The Life I Lead - UK Tour

[Deleted]

Anyone else going to see this, or saw it earlier this week in Exeter? Seems to have got a positive buzz on Twitter and a couple of 5 star reviews.

I'm going next month. Don't really know much about David Tomlinson other than his classic performances in Mary Poppins and Bedknobs and Broomsticks, but I reckon this could be quite an interesting play. Also Miles Jupp sounds like a good choice to play him.

[lou105]

Hoping to go at the end of the month. I spotted it on a website a while ago and was intrigued.

[emsworthian]

I'm hoping to see it Saturday (provided I've recovered from my cold). I'll give feed-back.

[MrsCondomine]

I read Jupp's article in the Guardian today - apparently he was approached by David Tomlinson's son as a good fit to play his dad! So that's a really good sign in itself.

[TallPaul]

I would have liked to see this in Doncaster later in the week. Instead, I'm seeing The American Clock at the Old Vic.

Big mistake. Big. Huge.

[emsworthian]

I saw this yesterday and loved it. David Tomlinson had an extremely interesting life (I wish now I had resisted the temptation to google him before I saw the show). It is billed as a comedy and there is a lot of humour in it but Tomlinson had some tragic events in his life. What I found most moving was Tomlinson's basic decency and determination to be a more loving father to his four sons than his monster of a father was to him.

I never particularly rated Miles Jupp as an actor but he was excellent in this.

I note that this is billed as a Jonathan Church production, as is "The Price", currently at Wyndham's with David Suchet. How I miss the days when Jonathan Church was in charge at Chichester.

[altamont]

Thanks - have been thinking about this for a while but after your comment, and others on Twitter, I’ve booked tickets for Salisbury

[lou105]

Well I very much enjoyed seeing this today. It's short, only 105 minutes including interval, but when you consider that Miles Jupp is there on his own the whole time, story telling with a very simple set and props, it's quite an achievement. I know that comedians are used to holding the stage during their set, but this has much less scope for ad libbing, and the thought of drying must be daunting!
Anyway, it's a simple, charming telling of a very interesting and quite moving story.
I got a bit nervous at the beginning because he employed the idea of greeting the audience, as if surprised to find them there, and threw out a few questions in character about whether people remembered his films. Some of the audience were only too keen to answer, whilst I stayed  frozen in rhetorical silence, but things soon settled down once he got into the story! Worth a visit if it's near you.

[NeilVHughes]

Absolutely delightful.

An evening in the company of an English theatrical gentleman of a certain age, a life well lived, a stiff upper lip through the hard times and a humble perspective in the good.

Miles Jupp is a revelation, he was both a reason for / and reason for not going (quantum theatre) he became David Tomlinson as we lived his anecdotal life.

I only wish some of the plays mentioned are revived as the plot synopses were quite something.

[drowseychap]

Saw this last week in Birmingham almost full house firstly great set ... secondly miles jupp who knew such a wonderful actor so engaging seen loads of these type of shows ... and knowing nothing about DT part from Mary and bedknobs .... found this enthralling what a life really interesting and engaging from the off ..... I was agahst when I heard some comments on the interval wish I’d stayed at home , it’s ok , etc. Well u can’t plwase everyone but we loved it and so did most of the audience going by the applause and cheers at the end 8/10

[lynette]

Mar 18, 2019 22:29:09 GMT NeilVHughes said:

Absolutely delightful.

An evening in the company of an English theatrical gentleman of a certain age, a life well lived, a stiff upper lip through the hard times and a humble perspective in the good.

Miles Jupp is a revelation, he was both a reason for / and reason for not going (quantum theatre) he became David Tomlinson as we lived his anecdotal life.

I only wish some of the plays mentioned are revived as the plot synopses were quite something.

Ah, you are a week ahead of us! Sorry to miss you at this. Sounds good. 

[showgirl]

Still selling mysteriously poorly at Guildford and I can't fit it in during the Park Theatre run anyway, so I'm aiming to get the senior rate at Guildford next week. That seems to be the end of the short tour but given the reviews/comments and that it's a one-person performance, maybe it will re-appear.

[lynette]

Excellent. I love these actors who do a show and really show us their skills. And the stuff about acting a character at the end. Lovely stuff. Go see if you can.

[Deleted]

Although the initial tour has ended, there are dates for 27-31 August at the at Theatre Royal, Bath.

Absolutely loved this play, it deserves a longer life especially with Jupp as he is terriffic in this.

[jampot]

Coming to the Wyndhams theatre 16th to 21st Sept....

[dlevi]

I saw this last night and found myself baffled by the whole enterprise. First, don't read the programme notes before the show - whatever drama there is in Tomlinson's life is revealed in them and knowledge of that will limit the impact of the drama on stage. But whatever drama there is is dealt with in a stiff-upper-lip sort of way that we don't get to know Tomlinson in the same way that he didn't get to know his father. It's all perfectly competent but very uninspired.

[Dr Tom]

I enjoyed this last night and it held my attention all the way through, which is saying something for a solo performance. Miles Jupps was excellent.

I didn't read much about this in advance, so there were surprises I didn't expect. This has very little to do with Mary Poppins, but there are some nice touches.

There is a question in my mind about how much was true. There were a few stories about plays that were obviously made up as they got more obscure as the night went on (one peppered with more Mary Poppins references). But the overall plot, which largely focuses on dad/son relationships, rang true to what I know about the era.

Front rows seat was a great view. The Stalls seemed fairly full but there was some space. I did get an empty seat either side (not sure why, as the rest of the front row was full), but that was good for comfort.

A few people in who looked familiar too, possibly actors or involved with the profession. I couldn't quite place them. But it's the type of show you go to for an acting masterclass and to see what a talented man can do on a simple set.

Running time is two hours, including the 20 minute interval. There are some keenly priced seats and this is worth catching during its one week West End run.