The Price

[Phantom of London]

See this not so famous Arthur Miller’s Play is going to be revived this summer at the Theatre Royal, Bath.

An acclaimed version of this has just been done on Broadway with Danny DeVito, well he is not doing Bath, we are going to get the excellent David Suchet instead.

know tempted to go down to Bath to catch this, as I love Arthur Miller and think David Suchet is top draw. But saying that I reckon this transfer to the West End?

[NeilVHughes]

Already booked for a Saturday in August along with Switzerland, part of my plan to get out of London each weekend in August.

Also booked for In Praise of Love later in the year.

They have a strong season, managed to entice some top names, was also interested in both Henry V and God of Carnage and will be or have seen An Ideal Husband and The Height of the Storm in London.

[learfan]

The Price is probably the most produced of his later plays. Casting not complete yet but can def see this coming to WE.

[Rory]

Brendan Coyle has joined the cast. I could see it coming to the West End after David Suchet has finished his run in The Lover / The Collection on 20th October.

[learfan]

Yes I'd seen that, its only a four hander so you would think they could sort the remaining two.

[Jon]

Jun 17, 2018 13:08:13 GMT Rory said:

Brendan Coyle has joined the cast. I could see it coming to the West End after David Suchet has finished his run in The Lover / The Collection on 20th October.

I can't see it coming until 2019 at the earliest. 

[Phantom of London]

Saw this, this afternoon and have to say thankfully Arthur Miller is Jewish, if a non-Jew wrote this it would be deemed as anti-semitic, by which I mean David Suchet who just happens to be Jewish and utterly brilliant and at the top of his game, plays an equivalent of a 20th century Fagin. But saying that even though it is a play that stereotypes a race it is equally very enjoyable and deserves a transfer and shows Arthur Miller for what he is and that is purely ingenious, which I saw Danny Devito, Mark Ruffalo and Tony Shauloub on Broadway

4 Stars

[showgirl]

Jun 17, 2018 11:51:01 GMT NeilVHughes said:

Already booked for a Saturday in August along with Switzerland, part of my plan to get out of London each weekend in August.

Also booked for In Praise of Love later in the year.

They have a strong season, managed to entice some top names, was also interested in both Henry V and God of Carnage and will be or have seen An Ideal Husband and The Height of the Storm in London.

Would love to emulate you with this as I too am trying to get out of London (and the south-east generally) more, especially this month, and really want to see both the current plays and In Praise Of Love.  However, I don't have a free day to do the double (and am not sure I could get home again if I did as though Switzerland is the shorter, it stars unhelpfully late), so I will have to hope that both productions transfer. 

Unable so far to find any word on this but so far as The Price in particular is concerned, it seems a lot of effort to invest in what appears to be a short run at a single venue.  Furthermore this play seems to come round far less frequently than some of the others; indeed All My Sons is an almost permanent fixture.

[NeilVHughes]

showgirl , the 2 play day is reasonably easy from London, the evening performance of Switzerland finishes at 9:20 so easy to catch the 10:00 train back to London for 11:30, with the added benefit of great day out in Bath.

Both The Price and Switzerland are excellent plays and both deserve a life outside Bath.

David Suchet was worth the trip alone, whenever he was on stage the energy levels lifted, the role is particularly one dimensional allowing an imposing approach whilst the brothers had to be more reserved to allow the dynamic of their relationship ebb and flow, found their backstory especially resonant as their relationship is close to mine with my brother which amplified the emotional intensity.

Switzerland was a completely different beast, a play that on the surface appears a simple story which builds into something completely unexpected, still not sure I grasped it all, will look to read some Ripley books in the near future.

In the end 3 weekends away, Bath, Chichester and Stratford Upon Avon (technically the 1st Sep), this weekend spent in the gorgeous St John’s Garden in Regent’s Park for The Lord Chamberlain’s Men The Tempest which is technically away from my usual London haunts.

Now looking out for the running time of Vulcan 7 which is on the evening that I have booked the matinee of In Praise of Love to make a day of my next visit.

[altamont]

Please excuse the non-"The Price" comment - but I agree that Switzerland is very good, and does develop in very interesting and unexpected ways. At the post show talk on Thursday, Phyllis Logan certainly was amenable to the idea of a transfer but didn't know of (or was able to comment on) plans for one. She did say that she had the Downton Abbey movie on her horizon so it may not be imminent

[Jan]

Aug 18, 2018 22:53:53 GMT Phantom of London said:

Saw this, this afternoon and have to say thankfully Arthur Miller is Jewish, if a non-Jew wrote this it would be deemed as anti-semitic, by which I mean David Suchet who just happens to be Jewish and utterly brilliant and at the top of his game, plays an equivalent of a 20th century Fagin. But saying that even though it is a play that stereotypes a race it is equally very enjoyable and deserves a transfer and shows Arthur Miller for what he is and that is purely ingenious, which I saw Danny Devito, Mark Ruffalo and Tony Shauloub on Broadway

4 Stars

I saw this play in the 1980s. It is one of his most “theatrical” plays - that very first scene, a real opportunity for an actor to show off.

[learfan]

Aug 19, 2018 12:27:56 GMT Jan said:

Aug 18, 2018 22:53:53 GMT Phantom of London said:

Saw this, this afternoon and have to say thankfully Arthur Miller is Jewish, if a non-Jew wrote this it would be deemed as anti-semitic, by which I mean David Suchet who just happens to be Jewish and utterly brilliant and at the top of his game, plays an equivalent of a 20th century Fagin. But saying that even though it is a play that stereotypes a race it is equally very enjoyable and deserves a transfer and shows Arthur Miller for what he is and that is purely ingenious, which I saw Danny Devito, Mark Ruffalo and Tony Shauloub on Broadway

4 Stars

I saw this play in the 1980s. It is one of his most “theatrical” plays - that very first scene, a real opportunity for an actor to show off.

Did you see the young vic production in the late 80s? One of the best productions of any Miller play I've seen.

[Phantom of London]

Aug 19, 2018 13:07:22 GMT learfan said:

Aug 19, 2018 12:27:56 GMT Jan said:

I saw this play in the 1980s. It is one of his most “theatrical” plays - that very first scene, a real opportunity for an actor to show off.

Did you see the young vic production in the late 80s? One of the best productions of any Miller play I've seen.

Oh I was way too young then, was that the last production to be done in London? It’s a great play and one of Miller’s lesser plays.

[Phantom of London]

Aug 19, 2018 12:27:56 GMT Jan said:

Aug 18, 2018 22:53:53 GMT Phantom of London said:

Saw this, this afternoon and have to say thankfully Arthur Miller is Jewish, if a non-Jew wrote this it would be deemed as anti-semitic, by which I mean David Suchet who just happens to be Jewish and utterly brilliant and at the top of his game, plays an equivalent of a 20th century Fagin. But saying that even though it is a play that stereotypes a race it is equally very enjoyable and deserves a transfer and shows Arthur Miller for what he is and that is purely ingenious, which I saw Danny Devito, Mark Ruffalo and Tony Shauloub on Broadway

4 Stars

I saw this play in the 1980s. It is one of his most “theatrical” plays - that very first scene, a real opportunity for an actor to show off.

Suchet did exactly that.

[Rory]

Aug 19, 2018 13:18:03 GMT Phantom of London said:

Aug 19, 2018 13:07:22 GMT learfan said:

Did you see the young vic production in the late 80s? One of the best productions of any Miller play I've seen.

Oh I was way too young then, was that the last production to be done in London? It’s a great play and one of Miller’s lesser plays.

The Tricycle production, directed by Sean Holmes and starring Warren Mitchell, transferred to the Apollo in 2003.

[learfan]

Aug 19, 2018 13:35:03 GMT Rory said:

Aug 19, 2018 13:18:03 GMT Phantom of London said:

Oh I was way too young then, was that the last production to be done in London? It’s a great play and one of Miller’s lesser plays.

The Tricycle production, directed by Sean Holmes and starring Warren Mitchell, transferred to the Apollo in 2003.

Saw that on tour, not bad.

[showgirl]

Aug 19, 2018 9:24:57 GMT NeilVHughes said:

showgirl , the 2 play day is reasonably easy from London, the evening performance of Switzerland finishes at 9:20 so easy to catch the 10:00 train back to London for 11:30, with the added benefit of great day out in Bath.

 

Thank you, but I did look into it and would either be unable to get home from Reading (where I'd normally change to/from Bath) or London - and as I've left it so late, fares would be prohibitive anyway.  So I'll hope for a transfer or either or both.

However, I'm glad your weekends away are proving so successful; I've certainly had an absolute ball on my 2 trips to Stratford-On-Avon and am looking forward to York again in 6 weeks or so.  @cardinalpirelli made a good point about having the occasional break from theatre-going but I've found that continuing to see productions but varying the area has worked wonders - though I have been lucky with my choices.

[Jan]

Aug 19, 2018 13:07:22 GMT learfan said:

Aug 19, 2018 12:27:56 GMT Jan said:

I saw this play in the 1980s. It is one of his most “theatrical” plays - that very first scene, a real opportunity for an actor to show off.

Did you see the young vic production in the late 80s? One of the best productions of any Miller play I've seen.

No. The one I saw was at Watford. This play has been produced relatively frequently over the years. It is not a real Miller rarity like, for example, The Ride Down Mt Morgan. Did you see No Villain at the Old Red Lion a few years ago ?

[lynette]

Hoping this comes into London. A cracker.

[learfan]

Aug 19, 2018 15:05:16 GMT Jan said:

Aug 19, 2018 13:07:22 GMT learfan said:

Did you see the young vic production in the late 80s? One of the best productions of any Miller play I've seen.

No. The one I saw was at Watford. This play has been produced relatively frequently over the years. It is not a real Miller rarity like, for example, The Ride Down Mt Morgan. Did you see No Villain at the Old Red Lion a few years ago ?

Nope. I saw Mt Morgan with Tom Conti, Clare Higgins and Gemma Jones, not a bad cast!

[Jan]

Aug 19, 2018 16:24:36 GMT learfan said:

Aug 19, 2018 15:05:16 GMT Jan said:

No. The one I saw was at Watford. This play has been produced relatively frequently over the years. It is not a real Miller rarity like, for example, The Ride Down Mt Morgan. Did you see No Villain at the Old Red Lion a few years ago ?

Nope. I saw Mt Morgan with Tom Conti, Clare Higgins and Gemma Jones, not a bad cast!

That was the one and only UK production I think - and the world premiere. There was an amateur production of it a couple of years ago but I could not go.

[learfan]

Aug 19, 2018 16:46:20 GMT Jan said:

Aug 19, 2018 16:24:36 GMT learfan said:

Nope. I saw Mt Morgan with Tom Conti, Clare Higgins and Gemma Jones, not a bad cast!

That was the one and only UK production I think - and the world premiere. There was an amateur production of it a couple of years ago but I could not go.

Yep, think so. Archbishops Ceiling was premiered at the RSC 30 odd years ago i think (i missed it!) Surely time for another look?

[peelee]

I saw No Villain a few years ago when it was staged at the Old Red Lion, London, and was pleased we got tickets. As said about this play from 1936 by the 20 year old Miller at the time of its 2015 revival, it included several of the concerns and themes that Miller's other and better known works developed. Not a great play but really interesting all the same.

I'm pleased to see this thread, as it draws other towns' and cities' attention to The Price featuring David Suchet and Brendan Coyle which I see has been well reviewed and reads like it deserves a tour of whatever duration. I was delighted to have my tickets for Theatre Royal Bath arrive recently, and having been intrigued to see a UK premiere production of a play I'd not heard of, Switzerland featuring Phyllis Logan as writer Patricia Highsmith, got tickets for that in the nearby Ustinov Studio while we're down in Bath from London. I've been away from London in late August before and wherever it has been has usually had nothing on stage either because near-bank holiday days made it not worth a theatre's while or some production or other was not yet due in from that month's Edinburgh Festival, or a university town was missing staff and students at holiday time. So you can imagine how pleasing it was to see two such special-sounding productions still available as the end of the month approaches.

[learfan]

Aug 19, 2018 14:31:00 GMT showgirl said:

Aug 19, 2018 9:24:57 GMT NeilVHughes said:

showgirl , the 2 play day is reasonably easy from London, the evening performance of Switzerland finishes at 9:20 so easy to catch the 10:00 train back to London for 11:30, with the added benefit of great day out in Bath.

 

Thank you, but I did look into it and would either be unable to get home from Reading (where I'd normally change to/from Bath) or London - and as I've left it so late, fares would be prohibitive anyway.  So I'll hope for a transfer or either or both.

However, I'm glad your weekends away are proving so successful; I've certainly had an absolute ball on my 2 trips to Stratford-On-Avon and am looking forward to York again in 6 weeks or so.  @cardinalpirelli made a good point about having the occasional break from theatre-going but I've found that continuing to see productions but varying the area has worked wonders - though I have been lucky with my choices.

You don't want to stopover?

[bordeaux]

The late 80s Young Vic one was superb, directed by David Thacker and starring Alan McNaughton and Bob Peck. Thacker seems to have directed it three times, doing it at the Guthrie, Minneapolis in the late 90s and at the Octagon, Bolton in 2011.