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Post by lynette on Dec 29, 2018 1:00:13 GMT
But Pinter is the one they keep putting on and these Theatre people like to earn a living don’t they? So they must think that 'actual theatre going paying audiences' will turn up. Others like Wesker and Osborne and other 20 th century bods hardly get a look in.
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Post by bgarde on Dec 29, 2018 11:41:51 GMT
Loved Party Time/Celebration - it's that unsettling mood I wanted compared to the Lee Evans vaudeville of the last Pinter I saw there.
Can someone tell me the title of the music at the beginning. I know that I know it somewhere but...!
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3,333 posts
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 8, 2019 22:14:27 GMT
Pinter Six tonight (still to see Five).
This was one of the shows TodayTix Rush worked for and ended up on in a great seat, central Row C in the Dress Circle, which would normally be premium priced. Excellent view and sound quality.
Party Time, as others have said, not the best play and rather safely presented, but I’m not sure there’s much more to find.
Celebration an excellent production bringing out the comedy element.
As others have said, this is really short, with the interval only 35 minutes in. But there turned out to be a Q&A which most of the audience stayed for. Jamie Lloyd, Ron Cook, Celia Imrie and Abraham Popoola (clearly the crowd favourite) took part.
Interesting questions and answers, mainly about interpretation, staging and how views of Pinter had changed. As usual, I found the director had found different meaning to me (and possibly the cast). Party Time was staged as it was with all the cast on stage and stood still to ensure they displayed tension, apparently (as well as relief when the curtain fell).
One of the better entries in the series.
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3,333 posts
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 10, 2019 21:58:14 GMT
Pinter Five was something of a disappointment, especially considering the cast involved. Think it was just played rather slow.
Three plays (one in the first half, two in the second). 2 hours 10 minutes run time. Typically Pinter leaving you with lots of questions.
Highlight was Family Voices at the end. A charming piece with a strong performance by Luke Thallon.
Another good seat from TodayTix. Centre Row J Stalls, which would otherwise be premium. Good legroom, not the best rake but still a decent stage view. Sound very clear too.
If you’re choosing one to attend in the current pairing, Six is much stronger.
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Post by learfan on Jan 14, 2019 7:08:17 GMT
I still can't see any mention of when the rehearsed readings of Silence, Basement and Tea Party are. Anyone know anything?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2019 7:42:15 GMT
Enjoyed both 5 and 6 at the weekend
I was struck by the remarkable similarities between "Victoria Station" (which premiered in 1982) and "Car 67" by Driver 67 which was a hit in 1979.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2019 8:47:58 GMT
I still can't see any mention of when the rehearsed readings of Silence, Basement and Tea Party are. Anyone know anything? I wondered about those too. Can't see any reference other than them being mentioned in the season announcement. It seems odd given they talk about how comprehensive this season of shorts is that they're doing loads of back-of-a-fag-packet pieces and not doing full productions of some lengthier pieces. "A Night Out" is also in the collected shorts book and not included in the season - originally a TV play but a lot of the pieces in the season originated as TV or radio plays |
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Post by learfan on Jan 14, 2019 11:34:14 GMT
I still can't see any mention of when the rehearsed readings of Silence, Basement and Tea Party are. Anyone know anything? I wondered about those too. Can't see any reference other than them being mentioned in the season announcement. It seems odd given they talk about how comprehensive this season of shorts is that they're doing loads of back-of-a-fag-packet pieces and not doing full productions of some lengthier pieces. "A Night Out" is also in the collected shorts book and not included in the season - originally a TV play but a lot of the pieces in the season originated as TV or radio plays Hmmm, i going to 5 and 6 on Thursday and will mention it to foh, see if they know anything. |
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Post by Backdrifter on Jan 15, 2019 8:35:40 GMT
Apologies if this was already covered earlier in the thread: is it just TodayTix dayseats for these, or are there in-person sales at the BO as well? Thanks.
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Post by learfan on Jan 17, 2019 18:32:24 GMT
Went to the BO after 6 today to enquire about Silence etc only to be told they were done at gala night and erm that was the sole performance! Bit rubbish if you ask me. 6 was good, 5 shortly.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 17, 2019 19:20:38 GMT
Thanks for checking! I was only expecting one-off performances as that's what they did for the rehearsed readings of other Jamie Lloyd stuff (they did one alongside The Maids, for instance), but I thought the gala was just extracts not the full pieces? If they really did all three they were saying would be done as rehearsed readings, that would have taken up most of the evening I would have thought! I demand all my money back!!  OK I don't really but bit of a disappointment! |
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Post by JJShaw on Jan 17, 2019 22:15:47 GMT
Saw Party Time/ Celebration today. got todaytix rush seats, dress circle E12, great seat!
Didnt quite connect with PT, felt a little education-edgy staged as well with the chairs and the blackouts, not bad just not, great.
Celebration was easier and more enjoyable to connect with, Celia Imrie is just a class act isnt she?!
My big MVP and shot out goes to Katherine Kingsley, who was the reason that I really booked this, and whether its the roles or what she did with them she certainly got the best ones imo. I wish she had more name reciognition because she so deserves more than what she has.
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3,306 posts
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Post by david on Jan 19, 2019 22:55:52 GMT
After watching Pinter 6 tonight, out of the two Acts, personally I got more out of Celebration than Party Tiime as it was just easier to follow but taken as a whole, it was a great night out for £15 being sat in N9 of the stalls.
Overall, all the cast I thought were great in both Acts, but for me Katherine Kingsley was a standout particularly in Celebration where she got the best role and a lot of the best lines. As as already been mentioned, watching Celia Imrie on stage was just a joy. The lady just oozes class.
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Post by theatremad on Jan 20, 2019 11:44:25 GMT
Can't see anyone has said this yet.
There is now a companion book for the season covering all 7 shows with cast lists/cast and creative biographies and essays about the man himself.
Bought mine last night, is £12, personally is worth it. Got it from bookstall in foyer. No ISBN I can see so not sure how available it is elsewhere.
Saw both 5 and 6 yesterday. Full of great things. Weakest for me was Family Voices, despite great performances.
Stand out for me was Party Time. Loved the staging and power behind it.
Jane Horrocks and Eleanor Matsura were stand out of all the great actors in these
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1,861 posts
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Post by NeilVHughes on Jan 20, 2019 12:27:45 GMT
Picked up the season book the other week, a wonderful companion to the run, would like more season summaries / yearbooks, also bought the National yearbook and would love a Globe one to be produced.
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Post by learfan on Jan 20, 2019 13:40:45 GMT
Can't see anyone has said this yet. There is now a companion book for the season covering all 7 shows with cast lists/cast and creative biographies and essays about the man himself. Bought mine last night, is £12, personally is worth it. Got it from bookstall in foyer. No ISBN I can see so not sure how available it is elsewhere. Saw both 5 and 6 yesterday. Full of great things. Weakest for me was Family Voices, despite great performances. Stand out for me was Party Time. Loved the staging and power behind it. Jane Horrocks and Eleanor Matsura were stand out of all the great actors in these Oh ta, didnt see that when i was there Thursday, maybe it got delivered Saturday. |
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Post by learfan on Jan 20, 2019 13:43:45 GMT
Picked up the season book the other week, a wonderful companion to the run, would like more season summaries / yearbooks, also bought the National yearbook and would love a Globe one to be produced. Had a browse at the NT one, didn't think much. The RSC did these in the 70s and 80s then stopped, then did them in early 2000s. Now have stopped again. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2019 20:34:37 GMT
Picked up the season book the other week, a wonderful companion to the run, would like more season summaries / yearbooks, also bought the National yearbook and would love a Globe one to be produced. Had a '. browse at the NT one, didn't think much. The RSC did these in the 70s and 80s then stopped, then did them in early 2000s.Now have stopped again. The RSC had one out in 2016 to commemorate 'a very special year' . My wife bought it for me but, I must admit, I wasn't that impressed and it seemed more like an advertisement for the RSC than a celebration of what had appeared on their stages but maybe that was the point! |
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Post by learfan on Jan 24, 2019 20:57:48 GMT
Had a '. browse at the NT one, didn't think much. The RSC did these in the 70s and 80s then stopped, then did them in early 2000s.Now have stopped again. The RSC had one out in 2016 to commemorate 'a very special year' . My wife bought it for me but, I must admit, I wasn't that impressed and it seemed more like an advertisement for the RSC than a celebration of what had appeared on their stages but maybe that was the point! i still have it, yes it was def just commemoration of that year. |
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Post by firstwetakemanhattan on Jan 25, 2019 10:19:10 GMT
Have seen Four, five and six, much preferred five/Party Time and Celebration out of the three, what a great cast genuinely laugh out loud funny at points with some great lines, fantastic dialogue and characters engaging, but all were interesting, dark and humourous. Hadnt seen any Pinter before these and find myself now a big fan of his plays and writing.
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Post by joem on Jan 26, 2019 11:22:14 GMT
Have seen Four, five and six, much preferred five/Party Time and Celebration out of the three, what a great cast genuinely laugh out loud funny at points with some great lines, fantastic dialogue and characters engaging, but all were interesting, dark and humourous. Hadnt seen any Pinter before these and find myself now a big fan of his plays and writing. As a Leonard Cohen devotee, may I congratulate you on a fantastic nick. |
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Post by joem on Jan 26, 2019 23:44:22 GMT
"The Room" had the audience tittering inappropriately in its early part, I thought Rupert Graves was too reactive in his first appearance. Jane Horrocks grew into the part, from the dowdy old hen-pecker Pinter stereotype (also seen in The Birthday Party et al) to a vulnerable, damaged woman with a mysterious past. I am not entirely certain I understand this play even after all these plays but I still think it is powerful and a magnificent piece of writing.
"Family Voices" feels older than its years, as if it should have been written in Pinter's mid-period when he was putting characters on stage delivering monologues and not interacting with each other.
"Victoria Station" always has a pretty static feel on stage though Colin McFarlane and Rupert Graves milked the humour in the piece for all it was worth.
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Post by firstwetakemanhattan on Jan 27, 2019 11:23:01 GMT
Totally agree about Jane Horrocks, superb actress. What a cast of actors they have had for this special season, highlight for me was seeing Ron Cook on stage always been a fan of his since The Singing Detective in 1986(retrospectively of course I am not quite that old). Will be trying to see 7.
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Post by joem on Jan 27, 2019 12:07:31 GMT
Pinter Six probably the "lightest" and most enjoyable session so far.
Surprising how well "Party Time" and "Celebration" go together with the background themes of strong (unelected) authority needed to run the country - in the case of "Party Time" shadowy elites in "Celebration" organised crime. Also allows the (excellent) cast plenty of fun in playing characters at opposing ends of the class spectrum.
There are shades of Ayckbourn in the snappy comic dialogue and situation comedy of the two plays, although "Celebration", at times, comes about as close as Pinter ever does in justifying his regular inclusion as a playwright of the (in reality non-existent) "absurd" school. Being Pinter of course there is a strong political subtext reinforced by, to my mind, an unnecessary coda to "Party Time" which is theatrically effective but upsets the balance of the play.
The casting in this double evening is superb and many of the actors have significant experience of playing Pinter. Particularly pleasing to see the versatility of Celia Imrie, now surely one of our theatre's grande dames, and the fun which old troupers Ron Cook and Phil Davis have in what practically burgeons onto a double-act between them over the course of the evening. All the cast are splendid and there are some brilliant lines, brilliantly delivered. 5/5 or 10/10 or whatever, top marks for this production.
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Post by noboiscout on Jan 31, 2019 13:55:18 GMT
Pinter Seven appears to be selling quite well. Danny Dyer appears to have become a gay icon... or maybe that's just my own little group of theatre luvvies...
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