Pinter at the Pinter

[Snciole]

I think he always was a gay icon since he appeared in his pants in The Business.

Though John Heffernan is clearly a big icon on this board.

[bramble]

Saw this last night. Slight Ache is the more interesting of the two but both feel like aperitifs without a main course. Well presented but left with a feeling of ‘so what?’

[johnnyutah]

I caught this last night and echo Bramble's sentiments regarding the excellent presentation of two tasty morsels. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Sight Ache was particularly affecting. Both Heffernan and Whelan slowly unspooled during their monologues. Their initial clipped exchanges revealed something altogether more fetid. There was a lovely lyricism to the script in place of the calculated assault to the ears I've observed in some of Pinter's other offerings. John Heffernan was marvelous. He has the rare gift of providing confessional performances, elucidating inner turmoil through quicksilver changes tone and gesture.

In The Dumb Waiter, both actors more than lived up to their star billing. Danny Dyer displayed a nice mixture of geezer ticks and vulnerability. Martin Freeman matched him with an unfussy performance allowing the words to do their work and elicit the laughter effortlessly.

[NeilVHughes]

Feb 2, 2019 9:26:47 GMT johnnyutah said:

I caught this last night and echo Bramble's sentiments regarding the excellent presentation of two tasty morsels. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Sight Ache was particularly affecting. Both Heffernan and Whelan slowly unspooled during their monologues. Their initial clipped exchanges revealed something altogether more fetid. There was a lovely lyricism to the script in place of the calculated assault to the ears I've observed in some of Pinter's other offerings. John Heffernan was marvelous. He has the rare gift of providing confessional performances, elucidating inner turmoil through quicksilver changes tone and gesture.

In The Dumb Waiter, both actors more than lived up to their star billing. Danny Dyer displayed a nice mixture of geezer ticks and vulnerability. Martin Freeman matched him with an unfussy performance allowing the words to do their work and elicit the laughter effortlessly.

Also there last night and in total agreement.

Having seen all 7 and the Gala, Pinter at the Pinter has been a theatrical highlight and something that is unlikely to be repeated.

A privilege to see these one act plays staged, so many standout performances by a stellar cast.

[Deleted]

Which one is first, Dumb Waiter or Slight Ache? I'm still weighing up what's more important to me, to avoid Pinter or to watch the Heff.

[johnnyutah]

A Slight Ache opens proceedings.

[zahidf]

What's the rough running time?

[NeilVHughes]

2hrs with a 20 minute interval between the plays, out for about 9:30

[zahidf]

Feb 2, 2019 12:12:27 GMT NeilVHughes said:

2hrs with a 20 minute interval between the plays, out for about 9:30

Thanks!

[learfan]

Feb 2, 2019 9:56:42 GMT NeilVHughes said:

Feb 2, 2019 9:26:47 GMT johnnyutah said:

I caught this last night and echo Bramble's sentiments regarding the excellent presentation of two tasty morsels. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Sight Ache was particularly affecting. Both Heffernan and Whelan slowly unspooled during their monologues. Their initial clipped exchanges revealed something altogether more fetid. There was a lovely lyricism to the script in place of the calculated assault to the ears I've observed in some of Pinter's other offerings. John Heffernan was marvelous. He has the rare gift of providing confessional performances, elucidating inner turmoil through quicksilver changes tone and gesture.

In The Dumb Waiter, both actors more than lived up to their star billing. Danny Dyer displayed a nice mixture of geezer ticks and vulnerability. Martin Freeman matched him with an unfussy performance allowing the words to do their work and elicit the laughter effortlessly.

Also there last night and in total agreement.

Having seen all 7 and the Gala, Pinter at the Pinter has been a theatrical highlight and something that is unlikely to be repeated.

A privilege to see these one act plays staged, so many standout performances by a stellar cast.

Im going to 7 on 14th. Missed out on the gala due to logistics. I think its been an incredible venture that ought to get a special Olivier Award.

[learfan]

Feb 2, 2019 9:56:42 GMT NeilVHughes said:

Feb 2, 2019 9:26:47 GMT johnnyutah said:

I caught this last night and echo Bramble's sentiments regarding the excellent presentation of two tasty morsels. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Sight Ache was particularly affecting. Both Heffernan and Whelan slowly unspooled during their monologues. Their initial clipped exchanges revealed something altogether more fetid. There was a lovely lyricism to the script in place of the calculated assault to the ears I've observed in some of Pinter's other offerings. John Heffernan was marvelous. He has the rare gift of providing confessional performances, elucidating inner turmoil through quicksilver changes tone and gesture.

In The Dumb Waiter, both actors more than lived up to their star billing. Danny Dyer displayed a nice mixture of geezer ticks and vulnerability. Martin Freeman matched him with an unfussy performance allowing the words to do their work and elicit the laughter effortlessly.

Also there last night and in total agreement.

Having seen all 7 and the Gala, Pinter at the Pinter has been a theatrical highlight and something that is unlikely to be repeated.

A privilege to see these one act plays staged, so many standout performances by a stellar cast.

Im going to 7 on 14th. Missed out on the gala due to logistics. I think its been an incredible venture that ought to get a special Olivier Award.

[Steve]

Feb 2, 2019 18:43:29 GMT learfan said:

I think its been an incredible venture that ought to get a special Olivier Award.

Couldn't agree more. Jamie Lloyd really achieved something special with this series of plays. Seeing the seven of these has been my theatrical highlight of the last year (along with the revamped "Company").

Saw Pinter Seven tonight, and both "A Slight Ache" and "The Dumb Waiter" are brilliantly presented and performed, with each echoing the other in multiple useful ways. I do prefer "The Dumb Waiter" as it's just as dark and psychological as "A Slight Ache," but also manages to generate more frequent and escalating laughter.

Some spoilers follow. . .

One thing Lloyd has succeeded in doing in this series is pairing plays with similar elements and themes. Here, both plays are two handers, and both plays feature an unseen tormentor. Indeed, it may even be the same tormentor, as the mysterious matches that are dropped on Martin Freeman's dumb waiter could easily be the silent match seller of "A Slight Ache!" In both plays, the identities of the characters define their response to the torments inflicted.

John Heffernan is in his wheelhouse in "A Slight Ache," projecting deep and twisted fears onto a stranger (the mysterious match seller) while attempting to maintain a civil demeanour. Fear and civility are natural enemies, but Heffernan has always exquisitely embodied both, and here, escalates his internal battle to magnificent heights.

Gemma Whelan, adopting a more regal accent than the Queen of England, as Heffernan's wife, like Tamsin Greig in "Landscape," devolves into projecting her sexual fantasies onto the match seller, and the effect this has on Heffernan is a thrill to behold.

I'd give this strange inexplicable play four stars.

"The Dumb Waiter" is just as psychological and character-based, but the character frisson is more exquisitely realised, the comic elements more emphasised, and the plot more satisfyingly resolved.

Martin Freeman starts off with his usual and invaluable comic trope of fidgeting in a way that is both an expression of fear and a cry for attention. It is by not revealing which motivation is dominant that Freeman always gets a laugh out of this. As the plot takes a hilarious and absurd turn, Freeman Basil Fawlties with the best of them, and is supremely funny.

Danny Dyer is just as funny, and even more touching. Initially, as Freeman's hard as nails, monosyllabic boss, Dyer comes off like Rupert Graves in "The Room." But as the play goes on, it's the way that Dyer injects his awkward childhood self into this hard man part that really makes the character soar. By the end, you know the truth of the saying, "show me a child of seven and I"ll show you the man" as Dyer shows us both.

Pitch perfect comedy from both Freeman and Dyer makes for a superlative conclusion to Jamie Lloyd's superb Pinter series.

5 stars from me.

[lichtie]

Thought A Slight Ache was the stronger of the two, both Heffernan and Whelan excellent, and the staging in the form of the original radio play (with important exceptions) really worked well.

[Marwood]

Nice feature on Danny Dyer in tonight’s Standard . Just saying...

[crowblack]

Feb 1, 2019 10:28:42 GMT Snciole said:

John Heffernan is clearly a big icon on this board.

Feb 2, 2019 10:51:36 GMT @baemax said:

to avoid Pinter or to watch the Heff.

I'm still not a Pinter fan, but he was great! And just announced in the cast for the 'Mark Gatiss Dracula' (as I suppose it'll be known).

[Snciole]

The Heff has a skill, much like SRB where he doesn't necessarily do anything different across performances, but I find him sincere, engaging and watchable.

I am also distracted by Ryan's "He's STRAIGHT?" comment whenever I see him.

[crowblack]

Feb 11, 2019 15:56:56 GMT Snciole said:

doesn't necessarily do anything different

Oh, I think he does - and I'm always happy when he turns up as some dubious character on telly, but I haven't had the chance to see him on stage till now. I've seen him in audiences a couple of times and he seems really nice!

[Marwood]

Saw this tonight (followed by a Lloyd, Dyer, Freeman and Heffernan Q&A) - I think I preferred A Slight Ache marginally more, probably because I’d never seen (or heard it before) and also because I’d seen the Cranham/Blakeley filmed version of Waiter a few months ago at the BFI so it didn’t seem so novel tonight.

Was it just me or did Freeman & Dyer somewhat seem to be channelling their inner Laurel & Hardy into their performance (Freeman as Laurel, Dyer as Hardy)?

[learfan]

Saw 7 this afternoon. Thats the Pinterthon done. Seen all seven and if the venture doesnt get an Olivier then there's no justice. Agree with poster who invoked stan and ollie in dumb waiter, def saw that. A never to be repwated triumph for all concerned.

[Dr Tom]

Viewed tonight to round off a marathon season.

Two strong plays to finish, both very Pinter. Based on the applause, many of the crowd were there just to see Dyer and Freeman. They delivered, but the subtle performances by Hefferman and Whelan won out.

I experienced this from the £15 Royal Circle standing spots. A winner price wise, although not comfort wise. It was unpleasantly warm. View was good, just suffered with the pillars you get everywhere. Sound was clear. You could lean against the railing (necessary with learners in front). And the whole show is over in two hours.

As always, I’d avoid the back row as it must be uncomfortable with people standing right behind. All the standing spots were taken, with even a few people ignoring the usher and leaning in the middle section.

Glad to have seen all seven volumes.

[peggs]

Agree with dr Tom re last night, audience very appreciative for dumb waiter which I enjoyed but slight ache won out for me, I'd seen that before but appear to had forgotten the whole second half it. Loved the direction, acting top notch, good way to end the season for me, would have liked to see more of them but finances and all that jazz.

[Deleted]

Saw 7 at the weekend, great end to a great season! Very impressive that Jamie Lloyd has managed to do this in the West End and appeal to a mass audience with it. Got the impression many of the audience around me were there for Freeman and Dyer but they were also very receptive to the more challenging A Slight Ache.

For most of the season I sat in the stalls pillar seats - this time was at the edge of the dress circle which was also £15 - great view from there.

[missthelma]

I saw the matinee yesterday thanks to the lovely people at TodayTix. Don't think I have anything profound to add to the discussion, I did enjoy them both and am a little annoyed with myself I did not make greater effort to see the earlier ones but felt a bit Pintered out.

Must say though that had I paid the astronomical prices that are being asked for stall seats (another factor that held me back) I might have felt a little short changed at what amounted to just over 90 minutes of performance.

Side point, has the quite barmy queue for ticket collection been a factor throughout or was it an anomaly yesterday? Pitched up about 2:10 and the queue stretched almost to the stage door round the corner and plenty arrived after me. It moved quickly but I wonder if these things are often as much a PR stunt as anything else.

Second side point, is the 'woo-hoo' hollered at the actors now obligatory? And what is it with the raising of the hands above your head to clap like a slightly deranged sea lion? It feels like a lazy persons standing ovation, you were great but I can't be arsed standing so how will people know I enjoyed it???

[popcultureboy]

Feb 15, 2019 10:58:06 GMT missthelma said:

Side point, has the quite barmy queue for ticket collection been a factor throughout or was it an anomaly yesterday? Pitched up about 2:10 and the queue stretched almost to the stage door round the corner and plenty arrived after me. It moved quickly but I wonder if these things are often as much a PR stunt as anything else.

The Pinter foyer is tiny and so is their box office, but the Pinter holds over 800 people on a sold out performance. So any sold out performance at the Pinter has always had mad collection lines stretching all the way round the building. Hamlet, Oslo, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf and so on. This and Betrayal will be the same. As will any juggernaut which follows.

[crowblack]

Feb 15, 2019 10:58:06 GMT missthelma said:

It feels like a lazy persons standing ovation

No, I do it if I've loved a show but seem to be in the minority and don't want to block the view of non-ovating, often elderly people in the seats behind me. That or I'm in a circle seat and I'm too scared to stand.