66 replies to this topic

[Jan Brock]

theatreliker, on 10 March 2012 - 12:19 AM, said:

Met David Suchet afterwards and he said something like: 'you realise you've now seen two of the greatest plays ever written?' (the other being 'All My Sons').

He must be going senile if he thinks that.

[Lynette]

Two of the best plays he has been in.
He must have meant that. Tee hee.

[mallardo]

I don't know.  They're both great plays.  Greatest?  Depends on how long your list is.

[Jan Brock]

mallardo, on 23 March 2012 - 08:58 AM, said:

I don't know.  They're both great plays.  Greatest?  Depends on how long your list is.

"All My Sons" not in the top 100. Not even in the top 3 Arthur Miller plays. "Long ... Night" in the top 25 if you restrict it to the 20th century.

[The Glenbuck Laird]

I liked both plays (and both playwrights) Jan but my interest in theatre is relatively new.

When you get a spare afternoon I'd love to see your favourite lists mentioned above

[Lynette]

I feel a new thread coming on ........

[QuincyMD]

saw it this evening - thankfully it didnt run to the full 210 minutes I was expecting and instead came in at a sprightly 172.

Typical EON - addiction, depression and a game changing line. The first act could do with pruning but the last hour is exceptional.

[QuincyMD]

Just to add - for the first night in Glasgow there were 18 of us in the 360 seater Balcony and three of them left at the interval.

Several people also turned up 25 minutes in obviously thinking it was a 7:30 start rather than 7:00.

I'm glad I didnt read the thread before seeing the play as you naughty people did spoil that Marys problem is drug addiction where as I spent the first half of the play thinking it was depression.

Reading the EON bio in the programme on the train home I was struck by how autobiographical this appeared to be and it was strikingly obvious why he never wanted it to be performed, I guess we have to thank the third wife for getting it published against his wishes. At the end of the night I was left with the hope that EON and his father actually did have a moment like Edmund and James Sr do when playing cards in Act 4.

And 1 new thing I learnt - EONs 18 year old daughter marred 54 year old Charlie Chaplin.

[Lynette]

You didn't know about the Chaplin connection? One of the most interesting connections in Hollywood/ literature royalty like Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller. You just want to say they all should have got out more.

[The Glenbuck Laird]

And Richard Burton and Liz Taylor...