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#1

Congrats to Branagh

Stellar reviews for 'Ivanov'. Anyone going? Though I love Shakespeare, I can't stand Chekhov so I'm reluctant.

(PS Sorry Wendies, it's not a musical)
#2

re: Congrats to Branagh

A PLAY! re: Congrats to Branagh

I'm totally going. I think... I'm going to have to miss a friend's wedding to go. But no WAY am I missing out! Although it won't be until October. Ah well, I'm still waiting on 'Hamlet' in November, now THAT'S a long wait!

Srsly though; the most expensive ticket is £32.50. You can get in for a mere £10. It's receiving better reviews than 'Hamlet', and that went down pretty well an' all. And the Donmar West End season is tremendously exciting and important. Support Grandage's dreams; give him £10, and give it a try. You can leave at the interval if you MUST, but I don't think there's a critic out there would say "maybe you'd best stay home then...". Apart from that one on Theatremonkey who left at the interval and didn't have any legroom. re: Congrats to Branagh

Notes from the Earlham Street Gutter

Updated On: 9/18/08 at 12:00 PM

#3

re: Congrats to Branagh

Well the seating has been refurbished prior to the Donmar season. It used to be be purgatory in the Wyndham's but I had been told the space was better now. Maybe not.

Personally, I can't wait for KB to direct 'Hamlet' later in the season. I'm expecting fireworks!

And, yes, bravo on the pricing policy!
#4

re: Congrats to Branagh

"Anyone going?"

I've had my tickets booked for months (or rather one of my theatrebuds who's a Friend of the Donmar has had them booked for months).

"Though I love Shakespeare, I can't stand Chekhov so I'm reluctant."

Though I can't stand Shakespeare, I love Chekhov so I'm chomping at the bit. Oooooh - better not use horse anaolgies or else Weez will start to fancy me.

Seriously, someone said to me after the National's A Little Night Music "If you like Sondheim, you'll like Chekhov." I'd never given it a thought but they turned out to be so right.
#5

re: Congrats to Branagh

Maybe it's me, or the productions I've seen, but even Judi Dench's 'Seagull' at the National bored the tits off me. I just find myself wanting to scream "For God's sake, do something!"
#6

re: Congrats to Branagh

Am going but not for aggggges mid october. The reviews have me so excited, fantastic way to kick off the season.

The pricing is really great for the whole season.


#7

re: Congrats to Branagh

But you hate Shakespeare, Scrippsy. It'd never work out between us. :P

And I don't *generally* fancy horses, only when they look like this:

re: Congrats to Branagh

(I love new FireFox; as soon as I started typing the URL, it KNEW what picture I was going for. XD)

I love how most of the critics have unashamedly given the production five stars, but even Benedict Nightingale, who went against the flow with a mere four stars, didn't have anything bad to say about the production. While I do find I most enjoy the shows I have no real expectations for, I also find that when LOTS of people like a play, it's usually for a damn good reason (see also: NT 'Much Ado About Nothing', 'Black Watch', etc).

I'm a little bit thrilled. Michael Grandage is AWESOME. ^_^

Notes from the Earlham Street Gutter

Updated On: 9/18/08 at 06:00 PM

#8

re: Congrats to Branagh

How many times have you uploaded that photo Weez? I suppose he's cute in a vacuous catalogue-model sort of way. The fact that I think he's cute is probably another reason why it wouldn't work out between us. re: Congrats to Branagh

"I just find myself wanting to scream "For God's sake, do something!"

That is the exquisite agony of Chekhov - it's like Chinese water torture.
#9

re: Congrats to Branagh

... which I generally try to avoid except in certain very specific circumstances!
#10

re: Congrats to Branagh

You can't make a post like that and not expect to ask what circumstances?
#12

re: Congrats to Branagh

I'm trying to delay the resolution in a Chekhovian manner...
#13

re: Congrats to Branagh

Straight theatre makes a BIG come back to the West End -thank god YEA!!!!!!
A young actress with Noel coward after a dreadful opening night performance said to him 'Well, i knew my lines backwards this morning!'' Noels fast reply was ''Yes dear, and thats exactly how you said them tonight'!'
#14

re: Congrats to Branagh

Oh look. A leaf fell- that must be the climax of a Chekhov play!
#15

re: Congrats to Branagh

There was a pause there that Pinter would have been proud of!
A young actress with Noel coward after a dreadful opening night performance said to him 'Well, i knew my lines backwards this morning!'' Noels fast reply was ''Yes dear, and thats exactly how you said them tonight'!'
#16

re: Congrats to Branagh

Tres drole!

D'you know what, I can't stand Pinter either.

I have some very odd blind spots I'm afraid.

But I love Albee, Beckett and Guare.

Call me fickle.
#17

re: Congrats to Branagh

"Oh look. A leaf fell"

But that leaf is a metaphor for the pain and anguish suffered by the Chekovian characters as the comforts of familiarity and the society they no longer understand turn in on themselves.
#19

re: Congrats to Branagh

Showing off again! Earlier this week it was your biceps, now it's your arse. What next?

If it's nudity you want then Terry Johnson is probably a safer bet than Chekhov.
#20

re: Congrats to Branagh

I'm just a natural exhibitionist.

But if it's nudity I'm after I'll look around for a Sarah Kane or Mark Ravenhill! :)
#21

re: Congrats to Branagh

If you want nudity, don't go to the theatre; stay home and rent 'Oz' on DVD.

I highly recommend it, and not just for the nudity. ^_^

Speaking of tehatrical nudity, do they still all dance around in the nip in the 'Cabaret' tour, or have they toned it down for the grannies in the provinces?

Notes from the Earlham Street Gutter
#22

re: Congrats to Branagh

I've never actually seen any Sarah Kane, although I did see Shopping and F*CKing and Some Explicit Polaroids, which both added to my disillusionment with modern drama. I did like the way American drama critics referred to plays such as these as "Brit-grunge".

I saw Shopping and F*CKing the night before Princess Diana's funeral and there was some kind of half-apology before the performance to those-who-are-about-to-be-offended. I was surprised to see trendy-leftie looking types walking out, but it wasn't the references to Diana and Fergie that offended them - I guess they just didn't have the, errrrrr, bottle to take it!
#23

re: Congrats to Branagh

Michael Grandage has just been announced as replacing Mr Branagh as the director of the Donmars 'Hamlet' with Jude Law. Branagh has a conflicting film schedule.

Updated On: 10/14/08 at 01:41 PM

#24

re: Congrats to Branagh

Pity. Having been one of the greatest living Hamlets, I was looking forward to see how he directed this one.
#25

re: Congrats to Branagh

Thats a shame, was hoping he'd have a double triumph.


I did enjoy Ivanov last weekend, loads funnier than expected - the part about no one should hold capital in the current climate went down a storm. Branagh himself was magnificent, but bloomin strong cast throughout who really convayed their love for the show.

Thoroughly appreciated the theatre facelift too, now understand why people here complain that others dont do the same with their theatres.

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