Walden (SFP Re: Emerge) - Harold Pinter Theatre

[theoracle]

This is finally opening next week which is exciting. Gonna be going myself on Bank Holiday Monday, first time in a theatre building since March 2020. Just had another look at availability and is anyone else slightly annoyed by the fact they are selling more seats in blocks of 4 than blocks of 1? Anyways, should be really good - Ian Rickson directing a great cast here

[jamesxxx]

SONIA!
Did you know one of your shows opens in 2 days time?
GET THE BOX OFFICE OPEN!
I am not going to pay a £4 booking fee on a £15 ticket buying it on online.

[asfound]

Can we please have better choices of single seats as well? Having to book in groups of 3 or 4, with the only option for singles being far off to the sides is ridiculous.

Looking at next Thursday's matinee, there is literally one single seat left. Are they really going to sell all those groups of 4?

[cavocado]

I just bought a single ticket for this Thursday's matinee reduced to £5 (from £15 or £18 I think). Perhaps some of the other remaining seats will be reduced too. I agree there are too many blocks of 3 or 4.

[theoracle]

Could somebody also report whether a programme and playtext are on sale too? What is the exiting process like - how long is the overall experience? Thanks

[Dave B]

May 24, 2021 19:33:16 GMT theoracle said:

Could somebody also report whether a programme and playtext are on sale too? What is the exiting process like - how long is the overall experience? Thanks

No programme or playtext. There is a QR code available from ushers inside which will bring you to a programme, it's just a cast and crew listing.

Started just after 19.30 this evening and finished at 21.20. Exiting was fine, most people seemed happy to take their time and slowly move out. Quite a queue for the gents in the stalls, herself was waiting outside after visiting the ladies before I even reached the head of the queue for the gents!

[theatrelover123]

Thanks. And what’s the show like?

[Rory]

Pity there isn't a programme.

[Dave B]

So, we enjoyed it but…

I don't think I touch on any spoilers but just in case

It’s pretty scattershot, it touches on a lot but rarely dials in on anything for more than a moment and then when it’s done - it just moves straight on. Almost like a checklist for the themes. However some of them were really enjoyable, in particular a conversation between Fehinti Balogun and Lydia Wilson' characters on the deck.


It felt overlong and I think (guess) it might be still being worked on. Less than 10 minutes after it finished (i.e. once I got through the queue for the gents), Ian Rickson and a large amount of crew were gathered around the 6th row having loud discussions about various things - including the sound (okay for us towards the back of the stalls - occasionally a little lower than we’d have liked but still audible).

Fehinti Balogun is really good and kind of feels like the heart and soul of the play. He is essentially settled in life, he has made his choices and his compromises and has picked his path. The two sisters... not so much.

Lydia Wilson is fine, has a few good moments but is left with a lot of complaining and this does go a bit one-note.

Gemma Arterton is also fine, I think she got the short end of the stick on the script, its really a lot of moaning and complaining and becomes one-note on many occasions.

Not the best night we've had at the theatre, but far from the worst.... and that is not meant to sound as damning with faint praise as it possibly does!

[couldileaveyou]

[theoracle]

May 25, 2021 18:55:15 GMT couldileaveyou said:

Bother! I was so looking forward to seeing this. I hope everyone is OK and they are able to sort this quickly. 

[joem]

I've just bought myself a nice box for the closing night so hope the performance will happen. My first visit to the theatre since the monologues at the Bridge and a couple of fringe plays in October/November so really, really looking forward to this.

[zahidf]

[cavocado]

It's an interesting theme - set in a (not-too-distant?) future where humans are dealing with catastrophic environmental disaster. A lot of the play is a debate about the morality and practicality of colonising space, versus spending that money on attempting to salvage life on Earth. I love plays that debate big political and social issues and leave me with lots to think about, so that aspect easily made it worth seeing.



The actors all did a decent job, though I wasn't really convinced by the way the male character related to either of the women - I think this was more about the writing than the acting. But (not really a spoiler, but might be hard not to notice if you read this before going) 

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler - click to view}
note to the director and female actors - does anyone really come in from a walk, still wearing their hiking boots, and sit on the back of the sofa with their muddy boots on the cushions?!

My main negative was that I found it a bit slow, static, and sometimes repetitive. It was 1 hr 45, but felt longer. I think it could be edited into a sharper, shorter, better play. I hope a radio drama producer goes to see it, as I think it could make a good 1 hour audio play.



So, it has a few shortcomings, but I'd recommend it if you enjoy plays which address big issues. And I'd like to see more from Amy Berryman (or an edited version of this play).



All of the COVID rules seemed to work smoothly. Every other row was empty, with a one seat gap between groups, and a one way system around the theatre. The smaller audience meant no queues for the loos before the show, and a very quick exit!

[theoracle]

Well that was far from disappointing. A short snappy piece that manages to explore some very big themes. I wasn’t sure what to expect but being a fan of Ian Rickson, I was looking forward to seeing what he will bring and I can totally recommend this.

Haven’t been in a theatre since March 2020 and the sound of applause at the end actually made me quite emotional. The cast had a moment to decide what position to take their bows in too. A more broad point I suppose is that I can’t imagine a safer experience. Far safer than being outdoors on South Bank this afternoon which was way overcrowded. Would it also be wrong to say that it was actually really nice socially distanced and filtering out the tourists/casual audience members and being in a west end theatre with theatre lovers who were all engrossed in the play. No whispering, phones going off, bored children, awkward getting into and out of seats - quite an enhanced experience really.

E12 Royal Circle also offered a better than expected view for £15 but after an hour… OW! My 6’1 legs did start to ache.

[cavocado]

I agree re the enhanced experience - no sweet wrapper noise, or phone lights flickering. I was in the same row last week though am only 5'9", but appreciated having the legroom of the seat next door as well as my own.

[NeilVHughes]

Walden

The play itself was one of those that is marketed as one thing and is really something else, it is all about the relationship between the sisters and the environmental angle is a lens which allows us to focus on the sibling rivalry and parental pressures/expectations.

The acting was excellent and was completely immersed in their lives and their life choices and the time flew past, about 1¾ hours without an interval.

it was good to be in the West End again and even though there were the ever present COVID secure measures once the lights went down it was the first time I really felt being at the Theatre again since before the first lockdown, the whole thing just felt like a play that could be staged at any time not one limited by the COVID restraints and reminded me of a ‘Royal Court’ play.


Would advise getting there early and taking advantage of the facilities as if you need them during the show you won’t be let back in and 1¾ may be on the limit for some especially if you have taken the opportunity of visiting the pub beforehand.

Now that I have been to few plays over the last few weeks am now beginning to overcome my reluctance to leave the house as the habitual draw of the evening sofa is becoming weakened and this play may be the one that has finally put this habit behind me.


The only negative was that the phone of the lady next to me went off during the production and a gentleman a few places along the row kept checking his phone throughout but maybe should take it as things becoming normal but for the life of me cannot understand why people cannot just switch off their phones.

[Rory]

Jun 5, 2021 11:44:38 GMT NeilVHughes said:

Walden

The play itself was one of those that is marketed as one thing and is really something else, it is all about the relationship between the sisters and the environmental angle is a lens which allows us to focus on the sibling rivalry and parental pressures/expectations.

The acting was excellent and was completely immersed in their lives and their life choices and the time flew past, about 1¾ hours without an interval.

it was good to be in the West End again and even though there were the ever present COVID secure measures once the lights went down it was the first time I really felt being at the Theatre again since before the first lockdown, the whole thing just felt like a play that could be staged at any time not one limited by the COVID restraints and reminded me of a ‘Royal Court’ play.


Would advise getting there early and taking advantage of the facilities as if you need them during the show you won’t be let back in and 1¾ may be on the limit for some especially if you have taken the opportunity of visiting the pub beforehand.

Now that I have been to few plays over the last few weeks am now beginning to overcome my reluctance to leave the house as the habitual draw of the evening sofa is becoming weakened and this play may be the one that has finally put this habit behind me.


The only negative was that the phone of the lady next to me went off during the production and a gentleman a few places along the row kept checking his phone throughout but maybe should take it as things becoming normal but for the life of me cannot understand why people cannot just switch off their phones.

Great review. Are there still no programmes?

[NeilVHughes]

There was a QR code to scan I noticed on my way out, not sure how detailed as my phone was switched off so didn’t get a chance to scan it.

[Dr Tom]

I thought this one was watchable enough tonight. Nice venue, good value Stalls seat, row end but could see clearly around the pillar for a change and lots of room. No problem with the sound levels either from two third of the way back.

I don't know why people insist on rattling ice and drinking loudly through straws, or why they let their notifications keep beeping on their phones, but that's the theatre starved general public for you.

Some interesting concepts in here. As others have mentioned, it's also a relationship piece and one that had exactly the type of ending you'd expect from modern theatre. Perhaps it could have done with being 20 minutes shorter, but it is fine as one act (start 19:35, finish 21:15).

Several people in the audience tonight who I think were actors, but annoyingly I can't quite place them. The masks don't help here.

Anyway, glad I got to see this before it closes. A pleasant enough way to spend a Monday evening and the (socially distanced) theatre seemed pretty full, at least from where I was sat in the Stalls.

[mkb]

A solid four-star show. Terrific performances from all three actors.

The QR-code leads only to a list of cast and creatives. Disappointingly, no biographies are included.

On Friday 28 May, the show ran from 19:33 to 21:13. There is a point after around 45 minutes where it felt like a natural interval had been skipped. An interval would neither have helped nor hindered the dramatic flow, but it would have shown a little respect to those of us with weak bladders. Telling people they would have to leave the theatre if they needed to use the toilets during the show added to the unnecessary stress.

[theatrefan77]

Lovely to have the extra room. A couple of people eating sweets noisily at the beginning and another one checking their phone from time to time. Nice experience overall.

The play was OK, lacked a bit of an edge, but the actors were excellent. So good to be back at the theatre!

[david]

A really interesting evening spent watching this at tonight’s final performance. At 100 minutes long, maybe as Dr Tom said it could of been a bit shorter, but 3 terrific performances to watch. I really loved the set design from Rae Smith. Some really interesting ideas explored in this play both from the environmental aspect and the relationship between the 2 sisters.

The no readmittance if you go to the toilet mid performance was a bit tough in my opinion. It’s been crazily hot all day and with the amount of drinks I’ve had all day to stay cool, I am just glad I didn’t need the loo mid show.

No issues with my Row N stalls seat and being sat next to one of the pillars gave me a bit more room to spread out. The few positives I have taken from SD theatre is the more room you have around you and you certainly get a much quicker get away post show.

[joem]

Lovely to be back in a theatre. This is a play of ideas and that's always welcome, particularly when (as here) the writer doesn't give us a harangue, but it does not work completely because the characters (especially the crucial relationship between the twin sisters) are a bit underdrawn and only start coming together late in the play. But chuffed to my cheeks to be in a theatre again.

The box off the Upper Circle is a bit restricted viewing but lovely and spacious and no danger of being bothered by other people's mobile phones or sweet wrappers or anything else, so not complaining.