91 posts
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Post by gazzaw13 on May 11, 2018 11:06:51 GMT
This is a debut play by British playwright Joe White and it's my favourite play of the year so far. A taut 95 minutes with no interval it delves into family, loss, memory and love through a series of increasingly dramatic and moving scenes. It's also laugh out loud funny at times with excellent performances from the cast of 4, in particular the 2 young actors Evelyn Hoskins and Irfan Shamji. At times I was close to tears as well as thrilled. This has had mainly 4* reviews from the critics but I can't give it less than 5*
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245 posts
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Post by barelyathletic on May 11, 2018 11:15:10 GMT
Seeing it next week and looking forward to it. Have heard nothing but good words about it from everyone I know who has seen it. The Orange Tree is surely one of the best little theatres in London.
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Post by katurian on May 12, 2018 10:25:15 GMT
I saw this last week and it's a fantastic play - even more so for being a debut. The tone shifts between light and dark are well done, the awkwardness between people is well captured, and the poetic moments feel earned. The cast are great, particularly Irfan Shamji who I defy anyone not to want to give a hug by the end!
It was also my first time at the Orange Tree and I was really impressed with the intimacy of the venue and how they used the space. The walls and ceiling decked out in leaves, you feel like you're in a secret little dell. I saw Jess & Joe Forever when it went to the Fringe and Mayfly really reminded me of how a small play can be the most incredibly moving.
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Post by perfectspy on May 12, 2018 13:40:00 GMT
I saw this play and really liked it. Great acting from the cast.
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1,120 posts
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Post by samuelwhiskers on May 12, 2018 16:03:09 GMT
It’s a wonderful play, but by no means his debut. According to his agent’s website it’s his ninth or tenth play. It’s his first full-length production at a major theatre but he’s had lots of fringe productions and smaller things and has been writing professionally for years. I believe he wrote Mayfly a couple of years ago and has been workshopping and developing it for some time.
No disrespect to his talent but I do wish theatres would stop claiming experienced playwrights as new simply because they have not yet had a major production.
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1,502 posts
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Post by foxa on May 15, 2018 11:02:13 GMT
I keep reading positive things about this play and feel I should want to go see it, but find myself hesitating. I was trying to figure out why and realised that things are so crazy right now I either want to see plays which reflect that in some way or I want something that is a total escape. Sensitive family dramas (like this or Nightfall - and I fully appreciate that probably isn't an accurate description of either of them, but it's the vibe I'm getting) just aren't attracting me.
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2,480 posts
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Post by zahidf on May 15, 2018 12:09:58 GMT
Like to add that I really liked this as well. Well written and acted.
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245 posts
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Post by barelyathletic on May 18, 2018 11:15:37 GMT
Well. I thought this was astoundingly good. Especially for a 'first" play (yes I know Joe White's been around for a while now, but this is the first of his to get mainstream attention). Beautifully written and played, it's very funny and deeply moving, with wonderfully drawn characters who you totally engage with. The telephone conversation towards the end reduced me to a blubbering wreck! It does everything that Nightfall at the Bridge failed to do. Another huge triumph for the intimate Orange Tree, the little theatre that can. One of the best of the year for me, at 45 plays and counting. High hopes for The Fall tonight at Southwark too.
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2018 12:31:07 GMT
Hmm... I found this rather light and contrived if I'm totally honest. Sweet, thoughtful and strangely hopeful, but caught midway between being a touching naturalistic drama about grief and a whimsical tale of a group of harmless, likeable characters that were all lost in one way or another.
I seem to find myself in the minority but I just thought that the play was too self-conscious for me - too knowingly cute and doe-eyed. Fine, but not great.
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