Suggestions for London plays?
Dec 30th, 2004, 10:37 PM
#1
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Suggestions for London plays?
I'll be in London from Jan 21 - 25 and would like to take in one or two plays. This time around I'm not interested in musicals. Any suggestions for plays?
Thank you.
Thank you.
Dec 31st, 2004, 05:01 AM
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Take a look at http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/
or http://www.albemarle-london.com/
The latter has reviews. You can see what appeals to you.
or http://www.albemarle-london.com/
The latter has reviews. You can see what appeals to you.
Dec 31st, 2004, 08:26 AM
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Just saw Blithe Spirit with Penelope Keith (The Good Life). A great Noel Coward play with brittle dialogue if a little slow.
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Next with your Christian Slater is getting great reviews.
If in doubt go for The Woman In Black, the ghost story par excellence or The Mousetrap, now in its 53rd year!
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Next with your Christian Slater is getting great reviews.
If in doubt go for The Woman In Black, the ghost story par excellence or The Mousetrap, now in its 53rd year!
Dec 31st, 2004, 09:22 AM
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I loved Journey's End when I saw it last March. Having said that, I should add that it's a three-hour play about the First World War, with an all-male cast and only one set (a bunker near the front lines). In other words, the evening isn't a barrel of laughs -- but the writing and the acting were so superb that I found it a very enjoyable theatrical experience anyway. It was originally supposed to have a limited run, but has been extended several times, and is now scheduled to close in February.
Dec 31st, 2004, 10:32 AM
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Oh my! How could Blithe Spirit be a little slow? Doesn't sound like a good recommendation, despite the appearance of Penelope Keith.
And although I'm an avid theatregoer, The Woman in Black is the one show I couldn't stay awake for.
And although I'm an avid theatregoer, The Woman in Black is the one show I couldn't stay awake for.
Dec 31st, 2004, 11:12 AM
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Saw Journey's End and highly recommend it. It is sad but very well done. Got the tickets via TKTS and was in the 5th row.
Saw Fully Committed which is a New York transplanted play. Very, very funny. Also got the tickets through TKTS.
Saw Fully Committed which is a New York transplanted play. Very, very funny. Also got the tickets through TKTS.
Dec 31st, 2004, 08:36 PM
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The Mousetrap has been running for years and years and years at St. Martins.
I went last summer. It was so well acted that I was amazed. Everybody was tremendous. Live stage for me has an element that canned and taped TV shows don't have.
On the stage, the director cannot yell cut and have the scene reshot when some bozo blows his or her lines. What you see is what you get. And the 3 dimensional aspect of live theater is part of the enjoyment.
If you like a mystery, I think you will like the Mousetrap. I guarantee you will not get a mediocre performance!!
I went last summer. It was so well acted that I was amazed. Everybody was tremendous. Live stage for me has an element that canned and taped TV shows don't have.
On the stage, the director cannot yell cut and have the scene reshot when some bozo blows his or her lines. What you see is what you get. And the 3 dimensional aspect of live theater is part of the enjoyment.
If you like a mystery, I think you will like the Mousetrap. I guarantee you will not get a mediocre performance!!
Jan 1st, 2005, 03:07 AM
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You really need to have a look in somewhere like Albemarle to see what you fancy. It's difficult to advise somebody if you don't know their tastes in theatre.
For example I thought that Festen was wonderful and it has had rave reviews. However it would not appeal to Moustrap fans.
For example I thought that Festen was wonderful and it has had rave reviews. However it would not appeal to Moustrap fans.
Jan 1st, 2005, 03:27 AM
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Patrick, we will have to agree to disagree! I had just had a large lunch so I was probably not in the ideal mood for Noel Coward! My wife loved it though. Still think The Woman In Black was great though. Theatre in it's most pure form.
A lot of shows are coming off soon so the choice for good serious theatre may be limited. Journey's End does end on the 15th and Cuckoo's Nest on the 22nd.
Just read that Guys and Dolls with Ewan McGregror opens at the Piccadilly Theatre in May - could be interesting!
A lot of shows are coming off soon so the choice for good serious theatre may be limited. Journey's End does end on the 15th and Cuckoo's Nest on the 22nd.
Just read that Guys and Dolls with Ewan McGregror opens at the Piccadilly Theatre in May - could be interesting!
Jan 1st, 2005, 08:37 AM
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Four different websites that I've looked at today (London Theatre Guide, Albemarle's, Whatsonstage, and Theatremonkey) all show that Journey's End is scheduled to close on February 19, so I wouldn't assume that it won't be running when sunshine007 is in London in late January. Since the run has already been extended several times, I suspect that what may have happened is that a January 15 closing date was announced, and the date was later extended to February 19.
In today's New York Times, there's a round-up by Ben Brantley of the current London theatre scene, focusing mainly on the Christmas pantomimes but also discussing some other productions. (The full article is at http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/01/th...es/01bran.html). The article describes Blithe Spirit as "one of those attractively and unimaginatively upholstered productions of brittle classics that become must-have middlebrow tickets every few years". I'd like to know how Mr. Brantley thinks the theatre would survive -- and how he would keep his job -- without the support of middlebrow theatregoers, but I suppose this isn't the appropriate place for that discussion.
In today's New York Times, there's a round-up by Ben Brantley of the current London theatre scene, focusing mainly on the Christmas pantomimes but also discussing some other productions. (The full article is at http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/01/th...es/01bran.html). The article describes Blithe Spirit as "one of those attractively and unimaginatively upholstered productions of brittle classics that become must-have middlebrow tickets every few years". I'd like to know how Mr. Brantley thinks the theatre would survive -- and how he would keep his job -- without the support of middlebrow theatregoers, but I suppose this isn't the appropriate place for that discussion.
Jan 1st, 2005, 11:43 AM
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Thank you for the wonderful comments & suggestions. As Oldie suggested, here's more on my theatre experience & tastes.
I live in Seattle which is a pretty good theatre town although obviously not as good as London or New York. There are 3 equity theatres that mainly focus on smaller, more contemporary plays (this year, for example, "Take Me Out" and "Anna & the Tropics" were playing this last fall) but also have Shakespeare & Noel Coward. I have season tickets to one of them, so I do see a great variety.
On the more delicate question of Mousetrap vs. Feston. Each has its place in my theatre viewing, but I would rather see something that has not yet been shown in Seattle.
Of the suggestions given in this thread, I'm leaning towards Feston, Fully Committed and Journey's End.
I have a question about Fully Committed -- what type of humor is it? I like black humor & satire & don't tend to like slapstick or farces.
On a totally different note, let's all be sure to donate to the various relief agencies.
I live in Seattle which is a pretty good theatre town although obviously not as good as London or New York. There are 3 equity theatres that mainly focus on smaller, more contemporary plays (this year, for example, "Take Me Out" and "Anna & the Tropics" were playing this last fall) but also have Shakespeare & Noel Coward. I have season tickets to one of them, so I do see a great variety.
On the more delicate question of Mousetrap vs. Feston. Each has its place in my theatre viewing, but I would rather see something that has not yet been shown in Seattle.
Of the suggestions given in this thread, I'm leaning towards Feston, Fully Committed and Journey's End.
I have a question about Fully Committed -- what type of humor is it? I like black humor & satire & don't tend to like slapstick or farces.
On a totally different note, let's all be sure to donate to the various relief agencies.
Jan 1st, 2005, 02:07 PM
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Fully committed is a one man show -- a sort of monologue in which a guy in the "basement" office of a trendy New York restaurant answers the phone. He becomes the voices of those calling as well as the chef, the owner, the busboy, and various other characters. With the right actor it is hilarious and impressive. Not much of a "play" really, but a great showcase for a talented actor.
Sunshine, I'd be interested in the names and/or websites of those Seattle theatres. I wonder if they'll be doing anything in July or like many regional theatres be dark during the summer.
I find it very difficult to find information about theatres in cities, other than the major theatre centers. Googling usually seems to dead end into a bunch of generic ticket ordering sites.
Sunshine, I'd be interested in the names and/or websites of those Seattle theatres. I wonder if they'll be doing anything in July or like many regional theatres be dark during the summer.
I find it very difficult to find information about theatres in cities, other than the major theatre centers. Googling usually seems to dead end into a bunch of generic ticket ordering sites.
Jan 1st, 2005, 07:39 PM
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Patrick,
I don't know of any web sites which are devoted to the Arts in Seattle.
I am providing the websites for each of the 5 big theatres & for the local newspapers.
Intiman & The Rep & ACT are the 3 places with the primary focus on contemporary plays.
www.intiman.org. The season is May-ish to November-ish.
www.seattlerep.org The season is October to May.
www.acttheatre.org The season is May to November. ACT's quality has varied a great deal recently. It's playing "The Woman in Black" right now, so I guess that's off my London list.
The 2 big places which show a variety of entertainment -- almost all of which originated elsewhere -- are The Paramount and The Fifth Avenue Theatre.
www.theparamount.com has everything from lectures by Spike Lee to The Lion King.
www.5thavenuetheatre.org Mostly musicals. Has less variety than the Paramount, but does have musicals which open here before they're on to Broadway (Hairspray opened here)
Then there are a number of smaller theatres which are much more adventurous. (The Moore is one) Some stay around & others come & go depending on the economy.
In Seattle the newspapers do a good job of covering theatre. They are the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (www.seattlepi.com)and the Seattle Times. (www.seattletimes.com)
I don't know of any web sites which are devoted to the Arts in Seattle.
I am providing the websites for each of the 5 big theatres & for the local newspapers.
Intiman & The Rep & ACT are the 3 places with the primary focus on contemporary plays.
www.intiman.org. The season is May-ish to November-ish.
www.seattlerep.org The season is October to May.
www.acttheatre.org The season is May to November. ACT's quality has varied a great deal recently. It's playing "The Woman in Black" right now, so I guess that's off my London list.
The 2 big places which show a variety of entertainment -- almost all of which originated elsewhere -- are The Paramount and The Fifth Avenue Theatre.
www.theparamount.com has everything from lectures by Spike Lee to The Lion King.
www.5thavenuetheatre.org Mostly musicals. Has less variety than the Paramount, but does have musicals which open here before they're on to Broadway (Hairspray opened here)
Then there are a number of smaller theatres which are much more adventurous. (The Moore is one) Some stay around & others come & go depending on the economy.
In Seattle the newspapers do a good job of covering theatre. They are the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (www.seattlepi.com)and the Seattle Times. (www.seattletimes.com)
Jan 2nd, 2005, 03:52 AM
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If you're interested in dancing, Billy Elliot is supposed to be coming out soon after the New Year. Don't know if it would be morphed from screen version into a musical, assume not, with Irish Dancing and themes of strikes, poor people struggling to achieve, child of promise managing to spring up in rocky soil of uncultured family, etc. The movie was great and can't wait til next theater trip to London so we can see BE.
Jan 2nd, 2005, 04:38 AM
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Thanks, sunshine. It isn't easy to get Seattle papers in Naples, Florida.
And despite newspapers on the internet, mostly you can't find anything about theatre listings unless it is "what's happening this week", making advance planning difficult or impossible.
I'll be checking out these sites -- thanks for going to all that trouble.
And despite newspapers on the internet, mostly you can't find anything about theatre listings unless it is "what's happening this week", making advance planning difficult or impossible.
I'll be checking out these sites -- thanks for going to all that trouble.
Jan 2nd, 2005, 05:58 PM
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I have a related question. I'll be going to London in March. How does the last-minute tkts booth work there? I know at the TKTS booth in NY one can wait in line for hours to get tickets, and with only three days in London, I won't do that. Where are the locations, and do they involve a long wait? Thanks.
Jan 2nd, 2005, 06:10 PM
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Don't be fooled by the various discount booths scattered around Leicester Square. The REAL DEAL is the TKTS booth which is a freestanding building withing the sounth end of the actual "park" at Leicester Square. I have bought tickets many many times there and have never, ever stood in line more than 20 minutes. It is very organized and unlike New York, they only sell the top priced seats (meaning you always get good seats, although sometimes they may be first row -- ask if they can avoid that and they usually will). They are sold at half price plus a small handling fee and you can get tickets there for both matinee and evening performances on the same day. Be aware that the lines going off in opposite directions are because one is for matinee tickets and one is for evening. Although I have often gotten both at one window when I've asked politely. You can even charge tickets on a credit card there now.
For reviews go to www.albemarle-london.com and there will be many excerpts. www.theatremonkey.com is another good site, particularly for telling what seats are good and for giving honest opinions about the show.
www.officiallondontheatre.com will have a link over in the right hand column for TKTS which shows you what shows are available that day and at what price.
For reviews go to www.albemarle-london.com and there will be many excerpts. www.theatremonkey.com is another good site, particularly for telling what seats are good and for giving honest opinions about the show.
www.officiallondontheatre.com will have a link over in the right hand column for TKTS which shows you what shows are available that day and at what price.
