Well here's another Edinburgh hottie, liked/loved by the press but attracting some serious minority dissent in the EdFringe reviews (paying punters).
And the verdict...well I'm siding with he dissenters...
New writing at it's worst - mainly because of the characters chosen by the author to get accross his message. Hell, it's a play about 7/7 - the day London was granted the Olympics and the tube bombings occurred - yet you get a sense of neither of those events.
Instead the cast of 8 play 8 characters who basically act out a talking heads piece, only 4 of them ever interacting. The play is introduced with a teenage schoolboy who basically impersonates Frank Spencer (without the Beret...or Betty). There are 7 tv's on the set floor for no good reason, well actually they're the only meaningful contribution to the set!
It's a pity because all 8 act the parts really well - if only they'd had something worthy of their talents.
There's a message somewhere in all of this, but it takes centre stage to any dramatic content/entertainment value.
Testing the Echo (which was an average 3/5) did this a million times better last year, albeit with a more limited (restricted) ambition.
A seriously dissapointing (interval-ess!) 95 mins
Full Version: Pornography (birmingham Rep)
I completely agree! It was basically a radio play. Theatre should work at the visual level too; besides man taking his clothes off for no very clear reason (other than to attract ticket sales, I'd cynically suggest) and a couple dancing, there was nothing to watch.
We all aware that our society has its problems, its misfits and, for all our communications technology, its difficulties in establishing meaningful contact between individuals. This play presented us with an unrealistically bleak view of our society as being one in which people are almost utterly unable to interact - I say almost as at least the old woman got offered a can of beer when she gatecrashed someone's barbecue. I'm a grumpy old man and am often very disillusioned with where we're going, but I don't believe this is where we're going at all. We DO still have good relationships with people, we have much in our society that is worth celebrating.
If life really were this bleak, then I think I might strap on a backpack and blow it up myself.
A dreadful piece of writing, in my view. That said, I thought all of the actors did a good job of speaking their lines with passion and thought.
We all aware that our society has its problems, its misfits and, for all our communications technology, its difficulties in establishing meaningful contact between individuals. This play presented us with an unrealistically bleak view of our society as being one in which people are almost utterly unable to interact - I say almost as at least the old woman got offered a can of beer when she gatecrashed someone's barbecue. I'm a grumpy old man and am often very disillusioned with where we're going, but I don't believe this is where we're going at all. We DO still have good relationships with people, we have much in our society that is worth celebrating.
If life really were this bleak, then I think I might strap on a backpack and blow it up myself.
A dreadful piece of writing, in my view. That said, I thought all of the actors did a good job of speaking their lines with passion and thought.
Aaah yes, the nudity...a couple of balloons would've improved the entertainment factor!
As mentioned, the cast were very good, with lesser mortals this would have been truly woeful.
That said, a number of the audience loved it and applauded heartily when the lights went up, so it does has appeal, but it's a classic case of 'worthy' theatre being well regarded solely on those grounds.
The grumpy old woman was my fav character; her bbq-d chicken search was touching. The old leach trying to get off with his student wouldn't have made the cutting room floor of The Graduate, and as for the brother & sister enjoying 'sibling' affections...that's been going on in Buxton for years!!
As mentioned, the cast were very good, with lesser mortals this would have been truly woeful.
That said, a number of the audience loved it and applauded heartily when the lights went up, so it does has appeal, but it's a classic case of 'worthy' theatre being well regarded solely on those grounds.
The grumpy old woman was my fav character; her bbq-d chicken search was touching. The old leach trying to get off with his student wouldn't have made the cutting room floor of The Graduate, and as for the brother & sister enjoying 'sibling' affections...that's been going on in Buxton for years!!
QUOTE(Andrew @ Sep 14 2008, 10:21 AM) 
I completely agree! It was basically a radio play. Theatre should work at the visual level too; besides man taking his clothes off for no very clear reason (other than to attract ticket sales, I'd cynically suggest) and a couple dancing, there was nothing to watch.
Yes- I thought it was an interesting piece, and wonderfully performed, but you're right, it's a radio play.
QUOTE(David @ Sep 14 2008, 01:14 PM)
Yes- I thought it was an interesting piece, and wonderfully performed, but you're right, it's a radio play.
I so wanted to see this.
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