Billie Piper to reprise her Olivier Winning performance in "Yerma" in NYC- Page 3

[DAME]

Posted: 4/2/18 at 11:11pm

This is one of the best pieces of theater playing in New York. What a thrill.

[little_sally]

Posted: 4/3/18 at 12:24pm

I saw this last night. The play is nothing remarkable but the staging, set, and concept are so unique. Billie Piper and Brendan Cowell are absolutely incredible.

 

[cali8]

Posted: 4/3/18 at 3:26pm

I saw this over the weekend and completely agree with all the raves about Billie Piper's shattering performance. The other actors were excellent as well. Her mother was perfectly acerbic. As far as seating, my TDF ticket was in the last row in the center on the south side. Obviously, I would've liked to have been closer, but I thought it was a decent seat, not too far away (ymmv, of course).

[sm33]

Posted: 4/3/18 at 6:10pm

This ends a week before my NYC trip, and the more reviews I read here, the more disappointed I am about that. 

[orlikethecolorpurple]

Posted: 4/3/18 at 7:22pm

sm33 said: "This ends a week before my NYC trip, and the more reviews I read here, the more disappointed I am about that."

Me also. I’m surprised (& disappointed) they transferred and mounted this for just a 4 week run.

[Sauja]

Posted: 4/3/18 at 11:06pm

Count me anong the many fans. Piper is astonishing. The scenic design is somehow both simple and mind-boggling (trying to describe without spoiling). And the sound design...this production is it’s own case study in how sound design is truly an art. Was all the way in the back in the far corner. The cheapest seat. A spectacular view. Can’t imagine there’s a bad seat in the house.

And while I understand people saying they wish it could have done a Broadway transfer or a longer run...I just truly can’t think of a space that could hold it as brilliantly and completely as the Armory. It feels like the decision to go there was an artistic one more than a commercial one, and I respect the hell out of that.

[Sauja]

Posted: 4/3/18 at 11:06pm

Count me anong the many fans. Piper is astonishing. The scenic design is somehow both simple and mind-boggling (trying to describe without spoiling). And the sound design...this production is it’s own case study in how sound design is truly an art. Was all the way in the back in the far corner. The cheapest seat. A spectacular view. Can’t imagine there’s a bad seat in the house.

And while I understand people saying they wish it could have done a Broadway transfer or a longer run...I just truly can’t think of a space that could hold it as brilliantly and completely as the Armory. It feels like the decision to go there was an artistic one more than a commercial one, and I respect the hell out of that.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 4/8/18 at 10:25am

Shell shocked.

This is something extraordinary.

In a typical show, Clachlan's set might well be all everyone would be talking about.  Or certainly at the top of the list of assets.

In this YERMA it is just one of the elements - sound, staging, performance, music, writing, a phenomenally talented leading actor who is giving the performance of her or anyone's lifetime, her terrific leading man, superb support from every one in the cast, even the choice of the performance venue itself -  all of which are seamlessly brilliant.

Not. To. Be. Missed.

Back to the set.... That it is technically consummate is almost beside the point.  What it makes you feel is that you are watching intimacies one should never be permitted to see - taking one where one needs to go to unravel how the hell that sensationalized thing you've heard happened to some people you wouldn't otherwise have known could ever have really happened.

Couldn't disagree more with those minimizing the play itself.  On paper, Simon Stone has made the most counterintuitive choices in adapting YERMA.  He has created a story of loss, love and longing that I will never forget.  As well as an indelible study of tragic obsession.

Updated On: 4/8/18 at 10:25 AM

[cjmclaughlin10]

Posted: 4/8/18 at 12:04pm

The website now says that all performances are completely sold out It also says to check back Thursday after 1pm for “additional releases”. Could they be adding Sunday performances? Extending? Added benefit performance?

[JBroadway]

Posted: 4/8/18 at 12:50pm

Sorry to hear tickets are not as readily available to those who want them, but at the same time, I'm also happy that tickets sales have finally caught up with word-of-mouth. As my earlier posts in this thread indicate, I was shocked that it was so easy to get tickets earlier considering how much of a hot ticket it was in London. 

[cjmclaughlin10]

Posted: 4/8/18 at 1:13pm

Yagh. I’m kicking myself for not buying sooner, but my bank account would not allow me to do so. Now that I can afford a cheap ticket, they are all gone life is cruel

[FutureDirector]

Posted: 4/11/18 at 1:33am

Ok, how do they do the set changes? I've been trying to figure it out for a week since I saw it and I'm stuck. This is honestly the first time I've ever seen a show and not been able to figure the technical side out at all. Especially with the floor. Someone else has to have figured it out. Please anyone! I'm dying here.

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 4/11/18 at 1:43am

Basically, both sides are glass doors that can be lifted when they need to sneak things in for scene changes. I was in the performance where they cancelled it because of technical malfunction. They revealed their secrets when they tried to fix the sex.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 4/11/18 at 1:48am

Okay, I thought Piper’s performance and the scenic design were both insanely good. But honestly, otherwise, I didn’t really care for the play. Is it bad that I was totally bored by what was going on for the entire first half?

Piper and the set deserve much credit, though.

[FutureDirector]

Posted: 4/11/18 at 1:59am

I googled it. Not only that. But there are 2 indentical sets. One moving up and down and one sliding in and out. Though the kitchen change they said is done with crew in night vision goggles grinding actors and furniture because it's in pitch black.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 4/11/18 at 7:58am

Dancingthrulife2 said: "They revealed their secrets when they tried to fix the sex."

Don't we all?

 

Updated On: 4/11/18 at 07:58 AM

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 4/11/18 at 8:07am

BroadwayConcierge said: "Okay, I thought Piper’s performance and the scenic design were both insanely good. But honestly, otherwise, I didn’t really care for the play. Is it bad that I was totally bored by what was going on for the entire first half?"

Bad, no.  To me personally, inconceivable.  But not bad.
IMHO Stone has written a beautiful, extraordinary, often very funny, blistering play based on Lorca's themes and the myth Lorca drew from.  He has turned Lorca's play on its head, updating the setting, transferring it from village to megalopolis, from folk culture to panculture, from traditional family structure to modern post-first wave feminism, and fiercely laid bear personal obsession, monomania, and biologically based helplessness.

As both writer and director he is also "insanely good," and perhaps even a true genius.

Every creative element of this production serves his vision, organically and brilliantly.

 

Updated On: 4/11/18 at 08:07 AM

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 4/11/18 at 8:13am

cjmclaughlin10 said: "The website now says that all performances are completely sold out It also says to check back Thursday after 1pm for “additional releases”. Could they be adding Sunday performances? Extending? Added benefit performance?"

From what I've heard it's an additional row of seats at each performance, not any added performances.

[bowtie7]

Posted: 4/11/18 at 8:44am

About the set

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

Article where the director discusses the set

https://www.surfacemag.com/articles/simon-stone-talks-yerma-set-design/

 

[cjmclaughlin10]

Posted: 4/11/18 at 2:14pm

Any idea of a price point??

What do they charge for fees when you buy online????

[jbm2]

Posted: 4/13/18 at 6:38pm

Has anyone caught this yet? How was it?

[ilysespieces]

Posted: 4/13/18 at 11:14pm

jbm2 said: "Has anyone caught this yet? How was it?"

Like a ton of people, this entire thread is people gushing about how amazing the show was. 

[KayGlass2]

Posted: 4/14/18 at 1:44am

Please see this show.  Just...go.

For the first quarter or so, I was bored.  Nothing was "happening."  It felt tedious and dull, the interludes bothered me, and I was a bit disjointed-feeling.

By the time the end was nearing I was physically uncomfortable.  I wanted to get up out of my seat and run, chew my own arms off to get out, anything to get away.  I have never had a visceral reaction to a show like that before.  It was REMARKABLE how slyly it got under my skin, and how I was stretched to the absolute end by the time the show was over.

I saw it a week ago and have not stopped thinking about it since.

[Andy51]

Posted: 4/14/18 at 10:21am

KayGlass2 said: "Please see this show. Just...go.

Easier said than done, since the show is sold out and tickets on the secondary market are very expensive.  But I share your sentiment.  I saw the show this week.  No question in my mind that it is the best thing happening in NY theatre right now.

 

[nycward]

Posted: 4/14/18 at 12:19pm

Yes, like everyone else on this thread I extoll the praises of this production. After first seeing it I had a bit of trouble adapting the themes from depression era rural Spain to contemporary urban London, but with time I left realism behind and just appreciated the journey through obsession, compulsion and the ultimate collision of these two Id driven urges. (Yes, I am a Psychoshrinkacologist and former Stage Director) I really want to give a shout out to TDF. Everyone on this board really must be a member. Yerma appeared for a few performances and I got a pair on the 10th row aisle for an early Saturday matinee. Whenever a well received transfer comes to town I check the site periodically to catch something extraordinary at a ridiculously low price. I'm thinking Ghosts at BAM with Lesley Manville a few seasons ago as well as Angels In America this season. For anyone on a budget the trade off of sometimes mediocre seats for a chance to see great theatre is a gift that this organization gives us all. Commercial over:)

Updated On: 4/14/18 at 12:19 PM