foxa

I didn't dislike this as much as many of the above, though parts are a mess and the ending is absolutely ridiculous - laughably so.
However, I thought Johnny Flynn was really, really good - such an unlikeable character, delivered with so much variety and conviction and, well, star-power, really.  And some nifty multi-rolling from others (Elizabeth Berrington, John Ramm, for example.)  It was a super ambitious script, some of which worked (and had me nodding - 'yes, that's right'), some (like the ending), not really.
But the three hours went  pretty quickly for me as there was so much invention and wit and relevance.
I did wonder about the design and direction a bit.  There were some odd 'comic' moments (the big wooden horse) that seemed contrived and, at times, the actors appeared to be living in a sort of prop hell - that weird ham, the pistols, the books.  Maybe it was my imagination but a look would cross the actors' faces as they were presented with another obstacle by way of a quick change or awkward prop.  And sometimes worse than that - like when one moustache fell off and another threatened to (the actor had to keep turning upstage to stick it back on.)
If you have got tickets, definitely go, and if you can get inexpensive ones, go for it.

We enjoyed it last night.  I can take a number of the points made above - the staging was quite 'out front' (we were sat on the stage right side - D33-D34 - and the sightlines were bad for some entrances) and Tom Wrench, though not a terrible actor, lacked the passion necessary - but we thought it was delightful.  All three young actresses were new to me and very good - great doubling of Miss Parrot and the cowed Clara.  Fantastic work from Ron Cook and Maggie Steed (she was superb.)  It was like a big comic Valentine to the theatre, affectionate and gawdy.  I've seen the play before, years ago at the National, but this will, I think, stick in my memory more.

We noticed Patrick Marber was in the audience and (looking at someone else's programme) saw that he was credited with some additional comic writing and respectful ornamentation (or words to that effect) which made me want to go back to the original play to see how much had been changed.  Was Tom Wrench really cast as the back end of a dragon?

Highlights
Richard II (Donmar)
Henry V (Globe)
King Lear (Almeida)
The Effect (National Theatre)
Curious Incident (National Theatre)
The River (Royal Court)

So-So
Bingo (Young Vic)
Comedy of Errors (National Theatre)
Antigone (NT)
Last of the Haussmans (National Theatre)
A Doll's House (Young Vic)

Lowlights
The Physicists (Donmar)
Haunted Child (Royal Court)
Three Sisters (Young Vic)

Looking at this list, I see how conservative my theatre-going has been this year.  New Year's resolution - more adventure in 2013.

I wonder if this is one worth trying for returns for - tonight, though v. busy it did look like there were a couple of seats going (or else people had bought two seats so they could spread out.)  We were upstairs which was packed, but downstairs looked particularly cool - I think it would be neat to see it from there in what looks like a medical waiting room.

This is really worth seeing.  I brought a small group of A level students who absolutely loved it - some saying it was the best thing they'd ever seen (okay, maybe they haven't seen that much.)  I think it made up for 'The Three Sisters' at the Young Vic that I'd dragged them to.

Piper was amazing, but Jonjo O'Neill was quite something as well.  (I'd write more but I don't know how to put in spoilers.)

Xanderl is on a roll - two very funny posts (I have sat silently through two terrible mumbly stage performances of Rebecca Hall's - but no more!)

The birthday cake image is particulary hilarious.