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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2017 23:28:46 GMT
Well. We had Juliet Stevenson as Betty and Lia Williams as Mary. Which is as it should be I think.
It's a great yarn. No idea why they have the ridiculous idea to start at 7 though. Anyhoo, Juliet was marvellous. She really does have a wonderful voice and there's not many people who can cry like her. For the first half Lia Williams took me back to that dreadful Sarah Snook in 'The Master Builder' at the Old Vic, waving her arms around like a windmill in old Amsterdam. I'd have chopped her head off there and then to be honest. She calmed down in the second half but I did get the impression that she was ACTING DARLING rather a lot.
Dragged a bit towards the end, liked Joshua James as Davison and rather loved John Light as Leicester as he was a bit studly in a strange way. Now I love a revolve but the bits where it sped up make me giggle. I was half hoping people would fly off at various angles but alas. There was also a LOT of walking around and around and around. And when I say walking, I mean stomping. A lot.
Didn't really like the modern look. I'd have preferred a few nice frocks, a couple more ruffs and a codpiece or two. And whoever picked the outfits for the leading ladies should be ashamed. A-SHAMED.
And who knew Robert Icke was a bit of a hottie? Much better looking than his uncle David.
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Post by sondheimhats on Jan 24, 2017 23:50:59 GMT
We had Juliet Stevenson as Betty and Lia Williams as Mary. Which is as it should be I think. It's a great yarn. No idea why they have the ridiculous idea to start at 7 though. Anyhoo, Juliet was marvellous. She really does have a wonderful voice and there's not many people who can cry like her. For the first half Lia Williams took me back to that dreadful Sarah Snook in 'The Master Builder' at the Old Vic, waving her arms around like a windmill in old Amsterdam. I'd have chopped her head off there and then to be honest. She calmed down in the second half but I did get the impression that she was ACTING DARLING rather a lot. Just curious as to why you think that pairing is "as it should be," if you didn't think Williams was very good? |
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Post by princeton on Jan 25, 2017 0:02:33 GMT
Oh Joshua James - guessing that he joined for the extension week. Would be interesting to see when Lia Williams is playing Elizabeth. Does anyone know if they have ever appeared in anything together before?
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Post by andrew on Jan 25, 2017 0:31:38 GMT
Well. We had Juliet Stevenson as Betty and Lia Williams as Mary. Which is as it should be I think. It's a great yarn. No idea why they have the ridiculous idea to start at 7 though. Anyhoo, Juliet was marvellous. She really does have a wonderful voice and there's not many people who can cry like her. For the first half Lia Williams took me back to that dreadful Sarah Snook in 'The Master Builder' at the Old Vic, waving her arms around like a windmill in old Amsterdam. I'd have chopped her head off there and then to be honest. She calmed down in the second half but I did get the impression that she was ACTING DARLING rather a lot. Dragged a bit towards the end, liked Joshua James as Davison and rather loved John Light as Leicester as he was a bit studly in a strange way. Now I love a revolve but the bits where it sped up make me giggle. I was half hoping people would fly off at various angles but alas. There was also a LOT of walking around and around and around. And when I say walking, I mean stomping. A lot. Didn't really like the modern look. I'd have preferred a few nice frocks, a couple more ruffs and a codpiece or two. And whoever picked the outfits for the leading ladies should be ashamed. A-SHAMED. And who knew Robert Icke was a bit of a hottie? Much better looking than his uncle David. Icke: "We need a bit more energy in these scenes, there's so much talking." Stevenson: "We could spin the revolve a bit?" Icke: "No no no. That's only for some bits." Williams: "How about we move benches up and down more?" Icke: "We can't, we don't have enough WD40 as it is. I know! We can get actors to run around the outside of the revolve for no apparent reason. Movement = energy = drama! Genius! You've done it again Icke, you've bloody done it again." |
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Post by popcultureboy on Jan 25, 2017 9:04:56 GMT
I've seen the show 3 times, I've never not once heard the set make a single squeaking sound. Not once.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2017 9:29:21 GMT
Oh Joshua James - guessing that he joined for the extension week. Would be interesting to see when Lia Williams is playing Elizabeth. Does anyone know if they have ever appeared in anything together before? Yes, that's right. He stepped in for the additional week. Didn't miss a beat either, bless him. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2017 9:37:30 GMT
Just curious as to why you think that pairing is "as it should be," if you didn't think Williams was very good? I think it's because that's how I imagined the pairing to be. Juliet just seems more Elizabeth-like to me. Betty is also the better part of the two for my money - there's a bit more complexity to it. Lia Williams often leaves me a little cold so I'd have probably been a bit disappointed if I'd seen her with the meatier part. Granted though, she did seem lovely at the bows and she did improve once she stopped waving her arms around all over the place in the first half. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2017 9:44:35 GMT
I saw it with Juliet as Mary and Lia as Liz, and although I admit to thinking that it was an odd way round because Lia can play younger than Juliet and a lot of fuss was made about Mary being younger, I liked the cold power that Lia brought to Liz and the raw femininity that Juliet brought to Mary.
On the way out, I overheard a woman asking an usher which casting variant he preferred, and his response was "the way you saw it". I'm not the only one who reckons he says that to everyone no matter who won the coin toss, right?
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Post by alexandra on Jan 25, 2017 10:02:45 GMT
I've seen it both ways and I slightly preferred it like that, too.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2017 11:08:44 GMT
I'm not the only one who reckons he says that to everyone no matter who won the coin toss, right? You're probably right. I don't think I'd be taken on as an Almeida usher. I would always reply every night that the other version had the edge in some ways in my opinion |
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Post by Jan on Jan 25, 2017 11:27:03 GMT
I'm not the only one who reckons he says that to everyone no matter who won the coin toss, right? You're probably right. I don't think I'd be taken on as an Almeida usher. I would always reply every night that the other version had the edge in some ways in my opinion You'd be the worst usher since Rupert Everett was an usher at the Warehouse for McKellen's Macbeth. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2017 11:31:25 GMT
You'd be the worst usher since Rupert Everett was an usher at the Warehouse for McKellen's Macbeth. Flattered to be compared to the young Rupert Everett! What's the story? Or where is it told? |
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Post by countryjames on Jan 28, 2017 23:51:14 GMT
Saw this this evening and enjoyed enormously, I went with a soprano friend who is preparing Donizetti's opera based on the play which she is singing in Klagenfurt later this year as Maria Stuarda and she found it hugely useful.
I was very pleased to have Juliet Stevenson as Mary. It wasn't until after the coin toss that I realised that this was the casting I'd been hoping for (and I'd not checked the Almeida twitter feed so didn't know what was going to happen this being a two show day) and I found the beauty of her voice and the emotional honesty and vulnerability of her performance really compelling. The restrained hauteur and anger that arose in the confrontation with Elizabeth was astonishingly vivid and the translation works with the age difference (not historical) by emphasising that Mary's years in prison have aged her. She also captured Mary's relinquishing of the material world with what I can only describe as a spiritual fervour at the end. It was very moving.
Lia Williams was terrific too, increasingly nervy as Elizabeth (why did the screens say Elizabeth 1 at the end? There hadn't been any other Elizabeth on the throne before then as a reigning monarch) and capturing the peevish insecurity as well as an unexpected sensuality.
The supporting cast was mostly excellent. I particularly enjoyed Vincent Franklin as Burleigh and Rhudi Dharmalingam's charismatic turn as Mortimer, although John Light's projection as Leicester came and went and Carmen Munroe's Kennedy was frequently inaudible and seemed to stumble badly at the start. Wasn't over convinced by Melville as female either. "I am a priest" didn't ring true I in this particular historical context (and yes I appreciate the staging was updated).
The play remains a wonder, Schiller using historical events (as did Shakespeare) to explore ideas of political manipulation, historical record (history being written up after the event by the winners) and gender identity that seem extraordinarily modern, although I think there may have been some tweaks in the translation used. I will dig out my old OUP and reread to see how many of the more contemporary resonances are in fact there.
Certainly didn't seem long but was surprised, especially given that this was the last night of an run that was extended, how perfunctory the curtain call was. The audience obviously wished to express further and deeper appreciation to the cast but after one bow that was it. Great evening though :-)
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Post by herculesmulligan on Jan 29, 2017 10:38:36 GMT
Sorry to jump in on this thread, just looking ahead to booking opening for the new season next week for non friends. I know there used to be some good discussion about the restricted view seats. But I can't seem to find any of it. Was wondering if anyone can advise on the best £10 and £18 restricted view seats? Thank you!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2017 21:16:28 GMT
I have never sat in the circle so am only commenting on stalls. There are £10 seats in the side blocks, where the angle can contribute to the visibility (or not), and the central block, where they're behind pillars. If you're in row F, there'll only be one pillar ahead. Further back, you run the risk of multiples. All the pillars are thin enough that they rarely obstruct anything important, and if they do it's not for long. A few of the seats are hardly behind pillars at all, but I don't have a list to hand. The £18 seats, presumably, are the same basic story as the £10 seats but with better visibility?
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Post by herculesmulligan on Jan 30, 2017 14:04:29 GMT
Thanks baemax. I appreciate it. Maybe we should start a list of good and bad pillar seats!
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Post by Jan on Jan 30, 2017 15:03:10 GMT
You'd be the worst usher since Rupert Everett was an usher at the Warehouse for McKellen's Macbeth. Flattered to be compared to the young Rupert Everett! What's the story? Or where is it told? See Everett's first autobiography "Red Carpets and Other Banana Skins". As a jaw-dropper it is rivalled only by the Bob Monkhouse autobiography. There is also a strangely touching I glimpse into the home life of the great man when Everett finally succeeds in getting picked up by McKellen. Everett's efforts as an usher for Macbeth are eclipsed by his contribution to the Alan Howard Coriolanus. |
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Post by herculesmulligan on Jan 30, 2017 19:42:54 GMT
Thanks Monkey. What would you suggest for pairs of seats?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2017 19:57:49 GMT
I normally go for one of the £18 ones in Row G - the pillar is in view, two rows in front, but at only blocks the very edge of the stage so you don't really miss anything. I'd assume the pairs of £18 seats in H are similar.
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Post by peggs on Mar 28, 2017 20:48:29 GMT
Transferring to the westend beginning of next year according to Juliet Stephenson and twitter.
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Post by stefy69 on Mar 29, 2017 6:36:18 GMT
Transferring to the westend beginning of next year according to Juliet Stephenson and twitter. Excellent news !  |
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Post by Jon on Mar 29, 2017 9:59:00 GMT
Juliet Stevenson's one busy lady with Hamlet transferring and Wings at the Young Vic as well.
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Post by MrBunbury on Mar 29, 2017 10:38:32 GMT
Great news! I loved it at the Almeida.
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Post by peggs on Mar 29, 2017 12:16:54 GMT
Depending on where it's on and prices may well be tempted, I was starting to weaken but not fast enough to actually buy a ticket last time round.
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Post by alnoor on Jun 16, 2017 15:59:20 GMT
Received an email from Almeida this afternoon. Exciting news to be announced on Tuesday 20th June , about an Almeida production transfer.
They seem to have given away the mystery by having a photo of the robes of Mary and Elizabeth and a crown.
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