A Little Life - Richmond/Harold Pinter/Savoy/ Cinema

[clarefh]

No guns or gun shots. Loud noise from a belt at one point ( that I found distressing)

[jamb0r]

Mar 17, 2023 9:00:46 GMT emmy said:

Mar 17, 2023 8:24:19 GMT jamb0r said:

Well my experience of being on stage last night almost pushed this to being 5 stars for me - it was an incredible experience. Anyone who has on stage seats - you’re in for a treat!

Getting to the seats was a bit like a military operation. We received an email the day before with a VERY long list of rules that had to be followed.

What time did you have to get there for the on stage seats? I booked for an evening when I’m going to quite a long matinée, so would be good to know in advance whether I need to try and move that. Thanks for your report and glad you enjoyed.

Generally, would people recommend reading the book beforehand? Or is it best to go in knowing nothing? And I don’t want to read this thread too much before going, but could someone please spoil if there are guns or gunshots in this? Thanks!

Here is the part about timing from the email I received the day before, and this was pretty strictly adhered to:

"Please then make sure you are at the front of the theatre outside the Box Office entrance for 6:30pm. A member of our Front of House staff will then escort you and the other onstage customers to your seats. Please do make sure that you are at this meeting point for 6:30pm to be taken through. No customers will be admitted after the pre-show starts at 6:50pm."

It's also worth noting you only get 10 minutes for the interval before you have to be back in formation to be taken back on the stage.

I would definitely recommend reading the book or listening to the audiobook before hand - I'm really glad I did.  

There are no gun shots but there is one part in the second act where the character of Willem walks towards the back of the stage and turns on some music which comes on very suddenly and is very loud and made me really jump both times it happened.

[A.Ham]

So pleased (and excited) to hear the on-stage experience is good - I can’t wait! Thanks for all the information jamb0r.

[alessia]

Mar 17, 2023 8:54:32 GMT clarefh said:

I actually struggled with the play itself - I wonder if it’s because I haven’t read the book but the characters were very shallowly drawn other than Jude. So despite some great acting it was hard to feel the connection to them or the connection between them for me. This in turn meant there was very little redemption or lightness in the play. I also felt other than his trauma we had no really feeling for why all the characters were so obsessed with Jude. There is one point where the characters list Jude’s qualities, but we haven’t really seen or felt any of this.

This is the same in the book - everyone loves Jude but why, nobody knows. And all the characters are very two dimensional. 

[Deleted]

I don't want to derail this thread from the focus on the production, so I'll just note that dimensionality of the characters has been widely debated (you can easily find articles and reviews online about it).

Many of us found the characters in the book well-developed and anything but two-dimensional. And some of the many reasons people love Jude is that he is smart, loyal, generous, and yes, somewhat broken.

[theatrelover123]

Mar 17, 2023 17:04:55 GMT @stevea said:

I don't want to derail this thread from the focus on the production, so I'll just note that dimensionality of the characters has been widely debated (you can easily find articles and reviews online about it).

Many of us found the characters in the book well-developed and anything but two-dimensional. And some of the many reasons people love Jude is that he is smart, loyal, generous, and yes, somewhat broken.

Which I don’t think comes across strongly in the play. I love the book and the character in the book. I thought Jude had been rendered fairly one dimensional in the stage production (albeit acted incredibly well by James)

[clarefh]

.[/quote]Which I don’t think comes across strongly in the play. I love the book and the character in the book. I thought Jude had been rendered fairly one dimensional in the stage production (albeit acted incredibly well by James)[/quote]


Yes this was my feeling about the play. I haven’t read the book so was unsure if they are more vividly drawn/ fleshed out in it ( I’d assumed so given the very strong feelings many people seem to have to the characters from the book). I do agree about James Norton’s incredible acting as well!

[jm25]

The stage seating sounds fantastic, albeit not for the faint hearted - thanks for the account, jamb0r! Sounds like it’s the sort of thing you’d need to set half a day aside for all in all…!

Re, the characters - I would argue that the book does allude to reasons why Willem and, to a lesser extent, Harold/Julia are so drawn to Jude. That said, and admittedly without having yet seen this play, I can’t see how it’d explore that in any great depth without getting too sidetracked from its chosen narrative focus, ie. Jude. This is one of the reasons why I think stage/screen adaptations of novels can be so difficult. But I’m still very keen to see how they attempt it!

[foxa]

According to the Tomorow's papers twitter account, the Daily Mail is going with a 'James Norton nude' front page with what looks to be a pic snapped at Richmond during a performance. How depressing.

[matty]

Mar 17, 2023 23:00:58 GMT foxa said:

According to the Tomorow's papers twitter account, the Daily Mail is going with a 'James Norton nude' front page with what looks to be a pic snapped at Richmond during a performance. How depressing.

The article has been published online with a handful of photos from throughout the show, mainly when Jude is naked. Definitely look like photos from a phone to me. A quick Google seems to suggest that the person who took them takes paparazzi style photos for the DM and other tabloids.

[Jon]

Still feel a bit drained from seeing A Little Life, James Norton gave a great performance although how he's going to do it for the next four months is nothing short of miraculous.

If you can handle it, the onstage seats are a great way to experience the show both visually and oddly smells as well because of the kitchen and

SPOILER: Click to show

cleaning products which Harold uses to clean the blood on the stage at one point.

[marob]

Is it not illegal to take (let alone publish) naked photos of people without their consent nowadays?

Didn’t read it, mostly looks like one of those ‘articles’ where the author just transcribes stuff they’ve seen on twitter, but this bit stood out:

A Little Life, published in 2015, has sold more than one million copies and accrued a huge fanbase. But some theatregoers snapped up tickets for other reasons.

‘I’d like to pretend I’m very literary but I’m just here to see James Norton naked,’ one told the Daily Mail this week.

At least they’re honest.

I guess they’ll be making the whole audience use those phone pouch thingies going forward.

[jamb0r]

Well I wasn’t expecting to be in the Daily Mail this morning, but you can very clearly see my face sat behind the cast in those photos! Who can I sue?

What an awful thing to do.

Not really sure if there is any way they could prevent that from happening. Even the pouches wouldn’t solve it, if someone was that determined to do it they could just take a second phone with them.

[clarefh]

I don’t think there is anything they can do, and I’m guessing they must have been half expecting this to happen despite best efforts.

Have to say James Norton’s performance has really stayed with me, despite my reservations about the play overall. Certain scenes and moments keep popping into my head. I’m off to see something else this evening so kind of hoping that will replace it!

[jamb0r]

Looks like the article has been taken off the Daily Mail website now. I imagine there would have been some angry phone calls from the producers office this morning!

[stevemar]

I saw the play in Richmond, having very much looked forward to it. Thanks as always to posters who gave early warning of booking.

There was a palpable sense of excitement as “event” theatre with a very different audience profile to usual, and we had great seats behind the string quartet row C. The music really added to the atmosphere of this production.

I have not read the book, so can only go by what was on stage.

James Norton was absolutely committed and I cannot find fault in his performance, which reminded me of his character in Bug at Found 111. Luke Thompson as Willem was also excellent, as well as Elliott Cowan convincing as Father Luke and other “bad” characters, and Zubin Varla did some of the heavy lifting as Harold. I thought Nathalie Armin was fine as the social worker/Greek chorus in attempting to bring more nuance to the thoughts of Jude. Is she in the book much as a narrator?

My main issue is the lack of nuance in the production. I do not know if this is down to Hanya Yanagihara or, I suspect (based on comments here), the concept and adaptation by Ivo Van Hove. Any lighter moments were fleeting, and the repeated violence and abuse became repetitive, even though they gathered some momentum the second or third time. There was no way out from the repetition and echoes of the past. No light and shade, no redemption. I realise this might be part of the point of this book, but where the director has referred to the love of Harold and his friends for Jude in interviews, I felt this was overwhelmed by the shock factor and violence here.

Whilst I had sympathy for Jude, the cumulative effect for me was a lack of any empathy with his character. I felt that the direction pushed this to where he was akin to a lab rat being abused continually. Does this reflect the book?

I have no idea why I thought of it whilst watching, since I never saw Cleansed by Sarah Kane (director Katie Mitchell at the NT), but the torture and self torture here became like a horror show. The press coverage has reflected some of this. I felt that this distancing from Jude did not serve the production well.

I’ve enjoyed up to a certain extent various Van Hove productions - but the situations become so extreme - Ruth Wilson’s jealousy in Hedda Gabbler, Jude Law’s obsession in..Obsession, and recent Hans Kesting’s injustice and blame in Who Killed My Father. More akin to Greek tragedies, so this production was at least inconsistent in the shame and self hatred Jude felt. But being stretched out to 3hr 40m with the story arc being oddly constricted here despite the running time.

The set was as expected - not sure what the projections added other than going “snowy” in certain (I won’t divulge) scenes. An on stage kitchen again (like Network). Did not see anyone eating though, even in the cast (except a birthday cake).

It was intense and my concentration never dropped. James Norton and Luke Thompson were excellent. Yes, it is “event” theatre and people should see it, but overall I felt disappointed. 4 stars for the actors, 3 for the production.

PS No material flubbed lines or show stops. Just a technician walking on for a quick whisper into James Norton’s ear in his final scene (not sure why).

PPS Ended 1045pm. The interval was unusual as lights came on slightly unexpectedly and people started moving at the back. No applause at that point, but full standing ovation at end.

[marob]

stevemar Interesting review. I did see Cleansed at the NT and had the same reaction you describe here.

I see this in a few weeks, might be a long night.

[Deleted]

Far more happens in the book and we experience more fully fleshed out characters that change and develop as they age from college friends into adulthood. The chapters rotate emphasis among the different characters and Jude's trauma is interspersed, whereas the play centers it.

[clarefh]

stevemar - thanks for your comparison to other Van Hove productions, you’ve articulated my feelings towards his plays!

I also started to wonder if A Little Life is best viewed as hyper-real/Greek tragedy ( I’ve read reviews that mentioned it is like a passion play). In that sense the other characters as ciphers and types rather than fully drawn also makes more sense. Which got me comparing it to Medea that I saw recently. I actually felt more empathy for Okonedo’s Medea than I did for Jude ( it’s a good distinction to draw between empathy and sympathy for the character which I’d agree with).

[stevemar]

I did think several times there were elements of passion play as his disciples/angels carried him to the bed. So it could definitely be seen that way too.

[A.Ham]

More tickets released for the Pinter run on ATG. Mostly £145 up though I’m afraid - but found a few at £72.50…

[NeilVHughes]

The passion play / Greek tragedy does fix the main issue I had with the play, I just couldn’t figure out the devotion of his friends as Jude (understandably) is not someone who would naturally induce this level of friendship.(maybe more developed in the book especially the redemption throug trust which Jude eludes to towards the end of the play)

For the play itself I am with stevemar “4 stars for the actors, 3 for the production” James Norton manages to keep you engaged through all the tribulations, on the whole am happy to have seen the play but the book can stay in the library.

[Deleted]

If interested in a bit more about the characters as portrayed in the book, but you don't want to read the book, this New Yorker article would be a good read.

I would probably wait to read it until after seeing the show though in the event you find any of it spoilerish.

[sweets7]

Mar 18, 2023 12:23:38 GMT stevemar said:

PS No material flubbed lines or show stops. Just a technician walking on for a quick whisper into James Norton’s ear in his final scene (not sure why).

PPS Ended 1045pm. The interval was unusual as lights came on slightly unexpectedly and people started moving at the back. No applause at that point, but full standing ovation at end.

I read an article today that led me to believe it may be because of his diabetes. Given the length of the play they are monitoring his blood sugar off stage with glucose etc stashed around the stage in case he needs it. But if there is an issue they will need to tell him presumably. Better option would be to fit him with an ear piece and tell him that way so he can take whatever he needs. It’s unkilely to be a hyper given the amount of energy he will be expelling on stage but he would still want to manage the hypos.

[stevemar]

Mar 19, 2023 11:59:45 GMT sweets7 said:

Mar 18, 2023 12:23:38 GMT stevemar said:

PS No material flubbed lines or show stops. Just a technician walking on for a quick whisper into James Norton’s ear in his final scene (not sure why).

PPS Ended 1045pm. The interval was unusual as lights came on slightly unexpectedly and people started moving at the back. No applause at that point, but full standing ovation at end.

I read an article today that led me to believe it may be because of his diabetes. Given the length of the play they are monitoring his blood sugar off stage with glucose etc stashed around the stage in case he needs it. But if there is an issue they will need to tell him presumably. Better option would be to fit him with an ear piece and tell him that way so he can take whatever he needs. It’s unkilely to be a hyper given the amount of energy he will be expelling on stage but he would still want to manage the hypos.

I guess it was this article - definitely worth a read (but spoilers for Happy Valley). www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/mar/19/james-norton-interview-i-was-given-a-hand-of-aces

Yes, I thought it might be his sugar levels or maybe his physical placing before the final scene needed to be in a certain place.