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Post by showgirl on Nov 9, 2018 4:21:29 GMT
Even so, some might welcome some jolly japes in the dead of winter, which it will be when I see this. So I'm still hoping that if I make it, it will brighten my day.
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Post by lynette on Nov 9, 2018 9:13:20 GMT
Forgot to add that the fire alarm went off. I suspect the fire crackers smoke set it off but I might be wrong. RH dealt with it v well. Actors stayed on stage and word came from the side to continue for the time being. Much amusement.
I was beginning to think I was carrying a curse as we had Six stopped when I went. That didn’t restart.
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Post by peggs on Nov 9, 2018 10:34:54 GMT
When you say picked on by the cast @ryan do you mean more than just been featured to etc? Should I be worried in the front row? I can cope with being hit by a bread roll.
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Post by lynette on Nov 9, 2018 11:46:11 GMT
We yes you should be worriedin front row. But you are ok I think cos you are a gal.
The bread rolls go well over front row!
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Post by n1david on Nov 9, 2018 11:50:32 GMT
Oh god my husband's going to hate this. He loathes audience participation and we're in the front row.
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Post by peggs on Nov 9, 2018 12:10:31 GMT
We yes you should be worriedin front row. But you are ok I think cos you are a gal. The bread rolls go well over front row! I'm imagining all sorts now. Right so on the basis that I have short hair and as such have been identified as male a couple of times before I should wear my most girly top? As if I own such a thing. Disappointing re bread rolls, I'm always hungry |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2018 12:53:03 GMT
Oh god my husband's going to hate this. He loathes audience participation and we're in the front row. Hubby and I were centre front row and neither of us wanted to be picked on, so we just kept our eyes averted. Older chap (Kent, which Rufus Hound had fun with) at the end of the row was chatted to and a young lad who seemed very enthusiastic held a couple of props. Given the audience, I think Rufus Hound has a good sense of who to choose. He’s not going for stand-up comedian excruciation of unwilling audience. One thing I forgot to say. I felt like the lighting (which I assume is bright to make us feel like we are in Spain) really bleeds into the front row, much more than at other plays. I wonder if this made it harder for me to get immersed and worsened my dislike. It only felt dark a couple of times, and as I go to the theatre to escape, I never felt like I could relax into the performance. |
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Post by showgirl on Nov 9, 2018 18:19:14 GMT
We yes you should be worriedin front row. But you are ok I think cos you are a gal. The bread rolls go well over front row! I'm imagining all sorts now. Right so on the basis that I have short hair and as such have been identified as male a couple of times before I should wear my most girly top? As if I own such a thing. Disappointing re bread rolls, I'm always hungry Take your own bread rolls, eat enough to assuage your appetite and throw the rest on stage - that's true audience participation! |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2018 18:36:53 GMT
When you say picked on by the cast @ryan do you mean more than just been featured to etc? Should I be worried in the front row? I can cope with being hit by a bread roll. I had a chat with Rufus Hound, name, how are you, what do you do, made fun of my name etc, had a few quips between us, was addressed by another actress twice and held hands with another actor and was pulled up at the front of the stage to stand over him and "protect him" from Don Quixote. |
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Post by showgirl on Nov 9, 2018 18:51:09 GMT
So what next, @ryan? An Equity card at least, surely?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2018 18:53:12 GMT
So what next, @ryan? An Equity card at least, surely? I know right? I should have at least had a credit in the programme, "Special guest appearance by Ryan" |
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Post by lynette on Nov 10, 2018 0:37:16 GMT
When you say picked on by the cast @ryan do you mean more than just been featured to etc? Should I be worried in the front row? I can cope with being hit by a bread roll. I had a chat with Rufus Hound, name, how are you, what do you do, made fun of my name etc, had a few quips between us, was addressed by another actress twice and held hands with another actor and was pulled up at the front of the stage to stand over him and "protect him" from Don Quixote. Trust you to get that part! Our night he caught someone who had been a cabbie. Jokes galore. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2018 9:23:56 GMT
I saw this in Stratford and have no memory in the slightest of any audience participation! How strange! I'm in the front row this time too (going in a couple of weeks).
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Post by peggs on Nov 10, 2018 10:03:42 GMT
I feel this is where my natural expression of of miserableness and 'do not talk to me' may play in my favour.
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Post by bellboard27 on Nov 11, 2018 12:14:03 GMT
When you say picked on by the cast @ryan do you mean more than just been featured to etc? Should I be worried in the front row? I can cope with being hit by a bread roll. I had a chat with Rufus Hound, name, how are you, what do you do, made fun of my name etc, had a few quips between us, was addressed by another actress twice and held hands with another actor and was pulled up at the front of the stage to stand over him and "protect him" from Don Quixote. Pretty similar to what happened to me a week ago. I was sitting middle of the front row. I had made eye contact with Rufus Hound earlier, so I suspect that singled me out as his victim for that evening. Personally, I'm quite comfortable with this, but others might not be! |
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Post by peggs on Nov 17, 2018 22:50:33 GMT
Studiously avoided making eye contact with Rufus Hound until he appeared to have picked his audience participation victims but they're throwing skills are either flagging or I was singled out for not laughing enough and was properly hit by a hurled bread role.
Well can safely say I've never seen anything quite like this. Someone was off so lots of cast swapping but you couldn't tell.
I'm not a big laugher, tend to smile and laugh inside so to speak but one particular fall did make my laugh more than I'd have thought possible.
Rather long but have had a fall so sitting is not comfortable so that played a significant part.
Great double act of leads, must be rather exhausting and cleverly done, RH's breaking of the fourth wall and bits played for laughs against DT's always playing it straight.
Front row a bargain if rather alarming at times.
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Post by duncan on Nov 21, 2018 23:37:10 GMT
Hit on the noggin by 2 bread rolls, water thrown over me and I was the person selected by the wife to ask in which direction Sancho had run off in.
Others had the name and job routine with Hound, holding a baby, actors pretending to fall over the person at the end and the man 2 along had to protect the knight Quixote defeats.
Or in other words, if you hate audience participation don't sit in row AA.
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Post by showgirl on Nov 22, 2018 4:18:48 GMT
On the other hand, if you're on a budget but like to see what you're paying (the lowest possible price) for, where else are you likely to sit? I'm in AA, so apprehensive, but I hope no-one tries anything with me as when I go, it'll still be relatively soon after my first op & only a week until my second.
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Post by theatrefan77 on Nov 22, 2018 8:29:40 GMT
I used my best 'Don't mess with me' face and it worked. However my poor friend was a constant target
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2018 9:16:40 GMT
Hit on the noggin by 2 bread rolls, water thrown over me and I was the person selected by the wife to ask in which direction Sancho had run off in. Others had the name and job routine with Hound, holding a baby, actors pretending to fall over the person at the end and the man 2 along had to protect the knight Quixote defeats. Or in other words, if you hate audience participation don't sit in row AA. Gosh, the cast must have been dazzled by my beautiful eyes as I was the subject of ALL of the above, except getting hit by a bread roll and getting water thrown over me (other people got that). I also got Rufus sticking his tongue out at me and giving me 'V' signs for pointing his wife in the right direction! His wife also told me that she should have married me instead at another part of the play. Rufus gave me a smile and a wink at the curtain call so he must be happy when there's a good sport in each night. |
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Post by duncan on Nov 25, 2018 13:29:02 GMT
40 - Don Quixote - Garrick
A deluded old man and his "squire" set out across Spain in search of chivalrous adventure. The story of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza with SONGS and PUPPETRY and AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION!!
Already mentioned the AP upthread so lets go beyond that,
The first half of this is great, a rollicking romp that Rufus Hound drags along with the force of his personality and then after the interval it becomes a, slightly, more serious piece and it loses the fun and adventure and instead becomes a maudlin piece that not even a fine ensemble can save. Now I know this is a fault with the source material but here the section with the Duke and Duchess draaaaaaaaaaaaags for what seems like way too long. Its not helped that the actor playing the Duke is bland and attempting to play broad and it doesn't work - he just comes across as a dullard rather than the utter sh*t he should be so that we are routing for our two heroes.
Hound is the saving grace here, giving his all and taking most of the ensemble with him in heightened comedic performances and yet still able to deliver on the serious notes when required.
Whilst David Threlfall is all stoic and dull as the titular character. I've never been a fan of Threlfall the actor, and I'm especially not a fan of Threlfall the person, and there is nothing here to suggest that he deserves top billing in any show never mind this. Yes I know its the part as written and he's supposed to be the rock around which the shenanigans occur but for me there was nothing to suggest this was a man with an impossible dream, he's just a bloke with a beard.
The puppetry is far better than this show deserves with an amazing lion and some bizarre babies being a particular highlight. The music and songs come and go, less than a week later I honestly cant remember anything about them other than they were quite enjoyable at the time.
Only the bottom two levels were open and there was a lot of empty seats in the stalls.
7/10 - for the first half.
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Post by foxa on Nov 25, 2018 13:40:44 GMT
Ah - being forewarned by your posts above about audience participation, I gently warned Mr Foxa that there might be some - and we were first row centre. Taking the above advice ,I smiled, made eye contact, etc. thinking I'd take the bullet instead of miserable Mr Foxa who LOATHES audience participation, whereas I am - eh, don't love it but as long as I'm not dragged onstage and made to dance or strip, I can deal with it. However, despite my attempts at positive vibes, I was invisible - and Rufus latched onto Mr Foxa. Argh. If you knew Mr Foxa you would appreciate what a disaster this was. Half the audience had to chant his name and wave their arms, he was asked what he did and directions were demanded (he gave the wrong ones which meant the Sancho's wife scolded him and Rufus gave him two thumbs up); etc. By the interval, he could take no more and snuck into a seat at the rear of the stalls. So I had an empty seat to my right, which I imagine was not unnoticed by the cast. The guys a couple to my left got a lot of attention as well and I heard one say as we were leaving 'I have no idea what that was all about.') On the way home, I kept saying 'But the seats were only £10 - what a deal!' Our daughter was delighted by the tale.
The play: thought Threlfall was excellent and Hound had his moments. Liked the puppets. First half overall stronger than the second. Some dodgy direction in some parts and awkward shifts in tone/mood. Not sure the songs added much. But for £10, if you don't mind being pelted with bread, etc. quite enjoyable.
Edit: Hadn't read Duncan's posting before posting mine - but agree with much of it - though liked Threlfall much more.
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Post by peggs on Nov 25, 2018 15:43:17 GMT
Poor Mr foxa, what a nightmare, am impressed he stayed for the second half at all. I think they pick on men from reading this thread, it was all men when I went.
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Post by Stephen on Nov 25, 2018 16:17:21 GMT
I love how we're all seeing this in the front row. My time is coming this Friday and I just know it'll be me as I'll be on my own too!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2018 16:49:06 GMT
Ah - being forewarned by your posts above about audience participation, I gently warned Mr Foxa that there might be some - and we were first row centre. Taking the above advice ,I smiled, made eye contact, etc. thinking I'd take the bullet instead of miserable Mr Foxa who LOATHES audience participation, whereas I am - eh, don't love it but as long as I'm not dragged onstage and made to dance or strip, I can deal with it. However, despite my attempts at positive vibes, I was invisible - and Rufus latched onto Mr Foxa. Argh. If you knew Mr Foxa you would appreciate what a disaster this was. Half the audience had to chant his name and wave their arms, he was asked what he did and directions were demanded (he gave the wrong ones which meant the Sancho's wife scolded him and Rufus gave him two thumbs up); etc. By the interval, he could take no more and snuck into a seat at the rear of the stalls. So I had an empty seat to my right, which I imagine was not unnoticed by the cast. The guys a couple to my left got a lot of attention as well and I heard one say as we were leaving 'I have no idea what that was all about.') On the way home, I kept saying 'But the seats were only £10 - what a deal!' Our daughter was delighted by the tale. The play: thought Threlfall was excellent and Hound had his moments. Liked the puppets. First half overall stronger than the second. Some dodgy direction in some parts and awkward shifts in tone/mood. Not sure the songs added much. But for £10, if you don't mind being pelted with bread, etc. quite enjoyable. Edit: Hadn't read Duncan's posting before posting mine - but agree with much of it - though liked Threlfall much more.
Oh that threw me! I was sitting to the right of the lady who's chap got picked on when I went on Saturday afternoon, and thought I must have been next to you, although it didn't sound quite right because there was definitely no empty seat when I was there. But I've just realised you must have been there in the evening, so at least I know I'm not going mad.
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