201 replies to this topic

[Pharaoh's number 2]

Any production in London always has an inspection from Westminster Council to ensure it is safe etc, and this is before the first preview, so I would've thought it was safe on that front. I think it was, as xanderl says, panic cutting.

[Epicoene]

Abby, on 30 October 2012 - 09:05 AM, said:

Add me to the list of people who didn't think this was particularly terrible

The play was worth doing but it needed to be better acted and (much) better directed - that's the reason they got away with Emperor and Galilean which was also "difficult" (and longer).

[dude-1981]

Pharaoh, on 30 October 2012 - 04:41 PM, said:

Any production in London always has an inspection from Westminster Council to ensure it is safe etc, and this is before the first preview, so I would've thought it was safe on that front. I think it was, as xanderl says, panic cutting.

Only the ones in Westminster Shirley?

NT is in the London Borough of Southwark.

To pick up an earlier note, I am told the third preview ran 2:23, so I reckon about 20 minutes have been cut from this.  And some of that will be a natural picking up of the pace as you get in a lot of productions.

[Lynette]

Perhaps if they keep cutting it, it will become a Beckett like yawn of ten seconds.

[Pharaoh's number 2]

dude-1981, on 31 October 2012 - 12:19 PM, said:

Only the ones in Westminster Shirley?

NT is in the London Borough of Southwark.

To pick up an earlier note, I am told the third preview ran 2:23, so I reckon about 20 minutes have been cut from this.  And some of that will be a natural picking up of the pace as you get in a lot of productions.

Ok, well, a council

[Pharaoh's number 2]

Some December performances for this have been cancelled, to make way for extra Magistrate ones. £12 tix available for the latter (it's not a Travelex production), so be quick!

[armadillo]

I see the Quiz is on DbD's last night. That should be amusing.

[Pharaoh's number 2]

Saw it last night. V empty- the two stalls side wings at most 10 seats occupied in each. Main  stalls 3/4 full, but the circle closed. Was upgraded to prime stalls seats.

That said, it's not *that* bad. Act 2 far better than act 1- the prison scene, with the devil, very well done. Too many scenes in Act 1 went on for too long, or just simply dull.  Act 2 was better because the plot actually progressed, and the moral dilemmas got interesting. And hell?! What happened?! They could've at least put some red light. I wanted fire!!!

Didn't get the cartoon-like set.... but there were so fab projections/skyscapes. Bertie Carvel felt miscast, esp in the Pizzeria scene in Act 1. Amanda Lawrence and Rory Keenan both v good. Shame to see great actors like Lorna Brown wasted in this though.

Shepherd boy had a good voice. And good hanging effect too. So not awful- pleased I saw it - but from the NT, you do expect better.

[Epicoene]

Pharaoh, on 30 November 2012 - 09:19 AM, said:

Didn't get the cartoon-like set....

I charitably put that down to Travelex budget constraints rather than incompetence, they have a very limited production budget for those shows. Sad to think of the cast still performing it so long after I saw it myself - in that respect West End shows which can close overnight are somewhat kinder.

[Pharaoh's number 2]

But the sets of The Cherry Orchard, Antigone, Emperor and Galilean, 13, The Kitchen, Woman Killed with Kindness etc were all very good, and Travelex Productions. I put it more down to the design. But as I said, the projections were v good.