562 posts
|
Post by jadnoop on May 16, 2017 12:37:59 GMT
(This play is mentioned in the general National Theatre 2017/18 season thread, but I couldn't find a specific post for it unlike most of the other NT plays. Since it's starting shortly, it seemed to make sense to start a thread for it, but I can remove it if I've broken some rule.) COMMON
An epic tale of England's lost land.
Mary’s the best liar, rogue, thief and faker in this whole septic isle. And now she’s back. As the factory smoke of the industrial revolution belches out from the cities, Mary is swept up in the battle for her former home. The common land, belonging to all, is disappearing.
DC Moore’s dark and funny new play is an epic tale of unsavoury action and England’s lost land.NT website: www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/commonTheatre Monkey seating info: www.theatremonkey.com/OLIVIERstalls.htmThe blurb seems intriguing, the cast exciting and (I know you shouldn't just a book by it's cover, but) that poster has to be one of the most visually arresting that I've seen for a play in my (admittedly short) recent memory. The aesthetic brings to mind the BBC's recent adaptation of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. If it wasn't for the glut of things I have booked at the moment, this would be an instant buy for me but. Lots of tickets left, but I'm still on the fence. Have you guys booked, and if so, what swayed you? |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 16, 2017 15:01:05 GMT
This is the next NT Travelex show, following on from Ugly Lies the Bone and Salome.
It's your national theatre.
|
|
562 posts
|
Post by jadnoop on May 16, 2017 15:29:36 GMT
This is the next NT Travelex show, following on from Ugly Lies the Bone and Salome. It's your national theatre. I'm a fairly casual theatre goer, so I'm not sure I quite understand what that means. Does the branding/sponsorship mean the plays are differently put on (or selected) from things like Angels in America or Consent? The phrase 'your national theatre' makes me think 'safe and uninspired', but -while the two you've mentioned weren't my cup of tea- from what Ive read Ugly seemed to have a fairly interesting/unusual subject matter and approach. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 16, 2017 15:51:02 GMT
Travelex sponsors four or five NT productions each year which have lower ticket prices than the other NT productions, and have many tickets priced at £15. The design budgets of these productions is less than on other shows.
It used to be that most of these Travelex productions were very popular, and the scheme was devised to attract a wider audience to the NT by lowering the cost barrier. But Ugly Lies the Bone has struggled for an audience and Salome has been a critical disaster, and not much liked on this forum either.
So I was preparing for the worst with Common. Which is perhaps unfair, but that's the fault of the NT's recent Travelex track record.
"It's your national theatre" was an advertising slogan that the NT used about thirty years ago.
Of course, Common might be good. It's a Jeremy Herrin Headlong play.
|
|
562 posts
|
Post by jadnoop on May 16, 2017 15:58:02 GMT
Travelex sponsors four or five NT productions each year which have lower ticket prices than the other NT productions, and have many tickets priced at £15. The design budgets of these productions is less than on other shows. It used to be that most of these Travelex productions were very popular, and the scheme was devised to attract a wider audience to the NT by lowering the cost barrier. But Ugly Lies the Bone has struggled for an audience and Salome has been a critical disaster, and not much liked on this forum either. So I was preparing for the worst with Common. Which is perhaps unfair, but that's the fault of the NT's recent Travelex track record. "It's your national theatre" was an advertising slogan that the NT used about thirty years ago. Of course, Common might be good. It's a Jeremy Herrin Headlong play. Ah, okay. Thanks for the info, that makes sense. I might wait for some early comments before going for tickets. It's a shame; my highlight from last year was probably The Flick which iirc was part of the Travelex cheap tickets thing (pretty sure I got my tickets on the Friday Night Rush), and I enjoyed The Red Barn more than the middling reviews it got, so it's a shame if the recent string of underwhelming plays continues... |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 16, 2017 16:11:12 GMT
Friday Rush is a separate initiative, and there are Friday Rush tickets for everything in all three theatres.
Travelex productions are never in the Dorfman because the capacity is too small to make the productions available to enough people.
|
|
406 posts
|
Post by MrBunbury on May 16, 2017 16:43:48 GMT
(This play is mentioned in the general National Theatre 2017/18 season thread, but I couldn't find a specific post for it unlike most of the other NT plays. Since it's starting shortly, it seemed to make sense to start a thread for it, but I can remove it if I've broken some rule.) COMMON
An epic tale of England's lost land.
Mary’s the best liar, rogue, thief and faker in this whole septic isle. And now she’s back. As the factory smoke of the industrial revolution belches out from the cities, Mary is swept up in the battle for her former home. The common land, belonging to all, is disappearing.
DC Moore’s dark and funny new play is an epic tale of unsavoury action and England’s lost land.NT website: www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/commonTheatre Monkey seating info: www.theatremonkey.com/OLIVIERstalls.htmThe blurb seems intriguing, the cast exciting and (I know you shouldn't just a book by it's cover, but) that poster has to be one of the most visually arresting that I've seen for a play in my (admittedly short) recent memory. The aesthetic brings to mind the BBC's recent adaptation of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. If it wasn't for the glut of things I have booked at the moment, this would be an instant buy for me but. Lots of tickets left, but I'm still on the fence. Have you guys booked, and if so, what swayed you? I am going on the 15th June. Both the cast and the story seem interesting so we will see. |
|
1,119 posts
|
Post by martin1965 on May 16, 2017 16:45:07 GMT
Am going to this on 24/6, booked coz of Ann-Marie Duff in a new "epic" play.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 16, 2017 17:59:36 GMT
I booked, on the basis of Tim McMullan.
If it turns out to be as uncouth as the promo suggests and even his dulcet tones can't persuade me to stay, at least I only spent £15 on it...
|
|
2,389 posts
|
Post by peggs on May 16, 2017 19:32:38 GMT
Am booked on a date i can't remember to hand on the strength of the cast, i'm hoping they know something we don't.
|
|
4,955 posts
|
Post by Someone in a tree on May 16, 2017 19:55:00 GMT
They used to programme some plays that people used to want to see in the travelex season, like Shakespeare or something with with Branagh in. Now it's all dull and boring
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 16, 2017 22:12:28 GMT
They used to programme some plays that people used to want to see in the travelex season, like Shakespeare or something with with Branagh in. Now it's all dull and boring True enough. And between Angels in America and Salome, I fully expect not to be able to find the NT next time I wander along the South Bank - because it will have disappeared entirely up its own fundament. |
|
2,389 posts
|
Post by peggs on May 22, 2017 21:17:06 GMT
quote from rehearsal diaries, not really spoilerish but just in case anyone wants to go in completely fresh to it all have spoilered
{Spoiler - click to view}
We have a brilliant session with fight directors, Rachel Bown-Williams and Ruth Cooper-Brown, who are briefed to stage several moments in the course of the play, including multiple stabbings, a shooting, a bludgeoning, a disembowelment, and a brawl involving a large rock.
What is it about the things i'm booking recently and how they all seem to be featuring one thing.
|
|
2,389 posts
|
Post by peggs on May 22, 2017 21:18:31 GMT
Oh, I seem to have spoilered my entire post, it contains a quote from a rehearsal diary but also my response which if i'd known I'd spoilered it i'ad have been a whole lot less cryptic.
|
|
1,120 posts
|
Post by samuelwhiskers on May 22, 2017 21:26:16 GMT
I thought the blurb sounded dull but booked for Duff; having read a more informative description in the Telegraph is much more compelling!
|
|
2,389 posts
|
Post by peggs on May 22, 2017 21:28:57 GMT
Well certainly sounds like a faith amount takes places yes
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 22, 2017 22:15:01 GMT
{Spoiler - click to view}
*makes mental note to return ticket*
Although, a brawl involving a large rock sounds promisingly Star Trek: the Original Series... |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 23, 2017 7:47:43 GMT
I thought the blurb sounded dull but booked for Duff; having read a more informative description in the Telegraph is much more compelling! Do you have a link please? I just booked 'cos I figured I might as well, I wouldn't mind reading something to drive the enthusiasm levels up a little. |
|
562 posts
|
Post by jadnoop on May 23, 2017 7:54:24 GMT
I thought the blurb sounded dull but booked for Duff; having read a more informative description in the Telegraph is much more compelling! Do you have a link please? I just booked 'cos I figured I might as well, I wouldn't mind reading something to drive the enthusiasm levels up a little. Probably this: www.telegraph.co.uk/theatre/actors/anne-marie-duff-starting-divorce-sexually-charged-role/The specific quote "Besides, she has been busy with rehearsals for Common. The play, she says, is ‘all about power. What we do with power, how we manipulate other people, how we control people.’ Her character, Mary, is ‘a woman who has been cast out of her parish. She flees and goes off to London and – to put it crudely – whores her way to the top. She then returns to the village because her first love, a woman called Laura, is still there, and she comes back for her.’
She says Mary ‘could be Kevin Spacey’s character in House of Cards but we are not used to – even in contemporary scenarios – seeing that character as female’." |
|
898 posts
|
Post by bordeaux on May 24, 2017 6:43:31 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 24, 2017 7:30:33 GMT
This is sounding better and better by the day! Fingers crossed it manages to live up to the sum of its parts.  |
|
3,557 posts
|
Post by showgirl on May 24, 2017 18:45:37 GMT
Though bad news for those who might actually prefer to see the despised "bunch of people prancing around in corsets milking cows".
|
|
2,389 posts
|
Post by peggs on May 25, 2017 20:16:38 GMT
'bloodbath' is how i've just had it described by a pop up on facebook, oh this one is going to be so much fun
|
|
562 posts
|
Post by jadnoop on May 30, 2017 23:12:30 GMT
First preview was tonight. Anyone here attend? I'm not sure how much weight you can put on random tweets from a first night, but a few of them are fairly negative, or talk about interval walkouts. Not great, but if it's as bloody and sweary as it appears, I wonder if it's simply the kind of divisive play that won't appeal to everyone.
It'll be a shame if it's terrible, but I suppose it will make it easier to choose between getting tickets for this or Barbershop Chronicles...
|
|
3 posts
|
Post by viewfromthecheapseat on May 31, 2017 9:29:24 GMT
It was truly awful. A baggy mess of a play and a waste of Ann Marie Duff and the rest of the cast's talents. Best thing about it? A dead dog. Much audience rumbling during the interval and a lot of walk outs in the circle.
|
|
