149 replies to this topic

[jaqs]

It makes sense, its him that name actors want to be associated with, and in a sense his name was already a brand where we as punters knew what we were getting.

[armadillo]

Well, having pondered this over for several minutes, I'm going to go out on a limb and say I'd rather they'd called themselves Trident or Gizmo like an Apprentice team. Whatever we cognoscenti like to think, it's the casts not the director that is selling this season - maybe it should be called the National Treasures Company.

(I actually wish there were different directors like Renaissance had. I do get tired of the Grandage house style and the memory of  Madame De Sade doesn't give me any confidence in his ability to choose a decent new play to suit Dame Judi's particular skills)

Still you are all welcome to disagree and I'm sure some of you will, very forcefully

[Laughingmonsta]

I am very excited about this season and managed to get £10 seats in the Stalls for all bar Peter and Alice had to resort to the gods for that - but to get them all for £50 is an absolute bargain.

Talking to a few friends who are producers in the West End - they are watching this model closely as if it works, I think it will shake up the current trend of charging silly prices for Restricted view will have to go as people will be less inclined to pay more for a bad seat - when this model is clearly working.

My seats and dates are as follows:

Privates on Parade: Jan 15th - 7:30pm - Stalls V10
Peter and Alice: Mar 19th - 7:30pm - Balcony A3
Cripple of Inishmaan: July 17th - 2:30pm - Stalls V11
AMSND: Oct 2nd - 2:30pm - Stalls V11
Henry V : Jan 8th - 2:30pm - Stalls V10

[Duncan]

I'm wondering whether this company might be able to fulfill Benedict Cumberbatch's ambition to play Hamlet.

http://www.telegraph...lay-Hamlet.html

He seems exactly their sort of actor.

[Lynette]

Yeah, well spotted. I woz wonderin...

[Polly1]

But Grandage has already done Hamlet with Jude Law not very long ago. Would love to see BC do it though - always supposing I could get through the mega ticket scrum.

[Pharaoh's number 2]

A bit of speculation...

NT- Kinnear's was too recent
Grandage- Law's was too recent
YV- Sheen's was too recent
Old Vic- Whishaw's was 2004 I think
Donmar- they had the WE one with Law, but maybe under the new regime?
Royal Court- they occasionally do a revival (eg Seagull  and Chicken Soup)

Commercial West End- possible, maybe Sonia Friedman?

[Honoured Guest]

Chichester maybe? Penelope Keith as Gertrude?

[armadillo]

^{The Globe is a lot more upmarket than it used to be now people win Oliviers there.}

[Whenindisgrace]

Lynette, on 19 June 2012 - 04:24 PM, said:

Yes that's the one. So is the Cripple as funny? I'm wondering if Daniel Radcliffe will be good in it or is this just a celeb casting thing?

I certainly remember enjoying the first production of it, at the National in 1997, directed by Nicholas Hytner, though it's not the sort of stuff one associates with him (Hytner, that is).  It's set in 1934 and about what happens when a film crew come to a neighbouring island.  McDonagh's plays are usually hilarious.