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Post by deadyankee on Nov 24, 2016 15:58:00 GMT
I did enjoy this but then I'd happily watch Mark Rylance do pretty much anything. It was certainly knowing in its presentation of a piece that lacked any real sense of narrative progression or even thematic coherence - but I'd suggest that it needed to be more insightful or significantly funnier to fully justify its existence. A mildly amusing meander through some cod-philosophy is not enough but bonus points for including some unexpected Iron Maiden. I did enjoy Farinelli, and this wasn't awful, but I'd quite like to see Mark Rylance commit himself to a role with a little more heft next time he's in London.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2016 16:44:02 GMT
I did enjoy Farinelli, and this wasn't awful, but I'd quite like to see Mark Rylance commit himself to a role with a little more heft next time he's in London. I haven't seen Nice Fish yet, but I must admit, I caught myself thinking this exact same thing the other day! |
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Post by argon on Nov 28, 2016 22:32:30 GMT
It's a shame I gave up 90 mins of my existence for this, a pseudo Beckett play that the great Rylance could not even save. But the name sells this play which was evident from the full-ish house
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Post by Steve on Nov 30, 2016 0:41:12 GMT
I saw this Saturday night, and loved it. Don't go if you want a narrative. There isn't one. This play is a compilation of the prose poems of Louis Jenkins, shaped by Mark Rylance into a series of vignettes, comic, downbeat and surreal. The description "pseudo-Beckett" is accurate in so far as it is about two men hanging about, who then hang about with two other people, but this didn't seem pretentious (aka pseudo) to me. Rather it is a warm, affectionate reflection of Louis Jenkin's sometimes wacky, sometimes forthright, always honest appraisal of life. Here's the most fun Jenkins poem I found on the internet, for those who want a taster: www.yourdailypoem.com/listpoem.jsp?poem_id=97Not so long ago, Jeremy Paxman was bemoaning the death of poetry, saying that even the top-selling poetry collection today sells an unprofitably low amount of copies. He pointed out that selling 15,000 copies puts you in the top ten titles sold in a year, and he suggested that the way to rescue the delights of poetry, that Shakespeare so successfully once shared with the masses, would be to abandon poetry collections and package poetry differently. That's what this production succeeds in doing, just as "Cats" once did with TS Elliot's poems, or Dylan Thomas did with "Under Milk Wood." On seeing the set, I had deja vu, as some twenty years ago, I was part of the audience that watched the live recording of the "Ice Fishing" episode of "Frasier," in which Niles and Frasier bickered over how much Niles loved ice-fishing, and how much Frasier didn't, the two men perched over a hole in the ice. This is more surreal than Frasier, or it's parent sitcom, "Cheers," but what "Nice Fish" and "Cheers" and "Frasier" all have in common is that they depict how lovely it is when very different people are simply together, the importance of some form of community, even when there is little common ground. I liked Jim Lichtscheidl's downbeat monosyllabic Erik, who reminded me of the deadpan comedian, Steven Wright, with his downbeat take of the human condition. I loved Mark Rylance's feckless Ron, whose wired enthusiasm, which rises to vertiginal heights, is delightful in itself, but also because we anticipate the comic fall to follow. And most of all, I loved the gobby cheeriness of Kayli Carter's Flo, whose ingratiating expressions would suddenly drop away to reveal the terror, fear and emptiness concealed beneath. Yes, it's not a story, but it's far too modest, warm and affectionate to be taken as an attempt to top Beckett. And I imagine it's more likely to put a smile on your face, and less likely to leave you baffled. To me, this felt like a warm fire on a cold night. 4 stars.  |
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Post by foxa on Nov 30, 2016 10:00:57 GMT
What Steve said. Really good point about discovering new ways to experience poetry. This evening sent me to the internet in search of others of Jenkins' poems (particularly the last one.)
Your enjoyment of this evening will largely depend on a) how important a plot is to you b) how much you like Louis Jenkins' poetry and c) how big a fan you are of Rylance. If you really need a plot, are lukewarm on the whimsical, playful poetry of Jenkins and don't much care for Rylance - you will have a terrible evening.
But we really enjoyed it - it was very well staged - can't think of a better use of blackouts and there is some fun clowning and puppetry. There is a wonderful section when Rylance is tussling with a snowman. The ending is one of those coup de theatres (Mrs Lovett are you reading this? You like coup de thingys.) If you watch the Tony Awards you will recognise the uniform poem spoken early in the play from one of Rylance's acceptance speeches.
A friend who found herself double-booked gave us her tickets which seemed very good value (even if we had paid for them) as they were Row E of the Dress Circle for £15 each. The seat closest to the wall had a slightly blocked view to a curve in the wall, but otherwise was great.
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Post by Snciole on Nov 30, 2016 12:59:22 GMT
A friend who found herself double-booked gave us her tickets which seemed very good value (even if we had paid for them) as they were Row E of the Dress Circle for £15 each. The seat closest to the wall had a slightly blocked view to a curve in the wall, but otherwise was great. We were sat there, I think the price the view is pretty good (if not perfect) I really enjoyed the puppetry but the sudden darkness tactic is getting very tiresome. The Sewing Group employs it too and I think I dislike it as technique because it feels like something Katie Mitchell would do. |
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Post by dangdang on Dec 1, 2016 11:38:41 GMT
I got front row for £10 though you miss the effects with the puppets. It was great to see Rylance close up. I thought it draw somewhat though. No one was dressed in fishing gear.
3/5
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2016 9:46:07 GMT
A friend who found herself double-booked gave us her tickets which seemed very good value (even if we had paid for them) as they were Row E of the Dress Circle for £15 each. The seat closest to the wall had a slightly blocked view to a curve in the wall, but otherwise was great. We were sat there, I think the price the view is pretty good (if not perfect) I really enjoyed the puppetry but the sudden darkness tactic is getting very tiresome. The Sewing Group employs it too and I think I dislike it as technique because it feels like something Katie Mitchell would do. Where u at the Sewing Group last Tuesday? |
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Post by Snciole on Dec 6, 2016 9:50:12 GMT
We were sat there, I think the price the view is pretty good (if not perfect) I really enjoyed the puppetry but the sudden darkness tactic is getting very tiresome. The Sewing Group employs it too and I think I dislike it as technique because it feels like something Katie Mitchell would do. Where u at the Sewing Group last Tuesday? I was! Are you Mark Lawson? |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2016 10:05:24 GMT
Ha! No. You where first in the queue. I thought it was u and kept looking at u smiling! I was on the stairs with my brother. Do u remember when u had sat down two guys walking up the steps to the seats and one of them fell over? That was my brother!
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Post by Snciole on Dec 6, 2016 14:17:27 GMT
Ha! No. You where first in the queue. I thought it was u and kept looking at u smiling! I was on the stairs with my brother. Do u remember when u had sat down two guys walking up the steps to the seats and one of them fell over? That was my brother! Ha! I hope he was alright! Please do say Hello if you see me again. I am more friendly than I look.  |
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Post by joem on Dec 8, 2016 22:22:23 GMT
Mediocre play which Rylance can't save because, in any case, he's too busy playing his Rylance persona. I've read the posts which praise the poetry. I love poetry and will happily go to a poetry reading. But I see no need to parcel it as a play.
There are some good lines - both comic and poetic, sometimes even both - but as a play it simply does not add up.
Loved the puppets.
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Post by joem on Dec 10, 2016 1:20:21 GMT
I didn't even like those. Their acting was wooden, and added nothing to the performance, so far as I could see. Someone must have pulled some strings for them. |
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Post by zahidf on Dec 13, 2016 15:25:47 GMT
I thought this was average, though the acting was good.
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Post by daniel on Dec 29, 2016 16:00:38 GMT
(On behalf of danieljohnson14 who has no internet) Ticket going spare for tonight, £15, I believe it's front row. Drop me a message if you want it and I'll text Dan! |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2016 23:32:01 GMT
Is this worth catching? I'm a fan of Rylance, but not heard great things.
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Post by rumbledoll on Dec 30, 2016 12:04:06 GMT
Is this worth catching? I'm a fan of Rylance, but not heard great things. Depends of how much you like philosophic meditations on life and whether plays without much plot development makes you doze off. I enjoyed it (some bits even adored) though I would not say it's unmissable. I'd suggest if dates suit you and you find a good offer worth giving it a try.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2016 12:08:04 GMT
Is this worth catching? I'm a fan of Rylance, but not heard great things. I ditched my ticket and got a refund when Dreamgirls came up. Because, ya know, priorities.  |
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Post by Jon on Dec 30, 2016 16:16:35 GMT
Is this worth catching? I'm a fan of Rylance, but not heard great things. I ditched my ticket and got a refund when Dreamgirls came up. Because, ya know, priorities. You ditched a play for a big glitzy musical?! I'm actually more surprised you booked to see Nice Fish in the first place. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2016 16:36:48 GMT
I ditched my ticket and got a refund when Dreamgirls came up. Because, ya know, priorities. You ditched a play for a big glitzy musical?! I'm actually more surprised you booked to see Nice Fish in the first place. I wamte to go and see Mark Rylance, as I have never seen him live before... but, like most om here, when you get the oppertunity to see Dreamgirls and win that lottery, you take it! And I got my money back so no complaint here! |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2016 16:58:41 GMT
Oh Daniel, please, please say you'll take advantage of a ticket offer for this and see Rylance too. You'll get more out of 90 minutes watching him than you will out of a hundred gaudy Dreamgirls performances...
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Post by galinda on Jan 5, 2017 11:37:07 GMT
I have a free show slot and narrowed it down to nice fish and this house. What do people who have seen both recommend? I can only fit one in.
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Post by drmaplewood on Jan 5, 2017 12:14:39 GMT
Definitely This House, by a mile.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2017 15:47:14 GMT
But remember that This House doesn't interest everybody, so I wouldn't recommend everyone who doesn't like the idea of Nice Fish to trot off to This House!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2017 17:14:35 GMT
I'm seeing Nice Fish this weekend so can't really make a judgement before then, but I must admit, I was a wee bit bored in stretches of This House...
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