Travel, Theatre, Music, Cricket, Tennis, Writing, Life
We saw this play/production in preview and I clearly remember both of us saying immediately afterwards how much it reminded us of Arthur Miller’s style. Unsurprisingly, that was also the verdict of the bulk of the critics.
We also thought it was a very good play and an excellent production…the critics were largely still with us on that aspect too.
Here is the trailer and interesting chat about the play/production:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY32zawMHWQ
We weren’t as keen on this one as we had hoped to be, given the synopsis and the fact that the Almeida was going through a purple patch at that time.
I’m not sure that Patrick Hamilton works for us on the stage – indeed we have recently at the time of writing (May 2017) passed up an opportunity to see one of his in the forthcoming Hampstead Theatre run.
We’re becoming an increasingly picky pair these days. We tend to avoid booking much in that pre-Christmas period also, now, given the nightmare journeys that often ensue at that time of year.
It was of course an excellent production and very well acted. I think it was the play that didn’t quite do it for us. Janie and I like 1920’s and 1930’s styles generally, but strangely we don’t tend to like plays/the theatrical style of that era.
The reviews – mostly very good but not great – are mostly linked from the Almeida resource – here’s that link again.
Skimming the reviews reminds me how very well acted and produced the piece was, it just wasn’t really our type of piece.
Still, we’re both glad we caught this production; I have little doubt that this production is as good as it gets for Rope.
Janie and I really liked this play/production, well summarised on the Official London Theatre site – click here. It is basically about migration to/through London from the late 16th century until today.
It’s a slightly show-bizzy play, with some of the humour being a little obvious, plus some singing and dancing thrown in. Which doesn’t sound like our sort of play. Yet, there was an interesting enough narrative line and some fabulous performances to keep us interested throughout.
We saw a preview, so were unaware, when we discussed the play/production afterwards, how much it would divide the critics.
Quite a mixture of opinions. Mark Espiner’s analysis of the reviews from the Guardian might help – click here.
A very memorable show for me, which is an element of praise indeed. Olivia Coleman and Michelle Terry were standout performances among many good ones.
I wonder how the piece would come across to me now, in our Brexity times (writing in April 2017) – would my sense of humour still be in tune with it, or should I say would the play’s sense of humour now be in tune with mine?
