246 posts
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Post by barelyathletic on Jul 28, 2022 10:00:08 GMT
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Post by alessia on Jul 28, 2022 12:14:20 GMT
do you think I'd be able to understand this one without having seen the previous 3? Always a good sign if someone says they have been more than once to see the same thing!
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2,481 posts
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Post by zahidf on Jul 28, 2022 13:24:08 GMT
do you think I'd be able to understand this one without having seen the previous 3? Always a good sign if someone says they have been more than once to see the same thing! I found the original trilogy to be self contained |
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246 posts
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Post by barelyathletic on Jul 28, 2022 15:04:25 GMT
do you think I'd be able to understand this one without having seen the previous 3? Always a good sign if someone says they have been more than once to see the same thing! While all three work well together they were all able to stand alone. I first saw James II then James I and III before seeing all three together in one day. It might possibly be a richer experience to see them in order but they were still great individually and very different in themes and ideas. |
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2,744 posts
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Post by n1david on Oct 13, 2022 15:27:36 GMT
Travelled to Glasgow to see J4 last night. Happy to report that it keeps up the quality whilst taking another angle on the history which helps to keep the series of plays fresh.
Fears that this might be an attempt to bring modern identity politics clunkily into a historical play prove unfounded as this is another rich, diverse play with many different strands - yes, about the place of migrants in the Scottish court of James IV, but also the role of a king, the place for arts in government, all rolled into a fast-moving play with spectacular language and hefty chunks of swordplay.
Daniel Cahill takes on the mantle on James IV again, as he did at the end of the original trilogy. Danielle Jam and Laura Lovemore as migrants from Spain drive the plot and effectively demonstrate what it can be like to be an outsider. Very interesting essays in the programme about how much is inspired by what we know on James IV's court.
I came up here to see it because I didn't want to miss it; I'm sorry to say I'm not sure it will make it south of the border - Rosa Munro talks in the programme about the "long, long frustrating years" trying to get J4 into production - "I felt I was crawling round producers in an increasingly desperate and bedraggled state, begging for opportunity." And, sadly, when that opportunity arose, the public seems to have shrugged their shoulders - last night's performance in Glasgow was I would say less than 40% sold. Maybe that was because of the Rangers rout at Ibrox the same night, but I'm not sure there is a big crossover.
It's interesting that "Mary" is being presented in London first, as a "companion piece" and out of sequence. Munro says she has the script of James V done and "hopes...it might find life very soon". She also knows how she wants to end to cycle with James VI. I very much hope she gets the chance to do so.
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421 posts
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Post by schuttep on Oct 15, 2022 10:49:11 GMT
Lije n1david I decided to travel to Scotland to see J4 but I'm seeing it in Aberdeen on 29 October. I'd already booked to see "companion piece" Mary on 3 November so I'm actually seeing them in chronological order.
I will definitely see the final 2 plays if I can but, from a financial point of view, I'd like to see them south of the border.
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2,744 posts
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Post by n1david on Oct 15, 2022 10:50:50 GMT
I'd already booked to see "companion piece" Mary on 3 November so I'm actually seeing them in chronological order. Sadly it's still going to be out of order as 'Mary' needs to come after James V... |
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421 posts
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Post by schuttep on Oct 16, 2022 13:20:16 GMT
I'd already booked to see "companion piece" Mary on 3 November so I'm actually seeing them in chronological order. Sadly it's still going to be out of order as 'Mary' needs to come after James V... Of course, you're right. Thanks. |
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Post by jacklondon on Nov 15, 2022 8:53:46 GMT
I don't travel far from London to see plays normally, usually just Stratford-upon-Avon, but I made an exception for James IV as I absolutely loved the original trilogy.
The afternoon matinee I saw in Stirling was not sold out, perhaps three quarters full, though around six rows at the back were not on sale to begin with.
I thought this was every bit the equal of the first three James plays and well worth seeing. I have my doubts about whether it will make it south, but I hope it does as it deserves a wider audience.
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910 posts
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Post by karloscar on Nov 15, 2022 23:55:03 GMT
The original trilogy was a co-production with the National Theatre and was always scheduled to play in London. I wonder why they lost interest in the following installments. Is Scottish history too obscure to get an audience?
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Post by hadeswasking on Nov 16, 2022 10:11:51 GMT
The original trilogy was a co-production with the National Theatre and was always scheduled to play in London. I wonder why they lost interest in the following installments. Is Scottish history too obscure to get an audience? National theatre Scotland seem to not like bringing their work over to England. Their musical Orphans had so much potential and one of the biggest surprises I've had whilst watching theatre. Massive budget, building a revolve into tour venues and catchy songs. But only had a short Scottish tour and not a word since. |
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