Theatre Productions Meme

[Queen Mab]

This was stolen from one of our member's Livejournal, but I dont think she'll mind!

(If you've never done a meme before, it's basically just a quick bunch of questions and you answer them).

List the last 10 things you saw at the theatre, in order you first saw them (i.e. dont count repeat visits):

Who was the best performer in number one?

Why did you go to see number two?

Can you remember a line/lyric from number three that you liked?

What would you give number four out of ten?

Was there someone hot in number five?

What was number six about?

Who was your favourite actor in number seven?

What was your favourite bit in number eight?

Would you see number nine again?

What was the worst thing about number ten?

Which was best?

Which was worst?

Did any make you cry?

Did any make you laugh?

Which roles would you like to play in any of them?

Which one did you have best seats for?

[danielwhit]

Oo.. I'm going to have to think about what the last ten trips have been!

[Rob]

List the last 10 things you saw at the theatre, in order you first saw them (i.e. dont count repeat visits):

1. The Beauty Queen of Leenane (Young Vic)
2. Henry IV (both parts, Globe)
3. A Midsummer Night's Dream (Globe on tour)
4. Earthquakes in London (NT)
5. Billy Elliot (West End)
6. The Prince of Homburg (Donmar)
7. Deathtrap (West End)
8. As You Like It (RSC)
9. Shirley Valentine (West End)
10. Educating Rita (West End)

Yes, I know the Henrys are two plays but I'm thinking of them as one for the purposes of these questions.

Who was the best performer in number one?
They were all good but Susan Lynch had the most complex role and played it perfectly.

Why did you go to see number two?
'cos it was Henry IV at the Globe with Roger Allam, Jamie Parker, William Gaunt... need I go on?

Can you remember a line/lyric from number three that you liked?
It's Shakespeare, there were loads! "Show me thy chink" certainly took on something of a new meaning for me in this production, though.

What would you give number four out of ten?
Eight.

Was there someone hot in number five?
Not especially... Craig Gallivan's not exactly ugly, though. And I'm assuming West End musical choruses don't count, otherwise there'd be hundreds!

What was number six about?
Popular guy in the army gets executed for day-dreaming and generally being a bit of a prat. Baddie from Star Wars snarls a lot. Not sure, really.

Who was your favourite actor in number seven?
Simon Russell Beale.

What was your favourite bit in number eight?
Any time Forbes Masson was on stage.

Would you see number nine again?
I would, but I won't, if you see what I mean.

What was the worst thing about number ten?
Nothing much, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Which was best?
Numbers two or three... number two was just incredible but in terms of pure fun it would have to be number three.

Which was worst?
Six...zzzzzzzzzzzzz

Did any make you cry?
Number nine came very close, right at the end. I came quite close in numbers four and five, too.

Did any make you laugh?
Most of them at some point - in fact all but number six, I think.

Which roles would you like to play in any of them?
If I had any acting ability whatsoever, I suppose I might be right for Falstaff's pageboy in number two... but I don't. Disregarding any kind of suitability for the role I'd love to play Falstaff or Shallow in number two, Sidney Bruhl in number seven, Frank in number ten or (really pushing it here, as a 20-year-old man) Shirley in number nine.

Which one did you have best seats for?
Number two - pretty much perfect. First time I've ever had seats at the Globe, I think, and the view from the middle gallery wasn't nearly as distant as I thought it was going to be, in fact it still felt very close. I moved to some unfilled premium stalls seats for the second half of number eight, and they were pretty damn good too.

[Titania]

Last ten productions:

1. A Winter's Tale RSC
2. Henry IV Part II - The Globe
3. Merry Wives of Windsor - The Globe
4. A Midsummer Night's Dream - The Globe on Tour
5. Danton's Death - NT
6. Earthquakes in London - NT
7. After the Dance - NT
8. Legally Blonde
9. Comedy of Errors - The Globe on Tour
10. Lingua Franca - The Finborough

Who was the best performer in number one?
Kelly Hunter - anyone who can stand still like that for Hermione deserves high praise.

Why did you go to see number two?
Shakespeare...The Globe...it's a no brainer isn't it.

Can you remember a line/lyric from number three that you liked?
"the world's mine oyster"

What would you give number four out of ten?
7.5

Was there someone hot in number five?
Not especially although many Toby Stephens fans would disagree.

What was number six about?
Climate change on the surface. Probably much deeper messages if you delve into it further.

Who was your favourite actor in number seven?
I can't distinguish between Nancy Carroll, Benedict Cumberbatch and Adrian Scarborough.

What was your favourite bit in number eight?
Ummm.

Would you see number nine again?
Yes

What was the worst thing about number ten?
The heat. The hottest auditorium in the UK on a hot day with no air con.

Which was best?
After the Dance

Which was worst?
Danton's Death

Did any make you cry?
After the Dance

Did any make you laugh?
A Comedy of Errors made me roar.

Which roles would you like to play in any of them?
None. Going on stage gives me the fear.

Which one did you have best seats for?
After the Dance I think. Dead centre row B for a tenner.

[Fluellen]

I love this meme and do it too much. XD I usually do most-recent to less-recent, but I shall reverse it for the purpose of the meme to shake up my answers a bit. And I'm including my repeat trips even though it says not to, 'cos I get something new out of every subsequent trip to a play, and it's not like including my repeat trips is going to see me talking about the same play or two for the ENTIRE MEME.

List the last 10 things you saw at the theatre:
1. Danton's Death (National; Olivier)
2. The Merry Wives of Windsor (Shakespeare's Globe)
3. King Lear (Courtyard)
4. Romeo and Juliet (Courtyard)
5. Henry IV Parts 1 & 2 (Shakespeare's Globe)
6. Clybourne Park (Royal Court)
7. As You Like It (Courtyard)
8. Into the Woods (Open Air Theatre)
9. The Prince of Homburg (Donmar Warehouse)
10. The Comedy of Errors (Shakespeare's Globe)

Who was the best performer in number one (Danton's Death)?
Oh... erm... that man. Barnaby Kay. I guess.

Why did you go to see number two (Merry Wives)?
Dad wanted to go see it 'cos he likes the Globe and we know someone in the cast.

Can you remember a line/lyric from number three (King Lear) that you liked?
"Hold your hand, my lord:
I have served you ever since I was a child;
But better service have I never done you
Than now to bid you hold."
Wow, it's VERY RARE that I actually manage to come up with a real answer for this question! XD

What would you give number four (Romeo and Juliet) out of ten?
I'm going the whole hog! I'm giving it a 10! It's easily the best production of anything I've seen all year, and there's no point having "10" as an option if you're not going to dish it out once in a while.

Was there someone hot in number five (Henry IV 1&2)?
Yes. Oh, what, you want details? I may or may not have an extreme soft spot for The Douglas at this moment in time. Yes, I have specified the character rather than the actor. Probably best not to push this one.

What was number six (Clybourne Park) about?
Racism. Basically. (Brilliant! Usually I find myself trying to explain something like Arcadia for this one! XD)

Who was your favourite actor in number seven (As You Like It)?
I am absolutely wholly in love with Katy Stephens's Rosalind, and don't especially care who knows it. Also props for Forbes Masson for being the best Jaques I've seen in a while!

What was your favourite bit in number eight (Into the Woods)?
OMG THE GIANT! *BRILLIANTLY* DONE! It was an amazing production all round, peeps! :3

Would you see number nine (Prince of Homburg) again?
Not that production, but I'd like to see it with the *real* ending some time.

What was the worst thing about number ten (Comedy of Errors)?
I can suspend my disbelief when it comes to musicals. I can suspend my disbelief when it comes to colour-blind casting. I can suspend my disbelief for nearly EVERYTHING in the theatre. But I *still* can't quite cope with identical twins with identical names. It took me most of the first half to come up with an explanation that made sense for me. XD

Which was best?
Easily Romeo and Juliet, but Into the Woods, the Henry IVs, and I suppose Clybourne Park were excellent as well.

Which was worst?
It has to be Danton's Death. I enjoyed it well enough, but everything else on the list was brilliant, so it does let the side down a little.

Did any make you cry?
Into the Woods. King Lear.

Did any make you laugh?
Merry Wives, Romeo and Juliet, the Henry IVs, As You Like It, Into the Woods, and Comedy of Errors. I really don't know if I was laughing or cringing at Clybourne Park.

Which roles would you like to play in any of them?
Regan in Lear, Mercutio, Juliet, Romeo, or Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet, ABSOLUTELY ANY DAMN PART WHATSOEVER in the Henry IVs, any of the female roles or maybe Amiens or Jaques in As You Like It, the Baker's Wife or perhaps Cinderella in Into the Woods, and Adriana or Luciana in Comedy of Errors. That's quite a list!

Which one did you have best seats for?
Clybourne Park. Row F in the stalls, made all the sweeter by a Twitter offer that got me a £25 seat for a fiver. :3

[Lorannah]

Oooh. Interesting meme. Hopefully I should have a bit more time for the board now the Grand Tour has all but finished. Anyway have cheated a bit on this, have included shows I saw more than once, but this way was easier to answer and takes me almost to the start of August.

1. As You Like It - Courtyard Theatre
2. Comedy of Errors - Courtyard Theatre
3. Hair - Gielgud Theatre
4. Ghost Stories - Duke of York
5. Anne Boleyn - The Globe
6. Morte D’Arthur - Courtyard Theatre
7. The Tempest - Old Vic
8. Wicked - Apollo Victoria
9. As You Like It – Old Vic
10. La Bete - Comedy Theatre


Who was the best performer in number one?
Hmmm.... difficult, lots of great performances. But really it’s got to be Katy Stephens, she’s absolutely stunning – vivacious, clever, heartbreaking – a lovely mix. And totally brings out what I love about Rosalind.

Why did you go to see number two?
Bit of a cheat really as I’d seen it before, but mostly I wanted to go back because a) I wanted my Mum to see it,
I think it’s a great piece for someone who likes Shakespeare but isn’t crazy about them and b) I don’t remember the last time I laughed so much in a theatre (cathedrals are another matter) and laughing is good.

Can you remember a line/lyric from number three that you liked?
Too too many. Though my favourite rhyme is definitely “I’m feeling rather attractive, now that I’m radioactive.” “I’ve got to get out and start Liverpooling it up,” shall be loved and used in the future, not to mention “I was meditating, I went so deep inside myself I tidied my room”. Plus “How are you not listed as a lead in this show” / “Oh, a political statement from Hubert” goes down as one of my favourite ad libs ever.

What would you give number four out of ten?
Probably six, I liked it but a lot of it was powered by shock value (which I like more in comedy than horror) and it didn’t particularly scare me.

Was there someone hot in number five?
A couple of people, though really it was all about Ben Deery – definitely caught my eye in both Henry VIII and this. He can come and be in the next ensemble, it would make me very happy. Also if I could be having a full play about James I now, I would be ecstatic.



What was number six about?
Life, the universe and everything. Or, you know, King Arthur and his Knights and something. Really though I think it was about how no matter how great our ideals and our dreams, our humanity will fail us in the end. And that our best parts are never far from our worst.

Who was your favourite actor in number seven?
Hmmm.... if this was As You Like It, Ed Bennett would have run away with this in a heartbeat but The Tempest is a bit more difficult, especially as Shakespeare gives Ferdinand very little to do. I’m tempted to say Ron Cephas Jones as Caliban as he was excellent in both Old Vic productions. But really I’ve got to go for Anthony O'Donnell as Trinculo. He was awesome and very funny, which given that I usually don’t like that role is great. He can also come and be in the next ensemble.

What was your favourite bit in number eight?
Errr... this is more difficult than I thought. My friends utterly overwhelmed reaction to the whole thing pretty much wins it. But for the production itself, I think it’s got to be “For Good” – beautiful song and often overlooked, I love it.

Would you see number nine again?
I think overall, no. There are things I loved about the production that I’d like to revisit, but I found Camargo’s performance of Orlando utterly enraging (I will resist going into length about why) and I generally don’t like coming away from the theatre angry.

What was the worst thing about number ten?
Honestly? My seats, very nose bleed inducing and I would have loved to have been closer to the action – otherwise though I don’t think there was anything bad. The performances were stella, it kept up a speedy pace, loved the set and costumes and Mark Rylance was incredible. Plus I love plays told in rhyme, so it was pretty much a match made in heaven.

Which was best?
Oh god. They were all excellent. Hair is probably the truest answer, as I loved it and the emotional journey it provoked a little more than is healthy. Otherwise Morte D’Arthur and Anne Boleyn both own little pieces of my soul.

Which was worst?
The Old Vic’s As You Like It – purely because of the rarrrr rage of Orlando. Though it was still good enough to tempt me back for The Tempest. Maybe Ghost Stories, it didn’t live up to the hype.

Did any make you cry?
Hair repeatedly. Morte D’Arthur too, every time I saw it. And the Tempest, but the play always makes me cry so not sure that’s down to the production. Generally I’m a light touch when it comes to crying.

Did any make you laugh?
Most of them, at some point or another. But I guess, after Comedy of Errors, La Bete would win that one. Or Hair, it’s always Hair.

Which roles would you like to play in any of them?
I think playing the Princess in La Bete would be fun, or I like most of the female roles in Comedy of Errors. And I’d love to have the singing range to play Glinda in Wicked.

Which one did you have best seats for?
Not La Bete, obviously. Hair was second row which was awesome. But I’m going to go for Anne Boleyn where I didn’t have a seat at all. I stood in just the right place though. I got hit! In the face! With Anne Boleyn’s dress! By James I! It was AWESOME!

[Fluellen]

Ben Deery is freakin' GORGEOUS. And that's... pretty much all I have to say on the subject. ;D

[Queen Mab]

List the last 10 things you saw at the theatre, in order that you first saw them (i.e. don't count repeat visits):
1. As You Like It (Old Vic)
2. Morte d'Arthur (RSC)
3. Bingo: Scenes of Money and Death (Chichester)
4. Romeo and Juliet (RSC)
5. Twelfth Night (RSC)
6. La Cage aux Folles (Playhouse)
7. The Drunks (RSC)
8. Quadrophenia (tour)
9. Winter's Tale (RSC)
10. As You Like It (RSC)

Who was the best performer in number one?
Probably Thomas Sadoski; I loved his take on Touchstone, and he truly made me believe that he loved Audrey.

Why did you go to see number two?
It's the RSC. Duh. My favourite ensemble members were in it (O'Neill, Katz, Dwyfor, Masson), so it was a no brainer really. Plus there were kinky boots and sword fights and what's not to love?

Can you remember a line/lyric from number three that you liked?
Not specifically, but the one that sticks in my brain (cause it was bizarre) is "Israel! Israel! Israel!" I liked a lot of Richard McCabe's (Ben Johnson) lines, but I can't recall them now!

What would you give number four out of ten?
Shjrhuerhgr 9.5/10! It loses 0.5 because of Lady Capulet's bizarre mini marathon, and cause I don't feel I can really give a play 10/10.

Was there someone hot in number five?
Sadly no, only the adorable Sam Alexander.

What was number six about?
La Cage aux Folles is about a drag club owner, Georges, and his partner (and head drag queen) Albin. Oh, and John Barrowman being hilarious.

Who was your favourite actor in number seven?
Jonjo O'Neill, his Ilya was harrowing and beautiful and funny. Also very much enjoyed Richard Katz's Sergey.

What was your favourite bit in number eight?
Sydney Rae White's version of Love Reign O'er Me.

Would you see number nine again?
Possibly not this production, but definitely the play.

What was the worst thing about number ten?
That it finished.

Which was best?
Romeo and Juliet, The Drunks very close second.

Which was worst?
Bingo. It was good and everything, but it wasn't great.

Did any make you cry?
The Drunks, As You Like It (RSC) and Romeo and Juliet made me cry with laughter, if that counts.

Did any make you laugh?
All of them, at various points.

Which roles would you like to play in any of them?
Juliet, obviously. Phebe, Audrey or Rosalind in AYLI, Anne in La Cage aux Folles (it'd be SO MUCH FUN), Kostya in The Drunks (though this production plays her as a post-op transexual... not sure if I'd like that haha).

Which one did you have best seats for?
La Cage aux Folles, natch. John Barrowman sang to me and kissed my hand.

[Lorannah]

Sept 6, 2010 21:51:25 GMT Fluellen said:

Ben Deery is freakin' GORGEOUS. And that's... pretty much all I have to say on the subject. ;D

Hee hee hee! I am glad I as not the only one stricken. Also I am most upset that he is doing two of my favourite roles next (Benvolio and Jack Worthing in Importance of Being Earnest) and for a variety of reasons I can't get to Edinburgh to see them.

[Rob]

I remember thinking how good-looking Ben Deery is/was a couple of years ago in La Cage aux Folles - it was just as well, really, since he was playing one of the most annoying characters of all time (Jean-Michele). He did a pretty good job with that in mind, though. Didn't realise he was in the Globe season - I had no particular interest in seeing Henry VIII but would have liked to see Anne Boleyn.

[shelikeswaves]

1. Anne Boleyn (Globe)
2. Danton's Death (NT Olivier)
3. After The Dance (NT Lyttleton)
4. As You Like It (RSC)
5. The Habit Of Art (NT Lyttleton)
6. Earthquakes In London (NT Cottesloe)
7. The Railway Children (Waterloo Station)
8. King Lear (RSC)
9. Romeo & Juliet (RSC)
10. Morte D'Arthur (RSC)

Who was the best performer in number one?
I thought James Garnon as James I was fantastic, but I'm such a Thomas Cromwell fangirl (thank you, Wolf Hall) that I can't say anything other than John Dougall.

Why did you go to see number two?
Love Toby Stephens, love French revolutionary shenanigans. I was actually slightly underwhelmed by DD, it didn't really click for me. Christopher Oram's design was beautiful, though.

Can you remember a line/lyric from number three that you liked?
The recurring use of "Avalon" was pretty gutting, ow my heart etc

What would you give number four out of ten?
Nine

Was there someone hot in number five?
... Not really. I do have lots of love for Malcolm Sinclair, though, he's brilliant.

What was number six about?
Global Warming Is Bad, in case you weren't aware. There was also some interesting stuff about dysfunctional families, how we treat pregnant women, bored young people - shame the play kind of went off the rails at the end.

Who was your favourite actor in number seven?
Marshall Lancaster as Perks. Made me cry, he did.

What was your favourite bit in number eight?
I thought the stuff with Edgar and the blinded Gloucester were fantastic, just pitch-perfect.

Would you see number nine again?
My Roundhouse tickets say 'aye'.

What was the worst thing about number ten?
Ooh, that's hard, I really liked it! It might just have been my dodgy gallery seat, but the shadowplay stuff didn't work so well for me.

Which was best?
I have so much love for this production of R&J, but After The Dance was something very special. OH THIRTIES REPRESSION, SIGH. And I was really delighted with Anne Boleyn.

Which was worst?
Danton's Death was somewhat disappointing, but I found Earthquakes In London ultimately a bit laughable, and far less powerful than it thought it was, so.

Did any make you cry?
Gah, The Railway Children.

Did any make you laugh?
Actually, all of them did.

Which roles would you like to play in any of them?
Anne Boleyn, Joan in After The Dance, Rosalind, Bobbie in The Railway Children, Goneril, Juliet.

Which one did you have best seats for?
R&J - first time in the ~super seats~! Also I got a little bit flappyhands becuse Ruth Wilson was two rows in front of me and I am horribly in love with her.

[Lorannah]

Sept 7, 2010 10:43:44 GMT shelikeswaves said:

I thought James Garnon as James I was fantastic, but I'm such a Thomas Cromwell fangirl (thank you, Wolf Hall) that I can't say anything other than John Dougall.

I loved James Garnon. Even though I was loving the Tudor stuff, I kept longing for the story to go back to his James. Also I have just stolen borrowed a copy of Wolf Hall that a student left at work.

[shelikeswaves]

Sept 8, 2010 14:51:27 GMT Lorannah said:

I loved James Garnon. Even though I was loving the Tudor stuff, I kept longing for the story to go back to his James. Also I have just stolen borrowed a copy of Wolf Hall that a student left at work.

Ach, he was fantastic; I really loved his chemistry with Ben Deery. The opening of Act Two killed me dead - it was as if Howard Brenton saw into my soul and realised the only thing that would make me love the play more was CROSS-DRESSING.

(Ahhh, Wolf Hall! It's completely amazing, as is the Dan Stevens audiobook)

[Lorannah]

Sept 10, 2010 13:08:29 GMT shelikeswaves said:

Ach, he was fantastic; I really loved his chemistry with Ben Deery. The opening of Act Two killed me dead - it was as if Howard Brenton saw into my soul and realised the only thing that would make me love the play more was CROSS-DRESSING.

(Ahhh, Wolf Hall! It's completely amazing, as is the Dan Stevens audiobook)

Cross-dressing and dancing! My glee may have been uncontained. And although all of Shakespeare's awesome cross-dressing ladies fill my heart with joy, their need to be more cross-dressing men.

[Fluellen]

Speaking of The Lovely Dan Stevens and the Wolf Hall audiobook, he'd REALLY like you to vote for it on this site: www.audiobooks.co.uk/vote2010/