs of people’s heads and a sea of hands holding phones in front of them and possibly a tiny bit of Tom somewhere in the distance. What a weird life he must lead if that follows you everywhere. But the show. First half, irritating (“Oh for goodness sake just talk to each other instead of whispering into microphones miles apart! What are we learning here?!”) but enough loud noises and flashing lights to keep you from drifting off. Second half interminable (“Just speak faster! When will it end?!”). It’s great that Jamie Lloyd is getting young people excited to go to the theatre and to see Shakespeare, but honestly if I’d seen this production at school, I think I’d have been put off for life! It's not Jamie Lloyd getting young people into Shakespeare or that theatre |
|
|
|
Post by starlight92 on Jun 18, 2024 12:51:50 GMT
Saw this last night from the front row with a £25 key worker ticket, I wasn't asked for any evidence so they must have given up checking now. I had the aisle seat but the view was great, they spend a lot of time right at the front of the stage luckily. I really enjoyed act 1 but felt act 2 dragged until close to the end. We had the understudy Juliet and I thought she was great. To me it felt like a mixture of Cyrano and Sunset. Glad I've seen it and seen Tom Holland & Freeyma on stage but I wouldn't rush to see it again. The crowds outside after were insane! I've seen some busy stage doors over the years but this was something else. There's also security sat by the stage every night making sure everyone behaves inside the theatre! I was chatting to the security next to me and he'll have sat there for over 90 shows by the end of the run 🙈. There's a Under 30/key worker ticket for this in the noticeboard which I'm tempted to get, but I'm 31 and not a key worker - do you think I could get away with it?! |
|
202 posts
|
Post by harry on Jun 18, 2024 12:52:16 GMT
Oh god this was bad. And DULL. A sort of strange phenomenon - a very young and extremely well behaved audience (no phones, no chatter) but audibly bored, fidgeting, yawning - honestly don’t blame them - but then who Pavlov-style got to their feet at the end. Maybe they were enjoying it and I misread the situation but it really didn’t feel that way. The most interesting bit of the whole evening was the feverish crowd outside the theatre afterwards. The road blocked with people trying to catch a glimpse, both pavements PACKED with people. Then screams when Tom came out of the stage door and waved. People so far back they couldn’t se a thing holding phones in the air taking pictures which surely will just be the backs of people’s heads and a sea of hands holding phones in front of them and possibly a tiny bit of Tom somewhere in the distance. What a weird life he must lead if that follows you everywhere. But the show. First half, irritating (“Oh for goodness sake just talk to each other instead of whispering into microphones miles apart! What are we learning here?!”) but enough loud noises and flashing lights to keep you from drifting off. Second half interminable (“Just speak faster! When will it end?!”). It’s great that Jamie Lloyd is getting young people excited to go to the theatre and to see Shakespeare, but honestly if I’d seen this production at school, I think I’d have been put off for life! It's not Jamie Lloyd getting young people into Shakespeare or that theatre I know what you’re saying but it’s Jamie Lloyd who is able to attract the big names to the stage that in turn gets the young people there. Tom Holland (and James McAvoy and Nicole Scherzinger and Jessica Chastain) are signing up because it’s him. |
|
|
|
Post by Always@thetheatre on Jun 18, 2024 15:45:28 GMT
Saw this last night from the front row with a £25 key worker ticket, I wasn't asked for any evidence so they must have given up checking now. I had the aisle seat but the view was great, they spend a lot of time right at the front of the stage luckily. I really enjoyed act 1 but felt act 2 dragged until close to the end. We had the understudy Juliet and I thought she was great. To me it felt like a mixture of Cyrano and Sunset. Glad I've seen it and seen Tom Holland & Freeyma on stage but I wouldn't rush to see it again. The crowds outside after were insane! I've seen some busy stage doors over the years but this was something else. There's also security sat by the stage every night making sure everyone behaves inside the theatre! I was chatting to the security next to me and he'll have sat there for over 90 shows by the end of the run 🙈. There's a Under 30/key worker ticket for this in the noticeboard which I'm tempted to get, but I'm 31 and not a key worker - do you think I could get away with it?! Up to you if you want to take the gamble. I wasn't asked for any ID/evidence and a friend wasn't asked a few days before, but they might do random checks. |
|
174 posts
|
Post by dillan on Jun 18, 2024 17:30:11 GMT
Saw this last night from the front row with a £25 key worker ticket, I wasn't asked for any evidence so they must have given up checking now. I had the aisle seat but the view was great, they spend a lot of time right at the front of the stage luckily. I really enjoyed act 1 but felt act 2 dragged until close to the end. We had the understudy Juliet and I thought she was great. To me it felt like a mixture of Cyrano and Sunset. Glad I've seen it and seen Tom Holland & Freeyma on stage but I wouldn't rush to see it again. The crowds outside after were insane! I've seen some busy stage doors over the years but this was something else. There's also security sat by the stage every night making sure everyone behaves inside the theatre! I was chatting to the security next to me and he'll have sat there for over 90 shows by the end of the run 🙈. There's a Under 30/key worker ticket for this in the noticeboard which I'm tempted to get, but I'm 31 and not a key worker - do you think I could get away with it?! I've been twice with the Under 30 ticket - last month and last night, wasn't asked both times.. I'd take the gamble tbh lol |
|
3,536 posts
|
Post by Rory on Jun 20, 2024 16:51:25 GMT
I saw this this afternoon and didn't really care much for it. The two leads were great but there was no sense of place or characterisation elsewhere. Almost impossible to make out who was who and the whole thing felt very confusing. Some of the verse speaking was poor (again, not the leads).
Having loved Cyrano and Sunset, I was disappointed that I didn't feel the same about this. I'm a bit done with screens and gimmicks for a while, I think. The theatre was like a sauna and everyone leapt to their feet with wild abandon at the end, possibly because it was finally over, having gone on for what seemed like an eternity, especially in the second half.
|
|
1,728 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by marob on Jun 20, 2024 21:13:28 GMT
Very interesting to read it’s now getting standing ovations. At the preview I went to a few people stood, then a few more stood ‘cause they saw those others standing. It was not instant and very far from total. Much more mixed reaction., and a more honest one too.
|
|
|
|
Post by blamerobots on Jun 21, 2024 1:36:31 GMT
Shall we even bother with stage door? Seeing it in a group and one particularly wants to see Tom after but I want to live another day  |
|
309 posts
|
Post by jm25 on Jun 21, 2024 4:38:49 GMT
Shall we even bother with stage door? Seeing it in a group and one particularly wants to see Tom after but I want to live another day It's actually very well organised by the security staff and they do a great job of making sure everyone is safe and keeping expectations in check. There are usually crowds either side of the stage door as well as across the road. When I saw the play I hadn't planned on hanging around afterwards and certainly didn't rush out of the auditorium. But curiosity got the better of me and I found that there was no problem getting a good spot on the pavement across the road. Tom doesn't stop for autographs or anything like that but he does give everyone a big wave before getting in his car. Everyone was well behaved and respectful so it may not be as bad as you think! |
|
1,396 posts
|
Post by BVM on Jun 22, 2024 14:06:34 GMT
I saw this on Thursday and must say I rather liked it.
There were quite a few Huns in the audience and a couple sat down next to me, him with two pints, her with a pint and a double shot and ATG had 2 ushers AND security on both Stalls aisles - I really thought I was in for an audience reign of terror. But happy to report the lights went down and it was a beautifully behaved audience without a single disturbance.
So I don't see many plays (much prefer musicals) and I really don't like or "get" Shakespeare in general - but I like Jamie Lloyd and I thought this might make a Shakespeare play more accessible to me.
And it did! Loved the atmosphere as you come into the theatre - very dark with loud industrial mood music playing!
The modern dress and the use of mics and film I really enjoyed. I thought entire cast but particularly both leads were fantastic. And the whole staging created an intense atmosphere of simmering tension which I loved.
Immediate (and deserved) standing ovation from a very appreciative audience.
Easy 4 stars from me.
(Oh and when I came out there was a massive crowd of people behind barriers the other side of the street presumably waiting for stage door. I was one of the first out so clearly none of these people had actually seen the show! I don't see many films so had no idea Tom Holland was that level of megastar!)
|
|
519 posts
|
Post by theatreliker on Jun 22, 2024 20:49:47 GMT
Walked past the theatre this afternoon to a well choreographed routine of:
- barriers out on pavement;
- Car pulls up:
- Actor gets out, turns and waves a couple of times
... all within the space of 30 seconds.
|
|
|
|
Post by jaqs on Jun 24, 2024 21:13:16 GMT
I don’t think it could have been more Jamie Lloyd, loads of blood, projections, smoke and gloom, sitting on the edge of the stage, mics off, loud noises and blackouts.
It wasn’t for me, it just dragged, the lack of interaction between the cast, might as well have been a radio play.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jan on Jun 25, 2024 7:46:58 GMT
Very interesting to read it’s now getting standing ovations. I see that only a few £345 tickets are left via ATG. I suppose for some people if you've paid that much you need to convince yourself it was worth it. |
|
920 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by fiyerorocher on Jun 25, 2024 9:04:03 GMT
The people behind me left during the interval. I wish I'd made the same choice.
|
|
ehf
Auditioning
|
Post by ehf on Jun 25, 2024 9:13:18 GMT
Slightly unfortunate timing following the last post perhaps 🤣 but just to flag I've listed a restricted view, bench seat for tonight on the noticeboard.
Please note, whilst I'm a first-time poster I'm a long-term follower of the forum and wanted the ticket to go at face value to someone keen to see the show.
|
|
|
|
Post by kallyloo on Jun 25, 2024 9:49:21 GMT
I don’t think it could have been more Jamie Lloyd, loads of blood, projections, smoke and gloom, sitting on the edge of the stage, mics off, loud noises and blackouts. It wasn’t for me, it just dragged, the lack of interaction between the cast, might as well have been a radio play. Having recently rewatched The Seagull, it’s a mix of styles he loves. Sparse sets, front facing actors with mainly vocal interactions and focused camera work. I really expect more of the same from future productions, with some minor tweaking, perhaps. |
|
19,673 posts
|
Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 25, 2024 10:50:54 GMT
There is a very low price, restricted view ticket on the Noticeboard for tonight’s show (25th June)
|
|
1,396 posts
|
Post by BVM on Jun 25, 2024 11:07:26 GMT
It does mildly amuse me that so many people seem to know what Jamie Lloyd does.
Buy tickets to this.
Moan about it being classical Jamie Lloyd.
But is is interesting. As someone who hardly ever sees plays and really really has never enjoyed Shakespeare, I liked this.
So I do think he reaches new audiences.
|
|
174 posts
|
Post by dillan on Jun 25, 2024 11:21:15 GMT
Honeslty, if you like Jamie Lloyd's work and enjoy the storyline of R&J, then it's safe to say you'll likely enjoy this. It's got everything you'd expect from a Jamie production and the acting is very good IMO (especially from Freema).
Is it outstanding and worth the £300 ATG are selling some tickets for? No way but if you managed to get a cheap ticket, then I'm sure you'll have a decent night (IF you like the story and Jamie's work).
|
|
75 posts
|
Post by claireyfairy1 on Jun 25, 2024 11:25:50 GMT
It does mildly amuse me that so many people seem to know what Jamie Lloyd does. Buy tickets to this. Moan about it being classical Jamie Lloyd. I think this is a fair point, but it's kind of hit and miss with JL. Some of his work has been genuinely innovative and exciting, but some is simply derivative of his better work and that makes it boring. So I guess a lot of people (me) go into it hoping it's going to be the former, but moan because it's actually the latter. |
|
1,396 posts
|
Post by BVM on Jun 25, 2024 11:28:51 GMT
It does mildly amuse me that so many people seem to know what Jamie Lloyd does. Buy tickets to this. Moan about it being classical Jamie Lloyd. I think this is a fair point, but it's kind of hit and miss with JL. Some of his work has been genuinely innovative and exciting, but some is simply derivative of his better work and that makes it boring. So I guess a lot of people (me) go into it hoping it's going to be the former, but moan because it's actually the latter. Yeah I get that! But his style of late does seem pretty consistent! |
|
|
|
Post by jaqs on Jun 25, 2024 11:56:01 GMT
I wasn’t moaning about it being his style, just commenting on how much of it it was.
Usually I do like his work and before this the only time I’d actively disliked a Lloyd production was Macbeth with the gas masks. This one it just didn’t work for me.
|
|
920 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by fiyerorocher on Jun 25, 2024 12:17:32 GMT
The second act of this terrible regardless of your opinions of Lloyd's style, in my opinion. It just dragged. I've never been more excited for Juliet to finally pick up that dagger (metaphorically, here, of course, because there is not one single prop).
|
|
