The Comedy About a Bank Robbery

[Deleted]

Hitting the Criterion theatre in April this year. From the ever popular Mischief theatre, expect much mayhem!

[DuchessConstance]

I'm told they've signed a longterm contract with the Cri. Though you can only book up to June at present.

[Dawnstar]

The article in The Stage last week certainly sounded like they were looking at a long run. I can't quote as I've run out of free Stage viewings for the month but it was something along the lines of the original cast doing it till after Christmas then, implied, a second cast taking over.

[lynette]

Tried to book this afternoon. Their phone line was down because of an emergency evacuation, it said! I tackled the online and failed miserably. So will try again tomorrow.

[stefy69]

Very much looking forward to this and if they do have a long term contract with the Criterion well done them they deserve it.

[danielwhit]

Jan 25, 2016 18:42:38 GMT Dawnstar said:

The article in The Stage last week certainly sounded like they were looking at a long run. I can't quote as I've run out of free Stage viewings for the month but it was something along the lines of the original cast doing it till after Christmas then, implied, a second cast taking over.

Yes - it was in context regarding taking Play That Goes Wrong to Broadway. They were offered to go in the fall but decided against as the original cast could only do 3/4 months of Bank Robbery. So they are taking it until the new year, then recasting (assuming it's good, obviously!) and heading to Broadway next Spring with Play.

Personally, I'm there on the 31st March.

[stevej678]

This is now booking until 2nd October 2016. Also, bookings no longer seem to be through Ticketmaster and are instead via www.criterion-theatre.co.uk. Front row of the stalls is £30.75.

[rumbledoll]

Thanks for the info, guys! Anyone knows if the original cast leaves in the middle of the run or stays untill October?

[lynette]

Thanks for the booking info. I had given up with ticket master. I couldn't get anything on the website, no available tix so realising that was obs Rubbish I just left it. I will have another go now. I loved the previous two offerings.

[showgirl]

A reminder to anyone interested in this and yet to book, that there are 25 early performances advertised at £25 (interestingly though, not all dates, which is puzzling, though others may be able to shed some light on this), from Thursday 31 March to Tuesday 24 May, and most of these dates are heavily booked.

Best availability remaining is for May, but even then I needed the help of the trusty Theatremonkey to refine my seat choice.

[AddisonMizner]

How do you get the £25 seats? Is it just certain seats in the theatre?

[showgirl]

No, it's all seats on the 25 dates but plus a £1.25 booking fee online - not charged if booking in person at the box office.

[AddisonMizner]

Thanks for that. How do you know which are included in the 25 dates?

Sorry for all the questions.

[showgirl]

Well, the theatre helpfully has a printed list to hand out, but as the dates have gaps in the sequence (there are performances on the missing dates so the reason is a mystery but someone else here is bound to know why they're not included), it's either a case of trial and error on the website, call in, or get someone to list them for you.

I would post them but I binned the leaflet and can't recall the dates, though there are more towards the start of the run than the end; only 1 (weekday) matinee is included and only 1 (early) Saturday, I think.

[Dawnstar]

Mar 27, 2016 15:45:45 GMT showgirl said:

Well, the theatre helpfully has a printed list to hand out, but as the dates have gaps in the sequence (there are performances on the missing dates so the reason is a mystery but someone else here is bound to know why they're not included), it's either a case of trial and error on the website, call in, or get someone to list them for you.

I would post them but I binned the leaflet and can't recall the dates, though there are more towards the start of the run than the end; only 1 (weekday) matinee is included and only 1 (early) Saturday, I think.

I don't know for certain but from the dates that are available at £25 it looks to be like it's the first few previews then after that it is the less popular Tuesday-Thursday dates while the more popular weekend shows go up to full price very quickly. I guess that means they can provide some affordable tickets without reducing their revenue as much as if they were discounting all the previews.

[danielwhit]

Heading back from first preview now, so some brief thoughts:

Overall - fantastic shape for a first preview.

Set is exactly what I'd expect, not photo realistic but 'quirky'. Cast do all the set changes, mostly covered by brief bursts into song.

Script is in part stronger than Play That Goes Wrong, although the second half may be tweaked - it has a slightly irratic flow to it (especially the final 10 minutes). It's very nearly there but feels like it could do with a tweak or one less twist. I'll discuss that more when others have seen it though!

Plenty of visual gags, and you will miss two minutes or so if you're under an overhang. Otherwise £20 restricted views will be fine. Equally, I think the front row may miss a bit that happens at the back of the stage (blocked by a 'vent' at the front of the stage for a scene).

Really good to see this team tackle something very different to a Goes Wrong, it'll do well come reviews. You will definitely not be disappointed.

Will discuss more when others have also seen it and I'm not on a train

[Deleted]

So glad to hear that danielwhit. I feared people would be lining up to slate it because of the success of The Play That Goes Wrong and Peter Pan Goes Wrong and due to their desire to show that they're culturally above those who loved these guys and to be seen to be different.

[Dawnstar]

I saw the second preview last night. I'm still trying to work out my feelings about it.

One point for those used to the Goes Wrong shows, this is currently over half an hour longer so bear that in mind when thinking of transport. Last night finished about 10.10pm. Of course, like all new shows, it'll probably tighten up during previews.

[jezabel]

Saw the preview this afternoon and felt it was pretty rough around the edges. I think the problem is they've tried to cram so much action into the show it came across as a little messy and unfocused at times, and almost felt like a spoof of Am Dram without (I assume) intending to be; some of the slapstick moments really need tightening up to be truly convincing (although I was sitting in the 2nd row so was examining things closely!). Some of the jokes were a little laboured and too thin for repeated use, but the cast put in 110% energy and the audience was generally laughing all the way through; the biggest part which just left me stony faced was a scene ripping off James Cordon's masterful fight with himself in One Man, Two Guv'nors, with this version being just a pale shadow of the original so I'm not sure why they thought this would be a good idea to include it. I enjoyed it but unless it is polished up significantly I don't think it will mirror the longevity of TPTGW.
Just to note they didn't open the house doors until just on 2.30pm so the foyers became packed and a health and safety nightmare with people queuing anywhere they could. Not sure if there was a technical reason but if you're not good with crowds maybe don't arrive too early just in case!

[Dawnstar]

Apr 2, 2016 23:57:04 GMT jezabel said:

the biggest part which just left me stony faced was a scene ripping off James Cordon's masterful fight with himself in One Man, Two Guv'nors, with this version being just a pale shadow of the original so I'm not sure why they thought this would be a good idea to include it.

I have no recollection whatsoever of any self-fighting taking place in One Man, Two Guv'nors - it's worrying how little one remembers of shows a few years on! Personally I was faintly reminded of The 39 Steps in that scene. Another scene in Act 2 made me think of Lend Me A Tenor The Musical. I suppose its inevitable that farces are often reminiscent of each other.

On Friday the theatre was open a good 20 minutes beforehand so I guess your delay must have been due to a hitch. I agree the Criterion is not a good theatre for having to wait around.

[Deleted]

Is it the bit with the dustbin lid in One Man...?

[Dawnstar]

I've just realised, no-one's yet done the required answers so:

No dogs (not even missing ones or ones played by people), though quite a few seagulls.
No nudity, unless you count missing trousers.
Fairly low stage.

[vdcni]

It's not bad but this isn't in the same league as their previous stuff. It's overlong and too many jokes go nowhere. I'd agree that the fighting himself scene is pretty feeble.

It feels like there are trying to have their cake and eat it, keeping the absurdity of The Play That Goes Wrong while telling a proper story but sometimes the two objectives clash and the story comes off the worse. There's also a pretty drastic change of tone at the end that doesn't quite fit.

Still some bits work well and are very funny and it got a very positive response at the end.

[Mr Wallacio]

Out of the matinee today and much like their previous stuff this really appealed to my sense of humour.

I wasn't crying like I was the first time I say PTGW, but it was still amusing, if a bit predictable at times.

It did seem like Henry Lewis and Jonathan Sayers were playing their characters from the previous two shows and not something independent, so it makes them seem a bit 'one trick pony'.

Definitely worth the £25 I paid. Would I pay full price? No, but then there's rarely anything I do for.

[DuchessConstance]

I haven't seen it yet but I am genuinely crying with laughter just at the video of their little bit at the Oliviers, so I can't imagine I won't love it. You know how sometimes there's a person who you just think literally everything they do is hilarious? That's me with Mischief Theatre. Chris Bean could breath and I'd wet myself.