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Post by Phantom of London on Sept 2, 2016 16:00:13 GMT
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Post by zak97 on Sept 2, 2016 16:28:39 GMT
I doubt there will be a mad dash to book for this one, unless I am greatly mistaken. Yet, this does sound pretty interesting and I hope I'll make it in at some point as, even though they are right at the back of the theatre, there are so pretty cheap seats. Definitely can't wait to here some views on this.
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Post by jgblunners on Sept 2, 2016 16:30:37 GMT
Quite interested by this - never read the book, but I've head good things so I'll probably try to nab one of the cheap seats too
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Post by Phantom of London on Sept 2, 2016 17:20:59 GMT
Quite interested by this - never read the book, but I've head good things so I'll probably try to nab one of the cheap seats too ^ I love your aviator btw. agree it will be a hard sell. But being a avid theatre fan, I will see this. |
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Post by couldileaveyou on Sept 3, 2016 5:06:54 GMT
It was quite popular 10 years ago or so, but now?
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Post by schuttep on Sept 5, 2016 9:36:35 GMT
It's a harrowing story so not a light piece of theatre, I'm guessing.
Did anyone see it on tour?
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Post by zak97 on Dec 23, 2016 22:51:45 GMT
Has anyone been to see this? There doesn't really seem to be a buzz around this play, a shame given that over the last few Christmas season the Wyndham's has been one of the places to be.
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Post by infofreako on Dec 23, 2016 23:36:48 GMT
Not as yet. Due to in a couple of weeks. Seems very much under the radar
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Post by daniel on Dec 24, 2016 12:41:44 GMT
Does anyone know if they're doing Day Seats for this? Can't seem to find out anywhere.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2016 14:22:12 GMT
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Post by daniel on Dec 24, 2016 15:33:27 GMT
Thanks! Last time I checked TM No Mans Land was still running so no info re Kite Runner - now feel daft for not checking it again more recently! |
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Post by TheatreDust on Dec 30, 2016 17:27:18 GMT
I was at yesterday's matinee and with no particular expectations, really enjoyed this. I've not read the novel (by Khaled Hosseini) and knew nothing of the story before seeing the play. My friend managed to get us front-row day seats as mentioned above for £22.50 (warning: if you are the extreme end of the front row then your view will be a bit obscured by a musician who sits at the front of stage left for act 1 and then swaps to stage right for act 2).
The play covers several decades of the life of Amir, who lives with his comfortably wealthy father ("Baba") in Afghanistan. Completing their household is their servant Ali and his son, Hassan. Amir has a close childhood friendship with Hassan who is a similar age, but who is of Hazara rather than Pashtun background.
Amir is a somewhat timid poetry-loving boy who is acutely conscious of not meeting his father's expectations. He eventually manages to rise in his Baba's estimation when, aided by Hassan, he takes part in the annual kite running tournament.
We follow the events in Afghanistan and eventually America where Amir and his father flee following the Soviet-Afghan war. There's a fair amount of history woven lightly throughout which I found fascinating. I've subsequently learnt that, although the story is fictional, Khaled Hosseini grew up in Afghanistan and similarly ended up in America following the Soviet invasion.
The plot is largely advanced by Amir (Ben Turner) who, as an adult, narrates the story between smoothly and regularly slipping into his childhood persona throughout act 1 (the same format continues for act 2 when he acts scenes as an adult).
This narration forms the central spine of the play off which numerous scenes depicting the events themselves take place. The cast of about a dozen were excellent and it was fantastic to see a diverse group of actors (and wider than typical diversity in the audience). Ben Turner is quietly charismatic and I found his story-telling captivating. There was a reasonable amount of music, including from the tabla player that supported the atmosphere. A couple of times several actors swung around some intriguing wooden instruments that produced howling-wind/kite noises.
For me, one dodgy moment was the brief inclusion of Korean (I think) shopkeeper played by one of the female cast. That scene did illustrate culture-shock for the family who'd recently arrived in America, but it felt a bit of a stereotype - clumsy and unnecessary. Oh yes, also watch out for the deeply dodgy beard that makes an appearance during act 2!
If I'm honest, if I'd read up on this (particularly the narration format and adults portraying children) then I'd probably have given it a miss. I'm SO pleased that I didn't - a moving and engrossing experience.
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Post by showgirl on Dec 31, 2016 5:08:28 GMT
Really helpful and informative review, TheatreDust - thank you. I'll certainly be looking out for an opportunity to see this now.
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Post by CG on the loose on Jan 1, 2017 13:35:12 GMT
I saw this yesterday and can't really add to TheatreDust's beautifully observed review, except to say that I found it totally compelling. Like TD, I hadn't read the book/seen the film and had only the vaguest notion of the story, but it is told simply, starkly and with great sensitivity by a strong cast. I can feel tears pricking just remembering it now. Powerful stuff. See it if you can.
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Post by daniel on Jan 5, 2017 0:37:01 GMT
Thanks! Last time I checked TM No Mans Land was still running so no info re Kite Runner - now feel daft for not checking it again more recently! Worth knowing that plays rarely announce day seat policy until the first preview, so advance checking doesn't often help. Thanks @theatremonkey, I wasn't aware of that! |
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Post by nash16 on Jan 11, 2017 0:41:27 GMT
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Post by andrew on Jan 11, 2017 8:05:57 GMT
You're right of course, but it does absolutely nothing for the credibility of theatre as an accessible form of culture though to scare off newbies by eye-watering tickets. I'm quite happy for critics to actively rail against price-gouging. |
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Post by showgirl on Jan 11, 2017 8:42:14 GMT
Trouble is, unrealistically high initial prices also make it harder for more knowledgeable people to book, as we still need to hunt out/await deals or day seats. I'd have booked for this by now, based on pre-PN word-of-mouth here, but not at those prices.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2017 8:51:07 GMT
I think it's good for critics to highlight stupid pricing like this. Often they don't see it as an issue as they're getting in for free.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2017 9:38:31 GMT
I've just checked a random date and the prices don't really seem like they're out-of-the-ordinarily high. High, sure, but basically equivalent to any play in the Wyndham's. Raise awareness of awful ticket prices if you want, critics, but raise it for ALL shows otherwise it seems like you're picking on just one particular play unfairly. We regulars can see that it's not overpriced in comparison to its peers, but people who only go to the theatre once in a while and trust reviewers are going to read that review (especially that final line!) and think "well if this show is overpriced, I'll see something else instead". And they'll congratulate themselves for not being ripped off by this one play, not realising they've basically paid exactly the same if not more for the show they have chosen...
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Post by viserys on Jan 11, 2017 10:06:00 GMT
Well, right underneath the review is a link to another general article about high prices in the West End written on the same day.
He also writes: "I fear the producers are simply pricing themselves out of their own (potentially teenage) market" so I think this is a direct reaction to the play he just reviewed. It seems a good play to take young people to and raise their awareness of teenage life in other countries and explain at least to a certain extent what's happening in Afghanistan, a country permanently on the news. And families who read the review and think "Hey this sounds like something we could see with our teenager(s)" are immediately scared off when they see the prices.
It does seem to be the kind of accessible play, also based on a well-known movie and book, that would be able to bring new punters in.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2017 17:50:34 GMT
It's got the death sentence of 3 star reviews
Except from mark shenton
Who gives 5 stars so often that the ratings are rendered meaningless
And for such a cheaply staged regional show
With pseudo pan accents
The ticket prices are outrageous
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Post by stevej678 on Jan 12, 2017 15:49:51 GMT
It's got the death sentence of 3 star reviews Except from mark shenton Who gives 5 stars so often that the ratings are rendered meaningless And for such a cheaply staged regional show With pseudo pan accents The ticket prices are outrageous I agree with you about Mark Shenton, however the same can be said for those who seem to take great pleasure in ripping to pieces 95% of what they see. Their opinion becomes irrelevant. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2017 16:24:46 GMT
I've stopped reading Mark Shenton and a load has lifted from my life.
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Post by CG on the loose on Feb 1, 2017 15:44:44 GMT
Cast of the Kite Runner use their stage to "plead for tolerance" (and from the sounds of it will do so after every performance for however long), though I would argue that their play does that more eloquently than any curtain call speeches can.
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