63 posts
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Post by pledge on Nov 7, 2017 11:38:44 GMT
Somehow have never seen a Roy Williams play, so I thought I'd give this a shot, and after a string of disappointments upstairs at Hampstead recently it was a treat to go Downstairs and encounter what might almost be called a traditional Well Made Play - in the sense of a play that rewards an audience by properly delivering in terms of setting, plot and character. The setup is almost painfully traditional; a crew of aging (and to some extent, still practicing) East End Wrong 'Uns have assembled for the a reunion with the last of their gang to emerge from the clink...but while they bicker and joke A Stranger Enters to disturb and disrupt their expectations. So, nothing startling in terms of plot or setup, but what there is is immensely detailed characterization, crackling and frequently very witty dialogue and the kind of tension that is inevitably generated as a crew of Alpha and wannabe-Alpha males jostle for status and to uncover long-hidden truths. Indeed, this latter aspect is perhaps the weakest feature of the evening; I'm not sure I totally bought the plot-line, which felt a bit like a tension-generating device, and which seemed to fizzle out somewhat in a rather under-resolved resolution? But on the plus side it's clear that the author knows this world and these people backwards, and thus they come vividly to life - I'm talking an American Buffalo-like level of detail. (All the performances are excellent, as they should be, given the richness of the material.) Wouldn't mind seeing it again - though I dunno if I'll make the effort - but I certainly feel it would be worth a return visit. About 100 mins, no interval. Tick v good.
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3,563 posts
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Post by showgirl on Nov 7, 2017 12:33:44 GMT
Seeing this soon; only booked after I'd seen a good blog review, though I usually see most Downstairs plays.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2017 21:00:15 GMT
Very much enjoyed this
Some melodrama and loose attitudes to crime
But excellent acting from an all male cast
It’s modern fresh funny and sharp
Worth seeing
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3,563 posts
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Post by showgirl on Nov 10, 2017 5:31:40 GMT
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19,670 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 10, 2017 6:40:01 GMT
Merged.
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1,119 posts
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Post by martin1965 on Nov 10, 2017 11:13:58 GMT
Going on 2 Dec, looking forward to it as i really like Roy Williams.
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92 posts
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Post by chameleon on Nov 17, 2017 10:57:40 GMT
Agree this is well worth seeing, & deserves wider exposure...
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3,563 posts
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Post by showgirl on Nov 17, 2017 14:51:09 GMT
Going on 2 Dec, looking forward to it as i really like Roy Williams. Snap! |
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747 posts
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Post by Latecomer on Nov 22, 2017 18:53:44 GMT
Enjoyed this....played with great enthusiasm and skill by the cast. Thanks forum for pointing me in the direction of this little gem!  |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2017 1:26:49 GMT
Went back to see this
I can’t believe it’s stuck downstairs
It’s sold out
And could easily
Fill the Dorfman
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1,119 posts
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Post by martin1965 on Dec 2, 2017 17:52:23 GMT
Saw the mat today. Roy Williams in. Absolutely superb, i was born and bred not far from the area referred tonin the play. Hope it transfers. Four stars
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3,563 posts
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Post by showgirl on Dec 2, 2017 18:03:16 GMT
I was also at today's matinee & thought this watchable enough but forgettable & nowhere near as good as many of the new plays I've seen in this space: the acting was fine but the subject felt too familiar & hackneyed to me - very reminiscent of a Guy Ritchie gangster film.
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1,119 posts
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Post by martin1965 on Dec 2, 2017 19:40:46 GMT
I was also at today's matinee & thought this watchable enough but forgettable & nowhere near as good as many of the new plays I've seen in this space: the acting was fine but the subject felt too familiar & hackneyed to me - very reminiscent of a Guy Ritchie gangster film. Oh well never mind, Guy Ritchie? He is awful! |
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3,563 posts
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Post by showgirl on Dec 2, 2017 21:37:50 GMT
Actually I've quite enjoyed those Guy Ritchie films I have seen. Though there were plenty of women in the audience, I suspect this appeals more to men.
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1,119 posts
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Post by martin1965 on Dec 2, 2017 21:58:08 GMT
Actually I've quite enjoyed those Guy Ritchie films I have seen. Though there were plenty of women in the audience, I suspect this appeals more to men. Where were you sat? I was far corner from bar. |
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3,563 posts
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Post by showgirl on Dec 2, 2017 22:44:44 GMT
Gosh, we must have been quite close: I was on a corner seat (for the legroom) diagonally opposite the bar, 2nd row.
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1,119 posts
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Post by martin1965 on Dec 3, 2017 0:00:23 GMT
Blimey! That does sound close. You werent the lady who nearly missed her step trying to leave? I was ready to catch☺
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2019 12:01:00 GMT
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1,083 posts
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Post by andrew on Mar 1, 2019 12:22:28 GMT
So the consensus was pretty good last time? I basically can’t go to the theatre at all in May so it’s a big commitment. I like the downstairs space though. |
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213 posts
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Post by peelee on May 14, 2019 19:18:12 GMT
We saw this at the weekend and really enjoyed it. There have been some cast changes in this five-handed piece but two actors previously involved, I read, appear again in this play returning to Hampstead Theatre Downstairs. Nice space and nice prices, with seats mostly unreserved. Issues raised seem to cover the waterfront but there's nothing predictable about any of this. Engaging characters grab the attention and the ninety minutes (no interval) whizz by. Good writing, Roy Williams; well directed, Denis Lawson.
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