1,102 posts
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Post by zak97 on Aug 21, 2016 16:41:23 GMT
Looks like a great design, especially they way it naturally seems to flow from the auditorium to the stage. I'll probably be booking again, can't make 1st Sept but only paid £2.50 so a tiny loss, as this does look like it has the potential to be a very impressive play.
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3,557 posts
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Post by showgirl on Aug 21, 2016 17:56:15 GMT
Someone who went last night was complaining on Twitter about the cramped seating, sweltering temperature and "interminable" first half. No comment otherwise on the play/production itself and it sounds as though he may have left at the interval.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2016 17:58:42 GMT
Beautiful design!
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Post by lolli on Aug 22, 2016 22:10:00 GMT
Brilliant play and beautiful production, great work from the core 4. Recommended.
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816 posts
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Post by stefy69 on Aug 23, 2016 5:48:50 GMT
Brilliant play and beautiful production, great work from the core 4. Recommended. That's really good to hear.
Can you remember the approx. running time at all ?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2016 8:02:04 GMT
So when did good old Sir Kenny B turn into Eddie Izzard?
This one bored me I'm afraid. Even the cast seemed to be a bit half hearted. KB and Greta Scacchi were the best of the bunch, wasn't sold on Gawn Grainger at all and Sophie McShera was just so wet. The second act was interminable. A few laughs but rather dull on the whole.
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Post by Ruby Sue on Aug 25, 2016 9:22:12 GMT
We were there last night as well & agreed KB carried the show & have to admit when watching Gawn Grainger kept thinking about how John Hurt would have been in the role. The second act was very heavy after the first so did feel exhausted by the end of it! It almost felt like it was to contradict the cheeky chappy/show man image he portrays for the first half.
It finished at about 5 past ten last night.
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18 posts
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Post by patterdalepip on Aug 26, 2016 6:27:30 GMT
I'm afraid I bailed at the interval. It felt interminably long and Sophie Mcsh*te was appalling. She looked like a rabbit in a head light
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34 posts
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Post by meso77 on Aug 26, 2016 9:32:38 GMT
Just back from a 10 show trip to London, this was definitely the worst. Managed to make it to the end, but agree with other comments, just dull and even a decent performance from Ken couldn't save it.
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1,103 posts
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Post by mallardo on Aug 26, 2016 9:38:43 GMT
I'm kind of amazed at the reaction to this. I've always thought it was John Osborne's best play and the one production I've seen of it - at the Old Vic with Robert Lindsay - was excellent.
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816 posts
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Post by stefy69 on Aug 26, 2016 10:01:53 GMT
I'm kind of amazed at the reaction to this. I've always thought it was John Osborne's best play and the one production I've seen of it - at the Old Vic with Robert Lindsay - was excellent. Echo that sentiment mallard, also the Laurence Olivier film version is very very good too. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2016 10:44:31 GMT
Even the best writing can struggle to overcome a dull production though, and it sounds like this one has the boredom aspect more than covered.
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Post by partytentdown on Aug 26, 2016 10:46:57 GMT
Should I be bailing on my booked tickets next week then? Life's too short.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2016 10:51:07 GMT
Is this the sort of old play that would be better staged in a perspex box underwater at the Young Vic?
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5,688 posts
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Post by lynette on Aug 26, 2016 17:34:51 GMT
Is this the sort of old play that would be better staged in a perspex box underwater at the Young Vic? Just for you HG they have a Perspex box in King Lear at RSC. Go see. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2016 17:36:46 GMT
Just for you HG they have a Perspex box in King Lear at RSC. Go see. And King Lear also has a 24-strong unpaid community cast so that's two attractions for me. However, as it's Shakespeare, ... |
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5,688 posts
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Post by lynette on Aug 26, 2016 19:28:01 GMT
I didn't know about the community cast. What do they do? There are a few bodies hanging about but nowhere near 24. I'd say 6 max.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2016 19:53:28 GMT
They're a part of Lear's retinue of a hundred.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2016 20:00:10 GMT
Knights and vagabonds, in two teams of 12.
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1,119 posts
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Post by martin1965 on Aug 26, 2016 20:37:37 GMT
I didn't know about the community cast. What do they do? There are a few bodies hanging about but nowhere near 24. I'd say 6 max. Did you not see them mentioned in the prog Lynette? RSC made bit of a hoohah before the first performance that they had a group of locals to make up Lear's retinue. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2016 20:39:40 GMT
The programme must still be upstairs.
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5,688 posts
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Post by lynette on Aug 26, 2016 20:46:44 GMT
The programme must still be upstairs. And not in the same building! I'll have a look for it and read the info. To be honest I didn't register anything remarkable. I do remember thinking that they would need a lot of people at the Barbican so perhaps I was reacting to the number on the stage. Some of the staging was a bit Barbicanesque too. |
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2,389 posts
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Post by peggs on Aug 26, 2016 20:48:35 GMT
Is this the sort of old play that would be better staged in a perspex box underwater at the Young Vic? Just for you HG they have a Perspex box in King Lear at RSC. Go see. Have seen the photo, why is he sitting on top of that? Off topic i know but my back row seat for the entertainer is sounding even less appealing so need distracting. |
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5,688 posts
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Post by lynette on Aug 26, 2016 20:52:00 GMT
Knights and vagabonds, in two teams of 12. I didn't like the vagabonds in the mock trial scene. Didn't make sense to me but I think it was supposed to be like the people in that wonderful An Inspector Calls, the poor masses who are unseen by the rich et etc. But to me the point of the scene is in the comment of the Fool- I took it for a joint stool, that is, the King is imagining his daughters. But having them does provide a talking point ( 20 mins in car on way home) |
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5,688 posts
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Post by lynette on Aug 26, 2016 20:54:35 GMT
Just for you HG they have a Perspex box in King Lear at RSC. Go see. Have seen the photo, why is he sitting on top of that? Off topic i know but my back row seat for the entertainer is sounding even less appealing so need distracting. Do you mean the box in Lear? Well, it shows off the amazing techie stuff they have now cos it goes up and down and backwards. Other than that I'm not sure why it is there. |
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