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Post by wannabedirector on Jul 10, 2019 22:45:36 GMT
Saw this tonight, it’s a long one, it finished at quarter to eleven ish. I got a rush ticket from TodayTix, was in the third last row of the stalls and for £20 the view and the seat were good.
As much as I really did want to enjoy this, it just felt a bit inconsequential. I wasn’t really moved by it, and frankly it just didn’t do that much for me. I have a mixed relationship with Tennessee Williams, I remember first reading A Streetcar Named Desire at school and being captivated by it, but I’ve also directed one of his works, which led me to realise that his work is undeniably without flaws. I just felt like this wasn’t near his best works, like Streetcar or Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
There’s some good performances in it, Lia Williams is great again, but it’s not a performance up there with her Klytemnestra in Oresteia or her Miss Jean Brodie. Anna Gunn does well too, although I wasn’t too convinced by Clive Owen.
It dragged a fair bit, and I hope they tighten it up as the previews continue because it definitely feels too long. Maybe my expeditions of this going in were too high, but this didn’t really live up to it.
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Post by Snciole on Jul 10, 2019 22:51:00 GMT
I agree with WannabeDirector. Too damn long. Why is Clive Owen playing it like he is Nicolas Cage? So OTT but probably the only thing I have enjoyed him in. I felt Williams was miscast. She didn't seem comfortable and her thoughtful performance style just didn't work here. Just too slow. Anna Gunn is probably the highlight but it just feels like a production past its best.
The real star is Rae Smith's set and costume design. Nice supporting performances too but this isn't special.
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Post by londonpostie on Jul 10, 2019 23:13:15 GMT
I'm not biologically capable of criticising Tennessee Williams - or probably Lia Wiliams - and this presents a problem. I'll keep it short and say Clive Owen could (a) be more of a tart and (b) exude more chemistry. Nothing against him but I've always felt there was more range in a Gatwick drone.
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Post by zahidf on Jul 10, 2019 23:14:07 GMT
3 hours 15 mins??? Oof.
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Post by a12la on Jul 10, 2019 23:29:19 GMT
Anna Gunn was definitely the best performance, but I thought everyone did a really great job (but maybe I'm just easy to please). Seconding what Snciole said, the set design was absolutely incredible, as was the sound design (I have no idea how they did all those echos, since the actors weren't mic'd).
Honestly, the worst part of the show wasn't anything to do with the actual play, it was the audience. There were several people texting with full brightness throughout the entire show, a whole group noisily got up and left about 15 minutes from the end, and worst of all, someone sitting in the third or fourth row, with full brightness, was taking pictures of the performance on her phone. Then after the show, Clive Owen came out at the stage door to sign a few autographs, and when he said he really had to leave, people literally chased him down the street trying to get pictures. It was all just incredibly disrespectful.
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Post by Snciole on Jul 11, 2019 7:56:22 GMT
Also now I've seen it. I love Alfred Molina but how was he cast in that role. Even 20+ years ago I cannot imagine he exuding the sexual charm needed for the role. Frustratingly Owen on paper should have but I hope that will come to him as the run continues.
When did Clive Owen come out? My friend wanted to hang around for the double whammy of Broderick in the Wyndhams and Owen in the Coward but we just got an awkward selfie encounter with Broderick instead.
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Post by theatrelover123 on Jul 11, 2019 8:15:58 GMT
Also now I've seen it. I love Alfred Molina but how was he cast in that role. Even 20+ years ago I cannot imagine he exuding the sexual charm needed for the role. Frustratingly Owen on paper should have but I hope that will come to him as the run continues. When did Clive Owen come out? My friend wanted to hang around for the double whammy of Broderick in the Wyndhams and Owen in the Coward but we just got an awkward selfie encounter with Broderick instead. Coming out is a very personal thing and people only do it when they are ready and feel most comfortable. There should be no pressure. Oh.... Out of the theatre.... OK....as you were  |
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Post by a12la on Jul 11, 2019 8:28:30 GMT
Also now I've seen it. I love Alfred Molina but how was he cast in that role. Even 20+ years ago I cannot imagine he exuding the sexual charm needed for the role. Frustratingly Owen on paper should have but I hope that will come to him as the run continues. When did Clive Owen come out? My friend wanted to hang around for the double whammy of Broderick in the Wyndhams and Owen in the Coward but we just got an awkward selfie encounter with Broderick instead. Around 11:30. |
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Post by lonlad on Jul 11, 2019 14:58:55 GMT
Friends of mine were there last night sixth row centre and couldn't hear Lia Williams at all, or so they claimed, and didn't think Gunn and Owen had the slightest bit of chemistry. Oh dear.
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Post by westendgurl on Jul 15, 2019 10:53:27 GMT
Going to see this tonight and I'm not looking forward to the three-hour run time on a school night - my bad for not booking a matinee!
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Post by zahidf on Jul 15, 2019 11:24:18 GMT
I'm taking a date next week: I'm thinking there wont be time for a post play drink alas...
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Post by Snciole on Jul 15, 2019 13:59:37 GMT
I hope it is shorter, there are things I would cut or I would ensure it had more pace (Lia Williams's slow delivery works in certain plays, not sure it is working here)
It would have been fine if it started at 7 but it will die a death if it doesn't get to sub 3 hours.
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Post by westendgurl on Jul 16, 2019 8:03:56 GMT
I hope it is shorter, there are things I would cut or I would ensure it had more pace (Lia Williams's slow delivery works in certain plays, not sure it is working here) It would have been fine if it started at 7 but it will die a death if it doesn't get to sub 3 hours. I really wish it had started at 7 - I regretted booking for a Monday night when I found out how long it was! It could definitely be cut, the first part in particular dragged for me. |
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Post by londonpostie on Jul 16, 2019 9:49:49 GMT
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jul 16, 2019 10:51:18 GMT
Interesting. I'll check it out. Thanks The performance length of this production is putting me off. I've seen St Car twice and found it overlong, the cuts made for the excellent meet my approval. Isn't Cat on a hot tin roof really long when you see it live? I like the shortened film! |
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Post by mistressjojo on Jul 16, 2019 11:04:28 GMT
Isn't Cat on a hot tin roof really long when you see it live? I like the shortened film! I saw a production last month and it came in at 3h05, including interval. There were a few drawn out passages where I felt the time dragging. |
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Post by lonlad on Jul 16, 2019 23:21:31 GMT
Liked it A LOT tonight though it will be too discursive for some -- but Owen is entirely and very movingly invested in the role and he and Williams and Gunn all suggest varying degrees of damage but also endurance, which is the abiding theme of the play: it got standing O at the end and benefits from a major supporting turn from Julian Glover who bats the role of Nonno out of the park.
The reviews so far seem all over the place -- 2 (Times, Metro), 3 (Telegraph and Guardian), and 4 stars (Whatsonstage, The Arts Desk) -- and I suspect audiences may be similarly divided. But it certainly worked for me and the friend I was with and in its way rivals the '92 NT staging (Gunn much better than Frances Barber, who barked her way nonstop through the role of Maxine.)
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Post by Sotongal on Jul 17, 2019 11:23:39 GMT
Gunn, Williams and Glover all excellent and a great cameo from Finty Williams, but we thought it showed that Clive Owen hasn't been on the UK stage for eighteen years and is mostly a film and TV actor. Had a look at a YouTube trailer for the film, starring Richard
Burton and he does exude the traits you'd expect to find in Shannon, which we didn't feel Owen got to grips with in this stage production.
Have to mention the set which is stunning.
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Post by lonlad on Jul 17, 2019 21:57:27 GMT
All this stuff about Owen's absence from the London stage omits the fact that he was on Broadway twice in recent years and was excellent both times (OLD TIMES and M BUTTERFLY) even if neither production took the town, to put it mildly -- which certainly wasn't his fault.
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Post by bordeaux on Jul 19, 2019 8:01:17 GMT
I enjoyed this, though I think it is not up there with his best plays. Good performances, great set, an interesting variation on the usual Williams themes. Those Germans were odd, though. I certainly didn't resent paying under £20 for side slips Grand Circle - AA17 just fine for vision and audibility. I've rather fallen in love with the West End again after a four-play trip, getting half-price rear stalls for Rosmersholm, second row stalls for Sweat (booked on first day of booking, it's true) and a good semi-restricted circle seat at the Old Vic - some tiny bar in the way which didn't affect my enjoyment at all. And quite a few young people at the Ibsen and Coward in particular.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2019 9:48:59 GMT
TodayTix rush seats are easy to come by for this - suspect they are stealth discounting by adding extra seats during the day
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Post by Dawnstar on Jul 20, 2019 11:57:23 GMT
The reviews so far seem all over the place -- 2 (Times, Metro), 3 (Telegraph and Guardian), and 4 stars (Whatsonstage, The Arts Desk) -- and I suspect audiences may be similarly divided. But it certainly worked for me and the friend I was with and in its way rivals the '92 NT staging (Gunn much better than Frances Barber, who barked her way nonstop through the role of Maxine.) I'm very disappointed that the reviews don't indicate that an iguana is actually featured in the production. Why call a piece The Night of the Iguana if there's no iguana?! |
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Post by TallPaul on Jul 20, 2019 12:07:01 GMT
Why call a piece The Night of the Iguana if there's no iguana?! Perhaps animal welfare now trumps trade descriptions? Cats aren't allowed on hot tin roofs anymore either |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 21, 2019 8:31:40 GMT
Saw this last night with the TodayTix rush - £25 for row Q of the stalls which was a great view.
Amazing set, bit of a pity there isn't a curtain as revealing that at the start would be impressive.
Thought all the cast were fine. No problem hearing Lia Williams. It has got a bit tighter - finished about 10:30 last night.
Never seen the play before so it was a bit of a surprise that its not just a metaphor and there actually is an iguana.
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Post by TallPaul on Jul 21, 2019 11:59:17 GMT
There you are, Dawnstar. Seems there is an iguana after all! |
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