Julian at the National - Landscape with Weapon

[LinkaNeo]

we really should play GuyBall!! that would be grand... and you never know, JRT may spot us playing it and come over for a quick game!! one can dream...

Haha. We can dream. We can. It would be so fabulous.
*ten minutes later, back in reality*

Yes. B, sounds cool. If you can go maybe we couldmeet up or something? I'm a bit doubtful of my travel methods but doubting trains i might be able to get a bus or something. It'd be extremely cool =) Let's play Guyball! lololol.

[Baggiebird]

Hey guys I hope you manage to get this sorted out

[LinkaNeo]

*fingers crossed*

[chatterbox]

Just got back from the preview performance........... Thought I would just give you my first thoughts, although I don't want to say anything which will give too much away.

Red trainers and fraise blonde hair both present and correct tonight. The theatre is very intimate, with just 300ish seats, and they were mainly arranged either side of a central stage so that no-one was more than about 15 rows from the action. We were in the second row, so no more than 6 ft from the actors for a lot of the time.

The play is very intense and quite dark, with lots of dialogue, but is also very witty, particularly the first half. All the actors put in very energetic and gripping performances. The playwright, Joe Penhall was sitting opposite us, and he looked like he was enjoying it as well, even though he was literally on the edge of his seat most of the time.

Tom Hollander was very good as the designer, and Julian is brilliant as his brother, debating the rights and wrongs of dealing with the arms industry with plenty of panache. I should also point out that Julian's character has plenty of moral ambiguity of his own!

Five stars from me - I had a great time, and am thinking that maybe five weeks is too long to wait before I go again!

[Jools]

Aww that's brilliant, sounds like bank Holiday weekend is going to be great - not least for Julian's return to gingerness and getting to see chums again

[Rosie]

Thanks for the early review, Chats. Play sounds interesting as does the hair! I'm relieved that you've used the words 'witty' and 'energetic' in there, I was worried it might be a bit talking-heads type stuff.

How was Pippa?

Only 11 days til I go now!

[chatterbox]

Quite right Rosie, I forgot to mention Pippa. She plays a pretty ruthless business woman, persuading Tom Hollander's character to take the deal. Lots of witty lines, but brisk, businesslike and scary. She was very good, and gave the play a lot of pace.

I should also mention the final actor whilst I'm about it - Jason Watkins. Very effective soft spoken, smiling but very nasty as well, without being a caricature baddie.

I was very impressed with everyone involved, and the whole audience did seem to be gripped by it all.

[ch1ch1]

chatterbox wrote:

Red trainers and fraise blonde hair both present and correct tonight. The theatre is very intimate, with just 300ish seats, and they were mainly arranged either side of a central stage so that no-one was more than about 15 rows from the action. We were in the second row, so no more than 6 ft from the actors for a lot of the time.

Hooray! Thanks for the review. Glad to hear the lion's mane is back in full fraise-blond effect (and that you had a great time!). All of a sudden the 5th of May seems like a lifetime away!

[Spitting Bunny]

I saw it last night as well and agree with everything Chatterbox said. And to be so close to the actors for a couple of hours was enthralling. Came away feeling quite tired from the intensity but uplifted none the less. Some very witty moments. I'm almost afraid to talk it up too much for fear of someone not enjoying it but I am very happy to be going again (and again??)


Don't get your hopes up too high about the fraise blonde - it has been returned from a bottle and is not quite back to its full glory, (in my humble opinion) but should be shortly!

[faeriequeen]

Thanks for your reviews Chats and SB! I'm even more excited now! *bounces*

[ducatilady]

Its great to hear that you both enjoyed it so much, mind you , how could it be less than perfect with such great actors in it?
Wonderful news about the return of fraise blondeness, and red trainers too!!! Can't wait to see it now!

[f_d_p]

You've gotta love those red trainers!

I've always liked when Jason Watkins plays serious characters. He was in that BBC1 drama "Five Days" about a month ago - very good in that.

Thanks for those reviews chatterbox and SB! Glad you enjoyed it. I can't wait to see it...only a couple of hours to go!

[goshandcrikey]

so glad you all enjoyed it so much can't wait til ar. 24th had to crack a nd get earlier tickets than 16 may!!! what row where you in how close am I in row F?

[chatterbox]

Row F was the second row back

[LinkaNeo]

Thanks for that great preview review! Helps a lot. Aw man. I need to go and see it now. I gotta be right up close too. aaaahhhhh.
Hurrah for the return of the fraise-blonde! yummy =D

[Baggiebird]

so glad you all enjoyed it so much can't wait til ar. 24th had to crack a nd get earlier tickets than 16 may!!! what row where you in how close am I in row F?

You know if row F is the 2nd row back, we should be on the fisrt row then with tickets in row E.. Huzzaah that's what I call a result

Ducatilady what seat numbers are you for te 24th April? Me and Goshandcrikey are seats 25 &26 row E Hopefully we will be somewhere near you

[f_d_p]

I saw it last night and was in the second row...it is a brilliant play. The actors all portray their characters brilliantly and I agree with chatterbox in that Julian's character has plenty of moral ambiguity. I've never seen Julian act like that before, I was extremely impressed.
Tom Hollander gave a fantastic performance as the designer, and there were some very witty lines from Jason Watkins. Pippa is equally great aswell.

Afterwards we went to the stage door, and met Pippa first. We were the only people outside at that point, and she said she was quite tired, but really enjoying it. Julian then came out, looking lovely (as ever) and seemed to be very flattered when we told him what we thought. Then he turned and waved to us as he went round the corner! That was the best (and longest) meeting with Julian I've ever had. Tom Hollander was lovely and asked us question about the relationships between the characters and the meanings of the issues covered in the play aswell. He said he just needed different opinions because it's only just started...I am still on a high from both the play and speaking to them for quite a time! It was fantastic.

They all signed our programmes. Sadly Jason had gone a different way but Tom Hollander told us to come again...I will definately be taking his advice!

Five stars from me aswell!

[chatterbox]

Glad you enjoyed it as well... and had such a good chat with the cast afterwards. Very jealous!!

[ducatilady]

Baggie...we are in F 28/29...so within spitting distance of you!

[faeriequeen]

I saw it last night and was in the second row...it is a brilliant play. The actors all portray their characters brilliantly and I agree with chatterbox in that Julian's character has plenty of moral ambiguity. I've never seen Julian act like that before, I was extremely impressed.
Tom Hollander gave a fantastic performance as the designer, and there were some very witty lines from Jason Watkins. Pippa is equally great aswell.

Afterwards we went to the stage door, and met Pippa first. We were the only people outside at that point, and she said she was quite tired, but really enjoying it. Julian then came out, looking lovely (as ever) and seemed to be very flattered when we told him what we thought. Then he turned and waved to us as he went round the corner! That was the best (and longest) meeting with Julian I've ever had. Tom Hollander was lovely and asked us question about the relationships between the characters and the meanings of the issues covered in the play aswell. He said he just needed different opinions because it's only just started...I am still on a high from both the play and speaking to them for quite a time! It was fantastic.

They all signed our programmes. Sadly Jason had gone a different way but Tom Hollander told us to come again...I will definately be taking his advice!

Five stars from me aswell!

Ahh your story makes me feel a lot better about stage-door lurking now...so excited! And Tom sounds lovely as well! *squee*

How long did you have to wait before they came out?