|
|
Post by Jan on Nov 10, 2018 7:18:33 GMT
She was very good in that play about the family business. Flawed play but strong performance. Saw her as Lady Macbeth opposite Bob Peck. Should have been perfect for that but Howard Davies’ production was, for once, very poor. |
|
1,485 posts
|
Post by Steve on Nov 10, 2018 11:46:26 GMT
Yes, will probably book for this now. Last saw Sara Kestelman in 1988 in "Bussy D'Ambois" by George Chapman (1603). Saw her before that in several things including Arthur Miller's "The American Clock" and "The Price" - all three right up your street eh ? I last saw Sara Kestelman last month at the Globe, hosting the Alternative Miss World, eyes popping out of her head out at every costume! Here she is with the winner, Miss UFO (aka Andrey Bartenev wearing Lady Gaga balloon-heads):
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2018 12:51:41 GMT
Yes, will probably book for this now. Last saw Sara Kestelman in 1988 in "Bussy D'Ambois" by George Chapman (1603). Saw her before that in several things including Arthur Miller's "The American Clock" and "The Price" - all three right up your street eh ? She was reliably excellent in ‘The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide....’, also at Hampstead, a few years ago. She was particularly powerful, for me, as Fraulein Schneider in the Donmar’s ‘Cabaret’, sounding like Lotte Lenya reborn with some caustic and unsentimental singing. |
|
|
|
Post by Fleance on Nov 10, 2018 14:56:52 GMT
Last saw Sara Kestelman in 1988 in "Bussy D'Ambois" by George Chapman (1603). Saw her before that in several things including Arthur Miller's "The American Clock" and "The Price" - all three right up your street eh ? I enjoyed that production of Bussy D'Ambois very much. I saw it the day before seeing The Changeling at the NT, so a jolly Jacobean tragedy double bill. I first saw Sara Kestleman in The Double Dealer at the NT in 1978. I was supposed to see her in As You Like It around that time, but she was ill and replaced by a fine Selina Cadell. |
|
213 posts
|
Post by peelee on Nov 10, 2018 16:53:31 GMT
I think that the first time I saw Sarah Kestelman on stage was in Gorky's Exiles in 1971 in the Aldwych Theatre days of the RSC. I've just checked who else was in the cast and there are names that rose to the top of their profession. In that decade the RSC did a run of plays that had originated with Russian writers, novel enough to me to get tickets for what was a lovely theatre for that sort of thing.
Re this latest production at Hampstead, I might well go to see Uncle Vanya, as it offers what other theatres won't be offering for the foreseeable future. I've had emails lately from local theatres drawing attention to their new plays I'll describe as in their terms, 'dealing with the issues of our time' that don't float my boat nor even have the effect of me wanting to go looking at boats. So, a classic revived: there's far worse out there that that by the look of things.
|
|
213 posts
|
Post by peelee on Nov 11, 2018 0:47:49 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by raiseitup on Dec 6, 2018 17:20:08 GMT
I had the misfortune of seeing this last night, well the first half anyway before I quickly escaped at the interval.
The whole show consisted of these hideously dull characters standing up and throwing themselves in different chairs/swings/chaise lounges, sighing, drinking and doing it all over again. I couldn't decide if it was Terry Johnson's dry, insipid script or the actor's one-note, uninspired performances that were the worst, or if it was just a horrible combination of the two. I've never seen Vanya before, but loved the Young Chekhov trilogy at the National, so was quite looking forward to seeing this.
Some poor, poor acting, including several forgotten lines that weren't covered up well. Alan Cox will have no beard left by press night if he keeps tearing at it whenever he speaks a line like he was last night, every sentence he spoke was delivered with constant arm flailing. Abbey Lee was giving quite possibly the worst performance I've ever seen on stage. Kika Markham had her lines written on the book she was using a prop and was still stumbling all over the place.
The cast kept pausing awkwardly, which I can only assume was where the audience laughter was meant to appear… I guess we'll never know.
|
|
397 posts
|
Post by altamont on Dec 7, 2018 19:24:14 GMT
Reviews are mostly 3 star, with a couple of 4 star. I'm seeing it tomorrow so will comment after that
|
|
3,563 posts
|
Post by showgirl on Dec 8, 2018 4:43:05 GMT
I was surprised by the pretty positive reviews in view of raiseitup 's very discouraging post - and so soon afterwards. I'll be very interested to hear what others here think as this was on my radar as a possibility but not a "must-see", and fitting it in would be at the expense of something else. |
|
1,861 posts
|
Post by NeilVHughes on Dec 8, 2018 7:02:44 GMT
The whole show consisted of these hideously dull characters standing up and throwing themselves in different chairs/swings/chaise lounges, sighing, drinking and doing it all over again. An apt description of Chekhov’s later plays, the beauty is when you are able to feel the characters frustrations, longings and lost opportunities, a good production is able to bring these characters to life as we wallow in the ennui of their lives as they make the most of the hand they have been dealt and their life-lies. Seeing the matinee on Christmas Eve, if nothing else will get me in the mood for Christmas as we prepare to spend a few days of 'standing up, throwing ourselves in different chairs/swings/chaise lounges, sighing, drinking and doing it all over again’ |
|
3,563 posts
|
Post by showgirl on Dec 8, 2018 7:12:14 GMT
After spending so long in a state of enforced inactivity (& it's not over yet), I'm ennuied out & in need of something active, lively & uplifting. So maybe a comedy or musical would better meet my needs
|
|
397 posts
|
Post by altamont on Dec 9, 2018 14:42:44 GMT
My first Uncle Vanya - and I suspect that matters to how I received the production. I certainly enjoyed it - no problems with lines being forgotten or awkward pauses - and plenty of laughter amidst the angst and ennui.
My suspicion is that had I seen several productions, this one might have stood out as dwelling more on the humour in the text than is usual - certainly the reviews suggest as much - but I can't exactly say I came out of this thinking this is a masterpiece for the ages. A very impressive, autumnal set, nice use of sound, and good performances, especially Alan Cox and Alec Newman.
So not a must-see in my opinion, but would be very interested to hear how old Chekhov hands respond to it.
|
|
5,691 posts
|
Post by lynette on Dec 9, 2018 15:30:34 GMT
This old Chekhov hand going in New Year. Will let you know. 😁
|
|
|
|
Post by Jan on Dec 9, 2018 17:45:29 GMT
This old Chekhov hand going in New Year. Will let you know. 😁 It will be my 8th production. Best so far have been the Katie Mitchell and Robert Icke ones. The Vanya's I've seen are: Donald Sinden (Frances de la Tour as Sonia), Ian McKellen, Stephen Dillane, Simon Russell-Beale, Nicholas Le Prevost, Iain Glen, Paul Rhys . |
|
|
|
Post by learfan on Dec 9, 2018 19:08:30 GMT
This old Chekhov hand going in New Year. Will let you know. 😁 It will be my 8th production. Best so far have been the Katie Mitchell and Robert Icke ones. The Vanya's I've seen are: Donald Sinden (Frances de la Tour as Sonia), Ian McKellen, Stephen Dillane, Simon Russell-Beale, Nicholas Le Prevost, Iain Glen, Paul Rhys . Gambon and Pryce were pretty amazing in the WE in the late 80s. |
|
|
|
Post by Jan on Dec 9, 2018 19:37:14 GMT
It will be my 8th production. Best so far have been the Katie Mitchell and Robert Icke ones. The Vanya's I've seen are: Donald Sinden (Frances de la Tour as Sonia), Ian McKellen, Stephen Dillane, Simon Russell-Beale, Nicholas Le Prevost, Iain Glen, Paul Rhys . Gambon and Pryce were pretty amazing in the WE in the late 80s. Also as I have said before the film "Vanya on 42nd Street" is better that the majority of stage productions. |
|
5,691 posts
|
Post by lynette on Dec 9, 2018 19:41:30 GMT
This old Chekhov hand going in New Year. Will let you know. 😁 It will be my 8th production. Best so far have been the Katie Mitchell and Robert Icke ones. The Vanya's I've seen are: Donald Sinden (Frances de la Tour as Sonia), Ian McKellen, Stephen Dillane, Simon Russell-Beale, Nicholas Le Prevost, Iain Glen, Paul Rhys . Simon Russell Beale memorable. |
|
4,961 posts
|
Post by Someone in a tree on Dec 11, 2018 22:52:45 GMT
This was my first Vanya, I can see it is great play but I am not sure if it’s this adaption, staging or the pish poor acting that made me feel numb with pain.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jan on Dec 16, 2018 10:19:46 GMT
This is OK but it felt terribly old fashioned in all ways. Terry Johnson brought nothing fresh to it either as an author or director. The reviews saying it emphasises the comedy more than usual are simply untrue and are based on an expectation of what Johnson would bring to it rather than reality. His adaptation is faithful to the original and therefore pointless, there are several better existing ones he could have used, for example by Michael Frayn or David Mamet. Acting is competent but no more. 2.5 hours but on Hampstead's terrible uncomfortable seats even that was too long.
|
|
5,691 posts
|
Post by lynette on Dec 16, 2018 12:26:43 GMT
When you say faithful to the original are you referring to a particular translation?
|
|
13 posts
|
Post by rmechanical on Dec 16, 2018 14:16:00 GMT
"Acting is competent but no more. 2.5 hours but on Hampstead's terrible uncomfortable seats even that was too long."
That neatly sums up what I thought
|
|
|
|
Post by Jan on Dec 16, 2018 14:27:18 GMT
When you say faithful to the original are you referring to a particular translation? I mean it is not set on the Isle of Man in the present day (Anya Reiss) and the text has not been manipulated to emphasise a particular aspect of the play (Robert Icke). As Michael Frayn speaks Russian I always assume his versions of Chekhov (the four great plays at least) are close to the original. |
|
5,691 posts
|
Post by lynette on Jan 5, 2019 23:04:34 GMT
Well, I enjoyed this. I thought it stood up well to the other productions I have seen including the remarkable SRB who did bring something very special to the part, something which eluded Mr Cox whose Vanya is silly and more light weight, the sense of tragedy lost a teensy bit. Usual birch trees ( they must have a stock of them somewhere ) and good set which moved around between the acts very nicely. I thought the acting was good, there is a new Helena who does the cold beauty well, as she seems to be 'acting' it and she is broken too by the end. This isn’t my favourite Chekhov, my fave is The Three Sisters which they are going to ruin at the Almeida soon.
I won’t argue about the seats. For some reason, a moment of madness, I booked mid row instead of an end and my knees will never recover. Fortunately the person next to us didn’t show so we could squirm about. One day I will be posting from prison because I swear I will murder the next person who crackles a crisp packet behind me during a play. It took two turn rounds and a loud whisper to my OH that I would murder someone, to shut her up.
|
|
