Wildcard said: "Sure, I wish some of the sets weren't so skeletal in appearance but they still provided more than enough of a setting. If one can't get past that and requires everything to be realistic, then the whole concept of theater is lost on you.
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Yes, I've seen the original many times, in various countries, including the original London production.
What you say about realistic is the other way around. If you go for all these scenes (last night of the world on a black stage) in a minimal setting, like I described, that's is probably more realistic, but the thing is that we want to experience what is in their minds. That is the concept of theatre.