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Post by showgirl on Jan 5, 2019 16:30:57 GMT
This "new comedy looks at the cost of growing old and the joys of ageing disgracefully."
I've given up waiting for someone else to start a thread but I'm sure I'm not the only one to have seen this, or at least to have booked. It's a very odd situation as though critics have only recently been allowed to review Hampstead Theatre's Downstairs productions - bloggers have of course been doing so all along - this production has now been playing for a whole month yet there has still been no press night, nor have I found any reviews whatsoever online, despite searching at intervals. Bloggers aren't subject to an embargo anyway and I'm sure some of them must also have seen this.
When I saw the midweek matinee this week, I asked the box office assistant about the lack of reviews and she said there had as yet been no official press night as the author was still doing re-writes and press night would be designated when he was ready. I've heard of postponing press night or of having more than one, but leaving it this long and still not announcing it? And the run ends on 26 January, so previews will already have lasted longer than the official run.
It was sold out when I saw it and many of those present gave it a standing ovation. I enjoyed it but found the subject of the disadvantages of ageing and the associated mental and physical deterioration a little close to home. I also think it won't prove particularly memorable and it doesn't imo break any new ground but it was entertaining and it was interesting to see the first work Dusty Hughes has written for the stage in years.
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904 posts
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Post by lonlad on Jan 5, 2019 17:47:14 GMT
The press night for it is Monday (7 Jan).
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1,861 posts
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Post by NeilVHughes on Jan 5, 2019 18:10:05 GMT
Didn’t warm to the play at all,
Performances were fine, the play itself a bit of a mess.
Not even sure why the male character was in the home as he hated it and seemed perfectly able to live a fruity life alone in a flat in London.
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3,558 posts
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Post by showgirl on Jan 6, 2019 5:01:14 GMT
Agree that the male character (Meakin) possibly didn't need to be in the home but maybe he was there as he was obviously indolent and uninclined to do anything he didn't need to - even engage in conversation. Plus his partner had died, so maybe moving into a home was the easiest way to continue to leave others to look after him? My main issue with that character was that he seemed seriously underwritten, especially cf the other elderly resident, Goose, about whom we learned so much more and whose situation was therefore more convincing and poignant.
As I said, it seemed well-received when I attended; maybe you'd have to be a little closer in age to the older pair to be able to relate more to their story, but that's only a suggestion. And interesting to learn that PN has now been announced - I shall await more views with interest!
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