1,485 posts
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Post by Steve on Apr 10, 2019 20:57:14 GMT
Saw this tonight, and it's meta theatre with a mighty punch. Some spoilers follow. . . Neve McIntosh plays a depressed writer in need of a story, and she finds one in Lorn Macdonald's teenage artist, a good Samaritan with zero societal privilege. The question is: can she be his mouthpiece? This is the best kind of meta theatre, in that the meta elements not only serve to dissect HOW stories are typically told, and WHO gets to tell them, but also result in the creation of two urgent and relatable characters who feel extra real on account of the blurry fourth wall. The result is electric theatre, not the intellectual masturbation that you might fear whenever you hear the word "meta." Neve McIntosh delivers a typically excellent performance, one half empathy, one half toxic privilege, but it is Lorn Macdonald who comes completely alive here, his character built by blending credible amounts of mordant wit, hope, humour, confusion, despair, and ever mounting anger. For those who liked the urgent first scene of the Almeida's "The Writer," this show snatches the urgency of that scene, and runs with it to a bitter truthful end. Thrilling! 4 and a half stars.  |
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2,481 posts
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Post by zahidf on Apr 10, 2019 21:21:25 GMT
I saw this on Monday. I thought this was great as well, very clever and funny.
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3,564 posts
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Post by showgirl on Apr 11, 2019 3:55:35 GMT
Would love to see this but tix have got a bit dear as I didn't book when it was first announced. Still hoping though, as reviews have all been very enthusiastic.
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Post by westendgurl on Apr 11, 2019 9:30:51 GMT
I saw this show on Tuesday and thought it was brilliant. Clever and hilarious and touching too. Lorn Macdonald is a genius. I definitely recommend.
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213 posts
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Post by peelee on Apr 16, 2019 11:33:51 GMT
What a play! Or was it the acting? It's likely the writing, acting and directing combined have made this such an engrossing piece of theatre. I'm so happy to have seen this, based on Steve's upthread recommendation last week.
I think it was Steve, too, who alerted this board to the rather decadent and wonderful Effigies of Wickedness about the German songs and cabaret acts that defied but got squeezed by the Nazis, staged at the Gate Theatre in West London last year.
I guess 'early birds' got the best ticket prices from whenever it was that booking opened, but there are still tickets at what looks like a range of prices, all pretty reasonable I'd say. And what I appreciated too: the play text at discount. Anyway, if you see this it's unlikely you'll give a fig what you paid for a ticket. Down from the Traverse Theatre, Scotland, and surely this'll prove one of the highlights of London theatre this year.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2019 12:07:01 GMT
Yes, thought this was amazing. Well worth a look. Felt at some points that it was going to be a bit too "arch" and "meta" but then the play addresses that and the ending is incredibly tense!
Tickets for matinees (including Saturdays) are cheaper (top price £19.50).
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Post by winonaforever on Apr 17, 2019 11:27:11 GMT
Just got a ticket for Thursday |
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2,743 posts
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Post by n1david on Apr 18, 2019 23:12:47 GMT
Have to add to the praise for this having seen it tonight. It's a very clever play, it twists and turns whilst keeping its overall narrative thread consistent. Provides food for thought about both the apparent 'cause' of the play and how we as an audience interpret that play. Superb performances but particularly by Lorn Macdonald. Many thanks to Steve and others for the pointer, this had not otherwise got on my radar. Oh, and lovely to meet winonaforever (only because I was sitting behind her and saw her browsing this site on her phone before the show started) |
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Post by winonaforever on Apr 19, 2019 7:58:48 GMT
What @n1david said!I'd read the great reviews, but it was even more that I was expecting. Such a powerful piece of theatre that made me both laugh and cry a lot.
Neve McIntosh was very good, but Lorn Macdonald was amazing!
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Post by jamb0r on Apr 30, 2019 10:22:10 GMT
Caught this last night and was blown away - a real unexpected treat! The performances (wow!) and writing kept me gripped right until the end.
The passage about theatre audiences heartbeats synching was beautiful. I bought the play text and am considering putting that part in a frame!
Looks like it closes this weekend - really glad I caught this - if you're considering it make sure to get tickets while you can!
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213 posts
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Post by peelee on May 19, 2019 18:21:10 GMT
Playwright of Mouthpiece, Kieran Hurley, is co-writer of a new film, Beats, based on an earlier play of his. I see it's on at cinemas in various towns. Here is what Mark Kermode thinks of it, as he said on his BBC Radio 5 show the other day:
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2019 18:52:40 GMT
Playwright of Mouthpiece, Kieran Hurley, is co-writer of a new film, Beats, based on an earlier play of his. I see it's on at cinemas in various towns. Here is what Mark Kermode thinks of it, as he said on his BBC Radio 5 show the other day: I caught the play version of Beats at the Soho Theatre back in the halcyon days of 2013. For those who missed Mouthpiece previously, it’s at the Traverse during this year’s fringe. |
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