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Post by theoracle on Dec 6, 2019 0:42:19 GMT
Just booked this out of curiosity, front row. Has anyone had a chance to check the show out? 3hrs 15mins... what’s the consensus? I must admit I’m not familiar with any of Chekhov’s works except Seagull so I’m guessing I will have a rather radical introduction to this piece? Love to hear all thoughts
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Post by tmesis on Dec 6, 2019 16:24:34 GMT
I'm meant to be seeing this tomorrow evening and I've just checked with the box office and it's coming in at 3hrs 25mins! Since I'm travelling in on SWR and the last train, because of the strike, is 22.20 looks like I'll have to rethink or miss a large chunk of the end.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Dec 6, 2019 18:07:51 GMT
That is a ludicrous length for any Chekhov. No excuse for a runtime of that length. None at all.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Dec 6, 2019 18:34:43 GMT
I'm meant to be seeing this tomorrow evening and I've just checked with the box office and it's coming in at 3hrs 25mins! Since I'm travelling in on SWR and the last train, because of the strike, is 22.20 looks like I'll have to rethink or miss a large chunk of the end. And its not even directed by the legend in double denim. |
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Post by Boob on Dec 6, 2019 19:14:23 GMT
I think Katie Mitchell’s unforgettably good production in the same theatre was not far short of three and a half hours... But that had slo-mo!
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Post by Jan on Dec 6, 2019 20:44:09 GMT
I'm meant to be seeing this tomorrow evening and I've just checked with the box office and it's coming in at 3hrs 25mins! Since I'm travelling in on SWR and the last train, because of the strike, is 22.20 looks like I'll have to rethink or miss a large chunk of the end. And its not even directed by the legend in double denim. He did famously direct the play in a small-scale production in the Other Place much of it lit only by candles to emphasise the remoteness and isolation of the location. |
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Post by dave72 on Dec 7, 2019 4:49:15 GMT
Has no one noticed that this is not the Chekhov play? It's a new play by Inua Ellams based on the Chekhov.
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Post by nash16 on Dec 7, 2019 9:09:46 GMT
Has no one noticed that this is not the Chekhov play? It's a new play by Inua Ellams based on the Chekhov. I think the poster gave that away to most/all of us. 😂 Having watched the play on Thursday evening, it is very much Chekhov's Three Sisters, with exactly the same events taking place, with the same characters and relationships as the original. The only difference is the setting is Nigeria; Moscow becomes Lagos, etc. It is a stellar production and Ellams script is stunning. I'd highly recommend booking now as I think it's going to be a huge hit. |
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Post by Jan on Dec 7, 2019 13:43:45 GMT
Has no one noticed that this is not the Chekhov play? It's a new play by Inua Ellams based on the Chekhov. I think the poster gave that away to most/all of us. 😂 Having watched the play on Thursday evening, it is very much Chekhov's Three Sisters, with exactly the same events taking place, with the same characters and relationships as the original. The only difference is the setting is Nigeria; Moscow becomes Lagos, etc. It is a stellar production and Ellams script is stunning. I'd highly recommend booking now as I think it's going to be a huge hit. Just having read the advertising for this it looks to me like there’s a major difference to the original in that in the original there’s no war or conflict at all - the soldiers are also living a pointless existence. This one seems to be somehow tied to the Biafran civil war ? A bit like that terrible version set in Dubai which shoehorned in suicide bombers for reasons unknown. |
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Post by nash16 on Dec 7, 2019 16:57:41 GMT
I think the poster gave that away to most/all of us. 😂 Having watched the play on Thursday evening, it is very much Chekhov's Three Sisters, with exactly the same events taking place, with the same characters and relationships as the original. The only difference is the setting is Nigeria; Moscow becomes Lagos, etc. It is a stellar production and Ellams script is stunning. I'd highly recommend booking now as I think it's going to be a huge hit. Just having read the advertising for this it looks to me like there’s a major difference to the original in that in the original there’s no war or conflict at all - the soldiers are also living a pointless existence. This one seems to be somehow tied to the Biafran civil war ? A bit like that terrible version set in Dubai which shoehorned in suicide bombers for reasons unknown. The Biafran war elements that Ellams has filleted and layered in here are by no means terrible or shoehorned luckily. It all fits like a glove, and potentially makes even more sense of certain scenes and events in the play. A really incredible feat. |
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Post by lynette on Dec 7, 2019 18:48:33 GMT
Fascinating. But are the words the same and just the setting different or is it, as I thought, a completely differently written play?
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Post by nash16 on Dec 7, 2019 19:35:26 GMT
Fascinating. But are the words the same and just the setting different or is it, as I thought, a completely differently written play? Any Chekhov play, unless a revival of a previous adaptation/translation, will be a differently written play, but the play is still Three Sisters, plot and all, with the Nigerian additions. In a way you can never have the same "words" for a Chekhov, unless it's a revival. But the "play" is still: Three Sisters lol! |
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Post by theoracle on Dec 7, 2019 22:30:30 GMT
Just having read the advertising for this it looks to me like there’s a major difference to the original in that in the original there’s no war or conflict at all - the soldiers are also living a pointless existence. This one seems to be somehow tied to the Biafran civil war ? A bit like that terrible version set in Dubai which shoehorned in suicide bombers for reasons unknown. The Biafran war elements that Ellams has filleted and layered in here are by no means terrible or shoehorned luckily. It all fits like a glove, and potentially makes even more sense of certain scenes and events in the play. A really incredible feat. Excited to see this now. This will be my first show in 2020 so it seems lots to look forward to |
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Post by lynette on Dec 8, 2019 0:46:30 GMT
I’m still none the wiser despite what you say nash. Scene by scene and line by line is it a recognisable translation of the original play? You are telling me it has additions. I know there are different translations but generally they stack up line by line.
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Post by nash16 on Dec 8, 2019 1:12:45 GMT
I’m still none the wiser despite what you say nash. Scene by scene and line by line is it a recognisable translation of the original play? You are telling me it has additions. I know there are different translations but generally they stack up line by line. Yes, line by line. What Ellams has done, in addition, is added NEW lines to explain the Biafra war etc. thus the inflated running time. But I think the easiest thing to understand all this if for you to see it, as explaining it on here seems to be too complicated. When are you booked in? But you WILL be watching the play Three Sisters: the characters, relationships, and emotions we all know and love. It's just set in 60's Nigeria! Looking forward to your review. |
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Post by showgirl on Dec 8, 2019 5:18:55 GMT
Thank you for the tip-off, nash16: I hadn't booked but was looking out for comments or reviews so have now booked a £15 ticket - for a matinee, obviously, in view of the running time. |
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Post by showgirl on Dec 8, 2019 12:09:47 GMT
For anyone interested in hearing more about this adaptation, here is a link to Inua Ellams talking about this on BBC R4's Front Row of 6 December. It's the first item after the intro: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000c2j4 |
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Post by lynette on Dec 8, 2019 13:50:19 GMT
I’m still none the wiser despite what you say nash. Scene by scene and line by line is it a recognisable translation of the original play? You are telling me it has additions. I know there are different translations but generally they stack up line by line. Yes, line by line. What Ellams has done, in addition, is added NEW lines to explain the Biafra war etc. thus the inflated running time. But I think the easiest thing to understand all this if for you to see it, as explaining it on here seems to be too complicated. When are you booked in? But you WILL be watching the play Three Sisters: the characters, relationships, and emotions we all know and love. It's just set in 60's Nigeria! Looking forward to your review. Now you have explained, i might book! I didn’t book before because I thought it was one of those reimagining songs we love so much....It is one of my favourite plays. |
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Post by learfan on Dec 8, 2019 14:17:07 GMT
This sounds dubious, much better to wait for the Jermyn St production later next year, Lynette!
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Post by lynette on Dec 8, 2019 19:14:08 GMT
This sounds dubious, much better to wait for the Jermyn St production later next year, Lynette! Songs? 😂😂 I Mean ones those Xmas liqueurs are strong this year |
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Post by tmesis on Dec 9, 2019 11:03:27 GMT
This is really good. It most definitely is Three Sisters but transposed to Nigeria in a way that really works (and I'm no fan generally of this sort of thing.) It is long but I was totally engaged throughout.
Brilliant set and tip-top cast.
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Post by londonpostie on Dec 10, 2019 12:59:59 GMT
Almost 3 1/2 hours (inc. interval) flew past. Bit crowded with all the themes. Here are added, to name a few: ancestral / ethnicity / colonial / neo-colonial / geo-politics. That's fine, and it's an interesting concept but the inevitable problem is all of those ideas need due consideration as well. After we'd understand how dreadful the British had been/oil/Shell/BP/infrastructure, we got a quick line about Blue Peter and charity donations (the people are not the nation, I assumed). Inevitably, the more you add the more is distracted from the original themes and I did then think we'd wandered no small distance. I believe the NT is, in these difficult times, programmatically interested in themes of conflict and division. It also appears to have a strategy of engaging with new audiences (just recently Small Island and currently Master Harold), so a bit of Checkhov relocated to Biafra makes sense. This Three Sisters holds up under those strains - very engaging - though it was a fairly close call at times.
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Post by quine on Dec 10, 2019 13:22:49 GMT
Last night (Monday 9th) show came down at 10.35 which makes in 3 hours 5mins. I wonder what was cut.
I thoroughly enjoyed this. Well written and thought provoking for me. Loved the blending of pigeon dialogue and Nigerian sayings into the play. A fine cast who delivered this faultlessly
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Post by londonpostie on Dec 10, 2019 13:35:15 GMT
Pretty sure I came out at 10:52 last night.Could be wrong ...
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Post by lynette on Dec 10, 2019 17:19:02 GMT
I’ve booked.
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