274 posts
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Post by emsworthian on Oct 10, 2016 9:54:06 GMT
A revival of James Graham's This House opened at Chichester on 23 September and will run until 29 October before opening at the Garrick on 19 November. It has been reviewed by the local papers but I haven't seen anything in the national press; presumably they will do so when it opens in London.
I know there was a thread here when it was on at the National but I can't find it so I've started a new one. I loved the play when I saw it on live transmission at the cinema so I was interested to see it live with a slightly different cast. Phil Daniels returns as Bob Mellish and so does Lauren O'Neil as Anne Taylor. Malcolm Sinclair replaces Julian Wadham as Humphrey Atkins and although Julian Wadham perhaps has more the looks and air of someone "to the manner born", Malcolm Sinclair was excellent as the supercilious Atkins. Nathaniel Parker is Jack Weatherill and Steffan Rhodri is Walter Harrison with Kevin Doyle as Michael Cocks.
When I saw the NT transmission I thought that Phil Daniels was possibly miscast as Bob Mellish, although I like Phil Daniels as an actor. This time I thought he was just right so I'm not sure if he has grown into the part or if I have mellowed. Also, the music I found intrusive the first time I saw it but I enjoyed this time; again perhaps I have mellowed.
In the intimate setting of the Minerva, you really had a sense of being at the centre of the action. The front three rows of seats have been converted into leather benches and the Members' Bar on stage was open during the interval. The audience reaction was very positive. I had forgotten how moving it was in parts; the woman next to me was in tears at one stage.
At the end there was a short speech from Christopher Godwin, who play "the Doc", about the late Jo Cox, MP, and a collection was taken for the charities established in her memory.
A nit-picking and probably irrelevant point but one that bugs me is that Peter Landi is described in the programme and during the performance as the MP for Oxshott (he is the one with a military manner who joins the Whips' Office late in the play). There is no Oxshott constituency and I'm sure in the cinema transmission the part was described as MP for Esher. Also, in the programme's list of MPs appearing in "This House" there is Esher MP David Carol Mather but no Oxshott MP. As Carol Mather (ex- Army and ex-Whip's Office) is dead and cannot sue, I wonder why they made the change. I thought the way he was portrayed was reasonably sympathetic, if possibly a bit clichéd as an ex military man. |
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816 posts
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Post by stefy69 on Oct 11, 2016 7:26:36 GMT
Really looking forward to seeing this have tickets for it's run at the Garrick.  |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2016 8:57:01 GMT
Despite Southern Rail's best effort to scupper the day, got to Chichester to see this yesterday, and well worth the trouble.
As emsorthian has described, the stage merges with the audience - would have loved to be that close, but still felt involved from several rows back. I found the musicians added to the atmosphere with changes of clothes and styles of music.
A very troubled time portrayed with humour and making the people involved in the events very real. The programme was very informative and worth the £3.50, though would have been nice to have had a short bio of the Whips included.
West end transfer coming soon - well worth a visit for anybody who didn't catch this first time round.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2016 8:58:47 GMT
I'm assuming this is the same staging as at the national??
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2016 9:23:46 GMT
I'm assuming this is the same staging as at the national?? It's the original production but there seems to be no on-stage Commons bench seating for the audience when it transfers to the Garrick. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2016 13:01:20 GMT
They announced last week that there is on stage seating, and it is on sale. Thank you! That explains why I couldn't see any when I booked a couple of months ago. |
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24 posts
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Post by moony93 on Nov 28, 2016 21:19:33 GMT
looking to book row BB stalls for this, has anyone sat there? with it being so cheap price wise i'd assume a relatively high stage?
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Post by theatremad on Nov 29, 2016 6:17:08 GMT
Anyone done the On Stage seating for this?
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24 posts
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Post by moony93 on Nov 29, 2016 16:26:47 GMT
awesome thanks a lot I also got a really good "politician encounter" at the start of act 2, that really added to the fun. is the politician encounter them just standing near you or actual audience interaction? because if it's the latter I'll avoid the stalls |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2016 23:09:09 GMT
Thank heaven for that, think I'm in trusty H23!
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1,064 posts
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Post by bellboard27 on Nov 30, 2016 14:16:49 GMT
I sat on the stage seating. There are the lower level benches to the side of the stage (close up, but would need to look through actors to see action on the other side). I sat upstairs overlooking proceedings. When the actors are to front of stage, their backs are to you, but often the view is good and sometimes the action moves up to that level anyway. The metal staircase is no problem. Note that there is a band and upstairs you may be very close to it. Hence I was worried that I would hear nothing with them playing. As it happens they play very little and there is only a minute or two with music and dialogue overlapping. I bought my seat online that morning (great value for £12). All of the others in my row had got the tickets that day at the box office (All those that commented said that it was the BO which suggested the stage seats - otherwise I would have been on my own!). Otherwise the theatre looked pretty full. Finally, stage seating gives you quick access to the House bar which is on stage and open for drinks at the interval!
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Post by theatremad on Dec 2, 2016 11:58:12 GMT
Saw this yesterday from G1 (On Stage seating back row, which is actually upstairs), not a bad view all in all.
4th time I've seen this show and I still love it, new cast is fab.
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2,452 posts
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Post by theatremadness on Dec 2, 2016 18:32:32 GMT
Missed this first time round, happy it's back as I'm pretty sure I'll fit in a trip to this, as the concept sounds quite fab, I love Jeremy Herrin and of course the recent swathe of 5* reviews for this cast are pretty encouraging. And £12 to sit upstairs on stage seems too good to miss out on!
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1,103 posts
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Post by mallardo on Dec 16, 2016 9:51:57 GMT
Saw this last night from onstage row E, a stage level padded bench. Great view, blocked briefly only once. So much fun to be right in the mix, as it were, with actors sweeping past making entrances and exits, and at one point we were actually IN the action. We were asked very surreptitiously by one of the actors, Peter Landi, to be MPs casting our votes in an upcoming scene. As we were on the Tory side we had to stand and shout NO! We lost the vote to row B.
Totally recommend these seats if you can get them - there are only four on either side as they had to leave room for actors to use the end places on occasion. Of course, the play itself and the production and the cast are all wonderful. Theatrical bliss.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2016 15:40:11 GMT
Just missed you, mallardo - I saw this on Wednesday!
It probably wasn't the best night actually because I was fighting a vicious headache, so I found myself drifting off a few times. No fault of the cast, who are great, Rhodri in particular.
And while political machinations are always fun to watch, I can't help but feel I'd have enjoyed it more if I had been a bit older and recognised more of the MPs who featured. Who was the fraudster who faked suicide, for example? Still, it was interesting as an insight into the times for someone who was only 3 when the real-life historical events featured in the play finished!
Narrowly escaped being talked to by the actors after the interval. I was in Row H but since they'd moved a bunch of people a couple of rows in front to sit on the stage, there were very few people in aisle seats near the front. I suddenly 'remembered' there was something terribly important I had to find in my handbag as they appeared and started shaking hands with the couple seated in front...
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1,103 posts
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Post by mallardo on Dec 16, 2016 16:34:39 GMT
Culled from the programme - the Member from Walsall North who faked his suicide was John Stonehouse who was, among other things, thought to have been a Czech spy!
Like you, jeanhunt, I was out of the loop re these events but found it all fascinating nonetheless.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2016 21:39:46 GMT
An interesting bloke, it seems - thanks mallardo!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2017 17:31:58 GMT
I'm seeing Nice Fish this weekend so can't really make a judgement before then, but I must admit, I was a wee bit bored in stretches of This House... Hear hear! I got close to getting up and walking out towards the end of the second half. It seemed interminable and relentless. And all those intentionally bad jokes which the actors still seemed a bit surprised that no one even smiled at - we grimaced instead in endurance, hoping for the end which sometimes felt as if it would never come. This story would make a brilliant tv documentary, intercutting separately-interviewed recollecting captioned participants. The subject didn't attract me to the NT four years ago but this time I finally succumbed with the involvement of Headlong. But I was right first time. The audience was quite subdued, with the young person beside me fidgeting madly in increasing frustration, but we mostly clapped politely when we were finally released. |
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103 posts
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Post by sondheimhats on Jan 5, 2017 20:23:53 GMT
Saw this a few days ago and really enjoyed it, despite not knowing anything about British politics (the program was very helpful).
I sat in the upstairs stage seats. My seat was originally in the back, which I didn't enjoy, so I moved to an empty side-seat at the interval. Personally, I think if you're going to sit onstage, the side is far preferable to the back. I could see more of the action/faces onstage and I didn't have to lean forward as far or as often. The leg room is more restricted, but definitely worth the it. It was interesting to go up to the top level through the backstage wing-space. It was like getting a backstage tour!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2017 9:52:43 GMT
Totally recommend these seats if you can get them - there are only four on either side as they had to leave room for actors to use the end places on occasion. Of course, the play itself and the production and the cast are all wonderful. Theatrical bliss.
Having seen this at Chichester had a re-visit on the stage seats as recommended. Most plays I wouldn't been keen on this, but loved it for "This House". Due to the action being at all points on the stage very little was obstructed and had a clear view of close up expressions and movements. Really made me appreciate the chorography with the actors sweeping on and off stage so close to each other.
I wanted a re-visit as some of the things I didn't know about I have now read up on. It didn't disappoint the second time round at all even thought I had heard the jokes before. Knowing more about the period gave me a greater understanding and added to the experience.
Amused to find that those of us on the stage seats were treated like a special party - drinks at the stage bar, offers to take photographs of us on stage from the ushers and a peek backstage and a chat with some of the actors before the second half. All a lot of fun and cheaper than the front stalls as well.
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642 posts
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Post by Stasia on Jan 24, 2017 8:49:57 GMT
My friend advised me to see this and helped me to get the stage seat, so I saw this a couple of weeks ago and thought it was brilliant! As a proper tourist, I came prepared: took a tour around the real Parliament just a few few days before seeing the show. So later for a foreigner "voting in the Parliament" felt a bit surreal.
During the interval had a nice small talk with one of the actors. First he asked if I tried the onstage bar and I said that prices are not from 1970ies, and then I told him about my preparations and taking a tour around the real building, and he told me he had a few of these as well. He was really surprised to know that I couldn't get to the Elizabeth tower as this is for Brits only (you need to ask your MP to get you there, lucky locals!)
It always amazes me how people in Britain can set and stage and direct a show about something rather dull and unexciting and make it look so thrilling and breathtakingly beautiful. Live band in the show about the House of Commons!
I would be so happy to see it again... It's a pity it closes so quick and I'm not in London for the next couple of months.
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134 posts
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Post by romeo94 on Feb 15, 2017 16:49:24 GMT
Hoping to catch this before it goes. Thinking of grabbing a £12 on stage seat. Are they ok?
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816 posts
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Post by stefy69 on Feb 16, 2017 7:20:07 GMT
Liked this so much am seeing it again next Wednesday. |
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Post by n1david on Feb 22, 2017 16:27:15 GMT
Was House Full last night so obviously still doing well.
Was lucky enough to see it at the Cottesloe and didn't think the set worked as well here (actor in interval said there had been plans for more downstairs benches but "they got the sums wrong"). Nonetheless it's a great evocation of a weird time in politics, some superb acting and a joy to see such a big cast work so well together.
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816 posts
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Post by stefy69 on Feb 23, 2017 8:49:22 GMT
Was House Full last night so obviously still doing well. Was lucky enough to see it at the Cottesloe and didn't think the set worked as well here (actor in interval said there had been plans for more downstairs benches but "they got the sums wrong"). Nonetheless it's a great evocation of a weird time in politics, some superb acting and a joy to see such a big cast work so well together. I was at yesyerday's matinee second tome I'd seen it at the Garrick and loved it just as much as the first time. Excellent theatre. |
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