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Post by posull78 on Jan 25, 2016 11:18:42 GMT
I've read all the amazing reviews and it opens just as we get to London for a visit in late Feb. Is it as good as all the hype and reviews? Seems like the view is unanimous. Are there any early discount offers or is this a likely sell-out?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2016 11:42:29 GMT
It wasn't selling out last time it was in town. I booked a £25 balcony seat for a Saturday evening and got upgraded to front row of the stalls (which I believe were also £25 dayseats). It's definitely worth seeing but although I don't know of any discounts right now, it's probably safe enough to hold out to see if any arise.
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Post by posull78 on Jan 25, 2016 11:57:55 GMT
Thanks. I might hold out a little then and see if they come up with some discounts before we arrive or in the week we are in London.
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Post by stefy69 on Jan 25, 2016 13:21:17 GMT
It is one play that certainly lives up to the hype, first class theatre.
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Post by caa on Feb 2, 2016 11:30:15 GMT
Duke of Yorks cast according to an email I received is: Kenneth Cranham, Amanda Drew, Rebecca Charles, Brian Doherty and Jade Williams.
Which means that either Brian Doherty is playing two parts or that there is another actor yet to be named...
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Post by danielwhit on Feb 2, 2016 11:54:59 GMT
Duke of Yorks cast according to an email I received is: Kenneth Cranham, Amanda Drew, Rebecca Charles, Brian Doherty and Jade Williams. Which means that either Brian Doherty is playing two parts or that there is another actor yet to be named... Talk about confusing the plot even further  With regards to discounts: www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-father/duke-of-yorks using the code "FATHERDMT" gets best seats for all performances during the run down to £39.50. Considering no discounts appeared last time during the run itself to my recollection, that may be the best we see. |
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Post by lou105 on Feb 27, 2016 18:42:44 GMT
I've just noticed that a recording of this with the Kenneth Cranham/Claire Skinner cast is being broadcast on Radio 3 at 9pm tomorrow (Sunday). Hopefully it will go onto iPlayer and I'll try to listen sometime.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2016 12:55:37 GMT
Few times have I been left genuinely speechless after a show, this being one of them. I urge you to catch it. Kenneth Cranham is delivering a truly incredible performance!
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Post by couldileaveyou on Mar 3, 2016 14:18:28 GMT
Last night I was so bored that I decided to book a ticket for today's matinee. I bought a 15£ ticket in the last row of the upper circle and since I had a TodayTix discount I paid only 5£. I've just arrived at the theatre and a lovely usher told me that I've been upgraded to row E of the stalls!!
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Post by mallardo on Mar 11, 2016 9:50:29 GMT
A play with a great concept - Alzheimers as a mystery, not a whodunit but a what's happening, with the audience trying to work it out along with the play's dementia ridden protagonist. A series of vignettes, not strictly chronological, in which the information keeps changing along with the characters delivering that information. Never has loss of memory - and the concomitant loss of identity - been so vividly portrayed.
If it sounds depressing it's not - until its inevitable conclusion. It's often very funny and always dramatically engaging, as good mysteries are. Two great performances, from Kenneth Cranham and Amanda Drew, and an excellent production from director James Macdonald.
The playwright, Frenchman Florian Zeller, is a genuine phenom, author of five novels and nine plays and he's only 35. As of today he has three plays currently on in London: The Father at the Duke of Yorks; The Mother, just closing at the Tricycle; and The Truth, just opening at the Chocolate Factory. When was the last time that happened? There must be a reason and there is - he's that good.
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Post by Steffi on Mar 11, 2016 23:30:16 GMT
I saw this on Thursday (matinee). Had a ticket for the upper circle which was closed so I ended up with a great mid stalls row H seat.
Really enjoyed it. It was a lot funnier than I thought it would be and engaging from start to finish. The acting is impressive. Really glad I decided to go. It's a shame it doesn't seem to be selling that well.
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Post by kathryn on Mar 12, 2016 17:23:45 GMT
It looks like I was the only one not blown away by this. Don't get me wrong, I admire the production and the actors, but I just wasn't feeling it this afternoon.
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Post by couldileaveyou on Mar 12, 2016 19:14:56 GMT
I enjoyed it, thought it was very clever and very well done, but it didn't blow me away. But I think it might have something to do with my age? I'm 20 but everyone around me was considerably older (the usual white heads matinee audience) and they looked very moved by the whole thing. I mean, I was moved as well, but probably it would have affected me more if I were old/oldish or had someone in my family who experienced alzheimer.
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Post by Sotongal on Mar 12, 2016 20:20:30 GMT
It's a well-observed piece of writing - even down to the fact people with Dementia/Alzheimers do lose their watches and track of time.
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Post by westendcub on Mar 14, 2016 21:18:00 GMT
Came across this on BBC radio at work today & listened, what a wonderful radio play.
The way the story weaved & changed & a very clever music cue I thought it was riveting.
This wasn't on my radar but the radio play has intrigued me but now I've experienced it in that medium I do wonder if I need to see it played out on stage.
It's worth a listen on player if your interested in the piece.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Mar 14, 2016 22:29:51 GMT
I'm amazed it's back in London, it sold TERRIBLY last time.
And I'm afraid I can't join in praising Cranham. I though it was a terribly affected performance, he was 'Acting' at all times.
Skinner was much more affecting for me.. And I'm sure Amanda Drew is marvellous.
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Post by Hamilton Addict on Apr 12, 2016 8:53:22 GMT
Saw this last night and absolutely loved it! It is, by far, the best play I have seen this year. Having grandparents with dementia it had opened my eyes to how difficult it can be. I thought Kenneth Cranham and Amanda Drew were both phenomenal. How long was this in the West End and was it all the same cast?
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Post by danielwhit on Apr 12, 2016 9:53:56 GMT
Saw this last night and absolutely loved it! It is, by far, the best play I have seen this year. Having grandparents with dementia it had opened my eyes to how difficult it can be. I thought Kenneth Cranham and Amanda Drew were both phenomenal. How long was this in the West End and was it all the same cast? This current cast were in London for only a few weeks earlier this year. Previous casts (with some overlap) were in last year. |
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Post by Hamilton Addict on Apr 13, 2016 12:06:11 GMT
Saw this last night and absolutely loved it! It is, by far, the best play I have seen this year. Having grandparents with dementia it had opened my eyes to how difficult it can be. I thought Kenneth Cranham and Amanda Drew were both phenomenal. How long was this in the West End and was it all the same cast? This current cast were in London for only a few weeks earlier this year. Previous casts (with some overlap) were in last year. Thanks!  |
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Post by loureviews on Apr 13, 2016 20:55:26 GMT
I've just come back from this. Both my husband and myself have experience of dementia and Alzheimer's. It brought back deep seated memories for him and I was in tears at the end.
Kenneth Cranham was superb and so were all three ladies in the cast. The other two gents had less to do but a solid ensemble all round and a truly devastating piece of theatre which will stay with me for a long time.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2016 21:38:17 GMT
It's interesting - a friend who also has a close family member with dementia went to see this play expecting to be moved, but actually found it didn't ring true for her at all.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2016 13:51:12 GMT
It's interesting - a friend who also has a close family member with dementia went to see this play expecting to be moved, but actually found it didn't ring true for her at all. Perhaps it depends on your experience. My father's dementia was very much like the central characters - confusion, feeling that other people were deceiving him, losing things, distress (but fortunately in the end a sort of contentment in his own world, so we were lucky there).
I found Kenneth Cranham's performance quite unsettling as it reminded me of the earlier period of his dementia so much. For that reason I couldn't watch it again even though I rated it as a good theatre experience.
On the other hand, my mother in law's dementia took an entirely different route and had I only seen her deterioration I wouldn't have identified her with the character at all.
I found Claire Skinner's performance very affecting too.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2016 17:35:26 GMT
Absolutely - dementia takes different courses in different patients. I think perhaps reviews and to some extent word of mouth were a bit misleading in maybe suggesting 'if you have experience of a loved one having this condition, you will totally connect with this play!'
I think she was also slightly nonplussed by the script having something along the lines of, 'But don't you remember we talked about this, dad?' She was absolutely clear that anyone who cared for a dementia patient would NEVER say something like that to them!
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Post by mallardo on Apr 14, 2016 17:49:53 GMT
Absolutely - dementia takes different courses in different patients. I think perhaps reviews and to some extent word of mouth were a bit misleading in maybe suggesting 'if you have experience of a loved one having this condition, you will totally connect with this play!' I think she was also slightly nonplussed by the script having something along the lines of, 'But don't you remember we talked about this, dad?' She was absolutely clear that anyone who cared for a dementia patient would NEVER say something like that to them!
A. The daughter is not a professional nurse who knows "procedure" and this line is spoken before her father's condition has deteriorated.
B. The play attempts to explore the disease from the POV of the victim. Unless your friend actually has Alzheimer's she won't really know what it's like, will she?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2016 22:08:03 GMT
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