594 posts
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Post by og on Jun 2, 2023 8:28:15 GMT
I think there's a market in NYC for A Little Life. Perhaps a limited run at the Armory, or one of the other respected but fringy houses. James Norton is popular in New York among the more literate theater-going audiences, thanks to the series Grantchester. And that SR wall of NYC video will help. As I said much earlier in this thread, the Brooklyn Dutch version of A Little Life was, unsurprisingly, not a success. Peter Stuyvesant left these parts 350 years ago.I feel thats likely more down to it being a 4hour production in Dutch rather than an adaption of the source material. |
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594 posts
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Post by og on Jun 2, 2023 8:43:31 GMT
After seeing it yesterday, my thoughts are that the principals obviously deserve a lot of praise for their work. As the central four (Jude, Wilhelm, JB and Malcolm) they are perfectly cast. I have a huge affinity with the book but unfortunately the Director's vision did not particularly align with how I had this journey pinned. The supporting cast didn't do much for me however.
What is with this trend of doing the last 10 minutes of a show with the flood lights on? It does nothing for me other than distract and dilute.
Also, I must have missed something, could someone tell me why Harold spends 80% of the first act on stage cooking food, then in the 2nd turn to Jude and say 'you can teach me how to cook now"?
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241 posts
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Post by justafan on Jun 2, 2023 13:50:09 GMT
I saw the matinee yesterday having never read the book. Regardless of my feelings about the subject matter and how it was portrayed - how the heck does that small cast do two shows in a day with that emotion - does act 1 always end in silence from the audience - you could’ve heard a pin drop. I’ve not seen any mention of covers being on - IMHO this cast deserves every award going; how on earth does their mental health recover - I’m still recovering and they’ve done another performance since!
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Post by tartantraveller on Jun 2, 2023 14:12:51 GMT
how the heck does that small cast do two shows in a day with that emotion - does act 1 always end in silence from the audience - you could’ve heard a pin drop. I’ve not seen any mention of covers being on This is an interesting point, has there been a show where any of the covers have gone on? I find it very interesting that they only have 4 covers and the same person covers both Jude and Willem and only one cover for all 3 of the older male roles. I don't want to jinx it but really hoping they can get through both runs without anyone going down with anything and potentially causing havoc given how every show is pretty much sold out. When I did stage door I did ask how they had any energy after 2 shows but they said the audience lifts them up at the end (guessing a lot of adrenaline too) and they clearly love doing the show as they all look so happy in any pictures you see. |
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Post by Fleance on Jun 2, 2023 17:01:05 GMT
I think there's a market in NYC for A Little Life. Perhaps a limited run at the Armory, or one of the other respected but fringy houses. James Norton is popular in New York among the more literate theater-going audiences, thanks to the series Grantchester. And that SR wall of NYC video will help. As I said much earlier in this thread, the Brooklyn Dutch version of A Little Life was, unsurprisingly, not a success. Peter Stuyvesant left these parts 350 years ago.I feel thats likely more down to it being a 4hour production in Dutch rather than an adaption of the source material. I think the Dutch was an issue more than the four hours, although four hours in Brooklyn/BAM (which is where it was) for Manhattanites was asking a bit to much. Although I did see it in Richmond, on the day of a strike, which was a challenge! I think the current length in English could work in a Manhattan venue. |
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Post by clarefh on Jun 3, 2023 7:55:44 GMT
The 6th June performance of this has been cancelled ( with tickets offered at a 3 July performance at the Savoy instead). Not sure why.
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Post by ThereWillBeSun on Jun 3, 2023 13:57:38 GMT
I went to see A Little Life earlier this week and what an experience. So well organised with FOH team too / stage management - a shout out to them.
The production in Amsterdam which I saw previously was 4 hours 10; yet this was 3 hours 40. I still can't place what was different; but still feel if you cut some of the play, it still would have an impact?
Being so close; I just steered my eyes away from what was happening at points and focussed on Zubin's cooking! It helped in a way being close up as it was clear prosthetics were involved.
There's a particular brutal scene with the character of Caleb (actor playing three abusive roles) which I still struggled to watch. There was something being that close up which made me feel like I was a voyeur. I still can't process how many bad things can happen to one person. Cut Jude some slack!
I'm glad I took a punt on seeing this again, didn't feel as drained as I felt like in Amsterdam I was so hyper focussed on the surtitles it drained me as well as the long duration.
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7,054 posts
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Post by Jon on Jun 3, 2023 14:01:52 GMT
The 6th June performance of this has been cancelled ( with tickets offered at a 3 July performance at the Savoy instead). Not sure why. I'm guessing someone in the cast has filming commitments or something else they can't get out of. |
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3,533 posts
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Post by Rory on Jun 3, 2023 14:13:15 GMT
The 6th June performance of this has been cancelled ( with tickets offered at a 3 July performance at the Savoy instead). Not sure why. Is that the only cancelled performance, does anyone know? |
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Post by petrichor on Jun 4, 2023 10:36:49 GMT
What a show. Saw this yesterday for the second time, but this time from the on-stage seats. For all I was invested last time, from the circle, nothing prepared me for how visceral and heartbreaking this would be. James Norton and Luke Thompson in particular were exceptional, but I also found Zublin Varla particularly moving. So powerful. Give them all the awards. I still can't work out... {Spoiler - click to view}
where Jude goes when the box comes down - if he was up in it there was no hint in the lighting, no shadow etc. and also not visible either from the on stage seating or in the circle. |
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Post by asps2017 on Jun 4, 2023 11:27:27 GMT
What a show. Saw this yesterday for the second time, but this time from the on-stage seats. For all I was invested last time, from the circle, nothing prepared me for how visceral and heartbreaking this would be. James Norton and Luke Thompson in particular were exceptional, but I also found Zublin Varla particularly moving. So powerful. Give them all the awards. I still can't work out... {Spoiler - click to view}
where Jude goes when the box comes down - if he was up in it there was no hint in the lighting, no shadow etc. and also not visible either from the on stage seating or in the circle. Probably either in the box or trapdoor on the stage |
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Post by petrichor on Jun 4, 2023 12:34:21 GMT
What a show. Saw this yesterday for the second time, but this time from the on-stage seats. For all I was invested last time, from the circle, nothing prepared me for how visceral and heartbreaking this would be. James Norton and Luke Thompson in particular were exceptional, but I also found Zublin Varla particularly moving. So powerful. Give them all the awards. I still can't work out... {Spoiler - click to view}
where Jude goes when the box comes down - if he was up in it there was no hint in the lighting, no shadow etc. and also not visible either from the on stage seating or in the circle. Probably either in the box or trapdoor on the stage Thanks. Definitely no trap door (front row on the stage gave away some little bits, but there definitely wasn't a trap door). All I can think is a small platform closest to the on-stage seating. Either way, very clever indeed! |
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Post by A.Ham on Jun 4, 2023 13:21:13 GMT
I assumed there must be some way he stayed within the cube itself, but agree it was very well done and can confirm even from the front row on stage nothing to suggest the ‘workings’ of the illusion was visible.
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Post by solotheatregoer on Jun 4, 2023 13:53:00 GMT
I'm assuming there's some type of platform in the box where he stands. I was front row on stage and you could see some wires over the box which I thought was maybe attached to a harness? From what I remember, the box comes back down at the end of play and lifts again for James Norton to bow. So he must stay in there as opposed to there being a trap door.
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Post by mattnyc on Jun 4, 2023 14:28:49 GMT
I didn’t sit onstage when i saw it but afterwards spoke to a man who did and asked him that question. He said even though it was dark he saw James being lifted all the way up. So they must connect him to wires at some point.
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Post by ThereWillBeSun on Jun 4, 2023 16:18:41 GMT
What a show. Saw this yesterday for the second time, but this time from the on-stage seats. For all I was invested last time, from the circle, nothing prepared me for how visceral and heartbreaking this would be. James Norton and Luke Thompson in particular were exceptional, but I also found Zublin Varla particularly moving. So powerful. Give them all the awards. I still can't work out... {Spoiler - click to view}
where Jude goes when the box comes down - if he was up in it there was no hint in the lighting, no shadow etc. and also not visible either from the on stage seating or in the circle. Same re the spoiler!!!! Very intrigued. |
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Post by tartantraveller on Jun 5, 2023 15:22:24 GMT
The 6th June performance of this has been cancelled ( with tickets offered at a 3 July performance at the Savoy instead). Not sure why. Oh no, I wonder if sickness has struck and brought down 2 folk who are covered by 1 understudy. It would only be cancelled in the event of not enough understudies to cover roles. They were doing so well too, haven't heard of any understudies going on so far |
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3,533 posts
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Post by Rory on Jun 5, 2023 15:45:26 GMT
The 6th June performance of this has been cancelled ( with tickets offered at a 3 July performance at the Savoy instead). Not sure why. Oh no, I wonder if sickness has struck and brought down 2 folk who are covered by 1 understudy. It would only be cancelled in the event of not enough understudies to cover roles. They were doing so well too, haven't heard of any understudies going on so far As it was announced around 3 days ago it sounds unlikely to be illness. |
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Post by clarefh on Jun 5, 2023 17:53:45 GMT
Yes it was announced over a week ago so don’t think it’s sickness.
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141 posts
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Post by Mr Crummles on Jun 8, 2023 10:23:12 GMT
This left me completely brokenhearted. It's been four days since I saw it and I'm still processing it. I feel as if under the effect of a heavy hangover, after an excess of… well… tears, and very sad emotions. Magnificent cast. Every single actor in it shines. James Norton, of course, bears the heaviest cross and shines the most. It’s amazing that a person who played so convincingly an intense, chilling, intimidating psychopath can also convey such a level of vulnerability. He managed to keep such sadness in his eyes during the whole play. His Jude seems forever stuck in his dismal childhood, unprotected, defenceless, with no feeling of self-worth, no feeling of one deserving love, always to be exploited by any vicious, deranged grown-up that might come his way. The play doesn’t spend much time helping us to conciliate this boy with the brilliant lawyer he becomes, but I’m watching Succession and can’t help feeling that there are some similarities between Jude and the rather ruthless Ken Roy, who seems to be a good person at heart, seriously damaged by an overwhelmingly brutal father that he tries to impress, please and emulate. If only I were brave enough, I’d love to see the play again.
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3,533 posts
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Post by Rory on Jun 8, 2023 18:02:59 GMT
This left me completely brokenhearted. It's been four days since I saw it and I'm still processing it. I feel as if under the effect of a heavy hangover, after an excess of… well… tears, and very sad emotions. Magnificent cast. Every single actor in it shines. James Norton, of course, bears the heaviest cross and shines the most. It’s amazing that a person who played so convincingly an intense, chilling, intimidating psychopath can also convey such a level of vulnerability. He managed to keep such sadness in his eyes during the whole play. His Jude seems forever stuck in his dismal childhood, unprotected, defenceless, with no feeling of self-worth, no feeling of one deserving love, always to be exploited by any vicious, deranged grown-up that might come his way. The play doesn’t spend much time helping us to conciliate this boy with the brilliant lawyer he becomes, but I’m watching Succession and can’t help feeling that there are some similarities between Jude and the rather ruthless Ken Roy, who seems to be a good person at heart, seriously damaged by an overwhelmingly brutal father that he tries to impress, please and emulate. If only I were brave enough, I’d love to see the play again. Thanks for this review. I saw the matinee today and this encapsulates very well how I felt leaving the theatre. I so wanted things to work out for these characters. The performances were superb and I'm in awe of James Norton for giving every fibre of himself to convey Jude's fragility and vulnerability. Like a broken bird who could never be fixed. I also thought Luke Thompson's portrayal of sheer love and helplessness in the face of a force he couldn't quite understand was wonderful. It was a gruelling watch but this cast is so supportive of each other. You can just see it at the curtain call. An unmissable and unforgettable experience. |
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Post by A.Ham on Jun 8, 2023 18:45:35 GMT
Thank you both. You’ve summed up exactly how I felt afterwards too. I’d also love to see it again, but feel it wouldn’t be the same given I’d go in knowing the story and the arc of Jude and Willem’s relationship. It really was an intense and unforgettable night at the theatre.
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Post by sfsusan on Jun 8, 2023 19:00:34 GMT
I also saw it at the matinee today (thank goodness, because I'd hate to go home and try to go to sleep with all those emotions swirling around) and was equally impressed by the cast. I think the first act is a little unnecessarily long (and the interval unnecessarily short... several of us were in the queue for the ladies' when the first bell went*). Zubin Varla (who played Harold) had tears in his eyes at the curtain call after his final speech. One question: if the characters are all 30 when the play opens, and at the end it's mentioned that one of them is 53, {Spoiler - click to view}
how long were Jude and Willem together? And how much time elapsed between Willem's death and Jude's? *The way they start on-stage action well before the lights go down thankfully extended the interval long enough to get everyone in their seats. But the reverse technique at the end of the first act felt very strange, as there's a massively dramatic event on-stage, then the house lights gradually come up as the actors continue their business silently. It felt wrong to jump up to start the interval when stuff was still happening on stage. |
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546 posts
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Post by drmaplewood on Jun 9, 2023 11:05:17 GMT
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Post by A.Ham on Jun 9, 2023 11:25:03 GMT
Tickets just released for the performances being filmed - 6th, 8th and 9th July at the Savoy.
Some great seats at much improved prices vs. standard performances, but there’s warnings about cameras and crew potentially making views restricted from some seats.
(Site states - Please note this performance is being filmed and there will be cameras on stage, including a cameraman on stage for short periods in select scenes. By attending you acknowledge that you may be filmed, and your image may be used in the film. Please check seats carefully for view restrictions due to camera equipment.)
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