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Post by couldileaveyou on Apr 22, 2022 11:15:01 GMT
 26 May - 25 June. |
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1,828 posts
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Post by Dave B on Apr 22, 2022 11:24:58 GMT
Long booked for this - somewhat randomly. The Lyric's excellent season package combined with early booking dropped the price for this (and Closer later in the year) to sub £7 for our usual seats in Row C or D. At that price and given how much we generally enjoy visits to Lyric, was a no brainer.
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Post by theoracle on Apr 25, 2022 16:10:20 GMT
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Post by Jan on Apr 25, 2022 16:57:08 GMT
I have booked this. It is a very rare chance to see a UK production of this Racine play which is quite frequently performed in France. I think the last UK production was probably at the Almeida in 1999 with Diana Rigg.
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Post by Jan on Jun 3, 2022 12:38:06 GMT
Anyone seen it yet ?
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904 posts
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Post by lonlad on Jun 3, 2022 15:03:44 GMT
Yes: very mixed bag. The Jonathan Kent version in 1998 was a lot sexier and more compelling but this less starry version has its moments, and the play itself is an intriguing rarity.
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3,334 posts
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Post by Dr Tom on Jun 5, 2022 7:07:19 GMT
Saw this yesterday. It's 100 minutes without an interval, which I think is sensible as I suspect the theatre would just not have been all that full if there was a second half.
To me, this was rather dry and difficult, not helped by a minimalistic approach to staging and a largely modern set and costumes. The acting alone is not enough to draw you in. The show does have its moments, but it takes a long time to get there.
This is always a top quality theatre and very welcoming. A nice bar area with a roof terrace, which people in the know come in just to use (and to avoid the much busier bars and cafes of Hammersmith). I was also able to get an empty seat either side of me in the theatre, which is always pleasant. But one to watch when you're in the mood for a (relatively short) tragedy.
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4,962 posts
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jun 5, 2022 11:05:24 GMT
A friend friend I went yesterday afternoon prior to seeing Abba in the evening ... we both thought it was great. The guardian **** review is spot on in my book
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Post by Jan on Jun 13, 2022 16:50:09 GMT
Performances of this are currently cancelled due to illness in the company. They may resume later in the week.
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Post by Jan on Jun 18, 2022 7:36:50 GMT
There is a lot to admire here. Firstly that they staged this play at all. There's not many theatres with any commitment at all to the pre-1800 non-Shakespeare repertoire let alone a European classic - in this case one that is frequently performed in France but is very rarely staged in UK.
Secondly I approve of the fact they didn't commission a modish new version but instead used an existing good version by Timberlake Wertenbaker from 2011. The version is perhaps overly demotic and of course it isn't in rhyming verse so that aspect of the French original is totally lost, but I'm not sure there are any good verse versions they could have used - there are several verse versions of Phedre including at least one rhyming version by Tony Harrison that I'd like to see.
Beyond that it is a decent production of a difficult play. It's maybe not ideal for a general audience but that's no reason not to do it. They had two last-minute replacements in with book in hand - one of those, Ned Costello, playing the leading role of Nero was the best thing in it.
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1,502 posts
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Post by foxa on Jun 18, 2022 10:57:54 GMT
Interesting - I am not a big Racine fan, but two friends wanted to see this so I am going on Monday. From the running time and comments, it looks like, at the very least, it shouldn't be torture. And Jan always good to hear of someone stepping in and nailing it! |
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Post by alessia on Jun 18, 2022 17:07:22 GMT
I've just seen it- I was a little bored in the first 30 minutes or so, but it became more interesting in the second half. The acting was very good, I was impressed by Ned Costello who, despite carrying the script, gave an excellent performance. Considering that the story is more about Nero and Agrippina than it is about Britannicus, it is no small task to get up and replace the main actor. Well done to him.
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Post by theatrebee on Jun 18, 2022 17:09:50 GMT
I watched it yesterday. The way they were constantly moving the chairs about on the stage (it felt like there 30+ at one point) got on my nerves, but other than that, it was a pleasant performance. Agrippina was especially gripping.
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Post by Jan on Jun 18, 2022 17:41:51 GMT
I watched it yesterday. The way they were constantly moving the chairs about on the stage (it felt like there 30+ at one point) got on my nerves, but other than that, it was a pleasant performance. Agrippina was especially gripping. The chairs. Right. That was very old fashioned. In the 1980s there were lots of fringe productions that involved the actors ritually rearranging chairs. |
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4,962 posts
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jun 19, 2022 7:16:56 GMT
I watched it yesterday. The way they were constantly moving the chairs about on the stage (it felt like there 30+ at one point) got on my nerves, but other than that, it was a pleasant performance. Agrippina was especially gripping. The chairs. Right. That was very old fashioned. In the 1980s there were lots of fringe productions that involved the actors ritually rearranging chairs. Ionesco would be proud! I liked the musical chairs aspect of this production. |
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Post by theoracle on Jun 19, 2022 21:56:21 GMT
Saw this on Friday and had two understudies as Nero and Burrhus (played by a man!) I can't tell you the names of the actors but I thought Nero was brilliant! The production as a whole however wasn't the most engaging and could've benefitted from an interval. Nathaniel Curtis was clearly a draw for this but I think was overshadowed by Nero and made me question the title of the play. The violinist was lovely though and some of the music played added some ambience to the piece which in turn invoked a new texture to the production, making it a bit more interesting. Otherwise, I think the reviews for this have been pretty fair.
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Post by Jan on Jun 20, 2022 5:52:33 GMT
Saw this on Friday and had two understudies as Nero and Burrhus (played by a man!) I can't tell you the names of the actors but I thought Nero was brilliant! The production as a whole however wasn't the most engaging and could've benefitted from an interval. Nathaniel Curtis was clearly a draw for this but I think was overshadowed by Nero and made me question the title of the play. The historical figure Burrus was a man, but having taken the decision to swap the gender in the original casting it was surprising they didn't stick to this with the replacement actor, but maybe at that point they just cast whoever was available at such short notice. Nero was played by Ned Costello. I'd like to see him play Hamlet. I thought Nathaniel Curtis was a bit miscast as Britannicus to be honest. |
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Post by matty on Jun 20, 2022 17:34:32 GMT
Saw this on Friday and had two understudies as Nero and Burrhus (played by a man!) I can't tell you the names of the actors but I thought Nero was brilliant! The production as a whole however wasn't the most engaging and could've benefitted from an interval. Nathaniel Curtis was clearly a draw for this but I think was overshadowed by Nero and made me question the title of the play. The violinist was lovely though and some of the music played added some ambience to the piece which in turn invoked a new texture to the production, making it a bit more interesting. Otherwise, I think the reviews for this have been pretty fair. I was there on Friday as well. Not sure about you, but the heat in the theatre made it difficult for me to focus on this. Definitely could have done with an interval, just for a comfort break more than anything else! |
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Post by Jan on Jun 20, 2022 17:50:34 GMT
I was there on Friday too. Agree it was warm.
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1,828 posts
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Post by Dave B on Jun 24, 2022 22:25:21 GMT
I mostly enjoyed this. I only realised on seeing cast promos going in that Nero was played by William Robinson who was *excellent* in Bacon at Finborough recently. He was also very good in this and so that helped. Hugely warm, surprisingly full, more people than I have seen in the Lyric in a while which is nice. At over 100 minutes, really felt like it needed an interval, I was pretty uncomfortable and would have really liked to stretch my legs for a moment. I liked various bits about it in particular {Spoiler - click to view}when Nero rips down the painting to see the play's real name (as I think it should have been) on the wall |
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Jun 24, 2022 23:37:15 GMT
He was also very good in this and so that helped Ooh I was in tonight too and also really liked William as Nero. Also really liked that moment you spoilered  |
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