Theatre Productions

General_OurumovGeneral_Ourumov United KingdomPosts: 861MI6 Agent
Well, thought I'd create a thread for anyone to post in about theatre related discussions, or about any productions they've appeared in or seen recently.

Just earlier today, I went to see "The Importance of Being Earnest" at the Theatre Royal in Bristol. All of the roles were played by male actors, and the entires set was pink, as were most of the costumes. Overall it was very good, a brilliant performance, and the cast were mostly superb (though I really don't agree with men playing the roles of Gwendolen and Cecily). The finest performance was from Michael Fitzgerald, who played Lady Bracknell - very, very funny.

If you live in the Bristol area, I highly recommend it!

It's also showing at the Bristol Old Vic.

Comments

  • Jedi MasterJedi Master UKPosts: 1,093MI6 Agent
    Aah yes we had to study that in year 8, a great, old fashioned comedy! Can't beat 'em really!

    I went to see something called Hymns last night. Also overly very good, though quite buizar! It was about four best mates (all men) and their fifth mate's funeral. Nothing more, nothing less. It was all physical stuff and quite strange at times! Some very funny jokes though:

    What do you get if you clone a dyslexic insomniac with an agnostic?

    Someone who lies awake all night wondering if there's a dog.
    Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice and everyone dies.
  • i expect u2 diei expect u2 die LondonPosts: 583MI6 Agent
    edited October 2005
    I was just about to make a theatre thread!

    I have only just aquainted myself properly with the theatre (I always thought of it as a boring hassle compared to the cinema), and I found it to be so much more rewarding. Watching the actors on stage is amazing, and seeing an incredible stunt on stage is unmatched by even the biggest of explosions on-screen.

    I have recently seen two plays: 'East is East' at the York Royale theatre, and 'The History Boys' in Sheffield. 'East is East' was nothing special in terms of both acting and layout but was a fun experience and never boring. 'The History Boys' was a fantastic play about a Grammar School attended by hopeful oxbridge students. It contained some pretty adult themes, and was highly enjoyable and at times absolutely hilarious. The way that it switched between video footage and live acting was real innovation, and the set was amazing.

    Are there many theatre-goers in AJB?
  • General_OurumovGeneral_Ourumov United KingdomPosts: 861MI6 Agent
    edited April 2006
    My theatre company has produced a pantomime every January since 1946, so we're working on our sixtieth one at the moment, "Babes in the Wood" (basically Robin Hood). The competition is so fierce for parts, and some of the actors have even been on television and in films. One, notably, is Mark Seaman who appeared in "Human Traffic" and is a radio presenter, but a very good friend of mine nonetheless - always gets the role of the Dame, though he has bowed out this year. Auditions were tough but I won a role as one half of the comedy duo, so one of the few main parts and I'm absolutely thrilled. I appear in almost every scene and some of the things I get to take part in are fabulous.

    My two songs are slightly more embarrassing however; "Only Fools and Horses", and Michael Jackson's "Bad".
  • Jedi MasterJedi Master UKPosts: 1,093MI6 Agent
    Ha, sounds great! Well I'm in a local junior am. dram. society and our show goes up on Friday, it's called Honk! and it's the story of the ugly duckling. It's a great musical, really funny and not as childish as it sounds! Plus I'm playing the lead role, which is something I've never done before! In fact I'm just about to head off to the theatre to help with the get in and the dry tech tonight.

    (Get in/get In/v.& N. Theatrical term meaning the time in which the technical crew has to set up in the theatre)
    (Dry tech/draI tek/N. Theatrical term meaning a run through of a show with no acting in which lights are focused and lighting and sound cues are set)

    Just thought I'd help out anybody who's not a techie :D .
    Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice and everyone dies.
  • Sir MilesSir Miles The Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 26,417Chief of Staff
    Are there many theatre-goers in AJB?

    I go when I can, unfortunately it's not as often as I'd like - it does depend what's on though. The last production I saw was Arsenic And Old Lace, a great favourite of mine.
    Before that it was Round The Horne, based on the radio comedy series of the 1960's - due to see Round The Horne 2 in December.
    YNWA 97
  • Jedi MasterJedi Master UKPosts: 1,093MI6 Agent
    Has anybody seen anything by the Reduced Shakespeare Company? I went to see Hollywood and thought it was hilarious! I wanted to find another performance of theirs to go and see for my birthday but I couldn't, does anybody know of a website where I might find this sort of information in future?!
    Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice and everyone dies.
  • i expect u2 diei expect u2 die LondonPosts: 583MI6 Agent
    Has anybody seen anything by the Reduced Shakespeare Company? I went to see Hollywood and thought it was hilarious! I wanted to find another performance of theirs to go and see for my birthday but I couldn't, does anybody know of a website where I might find this sort of information in future?!

    I should hopefully be up to see them in newcastle soon for A Midsummer Night's Dream.

    I recently attended 1984 at the Hull Truck theatre. It was absolutely stunning.
  • General_OurumovGeneral_Ourumov United KingdomPosts: 861MI6 Agent
    edited December 2005
    A week ago yesterday I saw Checkhov's 'The Seagull' at the Bristol Old Vic. Had popular TV actors such as Peter Ellis and Simon Shepherd in it.Funny bits, and the play kept me moderately entertained throughout. But there were no standout performances and it failed to really captivate the audience.

    Yesterday I was in London with my girlfriend and we decided to watch 'Fame' in the Aldwych Theatre. It was more than worth the money. Fantastic from start to finish - really well paced. Spectacular dancers and choreography and memorable, warm performances from all of the cast. The whole audience were on their feet at the end singing and clapping and I've not heard an audience make so much noise for a while. Great, great show.
  • Jedi MasterJedi Master UKPosts: 1,093MI6 Agent

    I should hopefully be up to see them in newcastle soon for A Midsummer Night's Dream.

    I think you might be thinking of the other RSC, the Royal Shakespeare Company. The Reduced Company does spoofs such as "The Complete Works of Shakespeare, Abridged". I don't know if you simply misread that if you didn't know, but now you do anyway!
    Yesterday I was in London with my girlfriend and we decided to watch 'Fame' in the Aldwych Theatre.

    Wow, I'd love to be able to do that, just randomly go and see a show! It might have something to do with the fact that I haven't seen my girlfriend in 2 weeks and may not see her for another week! Ah well...
    Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice and everyone dies.
  • bobfagent 004bobfagent 004 Posts: 55MI6 Agent
    edited December 2005
    Most, if not all, of you know about "The Beverly Hillbillies", where I was the villian, Colonel Foxhall. I was also in "Grease", "Once on This Island" (Daniel's Father), "Once Upon a Matress" (2nd Knight), "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" (The Butler), "1776" (Charles Thompson), over the summer "King Henry IV, Part 1" (King Henry IV), and, most recently "While the Lights Were Out" (Tom Groggins). I'm currently 7-1 as "Loudest in the Cast" in my high school plays (7 consecutive times).

    I've seen "The Producers" recently, and found it hilarious. I strongly recommend it. The only problem is that LSD (this hippie dude from the movie) isn't in it.
  • General_OurumovGeneral_Ourumov United KingdomPosts: 861MI6 Agent
    edited April 2006
    The play I'm working on at the moment is John Patrick's The Curious Savage. Not a great fan of the play, but my part - Jeff - is interesting.

    Had another day trip to London yesterday, where we saw 'The Producers' at the Drury Lane Theatre. I'm not joking, it's the best show I've ever seen on stage. Fantastic; cast, dancers, sets, music, the lot - everyone enjoyed it. Extremely funny - particularly for someone like me who loved the 1968 film, and then went to see the musical remake in the cinemas earlier this year. Highly recommended.
  • Jedi MasterJedi Master UKPosts: 1,093MI6 Agent
    I'm going to see Les Miserables on the 1st of July, I can't wait! My friend was in it for a while, he isn't anymore though (I know thrilling stuff).

    Anyway I come seeking advice from people in the know about theatres! Basically I would like to get myself a summer job in one, any ideas how I should go about it?!
    Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice and everyone dies.
  • General_OurumovGeneral_Ourumov United KingdomPosts: 861MI6 Agent
    I saw, in mid November, The Lion King at the Lycium Theatre, London. Although this type of show isn't my favourite, it was really spectacular to watch - visually stunning, plus featured all of the classic songs from the film and more. It's worth the 50 quid, I'd say.

    The other play I saw was Christopher Marlowe's Dr. Faustus, which was on at the Bristol Old Vic. I love Marlowe and Shakespeare anyway - but what they did with this play was fantastic! They parodied Star Wars, Bond, Superman and Once Upon a Time in the West - some of my favourite films, and had great actors and sets. Great stuff.

    All I'm working on currently is a pantomime and a handful of semi-professional film projects. Nothing particularly special to report there.
  • Sir MilesSir Miles The Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 26,417Chief of Staff
    A few months ago I saw Steptoe & Son: In Murder At Oil Drum Lane - an update to the popular series.
    With both of the original lead actors having died some years previous and one of the original writers not wishing to participate, I was unsure of what to expect - I had no need to worry, this was a fabulous production from start to finish. Both actors invoked the characterisation of the original actors and the script was first class.
    The story follows the life of Harold and the ways in which his selfish father, Albert, has blighted his life - and the story follows both men to the grave. If this production ever comes to a theatre near you, don't hesitate - book it !
    YNWA 97
  • Lady RoseLady Rose London,UKPosts: 2,667MI6 Agent
    The last thing I saw was 'The Producers'. No big names but I loved it. I would even go as far as to say it is perhaps my favourite show. I thought it was fabulous and as I have never seen the film I could take it completely at face value.

    The other show I saw recently was The Blue Man Group. Another great show and totally entertaining. Cant really describe other than a mime, but it was very clever.

    I do have to say though, that one of my other favourites is The Rat Pack Live In Las Vegas. I have seen it 4 times and it never fails to make me feel good. I saw it twice whilst it was on the provincial circuit and twice after it made it to the West End. They will be doing the Christmas version now, which I haven't seen.

    As you can tell, I'm a sucker for a musical and rarely go to plays ( the last one of those I saw was His Dark Materials - cant think of what the attraction was there ;) )

    I think I will try to get to Phantom next ( still haven't seen that) and The Sound of Music.
    Living near to the West End is great but it always so expensive I dont go as often as I would like. :(

    Still, I'm going to a good old panto in a couple of weeks. Do they count? :))
  • General_OurumovGeneral_Ourumov United KingdomPosts: 861MI6 Agent
    Lady Rose wrote:
    Still, I'm going to a good old panto in a couple of weeks. Do they count? :))

    Oh yes they do! ;)
  • Lady RoseLady Rose London,UKPosts: 2,667MI6 Agent
    Lady Rose wrote:
    Still, I'm going to a good old panto in a couple of weeks. Do they count? :))

    Oh yes they do! ;)

    Oh no they dont!

    ( you knew I wouldn't be able to resist, didn't you ? :)) )
  • General_OurumovGeneral_Ourumov United KingdomPosts: 861MI6 Agent
    :)) Nothing like a pantomime to "remind us what's real".

    Though they're rather looked down on by professionals, I'll always be a pantomime fan - the only show in which you can improvise your lines, make mistakes, and rip off other artists without the threat of legal action!
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