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Post by tmesis on Jul 14, 2018 21:48:52 GMT
I didn't enjoy this at all - in fact I found it tedious. The performances were excellent, it was the nature of the storytelling that I disliked and found quite alienating. The word storytelling was the problem for me. Most of it was like characters reading from a book. There was too much 'Henry did this,' and 'Philip did that,' I don't mind a bit of this, sections of The Inheritance were like this and it worked excellently there. But in the long 3 hr 20 min evening only about 10% was actual dialogue and because of this it didn't engage me. I didn't like the set design either. I've seen loads of Es Devlin's work elsewhere (the ROH love her) and it all looks the same, is ultimately quite cliched, and is just distracting.
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Post by sf on Jul 15, 2018 17:54:14 GMT
I am puzzled by the boxes though, are they specially reinforced but still nice and light? They're stronger than you might expect - but yes, for this I assume they're reinforced. |
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Post by sf on Jul 15, 2018 18:12:02 GMT
I was also there yesterday afternoon (in row B in the stalls).
I loved it - I thought it was cleverly written, brilliantly directed and acted, and visually stunning, and the piano accompaniment (not all that far from where I was sitting) was a bonus. It's long but it flies by, and the text and the production both manage to locate the story of the bank in the wider context of the story of the rise (and perhaps the beginning of the downfall) of the United States. It's clever, engaging, fascinating, thoroughly entertaining, and that final tableau is superb.
If you find third-person storytelling in the theatre irritating, though, this may not be the show for you. And if you go to the theatre looking for emotional rather than intellectual stimulation, also, consider seeing something else. The Lehman Trilogy is a three-hour theatrical fireworks display, but it isn't going to tug your heartstrings. I spent the second half of 'Fun Home' the other day fighting back tears - and I'm not the kind of theatregoer who weeps on cue - and failed miserably at fighting them back once Jenna Russell launched into 'Days and Days'; The Lehman Trilogy left me dry-eyed. That's fine, it is what it is, and it's very good, but if you go to theatre to feel rather than to think - or if you want both rather than one or the other - maybe skip this.
And one more thing: matinees for this start early, because of the show's length. If you go to a matinee and have the temerity to try to order food in the Kitchen between 11.45am and noon, you may be met with astonishing rudeness (in my case, yesterday, a blunt instruction to go back to the back of the very long queue which I'd just stood in for ten minutes and place the order again after 12 o'clock, even though the item I was trying to order was on both the breakfast and lunch menus). The Kitchen is nice, but it isn't nice enough to put up with that level of bad manners, and there are plenty of other places within a couple of minutes of the National which will be only too happy to take your money.
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Post by foxa on Jul 15, 2018 18:19:30 GMT
Good review, sf.
The catering has never been quite right at the National.
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Post by peggs on Jul 15, 2018 18:39:08 GMT
Yes sorry I missed you sf I was row a so must have been close. Great review. |
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Post by tmesis on Jul 15, 2018 18:48:29 GMT
Good review, sf. The catering has never been quite right at the National. I think you get excellent, very friendly service in the espresso bar. They also serve some of the best coffee in London. I love their flat white. |
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Post by foxa on Jul 15, 2018 18:56:17 GMT
Good review, sf. The catering has never been quite right at the National. I think you get excellent, very friendly service in the espresso bar. They also serve some of the best coffee in London. I love their flat white. Oh that might be - I've only been there once or twice as I don't drink coffee after noon. The Kitchen is pretty hit and miss, with quite a bit of miss. |
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Post by lynette on Jul 15, 2018 21:07:15 GMT
They have never got the food right at the NT. A mystery why not.
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Post by sf on Jul 15, 2018 23:08:38 GMT
They have never got the food right at the NT. A mystery why not.
To be fair, I don't think there's anything wrong with the food in the Kitchen - just the attitude that comes with it, which is that they're doing you a favour by deigning to take your money.
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Post by lynette on Jul 17, 2018 22:48:41 GMT
I was there tonight. We must do this better next time tm.
I liked it, story telling with repetitions and rhythm like the old epic tales. I’m not entirely sure how it related to a theme or message part from the longings of immigrants and all that.
Acting superb ( a couple of muffed lines, not surprising as this was second show of the day ) and possibly the only occasion I’ve felt that a revolve was actually required and used well. I liked the video stuff but was the Statue of Liberty there when the first Lehmans arrived?
Was it a tad too long? Not quite paced enough ? Quibbles,
Spontaneous standing ovation.
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Post by david on Jul 17, 2018 23:23:10 GMT
I was there tonight. We must do this better next time tm. I liked it, story telling with repetitions and rhythm like the old epic tales. I’m not entirely sure how it related to a theme or message part from the longings of immigrants and all that. Acting superb ( a couple of muffed lines, not surprising as this was second show of the day ) and possibly the only occasion I’ve felt that a revolve was actually required and used well. I liked the video stuff but was the Statue of Liberty there when the first Lehmans arrived? Was it a tad too long? Not quite paced enough ? Quibbles, Spontaneous standing ovation. I was there tonight as well. Overall I thought it was well excuted, but at over 3hrs, I started struggling at the end to keep up with all the different characters. I don’t think it helped having seen An octoroon earlier on in the day as well as being very warm stuck up in the circle. I think this is one play where you need a clear head to keep track of what’s going on. The 3 guys were brilliant in my opinion and seeing SRB take on all those personalities as well as his dancing was a joy to behold and was definitely worth the ticket price alone. Loved the revolving office set and the use of the video screens helped to put the plot in particular timeframes throughout the story. Definitely an interesting way to tell a story, but overall a good but tiring night out at the theatre. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2018 7:21:01 GMT
I liked the video stuff but was the Statue of Liberty there when the first Lehmans arrived? No. I think the statue came about 40 years later. |
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Post by kathryn on Jul 18, 2018 7:48:06 GMT
They have never got the food right at the NT. A mystery why not.
To be fair, I don't think there's anything wrong with the food in the Kitchen - just the attitude that comes with it, which is that they're doing you a favour by deigning to take your money.
I don’t know about that - I gave up on Kitchen after one particularly dodgy Mac n cheese, followed by disappointingly dry cake. Their menu is very repetitive too, if you go with any regularity. |
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Post by Snciole on Jul 18, 2018 8:40:41 GMT
Good review, sf. The catering has never been quite right at the National. The Green Room is one of the worst restaurant experiences I have had; slow, poor food and just the idea that they are fancier than they are (As someone who thinks she is fancier than she is I can spot them a mile off) |
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Post by kathryn on Jul 18, 2018 15:13:47 GMT
Good review, sf. The catering has never been quite right at the National. The Green Room is one of the worst restaurant experiences I have had; slow, poor food and just the idea that they are fancier than they are (As someone who thinks she is fancier than she is I can spot them a mile off) This is one of my issues with Kitchen - why go with the over-complicated hipster version of the dish, instead of just having the cheap and cheerful version made well? If you're a working class kid visiting the NT for the first time and just have time to grab a quick bite, and you're faced with over-priced, over-complicated food even in the canteen-like 'Kitchen' it doesn't exactly help you feel welcome. |
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Post by Snciole on Jul 18, 2018 15:19:47 GMT
The issue I have with the NT is that it gives me no reason to eat there when there are reasonably priced restaurants on the South Bank. Why would I choose the Green Room over Wagamamas? Or the Kitchen Over Canteen? There isn't that much difference in price and those chains have a better range, even the food market provides better value at the weekends.
That theatre kitchen/restaurant options maybe work somewhere like the Royal Court where you don't have many reasonably priced chains nearby but NT is in one of the best served areas for food, they need to get a grip.
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Post by Snciole on Jul 18, 2018 15:20:33 GMT
Pizza Express is literally across the road too. With vouchers and NUS discounts!
It is just baffling.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2018 15:23:14 GMT
Not to mention the food market behind the Royal Festival Hall. Many's the time I've loaded up on tasty treats there then snuck into the NT to find a comfy seat on which to eat them.  |
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Post by Jon on Jul 18, 2018 15:45:24 GMT
Perhaps the National needs to do what the Barbican did years ago and outsource their F&B operations to a company like Benugo.
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Post by n1david on Jul 18, 2018 15:51:17 GMT
Oh no, I hope not. Benugo’s catering at the BFI is even worse than the NT. it can be impossible to get a drink there unless you arrive 20 minutes before a film.
They’re refurbishing the Riverfront. I hope they manage to hire some staff who know what they’re doing when they reopen.
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Post by peggs on Jul 18, 2018 17:05:17 GMT
On the topic of secrets toilets do they still exist on first floor of lyttleton gallery outside the restaurant? I couldn't see the signs any more and didn't want to get accosted into the restaurant to look too hard.
I occasionally gets chips from kitchen if on 2 show day as treat but the actual meals rarely appeal.
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Post by lynette on Jul 18, 2018 17:49:30 GMT
I was there tonight. We must do this better next time tm. For sure, lynette . story telling with repetitions and rhythm like the old epic tales. I’m not entirely sure how it related to a theme or message part from the longings of immigrants and all that. Like many immigrants, it was the traditions of their original homeland that gave them the scaffolding on which to build in the new. It also demonstrated what they brought to the USA in order to help build it, and what in turn their new country did to the traditions as time went on. There's an argument that if they had stuck more strongly to them, the bank would still be here now. Side note: after the disastrous Mangan "The Birthday Party," all the Jewish pronunciation and ritual were absolutely spot-on throughout in this. The benefit of having a rabbi as a show consultant, I guess. I liked the video stuff but was the Statue of Liberty there when the first Lehmans arrived? Didn't notice a Statue of Liberty in the dock scene? Stonking blooper if so, I agree. I was a little puzzled by the eighth Chanukah candle! And if we want to take things literally you could say that as long as the Bank was run by German Jews it was ok, but once it was handed over to a Hungarian and Greek it all went wrong. So I won’t take it literally and so avoid a few pitfalls 😂😉 |
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Post by peggs on Jul 19, 2018 17:31:58 GMT
secrets toilets do they still exist on first floor of lyttleton gallery outside the restaurant I think those are the ones I was talking about? Through a set of double doors to the left of the exhibitions area? If so, yes. Oh I thought you meant the ones on the Olivier side over on the left. Thanks |
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Post by foxa on Jul 19, 2018 17:44:47 GMT
I am not a terribly picky eater and rarely return anything if I can help it - but I was served the most bizarre and stone cold tacos served with (WHY?) chips at the Kitchen. I think they are safer with stews - that sort of thing. But what I really crave pre-theatre is a platter of little dishes (dips, nuts, cured meats, olives, bread) and a very nice, very cold white wine. In terms of restaurants in the area - I was taken to a swanky business lunch (a rare occurrence) at the Brasserie Blanc (near the Pizza Express.) Good food, pleasant service, was actually quite empty - and they do various set menus including (I think) a pre-theatre set menu. brasserieblanc.com/restaurants/southbank/But I always get a bit antsy eating before the theatre - I don't want to hang around for the bill, etc. I'm a member of the Southbank so sometimes have something light in the Members area there or else go someplace that I know is quick like Wahaca. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2018 19:45:32 GMT
Delaunay
15 mins walk from the NT
Maybe 20 if you are slow
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