When We Have Sufficiently Tortured Each Other (NT)

[nash16]

Jan 21, 2019 16:20:58 GMT @theatremonkey said:

Jan 20, 2019 14:27:02 GMT @cardinalpirelli said:

Shocking? No, just shockingly terrible! LIZ JONES

She lost credibility in about the third paragraph saying all tickets were £50. Wrong.


Day seats, today someone reported they got a seat by getting there at 7am.

Regarding touts having tickets, is the NT requiring card / confirmation ID at the door, or just ignoring it?

Card to collect.

No other ID asked for.

Touts will just collect them, then meet them round the corner at the Understudy bar probably.l to hand over.

They won't even have to buy an extra ticket to "go in" with like the Hamilton touts do.

[crowblack]

Just seen this on Twitter: "Saw Cate Blanchett play. A whole section of the audience's ability to lose itself in the piece, ruined by Katie Mitchell typing non stop notes,on a brightly lit laptop. Arrogantly she ignored pleas by audience and manager to stop. So much for asking others to turn mobiles off."

That's a bit off, if true. I've been a lot of previews and the writer, director etc. are presumably making notes but I've never seen them do so noticeably.

[catcat100]

Was there tonight, in the circle just to the right (when looking at the stage) of the sound booth N36. When I left I looked behind me to find someone there who had a big notepad with lots written on it. Looking at the programme now, it looks a lot like that was Katie Mitchell. Didn't here a peep out of her during the play.

There was someone in a temporary chair closer to the door who had a laptop and said at the end that she managed to get so far into it. Think this is who they were talking about.

Really don't think it could have been that many people who were distracted by this. I certainly wasn't and was only a few seats away.

[crowblack]

Jan 21, 2019 23:36:57 GMT catcat100 said:

Was there tonight, in the circle just to the right

This seems to have been on the 20th. Surprising if true but there are a couple of people tweeting the NT about it.

[catcat100]

Secondly, want to give my experience with tickets.

I didn't get a ballot place so had to go down the day tickets route.

Spoke to the box office on Thursday. Apparently day tickets are the 10 flip down seats in the pit and a number of the restricted view seats. He couldn't confirm how many as it changes every day. First person in queue got there at 3.30. Last person to get a ticket got there at 8.45. No mention then of returns being sold in the morning.

On Friday got down there at 8. Already 25ish people in the queue so was thinking that even if I did get something, was only going to be restricted so went back home and back to bed.

Went to Manon at Colliseum in the afternoon and got back to National for returns at 5.45. Was about 18th in the queue. When my turn came up, only restricted views were left so decided to try to get there early on another day.

Got there at 2.30 today and was second in the queue. Got a ticket front row of the circle which is my preferred viewing spot was also offered reasonable seats in the pit. Very happy to have waited. The first person in the queue got there around 2 (they said they got to the day tickets at 8 this morning and just missed out). Person after me got there at 3.50. Probably about a dozen people there by 5. About 30 by 6. When I went back to the theatre for the play the queue was still active and saw someone who got there at around 5.30 at the front of the queue and they got a ticket but don't know what view they got.

The returns queue is much more civil than the morning queue. You initially start upstairs in the foyer, none of that queuing outside nonsense. They come up at six and sort out the first few people then transfer the queue down to the room just off the foyer. I had a nice lazy afternoon, had a walk round the walkway looking at the sets being built for tartuffe and follies, had some nice coffee, a beer and caught up with some reading.

Will give an update on the play itself tomorrow but sneak preview is I quite enjoyed it.

[nash16]

Jan 22, 2019 0:10:05 GMT catcat100 said:

Secondly, want to give my experience with tickets.

I didn't get a ballot place so had to go down the day tickets route.

Spoke to the box office on Thursday. Apparently day tickets are the 10 flip down seats in the pit and a number of the restricted view seats. He couldn't confirm how many as it changes every day. First person in queue got there at 3.30. Last person to get a ticket got there at 8.45. No mention then of returns being sold in the morning.

On Friday got down there at 8. Already 25ish people in the queue so was thinking that even if I did get something, was only going to be restricted so went back home and back to bed.

Went to Manon at Colliseum in the afternoon and got back to National for returns at 5.45. Was about 18th in the queue. When my turn came up, only restricted views were left so decided to try to get there early on another day.

Got there at 2.30 today and was second in the queue. Got a ticket front row of the circle which is my preferred viewing spot was also offered reasonable seats in the pit. Very happy to have waited. The first person in the queue got there around 2 (they said they got to the day tickets at 8 this morning and just missed out). Person after me got there at 3.50. Probably about a dozen people there by 5. About 30 by 6. When I went back to the theatre for the play the queue was still active and saw someone who got there at around 5.30 at the front of the queue and they got a ticket but don't know what view they got.

The returns queue is much more civil than the morning queue. You initially start upstairs in the foyer, none of that queuing outside nonsense. They come up at six and sort out the first few people then transfer the queue down to the room just off the foyer. I had a nice lazy afternoon, had a walk round the walkway looking at the sets being built for tartuffe and follies, had some nice coffee, a beer and caught up with some reading.

Will give an update on the play itself tomorrow but sneak preview is I quite enjoyed it.

The returns queue really is the way to see this show. Three friends have seen it using this technique now. Two from Nottingham who came down on Saturday for it. No freezing in the cold. And they were nearly all offered all price ranges (a lot have been held back to sell as restricted view because the roof of the garage set cuts off a lot of the back corners of the stage. Inside tip: not much happens at the back of the stage though. It's all nearly all centre stage, bar the terrible inside-the-car scene at the start).

[zahidf]

Zero stars from West end whingers

[catcat100]

No Problems, use away.

[jampot]

For day seats...is it the main box office or the dorfman desk?

[catcat100]

For the morning day tickets its the main box office.

[jampot]

Jan 22, 2019 17:08:33 GMT catcat100 said:

For the morning day tickets its the main box office.

And returns?

[catcat100]

Returns are in the Dorfman.

[xxx]

Jan 22, 2019 1:22:57 GMT nash16 said:

Jan 22, 2019 0:10:05 GMT catcat100 said:

Secondly, want to give my experience with tickets.

I didn't get a ballot place so had to go down the day tickets route.

Spoke to the box office on Thursday. Apparently day tickets are the 10 flip down seats in the pit and a number of the restricted view seats. He couldn't confirm how many as it changes every day. First person in queue got there at 3.30. Last person to get a ticket got there at 8.45. No mention then of returns being sold in the morning.

On Friday got down there at 8. Already 25ish people in the queue so was thinking that even if I did get something, was only going to be restricted so went back home and back to bed.

Went to Manon at Colliseum in the afternoon and got back to National for returns at 5.45. Was about 18th in the queue. When my turn came up, only restricted views were left so decided to try to get there early on another day.

Got there at 2.30 today and was second in the queue. Got a ticket front row of the circle which is my preferred viewing spot was also offered reasonable seats in the pit. Very happy to have waited. The first person in the queue got there around 2 (they said they got to the day tickets at 8 this morning and just missed out). Person after me got there at 3.50. Probably about a dozen people there by 5. About 30 by 6. When I went back to the theatre for the play the queue was still active and saw someone who got there at around 5.30 at the front of the queue and they got a ticket but don't know what view they got.

The returns queue is much more civil than the morning queue. You initially start upstairs in the foyer, none of that queuing outside nonsense. They come up at six and sort out the first few people then transfer the queue down to the room just off the foyer. I had a nice lazy afternoon, had a walk round the walkway looking at the sets being built for tartuffe and follies, had some nice coffee, a beer and caught up with some reading.

Will give an update on the play itself tomorrow but sneak preview is I quite enjoyed it.

The returns queue really is the way to see this show. Three friends have seen it using this technique now. Two from Nottingham who came down on Saturday for it. No freezing in the cold. And they were nearly all offered all price ranges (a lot have been held back to sell as restricted view because the roof of the garage set cuts off a lot of the back corners of the stage. Inside tip: not much happens at the back of the stage though. It's all nearly all centre stage, bar the terrible inside-the-car scene at the start).

sorry, this may be a stupid question, never queued up for anything like this......how do people handle waiting outside for 7 hours in the freezing weather? do they really stand there the whole time or do they sign up on some sheet or take some number etc. and leave and then come back shortly before the office opens???

I seriously do not think I could survive waiting outside for more than 2 hours...

[BurlyBeaR]

Welcome to TheatreBoard xxx and no it’s not a stupid question. I think the whole concept of arriving at silly o’clock and queing for hours for dayseats bizarre. Each to their own though obvs.

[foxa]

xxx, I don't do those long waits for the reasons you say. The only way I think it can work is if you go with someone and can give each other breaks to go to the loo, get coffees, etc.

[nash16]

Jan 22, 2019 13:35:59 GMT @theatremonkey said:

Thanks, interesting. Mind if I use this on the day seats page, please catcat100 and nash16 .

Go for it!

[catcat100]

XXX et al, Sorry had a relook at my post and might not have been brilliantly worded. When I queued from 2.30 it was the afternoon returns tickets (in the warm) and not the Morning day tickets (in the cold.
I too do not know how people queue up in the cold for so long. The earliest I was prepared to do in the cold was 8am.

[xxx]

Jan 22, 2019 19:23:39 GMT catcat100 said:

XXX et al, Sorry had a relook at my post and might not have been brilliantly worded. When I queued from 2.30 it was the afternoon returns tickets (in the warm) and not the Morning day tickets (in the cold.
I too do not know how people queue up in the cold for so long. The earliest I was prepared to do in the cold was 8am.

omg, thats bloody brilliant strategy!!!! Will do the same if I ultimately decide to try for the day tickets! thanks a lot, this is really helpful!

[peggs]

We're all about sharing the theatre love and being helpful here, well mostly anyway, we do descend into the ridiculous at times too. Hope you can get a ticket xxx

[l0islane]

I saw this last night and I have to say I went in with very low expectations but I quite liked it. My main concern beforehand was boredom but I wasn't bored (neither was my companion). Bemused, yes, but not bored! I was also worried about the level of violence (especially sexual violence) but that turned out to be mostly hype. There were some horrible moments, but nothing I haven't seen in other plays many times before. There were some interesting lines and ideas buried in the long monologues and it was certainly different. Ultimately it felt like a worthwhile theatre experience and I'm glad I went, but I wouldn't watch it again! (note the front row is restricted view because you can't see anything that happens in the car).

[andrew]

Can anyone tell me what happens in that car, then? I'll be sitting at the front row

[nash16]

Jan 22, 2019 23:04:19 GMT andrew said:

Can anyone tell me what happens in that car, then? I'll be sitting at the front row

Cate and Stephen do their first scene in there. They have microphones. You'll hear everything. And you'll see Cate's feet pop up onto the dash at some point.

Later, Cate and the one-line young muscly guy sit in there (not talking) listening to a Ke$ha song.

Cate & Stephen attempt sex in the back of it after this, until the onlooking girls stop it happening.

At the end of the play Stephen sits in it and applies lube to his arse. Ready for the (never actually used) strap onnnnnnnn.

Best use of the car is Cate sliding down it from top to bottom. It induced an eyebrow raise of joy. But only an eyebrow raise.

[andrew]

Jan 23, 2019 0:09:11 GMT nash16 said:

Jan 22, 2019 23:04:19 GMT andrew said:

Can anyone tell me what happens in that car, then? I'll be sitting at the front row

Cate and Stephen do their first scene in there. [...] But only an eyebrow raise.

Haha, thanks a lot for that detailed description that I don't really know how to process. Suddenly the Ke$ha song playing at the National Theatre is the less surprising thing compared to everything else   You might want to put them in a spoiler though, since some people may not want to read them  

[nash16]

Jan 23, 2019 0:53:08 GMT andrew said:

Jan 23, 2019 0:09:11 GMT nash16 said:

Cate and Stephen do their first scene in there. [...] But only an eyebrow raise.

Haha, thanks a lot for that detailed description that I don't really know how to process. Suddenly the Ke$ha song playing at the National Theatre is the less surprising thing compared to everything else   You might want to put them in a spoiler though, since some people may not want to read them  

😂😂 Well, you did ask what goes on in the car! Lol!

Unfortunately you can't "spoil" this play. It's too bad for that. 😂😂

[Rory]

I'm getting vibes of Obsession at the Barbican about this.