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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2017 10:14:22 GMT
So why have two of our best actors in a play that isn't 'the greatest play in the world' which actually means it is a weak play? It's a fair comment, and I didn't see it so can't comment on the actual quality but I believe Tennant was looking for a non-Shakespeare to do as he hasn't done one in a long time, so maybe he thought it was a good choice? (throw off some of his 'nice boy' image too maybe following the Jessica Jones role). I'm just speculating.
Or maybe it's one of those where everyone involved did think it was the best thing ever and us lowly theatre going types are missing a trick 
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Post by mallardo on May 31, 2017 10:36:33 GMT
So why have two of our best actors in a play that isn't 'the greatest play in the world' which actually means it is a weak play?
It's not weak at all. It's a very broad and very salacious and very funny (to me) take on the Don Juan tale which has dark and serious moments but does not aspire to profundity. It is a cleverly executed entertainment and Tennant looked as if he was thoroughly enjoying every moment of it. The audience I was with laughed uproariously throughout and gave the actors a rousing hand at the curtain. A successful show.
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Post by Pennywise57 on May 31, 2017 14:47:10 GMT
So why have two of our best actors in a play that isn't 'the greatest play in the world' which actually means it is a weak play? I don't think it's a weak play. What I meant by that was that personally I think they're better plays out there which I have seen and preferred because they have emotionally engaged me more and/or made me invest in the characters more. Don Juan in Soho doesn't really allow for either of those things plotwise imo. That doesn't mean it's weak though, like I said I found it really really funny, and that was it's aim at the end of the day. I also really enjoyed the monologue at the end which was scarily on point. David Tennant and Adrian Scarborough performances easily made me forget any misgivings I might have had. Sorry I probably should have worded that better.  |
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Post by mistressjojo on Jun 1, 2017 3:12:58 GMT
So why have two of our best actors in a play that isn't 'the greatest play in the world' which actually means it is a weak play? It's a fair comment, and I didn't see it so can't comment on the actual quality but I believe Tennant was looking for a non-Shakespeare to do as he hasn't done one in a long time, so maybe he thought it was a good choice? (throw off some of his 'nice boy' image too maybe following the Jessica Jones role). I'm just speculating.
Or maybe it's one of those where everyone involved did think it was the best thing ever and us lowly theatre going types are missing a trick
Patrick Marber & David Tennant are mates. They had talked about working together for years ( according to Mr Tennant in a recent interview). Marber sent him the script and asked if he was interested. He said yes and there you have it. I can't enlighten you about Adrian Scarborough's motives though. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2017 7:35:28 GMT
There you go. And I have no objection to a play that allows Davey T to be a bit...filthy. Ahem. Shame I didn't get to see it. (Obviously for Marber's work as well)
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Post by lynette on Jun 1, 2017 16:08:06 GMT
Well, not impressed with Tennant's choice then. Did it look ok on paper . Maybe the last direction : 'Tennant to stand full centre stage arms spread out to receive applause of adoring fans' swung it.
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Post by kathryn on Jun 2, 2017 8:46:53 GMT
He looked like he was having lots of fun when I saw it. Maybe getting to have fun while working with your mate is enough to make an actor say yes, once in a while?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2017 8:55:25 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2017 9:02:31 GMT
Ummm, that's John Barrowman MBE if you please! |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2017 9:20:49 GMT
Ummm, that's John Barrowman MBE if you please! Sorry, my mistake. *bows to the royal crotch* John Barrowman MBE who features on the tour of the WMC here, not for being a notable local (ish) celebrity, but....for crashing into the glass doors and nearly knocking himself out. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2017 9:49:36 GMT
Ummm, that's John Barrowman MBE if you please! Sorry, my mistake. *bows to the royal crotch* John Barrowman MBE who features on the tour of the WMC here, not for being a notable local (ish) celebrity, but....for crashing into the glass doors and nearly knocking himself out. Oh we've all done that haven't we. HSBC have me on security camera doing that exact same thing. And the Alhambra Palace in Granada too strangely enough. I never knew I had so much in common with John Barrowman. Actually, according to rumours I knew I had something in common with Lady Barrowman but ahem . . |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2017 9:57:32 GMT
Sorry, my mistake. *bows to the royal crotch* John Barrowman MBE who features on the tour of the WMC here, not for being a notable local (ish) celebrity, but....for crashing into the glass doors and nearly knocking himself out. Oh we've all done that haven't we. HSBC have me on security camera doing that exact same thing. And the Alhambra Palace in Granada too strangely enough. I never knew I had so much in common with John Barrowman. Actually, according to rumours I knew I had something in common with Lady Barrowman but ahem . . A lady never shares (much) A friend of mine also likes to brag 'Barrowman grabbed my crotch'...whose hasn't he darling? (actually there is rather amusing photographic evidence of this incident) |
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Post by samuelwhiskers on Jun 2, 2017 23:27:21 GMT
I thought it a weak script.
Pleasing an audience largely comprised of ardent fans is never going to be a challenge, though even on his fansites posters have been criticising certain elements of the script.
I worked with Tennant briefly some time ago and he's notorious for accepting jobs for and with mates, even in tiny obscure things (sometimes sans agent knowledge). Generous, lovely guy.
The one time I met Barrowman we had a serious conversation about supporting homeless gay youth, no jokes or innuendos in sight. A bit disappointed now!
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Post by lynette on Jun 3, 2017 17:33:07 GMT
I did say. Why did you bother? Ok, we must make up our own minds but actually I take a lot of notice of everyone here and 'we' ( the Board) are always right.
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Post by duncan on Jun 3, 2017 18:09:08 GMT
I did say. Why did you bother? Ok, we must make up our own minds but actually I take a lot of notice of everyone here and 'we' ( the Board) are always right. The Wicked thread would suggest otherwise! |
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Post by alexandra on Jun 8, 2017 9:04:52 GMT
Well then why did you bother going, Lynette?! Others "did say" as well.
Well, we had quite a lot of fun last night. Felt very Soho 60s to me. I know a few people who were a bit like that. Love the topical jokes in the "You've forgotten how to live" speech - strong and stable, Trump. Have to say that the ending, since Saturday, was very squirmy and uncomfortable though. I assume that was the reason for the "I love London" T shirt at the end or did Tennant always wear that?
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Post by mistressjojo on Jun 8, 2017 10:46:06 GMT
Well then why did you bother going, Lynette?! Others "did say" as well. Well, we had quite a lot of fun last night. Felt very Soho 60s to me. I know a few people who were a bit like that. Love the topical jokes in the "You've forgotten how to live" speech - strong and stable, Trump. Have to say that the ending, since Saturday, was very squirmy and uncomfortable though. I assume that was the reason for the "I love London" T shirt at the end or did Tennant always wear that? No, that was a special tribute. He usually takes his bow in his bloodied shirt, and in character. |
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Post by lynette on Jun 8, 2017 18:43:06 GMT
Hi Alexandra. I adore Tennant having watched his career from early days. I think he is a super actor but I don't see him fulfilling his early promise in parts like this. Or Dr Who. Of course he needs to earn a living. And I suppose you can't dictate what you want to do to producers but I would have thought there were contemporary writers who would love to cast him in new work. And he hasn't yet exhausted all the 'classic' roles available to him. So I went for him and was disappointed in the play. And his walking through it.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2017 19:15:26 GMT
And he hasn't yet exhausted all the 'classic' roles available to him. But how many classical plays are produced in the UK, apart from at the Arcola, Southwark Playhouse and the Finborough? Actually, DJ is a classic role! |
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Post by samuelwhiskers on Jun 8, 2017 22:03:35 GMT
Realistically if there's a play he desperately wanted to do he could probably find a production company to do it for commercial West End (the way he initiated Much Ado), if it wasn't for the RSC or National or somewhere.
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Post by alexandra on Jun 9, 2017 11:52:37 GMT
Hi Alexandra. I adore Tennant having watched his career from early days. I think he is a super actor but I don't see him fulfilling his early promise in parts like this. Or Dr Who. Of course he needs to earn a living. And I suppose you can't dictate what you want to do to producers but I would have thought there were contemporary writers who would love to cast him in new work. And he hasn't yet exhausted all the 'classic' roles available to him. So I went for him and was disappointed in the play. And his walking through it. Yes, I wasn't arguing with you going, only with you asking why others did when you had told them not to. I went for largely the same reasons. I claim to have "spotted" two actors when they were very young: Tennant and Duff, in Vassa and Collected Stories respectively (though Duff was also in Vassa in fact - but I didn't notice her then the way I did Tennant). I said of both that I thought they would be theatre stars. Both cast by Howard Davies, I think.
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Post by Jan on Jun 9, 2017 12:57:30 GMT
And he hasn't yet exhausted all the 'classic' roles available to him. But how many classical plays are produced in the UK, apart from at the Arcola, Southwark Playhouse and the Finborough? Actually, DJ is a classic role! He's on the board of the RSC and was on the committee that selected Doran as AD, he can pretty much do what he likes there. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2017 13:04:38 GMT
[tr][td class="content"][article] He's on the board of the RSC and was on the committee that selected Doran as AD, he can pretty much do what he likes there. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2017 13:07:27 GMT
But, in practice, that means playing in the Swan if it's not a Shakespearean role. (Death of a Salesman in the RST and West End was a once-in-a-few-years exception). Not every classical role he might desire would be ideally suited to a Swan production. And he's probably too popular an actor for the Swan's limited audience capacity.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2017 15:56:31 GMT
Saw the last matinee yesterday and have mixed feelings. I missed the first 10-15 minutes due to road closures delaying my coach (was supposed to arrive at 1:10, didn't arrive until 2:20 so getting from Victoria to Leicester Square in time was an impossibility) and was admitted during the scene change. Yes, I am a Tennant fan so I was going to like his performance anyway and I did as well as Adrian Scarborough and Gawn Grainger. I had read the script beforehand and even on stage, there was something missing; it felt hackneyed and off balance. And the choral ensemble parts made no sense whatsoever and added nothing - I agree with a previous poster when they said it felt like watching an end of term drama school showcase. Tennant's speech towards the end (including a jibe at Theresa May's "strong and stable" line) had a lot of ovation and I do think that is one of the few strong points of the script. Tennant came out at curtain call with his "I  London" shirt on and appealed for donations to the Red Cross in aid of those injured in the London and Manchester attacks. |
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London" shirt on and appealed for donations to the Red Cross in aid of those injured in the London and Manchester attacks.