Let The Right One In: St. Ann's Warehouse

[RippedMan]

Posted: 1/22/15 at 11:50pm

Just returned from second preview. And all I can say is WOW. I've honestly never seen a creepy, horror type play before, but there were genuine moments where the entire audience gasped or jumped or shrieked. It was excellent.

I thought all in all the staging was really effective. The whole stage is covered in snow with birch trees and a jungle gym. Things are brought off and on, and the way Tiffany choreographs these set moves is pretty genius. He gives each character moving a piece of scenery a through-line and motivation. The effects are incredible - one involving a swimming pool is astounding (how the hell did he hold his breath that long?!).

The actors are top notch. The story was engaging and interesting.

My only complaints are the pacing in the first act. It drags a bit. And the choreography. It's typical Hoggett, which is great actually. When it works - like when they're playfully pushing and shoving in the snow or fighting - it's really cool and it's beautiful. But then they throw in some random choices like all the men with their heads against a tree and then they leave the stage. Why? Or an entire dance which looks like it's pro-tree hugging? Again why? Maybe I missed the mark on those. But that said, I still was engaged and interested and couldn't wait to see more.

I say go before it becomes a big fat sold-out hit.

[LightsOut90]

Posted: 1/23/15 at 12:44am

Having seen it in London over the summer, was hoping they had cut back Hoggetts movement somewhat.

The bed piece is awkward.

And how does he hold his breath.....I sat in the front row when I saw it, he holds his breath unassisted

[MadAboutTheBoy]

Posted: 1/23/15 at 1:27pm

Can you guys describe the swimming pool scene for us?

[mattyp4]

Posted: 1/23/15 at 2:51pm

I too saw it in London last summer & loved it. Really happy it's playing NYC (& at St. Ann's no less-- an underused venue that I totally love).

My show palate has been pretty full as of late but I was still thinking about seeing this again. I'm a big fan of the original film & the English-language remake & thought this show was excellent. It's so rare to see the horror genre represented on stage-- and even more rare when it's done really well, like Let the Right One In. Props for not skimping on the gore too, which I thought was quite effective. Very cool. And creepy!

I thought the scenic design & the score were beautiful as well.

Is this the same cast from the UK?

[RippedMan]

Posted: 1/23/15 at 4:37pm

I think it's the same cast.

SPOILER re: The Swimming Pool

So in the climatic scene, the jungle gym turns and reveals a swimming pool. It fills with water rather quickly and the bullies push him into the pool and tell him to hold his breath for 3 minutes or else. It's a clear tub, so we can see him dunk into the water and clearly see him standing there holding his breath ever so calmly. Chaos happens around him and then he's pulled out about 3 minutes later.

Agreed, the music is great. And the bed scene is weird. Like, I get what he was going for, I guess, but I'm confused as to why we even needed it. His movement doesn't really comment on what's happening or forward the plot for the most part. So I don't really understand it.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 1/23/15 at 4:37pm

I think it's the same cast.

SPOILER re: The Swimming Pool

So in the climatic scene, the jungle gym turns and reveals a swimming pool. It fills with water rather quickly and the bullies push him into the pool and tell him to hold his breath for 3 minutes or else. It's a clear tub, so we can see him dunk into the water and clearly see him standing there holding his breath ever so calmly. Chaos happens around him and then he's pulled out about 3 minutes later.

Agreed, the music is great. And the bed scene is weird. Like, I get what he was going for, I guess, but I'm confused as to why we even needed it. His movement doesn't really comment on what's happening or forward the plot for the most part. So I don't really understand it.

[mikey2573]

Posted: 1/23/15 at 7:44pm

I am looking at seats to purchase for the St. Ann's run. What would you recommend as to where to sit. The seats close to the stage are regular price, but the seats in the middle of the house are priced as "premium" seats.
Any recommendations??

[willep]

Posted: 1/23/15 at 9:13pm

I just purchased my tickets for next weekend. I've never been to the venue, but I'm looking forward to it.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 1/23/15 at 9:36pm

It's a square. I can't imagine any seat is bad. I'd say sit further back if you can, but there's a gap between the stage and the first row of seats, so honestly any seat is good.

[Owen22]

Posted: 1/23/15 at 10:02pm

Being a fan of the original film as well as the American remake,as well as being a fan of the director and choreographer I was excited to see this at the Royal Court last year. I was disappointed. Upping the ages of the protagonists to teenagers ruined it somehow. Maybe because of the introduced sexuality. And the pool scene did not have the power needed. It lost something that made the films special.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 1/24/15 at 12:20am

I will say I didn't see the movie or read the book.

[mattyp4]

Posted: 1/24/15 at 11:38am

Well, the final scene is almost impossible to replicate on stage. So yeah, I found that scene in the film(s) to be much more effective. But the staging was interesting. You have to at least give them that. And as a whole I thought the show worked remarkably well on stage. Like it was still haunting/frightening/beautiful, even with the occasional misstep.

[mikey2573]

Posted: 1/24/15 at 2:36pm

I think the pool scene in both the movie versions rivals the shower scene in Hitchcock's PSYCHO. Of course, impossible to replicate on stage, but it will be interesting to see how they do it. I have heard nothing but great things about this stage version. Looking forward to it.

[Noel&Cole]

Posted: 1/24/15 at 2:52pm

Very excited for this! But I love most things Vampire themed! I hope this breaks the curse of Vampire stage plays like Lestat, Dracula, and Dance of the Vampires. Or even the off-Broadway Dracula. I've always thought vampires could make food stage subjects! Wanted to see this in London so I'm excited it's here! What's the easiest way to get to St. Anne's from midtown? Never been before

[haterobics]

Posted: 1/25/15 at 6:09pm

Wow, caught it this afternoon and was pretty phenomenal, love the set, staging, cast, everything really...

It has been so long since I saw the films that I can't recall how the pool was staged there, but that is easy to remedy.

"What's the easiest way to get to St. Anne's from midtown?"

http://stannswarehouse.org/plan-your-visit/directions/

[theatregoer3]

Posted: 1/25/15 at 7:21pm

I saw last night's show. Sad to say I thought it was a bit of a letdown. It felt like Tiffany and Hoggett phoned this one in. I've long been a fan of their work on stage and I've enjoyed the book and Swedish-language movie.

I found this to be "Let the Right One In" light. The choice to cut several characters and plot points in order to streamline the story is understandable. However what we were left with wasn't given any depth. Perhaps this had to do with the actors' interpretation - Eli and Oskar came across as rather dumb and lacking complexity. In the book and original movie these characters are very intelligent and resourceful despite their oppressive and horrifying situations.

I do also wish that the pedophilia and alcoholism along with the themes of Northern European socialist poverty (for lack of a better word) were all more apparent. There were some truly shocking and moving aspects of the story that could have given this interpretation the real darkness it called for.

Also, many people on this board have said that there were moments of genuine terror. I kept waiting for those and they never came.

I also thought the pool sequence was a bit amateurish. I was more fascinated by the speed of the pumps filling the tank than anything else.

Despite all I've said, there were about a dozen people who stood at the end and there were three curtain calls so it was moving for some.

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 1/25/15 at 7:36pm

Oh how I wish I could see this.

[haterobics]

Posted: 1/25/15 at 7:43pm

Is there any stage adaptation that doesn't suffer in comparison to an earlier book/movie version, though?

[Buddy Plummer2]

Posted: 1/25/15 at 9:00pm

Not to be that person, but is there any kind of rush for this?

[RippedMan]

Posted: 1/25/15 at 10:44pm

Check their website for details, but it's like $20 an hour before curtain. I'd check online to see if there are any tickets left before you trek out there.

I hear what you're saying, but I have no comparison to other things, so I loved it. Going to Strand tomorrow to get the book though.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 1/25/15 at 11:17pm

Was one of the best things I saw last year, stunning in every way. Wish I had the chance to seat again.

[ggersten]

Posted: 1/26/15 at 10:33am

Brantley loves it...again.
I did not realize it was a different Oskar than in London. But Rebecca Benson was astounding in London. I saw it from the first row (day seat) but didn't get any blood. I found the show to continue to haunt me for days after seeing it.
Brantley Raves

[StageDoor3]

Posted: 1/26/15 at 1:29pm

Has anyone heard about the possibilities of this transferring to Broadway or Off-Broadway after the St. Ann's run?

[LightsOut90]

Posted: 1/26/15 at 1:38pm

With now TWO different raves from the New York Times and the fact its not extending, I could totally see this sneaking in under the Tony cut off.

[Everlast85]

Posted: 1/27/15 at 2:50am

This was stunning.