27 replies to this topic

[xanderl]

It's a coproduction with the Abbey Theatre Dublin, the Guardian reviewed it there

http://m.guardian.co...ge&type=article

[El Peter]

My mistake. I apologise. Lyn Gardner's is The Guardian review, then. Presumably others will publish their assessments late next week.

[Chameleon]

the faith machine
school for scandal
13
greenland
wastwater
silence
double feature 2
the stock da'wa
loyalty
my city
winterlong
skane
ex

the worst of a very bad year. many more only just bearable.

[Stevemar]

Here are my thoughts:

1) (worst) - Moonlight at the Donmar. Obtuse, frustrating and thank god it was over in 70 minutes. A wasted cast (particularly David Bradley and Deborah Findlay) and for me, a rare Donmar disaster. I have enjoyed Pinter in the past (The Caretaker, Birthday Party, Betrayal) but this was seemed like reheated left-overs from other plays (well past their sell past date ).

2) The Kitchen - see separate review, though arguably not a turkey as it was sold out

http://www.whatsonst...post__p__201884

3) Decade, Headlong Production at St Katherine's Docks. Not terrible, but because of the mish-mash of playlets and writers and almost pointlessness of it all, just disappointing compared to the likes of relative innovation Enron.

2011 has so far though been a good year, but no doubt there will be a thread soon for the best of the year.

PS Poor Chameleon - that's a long list of dislikes!

[Bambodoy]

For me, the most disappointing ones so far were "Death and the Maiden", "The Tempest" and "Love Never Dies".

[Dubliner]

Juno and the Paycock has been an enormous hit in Dublin. The reviews were indeed sniffy - the main cavil being that the production was too reverential or traditional and the poverty a little designed. The reviews were ignored as positive word of mouth spread like wildfire and the run completely sold out a few days after it opened. The variety or vaudeville tradition only died out in Ireland in the last few decades with the passing of a generation of great variety artists like Jack Cruise and Maureen Potter. As such these elements in the play which O'Casey uses to leaven the tragedy or to underline the useless, clownish nature of the men do not jar with audiences in the way they do with critics. They embody the Irish spirit which exudes humour in the face of adversity. This production (while not definitive) is very fine indeed with stunning chemistry between Sinead Cusack and Ciaran Hinds. The younger cast particularly Claire Dunne are also superb.

[Snciole]

The Veil? Not sold out, cheaper deals on other websites and the National Theatre got £5 from me because I couldn't bear to give up my chilly Sunday to go and see a play with such bad reviews. I wonder if this is a common theme amongst paid up (and potential audience members) who just can't be bothered with it.

[dude-1981]

Snciole, on 21 November 2011 - 04:08 PM, said:

The Veil? Not sold out, cheaper deals on other websites and the National Theatre got £5 from me because I couldn't bear to give up my chilly Sunday to go and see a play with such bad reviews. I wonder if this is a common theme amongst paid up (and potential audience members) who just can't be bothered with it.

I offered to see Greenland if they would exchange the ticket for free but they refused and gave me the £10 credit.  They couldn't understand that they were losing £10 on this deal.  It's not like that seat was going to be sold to someone else.  Public sector thinking (from someone that works in the public sector.)