2,452 posts
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Post by theatremadness on Nov 5, 2017 0:06:16 GMT
Really hope that wasn’t someone taking pictures during the show though Exactly what I was thinking but I don't know what else would explain it! Anyhoo, had to return my EP ticket for this coming Monday as I'm off to Panto-land and I've just noticed a load of EP tickets have gone on sale for dates over the next week and a half, so I'm desperately hoping that some end up returned or on sale from mid Jan onward as I really don't want to miss this!, |
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Post by kathryn on Nov 5, 2017 9:16:21 GMT
Kathryn, a speedy recovery because that isn’t enough..more about the eating thing please. Dinner is served to them throughout the show - and the timing is obviously co-ordinated so they are being served and eating at certain points. You are vaguely aware of it happening but it's never the centre of the action. The sound of knives and forks on plates/drinks being poured is at times noticeable - a sort of muted ambient background noise. It's not intrusive, although you can distract yourself from the action if you focus on it. There is a table left empty for the cast to use in a couple of scenes, and a scene at the 'bar'. Both are filmed and shown on the large screen, so the diners behind them can end up in shot - and be caught watching the action intently. I think eventually they caught on and realised they should watch the screen instead of the cast directly, which makes it look more natural. There's obvious points where they want the audience to respond with shouting/applause and the cameras are pointed at the theatre audience a couple of times - Cranston sits in the audience at one point - but no direct audience interaction. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2017 10:22:41 GMT
I was also there yesterday and I enjoyed it but I did not really love it. As I walked in I was quite wowed as you can see by the set and it was really impressive. I really liked the use of the cameras and it made it very different but also really intersting and at some parts it was like watching a tv show or film. The staging was really interesting and on stage dining did not really distract from the main action but I do also think they did it just to flog a few more expensive tickets and fill the stage up as there wasn't not real need of it in the show. For me of parts of the shows dragged and I do lose attention at some parts. I have never seen the film so did not know what to expect or how it compares story wise. I know this might tighten up during previews but I also found some of the story boring and if I'm honest can't really remember some of the subplot parts. I did like what it was saying about the media and modern life and it did have some clever and interesting things to say. Some of the performances where also better than others in it. Bryan Cranston was good but it felt very similar to him. The rest of the cast were also old but some of there American accents where a bit dodgy. {Spoiler - click to view}
As mentioned before there is a bit of audience interction (and I do no really want to spoil some of Ii)which I liked until Howard was standing on the platform at the edge of the stage and then walking along my row and as it happened there was a spare seat next to me so he sat down and did some of the scene there,I have to say that was the best and worse moment I have ever had in the theatre. It was very surreal and I glanced up and saw my face on the stage on a screen which was veryweird . Also when he stood up leave he said 'it's ok I've seen this part before' which was quite funny but I was still quite in shock and awe.
Overal, I thought it was good and it had some parts that I really liked but also some parts I just got bored through and I feel story wise I wanted a bit more and it to be a bit more interesting in some parts. It started quite promisingly but in the middle it lost the momentum and the final part it picked up again.It was probably tighten up through the performances and was about 2 hours 10 minutes, I will remember it for being one of the most unique experiences I have had at the theatre. |
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Post by kathryn on Nov 5, 2017 11:56:25 GMT
Ha! That was you! I think we all saw you see yourself on the screen and have a weird moment of recognition.
I'm not sure they have quite figured those bits out yet - the audience wasn't quite sure early on if we should be joining in or not. So much of it is televisual, with the cameras - Cranston is very much giving a TV-style performance for camera for much of it - which is distancing for the theatre audience. You spend most of the time focused on the screen even though the actors are right in front of you. I'm not sure there's enough of a gear-change between moments when they are playing to the cameras and playing to the audience to bring the latter out of their passivity. The on-stage dining I thought was a nod to the way that people sit and eat their dinner in front of the evening news. They are certainly attempting to blurr the lines between TV/stage, live/recorded, active/passive, past/present, but I'm not convinced it's quite working yet. But it's previews, so they may well manage to make it fly with the right tweaks. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2017 12:11:57 GMT
So this is very much like Roman Tragedies? There the action is purposefully shielded from parts of the audience so you switch back and forth from screen to stage. The Dutch company had got the style down perfectly (well it’s been done for years now), it might take this cast a few performances at least to click into it.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2017 12:38:51 GMT
Yes that was me Kathryn {Spoiler - click to view}
feeling in shock and having it seem to happen so quick so not knowing what expression to put on my face. I was honestly a bianniyed there was a spare seat next to me as I thought the person would arrive late and get in the way. I wonder if they will change where the random seat is for every performed. Also do you think I can tell people I have been along side Bryan Cranston on stage at the national? |
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Post by kathryn on Nov 5, 2017 13:17:58 GMT
So this is very much like Roman Tragedies? There the action is purposefully shielded from parts of the audience so you switch back and forth from screen to stage. The Dutch company had got the style down perfectly (well it’s been done for years now), it might take this cast a few performances at least to click into it. Didn't see the Roman Tragedies, so can't compare them. Maybe? |
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1,970 posts
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Post by sf on Nov 5, 2017 15:16:25 GMT
I will remember it for being one of the most unique experiences I have had at the theatre. That certainly does sound unique... and I'm relieved I booked to sit in the circle, not the stalls. I'm looking forward to it. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2017 18:59:43 GMT
I might watch it on the foyer monitors.
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1,083 posts
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Post by andrew on Nov 6, 2017 18:55:19 GMT
Out of interest, at what point in the show do they wander around outside of the theatre? No seeing this till next year but would keep my eyes peeled when I'm hanging around for the outdoor bit happening.
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Post by nialld on Nov 7, 2017 23:55:28 GMT
Saw this on Tuesday evening and thought it was amazing! I usually find Ivo a bit hit and miss but this was a surefire hit for me, so many insane uses of staging/filming but they all worked perfectly for me and it never felt gimmicky. I never watched Breaking Bad and haven't really seen Bryan Cranston in anything (other than Malcolm in the Middle) but I can see what all the hype is about him as an actor, he was perfectly cast and gave a very powerful performance. Michelle Dockery was great as well, as were most of the cast really. I really felt like it was a genius, pertinent and epic production and definitely one of the best shows I've seen all year. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it today which is definitely the sign of a great production. I also couldn't believe how tight everything was and how smooth it all ran considering it was only the second preview! Out of interest, at what point in the show do they wander around outside of the theatre? No seeing this till next year but would keep my eyes peeled when I'm hanging around for the outdoor bit happening. I'm not sure exactly but I feel like it was around 1h15-1h30 mins in meaning it would probably be around 8:45/9 each night. If you walk past Southbank and see the trucks/rails they have out than those are what they use for that scene, and I think they enclose the area of Southbank whilst doing that scene so it's not open to the public {Spoiler - click to view}
I really liked the bit when they filmed outside the theatre - not sure it added too much to the show in terms of meaning (except maybe pushing the use of multimedia in theatre as far as you possibly can by having a filmed scene outside the theatre) but it was unique and something I've never seen done in the theatre before, and I think it worked well |
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Post by Jan on Nov 8, 2017 6:52:07 GMT
Saw this on Tuesday evening and thought it was amazing! I usually find Ivo a bit hit and miss but this was a surefire hit for me, so many insane uses of staging/filming but they all worked perfectly for me and it never felt gimmicky. I never watched Breaking Bad and haven't really seen Bryan Cranston in anything (other than Malcolm in the Middle) but I can see what all the hype is about him as an actor, he was perfectly cast and gave a very powerful performance. Michelle Dockery was great as well, as were most of the cast really. I really felt like it was a genius, pertinent and epic production and definitely one of the best shows I've seen all year. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it today which is definitely the sign of a great production. I also couldn't believe how tight everything was and how smooth it all ran considering it was only the second preview! Out of interest, at what point in the show do they wander around outside of the theatre? No seeing this till next year but would keep my eyes peeled when I'm hanging around for the outdoor bit happening. I'm not sure exactly but I feel like it was around 1h15-1h30 mins in meaning it would probably be around 8:45/9 each night. If you walk past Southbank and see the trucks/rails they have out than those are what they use for that scene, and I think they enclose the area of Southbank whilst doing that scene so it's not open to the public {Spoiler - click to view}
I really liked the bit when they filmed outside the theatre - not sure it added too much to the show in terms of meaning (except maybe pushing the use of multimedia in theatre as far as you possibly can by having a filmed scene outside the theatre) but it was unique and something I've never seen done in the theatre before, and I think it worked well On your last spoilered comment, the same thing was done in Edward II at the NT in 2013. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2017 7:10:39 GMT
van Hove also did it in The Roman Tragedies
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Post by jasper on Nov 8, 2017 7:52:53 GMT
Also Goold did it in Six Characters although it was not live, but pre recorded.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2017 8:37:58 GMT
Sooooo..... if there's an empty seat (or two?) in the front row for cast members to occupy at some point, is anyone able to confirm which seat(s) this involves? (Assuming the same for every performance?) I'm not going for a while but it'd be nice to know in advance if I'm going to be projected on a huge screen to nearly 900 audience members.
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Post by samuelwhiskers on Nov 8, 2017 10:41:45 GMT
Outdoors bit is 8.50 (I checked my watch with the same intention), outside by the river front then on the side next to the BFI where the trucks are. I think Cranston sat in someone's lap the other night, but not close enough to be certain. It's about here  |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2017 10:52:50 GMT
Oh that's reassuring, thanks. I'm on the other side, so hopefully he doesn't have the freedom to pick a different spot every night.  |
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Post by bramble on Nov 8, 2017 12:09:31 GMT
A Great evening. Off the wall and very watchable.
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Post by callum on Nov 8, 2017 23:49:52 GMT
Saw it tonight and, I hate to use a cliche but it was definitely a theatrical 'experience' more than anything else. Like lots of others here I have mixed feelings about Ivo but fortunately there was no treadmill in sight for this production - I thought it was amazing! As a Cranston fan, (loved Breaking Bad but also liked him in Trumbo, LBJ and Last Flag Flying at this year's LFF), this was beyond my expectations. He doesn't reel it in or go full ham - he gives such a measured and marvellous and really quite compelling performance. He must surely be challenging Garfield for Best Actor Olivier. Michelle Dockery and other supporting cast are good with Richard Cordery particularly impressing with his cameo. But really the set and the technical accomplishments are the true stars. Nothing particularly seems gimmicky and all of the novelties and eccentricities in the way that the story is told (trying to be light on spoilers) all fit with the message of the play and have deeper meaning. The direction of the camera work is excellent, and interestingly, in the programme the camera operators are listed as part of the cast - indeed some of them have some lines. Indeed, all of the technical marvels that are going on have a thematic relationship with the story. For the story itself, I would say that if you are familiar with American news in particular and how personalities like Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity put ideology and prejudices before actual news (also guilt on the liberal side as well), the themes of the play will be a lot more resonant. In the UK, the culture of news programming isn't really the same as what Network is presenting, so I'd say it's best to keep in mind the state of US news. My friend wasn't familiar with Fox News and the like etc so said the themes of the play didn't really strike much of a chord with her. Though a video montage that I shan't spoil after the curtain call hammers the point home. To that end, I could really see this transferring to Broadway quite successfully. Overall I thought it was brilliantly performed, packed with engrossing ideas, stylised to an inch of its life (in a good way) and pushes the boundaries of what you expect from a night at the theatre. Which is what I guess is what theatre is about I suppose. 5 stars. I was lucky enough to be in B16 in the stalls so will describe my experience with *heavy* spoilers, and then the second tag with *extremely heavy* spoilers that happen in the final moments of the play:
I was situated to the immediate right of the platform and had three empty seats to my right. The seats in Row A are covered by the platform but it was possible for some people to sit next to me and be right in front of the platform. But one man came in and sat on the third seat along from myself just before the play began, leaving two seats. The platform is used intermittently but Howard stands on the end of it, then sits down, then jumps down completely to stand right next to me in one of the most important moments of the play. Not only could I have reached out and touched him, I could've wrapped my whole arm around him. Next I have to stand up and let him past me along the row. He sits with a lady who was most likely in seat B12 and grabs her hand while she smiles awkwardly. After the scene ends he whispers something in her ear and holds her hand as if to say 'thanks for letting me do this'. Cranston was a good sport. He sits there for probably another 10 minutes while another scene goes on before sneaking out.
As Howard gets ready to present another part of his show, the man that is sitting three seats along from me jumps up on the platform and shoots Howard! Right in front of me! I can vouch that he was sat there for the whole duration of the play and it was a real shock and surprise and I was really taken aback. I hope no one is reading this that hasn't already seen the play, but just wanted to assure you that from my particularly special seat, there was no trickery or last-minute planting going on. He was sat there for two whole hours.
P.S: interesting tidbit that I saw Janie Dee taking her seat just as I was entering the auditorium where she tripped up the stair and said 'oh, sh*t!' - I told my friend that she was the star of Follies and my friend said does she have a hip problem?! I said there's nothing wrong with her hips after the dancing she does in Follies! Lol |
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Post by floorshow on Nov 9, 2017 9:31:13 GMT
We went last night. Cranston is pretty much perfect, never quite as out-on-a-limb as Peter Finches performance but utterly believable the whole time. Richard Cordery's take on Jensen is also less theatrical than Ned Beatty's full-on wrath of God and doesn't get quite the same impact but is an almost wistful/philosophical delivery. Michelle Dockery's also great, nailing all her stuff with Douglas Henshall (even though he doesn't feel quite craggy enough for the role). And it looks amazing, it could so easily be gimmicky but none of it is despite it being the most Van Hove thing ever. They really use every bit of depth/width of the stage well, nothing is redundant - it's only when they clear the stage down a little that you realise the music is live and the musicians have been on stage the whole time (in Kraftwerk formation). Doesn't overshadow the cast or performances. At points there is as much theatre 'magic' going on as there is in Potter, just without the capital M. And the first big 'Mad as hell' is satisfyingly big. Went in already loving the film and left with a big smile on my face, so much better than I hoped for. {Spoiler - click to view}
We were sat in D11/12, when Cranston enters the crowd he squeezes in 2 seats to our left in row B - the camera angle is quite wide so we had our moment on the big screen and will be updating our resumes accordingly.
The plant in the audience for the ending is so sudden and shocking that it really helps pull off the sleight of hand of cutting from live to film on the big screen and makes Cranston's re-appearance a genuine surprise.
Liked the increasing audience participation stuff.
Things I wasn't quite so sure on -
A few subplots have been ditched, particularly the terrorist cell. It feels like there's so much they could have done with that but ditching it does make the ending more of a shock even though it actually lets the network execs, particularly Diane's scheming, off the hook a bit.
The Max Schumacher midlife crisis leaving Mrs Schumacher scene is well performed etc. but could easily go without hurting the structure at all.
The pantomime cheers for the big screen post script are predictably very funny but hit the nail on the head quite well.
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Post by kathryn on Nov 9, 2017 11:19:35 GMT
From the rear circle it's not obvious that the gunman was an audience member! I assumed he had walked on for that moment. So that definitely would have more impact from a seat where you can see him pop up from his seat. |
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Post by nialld on Nov 9, 2017 15:15:24 GMT
{Spoiler - click to view}
Walked past NT today and saw they don't have the trucks/fences out for the bit filmed outside even though they have a performance tonight? Does this mean they've cut it out do we think? They could be just waiting to put them out later but I work right next to NT and they've been out all day every day so far |
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Post by Sotongal on Nov 10, 2017 16:54:26 GMT
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Post by londonmzfitz on Nov 10, 2017 17:15:03 GMT
I've done a search and can't see it on here, Bryan Cranston is doing a NT Platform - £7 in the afternoon of Wednesday 14 March 2018. Tad annoying I don't get to see the play until Saturday 24 March tho ....
The actor reflects on the challenges and rewards of performing in Network. Best known as Walter White in TV series Breaking Bad, Network marks Cranston's UK stage debut.
After the event, Bryan Cranston will be signing copies of A Life in Parts. When you buy your copy from the National Theatre Bookshop, you support the work of the NT.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2017 21:42:31 GMT
I might be missing something
But I don’t see the point of the show
It also feels repetitive
And like being hit over the head with propaganda
All of this effort and staging
Cast
For nothing
Bizarre
I would rather the director present some new Work
Instead of f***ing up films and classic works
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