The Human Body - Donmar Warehouse

[mrnutz]

"Guys, this sh*t is too long! The switchboard is jammed with people trying to return their tickets. It turns out nobody wants to sit through a romantic drama set during the origins of the NHS for more than three hours, even if Keeley Hawes is in it!"

[alessia]

OMG I was looking forward to this ! and it was sold out until a week ago what is going on? Apart from how long it is, is it any good?

[mrnutz]

Feb 19, 2024 17:19:12 GMT alessia said:

OMG I was looking forward to this ! and it was sold out until a week ago what is going on? Apart from how long it is, is it any good?

It opens tonight (as Saturday's performance was cancelled).

Who's in first and can report back?!

[david]

Donmar currently looking at reducing the run time after audience reaction after run through - 

[eatbigsea]

SPOILER: Click to show

Oof. First half OK, if overlong (there were some departures around us following the interval), a bit derivative, both of Brief Encounter and of Jamie Lloyd’s cameras. Saved by Keeley Hawes’ exquisite face and acting. I’m afraid it went completely off the rails in the second half, when the war hero husband

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler - click to view}
Turned into a monster.

 There might have been some subtleties in that scene that we missed, as we were completely unable to see any of the action, so I’m afraid I’m going to have to go on what we heard. Then there was a second scene just to reinforce it (this one was a little more plausible). Then there were some attempted parallels between the birth of the health service and her personal life, which I’m afraid I didn’t understand at all. It was just so long, and I’m afraid I didn’t feel the chemistry between Hawes and Davenport at all. Two stars, all for the acting, which I can’t fault. But the play was awful. And it made me feel very capitalist at the end (

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler - click to view}
Team Dior

), which I can’t imagine was the intended result.

[mrnutz]

How long was it? They haven't put the running time back on the site yet, so presumably still in flux.

[alessia]

Oh dear...I am going Saturday...now really not sure I want to

[cavocado]

This sounds disappointing. I think there's a lot of potential in the advent of the NHS as a subject of drama, even with three plays in a year. I'm seeing this next week - hopefully some of the problems might have been addressed by then.

[eatbigsea]

Feb 21, 2024 9:36:39 GMT mrnutz said:

How long was it? They haven't put the running time back on the site yet, so presumably still in flux.

3 hours 10. There was constant motion and the scenes were mostly short, but I did feel it (especially the 90 minute second half). 

[theatremiss]

Looks like this will be a no from me then. Even 3hrs 10mins makes it a huge rush to get to the Lyttleton for a 1830hrs start. Starting it at 1400hrs would be a better option

[happysooz2]

What’s the Donmar policy on returns?

[Rory]

Feb 21, 2024 19:41:04 GMT happysooz2 said:

What’s the Donmar policy on returns?

They give you a credit minus a £1.50 transaction fee.

[Being Alive]

Feb 21, 2024 18:33:38 GMT theatremiss said:

Looks like this will be a no from me then. Even 3hrs 10mins makes it a huge rush to get to the Lyttleton for a 1830hrs start. Starting it at 1400hrs would be a better option

A 2.30pm would finish at 5.40pm, giving you 50 minutes to do the 20 minute walk to the National - I think you've got time?

[Jon]

Feb 21, 2024 22:05:09 GMT Being Alive said:

Feb 21, 2024 18:33:38 GMT theatremiss said:

Looks like this will be a no from me then. Even 3hrs 10mins makes it a huge rush to get to the Lyttleton for a 1830hrs start. Starting it at 1400hrs would be a better option

A 2.30pm would finish at 5.40pm, giving you 50 minutes to do the 20 minute walk to the National - I think you've got time?

The Donmar is only a few minutes from Leicester Square Station which is only two stops from Waterloo and if you take the exit on the South Bank then it's only in total 20 minutes max.

[chameleon1]

3hours 5minutes tonight. But 45 minutes of the 2h 45 playing time is set changes.

Technically, this must be a nightmare. Short scenes, set changes with substantial objects coming on an off, rapid costume changes, videography.

The narrative sags. Keeley Hawes is great, but her romance with the Jack Davenport character doesn't ring true (maybe partly because we don't see any chemistry between them) - and that isn't helped by the filmed scenes, which just confirm the artifice. The tricky relationship with the husband isn't helped by the fact that Goodman Hill, unlike Davenport, is playing several other characters, which makes this relationship less substantial, even though the message the production is given, with the filmed sequences, is the other way around.

Then, there's an entire subplot about the Hawes character's attempts to be an MP, which give her an excuse to travel, but disrupts the politics of the ending..

This feels like a script that wanted to be a film. As a play, it becomes heavy-handed and unconvincing. With less dialogue, and less clumsy on-stage filming, and more easy close-ups, and instant transitions, and a two-hour playing time, it could fly...

For this production, perhaps the best medicine would be to ditch all the substantial bits of set, and perform the entire thing with four chairs, a desk, and a trolley.

[eatbigsea]

Feb 22, 2024 0:09:59 GMT chameleon1 said:

3hours 5minutes tonight. But 45 minutes of the 2h 45 playing time is set changes.

Technically, this must be a nightmare. Short scenes, set changes with substantial objects coming on an off, rapid costume changes, videography.

The narrative sags. Keeley Hawes is great, but her romance with the Jack Davenport character doesn't ring true (maybe partly because we don't see any chemistry between them) - and that isn't helped by the filmed scenes, which just confirm the artifice. The tricky relationship with the husband isn't helped by the fact that Goodman Hill, unlike Davenport, is playing several other characters, which makes this relationship less substantial, even though the message the production is given, with the filmed sequences, is the other way around.

Then, there's an entire subplot about the Hawes character's attempts to be an MP, which give her an excuse to travel, but disrupts the politics of the ending..

This feels like a script that wanted to be a film. As a play, it becomes heavy-handed and unconvincing. With less dialogue, and less clumsy on-stage filming, and more easy close-ups, and instant transitions, and a two-hour playing time, it could fly...

For this production, perhaps the best medicine would be to ditch all the substantial bits of set, and perform the entire thing with four chairs, a desk, and a trolley.

Yes, and ditch the “handwashing.” I don’t know why (perhaps because we’ve all just been through Covid) but that irritated me enormously.

[theatremiss]

Feb 21, 2024 22:05:09 GMT Being Alive said:

Feb 21, 2024 18:33:38 GMT theatremiss said:

Looks like this will be a no from me then. Even 3hrs 10mins makes it a huge rush to get to the Lyttleton for a 1830hrs start. Starting it at 1400hrs would be a better option

A 2.30pm would finish at 5.40pm, giving you 50 minutes to do the 20 minute walk to the National - I think you've got time?

I have mobility issues so it will be Leicester Sq to Waterloo, then walk to NT. I long for the time I could skip across the bridge from Charing Cross to South Bank. My real issue will be grabbing something to eat and drink, plus a loo stop, very tight for time. 

[Rory]

I think someone said on Twitter it was now 2hrs 40mins so maybe worth checking with the Donmar if that's accurate.

[theatremiss]

Feb 22, 2024 10:57:39 GMT Rory said:

I think someone said on Twitter it was now 2hrs 40mins so maybe worth checking with the Donmar if that's accurate.

Thank you I will

[alessia]

The email I was sent this morning stated 2 hours 55 minutes with a 20 minutes interval...

[mrnutz]

Getting lower! Its close relation, Nye at the NT, is reporting a 2:50 runtime ahead of its first preview.

[alessia]

I really liked this. Yes it’s long finishing at 10.15 this evening but I never felt it was dragging. I was never bored - it is like a romantic film from the 1940s -(obvious references are made to Brief Encounter) including the black and white projections on the large screen. The whole thing is really enjoyable and the acting is great. Loved it.

[nottobe]

I'll post a fuller response tomorrow but I thought this was exceptional tonight and I completely adored it. A brilliant piece of writing with echos of old Hollywood stories, great direction and a super cast.

[nottobe]

As soon as this was announced I knew I wanted to see it mainly because of Keeley Hawes but the premise also intrigued me.

We are in 1948 Shropshire and Iris Elcock is a GP and also champion for the incoming NHS with ambitions to become an MP. This play is on one level a look at a woman of her time trying to navigate the political world and improve it as much as she can but also it is a wonderful tale of romance. Personally Brief Encounter is one of my favourite films and this really does feel like an adaption and love letter to the original story but also a homage to black and white cinema itself. Brief Encounter even gets a name drop in the play.

Lucy Kirkwood has written a terrific script that has a certain familiarity to it but also gives us a new look at a period of social history I personally knew little about. There are laughs and there are also emotional moments, I especially loved the cafe scene with the talk of Broccoli Vs Ice-cream.

Keeley Hawes gives a wonderful performance as Iris Elcock and it is one she really feels suited to. I also found the chemistry between her and Jack Davenport to be very good and equally he is very aptly cast in his role. I always believed there characters and the journey that they went on. The supporting cast (Tom Goodman Hill, Siobhan Redmond, and Pearl Mackie) are also great, all playing several characters each. Every character in this is very well created and all three are given particular moments to shine, Mackie has a scene in the second act that especially good.

What really elevates this production is the direction from Michael Longhurst and Ann Yee. At first I did feel a bit distracted with the constantly moving revolve but I got use to it and it really worked. I'm sure as the run settles in the scene changes will shorten but I found this fluid direction to really work. The use of cameras was also one I really think worked, especially to evoke the Brief Encounteresque moments. All the cinematography was so beautiful to look at too.

The runtime was about 2 hours 40 minutes but I never thought it dragged at all and was completely engrossed throughout, so if the run time shortens it will probably be with quicker scene changes. I think you can tell that I adored this and would give it a five out of five!

This seems to have its press night on the cut off for the Olivier's so I really hope it is able to scoop some nominations and maybe even get a transfer.

[alessia]

I forgot to mention in my comment above how amazing the whole cast is- the two main actors but also and maybe especially, the three supporting- they each play several characters and with the tight set changes and costume changes, it really is a feat and everyone was perfect. I can’t imagine how long it took for everyone to learn the movements (including the Donmar staff!) - the staging is really imaginative. There is humour and there is drama and romance. It’s hard to find fault to be hones.