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Post by lou105 on Nov 6, 2016 10:42:16 GMT
Despite her characters lack of humour, Katherine Jenkins is getting the big laughs from her snarky comments Now that would be interesting to see..  |
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Post by showgirl on Nov 6, 2016 15:35:48 GMT
Any idea what the view from the cheap seats - those in the lastminute £10 offer, right at the front of the stalls - would be like ? Any projection on the stage or have they kept it quite low ? Theatremonkey rates them, which is more than good enough for me. (Now the play itself might be another matter...!) |
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Post by lynette on Nov 7, 2016 10:38:19 GMT
I sat row C but this isn't third row, they have two rows in front of A. You might have to look up a bit but if it is cheap, go for it..
Puzzling play, in that I wonder why reprise it now. I suppose they felt that How the Other Half Loves is going well, similar era though here we do have a mobile phone which actually does nothing in the plot and could have been used if slight alterations had been allowed. The underlying idea of wanting a child is outdated ( I'm not spoiling, all v obvious) as nowadays you can become pregnant as a single woman if you want to. But the Idea of needing love is timeless I suppose. Behind me sat a chap about my age explaining who all the comedians were who were being referenced in the text. His younger companion, son maybe, didn't know about them at all. I guess most of the audience did know something but heaven help tourists.
It is well acted, in fact brilliantly by a couple of them, the leading lady and Brian ( sorry, no programme and have forgotten names...shoot me) The set and the direction ok though somewhat unimaginative and v false looking bookshelves and no concept of real space with doors into kitchen area and from hall imagined awkwardly. The slapstick done ok but one of the daftest and funniest and possibly metaphoric moment done too far back of stage. Left with odd feeling that this is one step away from an Ayckbourn and two steps from an Osborne but worth seeing.
some food, no dogs and yes, nudity of the male variety.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2016 11:52:17 GMT
Despite her characters lack of humour, Katherine Jenkins is getting the big laughs from her snarky comments I think you mean Katherine Parkinson. And quite right that she's getting the laughs, she's one of our very best actresses in my opinion. She'll be the new Dame Maggie Smith in the years to come, mark my words. |
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Post by mallardo on Nov 24, 2016 11:31:10 GMT
I found this to be a surprisingly and rewardingly serious piece, despite the pretty much non-stop belly laughs. Although, as Lynette noted above, it borders on territory mined to death by Alan Ayckbourn - marriages and friendships coming apart in a night of suddenly revealed and shattering truths - Terry Johnson's play is much better than that. It has a unique premise that allows for all kinds of humour, from droll sit-com to out and out slapstick, yet it never loses its way dramatically. The desperation of its characters is fully acknowledged and realized.
The five person cast is terrific. The three men - Rufus Jones, Steve Pemberton and Ralf Little - are called upon to do extended impressions of Benny Hill, Frankie Howard, Morecombe and Wise (especially well done) and even Sid James as they recreate some classic routines - and they do it wonderfully. Jones also has one of the riskier nude scenes I've seen on a stage and he deals with it like a pro.
The women are even better. Emily Berrington, last seen by me jumping naked into an onstage swimming pool at the Almeida, turns out to be a first class comedienne who nails all of her many laughs, and Katherine Parkinson is, well, sublime. It is her character that is the pivot of the plot, her anguish that underpins the show, and she's quite magnificent. Lots of laughs, lots of tears. A great actress.
Lynette also raised the point about just who the intended audience for this might be. Yes, it's about a group of staunch fans mourning the passing of Benny Hill on an evening in 1992, in the course of which many other comics of the era are brought up and mimicked. So is it just for Brits of a certain age? What will the tourists make of it? Personally I think the play is strong enough to transcend that but, also, let's remember that Benny Hill became a worldwide phenomenon for a while and, as for the others, well, speaking as an American raised in Canada, I knew (or knew of) all of them except Max Miller. Who he?
Judging from the response in the theatre yesterday this production is going to do just fine.
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Post by profquatermass on Nov 24, 2016 12:34:32 GMT
I found this to be a surprisingly and rewardingly serious piece, despite the pretty much non-stop belly laughs. Although, as Lynette noted above, it borders on territory mined to death by Alan Ayckbourn - marriages and friendships coming apart in a night of suddenly revealed and shattering truths - Terry Johnson's play is much better than that. It has a unique premise that allows for all kinds of humour, from droll sit-com to out and out slapstick, yet it never loses its way dramatically. The desperation of its characters is fully acknowledged and realized. The five person cast is terrific. The three men - Rufus Jones, Steve Pemberton and Ralf Little - are called upon to do extended impressions of Benny Hill, Frankie Howard, Morecombe and Wise (especially well done) and even Sid James as they recreate some classic routines - and they do it wonderfully. Jones also has one of the riskier nude scenes I've seen on a stage and he deals with it like a pro. The women are even better. Emily Berrington, last seen by me jumping naked into an onstage swimming pool at the Almeida, turns out to be a first class comedienne who nails all of her many laughs, and Katherine Parkinson is, well, sublime. It is her character that is the pivot of the plot, her anguish that underpins the show, and she's quite magnificent. Lots of laughs, lots of tears. A great actress. Lynette also raised the point about just who the intended audience for this might be. Yes, it's about a group of staunch fans mourning the passing of Benny Hill on an evening in 1992, in the course of which many other comics of the era are brought up and mimicked. So is it just for Brits of a certain age? What will the tourists make of it? Personally I think the play is strong enough to transcend that but, also, let's remember that Benny Hill became a worldwide phenomenon for a while and, as for the others, well, speaking as an American raised in Canada, I knew (or knew of) all of them except Max Miller. Who he? Judging from the response in the theatre yesterday this production is going to do just fine. Max Miller is who Archie Rice in The Entertainer is based on. Famously dirty (for the time) stand - up comic who wore a floral patterned suit and lived in Brighton near Lord Larry |
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Post by deadyankee on Nov 24, 2016 15:49:27 GMT
I saw this yesterday and enjoyed it immensely - the juxtaposition of despair and belly laughs was perfectly judged. I didn’t really know what to expect going in but wasn’t expecting the farce to have quite such a dark, emotional core. I found Katherine Parkinson’s performance to be absolutely heartbreaking in places – this is certainly much more than a cosy carry-on infused nostalgia trip.
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Post by Marwood on Dec 3, 2016 0:37:57 GMT
Saw this tonight and enjoyed it, although (for the first act at least), I didn't find it as funny as a lot of the audience seemed to find it, it was the dramatic moments that I got more from (although it probably would have been a bit too much to take without the comedy). I agree that Katherine Parkinson was magnificent, a contender for female performance of the year in my opinion, and I was also quite surprised and impressed by Ralf Little (well maybe apart from that Benny Hill Chinaman bit) in this, I think this is the first thing I've seen him in after The Royle Family.
Was sat in one of the left hand seats, on the front row, a great view, the stage is not too high and I could see everything that happens (including being able to ahem, 'enjoy' the Lovers Guide when it is playing on the TV)but a word of warning if you're sat in the front, be prepared for food stuffs flying into the audience near the end, the man sat on the left of me was hit by what was either a couple of sausage rolls or roast potatoes, and there were various nuts and snacks flung about too, but at least I didn't get caught by any of the drinks, or the trifle.
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Post by mallardo on Dec 3, 2016 8:53:58 GMT
You mean they're actually playing The Lovers' Guide video? I assumed it was just a soundtrack. That's quite a distraction for the actors.
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Post by Marwood on Dec 3, 2016 10:22:39 GMT
Not being an expert in erm, adult educational films, I don't know if it was the actual Lovers Guide, all I could see was a man and a woman rolling around in 'artistically' lit murkiness, so don't go booking front row seats on the off-chance of some sauciness thrown in for free.
Would have thought there was nothing distracting to actors, I guess they are all of the Method school of acting and didn't want to have to just react to the soundtrack (or that's the excuse some of the cast members used, anyway)
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Post by bingomatic on Dec 3, 2016 15:15:14 GMT
but a word of warning if you're sat in the front, be prepared for food stuffs flying into the audience near the end, the man sat on the left of me was hit by what was either a couple of sausage rolls or roast potatoes, and there were various nuts and snacks flung about too, but at least I didn't get caught by any of the drinks, or the trifle. Oh no ! My wife and I will be front row and we'll be smartly dressed (for us). The last time I had such a warning was Neville's Island. I hope it's nothin like that, I stank of stagnant water all the way home... is the entire front row at risk of dinner or just the unlucky ones on the left ? |
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Post by Marwood on Dec 3, 2016 15:31:47 GMT
If you're on the right hand side you should be OK, none of the 'action' went over that side (and the TV is on that side, I'd imagine they don't want to damage it), maybe the cast just got a bit carried away last night, seemed to be a fair bit of giggling and corpsing going on, but it was only a few nuts and the aforementioned what I think were sausage rolls (wasn't tempted to pick one up to find out) that went off the stage. Certainly nothing on the scale of Neville's Island. Just be ready to make a run for it if you see the trifle coming towards you...
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2016 23:10:15 GMT
Very surprised they're chucking nuts about in this age of allergies! They'll be getting a visit from 'Elf 'n' Safety...
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Post by Polly1 on Dec 4, 2016 0:42:29 GMT
Very surprised they're chucking nuts about in this age of allergies! They'll be getting a visit from 'Elf 'n' Safety... At the matinee I went to, one of the ladies in the front row tried to eat one of the 'nuts', only to be very disappointed that they weren't real  |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2016 0:48:46 GMT
I thought that the nuts in Dead Funny were of the human variety.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2016 13:01:24 GMT
Saw this last night, really enjoyed it. Very funny and wincingly tragic too. Great performances all round but special mention to Steve Pemberton and a very brave (very brave) Rufus Jones who I found strangely attractive despite his awful character (and a wonderful voice too).
However, it's really all about Katherine Parkinson. She's just sensational and gives probably the best female performance of the year. I've said it before and I'll say it again, she'll be the new Maggie Smith mark my words. If there's any justice in the world, she'll get awards galore for this and become a national treasure in no time. She's completely and utterly glorious.
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Post by Jan on Dec 29, 2016 14:57:38 GMT
I found this to be a surprisingly and rewardingly serious piece, despite the pretty much non-stop belly laughs. Although, as Lynette noted above, it borders on territory mined to death by Alan Ayckbourn - marriages and friendships coming apart in a night of suddenly revealed and shattering truths - Terry Johnson's play is much better than that. It has a unique premise that allows for all kinds of humour, from droll sit-com to out and out slapstick, yet it never loses its way dramatically. The desperation of its characters is fully acknowledged and realized. The five person cast is terrific. The three men - Rufus Jones, Steve Pemberton and Ralf Little - are called upon to do extended impressions of Benny Hill, Frankie Howard, Morecombe and Wise (especially well done) and even Sid James as they recreate some classic routines - and they do it wonderfully. Jones also has one of the riskier nude scenes I've seen on a stage and he deals with it like a pro. The women are even better. Emily Berrington, last seen by me jumping naked into an onstage swimming pool at the Almeida, turns out to be a first class comedienne who nails all of her many laughs, and Katherine Parkinson is, well, sublime. It is her character that is the pivot of the plot, her anguish that underpins the show, and she's quite magnificent. Lots of laughs, lots of tears. A great actress. Lynette also raised the point about just who the intended audience for this might be. Yes, it's about a group of staunch fans mourning the passing of Benny Hill on an evening in 1992, in the course of which many other comics of the era are brought up and mimicked. So is it just for Brits of a certain age? What will the tourists make of it? Personally I think the play is strong enough to transcend that but, also, let's remember that Benny Hill became a worldwide phenomenon for a while and, as for the others, well, speaking as an American raised in Canada, I knew (or knew of) all of them except Max Miller. Who he? Judging from the response in the theatre yesterday this production is going to do just fine. Max Miller is who Archie Rice in The Entertainer is based on. Famously dirty (for the time) stand - up comic who wore a floral patterned suit and lived in Brighton near Lord Larry It is very unlikely Rice was based on Miller though it is a common misconception. Max Miller was the greatest front cloth comedian of all time. Even in a massive venue when he came on stage such was his charisma that it seemed like the circle and stalls came closer and wrapped themselves around him. |
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Post by d'James on Jan 18, 2017 23:50:24 GMT
Saw this tonight and on the whole I did enjoy it. It's the first time I've ever liked Steve Pemberton in, frankly, anything. I just like Rufus Jones and Ralf Little was better than I expected - I don't know why I think that, I guess he's never been in anything I've watched.
Oddly for me I found Katherine Parkinson stronger in the dramatic parts than the comedic put downs and one-liners. I've never rated her in the dramatic things I've seen on telly so her emotional scenes tonight were really interesting to watch as they were so convincing. Emily Berrington was very good, although she may have been losing her voice - not sure.
As with another comedy I saw recently (The Play That Goes Wrong) , I found this to be over-rehearsed. Some of the interruptions towards the end of the show seemed really badly timed and unnatural.
The set and costumes are great and really made it feel like 1992.
The star of the show, however, is the script. Really, really clever and witty and just a very interesting story told extremely engagingly.
I would very much like to see this play again, but with a cast of unknowns.
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Post by Phantom of London on Jan 19, 2017 0:21:18 GMT
Benny Hill, Morcambe and Wise and Frankie Howard etc leaves me very cold and yes this was the premise of the play, but it would be very fair to say that the play was a lot more than that and it delivered. I found this to be very Ayckbournesqe.
I could say it is the best play I have seen this year (that wouldn't be hard), but also chuck in last year for good measure, well that is going a bit OTT, I couldn't neglect the excellent Ma Rainey Black Bottoms, but I could easily settle for best new comedy.
I did laugh once, twice - many times.
5 stars.
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Post by drmaplewood on Jan 25, 2017 9:05:11 GMT
Enjoyed this last night although Benny Hill died the night after Frankie Howard, not the other way round. I know this doesn't matter but curious as to why they didn't just comment on Frankie's death first |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2017 9:38:09 GMT
I wonder if it might be something to do with the dissemination of news back in the early 1990s? Without rolling news and social media, there's no guarantee the news will get out in a chronological order. Even with rolling news and social media, we still manage to get reports of "this celeb died peacefully in their sleep four days ago". If that's not it though, I guess we can chalk it up to artistic licence. |
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Post by deadyankee on Jan 25, 2017 18:38:40 GMT
Enjoyed this last night although Benny Hill died the night after Frankie Howard, not the other way round. I know this doesn't matter but curious as to why they didn't just comment on Frankie's death first {Spoiler - click to view}
This is incorrect. Benny Hill was quoted in the press paying tribute to Frankie Howard but, in fact and unbeknownst at the time, was already dead himself. Frankie Howerd's death was announced first (so the play is wrong on that score) but Benny actually did die first. |
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Post by lynette on Jan 25, 2017 19:30:42 GMT
Wow, Benny Hill psychic then?
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Post by deadyankee on Jan 25, 2017 19:53:36 GMT
No, he had an agent. This is an accurate account of events. link |
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Post by lynette on Jan 25, 2017 21:51:57 GMT
No, he had an agent. This is an accurate account of events. linkReally interesting, thank you |
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