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Post by Dave B on Oct 5, 2024 15:39:50 GMT
Lovely afternoon with Daisy Edgar Jones for this. Hard to say anything without spoilers but she was up for it and growing more into it as she went along.
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Post by nancycunard on Oct 5, 2024 15:59:57 GMT
Lovely afternoon with Daisy Edgar Jones for this. Hard to say anything without spoilers but she was up for it and growing more into it as she went along. Just walked past Soho Place on my way to the tube after Juno and the Paycock and saw the crowd at stage door and wondered who was on! Still need to get a ticket for one of the performances if there’s any left. |
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Post by fiyerorocher on Oct 5, 2024 16:16:24 GMT
I'm almost certain it was a genuine accident, but it's so hard to tell in productions like this - can someone confirm whether {Spoiler - click to view}
Michael Sheen knocking over one of the glasses of water was an accident? |
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Post by Dave B on Oct 5, 2024 17:13:00 GMT
I'm almost certain it was a genuine accident, but it's so hard to tell in productions like this - can someone confirm whether {Spoiler - click to view}
Michael Sheen knocking over one of the glasses of water was an accident? This did not happen today. |
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Post by fiyerorocher on Oct 5, 2024 17:15:35 GMT
I'm almost certain it was a genuine accident, but it's so hard to tell in productions like this - can someone confirm whether {Spoiler - click to view}
Michael Sheen knocking over one of the glasses of water was an accident? This did not happen today. Thank you for the confirmation! {Spoiler - click to view}
I was fairly sure his fear was legitimate as he tried to work out what on earth he was supposed to do to fix it. |
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Post by theatreloverlondon on Oct 5, 2024 18:59:01 GMT
Saw Daisy today- she was lovely and had excellent diction! But we thought it/the writing was a bit dry. Going again next week will be interesting to see how a different actor compares
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Post by Jon on Oct 5, 2024 22:19:42 GMT
Saw the afternoon performance with Daisy Edgar-Jones and she was very good, the show itself is difficult to describe without spoiling it but it was fascinating to see an actor outside their comfort zone working out how to interpret the script and reacting to the words on the pages. I do have spoilery thoughts: I wonder if the audience member at the end who reads the final pages instead of Daisy/the Actor is part of the production because their diction was a lot more clear and confident compared to the other audience members who took part in the previous bits. Did like how Daisy realised she was in the wrong position as the 'audience member' read how she needed to be near the table with the glasses of water and had to shuffle to get to the right position, not sure if that was deliberate or a mistake. |
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Post by Dave B on Oct 5, 2024 22:32:51 GMT
With regards to your spoiler wondering...
{Spoiler - click to view}
She was definitely not part of the production. We walked out next to her. She was familiar with the play and wanted the play text, not an actor or theatre background but works as a lawyer so very use to public speaking. |
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Post by Jon on Oct 5, 2024 22:39:05 GMT
With regards to your spoiler wondering...
{Spoiler - click to view}
She was definitely not part of the production. We walked out next to her. She was familiar with the play and wanted the play text, not an actor or theatre background but works as a lawyer so very use to public speaking.
Thanks for that, no wonder she was so good at speaking! Shame on me for thinking she was a stooge!
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Post by dip on Oct 6, 2024 8:52:59 GMT
I also saw Daisy in this and really enjoyed it! Like others have said, it will be interesting to see how other actors handle it all, but she was brilliant.
I also enjoyed how they handled 'trigger warnings' - there were posters up saying some things might cause distress, here's a QR code if you're worried. Seems like a sensible way to do it tbh
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Post by andrew on Oct 6, 2024 19:13:07 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 fiyerorocher on Oct 6, 2024 19:18:53 GMT
Why did the numbers go up so high, then never get used above the first few? How high did your numbers go? I did wonder if it was left up to the actor how long to keep the counting going. |
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Oct 6, 2024 19:44:58 GMT
Why did the numbers go up so high, then never get used above the first few? How high did your numbers go? I did wonder if it was left up to the actor how long to keep the counting going. Went up to 75 with Jason today! Was quite underwhelmed by this. Agree that Jason felt like he was rushing through this and tbh I thought the audience member at the end who read the final bit had better diction than him. |
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Post by kallyloo on Oct 6, 2024 20:00:21 GMT
Yes, the play with Michael Sheen had resonance and was about 1 hour 30min.
Obviously the actor is unprepared and each actor handles that in their own way.
Having seen Jason Isaacs, who was still good, I feel privileged to have seen Michael Friday.
The text was positively alive and resonated.
Hopefully it will again with Johnathan Pryce and Toby Jones etc.
I feel it needs someone unafraid of audience interaction to allow the play it’s full appreciation.
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Post by nottobe on Oct 6, 2024 20:00:46 GMT
Was also at the Jason Isaacs performance tonight. I liked it but did think it would be a piece that would leave me with more to chew on. I liked Isaacs performance but agree he was very quick. He had a good rapport with them audience however. A nice night out however not as much of a must see as I thought it would be.
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Post by Jon on Oct 6, 2024 20:11:37 GMT
Yes, the play with Michael Sheen had resonance and was about 1 hour 30min. Obviously the actor is unprepared and each actor handles that in their own way. Having seen Jason Isaacs, who was still good, I feel privileged to have seen Michael Friday. The text was positively alive and resonated. Hopefully it will again with Johnathan Pryce and Toby Jones etc. I feel it needs someone unafraid of audience interaction to allow the play it’s full appreciation. I wonder if some actors are more willing to improvise and react differently to the text. Daisy Edgar-Jones yesterday for example seemed to enjoy the bits with the audience For everyone who's seen it I want to know: How is the Ostrich impression by the actor you saw as well as summing up the Rabbit at the Circus in 30 seconds. |
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Post by keyspi on Oct 6, 2024 20:50:42 GMT
Seeing this in two weeks' time, but would love for someone who has already been to answer this for me, please During the audience interaction bits, are the audience members selected somehow or do people just volunteer to participate? I really dislike surprises like these and would much rather not be required to interact impromptu Thanks in advance |
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Post by Dave B on Oct 6, 2024 21:56:34 GMT
Why did the numbers go up so high, then never get used above the first few? How high did your numbers go? I did wonder if it was left up to the actor how long to keep the counting going. 75 with Daisy on Sat afternoon, so I assume it is in the script. |
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Post by Dave B on Oct 6, 2024 21:58:26 GMT
Seeing this in two weeks' time, but would love for someone who has already been to answer this for me, please {Spoiler} During the audience interaction bits, are the audience members selected somehow or do people just volunteer to participate? I really dislike surprises like these and would much rather not be required to interact impromptu Thanks in advance {Spoiler - click to view}There is some extensive audience participation determined by where the actor starts numbering the audience, then further participation with audience members selected by the actor at their whim and then finally, there is piece for a volunteer. |
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Post by Steve on Oct 6, 2024 22:01:04 GMT
Seeing this in two weeks' time, but would love for someone who has already been to answer this for me, please During the audience interaction bits, are the audience members selected somehow or do people just volunteer to participate? I really dislike surprises like these and would much rather not be required to interact impromptu Thanks in advance {Spoiler - click to view}
Today, Jason Isaacs counted the first two rows until he got to 75 people. Certain low numbers (ie front row, assigned specific numbers between 1 - 10) got selected to go on stage. The numbers are in the script.
As regards the end, the person who goes on stage is the most forceful volunteer. Two people who wanted to participate were just not assertive enough and were beaten out by the most assertive bloke.
Consequently, if you are not assigned low numbers, you're off the hook. I would avoid the front row myself lol. |
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Post by fiyerorocher on Oct 7, 2024 9:15:36 GMT
With regards to audience participation:
{Spoiler - click to view}
Yes, the majority of the audience participation is front row and dictated by the number you call out if you're involved in the counting. There's no set place to start the counting, so the entire front row should definitely be avoided if you're not wanting to be involved. Off the top of my head, numbers 3, 5, and 9 had it worst. There are a few small moments where you can volunteer to offer something up. Then a volunteer is required for a substantial part at the end, but this is entirely up to self-selection (and possibly how fast you can get up there). There is one moment where the actor will select any five people of their choosing. I imagine the sure-fire way to avoid this is to be in the higher tiers. |
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Post by fiyerorocher on Oct 7, 2024 9:17:41 GMT
Yes, the play with Michael Sheen had resonance and was about 1 hour 30min. Obviously the actor is unprepared and each actor handles that in their own way. Having seen Jason Isaacs, who was still good, I feel privileged to have seen Michael Friday. The text was positively alive and resonated. Hopefully it will again with Johnathan Pryce and Toby Jones etc. I feel it needs someone unafraid of audience interaction to allow the play it’s full appreciation. I wonder if some actors are more willing to improvise and react differently to the text. Daisy Edgar-Jones yesterday for example seemed to enjoy the bits with the audience For everyone who's seen it I want to know: How is the Ostrich impression by the actor you saw as well as summing up the Rabbit at the Circus in 30 seconds. {Spoiler - click to view}
Michael's ostrich impression was excellent. We didn't get that far into the rabbit at the circus bit because a) he forgot he wasn't allowed to use words and had to start again about 15 seconds in, and b) that was the point at which his vigorous hopping knocked over one of the glasses of water and everything sort of derailed for a moment |
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Post by keyspi on Oct 7, 2024 10:07:27 GMT
Thank you Dave B, Steve and fiyerorocher - that was very reassuring as it sounds like I would be safe for this one! |
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Post by profquatermass on Oct 7, 2024 10:13:01 GMT
Is it the same basic script every night? So surely the actors aren't completely unprepared?
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Post by drmaplewood on Oct 7, 2024 10:14:09 GMT
Is it the same basic script every night? So surely the actors aren't completely unprepared? I assume they sign an agreement to not find out what it entails though how that can be enforced is anyone's guess. |
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