Monday 12 March 2018

Last 10 things seen at the theatre: #120

24th February to 10th March.


List the last 10 things you saw at the theatre in order:
1. Network (National; Lyttelton)
2. Angry (Southwark Playhouse)
3. Macbeth (Tobacco Factory)
4. Dry Powder (Hampstead)
5. Summer and Smoke (Almeida)
6. SOMNAI (dotdotdot)
7. Girls and Boys (Royal Court)
8. Barnum (Menier Chocolate Factory)
9. Othello (Unicorn)
10. Picnic at Hanging Rock (Barbican)

Who was the best performer in number one (Network)?
Well of course it was Bryan Cranston, how could it not be? Shout out to the woman next to me who clearly wanted to give a standing ovation but equally clearly didn't want to stand if she was going to be the only one. Happy to be of assistance. ;)

Why did you go to see number two (Angry)?
I am a sucker for a Philip Ridley play. I am a sucker for ALL Philip Ridley plays.

Can you remember a line/lyric from number three (Macbeth) that you liked?
No, but only because some of the best bits were the witches delivering half of their lines in Gaelic, a language with which I am hilariously unfamiliar.

What would you give number four (Dry Powder) out of ten?
A reasonably apathetic 6. It was more enjoyable than other sharp-suits talking-money plays I've seen but it still came as a genuine shock when it was nominated for the Best New Comedy Olivier award.

Was there someone hot in number five (Summer and Smoke)?
There almost certainly was, but I honestly only had eyes for Future Dame Patsy Ferran.

What was number six (SOMNAI) about?
Flying with geese and wearing socks. I REALLY liked the socks.

Who was your favourite actor in number seven (Girls and Boys)?
............... Carey Mulligan.

What was your favourite bit in number eight (Barnum)?
I liked the bit where I was given a mint humbug to eat. The ensemble were also unbelievably talented, every last one of them.

Would you see number nine (Othello) again?
No thank you. I mean, I'll see other Othellos, but this one was not an essential contribution to the oeuvre.

What was the worst thing about number ten (Picnic at Hanging Rock)?
I would have liked to have been sitting nearer the front, but it was an all-female cast, it was eerie AF, and it was even shorter than the promised 85 minute running time. What's not to love?

Which was best?
Oh, Summer and Smoke, hands down. There are some damn good productions on this list but only one true winner.

Which was worst?
Toss up between Dry Powder and Othello; neither was bad, per se, but they were notably not quite as good as the other eight.

Did any make you cry?
Summer and Smoke hurt me a lot. Angry had its moments too.

Did any make you laugh?
Summer and Smoke, Girls and Boys, and Barnum.

Which roles would you like to play in any of them?
It's show week, I currently can't imagine wanting to set foot on a stage in any show that's not the one I've been rehearsing three nights a week for the last few months.

Which one did you have best seats for?
Network, Angry, and Dry Powder.

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