The Theatre Thread

[Wilko]

I have been to see 3 productions in the last week so thought I would give my brief reviews but keen to hear from others as to what to see and what to miss.

The Mentalists *** (3 Stars)

A 2 man play starring Stephen Merchant and Steffan Rhodri set in a hotel room. I enjoyed it, good dialogue and some very funny one liners. The first half is average but it improves a lot after the interval. Rhodri is excellent, Merchant is good but you can tell that it is his first play, he is a little too shouty! Only paid 17 notes for this and actually got moved into stall seats for gratis so all in all it was a good night out.


39 Steps **** (4 Stars)

A play I had been meaning to see for ages but only just got around to it and glad I did, went to see this as a matinee but the theatre was packed and enjoyed by everyone. Only 4 cast members playing a range of characters with a few individual performances being superb. It is very slapstick and silly but I really enjoyed this and there seemed to be a real range of ages in the audience too.


The Curious incident of the dog in the night-time ***** (5 stars)

The best play and production I think I have ever seen. The acting is superb, particularly the lead role. The set is used in inspiring and innovative ways. There is pathos throughout, a real mix of humour, intelligence and compassion. If you have the chance to see this then do not hesitate, absolutely gripping from start to finish.

So, other reviews please (even if they are plays that have been on for some time)

 

[CP 0 3 BHA]

I have been to see 3 productions in the last week so thought I would give my brief reviews but keen to hear from others as to what to see and what to miss.

The Mentalists *** (3 Stars)

A 2 man play starring Stephen Merchant and Steffan Rhodri set in a hotel room. I enjoyed it, good dialogue and some very funny one liners. The first half is average but it improves a lot after the interval. Rhodri is excellent, Merchant is good but you can tell that it is his first play, he is a little too shouty! Only paid 17 notes for this and actually got moved into stall seats for gratis so all in all it was a good night out.


39 Steps **** (4 Stars)

A play I had been meaning to see for ages but only just got around to it and glad I did, went to see this as a matinee but the theatre was packed and enjoyed by everyone. Only 4 cast members playing a range of characters with a few individual performances being superb. It is very slapstick and silly but I really enjoyed this and there seemed to be a real range of ages in the audience too.


The Curious incident of the dog in the night-time ***** (5 stars)

The best play and production I think I have ever seen. The acting is superb, particularly the lead role. The set is used in inspiring and innovative ways. There is pathos throughout, a real mix of humour, intelligence and compassion. If you have the chance to see this then do not hesitate, absolutely gripping from start to finish.

So, other reviews please (even if they are plays that have been on for some time)

I agree with you about both 39 Steps and The Curious Incident.

Last thing I saw was a Cinema Beamback of:-

Everyman - Royal National Theatre **** (Four Stars)
A modern day take on a medieval morality tale. Challenging theatre but an absolute multi-media treat with the new Director of the National, Rufus Norris, throwing everything at it. Great leading performance from Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) and as ever at the National, a consistently high performance level from everyone on the stage. Having seen the beamback I'd quite like to get down to see it live before it finishes - it's part of the Travelex season so there's loads of tickets at £15.

 

[Binney on acid]

I saw 'To kill a mockingbird' in Chichester at the beginning of the year. You could hardly hear the actors, especially the children. It was like watching a mime and was a complete & utter waste of time and money. 1 star only.

 

[The Sock of Poskett]

I have been to see 3 productions in the last week so thought I would give my brief reviews but keen to hear from others as to what to see and what to miss.

The Mentalists *** (3 Stars)

A 2 man play starring Stephen Merchant and Steffan Rhodri set in a hotel room. I enjoyed it, good dialogue and some very funny one liners. The first half is average but it improves a lot after the interval. Rhodri is excellent, Merchant is good but you can tell that it is his first play, he is a little too shouty! Only paid 17 notes for this and actually got moved into stall seats for gratis so all in all it was a good night out.


39 Steps **** (4 Stars)

A play I had been meaning to see for ages but only just got around to it and glad I did, went to see this as a matinee but the theatre was packed and enjoyed by everyone. Only 4 cast members playing a range of characters with a few individual performances being superb. It is very slapstick and silly but I really enjoyed this and there seemed to be a real range of ages in the audience too.


The Curious incident of the dog in the night-time ***** (5 stars)

The best play and production I think I have ever seen. The acting is superb, particularly the lead role. The set is used in inspiring and innovative ways. There is pathos throughout, a real mix of humour, intelligence and compassion. If you have the chance to see this then do not hesitate, absolutely gripping from start to finish.

So, other reviews please (even if they are plays that have been on for some time)

Cheers for reviews - good idea. Very much looking forward to seeing the last one in a week or so. Book is excellent.

 

[Wilko]

Cheers for reviews - good idea. Very much looking forward to seeing the last one in a week or so. Book is excellent.

Very interested to see what you make of it, I was blown away with it. Enjoy!!

 

[Stumpy Tim]

Very interested to see what you make of it, I was blown away with it. Enjoy!!

Agree with you. Absolutely brilliant play and amazingly acted.

We're off to see Bradley Cooper in the Elephant Man next week. Intrigued to see if he is any good on stage.

 

[BLOCK F]

Saw Dead Simple at the Connaught Theatre in Worthing the other week. Excellent and it was good to see the theatre completely sold out for the whole week. 5*

Also saw 39 Steps at the Connaught a couple of years ago. Again excellent 5*

 

[BLOCK F]

I saw 'To kill a mockingbird' in Chichester at the beginning of the year. You could hardly hear the actors, especially the children. It was like watching a mime and was a complete & utter waste of time and money. 1 star only.

I sympathise. Went to see Calendar Girls a few years ago; much the same as you describe.

 

[Guy Crouchback]

19th Gdańsk Shakespeare Festival starts today...

http://shakespearefestival.pl/

http://esfn.eu/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/gdansk-shakespeare-festiwal-2015.pdf

http://www.teatrszekspirowski.pl/index.php

... in our newly built Shakespearean theatre...

Worth checking out, if you happen to be in Poland at the moment.

 

[Wilko]

19th Gdańsk Shakespeare Festival starts today...

http://shakespearefestival.pl/

Worth checking out, if you happen to be in Poland at the moment.

That looks superb!!

 

[Guy Crouchback]

That looks superb!!

Thank you. We are very proud of our ST--it's the only one of its kind in Poland.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEvZIN5KsgM&feature=player_embedded

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

The Elephant Man - Bradley Cooper was superb, he is a fine actor and full respect to him going back to his roots in a small, unflashy theatre, 5 stars, the play itself did not have the power and punch that his acting talents deserved with a patchy story, 3 stars, overall 4 stars

Les Miserables - I have been meaning to see this for 2 decades and did, it was the greatest musical I have ever seen and a glorious show, Phil Daniels was in it and was superb as was the whole cast and Peter Lockyer was magnificent in the lead role, 5 stars

 

[Is it PotG?]

Had our 4 bash at National Theatre Live last night.

Previously Dear England, Vanya and The Motive and the Cue lived up to expectations, and Bevan similarly did not disappoint.

Michael Sheen was pretty strong, and the whole thing was done really well. A great idea to have London theatre in your local cinema, with camera placement and direction given utmost thought for a great production. Home in 5 minutes afterwards instead of a traipse back from The Smoke makes it all the better.

I think it's David Tennant in Good next.

 

[Gwylan]

I saw Matt Smith in Enemy of the People a few weeks ago. It was very good, although it was Paul Hilton who really stole the show, not our erstwhile Dr Who (who was perfectly good).

Talking of Dr Who, I have a ticket to see David Tennant in Macbeth in the autumn and, also in the autumn, am going to see Oedipus, starring Mark Strong and Brighton's very own Lesley Manville.

This month, I'm off to see Death in Venice (the opera) and the highly rated Machinal at the Old Vic. And in June, there's an As You Like It as Brighton's Open Air Theatre - always like going there. There really is plenty to see at the moment

 

[Is it PotG?]

Had our 4 bash at National Theatre Live last night.

Previously Dear England, Vanya and The Motive and the Cue lived up to expectations, and Bevan similarly did not disappoint.

Michael Sheen was pretty strong, and the whole thing was done really well. A great idea to have London theatre in your local cinema, with camera placement and direction given utmost thought for a great production. Home in 5 minutes afterwards instead of a traipse back from The Smoke makes it all the better.

I think it's David Tennant in Good next.

View attachment 181966

On YT for free tomorrow, worth a viewing!