RE: OT: "PHEDRE" National Theater now comes to NY Live seriesbroadcasting in NYC! and...

Re: RE: OT: "PHEDRE" National Theater now comes to NY Live seriesbroadcasting in NYC! and many other cities in the world

feeds@yuku.com (JasmineStill) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:49:27 GMT

Thanks, Eva.

Edited to say I wish I were seeing a Greek drama, actually. I'll have to make do with the scene where the verdict from the Oracle at Delphi is received.

Re: RE: OT: "PHEDRE" National Theater now comes to NY Live seriesbroadcasting in NYC! and many other cities in the world

feeds@yuku.com (Eva226) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:27:12 GMT

Yes, right.
The Hellenic Festival site is down for the time being; I will visit later and give you some hints.
E.xxx

Re: RE: OT: "PHEDRE" National Theater now comes to NY Live seriesbroadcasting in NYC! and many other cities in the world

feeds@yuku.com (JasmineStill) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:24:57 GMT

Yes, but I am not seeing Ancient Drama(!), so would like to be as near the front as possible (I realise that that is never going to be very close).

Re: RE: OT: "PHEDRE" National Theater now comes to NY Live seriesbroadcasting in NYC! and many other cities in the world

feeds@yuku.com (Eva226) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:16:36 GMT

My seat was at section E, lower tier, a few rows below the top.
But that is not my point. It's like that anywhere you seat at Epidavros. It's the essence of Ancient Drama.
ETA: the more expensive tickets are the centre, lower tier and maybe from then you can have a "closer" look. I have sat there once, but I can't remember many differences.
E.xxx

Re: RE: OT: "PHEDRE" National Theater now comes to NY Live seriesbroadcasting in NYC! and many other cities in the world

feeds@yuku.com (JasmineStill) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:05:59 GMT

I can't understand why Hytner they cast Stanley Townsend as Theseus. He's a really terrific actor, but he's not Theseus. Well, I haven't seen it yet, but I can't imagine him as Theseus.

Eva, where was your seat and was that the best you could do even by booking the first morning? Any tips on where to go for?

Re: RE: OT: "PHEDRE" National Theater now comes to NY Live seriesbroadcasting in NYC! and many other cities in the world

feeds@yuku.com (Eva226) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:02:48 GMT

but you watched it LIVE and in person
I know the difference Evelyn and that is what I was trying to point out.
A soberer tone now, I must say that the actor playing Thesseus was physically very wrong. It's not a good thing to say, but it is the truth.
I agree with some of you that said Cooper's stiffness didn't convey his love for Aricia, but on the other hand it perfectly captured his contempt for Phaedra.
I am not sure the addition...

Re: RE: OT: "PHEDRE" National Theater now comes to NY Live seriesbroadcasting in NYC! and many other cities in the world

feeds@yuku.com (LuvDoggie) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:39:11 GMT

Eva - but you watched it LIVE and in person. Which does make it more personal than the film version. I can see what you mean that the "WORDS" are what is important in this play since it would be difficult see facial expressions from your vantage point. Anyway, theatre is to be "experienced" anyway, right?

Hughes's beautiful words!...

Re: RE: OT: "PHEDRE" National Theater now comes to NY Live seriesbroadcasting in NYC! and many other cities in the world

feeds@yuku.com (Eva226) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 12:13:02 GMT
It was a very good evening. Not too hot, not too chilly... the theatre was full and the audience crowned with Kings & Queens... or EX Kings and Queens, but that is irrelevant.
I didn't feel any particular excitement or anticipation, but the vibe was good. When Cooper & John Shrapnel started talking my first thought was "shout much? What were they talking about at the forum?". I could hardly hear them; in the theatre that has the best acoustics in the world!! I felt...

Re: RE: OT: "PHEDRE" National Theater now comes to NY Live seriesbroadcasting in NYC! and many other cities in the world

feeds@yuku.com (KatherineY) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 03:54:01 GMT

I just saw it
Yes shouting match! I agree with Nik, Problem is showing Live theater produciton to film and Live theater actors speak louder and when it showed in movie theater, sounds can be quite too loud and its 2 completely different medium theater and film! and Yes, there are many camera close-up which you never see in ther live theater, it has pros and cons of course.
I liked Hellen Mirran's performance, yes she was acting, but she is Actress and she showed many...

Re: RE: OT: "PHEDRE" National Theater now comes to NY Live seriesbroadcasting in NYC! and many other cities in the world

feeds@yuku.com (JaneVictor) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:09:49 GMT
Hi Alkioni & Eva - lucky you seeing the play at Epidaurus, & yes I hope you'll be able to hear every word - the acoustics there are naturally better than in the Lyttleton @ the NTh here - there are 'holes' in the acoustic reception in both this & the Olivier auditorium, ie depending which seat you're in. Marianne Elliott, the director of All's Well at the Olivier, acknowledged the fault at the Olivier the other day, & said they were 'working' on...

Re: RE: OT: "PHEDRE" National Theater now comes to NY Live seriesbroadcasting in NYC! and many other cities in the world

feeds@yuku.com (Eva226) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:53:24 GMT
I have not read a word of your reviews because I don't want to be biased but I get a negative feeling in the air...
A coin dropping can be heard in Epidavrous theatre everywhere so I am not really worried about how loud their voices will be (just a sentence I read here and there, not really know what I am talking about). Well, only one week to go..
E.xxx

Re: RE: OT: "PHEDRE" National Theater now comes to NY Live seriesbroadcasting in NYC! and many other cities in the world

feeds@yuku.com (Alkioni2) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:38:18 GMT
he said 'they' did sit in various parts to do that & there was no problem with this play. He suggested, in the most tactful way, that the man's hearing was not what it might have been, but I think unless there is sufficient voice projection then softer utterances do tend to be lost.

Hi Jane,

Thanks for telling us your opinion and observations about the play. I just wanted to comment on the above: if the actors voices cant be heard we have a problem,...

Re: RE: OT: "PHEDRE" National Theater now comes to NY Live seriesbroadcasting in NYC! and many other cities in the world

feeds@yuku.com (JaneVictor) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:28:34 GMT
Saw the theatre production at the NTh yesterday, then a 'Platform' interview with Nicholas Hytner. 'Shouting match' is to some extent an accurate description Nik, in my opinion, but the high decibels (even in the theatre!) contrasted with some very soft lines, which I couldn't always catch. Someone asked NH if the NTh tested whether actors could be heard well in all parts of the theatre - he said 'they' did sit in various parts to do that & there was no problem...

Re: RE: OT: "PHEDRE" National Theater now comes to NY Live seriesbroadcasting in NYC! and many other cities in the world

feeds@yuku.com (JasmineStill) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:19:05 GMT
Thanks for that, Katherine. It seems to be a good review, eventually, after the whinge!

Re: RE: OT: "PHEDRE" National Theater now comes to NY Live seriesbroadcasting in NYC! and many other cities in the world

feeds@yuku.com (KatherineY) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:16:01 GMT
Here is Today's NY TIMES review on Phedre broadcasting!

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/30/theater/30phedre.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper
Hope it works!

Best,
Katherine

Re: RE: OT: "PHEDRE" National Theater now comes to NY Live seriesbroadcasting in NYC! and many other cities in the world

feeds@yuku.com (KatherineY) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:24:41 GMT

Thank you Nik! SHOUTING MATCH I will report back after I seen it, July 6th!

Best,

Katheirne

Re: RE: OT: "PHEDRE" National Theater now comes to NY Live seriesbroadcasting in NYC! and many other cities in the world

feeds@yuku.com (JasmineStill) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:45:11 GMT
That seems to be the general view. Such a shame - he has been wonderful in other roles, like in Shining City - I remember Michael Gambon and Kenneth Cranham standing at the bar after that one saying to each other (jokily and knowing they would be overheard, not arrogantly): "Bloody good, that one". "Yeah, wasn't he? Better watch out, no more work for us." Mind you, neither of them is likely to be in line to...

Re: RE: OT: "PHEDRE" National Theater now comes to NY Live seriesbroadcasting in NYC! and many other cities in the world

feeds@yuku.com (Nikolenka) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:58:44 GMT
SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS

Sleep didn't change anything: I still think it was two hours of shouting. Of course, the sound was way too loud, it was a movie theatre after all, but in this production distress is measured in decibel. And then there was the camera which was quite revealing. Margaret Tyzack (indeed, there was something strange about her teeth, it was as if she wore another person's dentures) and John Shrapnel easily survived the close-ups - they were...

Re: RE: OT: "PHEDRE" National Theater now comes to NY Live seriesbroadcasting in NYC! and many other cities in the world

feeds@yuku.com (JasmineStill) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:20:49 GMT
Now you've seen it, do you want to read some punters' comments about it here? http://www.whatsonstage.c...showtopic=5718&st=40 Some rather mixed views. Mirren and Cooper seem to have come off rather badly compared with Tyzack and Shrapnel (though there's a suggestion that Tyzack was having some trouble with her teeth last night!)

Edited to say: Katherine, thank you very...

Re: RE: OT: "PHEDRE" National Theater now comes to NY Live seriesbroadcasting in NYC! and many other cities in the world

feeds@yuku.com (Nikolenka) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:37:06 GMT

I've just seen it - "shouting match" is the first thing that springs to my mind I better get some sleep before I mean anything about it.

RE: OT: "PHEDRE" National Theater now comes to NY Live seriesbroadcasting in NYC! and many other cities in the world

feeds@yuku.com (KatherineY) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 01:42:07 GMT
I just read NY Times article about National Theater production of "PHEDRE" with Helen Mirren playing title character will be broadcast live (It's the first in the company's NT Live series) and got the tickets!
It will be July 6th here in Lincoln Center Walter Read theater! It won't be same as seeing live in theater but its still exciting! Met Opera starte this format 3 years ago, and its quite effective!
This production will also go to Epidaurus as well!...