5,691 posts
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Post by lynette on Aug 13, 2021 21:14:47 GMT
The cast are all female. The writer is female. The designer is female. But the director in charge of them all is a male. Tell me again about patriarchy ? You think in this situation the director is ‘in charge’, do you? |
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Post by Jan on Aug 14, 2021 7:11:16 GMT
Definitely marmite for the reviewers too. Coming in anywhere between 2 and 5 stars. I haven’t seen this but for those things I have seen my impression is that many reviewers are being extra-generous to try to support theatres reopening. That made the Guardian 2* noteworthy. |
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116 posts
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Post by alexandra on Aug 14, 2021 11:12:05 GMT
Definitely marmite for the reviewers too. Coming in anywhere between 2 and 5 stars. I haven’t seen this but for those things I have seen my impression is that many reviewers are being extra-generous to try to support theatres reopening. That made the Guardian 2* noteworthy. Guardian’s out of line with all the four and five star ones, so whilst you’re entitled to of course, what a shame you chose that one to highlight. It’s a really interesting version of the Greek play, ambitious certainly (disability, disenfranchisement, love and exile are just a few themes), with some great acting. I would google the story of Philoctetes before you go, sit back and enjoy a production no-one else would be able to do. God bless the National Theatre and all who sail in it. |
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jay
Auditioning
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Post by jay on Aug 14, 2021 11:22:53 GMT
I haven’t seen this but for those things I have seen my impression is that many reviewers are being extra-generous to try to support theatres reopening. That made the Guardian 2* noteworthy. Guardian’s out of line with all the four and five star ones, so whilst you’re entitled to of course, what a shame you chose that one to highlight. It’s a really interesting version of the Greek play, ambitious certainly (disability, disenfranchisement, love and exile are just a few themes), with some great acting. I would google the story of Philoctetes before you go, sit back and enjoy a production no-one else would be able to do. God bless the National Theatre and all who sail in it. The 2 star Guardian review - for me- hits the nail on the head. 'For all its volume, there is not enough action or dramatic intensity between characters' - is a sentiment I wholly agree with. As suspected, the 4* reviews make reference to it being 'languid', slow or undramatic - but still think it's worth seeing. Agree that there is clearly a 'thank god theatre is back in any form' quality to the reviews. Had this show opened in ordinary times, The Guardian review would probably be reflective of the majority of other reviewers sentiments. Just seems an odd choice to re-open The National at full capacity with this show. I'm not saying that a Greek story doesn't deserve telling , or that The National should resort to a 'feel good' play ( although I suspect many people would have welcomed that...) there are so many great plays that would sit well on the Olivier stage, this one feels a perverse choice. I went to see this with a young teenager - who was in their words 'bored senseless' throughout. With the arts having suffered so badly during the pandemic, it seems even more important now that we have theatre that engages, surprises and motivates folk to come back and see more! |
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116 posts
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Post by alexandra on Aug 14, 2021 11:35:08 GMT
It certainly isn’t a feel good play.
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116 posts
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Post by alexandra on Aug 14, 2021 11:39:55 GMT
It certainly isn’t a feel good play. Thank god, I should have added. |
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Post by jennapatchell on Aug 14, 2021 11:40:57 GMT
The national have really missed the public mood with their Olivier productions this season. The public want to come back to great theatre after such a long break. Not this set of boring productions.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Aug 14, 2021 12:38:22 GMT
The national have really missed the public mood with their Olivier productions this season. The public want to come back to great theatre after such a long break. Not this set of boring productions. The NT is still being run by Norris. Nothing will change until he goes. |
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Post by londonpostie on Aug 14, 2021 13:26:38 GMT
Yup. Messy.
Perhaps a lot at stake for Rufus in his upcoming musical collaboration with partner which, of course, shouldn't be associated with this aforementioned *patriarchy* ..
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Post by Jan on Aug 14, 2021 17:59:09 GMT
It certainly isn’t a feel good play. Thank god, I should have added. When was the last time the NT staged a feel good play under Norris ? That would be really radical programming, not more of the same. |
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181 posts
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Post by caa on Aug 18, 2021 9:10:43 GMT
I saw Paradise last night and returning to the National there was a sense that things are slowly getting back to before, arrival was smooth. Sadly the bookshop remains closed as are most of the ground floor areas. I think the reviews I have read have been spot on, there is a lack of focus, its as if they have taken the story which originally ends with Philoctetes going to the Trojan War and gone no that's not what we want. But that is the point of the story.
Its unclear what the Chorus is doing, some scenes work but others are confusing. Has Philoctetes been alone and unloved as the Chorus claim if so why at the end is he saying goodbye to a lover? It seems odd that a production which was announced last year before lock down seems undercooked its too long and needs editing. That said the applause at the end was warm so what do I know.
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100 posts
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Post by noboiscout on Aug 20, 2021 22:10:54 GMT
2* from the Guardian for this. Don't think I'll bother. A complete dogs dinner. Concept, writing, acting and direction, all failed to hit the mark for me. When you can't care about any of the characters, you can't (well I can't) care about the play itself. Circle nearly empty. Stalls full, and a rousing round of applause at the end. I'm happy for those who enjoyed it, but a big disappointment for me. |
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Post by cavocado on Aug 21, 2021 9:24:34 GMT
I liked the concept and setting, and I enjoyed the language & storytelling (which I expected - the main reason I booked is because I've liked some of Kae Tempest's poetry). But it was not an easy evening's entertainment - every time I lost focus it took real effort to get engaged again. I liked Lesley Sharp, but I didn't really care about the character. The most engaging characters were some of the chorus, who I'd have liked fleshed out a bit more, but that wouldn't have been a chorus... I'm glad I saw it, but it was hard work.
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