Does it really matter in what order I see THE NORMAN CONQUESTS?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 3:51pm

Anyone? If I go to ROUND AND ROUND on Thursday and the others whenever, will it totally throw me for a loop?

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 3:52pm

it truly doesn't matter at all. go and enjoy!

[CyCoSpAz2]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 3:54pm

Round and Round the Garden was the first one I saw and I enjoyed/understood everything just fine. Enjoy the show!!

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 3:56pm

Bah, nevermind, TheaterMania's GoldClub had all three shows up (tonight, tomorrow, and Thursday) for free. Hopefully it'll pop up again and I'll get a chance to go as all three performances already sold out.

I'm suddenly really excited to see these shows!

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 3:58pm

It matters slightly. There are some sight and sound gags that you won't get if you don't see TABLE MANNERS before LIVING TOGETHER. ROUND AND ROUND should be fine first, last, or in the middle.

[CyCoSpAz2]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 4:06pm

I saw it Round and Round the Garden, Table Manners, Living Together and thought it worked perfectly. And I definitely agree with Table Manners before Living Together... it makes one scene in Living Together so much more hilarious if you recall what happened at the same time in Table Manners. I burst out laughing and the woman next to me (Living Together was her first show) had no idea why it was SO funny (the scene itself is still funny without knowing).

The only thing I wished was different was that I got to see the last scene of Round and Round the Garden after the last scene of Living Together.

[April Saul]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 4:21pm

I loved 'em so much I would take any opportunity to see all three. I have to say that the order I saw them in last Saturday--Table Manners, then Living Together, then Round and Round--was perfect, and I could see why they put them in that order for the marathon. The end of Round and Round is just the best finale of the series, IMHO. But if you had no choice, I wouldn't lose sleep over it! Just go and enjoy...

[notabb]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 4:41pm

because of the ending of ROUND AND ROUND I would save that for last. It ends the latest ,time wise and gives all 3 plays a different feel on the whole . Can you see them in any order...sure BUT I'd go TABLE MANNERS , LIVING TOGETHER , ROUND. which is just what I'll be doing the next 3 nights. Hope it's as good as the Tom Conti version.

[Salene]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 9:36am

In the words of Alan Ayckbourn:

For those who have seen none of the plays but may be wishing to do-so, it is hoped that the following notes may prove useful.

The first thing to remember is, understandably, don't see Table Manners first. This will give you a wrong time sequence and will only confuse you when you come to see, say, Living Together which, incidentally, you are strongly advised not to see second. Ideally, Round and Round The Garden should not be seen before you have seen Table Manners - but do not, on the other hand, fall into that old trap of seeing Round and Round The Garden after Living Together as this again will confuse the sequences of dramatic events. Do not see Living Together first as this will severely curtail a lot of the pleasure you gain from seeing Table Manners for the first time which latter play, for maximum enjoyment you should try and save till the end.

In short, do try and see all three plays first, or, if you really can't manage this, last. This way you will avoid any disappointment. Like most things in this world, there is a logical progression i.e. Parts 1, 3 and finally of course, 2.

[singtopher]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 9:56am

^ I like.

Updated On: 4/15/09 at 09:56 AM

[BroadwayAbridged]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 4:47pm

I saw Garden first (Monday) and was confused for a lot of Act 1. Not because the play was confusing, but because so much more of the audience seemed to get things than I did. Seeing Living today and Table Friday. That's just the way my papered tickets worked out.

My suggestion: see Table as the first one on a Saturday Morning of a trilogy, when you can be sure the whole audience will be in your boat. Whether you decide to see the other two that same day or go back, up to you, but you won't feel like I did, confused as to why everybody else was laughing at characters they already knew when I didn't.