I saw the first show and it was incredible. I didn't have time to look through this thread but a few things went wrong (real broken glass, stage phone dropped in audience, etc.) but seeing Gillian Anderson act live made up for every single bit of it.
I am a massive X-Files/Gillin Anderson fan (especially towards her dedication to feminism and women on television and stage) so this was the best treat to myself!
promisespromises2 said: "I saw the first show and it was incredible. I didn't have time to look through this thread but a few things went wrong (real broken glass, stage phone dropped in audience, etc.)"
When I saw it a pork chop "bone" went flying right into the path of the rotating set and I must say I got a little preoccupied watching to see if the stage was going to get stuck on it. Thankfully the stage didn't get stuck but the bone stuck to it and was pushed around by it.
What do you mean by "real broken glass?" I thought they were using sugar glass for all the plates and bottles that broke since people are then walking around barefoot.
IIIIII was just blown away by this tonight. I don't know the play/movie/anything so I had zero idea what I was in for.
AND WOW.
I was also sitting front and center (center is of course relative), and when Gillian walked out for her first scene she stopped right in front of me to deliver her opening lines and I died inside (Agent Scully quite literally changed the trajectory of my life, long story, blah blah).
ANYWAY.
What a performance by all involved.
And the staging! The fact that the sinks worked and the shower worked and **** broke and flew everywhere...God. It was so visceral.
Also a note: there were some empty seats in the very front rows and the ushers moved people down into them.
NJ_BroadwayGirl said: "promisespromises2 said: "I saw the first show and it was incredible. I didn't have time to look through this thread but a few things went wrong (real broken glass, stage phone dropped in audience, etc.)"
When I saw it a pork chop "bone" went flying right into the path of the rotating set and I must say I got a little preoccupied watching to see if the stage was going to get stuck on it. Thankfully the stage didn't get stuck but the bone stuck to it and was pushed around by it.
What do you mean by "real broken glass?" I thought they were using sugar glass for all the plates and bottles that broke since people are then walking around barefoot.
"
There was something on the table that was real glass (maybe a shot glass?) that wasn't supposed to be thrown on the floor and they kept stepping in it. It was either that or the glass shards were too big and they were cutting their feet. They had to stop the show and sweep everything up. It was actually really cringeworthy because Ben Foster stepped onto a HUGE piece of it and screamed "OW" in character. It was right before the big "STELLA" yelling moment. Which, props to Foster because they stopped the show after that, cleaned the glass, and then resumed it back to where he had to do it again.
NJ_BroadwayGirl said: "When I saw it a pork chop "bone" went flying right into the path of the rotating set and I must say I got a little preoccupied watching to see if the stage was going to get stuck on it. Thankfully the stage didn't get stuck but the bone stuck to it and was pushed around by it."
The day I went a beer can flew off and was being pushed around by the stage. Someone(I think it was an usher finally picked it up.
As for the person that said Ben yelled OW when stepping on the "glass". He did the same thing at the show I saw. I'm guessing because he's supposed to be stepping on actual glass and making it realistic as possible.
Saw this production tonight. It was my first time seeing Streetcar on stage. Dear lord I wish it wasn't! I really did not like this production. The set design was atrocious! Removing the story from it's time and place really sort of destroys Tennessee William's themes. Today if Blanche's boyfriend was caught with his older friend he would leave the party and go shopping at Ikea! Oh, wait, THAT was the reason for the set design. Anderson's acting was pretty incredible even though I had difficulty understanding her at points due to the accent.
I was surprised to see more then a few did not return after intermission, three in the row in front of me, two in the rows to my right and a good ten on the other side of the theatre.
Those Blocked: SueStorm. N2N Nate. Good riddence to stupid! Rad-Z, shill begone!
Saw this tonight, and having see the sensational Blanchett in a more traditional production, was happy to see something else. I think the themes, sadly, are still prevalent today. Sure, she caught her boyfriend with an older man, but it's her saying she's disgusted by it that drives him to kill himself.
I loved Anderson. I really felt awful for her character and the way her life transpired. Foster was really great. He had a different take, but still was menacing. I think the biggest revelation was Kirby as Stella. I just really felt for her and thought she was the emotional center of the whole piece.
I loved the spinning set and the music and lighting. It's def. a departure, but I loved the risks it took.
I won't bother to compare it to past productions of this play that I have seen, or to critique anyone's performance against that of another actor in the same roie.
Just GO.
For the person asking about the cancellation line, I went to the Wednesday matinee this week, (giving up a TDF ticket for something else soon closing. Oh well...) I got to the theatre about an hour and a half prior, was sixth in line and scored a second row seat. There were about 10-12 other people who arrived after me and all were seated.
I found a video of the NT live recording online. Should I just watch that or actually go? Yeah I know, live theater and all, but with a hard ticket sometimes it's not worth the hassle.
And btw, where do these NT live videos come from? I thought they only aired in theaters, yet I've seen digital versions of Macbeth, View from the Bridge, and now this. There's probably more I'm guessing and wouldn't mind seeing Of Mice and Men and Curious Incident again.
I saw the cinema broadcast in September 2014 and because of the changing camera angles, the rotation wasn't noticeable. I'm coming to see the play in person next week and having an awkward view from some bits compared to a brilliant view for others is simply the nature of the beast. Whereas, obviously, the cinema broadcast maximised the best viewing angle for every scene. So I guess it's not an authentic experience of being in the audience.