3,301 posts
|
Post by david on Apr 5, 2018 23:57:44 GMT
Saw this at today’s matinee. How would have thought that a 2hr play about meteorology could be so engaging? What David Haig has written is in my opinion a very slick piece of drama about one man’s decision that would change the Second World War. From the writing you got a real sense of the pressure that the man (both from himself and the military command) was under to give the green light to the D day landings. It was certainly a bit of history about D Day not many people will know, and to bring it alive was a great decision by DH. It’s great that it’s getting a transfer to the WE later on this year and hopefully it will be well received as it has been by the audience that I was with this afternoon. I agree it is good to have a play by James Stagg, who saved many men’s lives with his correct weather prediction. So on this premise it would also be great to have a play on Alan Turing, who contribution in the Second World War was significant. Manchester’s Royal Exchange did something about Turing a year or two ago which examined his life. Though I agree he is certainly a personality that would transfer well onto stage both from his WW2 work as well as his treatment by the Govt post war. With the masssive success of the Imitation Game, I’m surprised nobody has suggested it. |
|
7,050 posts
|
Post by Jon on Apr 6, 2018 2:30:47 GMT
Must confess that I had hoped beyond hope that The York Realist might go to the Ambassadors in June despite having been told by the ever reliable mrbarnaby that no transfer is currently planned. I would imagine Summer and Smoke will transfer to either Trafalgar Studio 1 at the end of August or to the Duke of York's in November. Or even the Piccadilly if Strictly Ballroom doesn't take off (it's currently booking until late July). I can't see S&S going to the Haymarket which is free for 4 months after 28th July. Not sure what's going in there then. There's no chance Summer and Smoke would go from a 325 seater to one almost quadruple the size. I suspect they'd wait for the Harold Pinter to become free in August. |
|
3,528 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by Rory on Apr 6, 2018 5:36:23 GMT
The Harold Pinter one acts season is highly likely to be going to the Pinter in August.
|
|
587 posts
|
Post by Polly1 on Apr 6, 2018 8:05:40 GMT
Hi Lynette Yes it was me you talked to at Pressure this afternoon. A small world isn’t it?! I’m glad I was able to help you out. I managed to pick up a script in the foyer prior to the show. Definitely agree, £5 was a bargain. Like you, I really enjoyed MS’s portrayal as IKE, though having seen him in Showboat and THIS HOUSE, I think he’s a great actor. As for David Haig, he has never disappointed me in anything I’ve seen him in either live or on tv. I’m glad he’s having a success with this play as it is well deserved. Aw, david thank you again (it was actually me rather than the illustrious Lynette, sorry to disappoint you!) A small world indeed, and proof once again that TheatreBoarders are the nicest people. I am a big fan of David Haig too, but there a is very tiny part of me which is always expecting (hoping?!) that at some point he is going to burst into one of his 'hoity toity, namby pamby' Thin Blue Line rants! |
|
3,301 posts
|
Post by david on Apr 6, 2018 8:14:24 GMT
Hi Lynette Yes it was me you talked to at Pressure this afternoon. A small world isn’t it?! I’m glad I was able to help you out. I managed to pick up a script in the foyer prior to the show. Definitely agree, £5 was a bargain. Like you, I really enjoyed MS’s portrayal as IKE, though having seen him in Showboat and THIS HOUSE, I think he’s a great actor. As for David Haig, he has never disappointed me in anything I’ve seen him in either live or on tv. I’m glad he’s having a success with this play as it is well deserved. Aw, david thank you again (it was actually me rather than the illustrious Lynette, sorry to disappoint you!) A small world indeed, and proof once again that TheatreBoarders are the nicest people. I am a big fan of David Haig too, but there a is very tiny part of me which is always expecting (hoping?!) that at some point he is going to burst into one of his 'hoity toity, namby pamby' Thin Blue Line rants! Hi Polly Yeah, I loved him in the Thin Blue line. I was really surprised when I saw him in Mary Poppins a few years back. Though I thought he suited the Mr Banks really well. |
|
5,138 posts
|
Post by TallPaul on Apr 6, 2018 8:32:19 GMT
it would also be great to have a play on Alan Turing Manchester’s Royal Exchange did something about Turing a year or two ago which examined his life. It's called Breaking the Code by Hugh Whitemore. The excellent Daniel Rigby played Turing in Manchester, recreating a role originated by Derek Jacobi 30 years earlier in London's glittering West End. Although the title strongly references his wartime role, it's actually a biographical piece, from childhood to untimely death. |
|
3,301 posts
|
Post by david on Apr 6, 2018 8:37:37 GMT
it would also be great to have a play on Alan Turing Manchester’s Royal Exchange did something about Turing a year or two ago which examined his life. It's called Breaking the Code by Hugh Whitemore. The excellent Daniel Rigby played Turing in Manchester, recreating a role originated by Derek Jacobi 30 years earlier in London's glittering West End. Although the title strongly references his wartime role, it's actually a biographical piece, from childhood to untimely death. Cheers Paul for the reminder of the title as it totally escaped me when I posted earlier! I watched it the Royal Exchange and thought it was a wonderful piece of drama but ultimately heart breaking as you know how his life tragically ends. |
|
923 posts
|
Post by Snciole on Apr 6, 2018 12:38:37 GMT
I thought this was riverting and my full review is on the blog viewfromthecheapseat.com/2018/04/04/pressure-park-theatre/. I've always found Haig to be quite OTT in a lot of his comedy performances but he is a superb dramatic actor and crucially someone who clearly has written not only an engaging and tense story that is good for the audience to consume but also an excellent piece for actors (I can see this being performed by a lot of am dram companies as it is a solid ensemble piece). I hope Haig continues to write alongside his acting commitments. |
|
4,970 posts
|
Post by Phantom of London on Apr 6, 2018 14:09:04 GMT
It's called Breaking the Code by Hugh Whitemore. The excellent Daniel Rigby played Turing in Manchester, recreating a role originated by Derek Jacobi 30 years earlier in London's glittering West End. Although the title strongly references his wartime role, it's actually a biographical piece, from childhood to untimely death. Cheers Paul for the reminder of the title as it totally escaped me when I posted earlier! I watched it the Royal Exchange and thought it was a wonderful piece of drama but ultimately heart breaking as you know how his life tragically ends. Thanks everyone, didn’t know this play and totally forgot about the Immitation Game. With the 75th anniversary of the D Day landings next year, could be great time to revive this. When I was in Manchester last week in the Gay Village. I took time to see his memorial, which was lovely and poignant with him sitting on the bench with an apple in his hand, obviously can see why it is in the village, but it’s a bit out of the way. Strange as the Imperial War Musemn is not far away, |
|
3,301 posts
|
Post by david on Apr 6, 2018 16:08:18 GMT
With the production of Pressure and Photograph 51 at the Noel Coward a few years ago along with Quiz, it got me thinking about what other real life events would it be nice to see on stage or a stage adaption of films based on real life situations. A few spring to mind
The last few days of Maggie T at No 10
The Cuban MIssile Crisis
The discovery of the AIDS virus - could use the film And The Band Played On as the source material
|
|
5,688 posts
|
Post by lynette on Apr 6, 2018 17:30:43 GMT
With the production of Pressure and Photograph 51 at the Noel Coward a few years ago along with Quiz, it got me thinking about what other real life events would it be nice to see on stage or a stage adaption of films based on real life situations. A few spring to mind The last few days of Maggie T at No 10 The Cuban MIssile Crisis The discovery of the AIDS virus - could use the film And The Band Played On as the source material Brilliant ideas. |
|
170 posts
|
Post by paplazaroo on Apr 6, 2018 17:47:24 GMT
With the production of Pressure and Photograph 51 at the Noel Coward a few years ago along with Quiz, it got me thinking about what other real life events would it be nice to see on stage or a stage adaption of films based on real life situations. A few spring to mind The last few days of Maggie T at No 10 The Cuban MIssile Crisis The discovery of the AIDS virus - could use the film And The Band Played On as the source material Brilliant ideas. Ask and ye shall receive - 13 days - the Cuban Misile crisis musical |
|
3,301 posts
|
Post by david on Apr 6, 2018 18:21:40 GMT
Ask and ye shall receive - 13 days - the Cuban Misile crisis musical Thanks! |
|
5,688 posts
|
Post by lynette on Apr 7, 2018 22:08:06 GMT
Sorry to have missed you David..and Polly..but the Board was well represented this evening by Neil and me.
I really enjoyed this play and would recommend trying to see it before it goes to the West End where it might lose its intimacy. What a clever bloke David Haig is to recognise this moment's dramatic potential and to give it its full worth. Not to mention a juicy part for himself. Everyone v good and a simple set which works so well. I’ve read that some think it goes on ten minutes too long but I don’t think so, the calm ending is required to balance the frantic moments and to enable the reveal of character and to foresee the future for these characters. Some rather good mini monolgues and excellent funny bits.
When people have obviously worked hard to create this piece and bring it to life in an unassuming way but with such belief and talent it makes me even more annoyed to see how wasteful the NT is with its resources and the talent available to it. Rufus (Macbeth) I’m looking at you!
|
|
3,301 posts
|
Post by david on Apr 7, 2018 22:19:59 GMT
Sorry to have missed you David..and Polly..but the Board was well represented this evening by Neil and me. I really enjoyed this play and would recommend trying to see it before it goes to the West End where it might lose its intimacy. What a clever bloke David Haig is to recognise this moment's dramatic potential and to give it its full worth. Not to mention a juicy part for himself. Everyone v good and a simple set which works so well. I’ve read that some think it goes on ten minutes too long but I don’t think so, the calm ending is required to balance the frantic moments and to enable the reveal of character and to foresee the future for these characters. Some rather good mini monolgues and excellent funny bits. When people have obviously worked hard to create this piece and bring it to life in an unassuming way but with such belief and talent it makes me even more annoyed to see how wasteful the NT is with its resources and the talent available to it. Rufus (Macbeth) I’m looking at you! It does make you wonder if there are/have been little gems like this play that have been passed around producers but not picked up because maybe they haven’t been seen as being attractive enough to stage. Surely this would have been great at the NT’s Dorfmann? |
|
1,861 posts
|
Post by NeilVHughes on Apr 7, 2018 22:34:30 GMT
Initially what appears to be a 2D meteorological centric view on the impact of the weather on the D Day landings becomes a 3D tour de force on the intense burden on the decisions that have to be made made in war. David Haig inhabits James Stagg completely, his integrity and convictions shine through along with the impossible pressure to make the right forecast despite the opposite view of his trusted adversary, the impact of cancellation on the war and the distraction of his home life. The true heart of the play for me was the intense strain that Eisenhower brilliantly played by Malcolm Sinclair is under to make ‘the decision’, the moments after the decision is made and the whisky filled discussion is captivating, the description of the meeting with his beloved Airborne Division a true eulogy to the ones we send to war. Well deserves its transfer to the West End, my advice is see it in the intimacy of the Park where you are able to inhabit and feel the tension in the room. It was good to catch up with lynette who was equally appreciative when we caught up afterwards. |
|
382 posts
|
Post by stevemar on Apr 13, 2018 10:20:38 GMT
Thumbs up for this play also. As a fan of the weather (and isobars, not geeky at all!), this was a refreshing subject matter and not at all dry  . Fascinating in fact, in combining the clash of personalities and views and calming down (not meteorologically) in the second half with good focus on Stagg, Eisenhower and Kay, with the overall picture as to the sacrifices of the war and the personal (Stagg's forthcoming baby, and Kay's tenderness). Personally, I thought there were some longeurs in the second half, so I would go with the comment it is 10 minutes too long, but that was not a major issue. The opposing view of course would be you get to know the characters more during the long night they spend together, and what makes them tick in such extraordinary circumstances. Very good performances from these three - have only seen David Haig "do" comedy, and the Scottish accent helped a lot in ensuring I didn't feel I was just watching David Haig. Yes, I know he was acting, but I think I have found him quite OTT in the past. Malcolm Sinclair and Laura Rogers excellent. Bert Hughes as Andrew lovely. This is a very traditional play in some ways, but simply staged, well acted, OK it's not challenging, but the story is very well told. |
|
1,349 posts
|
Post by CG on the loose on Apr 14, 2018 12:49:45 GMT
Thanks to those up thread who advised trying to catch this at the Park before it transfers... turns out I'm in town on the only day there was a ticket left! Must be fate. Now sold out.
|
|
367 posts
|
Post by Jonnyboy on Apr 19, 2018 22:34:58 GMT
Saw tonight. Brilliant and for £20 a bargain! How David Haig does this twice a day on matinée days I have no idea.
Cast uniformly good. Real tension and emotion even if we know the outcome. Quite remarkable and well deserving of its transfer.
|
|
408 posts
|
Post by maggiem on Jul 2, 2018 15:40:20 GMT
I'm going in about 2 weeks' time. I decided I could squeeze in an extra play on Thursday afternoon 19/07. Anyone else seeing it the WE?
|
|
408 posts
|
Post by maggiem on Jul 24, 2018 13:44:33 GMT
Initially what appears to be a 2D meteorological centric view on the impact of the weather on the D Day landings becomes a 3D tour de force on the intense burden on the decisions that have to be made made in war. David Haig inhabits James Stagg completely, his integrity and convictions shine through along with the impossible pressure to make the right forecast despite the opposite view of his trusted adversary, the impact of cancellation on the war and the distraction of his home life. The true heart of the play for me was the intense strain that Eisenhower brilliantly played by Malcolm Sinclair is under to make ‘the decision’, the moments after the decision is made and the whisky filled discussion is captivating, the description of the meeting with his beloved Airborne Division a true eulogy to the ones we send to war. Well deserves its transfer to the West End, my advice is see it in the intimacy of the Park where you are able to inhabit and feel the tension in the room. It was good to catch up with lynette who was equally appreciative when we caught up afterwards. I saw this last week. It's a wonderful production of a hidden gem of a story that was well worth telling. Moments of note:- Stagg's skullduggery in leaving Krick out of the meeting and then telling Ike they both agree; his near collapse with Kay Summersby having to calm him down; Kay and Ike's scene with the orange; the whole rugby/american football discussion (I was expecting "The Ins and Outs of Cricket" next!), etc... There are no out and out villains in this play, just a set of flawed, but ultimately principled people in a situation that nobody should ever have to be in. You can understand that their anger and not always civil behaviour came from the passionate desire to do right by all of the young men being sent into the biggest battle they would ever fight. David Haig's play is about the journey, not the destination. It is well-researched, everything is clearly explained without coming across as overt info-dumping (the changing charts are brilliant, and I could follow the science with no problem), and above all, beautifully human. All of this overcomes the fact that you know how it all ended in reality. I could go on, but suffice it to say that this play touched my heart. I'm going back on 11th August to be moved all over again. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2018 7:31:44 GMT
I'm going in about 2 weeks' time. I decided I could squeeze in an extra play on Thursday afternoon 19/07. Anyone else seeing it the WE? Theresa May(be, maybe not) seemed to enjoy it recently. Whether the cast were thrilled to see her is another matter. |
|
2,389 posts
|
Post by peggs on Aug 15, 2018 15:22:07 GMT
I'm not persuaded that Churchill would have ever fitted into that boiler suit but apart from that this was rather nice, I found I was more engaged by the second half and I wasn't sure about some of the accents but I do like a play where I feel I'm learning something even if I really have no more idea about weather predictions today than I did yesterday it was nice to kid myself that next time a forecaster mentioned an area of low pressure I'd go 'ahh now I know what may now happen'. Good script, some lovely acting and perhaps my favourite of all lots of merlin engine sound effects, i'm the sort of person who runs outside when they hear a spitfire coming so the soundscape was great and I do like a nice thunderstorm. Small character moments that seemed earnt by the time we'd spent getting to know the characters and a sort of bittersweet ending. Tick from me.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2018 8:34:30 GMT
I thought this was OK but very old-fashioned and clunky - lots of scenes with people standing in a line facing the audience, motionless waiting for someone to finish their line so they could say theirs. Reminded me of the kind of thing I used to see in rep theatre in the 70s. And did the cast have to be entirely white? Presumably all the real-life characters were white but that's no excuse. Plus the way the events were presented bore little resemblace to what actually happened (see for instance www.lrb.co.uk/v16/n10/lawrence-hogben/diary, written by someone who was present). For a start there were six forecasters, one of whom was Norwegian (the inclusion of this would have made the evening feel a little less brexity). Lawrence Hogben who wrote the above article was born in New Zealand, was at Oxford University when war broke out and joined the Royal Navy. After the war... Also it would have been nice if the women had anything to do other than come in with cups of tea and do typing (although the scene with the carbon paper was very impressive). Again this probably reflects the time, but since the play was historically bollocks, make something up. If I've not managed to put you off ... I sat in row P which is I think the front row of lower price stalls tickets. There is a 50% off TodayTix offer so this was £15. View is OK from P as long as you don't have a tall person in front of you - the people in the two rows behind me had more of an issue. |
|
1,086 posts
|
Post by alicechallice on Jun 5, 2024 15:39:51 GMT
|
|
. Fascinating in fact, in combining the clash of personalities and views and calming down (not meteorologically) in the second half with good focus on Stagg, Eisenhower and Kay, with the overall picture as to the sacrifices of the war and the personal (Stagg's forthcoming baby, and Kay's tenderness). Personally, I thought there were some longeurs in the second half, so I would go with the comment it is 10 minutes too long, but that was not a major issue. The opposing view of course would be you get to know the characters more during the long night they spend together, and what makes them tick in such extraordinary circumstances.
