The 47th—The Old Vic (London)
The 47th—The Old Vic (London)
JasonC3
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/21
#1The 47th—The Old Vic (London)
Posted: 2/22/22 at 8:03am
If this does well (as the credentials of all involved suggest it very well could), I imagine we might see it over here at some point.
From the website:
‘It’s not a game for gentlemen we’re playing,
Political and civilized. This is Historic’
It is 2024 and as America goes to the polls, democracy itself is on the brink. Who takes the White House – and at what cost?
The team behind the multi award-winning King Charles III reunite as Rupert Goold directs the world premiere of Mike Bartlett’s viciously funny The 47th, a chaotic glimpse into the underbelly of the greatest political show on earth – the next presidential race. With Bertie Carvel as Donald Trump, Tamara Tunie as Kamala Harris and Lydia Wilson as Ivanka Trump.
An Old Vic, Sonia Friedman Productions & Annapurna Theatre co-production; 29 March - 28 May 2022
#2The 47th—The Old Vic (London)
Posted: 2/22/22 at 9:30am
I’m seeing this in May and I’m quite excited to see Tamara on stage. Might see if I can ask her to sign my Dreamgirls concert CD finally, too!
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#3The 47th—The Old Vic (London)
Posted: 2/22/22 at 3:21pm
Love me some Bertie, but I don't know that audiences in the US would be rushing to see this. Feels a little too real on this side of the pond.
Probably why British stuff does so well here, feels more fantasy.
#4The 47th—The Old Vic (London)
Posted: 2/22/22 at 3:47pm
Lydia Wilson, playing Ivanka Trump, is the same actor who played Kate Middleton in King Charles III. An interesting juxtaposition!
BoringBoredBoard40
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/27/21
#5The 47th—The Old Vic (London)
Posted: 2/23/22 at 8:18pm
This is potentially part of MTC fall season from what I am hearing, leading right up to midterms
#6The 47th—The Old Vic (London)
Posted: 2/23/22 at 9:11pm
If MTC is doing it i wonder if Bertie will come over, seeing as how his last show a couple years ago was with them.
Owen22
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/24/11
#7The 47th—The Old Vic (London)
Posted: 2/24/22 at 10:21am
Yep! Got my tickets to the last performance!
EDIT, sorry, it's "The Collaboration" at the YOUNG Vic I have tickets for the last performance. Seeing The 47th in early May.
#8The 47th—The Old Vic (London)
Posted: 2/24/22 at 10:26am
I'll be seeing the third preview of this!
#9The 47th—The Old Vic (London)
Posted: 4/6/22 at 5:52pm
Well I thought this was absolutely amazing and one of the best things I’ve ever seen. It’s outrageous, hilarious, shocking, bizarre, awful, chilling, interesting, poignant and entertaining. The style of language and plot is like Shakespearean prose that suits the larger than life characters and events. It managed to be both very plot driven and character driven. There won’t be any surprises which way the political commentary pendulum swings in terms but it does manage to say interesting things about a lot of issues. Bertie Carvel gives one of those once in a lifetime performances and would win the Tony immediately. I would not change a single word and transfer the play immediately to Broadway and give it the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
When my goodbye post was removed: “but I had a great dramatic finish!!!!”
#10The 47th—The Old Vic (London)
Posted: 4/6/22 at 5:59pm
Did not see that coming! I’d buy tickets based upon binau’s opinion of this show alone.
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#11The 47th—The Old Vic (London)
Posted: 4/6/22 at 6:06pm
Play Esq. said: "Did not see that coming! I’d buy tickets based upon binau’s opinion of this show alone."
Agreed. And justice for Bertie who should have gotten the Tony for Matilda (in Featured, cause you can't beat Billy Porter in Kinky).
#12The 47th—The Old Vic (London)
Posted: 4/6/22 at 6:13pm
The only caveat I should say is I am not American so it’s easy for me to look at this from a distance. I would be curious to know what Americans think of it.
When my goodbye post was removed: “but I had a great dramatic finish!!!!”
Updated On: 4/6/22 at 06:13 PM
#14The 47th—The Old Vic (London)
Posted: 4/6/22 at 6:59pm
Old Vic Promo
In Portugal over the summer thinking I might be able to catch this during the trip, but the production ends in May. With that said, and I’m sure it’s exceptional, but my God this promo gives me pre-mature 2023 anxiety.
#15The 47th—The Old Vic (London)
Posted: 4/6/22 at 7:11pmI would'nt rate it "quite" as highly as binau but it is a very clever play, and the use of Shakespearian verse and references is brilliant. Bertie is fantastic - I would say he's playing a caricature but.... nope that's exactly how Trump comes across. Definitely interested to see how Americans would interpets it though.
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#16The 47th—The Old Vic (London)
Posted: 4/6/22 at 7:57pm
Yeah now after watching the promo I'm not sure how well that would do here, ha.
#17The 47th—The Old Vic (London)
Posted: 4/7/22 at 3:40am
Maybe an obvious point but I also think a challenge for the US is that the show would be highly controversial and polarising even to those on ‘the left’. And because it is so political of course every audience member and reviewer will have an idea of what should and should not be portrayed, whether it’s brilliant and chilling satire or a just another cheap opportunistic comment on the state of America, whether British people should be telling this story or not, whether it’s something people would want to see right now or not etc.
When my goodbye post was removed: “but I had a great dramatic finish!!!!”
KevinKlawitter
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/21/20
#18The 47th—The Old Vic (London)
Posted: 4/7/22 at 9:03am
, whether it’s brilliant and chilling satire or a just another cheap opportunistic comment on the state of America, whether British people should be telling this story or not, whether it’s something people would want to see right now or not etc."
I suppose having an American actress as well-known as Tamara Tunie playing Kamala Harris helps, although I can't help but notice the universal praise of Carvel I've been seeing seems to be taking all of the oxygen out of the room as far as recognition of the other performances goes.
We'd also have to reckon with the fact that there's a very prominent anti-Harris crowd in the States (on the Right and the Left). But I'm still eager to see this transfer over, because it sounds like a fascinating but of theatre and I am a fan of King Charles III.
#19The 47th—The Old Vic (London)
Posted: 4/7/22 at 10:00am
Tamara and her character is definitely the heart of the show and the other main lead even if Carvel is taking all the limelight because it’s just so so virtuosic. The other good part is Trump’s daughter. Otherwise there are no other notable performances in my opinion. One weird thing is they go for super detailed impersonations of Trump/Kamala and somewhat but to a lesser extent Trump’s daughter. However, none of the other characters really resemble or act like their real life counterparts much at all (eg. Cruz and Biden). I assume it’s actually a directorial choice to keep the focus on the three leads but who knows.
When my goodbye post was removed: “but I had a great dramatic finish!!!!”
KevinKlawitter
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/21/20
#21The 47th—The Old Vic (London)
Posted: 4/9/22 at 8:16am
JBroadway said: "Lydia Wilson, playing Ivanka Trump, is the same actor who played Kate Middleton in King Charles III. An interesting juxtaposition!"
Lydia Wilson's performance as Kate Middleton in King Charles III was so riveting and fantastic. I loved that whole play, but, man, that performance has stuck with me in a special way even all these years later.
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
KevinKlawitter
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/21/20
#22The 47th—The Old Vic (London)
Posted: 4/9/22 at 8:19pm
4/5 from TimeOut
4/5 from The Independent
2/5 from The Telegraph
3/5 from BroadwayWorld
4.5/5 from The Reviews Hub
Positive from Open Letters Review
Positive/mixed-positive from The Hollywood Reporter
3/5 from The Stage
4/5 from What's On Stage
Owen22
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/24/11
#23The 47th—The Old Vic (London)
Posted: 4/10/22 at 12:19am
I'm seeing this early next month as a Mike Bartletttriumvirate (Cock and Scandaltown as well). I'm a big fan of King Charles and am seeing this political play on the strength of that, but I am still a little worried about a Brit's take such precise American political circumstances. Not that he won't get the facts correct, obviously, but there is a certain feeling one has of living in this country every single day amidst all this social and political turmoil that I can't help but predict that, from my American viewpoint, the play will render life here in very basic, none-lived-through colors. I'm not saying that I fear it will be "Americans Writing A Diana Musical" bad, and I'm sure the performances will be great, but I'm still a little concerned...
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#25The 47th—The Old Vic (London)
Posted: 5/29/22 at 7:28pm
I saw this about a week ago and have been thinking about it quite a bit since. The play is nothing like what i expected it to be. Spoken in a Shakespearean sort of dialogue it really takes a bit to get into it, hearing a spot on trump impression speaking like that. But once i adjusted to that, I thought it worked beautifully. It’s obviously very timely but I think it’s so “of the moment” and the way the play is written, it will actually be outdated in 2 years after the next election so they’d better hurry up and bring it over if they want to. Not saying it won’t still be a good play but the play ponders the question of what will happen in the 2024 election, that’s the plot.
There is one thing that really bothered me about it and it’s something that consistently bothers me. That is the portrayal of Biden as a feeble, senile old man which is so f*cking dangerous. SNL and others do this repeatedly because it’s a cheap laugh but perception is reality and in 2 years, will people vote for what they perceive to be a senile old man? It’s dangerous.
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