12th Night On Stage Seating Views?

[vivahg11]

Posted: 11/17/13 at 3:02pm

How is the experience of seating on stage to watch Twelfth Night? Does watching the performance from the side take away?

Updated On: 11/17/13 at 03:02 PM

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 11/17/13 at 3:27pm

This isn't easy to answer, since the only objective response would be from someone who did both.

I did onstage seating, and was in the first row, stage right, in the first upstage seat, and had a great time. At times, I did think I'd've liked to see Rylance's face for one scene, but then 5 minutes later, he'd be doing some pretty amazing stuff with his back to the majority of the audience as he spoke to another actor. It's almost like they staged it to be more of a thrust than proscenium.

But if you do miss anything from being onstage, you certainly get to see so much of it up close, it more than compensates. I do think the upstairs onstage would be less desirable, so I would stick to rows A and B.

Of course, the show was so good, I plan to go back anyway, and am not yet sure where I'll sit.

[frapperia]

Posted: 11/17/13 at 5:30pm

Here's how it was staged in London: http://youtu.be/RDPT2e26SgY

[willep]

Posted: 11/18/13 at 3:40am

I don't think the staging has changed much, if any. I loved the onstage seating, but like oasisjeff, I was in row A of the onstage seats. If you can get that, you'll have a blast.

[vivahg11]

Posted: 12/5/13 at 1:29pm

Do you know what seat number you had? The telecharge site no longer shows the seating for on stage.
Was curious to know how the numbering went. Was curious to know where the seat numbers 15 and 13 are?
Would you know what number the seats closer to the front edge of the stage might be?
Thanks

[mamaleh]

Posted: 12/5/13 at 3:02pm

The higher the number, the better the view, especially for Row A of onstage seats. That said, I lucked out at rush and got a $27 Row A 6 stage seat and loved the view. It's true that there are numerous scenes played partially with backs to the audience; catching those expressions was a lot of fun. Thanks to the extension, however, I'm going to enjoy it from a $27 Row B orch seat, too. This was definitely the highlight of my theatergoing so far this season.

[macnyc]

Posted: 12/5/13 at 3:20pm

I'm going back too! I love this show! I'm so glad it extended. Although someone mentioned on All That Chat that Stephen Fry is missing the last three performances, and that's when my ticket is for. So if that is true, I'll have to content myself with an understudy (who I bet is excellent).

[mikem]

Posted: 12/5/13 at 8:32pm

Stephen Fry is hosting the BAFTAs on Sun, Feb 16. The last scheduled performances are Sat, Feb 15. On Saturdays, the performances are usually 2pm - Richard III, 8pm - Twelfth Night. But on that Saturday, the shows are switched.

I wonder if that's an attempt to allow Stephen Fry to perform. (He isn't in Richard III.) It doesn't seem to me that it would work, anyway, though.

[ultraviolet99]

Posted: 12/7/13 at 5:24am

Stephen's last show is the 13th. Terry McGinity will be playing Malvolio for the last 3 performances.