Mirror and the Light-Gielgud

[Jan]

I think they surely must have intended this to transfer to Broadway given the previous ones were popular there - that’s surely the only reason Miles would have given up his Broadway run in Lehman which otherwise looks like a bizarre piece of career self-harm.

[theatrefan77]

Bit disappointed with this play. It's ok I guess, but nowhere near as goo as Wolf Hall/Bring Up The Bodies

[Rory]

In the current circumstances when theatre is trying to get back on its feet, I think it would have been logistically incredibly costly and risky to remount the first two productions alongside TMATL in repertoire. It more than likely took a supreme effort to put this on as it is with a cast of 24 or whatever.

I am really sad and disappointed that the extension has been cancelled. Some of the reviews were mixed but it was an intelligent, adult drama in a musical heavy landscape. Apart from Leopoldstadt there is nothing similar for the play fan.

I know it's baby steps but I hope this doesn't signal a widespread reluctance on the part of producers to mount plays of quality in the West End.

And on a general note of exasperation, and in consideration of the producers' talk of risk with covid this winter, it annoys me intensely that no-one is wearing masks in the theatres right now. It's a mitigation which I think would seriously help the effort to keep our theatres and shows open and running.

[Jon]

Oct 26, 2021 16:39:40 GMT Phantom of London said:

Given how well the first 2 parts did, then sounds that the RSC got complacent and made a bad assumption that this was going to sell very well because the first 2 did!!

The RSC therefore made 2 mistakes and that was closing Bring Up the Bodies and Wolf Hall on a high and not extending it, if if meant moving to a different theatre and re-casting, at the time I didn't understand why they closed it - it had momentum on its side and the other mistake is this, opening cold, they would've been better off doing trilogy in a couple years time, when the Swan reopens. So really I am saying what other posters are saying on this thread.

It goes to prove that the subsidised theatre do not make good commercial producers.

Wolf Hall/Bring Up the Bodies did extend by a month at the Aldwych, it was a hit but I can't imagine it could have run any longer than it did which was just shy of five months which for a play is good innings.

[Jon]

Oct 26, 2021 21:04:30 GMT Rory said:

In the current circumstances when theatre is trying to get back on its feet, I think it would have been logistically incredibly costly and risky to remount the first two productions alongside TMATL in repertoire. It more than likely took a supreme effort to put this on as it is with a cast of 24 or whatever.

I am really sad and disappointed that the extension has been cancelled. Some of the reviews were mixed but it was an intelligent, adult drama in a musical heavy landscape. Apart from Leopoldstadt there is nothing similar for the play fan.

I know it's baby steps but I hope this doesn't signal a widespread reluctance on the part of producers to mount plays of quality in the West End.

And on a general note of exasperation, and in consideration of the producers' talk of risk with covid this winter, it annoys me intensely that no-one is wearing masks in the theatres right now. It's a mitigation which I think would seriously help the effort to keep our theatres and shows open and running.

To Kill a Mockingbird is coming next year and has sold incredibly well so I think it's a bit premature to suggest that plays no longer have a place in the West End. 

[Mark]

Leopoldstadt also sold well, as has Life of Pi so far by the looks of it, and also Ocean at the end of the Lane seems to be selling well

2:22 sold out at big prices for its limited run.

Put on things people want to see and they’ll go!

[barrowside]

It probably means now the Gielgud has a perfect gap for a limited season before To Kill a Mockingbird comes in. I wonder will The Tragedy of Macbeth take it if Saoirse Ronan is not contracted elsewhere.

[Jon]

Oct 26, 2021 21:16:19 GMT barrowside said:

It probably means now the Gielgud has a perfect gap for a limited season before To Kill a Mockingbird comes in. I wonder will The Tragedy of Macbeth take it if Saoirse Ronan is not contracted elsewhere.

Mirror and the Light's now cancelled extension took it to January 23rd which makes me think that a refurb is being planned for the Gielgud before TKAM goes in so I imagine it might see a comedian or Derren Brown for a short season, Derren has a big gap in the tour schedule from November to March so a short run from December to January could work.

[Rory]

Oct 26, 2021 21:07:11 GMT Jon said:

Oct 26, 2021 21:04:30 GMT Rory said:

In the current circumstances when theatre is trying to get back on its feet, I think it would have been logistically incredibly costly and risky to remount the first two productions alongside TMATL in repertoire. It more than likely took a supreme effort to put this on as it is with a cast of 24 or whatever.

I am really sad and disappointed that the extension has been cancelled. Some of the reviews were mixed but it was an intelligent, adult drama in a musical heavy landscape. Apart from Leopoldstadt there is nothing similar for the play fan.

I know it's baby steps but I hope this doesn't signal a widespread reluctance on the part of producers to mount plays of quality in the West End.

And on a general note of exasperation, and in consideration of the producers' talk of risk with covid this winter, it annoys me intensely that no-one is wearing masks in the theatres right now. It's a mitigation which I think would seriously help the effort to keep our theatres and shows open and running.

To Kill a Mockingbird is coming next year and has sold incredibly well so I think it's a bit premature to suggest that plays no longer have a place in the West End. 

Yes, which is great, and I have booked for that and Life of Pi. Just still not *that* many plays announced so far and one of the few that has is coming off early.

I'm still hoping for Oedipus, The Doctor, The Watsons, The Pillowman, The Seagull, A Doll's House.

[Phantom of London]

Could Upstart Crow come back, if original cast available.

[zahidf]

Producers blame covid 'uncertainty ' over the cancellation

www.theguardian.com/books/2021/oct/26/hilary-mantel-play-to-close-amid-covid-uncertainty-the-mirror-and-the-light

[Jan]

Oct 27, 2021 7:00:31 GMT zahidf said:

Producers blame covid 'uncertainty ' over the cancellation

www.theguardian.com/books/2021/oct/26/hilary-mantel-play-to-close-amid-covid-uncertainty-the-mirror-and-the-light

Ha ha. Everyone to blame except themselves. This “ever changing environment” of restrictions is the one that’s been in force unchanged since July ? With cases now falling the restrictions are unlikely to change any time soon. Given the self-isolation rules though staging a production with 24 in the cast at this point does seem a bit foolish.

[lynette]

I think it isn’t the kind of thing most people would book for the perhaps one and only pre Xmas treat. And it will be on the telly. And what with two previous manifestations, ie play 1 and play 2, do we really want play 3? To my mind, after Anne Boleyn, who’s interested? Better a trip to Six with the kids and Grandma - short, funny, loud, feels like an outing. Can learn the songs….

[Jan]

There is a good list of plays up the thread which may make it to WE after having been postponed. I bet Oedipus would sell out the entire run immediately despite “current uncertainties” which are a pure smokescreen. Most of the others would too. You need star power, then there’s suddenly no problem (as at the Almeida currently).

[Jon]

Oct 27, 2021 17:47:42 GMT Jan said:

There is a good list of plays up the thread which may make it to WE after having been postponed. I bet Oedipus would sell out the entire run immediately despite “current uncertainties” which are a pure smokescreen. Most of the others would too. You need star power, then there’s suddenly no problem (as at the Almeida currently).

Oedipus was announced but never confirmed a theatre or dates so it could be pushed back without bother. Both Mark Strong and Helen Mirren have film commitments at the moment so probably it's about finding a suitable date in 2022 or even 2023. 

[jek]

Nicholas Hytner has just been on the Radio 4 Today programme in reference to the Mirror and the Light announcement saying that they at the Bridge have put a lot of money into staging the Book of Dust - large cast and high production values - over Christmas. He said that as people are being slow to book, out of concern as to what the winter will bring, they are therefore aware of the big financial risk they are taking. Anyway it was at around about 7.40 am if anyone wants to catch up with the interview on BBC Sounds.

[zahidf]

Its probably more that people are reluctant to book for a show which was niche anyway due to the length of gap between the parts 2 and 3. It would have struggled anyway without Covid, but may have gone into Stratford first to get more of a buzz

[Rory]

As mentioned in the other thread, and as some predicted, 2:22 A Ghost Story takes over the Gielgud from 4th December until 12th Feb. No Mondays and two Sunday performances.

[Mark]

Oct 26, 2021 10:04:34 GMT Mark said:

Very difficult show commercially though - being "part 3" of a trilogy which played years ago.
They'd be wise to stick 2:22 A Ghost Story into the Gielgud for a few more months before Mockingbird starts.

Well I seem to have a good sense of what sells 🤣

[rosscoe]

I absolutely loved it , a thrilling production that ended a great trilogy of plays.

[cavocado]

I enjoyed this. I thought Miles/Mantel did a decent job and the cast were excellent. Nothing challenging or spectacular about it, but a good evening's entertainment, intelligently done and with lots of humour. Someone sitting behind me was complaining loudly in the interval with a long list of Mantel's historical inaccuracies, but that's not really the point - it's fictionalised, she's created a great character, and it was a good piece of theatre.

I think the timing/location was unfortunate. It would have worked well in Stratford, and it's a shame they couldn't have shelved it for a couple of years and done the whole trilogy. But it still works as a standalone, and was well worth the £20 for a rush ticket.

[Jon]

I did roll my eyes during ALW's interview on Front Row when Samira Ahmed suggested that The Mirror and the Light's cancellation of the extension was due to lack of tourists. I'm not sure if tourists would have saved the show.

[Jan]

Nov 24, 2021 22:02:15 GMT Jon said:

I did roll my eyes during ALW's interview on Front Row when Samira Ahmed suggested that The Mirror and the Light's cancellation of the extension was due to lack of tourists. I'm not sure if tourists would have saved the show.

I was talking to a producer not connected with the show who had seen it - he said he thought the main problem was that despite all the elements being in place it was lacking something in the adaptation and so it simply wasn't compelling theatre.

[cavocado]

Nov 25, 2021 7:15:20 GMT Jan said:

Nov 24, 2021 22:02:15 GMT Jon said:

I did roll my eyes during ALW's interview on Front Row when Samira Ahmed suggested that The Mirror and the Light's cancellation of the extension was due to lack of tourists. I'm not sure if tourists would have saved the show.

I was talking to a producer not connected with the show who had seen it - he said he thought the main problem was that despite all the elements being in place it was lacking something in the adaptation and so it simply wasn't compelling theatre.

Yes, it was a decent piece of work, but not spectacular. I'm glad I saw it and I enjoyed it, but it's not something I'll remember for years.

From what I remember of the pre-publicity it seemed to be promoted as the must-see final part of the Cromwell story. That's fine for attracting people who saw the first two plays (as long as they can still remember them) or have read the books, but perhaps also makes it unappealing for others without that knowledge of the story so far. Which is a shame, because I think it does work as a standalone play, but I'm not sure how you get people to see it as such.

[oxfordsimon]

One of the challenges of any retelling of the Tudor period is that we all know what happens. There is no jeopardy. There are no surprises.

You have to do something radical to make it feel fresh and worth travelling to see.

Reframing it from Cromwell's perspective is not compelling enough to do that.

The first two plays had a sense of event theatre to them. But this really didn't.

They should have waited. Reopened the Swan with the full trilogy (and get Poulton back to write the script). Then it would have stood a chance.