[MaxCady]

Is anyone planning on seeing the above show? I'm going to watch it tomorrow night. Been told that it is three and a half hours long.

[AnnieInTheStalls]

I'm seeing it Saturday week. Thanks for the warning - let us know what the actual time is, please.

Annie

[art87]

I'm seeing it Saturday week. Thanks for the warning - let us know what the actual time is, please.

Annie

Since it's a new play, I'm pretty sure that's first preview length. By press night I'd be surprised if it's still that long, but you can never be sure (as in the ridiculously long Grasses of a Thousand Colours...)

[art87]

Since it's a new play, I'm pretty sure that's first preview length. By press night I'd be surprised if it's still that long, but you can never be sure (as in the ridiculously long Grasses of a Thousand Colours...)

Sorry. Appears I'm probably wrong as I just spotted this on the RC website "Running time 3hrs 20mins approx, including 2 intervals."

Oh God, here we go again!

[Weez]

And this is why I'm looking forward to Phedre so much. It'll nice to be out of the theatre after a mere two hours.

[Nicola]

I have seen a preview tonight and have to say at 3 hours 20 minutes it did not drag for a moment. The play is fascinating, Mark Rylance (of whom I am not the world's greatest fan) is superb as are the rest of the cast, some of whom are very young and give completely credible performances of great assurance. I am pleased to say the rest of the audience seemed of like mind! I can understand if you don't want to be in the theatre for over three hours but if you do, then this is a pretty good way to spend it.

[shiningstars]

Yes I agree with Nicola - it is long, but with 2 intervals there are plenty of breaks.

I've been at the theatre all week, so I've seen the show through 5 or 6 times, and I still find it hilarious and am going to see it as audience as well. I highly recommend you go and see it! the cast have great comic timing, but at the same time there are some darker and 'reflective' bits, and it is meant to be a representation of British life today (exaggerated of course).

Jez Butterworth is a genious imo (and very nice)

Oh and from what I've heard, they're not planning on cutting much after the previews, Jez and Ian (director) were pretty adamant on keeping the content (and I agree with this).

[El Peter]

The length of a play is a negative factor if it's bad, ill-structured, silly, bland, lacking drama, hard to take seriously or any other of a list of possible shortcomings (including catching a train afterwards, or road travelling time if driving home). I've been at two and three hour plays I didn't want to end, and 50 minute efforts (London, Edinburgh) that after just minutes I prayed would soon end.

I've got tickets for 'Jerusalem' because I thought it looked interesting and entertaining, because Butterworth can write, and the cast of the play attracted me. In other words, it was the usual package of considerations. I'm hoping it'll be good.

[applesarenice]

It ran for 3 hours 25 minutes on Monday when I saw it.

It is a very funny play, the banter between the characters is brilliantly scripted and mostly well delivered (Mackenzie Crook slipped up a few times on his lines) and so for most part, I did not feel the length of the play too much. However, neither me or my partner felt any kind of connection to the central character, Byron, and so the dramatic scenes lacked the requisite punch for us as our sympathies had not been provoed. And altogether, one did leave with the feeling that it did not need to be anywhere near as long as it currently is: the banter is amusing for sure, but there's just so much of it.

Still, the set looks amazing. I take it they are real trees?