The Constituent - Old Vic (J. Corden, A. Maxwell Martin)

[theatrefan62]

I think James Corden is great at being James Corden in roles but I can't say I've ever seen much range from him yet in tv film or stage. Maybe this will be the difference.

For Patrick Stewart to call you out publicly on stage (never mind the open secret of his behavior) I think you have to have a pretty bad reputation and there's something in it.

I agree this is definitely an attempt at rehabilitating his reputation from his/his people's point of view.

[Jon]

Jun 21, 2024 9:50:17 GMT theatrefan62 said:

I think James Corden is great at being James Corden in roles but I can't say I've ever seen much range from him yet in tv film or stage. Maybe this will be the difference.

For Patrick Stewart to call you out publicly on stage (never mind the open secret of his behavior) I think you have to have a pretty bad reputation and there's something in it.

I agree this is definitely an attempt at rehabilitating his reputation from his/his people's point of view.

Patrick Stewart and James Corden made up for that incident a few years back. 

[mkb]

Jun 21, 2024 9:48:20 GMT mrnutz said:

... Not sure why others have issues with the scene changes - didn't bother me at all ...

4/5

Since that was also my experience Wednesday, it's likely they have simply become quicker with practice. There were at least four people involved I think, so maybe extra resources were added too in light of comments on here?

[Being Alive]

Jun 21, 2024 13:24:15 GMT mkb said:

Jun 21, 2024 9:48:20 GMT mrnutz said:

... Not sure why others have issues with the scene changes - didn't bother me at all ...

4/5

Since that was also my experience Wednesday, it's likely they have simply become quicker with practice. There were at least four people involved I think, so maybe extra resources were added too in light of comments on here?

We had four people doing them on Monday, and they still went on waaaaaay too long.

[Jon]

Matthew Warchus was at the performance I went to so I wonder if one of his notes were, 'Make transition scenes shorter!'

[anthony40]

Here's a 1 minute promo clip

[rumbledoll]

Hard to make out what the stage rows look like.. is it a good rake? Choosing between Stalls row N and Stage Stalls row N.. anyone who went could comment please what might feel closer to the action? Both choices are end row seats and the same price. Thanks!

[theatrefan77]

i was in the Dress Circle. For what I could see from there the Stage Stalls looked very close to the action and with a good rake.

[Jon]

The stage stalls are excellent although I only paid £10 for them so not sure if they'd be worth say £70 or £80.

[ceebee]

Stage stalls are excellent. I paid £100 for three centre row A seats and felt I had the best view in the house. Conventional stalls seem very low due to increased stage height.

[Jon]

Jun 23, 2024 10:30:35 GMT ceebee said:

Stage stalls are excellent. I paid £100 for three centre row A seats and felt I had the best view in the house. Conventional stalls seem very low due to increased stage height.

100 quid for three tickets in a prime location is fantastic. 

[lt]

Saw this last night and was rather underwhelmed. I thought the acting was excellent. (I don't understand the negativity about Corden he has put in a strong performance in everything I have seen him in.) But I felt the play was weak, falling between being neither a comedy or drama, and I didn't feel the ending worked.

I can't remember myself ever being irritated by scene changes before, but for some reason I did find the length of time frustrating in this play. Particularly as there didn't seem huge changes to the set. I found myself looking at my watch several times which is never a good sign.

And please can directors stop this trend for on-stage seating. I really don't enjoy having to look at the audiences all night. I don't think it helps at all with the suspension of disbelief.

[Jon]

Jun 23, 2024 11:40:34 GMT lt said:

And please can directors stop this trend for on-stage seating. I really don't enjoy having to look at the audiences all night. I don't think it helps at all with the suspension of disbelief.

I could count the number of shows with on stage seats with one hand, it's a bit of an exaggeration to suggest lots of show have on stage seating. 

[lt]

Jun 23, 2024 11:47:11 GMT Jon said:

Jun 23, 2024 11:40:34 GMT lt said:

And please can directors stop this trend for on-stage seating. I really don't enjoy having to look at the audiences all night. I don't think it helps at all with the suspension of disbelief.

I could count the number of shows with on stage seats with one hand, it's a bit of an exaggeration to suggest lots of show have on stage seating. 

I never said or suggested that lots of shows have on stage seating, but it is a trend I've noticed which I don't think works. Others of course are free to disagree.

[Jan]

Jun 23, 2024 11:47:11 GMT Jon said:

Jun 23, 2024 11:40:34 GMT lt said:

And please can directors stop this trend for on-stage seating. I really don't enjoy having to look at the audiences all night. I don't think it helps at all with the suspension of disbelief.

I could count the number of shows with on stage seats with one hand, it's a bit of an exaggeration to suggest lots of show have on stage seating. 

Who suggested that ? 

It is one of the problems also with the two thrust stage theatres at Stratford, if you are the side you're directly facing the audience on the other side.  

[ceebee]

Jun 23, 2024 10:36:37 GMT Jon said:

Jun 23, 2024 10:30:35 GMT ceebee said:

Stage stalls are excellent. I paid £100 for three centre row A seats and felt I had the best view in the house. Conventional stalls seem very low due to increased stage height.

100 quid for three tickets in a prime location is fantastic. 

I should fess up that two of those were under 16s.

[kathryn]

Jun 20, 2024 17:14:35 GMT anthony40 said:

Jun 19, 2024 6:54:42 GMT Jan said:

Forgiven for what ? I have a different perspective because the only thing I've ever seen him in on stage/TV/film was "One Man" at the NT and I thought he had genuine stage presence and charisma. Actually acting in a comedy role like that probably takes more talent than serious dramatic roles so I don't think he's got anything to prove about his acting. 

I'm saying nothing!

I hate comments like this. If you’ve nothing to say, say nothing, don’t post comments suggesting you know something other people don’t.

The worst I’ve ever heard about Corden is that he has occasionally been a bit rude and thoughtless, has put his foot in his mouth a few times, and is a demanding restuarant customer who does not like it when his order gets mucked up. Which is hardly a major crime he needs to be rehabilitated for - loads of stars are occasionally a bit rude and thoughtless, loads of people (not even stars!) are demanding customers who complain in restaurants, it’s just most of the time you don’t hear about it because there’s not a bunch of people in the internet taking joy from telling everyone how terrible you are.

[Jon]

Jun 26, 2024 11:24:38 GMT kathryn said:

Jun 20, 2024 17:14:35 GMT anthony40 said:

I'm saying nothing!

I hate comments like this. If you’ve nothing to say, say nothing, don’t post comments suggesting you know something other people don’t.

The worst I’ve ever heard about Corden is that he has occasionally been a bit rude and thoughtless, has put his foot in his mouth a few times, and is a demanding restuarant customer who does not like it when his order gets mucked up. Which is hardly a major crime he needs to be rehabilitated for - loads of stars are occasionally a bit rude and thoughtless, loads of people (not even stars!) are demanding customers who complain in restaurants, it’s just most of the time you don’t hear about it because there’s not a bunch of people in the internet taking joy from telling everyone how terrible you are.

I think the recent picture of him in an airport in Portugal after his flight was cancelled looking a bit ratty was unfair. No one is exactly happy when dealing with an issue like that.

[kathryn]

Jun 21, 2024 9:50:17 GMT theatrefan62 said:

I think James Corden is great at being James Corden in roles but I can't say I've ever seen much range from him yet in tv film or stage. Maybe this will be the difference.

For Patrick Stewart to call you out publicly on stage (never mind the open secret of his behavior) I think you have to have a pretty bad reputation and there's something in it.

I agree this is definitely an attempt at rehabilitating his reputation from his/his people's point of view.

And this is how the internet rumour mill mangles things.

Patrick Stewart was firmly in the wrong, and behaved extremely badly, disrupting an awards ceremony, firing off personal insults about his size, and undermining what should have been a moment of celebration for a woman of colour.
This was clearly explained by the magazine whose award ceremony it was: www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/james-corden-patrick-stewart

That is why Patrick Stewart apologised to James Corden. Corden had the good grace to accept the apology and the two of them are now friends.

But no, the internet worships Patrick Stewart and despises James Corden, so assumes that the former was right and the latter terrible. 🙄

[kathryn]

Jon said:

I think the recent picture of him in an airport in Portugal after his flight was cancelled looking a bit ratty was unfair. No one is exactly happy when dealing with an issue like that.

Particularly as customers on the same flight came forward to say that he was lovely to everyone during the delay, advocated for other customers who were not being treated as well as he was to get them the same treatment, and that he was actively helping everyone by getting the attention of airport staff when they’d been given the wrong instructions.


Sorry, I know this is all off-topic to his actual performance in the play, but I find the determination to treat Corden - who is a talented stage and TV performer - as if he is a uniquely terrible human being who can do nothing right very aggravating.
As a fat person myself I cannot help but suspect that he would be treated rather differently if he was a more conventional size, or had stuck to playing the token ‘funny fat friend’ characters.

[nancycunard]

I met him a few months ago at a work event and he was extremely gracious, despite having been significantly delayed by traffic on his way in (per his wife.) He was much easier to work with than a number of other people there who don’t have his reputation.

[lt]

The reviews are in and apart from Clive Davis in The Times who gives it 2 stars (and he mentions too the "oddly extended stage changes"). Otherwise it seems to be a mixture of 3 or 4 stars.

For the last few plays I've seen, I've found Davis's taste is close to mine, so I'm hoping at last I may have found a critic who is a useful guide as to whether I will like a show or not.

[A.Ham]

I definitely aligned with the What’s On Stage review, it was like I could’ve written it myself. I enjoyed the play but felt it had potential to be something more.

[theatrefan77]

I agree that it has the potential to be a better play. Still a very enjoyable night out.

[theatreliker]

Can no longer make today's matinee. I've posted in the noticeboard section