đź—Ł Theatre recommendations

I’ve watched a couple of operations in theatre.

On reflection I think the eye one was more scary than the one where the bloke shoved a little camera up a guy’s todger. :astonished:

The surgeon tried to show me the DVD close-ups of the eye op with him hacking away at the retina - so I just looked over the top of the screen at the blank wall and nodded politely.

1 Like

I came back to post about a play and found this comment. Bit late to this. Anyway I had 3 eye operations as a kid. I woke up in the middle of one of them. Always fun.

We went to see Glengarry Glen Ross the other week.

here’s a bit of the blurb as I cannot be bothered to think about it. “Lies. Greed. Corruption. It’s all business as usual. Glengarry Glen Ross takes place in the office of a group of cut-throat Chicago salesmen, willing to go to any lengths to get sales, legal or not. Pitting against each other, it’s a high-stakes competition to get one up on each other, and soon the increasingly desperate four employees are fighting to win. But as time and luck begin to run out, one thing becomes clear: close the deal and you win; blow the deal and you’re out.”

Stars Christian Slater, Kris Marshall, Robert Glenister, Stanley Townsend and Don Warrington.

We quite enjoyed it. It’s not massively long which is a bonus.

It’s also a 1992 film with a actor who is now fallen from grace.

It’s a really good film. Mamet wrote it in the 80’s and it’s as relevant now as it was then. Kevin Spacey had a minor role tbh. One of Jack Lemmon’s last roles, “Levine the Machine” is one of his best. No one can write dialogue like Mamet.

2 Likes

I was thinking of going see the Book Of Mermen cos I love those South Park Guys. Will I genuine enjoy it? It’s important cos theatre tickets are are a v.serious investment to me. So expensive! I’m worried that I will be v.bored after about 32 minutes, because every time I’ve been to theatre before, I have been v.bored after i.e. 32 minutes.

These are the theatre musicals I have seen before in my whole life for reference. I thought they was all v.boring. If the Mermen one is no better than these let me know pls and I Won’t Bother:

Miss Saigons

Avenue Q

Olivers!

The one with the roller skates or whatever it was

Chitty Shitty Bang Bang

I was treated to a trip to Phantom of the Opera for my birthday last month. I’d seen most of it approx 25 times when it was at the Mayflower when I worked there. So it was nice to sit down for the whole show and watch it. The tunes are quite catchy and the scenery is so well done. It’s started a musical thing in the house. So last night we headed to Les Miserables. Really excellent cast and how they change the sets was impressive.

Went to the Lyttleton Theatre at the National Theatre tonight for the first time to see Tartuffe by Molière. Its a version by an old mate John Donnelly. Loved the set and the modern twist to it. Its on until end of April.

1 Like

Nice theatre that. Was the set on a revolve?

It was tilted up at the back and at one point moved further up. It is a nice theatre with big seats.
Recommend the play after all its rewrite is by a fellow sotonian.

1 Like

There seems to be a good year planned at the Pinter Theatre. We went up town for an overnighter last year and saw The Birthday Party there, which featured some fine actors, Toby Jones, Zoe Wanamaker, Stephen Mangan all turned in good performances. Appreciate Pinter isn’t to everyone’s taste, but Betrayal is on for 12 weeks from March and the list of actors appearing this year on their website promises some fine performances.

More locally, the Duchess has booked tickets for The Shadow Factory at the Nuffield City sometime in the next couple of weeks. I haven’t been there yet but am looking forward to seeing the venue and the play. Also going to see Alan Johnson there in March, hopefully that will be amusing.

Visited the Barbican Centre last night. What a great theatre. I had an excellent seat, centre, 5 rows back. Comfy seats and plenty of leg room.
I went to see Maxine Peake in “Avalache: a love story” which is a one woman dialogue about IVF. Sounds maybe a little dull or sad but there was a lot of humour in it. It was about a hour and 20 mins with no interval. In awe of people who can remember all those lines and just go and act. Only one until Sunday but if it comes around worth a visit.

3 Likes

My new offices sit in front of the Barbican centre. Absolutely love the stuff they put on there. The whole complex is so Brutalist, but it works. Miserable in the winter. A joy on a warm day.

I need to go back and explore on a much less rainy day.

1 Like

It ain’t good.

The sad thing about it is that the whole place was built to rent for locals. Then Thatcher introduced right to buy and it’s criminal to see what they were bought for (by the people who needed them), what small profit they made and what they go for now. There are very few lower income people there now.

Thatcher has a lot to answer for, but unfortunately/ fortunately she’s dead.

Another theatre trip on a non working day. I bought a ticket up in the gods but got an upgrade to the stall. Bonus. I thought it was a possibility on a matinee as not many people go on a Wednesday.
I went to see Rosmersholm at the Duke of York with Tom Burke (Three Musketeers / Strike, also I bumped into him in Islington one time), Hayley Atwell (Avengers) and Giles Terera (Hamilton).
The play was written in 1886 by Norwegian Ibsen. The subject matter is relevant today. Set with an an imminent election the following day there is a pull of left and right and how things can be manipulated. It covers the polarisation of people.
The Guardian did give it a good review.

I really enjoyed it. But one of the pensioners behind me was snoring. So maybe he didn’t as much.

On until 20th July.

3 Likes

You get at least 2 name drop badges there @Intiniki :slight_smile:

1 Like

I now use my non working alternate Wednesdays for theatre trips so seen quite a few things of late. I get some reasonable tickets. I book up stairs and keep getting upgrades to stalls :smiley:

Waitress - not my cup of tea really. It’s a smaltzy musical. Still on at the theatre now with an ex pussy cat doll/strictly star (I saw it without her)

The Hunt - with Tobias Menzies (seen in GOT) as lead. Bit of hard watch. A teacher is accused of sexual abuse of a child and the way the village ostracized him. Quite dark really. But great acting.

Small Island - really enjoyed it although the 3 women in front of me thought it was way too long. I’ve read the book and seen TV adaption. Set in Jamaica and London around second world war and Windrush time. If it comes around again well worth seeing it.

Night of the Iguana - Clive Owen as the lead. On until 28th September. It’s a Tennessee William’s play. Even had some heavy rain on set. Had a bit of an issue with subject matter with older man and barely 16 year old girl.

The Starry Messenger - just finished. It had Matthee Broderick and Elizabeth Macgovern in it. Wasnt sure about this one really. Maybe a little slow and not sure I empathise much with the characters. Written by the guys who did Manchester by the Sea.

Midsummer nights dream - without doubt my favourite so far. My first proper Shakespeare play. Stars include Gwendoline Christie (GOT), Oliver Chris (Greenwing) and Felicity Montagu (Lynn, Alan Partridge) to name a few. Hammed Animashaun was superb. It is immersive, roles have been swapped and pokes fun at itself. There silk acrobats (the fairies). I’m hoping to go back for a second time before the run ends 31st August.

1 Like

Got dragged to London this weekend just gone as Mrs BTripz wanted to see On Your Feet (described as a jukebox musical that played on Broadway at the Marquis Theatre. Based on the lives and music of 26-time Grammy Award-winning husband-and-wife team Gloria and Emilio Estefan).

I was actually not looking forward to it but must admit I did enjoy it in the end. It was at the Colliseum which, in itself, is a stunning theatre.

Walking around the West End afterwards and the next day it’s amazing how many theatres and shows there actually are!

Still hate London though

What the ridiculous crowds, idiots who stop right in front of you? Etc. I too hate all that. But love the fact I can just pop down the victoria line and see all sorts in he West End.

Not a fan of Gloria now so doubt I’ll head to that one.

1 Like