King Lear (McKellen) Chichester / Duke Of York’s

[Phantom of London]

I saw this last night.

I started a thread a year or two and what makes great acting and the question didn’t really get answered, as it is such a subjective and difficult thing to quantify. However Ian McKellan answered my question last night and that is making acting seem so natural and simple, with nothing forced.

[sfsusan]

Aug 18, 2018 22:36:41 GMT Phantom of London said:

...that is making acting seem so natural and simple, with nothing forced.

This is why I loved this show, especially the second part, where "the king" is now simply a vulnerable old man.  He's so real, it's heartbreaking.

But I noticed something odd both times I saw the show (I got sick and missed the first act so decided I had to go see it again)... several people left at the interval!  The first time I was in the Royal Circle and the three seats to my left were empty (although they had been occupied originally, as there was litter under the seats), along with some others.  The next time I was in the Stalls and two seats behind me and a couple in front were abandoned for the second part.  Did anyone else see this?  Are these people who just buy tickets to say they saw it, and don't care to sit through the three plus hours?

[lynette]

Tourists.

[Deleted]

Or still queuing for the loos after the 2 hour first half

When I saw it the other week I was sitting next to an American couple who had flown in specially for the weekend to see it.

[Deleted]

Maybe they just weren't enjoying it. No matter how good a production of King Lear is, it's still King Lear, and some people legitimately do not enjoy it as a play, plus it's easy for people who get on with Shakespeare to forget just how impenetrable he can be for some (and I know a great cast and director who know what they're doing *should* be able to overcome that for audiences, but it's easier said than done, especially as actors and directors by and large are people who do tend to get on with Shakespeare).

[Deleted]

Well. If I'd been on a ham only diet for the past week I still wouldnt have had as much ham as Kirsty Bushell displays here. If you'd seen the Anna Maxwell Martin performance as Regan a few years ago and thought "she could have taken that up a few more notches" then you will LOVE it. She wriggled about so much I wondered if perhaps she'd forgotten where the ladies was. I almost shouted out to let her know mid-show but thought twice as I didn't want to put Dame Ian off his stride. I think it was infectious though as even La McKellen got a bit hammier as the show went on. I'll forgive him though because he's a national treasure and he has such a lovely twinkly presence.

For those missing America's Next Top Model you'll be delighted by a stonking great runway running through the middle of the stalls, although sadly only Claire Price gives any hint of a sashay. She's fabulous though. I wouldn't want to cross her. Those who also love being splashed on of an evening will also be advised to sit in the front row to get the full 'Singing in the Rain' effect.

I will admit to booking the ticket for dear old Jonny B but as he jumped ship to board the SS LuPone we got Luke Thompson who was just delightful. A knockout cutie pie and a genuinely lovely performance in a play of not very nice people being horrid to each other. His scenes with Danny Webb as Gloucester were absolutely lovely.

BUT for me the play was all about James Corrigan as Edmund. Oh my. Foxy alert! All pantomime villain with sexy eyes and (strangely) a touch of the James Middleton about him but I thought he was smashing. I think he should be allowed to play any sexy villain he wants in London's glitzy West End from now on.

But how on earth we're expected to take any play seriously that names one of its characters after an STD I'll never know.

[oxfordsimon]

Aug 20, 2018 9:13:57 GMT @ryan said:

BUT for me the play was all about James Corrigan as Edmund. Oh my. Foxy alert! All pantomime villain with sexy eyes and (strangely) a touch of the James Middleton about him but I thought he was smashing. I think he should be allowed to play any sexy villain he wants in London's glitzy West End from now on.

I shall tell him when I next see him!

[Deleted]

Aug 20, 2018 9:16:22 GMT oxfordsimon said:

Aug 20, 2018 9:13:57 GMT @ryan said:

BUT for me the play was all about James Corrigan as Edmund. Oh my. Foxy alert! All pantomime villain with sexy eyes and (strangely) a touch of the James Middleton about him but I thought he was smashing. I think he should be allowed to play any sexy villain he wants in London's glitzy West End from now on.

I shall tell him when I next see him!

Oh please do. And tell him to call me.

[sfsusan]

I can see any of these reasons for leaving early (especially the queue for the ladies' loo), but it was just more than I've seen at any other show, so it seemed... odd.  Although I'm grateful because the departure of the large and tall gentleman in front of me meant that I could see the second act without moving my head back and forth.  (And if the people directly behind me had left, I would have thought perhaps my movements were the cause, but it was the people next to them.)

Or still queuing for the loos after the 2 hour first half
...
Maybe they just weren't enjoying it
...
Tourists.

[Deleted]

Aug 20, 2018 9:13:57 GMT @ryan said:

Well. If I'd been on a ham only diet for the past week I still wouldnt have had as much ham as Kirsty Bushell displays here. If you'd seen the Anna Maxwell Martin performance as Regan a few years ago and thought "she could have taken that up a few more notches" then you will LOVE it. She wriggled about so much I wondered if perhaps she'd forgotten where the ladies was. I almost shouted out to let her know mid-show but thought twice as I didn't want to put Dame Ian off his stride.

“Ham only diet”. You have such a way with words. She was dreadful and she made me itch.

[partytentdown]

Dare I ask what time it finishes?

[Deleted]

It's about 3 hours 30 minutes.

[stevemar]

Am really looking forward to this show.

I've posted a notice in the noticeboard section as I have a spare seat, in the stalls on

Sat 3 November, 130pm.
Stalls M13 or M14, central, next to the "runway".
Face value £75 (waiving ATG booking fee)


Read more: theatreboard.co.uk/thread/5304/king-lear-november-matinee-130#ixzz5PZe1IojR


I'd ask Ryan to get Jonny Bailey to come as my guest, but of course he is performing in Company instead...

[Deleted]

This was my first time seeing Lear yesterday and what a great Lear to start with. I loved it all so much, a nice simple staging with edge tube lighting and sound. Mckellen was great as you would imagine however a leading actor is only ad good as his supporting cast and they were so brilliant and it was just performed very well. Was in box L in the upper circle and I felt very fancy and for £25 it's a steal as you do have to lean a bit but it is worth it as you can see most the stage and walkway. I just feel so lucky to have seen it and it feels like a very special experience I will remember.

[lonlad]

this Thursday night is also the NT Live performance so that will be the perf captured for all time .... !

[peggs]

Watching nt live (on interval) and am curious as to how Regan was portrayed at Chichester? I know they've changed actress but is the portrayal similar? Trying and failing to imagine Dervla Kirwan doing this interpretation.

We've had the people complain about the lack of bar. Those who turned up late then took out minutes whilst they complained loudly about their seats. Now it turns out we may have accidently had subtitles on. Oh and sound bit iffy every time someone hits their Mic.

[peggs]

Have started reading thread and seems Kirsty Bushall has always been Regan. The interpretation is not to my taste I'll admit, much prefer Clare Price.
2nd half....

[NeilVHughes]

Definitely a childish excitable edge, same characterisation as the Chichester production.

[Deleted]

Sound issues seemed down to late cues rather than people hitting their mics from what I could hear - the start of a few bits of dialogue was cut off. And we had one slight sound glitch where we lost about 5 seconds, but otherwise crystal clear.

I very much enjoyed this - McKellen is excellent, and I also thought Sinead Cusack was outstanding, but there isn't really a weak link in the cast.

I agree the characterisation of Reagan was a bit irritating, but I can understand the intention behind it and for me it worked rather well.

[Rory]

I really enjoyed it, and it was brilliant to finally see it after the matinee I attended in August was cancelled.

McKellen was excellent but I thought it was a universally strong cast. The design was very clever, and I loved the use of the music. I have seen Sinead Cusack twice on stage before this (The Birds and Our Few and Evil Days, both in Dublin), and she has such a magnetic stage presence.

[anthem]

Saw the live screening this evening from Dublin. I felt it was worth seeing but not something I’d sit through again. The cast were all excellent, particularly McKellen and I really liked all three actresses who played his daughters. I liked Sinéad Cusack. I didn’t care much for some of the peripheral characters and wasn’t really fussed what happened to them.
The staging was fine- there were one or two really well put together moments. I found it tough going at times and the length didn’t help. There were a few walk outs.
Whilst I didn’t love it, it is a real privilege to see this type of theatre from the comfort of a cinema in Dublin, and of course it’s relatively inexpensive.

[maggiem]

Saw it last night at Cineworld Leigh (after I'd had to re-add my Unlimited card details to my online account to make the cheap booking!)

I also noticed a few drop outs with the mikes, but it didn't spoil things too much. Uniformly excellent cast. I could watch this again on an Encore, if I was able to get to one.

[theatrefan77]

I was thinking of going but decided against it since I'm going to see it at the Duke of York in a couple of weeks. Hopefully they will show it again in cinemas at some point.

Nice to hear the good reports.

[peggs]

In the end I was glad I saw this, surprisingly empty at my cinema, i'd assumed this would be a seller. As if you miss not actually being there but I got a much better view than I could have ever afforded and that meant some lovely close ups. Having seen his previous RSC Lear was interesting to see how this differed and I pretty much have to take my hat off to him for it. How he had the energy to still be slinging Cordelia around by the final scene I don't know. Otherwise liked the setting and was fine with modern day. Loved Sinead Cusack, really made Kent work as a woman, though notice someone earlier on the thread had suggested could have been an even more interesting Gloucester, I could enjoy pondering that one. As noted above Regan not to my liking but liked what Claire Price did with Goneril, that was quite different to anything I've seen before. Danny Webb worked for me too.

I can now maybe resign myself to having to see Antony and Cleopatra as an ntlive though I would have loved some front row live snake action.

[Deleted]

Sept 30, 2018 22:07:42 GMT peggs said:

In the end I was glad I saw this, surprisingly empty at my cinema, i'd assumed this would be a seller.

It was sold out at the screening I went to!