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Post by intoanewlife on Oct 2, 2022 16:58:31 GMT
intoanewlife I think that is a good anecdote. If someone really does not put the attention or effort needed to understand The Band's Visit (or can't, for whatever reason) and as a consequence does not understand or enjoy it, it is a completely different scenario to someone who does pay attention and understand it but doesn't like the show. IMO it really can't be fully understood until you first take the histories of the religions and it's location into consideration. Going in without any prior knowledge of that with our already extremely skewed ideas and judgements on how a lot of the people in the region actually live is going to make it either uninteresting or boring to a lot of people. That is not really the fault of the audience or the show because it is not telling that story, it is instead trying to remedy those problems and perceptions. What I find quite depressing is that the people who need to 'get' what the show is about just don't and therefore the whole point of it is lost on the people who need to hear it the most. |
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Post by bobbievanhusen on Oct 2, 2022 17:41:53 GMT
Mozart is better than Kylie (and I loves me some Kylie) and that's just a fact. intoanewlife woke up today and chose violence. That's fighting talk!
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Post by mkb on Oct 4, 2022 0:47:01 GMT
I seem to be on a lucky streak with sweeping up excellent returns online for otherwise sold-out performances: front row centre stalls tonight. Not bad at all!
If you were to ask me what The Band's Visit is like, I could not better some of the previous responses in this thread. I can only say that it's sublime, it's beautiful, and it's mesmerising. It's a 105-minute hypnotic trance. There's no significant action, just an unplanned meeting of characters in a remote location, but through their gentle interactions, so much of the human condition is laid bare: loss, hope for something better, the failure to get it, and the power of stories and music to bring us together.
If you're the sort of person who feels uncomfortable when there is a pause in a conversation and needs to break the silence, this is not for you. This is slow. It's about finding those moments interesting for what they say, for what that look means, for what that unconscious gesture really tells you. It's for wallowing and going with the flow.
I felt a similar vibe at Amélie The Musical, La Strada and The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, all top-rated for me. If you liked any of them, I think you'll enjoy this.
No doubt those with musical training will say that the score lacks complexity, but the melodies are exquisite. I need a cast recording!
The performances are first rate. The creatives watching previews looking for areas that need to be improved will have a hard task.
There were a couple of glitches when, somewhat bizarrely, a projection of a sheet of musical cues appeared on the rear wall. It happened right at the start, and again at "Prologue Start". Why was a projector even aimed at that wall? Was it intended for other backdrops that failed to materialise?
The hard-copy programmes have not arrived yet, so the Donmar is making a digital one available, but at £3.00 just for a pdf, I shall wait for the real thing.
Five stars.
One act: 19:34-21:18
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Post by hadeswasking on Oct 4, 2022 2:12:37 GMT
I seem to be on a lucky streak with sweeping up excellent returns online for otherwise sold-out performances: front row centre stalls tonight. Not bad at all! If you were to ask me what The Band's Visit is like, I could not better some of the previous responses in this thread. I can only say that it's sublime, it's beautiful, and it's mesmerising. It's a 105-minute hypnotic trance. There's no significant action, just an unplanned meeting of characters in a remote location, but through their gentle interactions, so much of the human condition is laid bare: loss, hope for something better, the failure to get it, and the power of stories and music to bring us together. If you're the sort of person who feels uncomfortable when there is a pause in a conversation and needs to break the silence, this is not for you. This is slow. It's about finding those moments interesting for what they say, for what that look means, for what that unconscious gesture really tells you. It's for wallowing and going with the flow. I felt a similar vibe at Amélie The Musical, La Strada and The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, all top-rated for me. If you liked any of them, I think you'll enjoy this. No doubt those with musical training will say that the score lacks complexity, but the melodies are exquisite. I need a cast recording! The performances are first rate. The creatives watching previews looking for areas that need to be improved will have a hard task. There were a couple of glitches when, somewhat bizarrely, a projection of a sheet of musical cues appeared on the rear wall. It happened right at the start, and again at "Prologue Start". Why was a projector even aimed at that wall? Was it intended for other backdrops that failed to materialise? The hard-copy programmes have not arrived yet, so the Donmar is making a digital one available, but at £3.00 just for a pdf, I shall wait for the real thing. Five stars. One act: 19:34-21:18 You have sold me after mentioning Amélie! |
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Post by Peter on Oct 4, 2022 16:58:47 GMT
Loved Amelie and Umbrellas of Cherbourg - this bodes well for my trip later this month!  |
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Post by Steve on Oct 5, 2022 13:15:29 GMT
I loved this, for its poetic beauty, for its fish-out-of-water comedy, for it's gorgeous plaintive melodies, for Ashley Margolis's big number, for Mark Antolin's gentle brightness, for Sargon Yelda's subtle expressiveness and for Miri Mesika's passionate singing, but nonetheless, this musical overall is so cruelly tantric and withholding that it could never be my favourite musical lol! Some spoilers follow. . . The thing about the movie is that you are free to take so much out of it: you can appreciate it's about life's quiet desperation, per Thoreau, where ships pass in the night and disappointment fills every glass; or you can laugh it up at the fish-out-water comedy; or you can appreciate how much it validates the small things in life, how important connections are and so forth, how usefully music greases the wheels of connection. But the musical adds a layer of directorial commentary that massively emphasises the quiet desperation of it all, tantrically withholding all life's pleasures. For example, take the song "Omar Sharif," the most wistful Regina Spektor song not written by Regina Spektor: it sings the praises of "Umm Kulthum and Omar Sharif," with Umm Kulthum being the most melodramatic and climaxy singer ever, as in every verse is a climax, and those Sharif movies being as lurid and romantic as heck, but Yasbek resolutely refuses to let US share in the melodramatic and romantic and passionate internal lives of the characters. It is as if the melancholy is all, and the internal roiling sea of passion, that allows these amazing characters to survive their melancholy, is sidelined. That makes for a focused artistic vision, and boy are there wistful pleasures here, not least, the songs, "Omar Sharif" and the amazing closing Telephone Guy song! But, for me, denied actual access to the Umm Kulthum inside these desperate characters, I found myself crying for them and humanity in Brechtian distance instead of sharing their inner awesomeness and truly connecting with them. For that reason, I especially appreciated the immense gentle positive aura that Marc Antolin brings to his long-suffering Itzik; I appreciated the comic irony with which Sargon Yelda's wide-eyed snide rebuts all the suffering; I appreciated Harel Glazer's Papi's clowning; I appreciated the multiple-meaning mastery with which Alon Aboutbol lays down the line about it being "too late" for him lol; and I appreciated the earthy passionate force of Miri Mesika's singing. I did not appreciate Yasbek denying me the opportunity to share the characters' passionate delusions. Four stars from me. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 5, 2022 18:34:56 GMT
I’ve added a poll so please vote if you’ve seen it. If you think a new show or production should have a star rating poll, tell me or TallPaul. We are totally up for it but we can’t keep on top of every new opening. |
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Post by TallPaul on Oct 6, 2022 11:26:49 GMT
You growl for yourself, BurlyBeaR. I know every opening of every show. I would have written a song about it, but Cole Porter beat me to it. 😀 |
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Post by scarpia on Oct 7, 2022 12:37:37 GMT
The hard-copy programmes have not arrived yet, so the Donmar is making a digital one available, but at £3.00 just for a pdf, I shall wait for the real thing. Have the hard-copy programmes arrived yet? Because I do like buying programmes but am not prepared to spend £3 on a PDF! |
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Post by Being Alive on Oct 7, 2022 13:16:23 GMT
Yes, a friend was there last night and they've finally got programmes
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Post by Jon on Oct 7, 2022 13:36:22 GMT
I wonder if they'll risk a transfer? I suspect theatre availability is a factor.
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Post by distantcousin on Oct 7, 2022 13:59:55 GMT
Does this show have much of a plot? Or is it one of those "situational" musicals?
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Post by mkb on Oct 7, 2022 14:03:16 GMT
I see some of the reviewers couldn't stop themselves from revealing the plot point about why the band are where they are. Do they get a kick out of spoiling people's enjoyment or something? They do this regularly.
It's why I never read reviews or detailed pre-publicity before a show. Same goes for film trailers.
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Post by Jon on Oct 7, 2022 14:15:00 GMT
I see some of the reviewers couldn't stop themselves from revealing the plot point about why the band are where they are. Do they get a kick out of spoiling people's enjoyment or something? They do this regularly. It's why I never read reviews or detailed pre-publicity before a show. Same goes for film trailers. I don't mind it personally because some people need a synopsis, they can't go in totally blind. |
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Post by mkb on Oct 7, 2022 15:33:30 GMT
I see some of the reviewers couldn't stop themselves from revealing the plot point about why the band are where they are. Do they get a kick out of spoiling people's enjoyment or something? They do this regularly. It's why I never read reviews or detailed pre-publicity before a show. Same goes for film trailers. I don't mind it personally because some people need a synopsis, they can't go in totally blind. They can't? Why on earth not? Part of the joy is in not knowing what is going to happen. And there are trigger warnings for those who need them. I just glean the genre and who's involved. That's usually enough for me to decide whether to buy a ticket. |
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Post by scarpia on Oct 7, 2022 15:35:54 GMT
Yes, a friend was there last night and they've finally got programmes Thanks for confirming! |
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Post by Jon on Oct 7, 2022 15:36:59 GMT
They can't? Why on earth not? Part of the joy is in not knowing what is going to happen. And there are trigger warnings for those who need them. I think you're a being a bit passive aggressive over the suggestion that some people wanting to know some details of the plot or wanting to watch a film trailer. |
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Post by mkb on Oct 7, 2022 15:50:58 GMT
They can't? Why on earth not? Part of the joy is in not knowing what is going to happen. And there are trigger warnings for those who need them. I think you're a being a bit passive aggressive over the suggestion that some people wanting to know some details of the plot or wanting to watch a film trailer. No, I'm not suggesting that. I'm saying that not everyone wants to know, and it's annoying and pretty inconsiderate when people spoil things for those that don't. Trying to avoid these things is actually a lot harder than you'd think. I remember having avoided all pre-publicity for E.T., the night before I was due to see it in 1982, BBC Radio news featured some vox pop of people coming out of the first screening with someone saying "It was so sad when he died." Thank goodness for spoiler tags on here! |
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Post by macksennett on Oct 7, 2022 21:05:34 GMT
The hard-copy programmes have not arrived yet, so the Donmar is making a digital one available, but at £3.00 just for a pdf, I shall wait for the real thing. Have the hard-copy programmes arrived yet? Because I do like buying programmes but am not prepared to spend £3 on a PDF! Anyone know if the PDF programmes are available to purchase online? I’m trying to cut down on my hard copy collection and would like to get one in advance. Thanks |
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Post by Being Alive on Oct 7, 2022 21:39:09 GMT
I got really annoyed at the reviewers who said nothing happened, which just isn't true.
Also, WOS giving this 3 stars, and also giving Millenials 3 stars is hysterical...borderline embarrassing
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Post by budd on Oct 7, 2022 21:58:05 GMT
I got really annoyed at the reviewers who said nothing happened, which just isn't true. Also, WOS giving this 3 stars, and also giving Millenials 3 stars is hysterical...borderline embarrassing Star ratings can only be compared if they're from the same reviewer tbh. I read the WoS review for this, and she has laid out her issues with the material. Don't have to agree, but she's not saying anything along the lines of "nothing happening". |
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Post by Being Alive on Oct 7, 2022 22:02:38 GMT
No she isn't I grant you, but there were certainly reviews I read that were. Fair point I guess
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Post by Dawnstar on Oct 8, 2022 13:32:04 GMT
I don't mind it personally because some people need a synopsis, they can't go in totally blind. They can't? Why on earth not? Part of the joy is in not knowing what is going to happen. And there are trigger warnings for those who need them. I just glean the genre and who's involved. That's usually enough for me to decide whether to buy a ticket. Trigger warnings don't cover everything though. Personally I have no problem with things like gunshots but I have considerable problems with seeing someone acting being sick. The latter is unlikely to be included in a trigger warning. Ever since I had a panic attack while stuck mid-row at a preview of the NT's The Light Princess I've checked plots in advance for as many shows as is possible. |
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Post by juicy_but_terribly_drab on Oct 8, 2022 16:21:06 GMT
In spite of a very distracting audience this afternoon (a phone to start, lots of things being dropped and banging about, and someone brought a kid of maybe 12 who clearly was not into it and wasn't afraid to let everyone know that fact - he kept rustling a paper bag, talking, sighing loudly, and they left about an hour in just when Something Different was reaching its peak) this really moved me. I loved it just as much as I remember loving the film a few years ago (one of the few times a more subtle comedy has been adapted as a stage musical and not ended up super broad and over-played). Great music, singing and acting and it made me laugh a lot and cry a lot which is all I wanted out of the experience so I am more than satisfied.
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Post by showtoones on Oct 10, 2022 0:26:54 GMT
When does Emma Kingston play Dina? It says on the Donmar website she performs the role “at certain performances”.
Any help would be grateful appreciated.
Thanks.
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