Prima Facie - Harold Pinter / Cinema Broadcast

[mrbarnaby]

Apr 27, 2022 18:45:43 GMT foxglove said:

Apr 23, 2022 23:19:00 GMT dip said:

Absolutely breathtaking. Never had an experience like it in a theatre.

I echo this. Caught it a few days ago and the audience response was rapturous, to say the least. I can't quite believe it's Comer's stage debut - a challenging performance on multiple levels that she absolutely owns. Feels like tickets are becoming like gold dust.

It’s been sold out for some time

[Jon]

Broadway must be on the cards although apparently the producers want to do a run in Liverpool although somewhere like the Liverpool Empire would be way too big but saying that Prima Facie with Jodie Comer could easily sell it out.

I hope Jodie does more theatre after this.

[jamb0r]

Managed to get a good seat in row C of the dress circle in the lottery yesterday. I now have a spare ticket for another date that I don’t need, but as I was checking out there was a warning that resale of tickets for this show is strictly prohibited. I’ll check with ATG before putting it on the notice board.

[andrew]

Apr 28, 2022 9:22:55 GMT jamb0r said:

Managed to get a good seat in row C of the dress circle in the lottery yesterday. I now have a spare ticket for another date that I don’t need, but as I was checking out there was a warning that resale of tickets for this show is strictly prohibited. I’ll check with ATG before putting it on the notice board.

The issue is with selling it at a higher price. You should be fine selling it for what you paid.

[Deleted]

With Jodie being such a rising star I could see her taking this to broadway her film and TV work permitting. I she does get a strong awards buzz in UK then Broadway would really want this. Also being a one woman play which I assume has a static set the running costs aren't going to be that high and Jodie can receive a hedty fee as there are no other performers only her understudy to pay too.

I hope she does do more Theatre but the fact she has waited until she is 29 to make her stage debut might mean she is seen as more of a TV/Film actress or thinks of herself as such. She was first touted as a rising star back in about 2013 to 215 and the fact it has taken her all these years to get onto stage does make me wonder if she will do that much work stage stuff going forward. She would not have been anywhere near as busy or in demand as she is now in say 2015 but would have had an emerging profile to be considered for good stage roles be it a major tour, West End, the National, RSC season etc.

[samuelwhiskers]

Maybe, but the theatre industry is very snooty about TV actors, especially those who didn’t go to drama school. (And it was way worse a few years ago.)

Having worked for the RSC off and on over the years, I doubt the RSC of 2015 would have looked favourably on (“rising star” but still fairly obscure) TV actor with no training or stage experience. Hell I still hear snide comments about Jodie now - which are likely jealousy or snobbery. Even David Tennant being cast as Hamlet drew a lot of anti-TV snobbery and ire, and he started his career with the RSC and played leading roles there for years before becoming a TV star.

I very much hope that she’ll do more theatre but I imagine it will be in tent pole commercial West End productions like this, not necessarily one-woman shows but certainly plays written around her character.

[Jon]

There's quite a few film and TV actors who I'd love to see do theatre. The ones that comes to mind is Anya Taylor-Joy although it'd have to be a very specific role and also Emma Watson who is the only one of the main Harry Potter actors who hasn't done theatre.

[crowblack]

Apr 27, 2022 23:06:28 GMT Jon said:

Broadway must be on the cards although apparently the producers want to do a run in Liverpool although somewhere like the Liverpool Empire would be way too big but saying that Prima Facie with Jodie Comer could easily sell it out.

I hope Jodie does more theatre after this.

The Playhouse is about the same size as the Pinter, so maybe there? 

[zahidf]

Without spoilers, there are a few effects and theatrical flourishes. Its a fixed set and one woman play, but there are some associated costs with it

I get the impression having seen it, that it will be on TV sooner or later

[Jon]

Apr 28, 2022 14:34:59 GMT zahidf said:

Without spoilers, there are a few effects and theatrical flourishes. Its a fixed set and one woman play, but there are some associated costs with it

I get the impression having seen it, that it will be on TV sooner or later

As in the NT Live version on TV or a slightly differently filmed version.

[zahidf]

Apr 28, 2022 14:38:33 GMT Jon said:

Apr 28, 2022 14:34:59 GMT zahidf said:

Without spoilers, there are a few effects and theatrical flourishes. Its a fixed set and one woman play, but there are some associated costs with it

I get the impression having seen it, that it will be on TV sooner or later

As in the NT Live version on TV or a slightly differently filmed version.

I reckon differently filmed version    

[jojo]

Apr 28, 2022 11:17:57 GMT samuelwhiskers said:

Maybe, but the theatre industry is very snooty about TV actors, especially those who didn’t go to drama school. (And it was way worse a few years ago.)

Having worked for the RSC off and on over the years, I doubt the RSC of 2015 would have looked favourably on (“rising star” but still fairly obscure) TV actor with no training or stage experience. Hell I still hear snide comments about Jodie now - which are likely jealousy or snobbery. Even David Tennant being cast as Hamlet drew a lot of anti-TV snobbery and ire, and he started his career with the RSC and played leading roles there for years before becoming a TV star.

I very much hope that she’ll do more theatre but I imagine it will be in tent pole commercial West End productions like this, not necessarily one-woman shows but certainly plays written around her character.

Very true, though it often makes me laugh when people get sniffy about people from tv doing theatre and complaining about the sort of audience that only appreciates an actor who has been on tv, when those people from tv did theatre before becoming famous, and a true theatre aficionado would be aware of their theatre CV.

From what I understand, Jodie has done theatre before, but not for years, and not since she became tv famous, and not on the West End. Some actors who do film or tv can find themselves in a tricky spot of being too famous to play a minor role without it being odd, but not famous or experienced enough to be the lead. Made a bit trickier again if you are not from London.

Reviews for the play are generally good, though it's Jodie's performance that is getting most praise. I'm pleased she's proven herself to be as good as we hoped she'd be and will mean she considers more theatre in the future if the part is right.

[Jon]

Quite a few of big name actors people are always surprised they've done theatre before. Lily James before she hit the big time did plays at Southwark Playhouse and The Orange Tree and Kit Harrington famously was in War Horse.

[theatremiss]

Just seen this at today’s matinee. Not going to lie I sobbed at the end and barely got myself together. I’m not one for crying in public but I couldn’t stop myself. Comer has to have delivered one of the best performances I have seen in a long while. Her skill in her craft is there for all to see and I for one was blown away. I have no idea how she does this once a day, let alone twice. Such a stellar performance and judging by this I’d love to see her do more stage work.

[budd]

Nothing much to do except echo the praises being heaped on Jodie Comer. The play itself is not that great, and pretty heavy-handed, but that hardly matters when it allows the lead to deliver such emotion.

Though Jodie Comer does feel very "modern", if that makes sense. Had felt some of that while seeing her in the Last Duel as well, but that was nothing in comparison to Ben Affleck, so it worked there. Would be interesting to see her tackle some Shakespeare.

[Being Alive]

It's quite a clunky play in places, and a couple of the decisions with the staging in the second part I didn't agree with (one technique/gimmick they use is a particular annoyance of mine so it took me out of the ending)

One of the best stage performances I think I've ever seen though. Staggering it's her debut and I hope we see a lot more from her in the future.

[theatremiss]

Apr 29, 2022 21:52:00 GMT Being Alive said:

It's quite a clunky play in places, and a couple of the decisions with the staging in the second part I didn't agree with (one technique/gimmick they use is a particular annoyance of mine so it took me out of the ending)

One of the best stage performances I think I've ever seen though. Staggering it's her debut and I hope we see a lot more from her in the future.

What was the gimmick you didn’t like? Was it the obvious one when she had the green dress on?

[Being Alive]

I really hate 'lights up on the audience' as a technique

[Deleted]

Apr 28, 2022 11:17:57 GMT samuelwhiskers said:

Maybe, but the theatre industry is very snooty about TV actors, especially those who didn’t go to drama school. (And it was way worse a few years ago.)

Having worked for the RSC off and on over the years, I doubt the RSC of 2015 would have looked favourably on (“rising star” but still fairly obscure) TV actor with no training or stage experience. Hell I still hear snide comments about Jodie now - which are likely jealousy or snobbery. Even David Tennant being cast as Hamlet drew a lot of anti-TV snobbery and ire, and he started his career with the RSC and played leading roles there for years before becoming a TV star.

I very much hope that she’ll do more theatre but I imagine it will be in tent pole commercial West End productions like this, not necessarily one-woman shows but certainly plays written around her character.

I admit I am a bit of a snob as I like actors to prove themselves on all fronts. Theatre actors may sometimes get more the gongs and be seen as the best dramatic actors but film and TV work are certainly more lucrative so those stars are laughing all the way to the bank.

I'm amazed to hear snobbery about DT as he was an RSC company member well before he jumped into the Tardis. Likewise with Patrick Stewart or Ian McDiarmid two fine stage actors who took on very lucrative Sci Fi roles did they get comments anout that. 

I think even the great Dame Judi was once asked why she took a role possibly the Chronicles of Riddick and she replied if you'd been offered what I was for that role you'd have taken it.

[Jon]

The residuals Sir Patrick earns from Star Trek alone likely means he can do whatever the hell he wants.

Even Dame Maggie has done commercial films, Sister Act and The First Wives Club come to mind.

[A.Ham]

It took an awful lot of refreshing on ATG, but I’m off to tonight’s performance! Stalls row K so hoping I’ll have a good view, will report back later/tmrw. Very excited and of course there’s nothing like a last minute bank holiday dash from Bournemouth to the West End!

[A.Ham]

Well 24 hours later I’m still thinking about Jodie’s performance - incredible. Just remembering and delivering that script across 100 minutes with barely a break is admirable, but then to act the life out of every line with accents, expressions, and everything else she put into the physicality of the performance was just breathtaking.

I was drawn in from the off and the audience sat as one in pretty much total silence (bar the laughter in the right places) the whole way through. I really think she should get every award going for this, it’s a piece of theatre that’ll stick in my memory for a long time. So glad I persevered with dogged determination to get a return!

[kjb]

Has anyone had any luck with the Wednesday "pay what you can tickets" yet? 

[Mark]

May 4, 2022 9:22:12 GMT kjb said:

Has anyone had any luck with the Wednesday "pay what you can tickets" yet? 

None again today

[drmaplewood]

May 4, 2022 9:22:12 GMT kjb said:

Has anyone had any luck with the Wednesday "pay what you can tickets" yet? 

I got through to the booking page but then realised I'm on holiday next week, typically!