546 posts
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Post by drmaplewood on Oct 7, 2024 10:16:11 GMT
Was also at Jason Isaacs yesterday and whilst it was good fun, it did feel a bit slight. Glad I didn't pay more than £20 for it.
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Post by kathode on Oct 10, 2024 21:44:52 GMT
Saw Jason Isaacs do this tonight. Overall I was a bit underwhelmed. These sorts of plays (audience interaction, the ability for things to go differently every night) are just my cup of tea, but this didn’t really tickle me in the way I’d have expected. Partly I’m not sure if Isaacs was quite geared up for it, he was noticeably rushing it and flying through the material in the first half very quickly. It was 50 minutes end to end. And without spoiling it the ending didn’t give him the ability to have a moment of gravitas and power. He was funny though, and personable. He never really got his teeth into anything. The other part though is the material probably remained slightly too elusive for me, I was constantly anticipating more references or allusions to the authors Iranian home, I knew this was written around the time of the Arab Spring, I was waiting for the play to draw that setting into a dramatic conclusion. Instead it focuses more on the philosophical themes it plays with, about the relationship between actor and audience, destiny and fate etc, but without enough dramatic heft to really satisfy me. It didn’t really feel like it achieved anything other than to wave some theatrical concepts in front of us and supply a couple of metaphors about human behaviour. Why did the numbers go up so high, then never get used above the first few? Did the audience members on stage acting out some of the stories add anything at all? It all felt a bit drama school. I was a massive fan of Total Immediate Collective Imminent Terrestrial Salvation (had to double check that title) because where it used dramatic devices and audience participation it felt like it meant something, it was necessary that it happen and that felt like magic in the room. Not so much here. I’ve quickly read a couple of reviews between the last paragraph and this one, wondering if I’d missed something and I’m just not clever enough for the play, but it doesn’t seem like that’s what happened. Would enjoy hearing if others found more in it. |
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Post by kathode on Oct 10, 2024 21:46:00 GMT
Saw Jason Isaacs do this tonight. Overall I was a bit underwhelmed. These sorts of plays (audience interaction, the ability for things to go differently every night) are just my cup of tea, but this didn’t really tickle me in the way I’d have expected. Partly I’m not sure if Isaacs was quite geared up for it, he was noticeably rushing it and flying through the material in the first half very quickly. It was 50 minutes end to end. And without spoiling it the ending didn’t give him the ability to have a moment of gravitas and power. He was funny though, and personable. He never really got his teeth into anything. The other part though is the material probably remained slightly too elusive for me, I was constantly anticipating more references or allusions to the authors Iranian home, I knew this was written around the time of the Arab Spring, I was waiting for the play to draw that setting into a dramatic conclusion. Instead it focuses more on the philosophical themes it plays with, about the relationship between actor and audience, destiny and fate etc, but without enough dramatic heft to really satisfy me. It didn’t really feel like it achieved anything other than to wave some theatrical concepts in front of us and supply a couple of metaphors about human behaviour. Why did the numbers go up so high, then never get used above the first few? Did the audience members on stage acting out some of the stories add anything at all? It all felt a bit drama school. I was a massive fan of Total Immediate Collective Imminent Terrestrial Salvation (had to double check that title) because where it used dramatic devices and audience participation it felt like it meant something, it was necessary that it happen and that felt like magic in the room. Not so much here. I’ve quickly read a couple of reviews between the last paragraph and this one, wondering if I’d missed something and I’m just not clever enough for the play, but it doesn’t seem like that’s what happened. Would enjoy hearing if others found more in it. |
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Post by kathode on Oct 10, 2024 21:51:36 GMT
I was massively disappointed with Jason Isaacs after being so excited about seeing him do this. His diction was terrible and he just seemed to want to get it over with. Racing through it the way he did meant I could barely hear or process the thing.
I wondered if the guy who stepped up to finish the play was a plant but it was the only bit I could hear and appreciate. He projected so well and put Jason into the shade.
I’ve booked Julie Hesmondhalgh so that I can try again. I’m sure she will put it across coherently.
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2,047 posts
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Post by Marwood on Oct 12, 2024 21:02:25 GMT
Saw it tonight with Jonathan Pryce and I was also a bit underwhelmed (I got the impression he wasn’t impressed either to be honest once he opened the envelope and started reading the contents ): I would have preferred something that focussed on the Iranian side of things but as this was written while the author was/is in Iran I’m guessing the whole white/red rabbit thing is a metaphor for Iranian society (?) I was number 23, numbers went up to about 55 : a mini quibble, when Pryce asked someone to read the final section, he who leapt up on stage like the liveliest rabbit ever had a sh*te mastery of English 🤣 Glad I’ve seen it but even gladder I wasn’t tempted to make multiple bookings for some of the other people taking part.
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307 posts
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Post by jm25 on Oct 12, 2024 21:07:08 GMT
Saw it tonight with Jonathan Pryce and I was also a bit underwhelmed (I got the impression he wasn’t either to be honest once he opened the envelope and started reading the contents ): I would have preferred something that focussed on the Iranian side of things but as this was written while the author was/is in Iran I’m guessing the whole white/red rabbit thing is a metaphor for Iranian society (?) I was number 23, numbers went up to about 55 : a mini quibble, when Pryce asked someone to read the final section, he who leapt up on stage like the liveliest rabbit ever had a sh*te mastery of English 🤣 Glad I’ve seen it but even gladder I wasn’t tempted to make multiple bookings for some of the other people taking part. I was also there this evening - had to do a double take at first when the guy went up on stage to do the final lines as he was the spitting image of Mandy Patinkin! The people around me thought he was good, to the extent they thought he must be a plant. Number 3 stole the show though! |
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2,047 posts
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Post by Marwood on Oct 12, 2024 21:21:23 GMT
Saw it tonight with Jonathan Pryce and I was also a bit underwhelmed (I got the impression he wasn’t either to be honest once he opened the envelope and started reading the contents ): I would have preferred something that focussed on the Iranian side of things but as this was written while the author was/is in Iran I’m guessing the whole white/red rabbit thing is a metaphor for Iranian society (?) I was number 23, numbers went up to about 55 : a mini quibble, when Pryce asked someone to read the final section, he who leapt up on stage like the liveliest rabbit ever had a sh*te mastery of English 🤣 Glad I’ve seen it but even gladder I wasn’t tempted to make multiple bookings for some of the other people taking part. I was also there this evening - had to do a double take at first when the guy went up on stage to do the final lines as he was the spitting image of Mandy Patinkin! The people around me thought he was good, to the extent they thought he must be a plant. Number 3 stole the show though! That’s what I was thinking too (I was sat opposite him, the woman next to me gave her phone to Pryce to take the picture but she wasn’t the one taking notes so I can’t see how she could email the picture to the author): I had a couple of pound coins in my pocket but couldn’t dig them out in time, I wonder if I would have got it back 🤣 |
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307 posts
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Post by jm25 on Oct 12, 2024 21:48:44 GMT
I was also there this evening - had to do a double take at first when the guy went up on stage to do the final lines as he was the spitting image of Mandy Patinkin! The people around me thought he was good, to the extent they thought he must be a plant. Number 3 stole the show though! That’s what I was thinking too (I was sat opposite him, the woman next to me gave her phone to Pryce to take the picture but she wasn’t the one taking notes so I can’t see how she could email the picture to the author): I had a couple of pound coins in my pocket but couldn’t dig them out in time, I wonder if I would have got it back 🤣 I'd have been absolutely mortified - don't think I've ever been more pleased not to be front row! I hope all the front row seats came with a warning about potential audience interaction, haha. In all seriousness, this was a fairly easy watch which was interesting at times. But I'm not sure I'd go so far as to call the text a play - more a creative writing exercise. Definitely some interesting ideas but not quite fleshed out enough. |
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Oct 16, 2024 15:06:29 GMT
Just put a ticket for sale for tomorrow's evening show on the noticeboard!
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Post by jr on Oct 17, 2024 7:47:08 GMT
Don't think I got the point of this. At times it sounded like a high school exercise, other times tried to reach important topics but not going deep enough. Ultimately I didn't care much about it, too much exposition and not much happening.
Sally Philips was very engaged though at times she exaggerated the comedy when it wasn't the right time for it. The audience members were very good too. It could be interesting to see it with a different actor but I don't think it is good enough to pay again for a ticket.
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Post by ladidah on Oct 17, 2024 10:34:01 GMT
I'm so confused as to what this show is - is it different actors reading out the same monologue?
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1,826 posts
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Post by Dave B on Oct 17, 2024 11:08:10 GMT
I'm so confused as to what this show is - is it different actors reading out the same monologue? It is a little more than a monologue, they have directions and tasks and and such other things but essentially yes. Each actors gets the same script as they enter the stage and goes with it. |
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Post by matthew90 on Oct 17, 2024 15:32:14 GMT
They cancelled and replaced Catherine Tate the day before she was meant to perform. Expect there will be a lot of no-shows for that performance.
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Post by alexanderdavies1994 on Oct 17, 2024 21:19:17 GMT
Got to say, had tickets originally booked for Catherine Tate and attended this evening. Deborah Frances-White stepped in and was fantastic! Few empty seats but the audience were very much on her side💙
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Post by iwanttix on Oct 23, 2024 21:30:41 GMT
Back from seeing Toby Jones. He was a great person to see, he seemed committed and was quite engaging. Audience participation was good tonight and I was very pleased I was in the balcony and totally out of the danger zone!
It would be interesting to see how other people do it cos it feels like comedians would tackle things in a different way to actors.
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Post by kallyloo on Oct 24, 2024 8:01:19 GMT
Back from seeing Toby Jones. He was a great person to see, he seemed committed and was quite engaging. Audience participation was good tonight and I was very pleased I was in the balcony and totally out of the danger zone! It would be interesting to see how other people do it cos it feels like comedians would tackle things in a different way to actors. Definitely feel that this show is more suited to actors who are heavyweights, rather than all rounders. Michael Sheen really brought the imagery and resonance of the script onto the stage, whereas Jason Isaacs (and I’m a huge fan, hence buying a ticket), just raced through as though it were a rehearsal. With minimal thought about the connotations. It’s a big ask, to bring an unknown script, that deals with allegory, audience interaction and extreme censorship to vivid life, so that it resonates in the audience’s minds. Imo that’s why the experience of the show has been so varied. |
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Post by Marwood on Oct 24, 2024 8:57:06 GMT
Jonathan Pryce seemed a bit bemused by it so just seemed to pick the first few numbers and told the ‘lucky’ few to pretend they are rabbits and run about without particularly bestowing any gravity upon it and from there, it seemed more like an infant school drama class rather than a proper production and descended into a participation frenzy of people offering hats, money and selfies without delving into the meaning of what was in the envelope: I’m not sure of the conditions of why the the author is still in Iran and what they are free to say but it might have been nice at the end to have a short film from him, or the producers of the show to go further into the meaning of the red and white rabbits.
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126 posts
Member is Online
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Post by matttom0901 on Oct 24, 2024 15:35:57 GMT
If anyone planned to book it for when Matt Lucas was on, I received this today:
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Matt Lucas will no longer be performing on Tuesday 29th October. This performance of White Rabbit Red Rabbit will now be led by Jason Watkins.
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7,050 posts
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Post by Jon on Oct 24, 2024 15:40:36 GMT
If anyone planned to book it for when Matt Lucas was on, I received this today: Due to unforeseen circumstances, Matt Lucas will no longer be performing on Tuesday 29th October. This performance of White Rabbit Red Rabbit will now be led by Jason Watkins. That's actually a very good replacement. |
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zed
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Post by zed on Oct 25, 2024 7:47:02 GMT
Saw my second one of these last night -- Stephen Merchant. I'm still not sold on the script, but I do agree with the sentiment that the experience varies quite a bit depending on the performance.
In the first one I went to, Daisy Edgar-Jones really went for it and brought energy and charm, but didn't seem to connect with the material very well.
Merchant seemed more comfortable with the format from the start and kept the audience engaged throughout. Everyone around me seemed to really enjoy the performance.
And just to note what presumably everyone on this board already knows -- there's really no bad seats at the Soho Theatre as it's a really impressive venue.
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Post by billy on Oct 25, 2024 20:23:47 GMT
I enjoyed the show and thought Naoko Mori performed it well tonight, but jesus christ, what the hell was the problem with the audience? Constant heckles from the opening minutes right to the end, theatrical gasps and giggles during the more serious bits, and one guy getting removed from the auditorium near the end who just started shouting something incoherently during the bit with the audience member reading the final scene (who handled it brilliantly and got a lot of sympathy) and threatened to go up on stage until the ushers ran towards him - I did wonder if this was all set up and it happened every night, but reading this thread apparently not. And if that sounds bad, even worse in the spoilers below: One of the ‘rabbits’ immediately went straight to the two glasses and drank from one of them as if to ridicule the entire thing. Shouts of “Down it!” and “Neck it you (something)!” during the final scene. All suspense and tension completely ruined. I left the theatre genuinely hating people a bit. Were they disinterested seatfillers who’d got a TodayTix bargain, a rowdy guestlist who’d abused the bar a bit too much before the show, or just a Friday night city crowd who’d come after work and thought they were watching some standup? I’m going again next week and I hope it’s more well behaved than tonight. |
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Post by theatreloverlondon on Oct 25, 2024 21:10:39 GMT
I can’ believe that happened OMG
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Post by keyspi on Oct 25, 2024 21:29:56 GMT
I enjoyed the show and thought Naoko Mori performed it well tonight, but jesus christ, what the hell was the problem with the audience? Constant heckles from the opening minutes right to the end, theatrical gasps and giggles during the more serious bits, and one guy getting removed from the auditorium near the end who just started shouting something incoherently during the bit with the audience member reading the final scene (who handled it brilliantly and got a lot of sympathy) and threatened to go up on stage until the ushers ran towards him - I did wonder if this was all set up and it happened every night, but reading this thread apparently not. And if that sounds bad, even worse in the spoilers below: One of the ‘rabbits’ immediately went straight to the two glasses and drank from one of them as if to ridicule the entire thing. Shouts of “Down it!” and “Neck it you (something)!” during the final scene. All suspense and tension completely ruined. I left the theatre genuinely hating people a bit. Were they disinterested seatfillers who’d got a TodayTix bargain, a rowdy guestlist who’d abused the bar a bit too much before the show, or just a Friday night city crowd who’d come after work and thought they were watching some standup? I’m going again next week and I hope it’s more well behaved than tonight. Sounds appalling.....I feel bad for both Naoko Mori and the rest of the well-behaved audience I attended Stephen Merchant's performance and the crowd was very supportive and participants really engaged with the text. I can assure you the disruptive bits you witnessed do not happen every night |
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Post by nash16 on Oct 25, 2024 22:26:11 GMT
I enjoyed the show and thought Naoko Mori performed it well tonight, but jesus christ, what the hell was the problem with the audience? Constant heckles from the opening minutes right to the end, theatrical gasps and giggles during the more serious bits, and one guy getting removed from the auditorium near the end who just started shouting something incoherently during the bit with the audience member reading the final scene (who handled it brilliantly and got a lot of sympathy) and threatened to go up on stage until the ushers ran towards him - I did wonder if this was all set up and it happened every night, but reading this thread apparently not. And if that sounds bad, even worse in the spoilers below: One of the ‘rabbits’ immediately went straight to the two glasses and drank from one of them as if to ridicule the entire thing. Shouts of “Down it!” and “Neck it you (something)!” during the final scene. All suspense and tension completely ruined. I left the theatre genuinely hating people a bit. Were they disinterested seatfillers who’d got a TodayTix bargain, a rowdy guestlist who’d abused the bar a bit too much before the show, or just a Friday night city crowd who’d come after work and thought they were watching some standup? I’m going again next week and I hope it’s more well behaved than tonight. There were seat fillers tonight, sadly, as there have been for other performers of this, and it felt like it was the perfect storm of theatre goers, or not-often-play-goers meeting their Friday night out with just the wrong kind of show. 30m away was Devil Wears Prada where such behaviour from an audience wouldn’t be blinked at, again, unfortunately. I thought Naoko handled it well, but front of house/the theatre manager should have sorted out those people sooner. I’m sure they won’t be remitted to their respective papering organisations, but they should be struck off their lists. |
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Post by Steve on Oct 25, 2024 22:39:04 GMT
This is a hard show to write about because you don't want to tell the next performers of the play what's going on lol. Some minor spoilers follow. . . Jason Isaacs was fully committed to doing the show, in an "I'm the head prefect and let's get this done efficiently" sort of way. He improvised silly bits that could have been embarrassing with gusto and was funny during those bits. What he didn't commit to was giving the piece total respect and time to be thought about and absorbed, in particular the serious bits. He also imposed himself over the material at times, waving away bits that he took to be politically incorrect and dismissively letting us know he wasn't in to those bits lol. Frankly, I took his point in some of those bits (do you really point out "attractive" people in the audience? Do you point out "chubby" people?), but when he dismissed these bits, he made clear we were getting HIS voice not the author's. 3 stars from me. Julie Hesmondhalgh made the piece work MUCH better. She played it as an entertainer and friend would, showing a lot of love to all the different audience members, and generally making everything very funny, just by being one of us, and by being very confident, uninhibited and humorous about it all. Seeing her, I felt was the ticket to maximum laughs and an overwhelmingly satisfying watch, though it was always as if she was ringmaster of the show, and it was an entertainment, so the serious bits did get short-shrifted, even though everyone came out smiling. She did inspire huge amounts of love and loyalty from the audience, and we did get a moment like the moment described in spoilers above, where a participant got very involved and had an interaction with a restraining usher. However, it was clear to us that the person was acting for all the right reasons and had simply been overcome by the content of the show. 4 stars from me. Toby Jones was not an entertainer as such. He simply gave himself up entirely and disappeared into the material. He took much more time with each word and moment, inflecting each word with the intended import with which each word was written, reading it as if it all really mattered and his participation was simply incidental. Further, he treated the participating audience members as if they were stars, calling for each to get their due clap and giving them time. His respect for the material made it feel like the words were genuinely building to some important revelation, and unlike previously, this time I felt it did. There was one moment when he described the author's uncle and I found myself in tears because it was as if I was hearing the words for the first time, the import of them, and it was as if I was hearing it from the author of the piece himself with the authenticity of that. I could picture this very lost uncle as a real person, who I suddenly deeply cared about. But Jones also brought out the humour of the silly bits (designed to foreshadow the serious bits), perhaps not with as much deliberate humour as Hesmondhalgh, since Hesmondhalgh not only did the silly stuff but also added herself into the material as a funny ringmaster character who we could all laugh with and at. Ultimately though, Jones made me FEEL the piece, and I'd give his rendition 4 and a half stars.  |
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