A Christmas Carol - The Old Vic

[andrew]

Can I ask those who follow such things, was there a particular reason that the Old Vic backtracked on putting this to bed? I was sure we were reading last year that it was the last year they planned on running A Christmas Carol, then it happened all the same. I understand its a real moneymaker, but why was that rumour going around and why did it come back all the same?

[Being Alive]

As far as I'm aware, they had no plans to put it to bed - it's become a massive part of their income, and in uncertain times that we are in, I think they just want to keep going with stuff they know sells.
Expect this to reappear next year I'd say

[londonmzfitz]

Adored this Tuesday night, and agree Owen Teale is a fabulous Scrooge, very good indeed. Was it always this ... short? Tuesday night I was out on the street by just gone 9.30pm ... And I also feel the staging has moved up - I might not have noticed but for the comment above.

I've seen this every year, it moves me every time. Every single time. The staging, the superb lighting, it's all quite magical. Rhys Ifans will probably always be my favourite Scrooge as he was my first here at The Old Vic, but Owen Teale is a very, very close second. It's superb.

[londonpostie]

Nov 4, 2022 11:37:44 GMT digne said:

They also added £10 PWC tickets for January 2-5. Even got my preferred on-stage seats row J, right in the middle of the action, again.

Iirc in past years, the day seats were box office only.

Thank you for this. January might be a little after the Lord Mayor's show but front row for a crisp tenner is difficult to ignore. Much appreciated

Apropos of Owen Teale, I used to see him quite regularly in the organic butchers (Fri) but move north and swapped him for Charles Dance at the lido (random appearances) - essentially the bloke at the Wall for Tywin Lannister.

[ceebee]

Nov 17, 2022 12:23:11 GMT londonmzfitz said:

Adored this Tuesday night, and agree Owen Teale is a fabulous Scrooge, very good indeed. Was it always this ... short? Tuesday night I was out on the street by just gone 9.30pm ... And I also feel the staging has moved up - I might not have noticed but for the comment above.

I've seen this every year, it moves me every time. Every single time. The staging, the superb lighting, it's all quite magical. Rhys Ifans will probably always be my favourite Scrooge as he was my first here at The Old Vic, but Owen Teale is a very, very close second. It's superb.

Agree 100%. I think I've sussed the staging thing (I was there again too on Tuesday). I think there are more seats in the front facing stalls and the on-stage side seating is now recessed about 4 inches lower than stage level (rather than truly on the stage). The playing area is more defined and there's no risk of tripping over outstretched legs as there was in the past. As a result, I think they've returned the main playing space to the true stage line (for regular plays/theatre layout), whereas previously this line was 1-2 metres further forward. As such, much of the action takes place upstage aligned with the Atkins box. So the "prime" seats for this are probably now all stage side seats, forward facing front stalls, Atkins box, dress circle end three seats both levels X&Y and both sides, plus front three rows of rear stage stalls. Side facing stalls seats are probably less favourable than previous years due to neck crick risk of having to look further upstage.

I need to get out more.

[edi]

I've seen it 3 different years sitting on the back stage seats and one another year sitting fron stage. I noticed no difference to the stage/backstage seating area/staging this year vs other 3 years.

[scorpio1094]

Where is a good affordable seat to see this? I can see some £10 seats in January but not sure what the view is like.

[ceebee]

Nov 17, 2022 16:39:21 GMT edi said:

I've seen it 3 different years sitting on the back stage seats and one another year sitting fron stage. I noticed no difference to the stage/backstage seating area/staging this year vs other 3 years.

Side stage seats are now lower than the stage, previously they were at the same height.

[ceebee]

Nov 17, 2022 17:31:35 GMT scorpio1094 said:

Where is a good affordable seat to see this? I can see some £10 seats in January but not sure what the view is like.

If £10 then probably PWC seats. Dress Circle slips are good, stalls side sears are good, rear stage seats okay, baylis circle a little too far away for me to connect.

[scorpio1094]

Thanks for the insight and advice, will have a look at what's available

[kathryn]

Nov 17, 2022 12:23:11 GMT londonmzfitz said:

Adored this Tuesday night, and agree Owen Teale is a fabulous Scrooge, very good indeed. Was it always this ... short? Tuesday night I was out on the street by just gone 9.30pm ... .

The running time is confusing me. I could have sworn in past years that it was the usual 2.5 hours including an interval, but when you Google it gives a running time of 2 hours 5 mins, but then the email I just got says 2 hours 5 plus 20 minute interval, but reports here make it sound like just over 2 hours including the interval.

Got a table at Tas booked for 5pm after tomorrow’s matinee - I’m sure they’ll hold it for us for 15 mins so it shouldn’t be a big problem if we don’t get out of the theatre by 5pm, but I will be corralling a big group of relatives so it might prompt some anxiety.

[ceebee]

Nov 18, 2022 10:27:09 GMT kathryn said:

Nov 17, 2022 12:23:11 GMT londonmzfitz said:

Adored this Tuesday night, and agree Owen Teale is a fabulous Scrooge, very good indeed. Was it always this ... short? Tuesday night I was out on the street by just gone 9.30pm ... .

The running time is confusing me. I could have sworn in past years that it was the usual 2.5 hours including an interval, but when you Google it gives a running time of 2 hours 5 mins, but then the email I just got says 2 hours 5 plus 20 minute interval, but reports here make it sound like just over 2 hours including the interval.

Got a table at Tas booked for 5pm after tomorrow’s matinee - I’m sure they’ll hold it for us for 15 mins so it shouldn’t be a big problem if we don’t get out of the theatre by 5pm, but I will be corralling a big group of relatives so it might prompt some anxiety.

It's 2 hours 5 mins including interval. If 2.30pm start, you'll be out by 4.35pm.

[matildaswinton]

Caught this last night from the stage seats. First time seeing it. Beautiful piece of theatre. Owen is giving it. I will be back every year.

[ceebee]

Saw Matilda at the cinema today. Set me thinking... Wouldn't it be great if Netflix or Sky Arts recorded this production - purely as a piece of recorded theatre rather than worked up into a full-blown film...

[theatrenerd]

Nov 27, 2022 21:37:06 GMT ceebee said:

Saw Matilda at the cinema today. Set me thinking... Wouldn't it be great if Netflix or Sky Arts recorded this production - purely as a piece of recorded theatre rather than worked up into a full-blown film...

If I remember correctly the original production (with Rhys Ifans) was announced to be done through NT Live, but was subsequently cancelled. But I imagine it may be less likely now it has wider appeal having returned so many years running and playing in the US and Australia.

[starlight92]

I saw this last night and can confirm that the end rows of the dress circle gives a good view despite being sold as restricted! I enjoyed it overall, but not as much as I thought I would after seeing so many good reviews spoilers below obviously (not sure whether to cover them as it's a well-known story?!)

I thought the script was quite clunky at times, with Tiny Tim kind of hammed in like an afterthought, especially when he meets Scrooge and they have this weird dialogue about him being an 'invader'. And when Scrooge first saw him he didn't even care and said to the ghost that it was trying to "manipulate him with a crippled child". I was also quite shocked that they introduced Scrooge's father as hitting Scrooge, this story is dark enough without adding child abuse to the mix, just seems unnecessary in my opinion. Really shouty end to act one with Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Present too...and not sure we needed quite so much of Belle, why would you go and see your ex on Christmas Day?! Some other strange choices and confusing things include the ensemble telling us Scrooge went to bed at 2, and then him getting visited by the ghost anyway at 12, and Scrooge being able to interact with people in the past and act out his own past (why not just get a young actor to play him, and he can watch and comment?). 

Anyway all these random criticisms aside, it was still a lot of fun, particularly when Scrooge was getting Christmas dinner ready, including with the help of an audience member! Owen Teale was an excellent Scrooge too. And to be fair, a lot of what I said above did mean it stood out from a regular Christmas Carol format, instead of being a cut-and-dry adaptation, but I just found a few things a bit jarring. 3/5 though!

[jm25]

As an adaptation I wasn’t totally taken by this. I think Dickens is so incredibly difficult to adapt beyond the page and as an adaptation I don’t think this fared well in comparison to certain screen versions. Lots of the ‘added’ moments between characters didn’t quite work for me.

However, that is the cynic in me. What it doesn’t quite achieve as an adaptation it certainly makes up for in sheer joy and spirit in that final 1/3 or so. Great stuff!

That said, please, please avoid the Baylis Circle (especially the uppermost part) if you can. I left this quite late to book so just booked there because it was what was available - but it was an incredibly restricted view. There are hanging lights (and chains) which totally obstruct most of the action on stage. It was to the point that if I hadn’t already known Owen was the lead, I genuinely would have been none the wiser! I wouldn’t have minded if they’d been sold as restricted view but, to my knowledge at least, they weren’t. Would have enjoyed it more from elsewhere, that’s for sure. If only because I’d have been able to see what was going on!

[sfsusan]

I saw this yesterday in seats I'd bought the day before and thought they were a relative bargain. Left Stalls, M 54/55... it's a slightly skewed view of the main stage but not enough to be uncomfortable. The row is elevated so nobody's head is in your way, and the seats are at the end of the row with an adjacent railing, so quite easy to get in and out to give others access. And substantially cheaper than the premium stalls seats! (As a bonus, some of the action occurs in that aisle, so I got to shake Scrooge's hand!!)

I really liked the changes, especially the ne'er-do-well debtor father, tieing into Dickens' own childhood. My interpretation was that Scrooge went to see Belle because he still loves her, as well as needing to apologize for his past behavior. (It's not explicit, but when the ghosts tell Scrooge only he can change his future, "making amends" is one of the traditional steps to do so.)

The ghost of Christmas future scene was really grim and spooky, which is what it's meant to be. And the gathering up of Christmas dinner was fun (although went on a bit long). I really liked the holiday touch of pre-show mince pies and 'oranges' (actually Satsumas).

In short, this is one of the best Christmas Carol versions I've seen.

[alessia]

Lovely to revisit this yesterday evening- lots of families in the audience and very festive atmosphere with the mince pies and satsumas being given out which was an addition to last year's production. I remember that last year I was more moved by the story, and cried far more than this year- but that might be because I am now familiar with this production. Could also be that this time I had a worse seat (Row N 80) which was side view and restricted by the railing. I felt that there was quite a bit of the action where I was looking at the actor's back, so I wouldn't sit there again- saying that, I don't think I'll be prepared to spend much more to see this again, and the good seats are very pricey!
I liked Owen Teale as Scrooge and the music and singing were lovely. In all, a great evening at the Old Vic as every year with Christmas Carol.

[ceebee]

Dec 23, 2022 7:41:53 GMT alessia said:

Lovely to revisit this yesterday evening- lots of families in the audience and very festive atmosphere with the mince pies and satsumas being given out which was an addition to last year's production. I remember that last year I was more moved by the story, and cried far more than this year- but that might be because I am now familiar with this production. Could also be that this time I had a worse seat (Row N 80) which was side view and restricted by the railing. I felt that there was quite a bit of the action where I was looking at the actor's back, so I wouldn't sit there again- saying that, I don't think I'll be prepared to spend much more to see this again, and the good seats are very pricey!
I liked Owen Teale as Scrooge and the music and singing were lovely. In all, a great evening at the Old Vic as every year with Christmas Carol.

Mince pies and satsumas have been handed out every year it has been staged.

[andrew]

Always a mince pie for me... My reflection on seeing this last year was how I'd overlooked how important the music is to this play. I wish there was a little cast album of all their really nicely arranged Christmas songs.

[robertb213]

Has anyone sat in T6 of the stalls or high numbers of row P of the side-stalls? Trying to snap up a bargain, I don't mind if they're a bit restricted but can anyone recommend any of these (or confirm if they're rubbish!)

Thank you 😊

[ceebee]

Dec 27, 2022 20:49:46 GMT robertb213 said:

Has anyone sat in T6 of the stalls or high numbers of row P of the side-stalls? Trying to snap up a bargain, I don't mind if they're a bit restricted but can anyone recommend any of these (or confirm if they're rubbish!)

Thank you 😊

P side stalls is fine - closer than row T main stalls. If you're buying a single there are some good £40 options available through to 7 Jan final performance.

[robertb213]

Dec 30, 2022 23:34:23 GMT ceebee said:

Dec 27, 2022 20:49:46 GMT robertb213 said:

Has anyone sat in T6 of the stalls or high numbers of row P of the side-stalls? Trying to snap up a bargain, I don't mind if they're a bit restricted but can anyone recommend any of these (or confirm if they're rubbish!)

Thank you 😊

P side stalls is fine - closer than row T main stalls. If you're buying a single there are some good £40 options available through to 7 Jan final performance.

Thank you - the side stalls had gone by the time I booked so I went for the T6 main stalls in the end for last night's show, the legroom and view were pretty good for £35 😁

[ceebee]

Dec 31, 2022 13:05:43 GMT robertb213 said:

Dec 30, 2022 23:34:23 GMT ceebee said:

P side stalls is fine - closer than row T main stalls. If you're buying a single there are some good £40 options available through to 7 Jan final performance.

Thank you - the side stalls had gone by the time I booked so I went for the T6 main stalls in the end for last night's show, the legroom and view were pretty good for £35 😁

Hope you enjoyed it!