Doubt - Chichester

[alicechallice]

Alongside all the touring shows CFT house in their Winter season, they’ve got a production of Doubt running for 2 weeks in Jan/Feb. Monica Dolan starring.

[couldileaveyou]

Lia Williams (The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie) will direct a new staging of John Patrick Shanley's seminal, Pulitzer-winning play "Doubt: A Parable", playing from 22 January to 5 February.

Set to star Monica Dolan (W1A), Sam Spruell (The North Water) and Jessica Rhodes (The Sugar Syndrome), the hit play is set in a Catholic Church in New York in 1964.

The production is designed by Joanna Scotcher, with lighting by Paul Keogan, music and sound by Melanie Pappenheim and Giles Perring, with casting by Charlotte Sutton.

[NeilVHughes]

Is this touring? being only 2 weeks it would indicate that it may, will definitely see it as Monica Dolan rarely disappoints but hopefully nearer to home.

[alicechallice]

Sept 7, 2021 10:23:34 GMT NeilVHughes said:

Is this touring? being only 2 weeks it would indicate that it may, will definitely see it as Monica Dolan rarely disappoints but hopefully nearer to home.

No mention of it touring, it just sounds like a standard in-house CFT production but they've tacked it on to their end of their 'out-of-season' season. 2 weeks is a very short run for them, though. 


Maybe it was meant to be part of 2021's season but actors' schedules didn't permit.  

[mrbarnaby]

Monica Dolan? Wow this is luxury casting.

[Phantom of London]

Do we know what theatre this is going to be in?

I will it, but will hold off booking to very late as Chichester can be treacherous to get to in the winter, that’s if it doesn’t play anywhere nearer on tour?

[couldileaveyou]

[showgirl]

Audience & press reviews all raves. Am seeing it next week & think this one I will enjoy.

[Rory]

Could this transfer to the Criterion? Yes please!

[NeilVHughes]

Would also appreciate a transfer, such a short run logistics didn’t fall into place even though in Bristol today for Dr Semmelweis it just didn’t work as a 2 town day trip.

[fiyero]

I am so looking forward to this next weekend. I think it’s the first non musical play I’ve seen at Chichester!

[showgirl]

I'm also looking forward to a rare theatre trip to somewhere other than ghastly London, & to seeing the current exhibition at Pallant House gallery beforehand.

[meister]

Certainly doable from London as it runs 90 minutes with no interval. Good production with solid acting, just wasn’t sure about the main character’s volte face in the last line of the play.

[imstillhere]

PLEASE transfer!

[stevemar]

I’m seeing this next week. In Chichester, it’s in the main theatre and they’ve only sold seats for the front stalls (so about maybe 50-60% of the 1200 seat theatre). Of that, only 50/70% are sold for remaining performances. So, a transfer (unless to a small theatre) would be a pretty major financial risk I reckon.

[showgirl]

I thought sales would pick up following the unanimously positive reviews but maybe the traditional Chichester audience had already booked & the location means they can't pick up much extra business at short notice? The fact that it's January can't help & if the reviews had been poor, I wouldn't have wanted to spend the whole day on seeing this.

[stevemar]

I only bought my ticket this week, even though I’d been looking at it since autumn. Sales were ultra slow (understandably) before the last week or so. I don’t think it is an “easy” sell and whilst the theatre community know Monica Dolan, the general public probably recognise her less. Probably as she is just SO different in all her roles!

[showgirl]

I'd heard the name but wouldn't say I "know" Monica Dolan myself; assumed she must be more of a tv person but seems I'm wrong. Also think, as above, that there's probably a difference between audience numbers and type in summer vs winter but I was prepared to risk it as I'd only paid £10 for my ticket so at worst I'd lose that. Instead, it sounds like a really worthwhile visit whereas I wouldn't otherwise relish the slog there and back in February.

[NeilVHughes]

On reading the reviews was sure I had seen the play recently in London, it was staged in Southwark Playhouse in 2017 with Stella Gonet in the leading role.

[emsworthian]

I saw it yesterday and loved it. I went after reading 5 star reviews but I was already a fan of Monica Dolan. She is great in this but then so are all the cast of 4. The upper section of the theatre was closed but the lower section looked pretty full (80-90 per cent I'd guess). The audience seemed engaged and appreciative and for me the hour and a half flew by.

[stevemar]

Ah, this is a shame (was about to head there now):

“We are deeply sorry to have to tell you that – despite stringent precautions and exploring every alternative option – due to a positive Covid case within the company, we have had to take the sad decision to cancel all our remaining performances of Doubt: A Parable.”

[showgirl]

Gosh, I was so lucky then that yesterday's matinee went ahead. I kept checking but left home soon after 9 am so had wondered what to do instead if they cancelled whilst I was en route or already there. This merits a longer life: tour or transfer?

[fiyero]

They have managed to reschedule

I’ve moved my ticket, hope the train Gods are friendly!

[showgirl]

Should be fine train-wise as long as you're not going via Brighton or Lewes due to the blockade - as they call it. Can't speak for SWT though.

[fiyero]

Feb 4, 2022 14:28:44 GMT showgirl said:

Should be fine train-wise as long as you're not going via Brighton or Lewes due to the blockade - as they call it. Can't speak for SWT though.

Last train with connections to Eastleigh is 21:27! There is a reason I was going to a matinee originally!
Can get another train at 21:58 that can get me at least to Southampton where I can get a bus. This all also depends on if SWR is still running a reduced timetable!