All Of Us - Dorfman Theatre/National

[theoracle]

So as a fan of Ian Rickson's work, this has certainly piqued my interest. However, if his name was not attached to this project, I'm not sure if it would have as much and was curious as to what Francesca Martinez' work is like on stage and off? The stage layout is interesting too but after reading the comment section in the Telegraph interview with Rufus Norris, I'm slightly apprehensive about how "woke" this might turn out. Anyone booked/have an idea of how this might turn out? Thanks

[theoracle]

Mar 6, 2020 12:33:16 GMT @theatremonkey said:

Booked ages ago purely on Martinez. Her autobiography is well-written, and even though her politics are very different to mine, I find her articulate and entertaining to watch. I'll take that chance for sure.

My poor wallet... Are pit CC seats worth taking or would the balcony be better? 

[alessia]

Just bagged a cheap £15 pit first row for this, hope it'll be good!

[theoracle]

Has anyone had a chance to see this yet? I think first preview was yesterday and I'm finally getting to see it next week. Will be interesting to see how this work reflects in 2022 compared to in 2020

[jamb0r]

I caught the first preview and really enjoyed it. It’s very long (clocking in at over 3 hours) and could do with some tightening up here and there. I have a feeling some people will call this preachy, but I learnt an awful lot from it and it felt very necessary. A word of warning - some scenes are very traumatic (the lady next to me screamed at one point) which was unexpected.

Francesca Mills was the stand out in the cast for me - I thought she was fantastic.

[zahidf]

This was great overall. Really moving and funny in places

[showgirl]

The comments so far are encouraging and intriguing but I'd love to have rather more of an idea of what the play is about and as usual, the brief outline on the NT website is so hopelessly vague as to be useless. Could those who have seen it so far kindly provide a liitle more detail, please?

[zahidf]

Jul 31, 2022 14:02:00 GMT showgirl said:

The comments so far are encouraging and intriguing but I'd love to have rather more of an idea of what the play is about and as usual, the brief outline on the NT website is so hopelessly vague as to be useless. Could those who have seen it so far kindly provide a liitle more detail, please?

Its a story about Jess, a therapist with cerebral palsy. Basically goes through her battles through the benefits system, involving her and her friends. Has true stories of disabled people's issues with the system

[showgirl]

Thank you, zahidf. Now to look out for a matinee ticket.

[Dave B]

Similarly, really piqued my interest with this one folks. Will be on the lookout for a Friday Rush - thanks!

[Steve]

Saw this tonight and loved it. It clocked in at just under three hours, but it felt like much less, as the lead character, Jess (played by the playwright) and her friends struggle to negotiate a Kafkaesque benefits system.

The first half has a similar naturalistic feel to the observational socially conscious work of Alexander Zeldin, that anybody could love, but (warning) the second half adopts a much more Marmite, overtly political, Ken Loach style of activism that will probably rub the very people it seeks to convert, for good or for ill, up the wrong way.

Some spoilers follow. . .

All credit to Francesca Martinez for writing the best part, with all the best lines, for another actor in another part, namely the other Francesca, Francesca Mills, who has always been a joy in every performance I've seen her in, particularly at the Globe. Her Poppy is a friend of the main character, Jess, but her vivacity and zest for life is infectious and joyous, and a massive boon to audience enjoyment of the piece, contrasting with the more reserved, measured approach to life of Jess, the main character.

Both Francescas need help to become their fully productive selves, to live their best lives, but the newly structured benefits system has "benefits scroungers" in its crosshairs, and is becoming Kafkaesque in its application. . .

In addition to Francesca Mills, who is a magnificent life force, absolutely hilarious with it, and the standout performer in the standout part, there is a universally strong ensemble assembled: with Martinez herself radiating empathy and decency, Crystal Condie balancing haplessness and outrage in equal measure, Michael Gould suitably oily as a Conservative politician, Brian Dick as his wounded son, Lucy Briars convincingly OCD, and an unforgettable turn by Kevin Hely as an outraged political activist.

I loved the first half of the play the best, simply sharing human experiences with the audience in an entertaining way, but I appreciated the more Marmite activist second half as well. After all, if nobody complains, nothing ever changes.

4 stars from me.

[juicy_but_terribly_drab]

Well it's nice to hear that at least one of the shows slated for the National pre-covid seemingly turned out to be good. I had this, Manor and Jack Absolute booked back then but given the reception for all of them it seems this will be the only one I end up seeing. So I guess if there's one silver lining to this pandemic it's that I was saved a few hours of probably bad theatre experiences. Not sure I'd call that worth it, though Manor did sound exceptionally bad so who knows.

[showgirl]

Bizarre & frustrating that there are so few matinees for this; only one weekday one that I can find and most unusually several of the September Saturdays have none either; wonder why? Certainly makes it very difficult to see, as there's only a single date I can do - and thats' IF I can get a Friday Rush ticket. Not that I want to be in London in August at all, let alone on Bank Holiday Saturday.

[samuelwhiskers]

I’m speculating which possibly is bad of me, but it may be an access accommodation for the cast. I know that’s the reason the streaming version won’t be available until after the run ends.

[theoracle]

Really loved this! I didn't realise it was Francesca Martinez's birthday yesterday too and she gave a stellar performance, never leaving the stage throughout the show except for the interval. I was surprised by how funny this would be and echo everyone's thoughts on Francesca Mill's fiery Poppy who was clearly a highlight of the show. I don't want to spoil anything, there's not a linear plot per se but there are a string of different stories and problems that people face and it's told in a way which really inspires empathy. I was close to tears last night towards the ending and I found myself really touched and I hope to see it again before it closes. Do check it out guys, it's really wonderful

[edi]

I cannot tell just how much I enjoyed this. First half funnier and better and second part a bit darker and preachy but I am so glad that I made the effort for this !!

[drmaplewood]

Sae this last week and agree that the first half is a lot more focused and effecting whilst the second half tries to do too much and feels a bit off the rails, but the anger cuts through and was still effective overall. Shame this doesn't seem to be selling (though most things aren't, currently) - about 65% full when I went.

[showgirl]

Well, the few matinees are very busy. I understand why there are so few but if the evenings are quieter, maybe people are, as I am, reluctant to attend a 3-hour play in the evening? With hindsight perhaps it would have been better to schedule more matinees and fewer evenings? I'm very keen to see this but can only go if I get a rush ticket for the Saturday of ABH - uncertain.

[alessia]

Aug 16, 2022 12:07:39 GMT showgirl said:

Well, the few matinees are very busy. I understand why there are so few but if the evenings are quieter, maybe people are, as I am, reluctant to attend a 3-hour play in the evening? With hindsight perhaps it would have been better to schedule more matinees and fewer evenings? I'm very keen to see this but can only go if I get a rush ticket for the Saturday of ABH - uncertain.

This is me too. I am not keen on a long play in the evening- so as much as I'd like to see this, I'm on the fence 

[showgirl]

Seating question pse for those who have seen this: despite being ready for Friday Rush, when queue opened I was allocated a position over 400 so had a very long wait even to searh for a seat and though I grabbed a decent one at the back of the stalls, the system wouldn't let me check out and then said all the £10 tix had gone. I kept checking in case other people's transactions also failed or they released the seats and eventually got one but without being able to see the location as this time I selected it by price, not via the seating plan, so as not to lose out again.

So when I could eventually see where it was, it looked awful: right in the front row and marked as "restricted", which wasn't shown when I booked. As the performance is so long and comments say the stage is high for this one, has anyone sat in the very front rows, please, and if so, is it worth keeping this seat or would I do better to give up?

[edi]

Aug 22, 2022 4:23:32 GMT showgirl said:

Seating question pse for those who have seen this: despite being ready for Friday Rush, when queue opened I was allocated a position over 400 so had a very long wait even to searh for a seat and though I grabbed a decent one at the back of the stalls, the system wouldn't let me check out and then said all the £10 tix had gone. I kept checking in case other people's transactions also failed or they released the seats and eventually got one but without being able to see the location as this time I selected it by price, not via the seating plan, so as not to lose out again.

So when I could eventually see where it was, it looked awful: right in the front row and marked as "restricted", which wasn't shown when I booked. As the performance is so long and comments say the stage is high for this one, has anyone sat in the very front rows, please, and if so, is it worth keeping this seat or would I do better to give up?

I sat in front row , stage was below my knees

[zahidf]

I was front row. Perfectly fine, no restricted view where i was

[drmaplewood]

Yep also sat front row and was confused as to what was restricted about it.

[showgirl]

Thank you both zahidf and drmaplewood ; that's reassuring. So is the stage not high after all, as reported? As if it is, I suppose that could be considered a restriction.

I see that edi says it's really low, unless that's a joke?

[zahidf]

Aug 22, 2022 12:52:59 GMT showgirl said:

Thank you both zahidf and drmaplewood ; that's reassuring. So is the stage not high after all, as reported? As if it is, I suppose that could be considered a restriction.

I see that edi says it's really low, unless that's a joke?

Its not high: i couldnt tell you the exact size, but id be surprised if youd have to crane your neck