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Post by NeilVHughes on Dec 10, 2018 17:50:56 GMT
Tweet today:
“People who have seen a production of Richard II, they have not seen a production like this before"
First preview tonight, intriguing!
With the latex warning have they taken a leaf out of the Young Vic Measure for Measure from a few years ago.
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Post by Jan on Dec 10, 2018 18:06:10 GMT
I see they’ve released more tickets today for the entire run - members and first-wave public bookers who missed out on seats they wanted might feel aggrieved.
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2,743 posts
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Post by n1david on Dec 10, 2018 18:13:09 GMT
They often do this after they've got the show into the theatre and got a better understanding of sightlines. I can't be certain, but I guess these might be seats where they weren't sure what the views would be like and so didn't know how to price them or if they would be suitable for sale at all.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2018 18:21:12 GMT
They will swap tickets anyway
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2018 18:45:23 GMT
Tweet today: “People who have seen a production of Richard II, they have not seen a production like this before" First preview tonight, intriguing! With the latex warning have they taken a leaf out of the Young Vic Measure for Measure from a few years ago. Well it is the same director, so..... |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2018 20:18:48 GMT
He also did the mud wrestling Midsummer Night's Dream and the jelly fight The Changeling at the Young Vic.
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2,743 posts
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Post by n1david on Dec 10, 2018 20:53:18 GMT
He also did the mud wrestling Midsummer Night's Dream and the jelly fight The Changeling at the Young Vic. Gosh. The front row for this now seems positively dangerous. |
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Post by peggs on Dec 10, 2018 21:32:43 GMT
He also did the mud wrestling Midsummer Night's Dream and the jelly fight The Changeling at the Young Vic. Thanks for the clarification re the muddy midsummer's, was wondering earlier if that was also him, wasn't a fan of that or the measure for measure so should probably adjust my 'have to book it's SRB' expectations now. |
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Post by nash16 on Dec 10, 2018 21:54:49 GMT
He also did the mud wrestling Midsummer Night's Dream and the jelly fight The Changeling at the Young Vic. Gosh. The front row for this now seems positively dangerous. Front row very safe. Annoyingly. |
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Post by nash16 on Dec 10, 2018 21:56:08 GMT
Running time: 1hr 40mins (no interval)
Text cut by dramaturg Jeff James.
Review to follow.
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1,217 posts
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Post by nash16 on Dec 10, 2018 23:45:57 GMT
R.e. the Almeida Tweet today:
“People who have seen a production of Richard II, they have not seen a production like this before"
Well, unfortunately you're right there. Did Trump suggest that tweet to them?
It's going to be as inviting to the reviewers as a new Martin Crimp title if they read that post.
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1,217 posts
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Post by nash16 on Dec 11, 2018 9:43:13 GMT
The Tragedy of King (of the Jungle?) Richard II, OR
I'm An Audience Member...Get Me Out Of Here!
No adverts, we're straight in to:
a prison cell (grey-jigsaw-piece cube of a set, if you're on the far sides get ready. If you haven't booked aim for the low numbered seats as a lot happens stage left which the high numbered seats will miss out on a lot.)
If you don't like the drab set, you're screwed, as that's your lot throughout, favouring "movement" over set changes.
We start near the end of the play, then flash back to the start.
Dramaturg Jeff James has cut cut cut old Bill down to 1hr 40mins and if you've never seen the play before, good luck!
But if you have to get home to Salisbury afterwards as we did, the shortened version helps a lot.
SRB in casuals: black jeans and a t shirt.
SRB acting-staple-tick of "Bum Rubbing" noted at least 7 times. Yay!
Leo Bill fans, get ready for Leo Bill Builder's Bum opportunities. Lots of squatting from Bolingbroke.
Andddd Buckets.
Lots of labelled buckets:
"Blood", "Water", "Soil".
They get chucked around.
By mid-show, SRB looks like a cross between a defeated Tough Midder participant, and a post-challenge I'm A Celebrity... contestant.
Except we've had none of the fun, joy, or tension that either of the above events would provide.
The Ensemble (we think) are boxers for some reason?
One of the actresses is VERY annoying... but mainly because she is "acting"...a lot.
There is a lot of glove throwing...
In fact, there is a "hilarious" glove fight, mid show, but only the creative team seemed to be laughing.
3 people left in the circle during a low lit scene.
(There are about 4 low lit scenes during which to escape, should one choose to).
It really did feel like a 1hr 40minute ep of I'm a Celeb.
The only highlight was hearing the "Sceptred Isle" speech, as it's always gonna chime with the state of the nation and obviously does so at the moment (especially after tonight's shambles in parliament).
This highlight quickly passes.
They use a bucket of water for the mirror at one point too. Eyebrows raise and nods of "well that was slightly inventive".
But then we're back to I'm a Celebrity.
SRB gets a lot of asleep-time in the jungle, sorry! on the floor, despite the brevity of the running time.
After a tussle with the crown (Props to whoever chose to use bendy metal!), and your last low lit scene (last chance to escape before the brightly lit curtain call) it's over.
SRB is covered in fake blood, soil, water (for a second time...) and will ultimately secure the best production photo.
He's finally got to do his Richard II.
Unfortunately, he's had to do it wayyyyy over the right age and, doubly unfortunately, in this production.
Joe Hill Gibbons has had some fun in his grey playground.
But have the audience?
And where the hell were Holly and Ant?
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1,861 posts
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Post by NeilVHughes on Dec 11, 2018 10:48:56 GMT
Looks as if they have kept their word, certainly different.
Never really felt his play as being over long and has a natural flow, 1hr 40m seems like an excessive cut.
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Post by peggs on Dec 11, 2018 11:22:28 GMT
Now that does sound special. So perhaps I should approach this as a completely different play.
Were there balloons after all?
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Post by nash16 on Dec 11, 2018 11:27:47 GMT
Now that does sound special. So perhaps I should approach this as a completely different play. Were there balloons after all? I would just approach "with caution". No balloons, but maybe the latex warning was because of the various gloves. So. Many. Glovezzzzzzz... |
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Post by Jan on Dec 11, 2018 12:51:22 GMT
Never really felt his play as being over long and has a natural flow, 1hr 40m seems like an excessive cut. Just selecting one I have seen at random, the RSC one with Alex Jennings ran 3:20 including interval, so approximately 80 minutes have been cut, not quite half. As with the Donmar "Measure For Measure" this must mean entire scenes, subplots and characters have been cut. |
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Post by bellboard27 on Dec 11, 2018 13:16:56 GMT
For Heaven’s sake, let us sit upon the ground and tell short stories of the death of kings.
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Post by peggs on Dec 11, 2018 13:35:42 GMT
Now that does sound special. So perhaps I should approach this as a completely different play. Were there balloons after all? I would just approach "with caution". No balloons, but maybe the latex warning was because of the various gloves. So. Many. Glovezzzzzzz... Disappointing. I cannot imagine a latex glove making as satisfying a noise if you throw it as a challenge. |
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Post by nash16 on Dec 11, 2018 14:58:48 GMT
I would just approach "with caution". No balloons, but maybe the latex warning was because of the various gloves. So. Many. Glovezzzzzzz... Disappointing. I cannot imagine a latex glove making as satisfying a noise if you throw it as a challenge. They avoid the hospital-type, in favour of a host of every other type. Obvs the classic red "killer hands" is there. And Weightlifting gloves. Etc. Etc. |
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Post by lynette on Dec 11, 2018 15:35:23 GMT
Thank you nash16 for that. Well, I’ll be seeing this with some friends in January. They are gonna hate it. I’m gonna hate it I expect but I love SRB so will take my medicine dutifully. Gonna eat beforehand so sounds like nothing too rich or sickly...
Starting at the end? A trend? They done it at the NT Ant & Cleo to no great effect.
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Post by peggs on Dec 11, 2018 18:27:50 GMT
Disappointing. I cannot imagine a latex glove making as satisfying a noise if you throw it as a challenge. They avoid the hospital-type, in favour of a host of every other type. Obvs the classic red "killer hands" is there. And Weightlifting gloves. Etc. Etc. Is this an opportunity to play glove bingo in the audience? |
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Post by learfan on Dec 11, 2018 19:51:05 GMT
Im booked for 2 February matinee, this all sounds ghastly but ive missed too many of SRB in classical roles so will see this through but...
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Post by altamont on Dec 11, 2018 20:01:44 GMT
Only seen two reviews on Twitter - both absolutely loved it - so let's not give up yet
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Post by peggs on Dec 11, 2018 22:09:00 GMT
Im booked for 2 February matinee, this all sounds ghastly but ive missed too many of SRB in classical roles so will see this through but... Me too, I will look for a fellow wincer. |
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Post by nash16 on Dec 12, 2018 0:33:33 GMT
They avoid the hospital-type, in favour of a host of every other type. Obvs the classic red "killer hands" is there. And Weightlifting gloves. Etc. Etc. Is this an opportunity to play glove bingo in the audience? This would make the evening FLY BY!!! Then shout "I'm King Richard Get Me Out Of Here!". Lol! |
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