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Post by jaqs on Aug 17, 2023 12:40:18 GMT
Shownut totally agree that Jamie’s vocal fit the fragility of a man right on the edge, trying to hold on. Totally worked for me.
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Post by doornumberthree on Aug 17, 2023 13:27:56 GMT
Shownut totally agree that Jamie’s vocal fit the fragility of a man right on the edge, trying to hold on. Totally worked for me. 100%!!!! he’s acting through song incredibly as well and making every lyric he sings work for his Dan. He’s a broken man who has no idea who he is, he’s simply existing whilst also not knowing how to exist in his own household. Character wise, I actually think he’s the best Dan I’ve seen, they are also the first Diana and Dan that I find myself rooting for (other than Marin and Jason, and that was so much down to their real life adoration for each other) Something about the way Caissie runs to Dan in her hospital gown and cling to him for dear life with so much hope, then how she really starts to understand the last 16 years of Dan’s life in A Light in the Dark — without it seeming less like emotional manipulation to force her into signing the consent forms for the treatment. It makes So Anyway even more devastating for me. There’s also a moment I cannot stop thinking about at the end before Light where Natalie is at the kitchen counter looking at Dan and as Gabe exits, he touches her hand and she visibly reacts to the touch and looks down at her hand and then to the spot where Gabe had been standing - it’s such a quick moment but is such a beautiful throwback to Superboy and the Invisible Girl where she finally feels Gabe (this is the first time she’s around him since Diana talks to her about him, but he’s gone when she looks, he’s the invisible one now. I cannot stop thinking about so many elements of this production that are just done so perfectly! |
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Post by danb on Aug 17, 2023 14:04:59 GMT
”But this one reminds me of American Psycho somehow which I did not understand at all (even though the story works perfectly well for me in the movie).” ‘American Psycho’ (whose movie version was a convoluted mess that refused to commit to its protagonist actually being a psychopathic murderer, unlike the magnificent book it was based on?). The film was exactly the same as the book, it was left up for the reader/viewer to decide if it was all real or not. I didn’t get ANY ambiguity from the book at all. |
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Post by intoanewlife on Aug 17, 2023 14:19:26 GMT
The film was exactly the same as the book, it was left up for the reader/viewer to decide if it was all real or not. I didn’t get ANY ambiguity from the book at all. It was definitely there and is made apparent in the exact same part of the book as it was in the film. As I recall it was a lot of the problem people had with it when it was first released. |
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Post by toomasj on Aug 17, 2023 14:21:43 GMT
How old is the actress playing Natalie?
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Post by inthewings on Aug 17, 2023 14:25:45 GMT
How old is the actress playing Natalie? Eleanor Worthington-Cox is 22 |
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Post by toomasj on Aug 17, 2023 14:28:11 GMT
How old is the actress playing Natalie? Eleanor Worthington-Cox is 22 Well that’s okay then! Thanks! 😂 |
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Post by danb on Aug 17, 2023 15:31:26 GMT
I didn’t get ANY ambiguity from the book at all. It was definitely there and is made apparent in the exact same part of the book as it was in the film. As I recall it was a lot of the problem people had with it when it was first released. I think my 17 year old brain wasn’t ready for what he’d just read/endured to all be a delusion. I get that the film couldn’t acknowledge even its watered down version of events as real, so heightened the blurring of Batemans reality to make us question it. But where his wheels start to come off in the book, and you question whats occurring I just read as weird for the sake of it rather than a question of his reality/sanity. |
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Post by intoanewlife on Aug 17, 2023 16:02:33 GMT
It was definitely there and is made apparent in the exact same part of the book as it was in the film. As I recall it was a lot of the problem people had with it when it was first released. I think my 17 year old brain wasn’t ready for what he’d just read/endured to all be a delusion. I get that the film couldn’t acknowledge even its watered down version of events as real, so heightened the blurring of Batemans reality to make us question it. But where his wheels start to come off in the book, and you question whats occurring I just read as weird for the sake of it rather than a question of his reality/sanity. I think the book is trying to point out that it doesn't really matter if it's real or not, the fact that he even thought that way was enough to prove that all was not right with this person and if/when he reached tipping point that he would indeed have taken that path without hesitation. I mean obviously the rest of the book is clearly all in his head, so why would the murders not be? I don't think he ever was sitting giving people 20 page reviews on Huey Lewis and the News latest album lol Anyways we've derailed the thread and should probably cease now, but yeah in all 3 forms that same question is posed and never answered. |
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Post by tmesis on Aug 17, 2023 18:09:42 GMT
Is it sung all the way through, ie. through composed, or is there spoken dialogue?
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Post by Scswp on Aug 17, 2023 18:46:17 GMT
Is it sung all the way through, ie. through composed, or is there spoken dialogue? It has spoken dialogue. |
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Post by tmesis on Aug 17, 2023 18:50:12 GMT
Thank you.
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Post by dan on Aug 17, 2023 20:01:38 GMT
From seeing this on Tuesday, it’s gotten under my skin in a way no musical ever has. I found it so incredibly powerful. I’ve listened to the Broadway cast recording for years and never really paid attention to what’s happening, just loving the songs as songs. I’ve never seen elements of therapy depicted so powerfully and meaningfully on stage, and the specific themes played so well. I Dreamed a Dance / There’s a World has cemented itself in my brain and I can’t shake it. The intimate venue felt perfect for this. I feel like I MUST see this again though it looks incredibly difficult to find a ticket now. I was front and centre of the circle and it felt perfect. Cast impeccable. Direction, lighting, projections just beautiful. I’ve never had an experience like this in such an impactful way in a theatre and am so grateful for that. There’s an otherworldly nature to the portrayal of Gabe that is wondrous and almost feels like he is floating above the action that made it even more meaningful for me. I sincerely hope I get to see this again. I’m going to sit at my piano tomorrow and play this from start to finish!
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Post by Dr Tom on Aug 17, 2023 22:51:48 GMT
I'll echo everyone else and say this was very good. I saw this tonight from the very end of the front row, right by the stage stairs. It is a very good row, if giving a rather private angled view from behind a lot of the time. A downside is you can't see anything in the upstairs rooms. Plus it's a good seat for collectors. I gained both a coat and a balloon at different points during the show (both returned at the end - the balloons are rather a badly timed distraction which bounce around the stage).
I don't know the show or the music, but this is a very easy storyline to follow (I don't mean it is an easy watch). It reminded me a lot of Dear Evan Hansen in parts, although with an older characters. A very strong cast all around. Good to see Jack Ofrecio as well, who escaped from the rather forgotten Covid years of Mountview. I hadn't realised it is a 6 person cast, with 4 covers, so I hope the covers all have a chance to go on (I'd love to see Carolyn Maitland, who was always excellent in Jersey Boys).
To me, this seems like it's all being positioned to transfer somewhere. I would see this again most certainly, but I don't feel the need to closely monitor the Donmar site to look for returned tickets. I didn't quite get the emotional connection I do with many shows. But based on ticket sales alone, this is a clear hit. The standing ovation at the end was fully deserved.
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Post by rumbledoll on Aug 18, 2023 7:59:07 GMT
I didn’t get ANY ambiguity from the book at all. It was definitely there and is made apparent in the exact same part of the book as it was in the film. As I recall it was a lot of the problem people had with it when it was first released. Interesting discussion on AP, but just for the record by ‘I didn’t understand it’ I meant only that I did not understand why on Earth you would want to a musical out if it as the score was so poor… |
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Post by theatrefan77 on Aug 18, 2023 15:18:07 GMT
Sat it yesterday and I enjoyed overall. I liked the songs, but felt that they became a bit repetitive in Act II. At certain points you feel a bit like 'Oh dear, they are going to sing about it yet again'. Caissie Levy is absolutely wonderful and sang beautifully. The rest of the cast were quite good.
They were a few people taking notes and some were very badly behaved. I was in the second row in the circle, side view. A couple in the central seats B33 and B32 spent the whole show chatting and giggling, which is really bad. They are probably sick of seeing the show every day and taking notes, but they should not be allowed to behave like that during a preview with paying patrons. Another woman taking notes in the row in front of me in A35 decided for some reason that it was a good a idea to stand in the middle of Act II and go for a walk around the circle noisily for no reason whatsoever except maybe annoying patrons. I understand that this is a preview, but this people were treating it as a rehearsal.
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Post by doornumberthree on Aug 18, 2023 16:06:58 GMT
wow. it sounds like the creative team are being hugely distracting. I hope this is flagged to appropriate people.
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Post by Stephen on Aug 18, 2023 17:13:48 GMT
Just listened to the clip of Adam Pascal singing from the musical Death Note and began picturing him as Dan in this. Think he'd sing the part very well!!
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Post by intoanewlife on Aug 18, 2023 18:54:06 GMT
Just posted this on the Donmars Facebook page.
Hearing lots of reports of pretty bad behaviour from the 'creatives' involved in this show during the preview period. Sounds like some pretty obnoxious stuff and not really very respectable to paying patrons. Yes it's in 'previews', but they are usually in place to allow time for performers to settle into their roles with an audience, not so the people in charge can ruin the production for those paying to see it. It's previews, NOT rehearsals! Stand at the back behind the people who've paid, make your notes and be quiet and respectful to not only those who've paid good money to see it, but to the performers themselves!
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Post by rumbledoll on Aug 18, 2023 20:20:04 GMT
I saw this tonight from the very end of the front row, right by the stage stairs. It is a very good row, if giving a rather private angled view from behind a lot of the time. A downside is you can't see anything in the upstairs rooms. I was in the same seat and can highly recommend it (wasn’t sure while booking at first), it’s at reduced price, but the view is great and somewhat wonderfully intimate. |
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Post by Mark on Aug 18, 2023 21:46:56 GMT
Wonderful wonderful production.
This show is so so SAD. Even more-so with how ultra realistic it is.
Caissie is a brilliant Diana with outstanding vocals. Jacks Gabe is a true highlight. Eleanor as Natalie I loved. Jamie as Dan looks as if he could break down at any moment.
I had ran out of tears by the end.
I saw this originally on Broadway with both Alice and Marin. It’s just as good as I remember it.
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Post by singularsensation10 on Aug 19, 2023 9:24:37 GMT
Just posted this on the Donmars Facebook page. Hearing lots of reports of pretty bad behaviour from the 'creatives' involved in this show during the preview period. Sounds like some pretty obnoxious stuff and not really very respectable to paying patrons. Yes it's in 'previews', but they are usually in place to allow time for performers to settle into their roles with an audience, not so the people in charge can ruin the production for those paying to see it. It's previews, NOT rehearsals! Stand at the back behind the people who've paid, make your notes and be quiet and respectful to not only those who've paid good money to see it, but to the performers themselves! I sat next to the musical supervisor on my visit who was very respectful, quietly making notes and was actually quite interesting to watch him ‘feel’ (or not, in some cases) the music. His notes were mostly about the band & levels in the sound mix (very big squiggles so legible from next to him) but he was very respectful. As for this post above, I have to point out that previews are still works in progress. They are a key tool for the creatives to see how things land with an audience - so they are some way between rehearsals and performance. If you buy a ticket to a preview (often cheaper than post opening night) you enter into a contract that what you see isn’t a finished product - and as such you may encounter creatives working. Yes they shouldn’t pull focus but technically, the audience has entered their work room. It’s a work room until opening night. |
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Post by Rory on Aug 19, 2023 9:51:24 GMT
Just posted this on the Donmars Facebook page. Hearing lots of reports of pretty bad behaviour from the 'creatives' involved in this show during the preview period. Sounds like some pretty obnoxious stuff and not really very respectable to paying patrons. Yes it's in 'previews', but they are usually in place to allow time for performers to settle into their roles with an audience, not so the people in charge can ruin the production for those paying to see it. It's previews, NOT rehearsals! Stand at the back behind the people who've paid, make your notes and be quiet and respectful to not only those who've paid good money to see it, but to the performers themselves! I sat next to the musical supervisor on my visit who was very respectful, quietly making notes and was actually quite interesting to watch him ‘feel’ (or not, in some cases) the music. His notes were mostly about the band & levels in the sound mix (very big squiggles so legible from next to him) but he was very respectful. As for this post above, I have to point out that previews are still works in progress. They are a key tool for the creatives to see how things land with an audience - so they are some way between rehearsals and performance. If you buy a ticket to a preview (often cheaper than post opening night) you enter into a contract that what you see isn’t a finished product - and as such you may encounter creatives working. Yes they shouldn’t pull focus but technically, the audience has entered their work room. It’s a work room until opening night. I disagree with this. The rehearsal room is a work room, but a preview performance with a paying audience, even at reduced prices, just isn't. Yes, at previews you know things may be subject to change down the line, and creatives can watch and make notes quietly and respectfully to their hearts content, but they have absolutely no right to be disruptive, loud or distracting to that paying preview audience. |
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Post by curiouskc on Aug 19, 2023 11:40:05 GMT
I agree. Seriously I do amateur theatre and we wouldn't even have that sort of behaviour in a dress rehearsal, lest it distract the cast. And I assume that part of the creatives job is to gauge audience response, so quietly observing audience members is going to be far better than disrupting and annoying them. As someone who has never been to the Donmar before, I was curious about what views and sightlines are like from all sides. I can tell it's a wonderfully intimate performance space, but having seen a few set photos for this I am wondering... {Spoiler - click to view}
if bits of scenery (particularly the large kitchen counter centre stage) will block side views at some points? Also curious how much the revolve is used? |
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Post by fizzym on Aug 19, 2023 11:54:05 GMT
I also sat in this seat (A1) last Wednesday and agree it felt an intimate place to see the production from, particularly when the focus is on the stairway. I have tickets later in the run but was excited to see this asap so nabbed the ticket when the restricted view ones went on sale a week or so ago and was v glad I did. As others have said it’s a fantastic production - I’m looking forward to seeing it again and will be interested in how it compares for me when watching it from the front.
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