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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2018 14:38:04 GMT
@caiaphas , can you expand on this? Expanding at the thought...
And, let's be honest, it's the thought that counts.
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Post by kathryn on Jun 29, 2018 15:19:11 GMT
When did Kenny get his cock out at the NT?? Presumably it was before my theatre-going time - I'm sure I would have remembered that.... That would be EDMOND in 2003 I seem to remember
Alas, about 5 years too soon for me! Wonder if they've got a recording in the NT archive.... |
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Post by cirque on Jun 29, 2018 15:41:47 GMT
RSC now,for me,basically a beefed up education project.It was a world beating ensemble.
Not just Doran....through the whole ranks of admin etc.
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Post by Jan on Jun 29, 2018 15:49:49 GMT
Even the excellent front row seats for 10 🦑 can’t make me book for the RSC as it’s such a snooze fest. Reminds me of the NT Travelex seasons which only sold out if it was a Shakespeare* or had Kenneth Branagh getting his cock out * but yes the NT does sell out with Shakespeare Anything likely to be popular at NT like Ant ‘n’ Cleo is priced commercially which only leaves stuff they put on for artistic reasons. This has the curious outcome that “difficult” plays are chosen for a scheme to expand theatre to new audiences. Travelex now is like some sort of punishment beating, wait till you see”Exit The King” |
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Post by dani on Jun 29, 2018 16:28:54 GMT
That would be EDMOND in 2003 I seem to remember
Alas, about 5 years too soon for me! Wonder if they've got a recording in the NT archive.... It really wasn't exciting, I can assure you. |
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jun 29, 2018 17:01:40 GMT
Even the excellent front row seats for 10 🦑 can’t make me book for the RSC as it’s such a snooze fest. Reminds me of the NT Travelex seasons which only sold out if it was a Shakespeare* or had Kenneth Branagh getting his cock out * but yes the NT does sell out with Shakespeare Anything likely to be popular at NT like Ant ‘n’ Cleo is priced commercially which only leaves stuff they put on for artistic reasons. This has the curious outcome that “difficult” plays are chosen for a scheme to expand theatre to new audiences. Travelex now is like some sort of punishment beating, wait till you see”Exit The King” Plays the price of cinema ticket entice new punters in and then scare them off for life. A Noises Off or Trainspotting at affordable prices for all wouldn’t harm the NT |
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Post by showgirl on Jun 29, 2018 18:17:34 GMT
Yesterday's matinee seemed very busy in the stalls though I couldn't see the circle or upper circle. However, if other performances are quieter, where are the offers you'd expect? Not on sale at the TKTS booth; theatre only offering front row as day seats (unless they relent as in my case), which can be booked in advance online and Todaytix Rush offering only rear stalls you can also buy online directly.
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Post by nash16 on Jun 29, 2018 21:09:41 GMT
The sad fact is these aren't great plays. Not dramatically anyway. The acting was only so-so when we saw these at Christmas, although a lot of the cast have bailed from doing the transfer.
The pricing is a form of insanity, especially if they aren't doing the normal trope of having them sky-high so that when they "discount" them on TKTS etc. the "savings" means they just become near regular top price.
I don't want the RSC to fail but they need to transfer their urgent, exciting plays, not these.
Saying that, do they have any urgent, exciting productions in their current/recent back catalogues?...
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Post by showgirl on Jun 30, 2018 4:26:59 GMT
I think there are/have been lots of Stratford productions which should have transferred, which is one reason I'm now making trips to Stratford for anything promising in case it's my only opportunity. Failing that the only hope is that these "lost" works will eventually reappear as revivals and/or touring productions.
People have pointed out that there are issues with finding a suitable London venue, cast contracts/commitments, etc, but I really wish the RSC would look at transferring productions OTHER than the endless Shakespeares and similar, usually heavyweight plays such as Imperium. I know they're the RSC but let other audiences see what else the company can do - and continue to provide this support for all the new work which is offered in Stratford but seems to end then and there.
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Post by showgirl on Jun 30, 2018 8:09:45 GMT
where are the offers you'd expect Two agencies have a £10 off deal out there at the moment. Indeed, and Delmac emailed me the same after I'd seen part 1, but £10 off is too little imo, given that it's all the more expensive seats which remain unsold - apart from the front row day seats and those at the back of the stalls. Having kept a close eye on the site I can see the dynamic price changes but these only ever tweak the cost and rows covered of the cheaper seats. |
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Post by andrew on Jul 3, 2018 23:35:42 GMT
Just out of Part 1, I dunno, I feel a bit disappointed. It's not as compelling as I was hoping, I've not really been drawn into the drama. No bad acting, but not much to specifically praise. I got a TodayTix Rush for this (at about 5pm, Row Q in the middle if anyones interested) so I haven't got a Part 2 ticket, and I'm torn as to whether or not I'll go. We'll see.
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Post by mistressjojo on Jul 4, 2018 2:51:14 GMT
Why would he want to be in it ? I suppose the real answer is David Tennant. You're on to something there. Tennant's fanbase would crash the website. I'm not averse to his sexy lanky R-rolling Scots charm by any means but he can be stuck in literally any role in any play and it would sell out. Bums on (damp?) seats  I can't see him doing HV1. I think he recognises it's a bit...dull. Plus it's not on his list. My money is on Measure for Measure. Love from a member of the website crashing fanbase. x |
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Post by showgirl on Jul 4, 2018 2:57:42 GMT
Just out of Part 1, I dunno, I feel a bit disappointed. It's not as compelling as I was hoping, I've not really been drawn into the drama. No bad acting, but not much to specifically praise. I got a TodayTix Rush for this (at about 5pm, Row Q in the middle if anyones interested) so I haven't got a Part 2 ticket, and I'm torn as to whether or not I'll go. We'll see. This was pretty much my reaction, ie workmanlike but not outstanding and I wouldn't necessarily feel I'd missed out if unable to get a ticket to part 2 - particularly as it will be difficult since there are only 2 matinees for that. Row Q was what Todaytix offered me, too, and the tickets were very slow to go as I kept trying again to see if I received a better offer but it insisted on the same seat each time, so eventually I gave up. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2018 17:30:50 GMT
I really enjoyed this in Stratford, but I think a big part of that was being on the front row of the Swan, so the actors were right there swishing around right in front of me, spitting in our faces and brushing us with cloaks. I'm not sure it'd be the same in a more normal theatre.
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Post by bellboard27 on Jul 4, 2018 18:40:04 GMT
the actors were right there swishing around right in front of me, spitting in our faces and brushing us with cloaks. Sounds more like a visit to our local Wetherspoons. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2018 20:08:11 GMT
If my Wetherspoons had more attractive men painted gold, I might go more often.
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Post by altamont on Jul 4, 2018 21:23:26 GMT
I really enjoyed this in Stratford, but I think a big part of that was being on the front row of the Swan, so the actors were right there swishing around right in front of me, spitting in our faces and brushing us with cloaks. I'm not sure it'd be the same in a more normal theatre. Agreed - at the Swan, the front row was on the stage - having Cicero and Tiro sat next to me conspiring in whispers that I'm sure only i could hear was quite something |
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Post by profquatermass on Jul 5, 2018 10:08:37 GMT
It's down to the ridiculous prices combined with the lack of star names. The RSC had similar difficulty shifting tickets for Much Ado / Love's Labour's Lost a couple of years ago which was much more crowd-friendly but similarly expensive
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Post by MrsCondomine on Jul 5, 2018 10:45:45 GMT
It's down to the ridiculous prices combined with the lack of star names. The RSC had similar difficulty shifting tickets for Much Ado / Love's Labour's Lost a couple of years ago which was much more crowd-friendly but similarly expensive It's almost like the recent RSC casting method has created a Pavlovian response with the bigger market - announce play with massive lead star, sell out immediately, then fill in other roles closer to the time. RSC productions minus anyone instantly recognisable seem to be unicorns. To be fair seeing Jane Lapotaire or Antony Sher in the flesh is very exciting. |
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Post by Snciole on Jul 5, 2018 14:01:34 GMT
Richard McCabe is a fantastic, award-winning actor. People should be flocking for him (he also gave me Simon Russell Beale vibes in this) but it is too long, too expensive and put on at the wrong time of year. The weather is lovely, who wants to spend in the theatre.
The issue I had is that Part I is amazing but Part II is so lacklustre. The characters are underdeveloped and often portrayed by not very good actors, who thankfully are given the minimum to do in Part I. You barely see Cicero because by Part II he's living off the past glories of one and the staging isn't as epic as you would hope from a Roman drama. Part II first third is basically Shakespeare's Julius Caesar with the words changed. It is a shame because there are some great performances such as Peter De Jersey as Caesar, Eloise Secker as Claudia and Fluvia with Siobhan Redmond as long suffering Terentina. RSC needs to stop feeling like a doss house for actors who aren't quite up to the job (yet? ever?)
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Post by lynette on Jul 5, 2018 15:54:37 GMT
Richard McCabe is a fantastic, award-winning actor. People should be flocking for him (he also gave me Simon Russell Beale vibes in this) but it is too long, too expensive and put on at the wrong time of year. The weather is lovely, who wants to spend in the theatre. The issue I had is that Part I is amazing but Part II is so lacklustre. The characters are underdeveloped and often portrayed by not very good actors, who thankfully are given the minimum to do in Part I. You barely see Cicero because by Part II he's living off the past glories of one and the staging isn't as epic as you would hope from a Roman drama. Part II first third is basically Shakespeare's Julius Caesar with the words changed. It is a shame because there are some great performances such as Peter De Jersey as Caesar, Eloise Secker as Claudia and Fluvia with Siobhan Redmond as long suffering Terentina. RSC needs to stop feeling like a doss house for actors who aren't quite up to the job (yet? ever?) You're not wrong. If Shakespeare has staged the murder of Julius Caesar and bothered to actually mention that he has and it will be staged for generations to come..then rewriting it is at best cheeky and at worst, stupid. It would have had so much more power to have the murder off stage ( as our Willie does often in his other plays to good effect) and have Cicero in a state of tension and stress, waiting and then receiving the news. Or something like that. We didn’t get enough of Cicero's thinking, his inner stuff etc and all this is meat and drink to an actor like McCabe. Yes, he was a great orator, let's have a bit of that but actually a modern audience would like to know how the guy ticks...inside. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2018 16:55:06 GMT
Well. Was it just me or did anyone else have to suppress the need to shout out "Lipschitz!" every time someone mentioned Cicero? I only saw Part 1 but I thought it was a jolly day out for the most part. Someone needed to have taken a pair of scissors to the script though. There was a moment where I thought I'd step out of the theatre and discover that it was Sunday. Richard McCabe is marvellous and it's lovely that he obviously spent so much time taking notes at the Dame Sir Lord Simon Russell Beale School for Scene Stealing. He did more asides to the audience than Larry Grayson on an episode of 'The Generation Game', I thought it was a joy of a performance. Special mention to Joseph Kloska too who I thought was just smashing and he would have stolen the whole thing if it hadn't been for Nicholas Armfield's delightful Clodius who wasn't afraid to spend a good amount of time with his shirt off and Oliver Johnstone's lovely arms as Rufus. Nice to see Shona Spurtle getting some work after the sad demise of Air Scotia too. I have to admit that it's got one of the most H.I.Larious endings to an act though. At the end of act 2 . . {Lipschitz!}
. . you get one of the best "oooh"s followed by a gasp from any actor I've seen this side of 'Are You Being Served?' when he picks the head out of the saucepan but it's made all the better by the "plop" as the head is dropped back in the water again when the lights go dark. I almost gave that a standing ovation. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2018 14:17:36 GMT
Well. Part II was pretty rubbish. The first act is a lot of jolly japes, Carry on Cicero if you will which I really liked. Such a shame that the other two acts were nowhere near as fun and it does drag on. A LOT. Joseph Kloska has just the warmest loveliest presence but Oliver Johnstone stole it for me as Octavian, who I felt could turn at any point and I have no doubts he thoroughly enjoyed his trips away with Nicholas Armfield's Agrippa. But if anything, it's worth seeing for one of the most monumentally awful performances I've seen for a long time, Joe Dixon as Mark Antony. Oh my dear sweet Lord.
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Post by markmc on Aug 12, 2018 16:40:02 GMT
Went to see this yesterday (both plays in one day). Richard McCabe was fantastic, as to be expected. He showed every side of Cicero - his charisma, arrogance, verve, wit, weakness and cowardice, all in one luminous performance. Joseph Kloska was a perfect as Tiro - warm, witty and wry, the perfect companion throughout the 7 hours of drama that unfolded. While I thought parts of the production were a bit old-fashioned and am dram, and there could be a lot of cutting (particularly in part 2 - the middle play is totally unnecessary) it was an enjoyable day all together. Agree that Joe Dixon was embarrassingly OTT in both of his parts. I cringed every time he spoke on stage. Hats off to Siobhan Redmond also who made her parts her own. 3.5 stars from me.
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Post by moelhywel on Aug 18, 2018 19:57:14 GMT
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