Best of Enemies - Young Vic / Noel Coward Theatre

[basi1faw1ty]

They were back on last night as I was there (finally got to see it via a lucky dip ticket - ended up on the second row!!).

Had a word with Charles Edwards later and he said it seemed to be a "suspected" case but that was quickly resolved. Maybe it was cancelled as a precaution?

Anyway, this show was superb. Spectacular performances from everyone but particularly the two leads. Have never seen much of Mr Harewood but I was spellbound by his acting. Loved the facial ticking.

Also, shocked nobody's mentioned this, but if anybody enjoys the thought of seeing Mr Edwards topless, you're in for a treat.

[Mark]

If a transfer was on the cards could the Criterion be a candidate for a limited run?

[caa]

Also saw it last night and thought it was fantastic, I had a £10 seat on the front row.

[Rory]

Jan 12, 2022 11:07:06 GMT Mark said:

If a transfer was on the cards could the Criterion be a candidate for a limited run?

It's the only one which would be available, from what we know.

[basi1faw1ty]

Friend managed to get tix for a matinee yesterday so ended up seeing it again!
Then James Graham shows up after the show. Had a good little chat with him. He's a really lovely guy.

He said a transfer is very likely at this point. It's not absolutely guaranteed and nothing has been set in stone yet, but given its success despite the virus situation, it was inevitable.

Next Spring has been suggested, and James is very eager and optimistic to keep David and Charles in the leads.

[drmaplewood]

There's a sprinkle of tickets on sale at the moment, just bagged a lucky dip for Monday!

[Stephen]

What do the Young Vic offer with regards to programmes etc?

[cavocado]

Jan 17, 2022 8:33:49 GMT Stephen said:

What do the Young Vic offer with regards to programmes etc?

Friend I went with bought a programme which included interviews with Jeremy Herrin and James Graham. 

[Jon]

Jan 12, 2022 11:07:06 GMT Mark said:

If a transfer was on the cards could the Criterion be a candidate for a limited run?

The Criterion seems too small for this show but perhaps they can alter it in some way. 

[orchidman]

Maybe the day will come when critics and audiences grasp that writing about intellectual topics and intelligent people does not automatically make you an intelligent writer. That day was not today.

James Graham reclaims his crown as the king of middlebrow obviousness with a play that is thematically a complete retread of Ink, his earlier piece
that dramatised a story that was by comparison both less well known and more interesting.

A great example of the playwriting technique of throwing enough at the audience that they don't realise you have absolutely nothing of value to say, when a playwright who knew what they were saying could have let the audience out an hour earlier and largely delivered the same story.

BUT GUYS, HAS ANYONE EVER NOTICED THAT DONALD TRUMP IS A GOOD TELEVISION PERSONALITY BUT A BAD POLITICIAN? GUYS!

[Stephen]

Saw this tonight. My first time seeing anything at the Young Vic (having seen a few Young Vic West End Transfers) I liked the space. My 'high seat with footrest' in row K provided great value at £10 - an unobstructed view.

I'm a big James Graham fan but found this to be a bit weaker than his other works. The point above comparing it to Ink but not as good is spot on. Performances were good but the many interludes didn't pace and drive the production forward as much as I expected. I do think this will translate well to the broadcasts planned over the next few days.

It was lovely to see a full house though. My first play since February 2020!

[Forrest]

I loved this: I thought it was intelligent, funny, wonderfully directed (finally genuinely *loved* something Herrin has done!) and superbly acted. Time literally flew by. I especially enjoyed how Graham and Herrin added factual information for context (for us who do not have the luxury of remembering the events, nor knew too much about the story beforehand) without it feeling patronising or "educational" in any way.

I would go see this again if I could, in a heartbeat, for me it's that level of good.

[drmaplewood]

Did enjoy this but didn’t really add anything that the excellent 2015 documentary it’s based on of the same name did. I’d probably suggest to people to watch that rather than see this. Sadiq Khan in front of me seemed to be enjoying himself though.

[c4ndyc4ne]

Did anyone watch the stream? Was it good?

[bordeaux]

Jan 22, 2022 0:15:22 GMT c4ndyc4ne said:

Did anyone watch the stream? Was it good?

Yes, I did.  As a live-stream I thought it worked.  The play was only so-so for my - three stars.  There seemed to be quite a lot of effortful exposition before the drama got going and the acting came across as a little over-ripe in places.  Graham makes interesting parallels between then and now and successful shows that today's culture wars and political arguments were already getting going then.  

[Stephen]

It is interesting having now watched clips from the debates (especially the famous moments) that the real life delivery of insults was much more mild mannered and I think effective. I suppose that's just theatre putting a bit of mustard on it. Walking home from the theatre my friend and I were discussing the necessity for the moment to be significantly heightened in the play as the insults lose weight in todays society compared to then. I personally think the "and you'll stayyy plastered" line as delivered in real life is one of the best insults of all time!

[teamyali]

Just finished watching the livestream broadcast and I just truly loved it! I’ve struggled with my internet connection on the first half of the play (living in the Philippines sucks for that), but everything was so much better on the second half. I’ve tried Google Chrome and it really sucks (this was what YV was suggesting to use as a browser). Opera browser works much better.

I’ve known Charles Edwards primarily because of Downton Abbey and The Crown, and I’m glad he took on this role. It was also my first time watching him do an American accent. All the actors were fantastic. Charles and David Harewood have an electric chemistry. Ironically their way of debate also damaged our way of political thinking - to that of personality-driven politicians, to having the media dictate our way of thinking, and that of politics being a spectacle.

I can see this play doing really well, awards-wise, especially the Olivier. In terms of New Play, probably the nearest rival is 2:22 A Ghost Story. Charles and David getting Best Actor nods is very possible. (And the likely idea of Charles versus Ben Daniels battling it out…loving it!)

I hope the Young Vic continues this Best Seat in Your House endeavor. Nothing beats live theatre, of course, but this broadcast is one way to recoup costs and to reach more audiences especially overseas.

[marob]

I watched the live stream this afternoon, but unfortunately wasn’t in the right mood to sit and stare at an iPad for 2.5 hrs. My mind kept wandering and so just could not get into it. Wish I’d seen it properly, as I’m sure I would have enjoyed it so much more in person.

[kathryn]

I really enjoyed this today! Perhaps it helped that I was totally new to the events, and had coincidentally been explaining to someone on Twitter that the insult in question really was a very offensive slur during that time particular period and not a ‘reclaimed’ identity yet.

Feels like the first properly good new play I’ve seen for ages. Graham does such a good job of juggling complex events and a huge number of characters into a coherent historical narrative that also works as contemporary commentary. Ok, so it’ really not saying anything about today’s media that we didn’t already know, but nevertheless it was interesting to to see a representation of how we got to where we are now.

[wannabedirector]

Really enjoyed this tonight, feel lucky to have caught this before the end of the run. I remember watching the documentary that serves as the source material ages ago and finding it really interesting, and I feel this adaptation did it justice. Maybe the best play I’ve seen in these pandemic times.

[mkb]

I have never been a fully paid-up member of the James Graham fan club. (I thought This House particularly overrated.) And yet, at last Tuesday night's Best of Enemies, I found myself swept along in the unfolding narrative, and enjoying it immensely. (It helped that I had no prior knowledge of the real-life events featured.)

Maybe you have to be gay? Because much of the fascination in watching these portrayals of Vidal and Buckley Jr. comes from the undercurrent of homosexual tension in their verbal jousting. Vidal lives a hedonistic lifestyle while it is suggested his adversary is a closet case. Of paramount importance to each is that he land a triumphal sucker punch on the other.

What on the surface is an intellectual debate between political opposites, is in reality two alpha males squaring up on a more primal level. Each acerbic put-down and barbed retort seeks to knock just a little bit more stuffing out of the opponent.

The journey from highbrow discourse to below-the-belt personal attacks, all for the cause of television ratings (and personal aggrandisement), while truth and honour are lost along the way, is frighteningly uncomfortable to witness yet impossible to turn away from. The parable is not original, the parallels not exactly subtle, yet, like the best soap opera, one is captivated from start to finish.

The dialogue, much of it verbatim with actuality, and some spoken in perfect synchronisation with historical video clips, fizzes with wit. A superlative cast effortlessly draw characters you at once want to spend time with, whether hero or villain.

Graham frames the piece in flashback, showing the fallout first. The drama is in how we got there. The actual dénouement is rather underwhelming -- is that *all* he said? -- but it's a brilliant ride.

Full marks too to the sound designer. The miked-up cast are fully audible (using only gentle amplification on top of their direct voices) and correctly placed in the soundscape at all times, not an easy job in an in-the-round format.

So, on exiting the auditorium, it was an easy five-star rating from me.

But have I been too kind? Subsequent YouTubing reveals the real Vidal to have been less camp, more polite, and altogether less entertaining to watch. Conversely, Buckley Jr. is more articulate, intelligent and definitely not triggering my gaydar. There is a discussion to be had about the choice to cast a black actor as a deeply conservative white man, and what that does to the dynamics of the piece, but I fear this forum is not the place (previous discussions on race in casting having become heated and shut down).

I cannot help feeling a little manipulated. That's not a criticism: it's to the credit of Graham and director Jeremy Herrin that they have transformed a mildly engaging footnote from television history into an epic duel, but let's not pretend it's real.

Act 1: 19:37-20:44
Act 2: 21:01-21:59

(The slightly late start seemingly due to the time taken to seat lucky-dip ticket-holders.)

[budd]

I saw the stream. I appreciate what they were trying to do with the provision of different camera views but I didn't find them to be particularly useful, and only relied on the director's cut. This is not a critique on the quality, which was great, just that this feature was not really needed.

The mechanics of the staging are dynamic and it's remarkable how they are able to evoke the vibe and sentiment of that period with such economy. I'd say it does drag a little, and think some minutes could be shaved off. Harewood and Edwards are charismatic and largely faultless (some loudness could be curbed). The epilogue though, is only 50% successful.
Overall, as a piece of theatre it's just superb, even if doesn't tread any new ideas or is likely to inspire great debate. It works very well (and best) as a portrait of two people at a very specific time, and keeps you completely engrossed all the way through.

[drmaplewood]

Transferring to West End (but not clear where) from November.

bestofenemiesplay.com/

[samuelwhiskers]

And Broadway next year, iirc.

[theatrelover123]

What a shame. Really don't think it deserves to transfer.