No Man's Land/Godot

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 10/26/13 at 7:04pm

Anyone going tonight? Let us know how it is!

And if anyone rushed this morning, please let us know what time you got there!

[willep]

Posted: 10/26/13 at 7:42pm

McKellen tweeted saying that the first people arrived at 6:30 and that the show tonight is completely sold out, including standing room spots.


Tweet

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 10/26/13 at 8:42pm

6:30am? Jesus... I was thinking 2 hours would be plenty. Yikes. Guess I'll be walking by tomorrow and seeing how far the line is before moving onto something else.

[Stevil907]

Posted: 10/27/13 at 12:29am

I rushed this morning and got there at 7. There were plenty of people behind me who got there later and still got tickets - I saw them in the line waiting to get in the theater. I, and those before and just after me in the rush line, got the front row - I don't know where in the house the other tickets were located.

I enjoyed the show - for a play I don't particularly care for - but I went more for the fact that when am I ever going to get the opportunity to see Patrick Stewart or Ian McKellen on stage, let alone together. I was not disappointed they were both wonderful. I'll leave it to others to dissect the production further.

[musicman_bwayfan]

Posted: 10/27/13 at 12:39am

How was the stage door afterwards? Is there any merchandise at the theatre yet?

[Stevil907]

Posted: 10/27/13 at 12:52am

It was hard to tell - but the stage door area looked packed and I wasn't even going to attempt to wade through it.

They had the window card, a magnet, a knit cap (which I didn't see on display but it was listed on the sign with the other items/prices), and there was a fourth item I am blanking on. Not much merch, but I didn't think this type of show lent itself to lots of merchandise.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 10/27/13 at 1:06am

Merch for Godot? Why to I picture Beckett rolling over in his grave?

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 10/27/13 at 7:40pm

I caught this today. Got in line at 9:15, and secured dead center, front row rush for $30. It seems if you want front row, you need to be number 10, or less in line. They did give out more, though how many I don't know.

I don't want to write too much. I've never seen or read GODOT before. I've avoided it. God knows how, but I did. I don't know why, though. Because I found it to be one of the most extraordinarily moving pieces of theatre I've ever seen. The performances are exceptional. I knew McKellen was good. THAT good, I didn't know. It is a true master class in character building.

Go. You won't regret it.

Eager to see NO MAN'S LAND now, even though I'm not a Pinter fan.

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 10/27/13 at 9:56pm

iluvtheatertrash - How was the view for Godot from the front row? Any issues seeing any of the action when the actors were low to the ground? Thanks!

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 10/28/13 at 8:23am

The seats in the front row are wonderful for GODOT. Can't attest for NO MAN'S LAND (yet). Even the pile-up in Act Two is a fine view. It's not too high at all.

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 10/28/13 at 12:23pm

Excellent. Thanks!

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 10/28/13 at 4:34pm

I'm hoping the stage door for this will be slightly less hellish than Pacino's Glengarry

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 10/28/13 at 4:53pm

I got to the theatre ten minutes for before curtain and there were already autograph hounds leering. I was out of the theatre very quickly, and the crowd was already insane. Here's hoping they cut it down to ticket-holders soon...

[JBroadway]

Posted: 10/28/13 at 9:10pm

I saw No Man's Land when they were in Berkeley a few months ago. I actually do enjoy Pinter's style quite a lot, so I did really enjoyed the play. Whether or not you like Pinter though, it is very well-done. The whole cast is outstanding, and needless to say it was an incomparable honor to see McKellen and Stewart onstage together.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 10/29/13 at 11:37pm

I was at Waiting For Godot tonight. I fully admit that I can't stand the play and was near dreading going this evening, but I wasn't going to pass up the chance to see Stewart and McKellen after all the rave reviews in London and elsewhere.

I'm not a complete convert, and probably never will be, but this was the best production I could imagine of the material and the first time I've ever laughed (or had any reaction besides boredom). In fact I laughed quite a bit; the first halves of each act were filled with giddy moments of two best friends clowning around.

The trouble comes when Pozzo and Lucky enter. It's nothing against Hensley or Crudup. It's just that those characters annoy the sh!t out of me.

This production might go down as the longest Godot too- it didn't get out until 10:45!! I feel for Sean Mathias though because how could he cut any of Stewart and McKellen's goofing around?

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/30/13 at 12:14am

I was there tonight too! I was a fan. It was great watching two stellar actors just having fun. Their gags and bits were hilarious and they were just both so great. I can't imagine seeing other actors do these parts now. I thought the production was interesting and the set was really breathtaking.

I'm curious to see No Man's Land now.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 10/30/13 at 11:03am

Anyone know how Tony eligibility works with plays in repertory? If one of the actors were to be nominated, would they be nominated for both or just one? I know they would have to get Tony voters to attend both performances, but it might be worth it since I doubt the producers would want to advertise one play as "Tony-winning" but not the other.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 10/30/13 at 11:06am

Whizzer, I had never seen nor read the play. Shocking, I know. But I'd somehow managed to avoid it. Not sure what it was that it caused it, but it trudged up so many feelings and I found the experience deeply moving.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 10/30/13 at 4:57pm

I'm not a fan of either of these plays, but I love this cast. Hope I'll get to see it soon! Who knew this would be such a hot ticket?!

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 10/30/13 at 5:33pm

I'm looking forward to seeing Godot, but no one seems to be commenting on Billy Crudup. I've liked Crudup's work in the past and was wondering why there seems to be such apathy re: his performance. Was it bad? So-so? A case of his not having reached his marks yet? It can be a tour de force - think Bill Irwin and John Glover. What gives?

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 10/30/13 at 7:23pm

Crudup's fine. But Lucky is the least showy of the roles.

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/30/13 at 10:09pm

I decided to pass on Godot. Am seeing No Man's Land.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/30/13 at 10:38pm

I thought Crudup was really great. He very "alive" even just standing in the background. How does it work for No Man's Land. Same set?

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 10/30/13 at 11:40pm

iluvtheatretrash- Tell that to John Glover!

Since this is your first experience with the text, you may be disappointed when you see another production...

Ed, I thought Crudup was fine, but I preferred Glover's performance in the last revival. Everyone was fine in that production, but Lane and Irwin never formed quite the indivisible twosome like Stewart and McKellen do. Really, it's two best friends playing two best friends and you don't know where the characters stop and the real life actors begin.

There was a moment last night when McKellen ad-libed a little something and Stewart couldn't help himself and chuckled, but I wouldn't say he broke character. He was so in the moment that it was just as much his character laughing a McKellen's character as it was Stewart laughing at McKellen.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 10/30/13 at 11:57pm

Thanks Whizzer. I trust your judgment more and more as the September years creep upon me. Let's' do Sardi's before the season is out.

Updated On: 10/30/13 at 11:57 PM