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Post by peggs on Oct 22, 2017 18:53:41 GMT
I don't have anything new to say but big thumbs up from me. Thanks red rose for today tix tip off. Really glad to have seen this and used my thinking and feeling muscles a bit.
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1,210 posts
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Post by musicalmarge on Nov 6, 2017 18:43:13 GMT
Enjoyed this more than I imagined, got a £20 rush seat on TodayTix and was seated in Row H of the Stalls with a great view. It's long and quite dense - you have to concentrate to keep track - but it did go quickly and I was never bored. Have to admit I'm fairly uneducated about this topic and I think a quick scan of wikipedia beforehand would have aided my understanding of some of the situations and characters but overall the play rockets along. Seeing this Friday - what should I know of before hand please? Happy to read up! |
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Post by skullion on Nov 6, 2017 21:06:11 GMT
I'm not sure you absolutely need to know much about it before hand, I didn't know a huge amount and didn't feel I missed out for it. They explain who most of the key characters are through the play and the programme has a couple of decent interviews with some of the key players.
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2,389 posts
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Post by peggs on Nov 6, 2017 22:03:46 GMT
I agree, I knew nothing and was fine.
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Post by n1david on Nov 6, 2017 23:52:36 GMT
Indeed, I think one of the reasons I was cooler on this than most people is because I saw the NT platform immediately beforehand, where the real-life person of one of the characters chatted for about 45 minutes about the negotiations. I enjoyed the play, but the conversation with the actual protagonist was so involving I left thinking I'd rather have seen a 2 hour conversation rather than the play. Which is not to denigrate the play at all, but sometimes less background is more...
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Post by musicalmarge on Nov 10, 2017 23:04:46 GMT
Saw this tonight. Super stuff and an excellent play but GOSH I wish plays were never long. 2hours 50 was just toooooo loooooooong in that tiny space.
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Post by Phantom of London on Nov 10, 2017 23:53:58 GMT
^Maybe he didn't - but the web is full of them and there are new books published all the time on the subject. And me and the man next to me swapped a fair few at the interval too. And yes, there are some brilliant new Jewish comedians out there, too. Just for fun: Man walks into a bar, slaps a wad of notes on the counter and orders drinks all round, as he'd just won the lottery. Seeing an elderly man wearing a skull-cap, sitting in the corner, he amends the order with "but not for the Jew over there." The barman is shocked, but fills the rest of the orders, and the Jewish man raises a glass to the anti-Semite. The lottery winner contains his fury for almost 20 minutes, before loudly ordering "Cristal Champagne for everybody - but not for the Jew over there." Again, it's served, and the Jew raises a glass to the anti-Semite. By this time the bar is packed, as everyone tweets their friends that a guy is buying free drinks. Despite the vast numbers, the lottery winner is determined not to be undermined... and gives an order for the finest double brandy chasers for everybody... except the Jew over there. And yet, the Jew raises his glass in a toast once more. "OK," says the anti-Semite to the barman. "I don't get it. I buy drinks, I exclude the Jew, yet he seems happy and even toasts me. What's going on with him." "Oh," replies the barman, "you mean Hymie, the man in the corner? He owns the place." Now, you can't tell me that's not WAY funnier and more modern than what's used in "Oslo"? A black piece of tarmac walks into a bar and says to the barman "a pint of stout please". The barman goes "your mate was in here 20 minutes ago, a green piece of tarmac, I refused to serve him as he is a cyclepath". |
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Post by Mark on Nov 18, 2017 18:52:12 GMT
Pretty much caught up with all my Plays now. I really enjoyed this, very funny in moments but also very educational for me knowing very little about the conflict.
I felt act two could have been shorter. It didn't work for me having the shorter first half and longer second half. The writing though was very good, I can see why this took the award for best play.
Loved Peter Polycarpou, always enjoy his performances. Very strong cast! Highly recommended
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Post by ali973 on Nov 24, 2017 7:54:49 GMT
For an Arab it's hard to watch this with neutrality..and i think for European American writers of a commercial play, it's hard to write it with neutrality. But as far as "balanced" pieces, this is as good as it's going to get.
Acting, direction, production..faultless. Extremely well done.
I didn't do any cast research before making it smack on time before the matinee. Surprised/not surprised to see Peter Polycarpou in the cast. He's always been the West End stage's first brown person of choice. Arabic, Jewish, Persian, Greek.musical, comedy, drama..you name it.
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Post by mallardo on Nov 24, 2017 10:28:53 GMT
For an Arab it's hard to watch this with neutrality..and i think for European American writers of a commercial play, it's hard to write it with neutrality. But as far as "balanced" pieces, this is as good as it's going to get. Acting, direction, production..faultless. Extremely well done. I didn't do any cast research before making it smack on time before the matinee. Surprised/not surprised to see Peter Polycarpou in the cast. He's always been the West End stage's first brown person of choice. Arabic, Jewish, Persian, Greek.musical, comedy, drama..you name it.
I thought the playwright got the political/cultural balance just right - no mean feat. But, if pressed, I'd say his sympathies skewed slightly toward the Palestinian side. Re Polycarpou, he works all the time because he's a great actor. I thought he was the star of this one.
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Post by Stephen on Dec 6, 2017 1:33:17 GMT
Do I have anything to worry about with regards to loud noises/gunshots in this? Going to see it later this week!
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Post by RedRose on Dec 6, 2017 7:50:11 GMT
Do I have anything to worry about with regards to loud noises/gunshots in this? Going to see it later this week! No! Except for the loud shouting by Howard Ward as Holst twice. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2017 8:34:42 GMT
But, if pressed, I'd say his sympathies skewed slightly toward the Palestinian side. I'd have to be very pressed to agree with that, mallardo . I felt it was totally balanced. Very unbiased towards either and simply an attempt to produce a play based on historical events.
If you passionately care one way or the other in the Israel/Palestine debate you will, as always seem to be the case, claim that your side is being misinterpreted and the other has received a biased opinion but if you believe that both sides are two cheeks on the same arse you will see that a balance is maintained not only in the play but even in the programme notes.
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Post by lynette on Dec 6, 2017 18:09:13 GMT
both sides are two cheeks on the same arse Perfect summary @wrighty . And now what does that make the interfering unhelpful President Trump? Answers on a postcard... |
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Post by theatrewithtom on Dec 24, 2017 12:03:54 GMT
Hi guys, saw Oslo yesterday at The Harold Pinter. Thought it was outstanding. Such a shame I caught it towards the end of the run, as I would like to see it again. I thought it was very poignant but also was not expecting the humour. For me, Lydia Leonard was fantastic and I loved how she kept it really pacy as she summarised the context of the discussions. Let me know what your thoughts were on this messageboard, I've got a link to my website in my bio if you want to know a bit more of what I thought.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2017 9:24:55 GMT
I had not intended to see this last night but got talking to someone in a coffee shop who turned out to have a spare ticket which I bought from them! One of the most engaging shows I have seen this year, especially given its topicality. It contextualises recent events for those who don’t know much about it. I would love to see a season of plays on this subject. Who knows, perhaps Theatre could prompt a resolution where all else has failed...It made me think that a lot of work I have seen this year is supposedly “experimental” but is actually not very radical at all. So, it was good to see something substantial.
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Post by ellie1981 on Dec 28, 2017 23:27:26 GMT
I saw this last week. We were in the back row of the Upper Circle so pretty much the worst seats in the house. I don’t know if I saw the same play, because I was thoroughly bored throughout.
It was well written, but could have easily been cut by a whole hour and not lost anything. I just found the dialogue very repetitive.
It certainly did not help that people were still arriving in our section over 30 minutes after the start and the ushers were happily letting them stroll in, fumble around in their seats and have full on conversations with each other before settling in. Very disappointing on the part of the theatre as this should not be allowed. One woman directly in front of us who was late, was still 5 minutes late back after the interval and did the same thing all over again! I’ve seen better behaved audiences at pantomimes.
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Post by Rory on Dec 6, 2018 15:34:35 GMT
Looks like this might be coming back, this time to the Playhouse. It is listed on the ATG site.
Wed 17th April - Sat 17th August 2019.
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Post by westendwahwah on Dec 6, 2018 17:38:25 GMT
Looks like this might be coming back, this time to the Playhouse. It is listed on the ATG site. Wed 17th April - Sat 17th August 2019. The National have it loaded onto their site too - not publicly though |
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Post by Rory on Dec 7, 2018 20:09:20 GMT
Tickets on sale 9.30am Fri 14th Dec.
Presale to ATG card holders 9.30am Thurs 13th Dec.
Mon - Sat 7.30pm
Wed & Sat 2.00pm
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Post by Jon on Dec 7, 2018 20:23:04 GMT
I’m surprised it’s returned to London so soon, I’m guessing it was successful enough first time around to justify a return
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Post by learfan on Dec 7, 2018 21:57:19 GMT
I thought it excellent when i saw it at the NT. Casting will be interesting.
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5,691 posts
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Post by lynette on Dec 9, 2018 15:34:07 GMT
I’m surprised it’s returned to London so soon, I’m guessing it was successful enough first time around to justify a return Sadly it is neverendingly 'relevant' |
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Post by partytentdown on Dec 9, 2018 18:56:09 GMT
This is very curious.
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3,539 posts
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Post by Rory on Dec 9, 2018 20:03:35 GMT
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