[MaxCady]

Has anyone seen this show yet? Or is anyone planning on seeing it? I do know that it is directed by the chap who did Ghosts at the Arcola a few weeks ago. According to the NT box office staff the whole thing clocks in at one hundred and eigthy five mins.

[AnnieInTheStalls]

I'm seeing it on Wed (babysitter permitting). I have been very much looking forward to seeing Amanda Hale and Lee Ingleby. My heart sinks somewhat at the thought of another marathon. We'll see...

[applesarenice]

Am off to this tomorrow night, and have been looking forward to it but like Annieinthestalls am now a little apprehensive about the running time. I'll be sure to let you know what I thought though

[josh]

Saw it tonight. Didn't realise beforehand how long it would be. Talk about intense - one of the most harrowing things I've seen for a long time. A very very good, unflinching, painful and truthful production, with excellent, unselfish acting. I think the play is really good too, it dragged at moments but is definitely worth seeing, as long as you can take the length and the brutality of the content. I wouldn't, for example, send my grandpa, who fled from Poland as a child just before the Nazis did their usual, to see it...
But there are some truly incredible moments. So simple and so powerful.

[applesarenice]

Oh. My. God. This was amazing. Having seen Enron on Monday night, I didn't expect to see something that was at least as good, if not better, but this was simply superb.

I mostly agree with Josh: it's haunting, brutal, painful but utterly engrossing and incredibly moving. I didn't notice the length myself (3 hours with interval) and for once the seats were quite comfortable. They've reformatted the Cottesloe into the round for this, I was front row of the pit, and it really works in creating an electric intimate atmosphere.

And Annie, you will not be disappointed with Lee. Or Amanda for that matter.

I've blogged more about it here: http://oughttobeclow...-our-class.html


://http://oughttobeclowns.blogspot.com...r-class.html

[josh]

Oh. My. God. This was amazing. Having seen Enron on Monday night, I didn't expect to see something that was at least as good, if not better, but this was simply superb.

I mostly agree with Josh: it's haunting, brutal, painful but utterly engrossing and incredibly moving. I didn't notice the length myself (3 hours with interval) and for once the seats were quite comfortable. They've reformatted the Cottesloe into the round for this, I was front row of the pit, and it really works in creating an electric intimate atmosphere.

And Annie, you will not be disappointed with Lee. Or Amanda for that matter.

I've blogged more about it here: <a href="http://oughttobeclowns.blogspot.com/2009/09/review-our-class.html" target="_blank">http://oughttobeclowns.blogspot.com/2009/09/review-our-class.html
://http://oughttobeclowns.blogspot.com...r-class.html
</a>

I just read your longer review and I completely agree with it. I don't think I meant to say that it 'dragged', just that it felt long to me because of the sheer relentlessness of the intensity and sadness. But I did think it was excellent. And I agree that the Cottesloe layout for this production works really well, for once there aren't any bad seats in there...

It has been running around my mind all of today. Especially the last scene, between the last two, which is one of the most heartwrenching things I can remember seeing. I hope the reviews are really really good.

[applesarenice]

It has been running around my mind all of today. Especially the last scene, between the last two, which is one of the most heartwrenching things I can remember seeing. I hope the reviews are really really good.

Me too, I've been raving about it to everyone I know.
That final scene really was a killer. I thought both of the scenes where Justin Salinger recited the names of his relatives were so touchingly done, despite just being lists of names.

[AnnieInTheStalls]

Couldn't agree more, Apples and Josh. I thought it was superb. The second act didn't pack the emotional punch of the first (where what happened was kind of what I'd expected from the write-up), but was extrememly thought provoking. In fact I've been thinking about it all night. And the second act features one of the most brilliant, simple set designs I can remember.

Superbly acted (especially by Lee Ingleby, who's disturbingly good at playing appalling men) and directed. And didn't feel like 3 hours at all, with not a dull minute in it.

Saw Nick Hytner and Anna Carteret (Juliet Bravo!).

Annie

[unlikelyheroine]

I saw the matinee today and thought it was a great play - great acting all round, particularly enjoyed Amanda Hale's performance. I think the WOS review with 3/5 is a little underrating this production. Very powerful and moving theatre. When I arrived, a lady sitting next to me commented on the running time of more than 3 hours and I felt a little daunted, but I found the time just flew by. Really wanted to know what would happen to every character.