Belleville - Donmar Warehouse

[Latecomer]

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I think this play was all about control. On the face of it Zack has the control...he is "looking after" Poot's character and physically does not allow her the phone at the end....but actually it is Poot's charatcter who has the control...she often puts down Zack with hurtful comments, originally proposed to him and he has spent his whole recent life trying to live up to her ideal and be her perfect man. At the end she says she is frustrated as he has never lived for himself but always to try and please her....and interestingly at the end she says she wants to look after him....while he finds himself. I think it is fascinating...the ways we control others in relationships.

I liked the play a lot....even as I could see how disfunctional both characters were. I liked the French couple at the end as a contrast, showing how a better couple might function. And Imogen Poots in lovely to watch...enchanting! 

[peggs]

Well I thought Imogen poots really can act can't she and could be coming the market in amusing drunks. Beyond that I was ambling along wondering just what revelations were coming our way and amused by the very physical reaction of the audience to that for scene and then it all got more twisted and bloody and I'm afraid I had to do a stagger out before my body gave up and fainted on me. Sorry if I stood on anyone from here, in my slightly off stumbling I did here one man say ow in a very pointed fashion and all I can say in my defence is that front of house said they've had to stop it for a fainter before so just as well I got out. Watched rest on screen but I lost a few minutes so am not quite sure what happened. Anyone fancy enlightening me? She was just out of the bath when I existed.

[vdcni]

Feb 3, 2018 20:23:57 GMT Latecomer said:

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler - click to view}
I think this play was all about control. On the face of it Zack has the control...he is "looking after" Poot's character and physically does not allow her the phone at the end....but actually it is Poot's charatcter who has the control...she often puts down Zack with hurtful comments, originally proposed to him and he has spent his whole recent life trying to live up to her ideal and be her perfect man. At the end she says she is frustrated as he has never lived for himself but always to try and please her....and interestingly at the end she says she wants to look after him....while he finds himself. I think it is fascinating...the ways we control others in relationships.

I liked the play a lot....even as I could see how disfunctional both characters were. I liked the French couple at the end as a contrast, showing how a better couple might function. And Imogen Poots in lovely to watch...enchanting! 

That might have worked for me if it ever felt like he was control in the first place but from the very beginning he seemed to be a complete mess already. The whole he doesn't have a job aspect was too obvious.

Same with the French couple, yes they had a healthier relationship but that's pretty easy when neither of them, unlike the main couple, were on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

Agree about Poots though.

[showgirl]

I saw this about 10 days ago, mainly to see what those above were talking about and in case I was missing something special. So imo, no: it was fine for what it was but quite forgettable and had it been in a less central venue or one with a lower profile, would probably have received far less attention.