215 posts
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Post by frosty on Jun 1, 2018 7:39:53 GMT
It is very Chichester! The set and lighting are gorgeous, and Dame Penelope is fantastic, she really does steal every scene she is in. All the actors are great, I would say the only weak link is the grand daughter, Laurel. She comes across as a little bit wooden, but maybe she will become more comfortable in the role as the run progresses. It's an interesting story, which in the 3rd act, comes to a satisfactory conclusion. We got £10 side tickets, but didn't miss anything as full use is made of the thrust stage. For less than the cost of a cinema ticket, it was a great night out. Worth it for Dame Pen alone.
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230 posts
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Post by hal9000 on Jun 1, 2018 19:28:23 GMT
Sounds like a great show. I played some audiobooks Penelope Keith narrated when my mother was in hospital, and I had forgotten what a fab actress she is.
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1,345 posts
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Post by tmesis on Jun 1, 2018 21:06:18 GMT
I'm seeing this in two weeks and really looking forward to it. I last saw Penelope Keith 41 years ago in The Applecart!
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3,558 posts
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Post by showgirl on Jun 2, 2018 4:51:58 GMT
Seeing it Wednesday and also a beneficiary of the introduction this year of £10 side seats. That's where I always sit anyway but the £5 saving is welcome. Looking forward to it even more given the reviews. Wonder if I'm now in the CFT demographic?
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Post by learfan on Jun 2, 2018 7:50:51 GMT
I'm seeing this in two weeks and really looking forward to it. I last saw Penelope Keith 41 years ago in The Applecart! The Apple Cart is on my wishlist! I missed the Peter Hall revival at Bath a few years back. Im hoping it will form part of the next Dromgoole season. Anyhow looking forward to seeing this Wednesday |
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4,975 posts
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Post by Phantom of London on Jun 2, 2018 11:23:04 GMT
On the train to Chichester now.
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1,217 posts
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Post by nash16 on Jun 4, 2018 11:03:44 GMT
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3,558 posts
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Post by showgirl on Jun 6, 2018 16:24:04 GMT
I thought this was a creaky old contraption & I struggled to stay awake in the first half - & this was at the matinee! Mercifully the second act was far shorter, if no snappier, and it was a lovely day for a trip to an attractive place but the play itself definitely started the CFT season on a low.
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Post by learfan on Jun 6, 2018 16:58:06 GMT
I was at today's mat too. Whilst it may not have aged well, it still provided two fine roles for Margo and the always Underrated Amanda Root. Oliver Ford Davie shone too in a cameo as the Judge. Full house as far as i could see. I am 50 plus and i reckon i was the youngest there! However much the same can be said of Stratford and the National. Back at Chichester in four weeks for Country Wife. Ought to be much livelier.
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3,558 posts
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Post by showgirl on Jun 6, 2018 19:32:53 GMT
I'm not back for 6 weeks (double day of Me & My Girl plus The Meeting), but for anyone going in the next few months and who likes art exhibitions, Pallant House gallery has several on at present and I really liked the Virginia Woolf exhibition in particular - though I tried to see them all and of course ended up feeling that I couldn't take in any more.
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156 posts
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Post by meister on Jun 6, 2018 19:46:39 GMT
I thought this was a creaky old contraption & I struggled to stay awake in the first half - & this was at the matinee! Mercifully the second act was far shorter, if no snappier, and it was a lovely day for a trip to an attractive place but the play itself definitely started the CFT season on a low. Sadly, the CFT season started on a earlier low - 'Present Laughter' - which was appalling!! Don't know what Daniel Evans is thinking - I hope he pulls it out of the bag with 'Me & My Girl'. |
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Post by learfan on Jun 6, 2018 20:14:16 GMT
I'm not back for 6 weeks (double day of Me & My Girl plus The Meeting), but for anyone going in the next few months and who likes art exhibitions, Pallant House gallery has several on at present and I really liked the Virginia Woolf exhibition in particular - though I tried to see them all and of course ended up feeling that I couldn't take in any more. Im doing a double header of Copenhagen and Flowers in September. |
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3,533 posts
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Post by Rory on Jun 8, 2018 16:19:48 GMT
I think this SHOULD (not that it will) go to the Haymarket in August. It's the sort of thing they used to put on there and there's still an audience for a classic West End revival with a star cast.
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1,345 posts
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Post by tmesis on Jun 17, 2018 7:43:29 GMT
As others have said, this is so Chichester! I absolutely loved it. It's a play I have never seen before, so I can't compare it with the Donmar version. Although ostensibly a comedy of manners, it's much more than that and really quite touching at the end as both Miss Madrigal and Mrs. St. Maugham realise, after much sparring dialogue, that that they need each other. I felt Emma Curtis was a little lacking as Laurel but Amanda Root was excellent as Miss Madrigal and Penelope Keith was superb as Mrs. St. Maugham. She predictably delivers her Wildean empigrams with killer timing but I was also really impressed with her her acting when she wasn't speaking; she's 'listens' really convincingly to the other actors (I was fortunately near the front on row B.) Also Matthew Cottle was very funny as the manservant.
Oh, and the set was brilliant - a ramshackle combination of opulence and, what today would be called, shabby chic.
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274 posts
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Post by emsworthian on Jun 17, 2018 9:09:18 GMT
Were you at the matinee, Tmesis? I was there in row B as well. I thought the set was absolutely stunning; I wanted to go and live there. Having been underwhelmed by Dame Penelope in "The Way of the World", here she was at her best in full Grande Dame mode, uttering acerbic one-liners in her unique way. I thought the cast was strong and I seem to be the only person not to have an issue with Emma Curtis as Laurel; I thought she was fine.
I did find the play a bit dated and despite enjoying it, it is not one I would bother to see again. However, I laughed out loud at least half a dozen times, although I wouldn't go as far as to agree with the Kenneth Tynan quote that it was the funniest play since the Restoration.
Anyway, I am looking forward to watching a bit of Restoration filth next week with "The Country Wife" at the Minerva. |
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Post by andyb1986 on Jun 17, 2018 9:56:11 GMT
I attended the matinee performance yesterday and despite being a little jet lagged, I absolutely loved it. I'm glad my first experience at Chichester couldn't have been more stereotypical, as this is just the type of play I love. I'm pleased I finally got to see Dame Penelope onstage and in something she really excelled in.
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587 posts
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Post by Polly1 on Jun 17, 2018 12:25:29 GMT
Seems there was quite a crowd of us at yesterday's matinee! Sorry I missed you all.
Not sure if I'd had my expectations lowered by the poor reviews and comments on here but I also loved this and even Mr. Polly enjoyed it more than I thought he would. Amanda Root was as brilliant as I expected, Dame Pen always good value, lovely to see Caroline Harker again but have to agree with the majority about Emma Curtis, I thought her acting was far too 'modern'.
I've wanted to see this play for ages and it was well worth the fleeting trip to Chi. Interesting to read in the programme that it was based on a real life incident in Bagnold's life.
As a side note, this was my first visit to the newly refurbished theatre and what have they done?! I know it's never been an intimate theatre but I was in row F (which was fine if expensive) and wouldn't want to be any further back. Most of the seats are so far away! Going to be very difficult to programme. Nice new loos however!
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Post by learfan on Jun 17, 2018 12:38:42 GMT
Could be wrong but dont think they did much if anything to the actual auditorium? The work was backstage and foh.
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3,558 posts
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Post by showgirl on Jun 17, 2018 12:43:58 GMT
Agree, no change to the auditorium of which I'm aware. I only ever sit in the cheap side stalls (were £15; now some at £10 this year) and not too far back, which is fine. I've never even sat in one of dearer seats just to try them out, never mind booked one, but some do indeed look very distant - though that's true regardless of price. The circle must seem very remote.
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1,345 posts
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Post by tmesis on Jun 17, 2018 13:17:17 GMT
Were you at the matinee, Tmesis? I was there in row B as well. I thought the set was absolutely stunning; I wanted to go and live there. Having been underwhelmed by Dame Penelope in "The Way of the World", here she was at her best in full Grande Dame mode, uttering acerbic one-liners in her unique way. I thought the cast was strong and I seem to be the only person not to have an issue with Emma Curtis as Laurel; I thought she was fine.
I did find the play a bit dated and despite enjoying it, it is not one I would bother to see again. However, I laughed out loud at least half a dozen times, although I wouldn't go as far as to agree with the Kenneth Tynan quote that it was the funniest play since the Restoration.
Anyway, I am looking forward to watching a bit of Restoration filth next week with "The Country Wife" at the Minerva. Yes, B11 |
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274 posts
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Post by emsworthian on Jun 17, 2018 15:10:04 GMT
I was in B6!
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1,345 posts
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Post by tmesis on Jun 17, 2018 17:46:35 GMT
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