OSLO Previews- Page 3

[Theater3232]

Posted: 4/2/17 at 12:22am

Makes a lot of sense to cut out one of the intermissions - it's now listed on Telecharge as one intermission.  It's very distracting to see audience members get up and leave starting at 10:30pm, then 10:35pm, etc (and then trickle out every few minutes thereafter) whenever I'm at one of the Broadway shows at Lincoln Center.  But unfortunately since this theater is on the Upper West Side, most people need to take several subways home and/or the subway to Penn Station/Grand Central/Port Authority, making for a very long commute home.

Updated On: 4/2/17 at 12:22 AM

[@z5]

Posted: 4/2/17 at 12:47am

Can anyone comment on seat views from row A of side LOGE?

[VotePeron]

Posted: 4/2/17 at 1:00am

Thrilled to hear they've cut an intermission - I find two intermissions dreadful at any play, and kill momentum. I'd much rather sit through 120 minutes straight than have it broken up. This has definitely encouraged me to see the play sooner!

[Big Apple2]

Posted: 4/2/17 at 9:34am

Looks like this is the play to watch when I come in May. I still have two shows to fill but can't commit to which night as I am doing the cancellation line for DEH. If I get lucky and get that ticket, this will round out the five shows for my next trip. Sweet!

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/2/17 at 9:40am

I caught Oslo yesterday afternoon, and I throughly enjoyed the play. I knew nothing about the politics or history going in. While it was a little confusing at first, I was still very much able to follow the proceedings as the events unfolded. The play has very strong writing, direction, and performances from everyone in the cast. The play only has one intermission now, and it clocks in at 2 hours and 55 minutes. Even though the play is long, I was never bored, and the three hour run time really flew by thanks to the quick pacing and riveting performances. I would highly recommend this.

[cb2addict2]

Posted: 4/2/17 at 11:47am

I think omitting an intermission is a great call, nobody likes to hear a show pitched with having two intermissions. 

[sylvesterbird]

Posted: 4/2/17 at 2:03pm

Saw the show last night and thought it was fantastic. It's dense, but Rogers deserves a lot of credit for picking which moments to dig in and dramatize, and which moments to summarize and move on. The play is long, but I thought one intermission worked just fine, and the second act didn't feel that long, despite being significantly longer than the first. And as someone who knew almost nothing about the Oslo Accords, any initial confusion I had quickly went away as the play progressed. 

The cast is uniformly excellent, especially Azizi and Aronov (Aronov in particular cranks up the tension and pace of the play from the moment he enters). Ehle is also wonderful as a character whose contribution comes much more often in small forms, rather than large amounts of dialogue. 

As Whizzer mentioned, the space feels enormous, and especially in the beginning I felt like the actors had to shout everything at the top of their lungs just to be heard, especially over the projections - there was lots of spit flying, especially from Mays. It does sound like they've mic'ed the stage, and since it's early in previews they may still be adjusting sound levels, or I might have just found it problematic because I was sitting so close (thanks to LincTix, I had a much closer seat than usual). 

All in all, it's a fantastic play and I second all the recommendations to see it!

[Sauja]

Posted: 4/2/17 at 2:43pm

Am I the only one bummed that they cut an intermission? I personally would always prefer more chances for a bathroom break, and my complaint with this season is how many shows don't have any intermission. I would love to get the second back and add one to Amelie, Glass Menagerie, and Come from Away while we're at it. 

Sincerely,

Irrationally overconcerned about having to get up and climb over people in the middle of an act which hasn't happened but COULD

 

 

[AC126748]

Posted: 4/3/17 at 8:14am

I haven't seen the show at the Beaumont yet, but I'm not in love with the idea of cutting the second intermission. The show was written in a three-act structure, and it worked so well that way at the Newhouse. Cutting the second intermission, I think, would create an imbalance that I would hope to avoid. But I imagine this decision was made, at least in part, because audiences wanted to be out of the theater before 11, and perhaps overtime regulations also played a role.

[cglaid]

Posted: 4/6/17 at 7:19am

I saw this last night and am truly in awe. What a fantastic ensemble. I came in tired, fearing the run time, but the three hours flew by. This is a must-see.

[PK2]

Posted: 4/6/17 at 9:08am

I'd prefer two intermission also if it was written that way.  Also, a little break to get up from uncomfortable seats is always helpful.

[AuroratheGeek]

Posted: 4/6/17 at 12:59pm

I saw it on Tuesday and absolutely adored the play. I was a little hesitant at the length, but I didn't feel like it dragged at all. However, I had heard about the 2 intermissions and then was really surprised when there was only one! I thought having the 1 intermission didn't harm the play, and I admit to being rather pleased that I got out at 10:55. It still made for a long night.

I was so pleasantly surprised at the humor in this play. I was expecting something a bit more dry! Even my non-theater loving wife enjoyed the show.

We did have a hard time hearing the actors for the first 45 minutes or so, and we were in the second row, all the way to the left.

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 4/6/17 at 3:47pm

I knew there were overtime issues so I said something to a Staff member about cutting an intermission and they said it was not artistically favored because of the play structure. But it sounds like overtime won the day.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 4/6/17 at 3:56pm

Possibly ignorant question - why not start the show earlier? Is there a reason curtain has to be at 8:00PM? LONG DAY'S JOURNEY started at 7:00PM.

[little_sally]

Posted: 4/6/17 at 4:09pm

IdinaBellFoster said: "Possibly ignorant question - why not start the show earlier? Is there a reason curtain has to be at 8:00PM? LONG DAY'S JOURNEY started at 7:00PM.

I had the same thought! Jerusalem and August: Osage County started at 7:30 if I remember correctly.

 

[NotTheComfyChair]

Posted: 4/6/17 at 5:33pm

When it was in the Newhouse, OSLO was long in previews - 3:10 - but they got it down to under 3 hours by opening.  It's the same cast, same director, so I guess there must be extra text.

 

When I worked on a musical, I think I remember that three hours was the cut-off for when overtime would kick in for musicians. I'm sure someone on here is more informed than I about OT for crew, cast, FOH etc.  I was told once that starting at 7 or 7.30 for a long show seems to be more about getting the audience out in time for trains, buses etc.

[James2]

Posted: 4/8/17 at 6:30pm

I saw the matinee of this excellent play today.  To those who saw it at the Newhouse, where did they place the second intermission?

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 4/8/17 at 6:41pm

I saw Oslo last night and thought it was fine. It's really an extended history lesson- a well-written and professional history lesson, to be sure- but it doesn't really strive to do anything beyond that, except in a sort of epilogue in the last five minutes of the play. I think it would feel less like a lecture if they cut all of the exposition that poor Jennifer Ehle has to say- I felt bad that she was saddled with that and not much of a character, though she's very good regardless. As mentioned, Mays, Aronov, and Azizi also do good work. 

I can't imagine why the second intermission was cut. The second act is nearly two hours and felt it- another break would help avoid the drag that set in for Act Two. 

[Damiensta]

Posted: 4/8/17 at 8:53pm

I went to today's matinee. Only one intermission ; however I didn't feel the 3 hours at all. Most things have been said in previous posts. Cast is overall excellent even when a certain elderly audience got up to use restroom n somehow ended up on stage on the side. Actors paused then continued 

i have seen all new plays this season except indecent and Oslo should win the tony in best play

My tdf tix was last row of lodge. View was great. 

[Skimbleshanks2]

Posted: 4/9/17 at 8:19pm

I really hope BARTLETT SHER wins for directing... his direction helps the play flow so beautifully. Any chance he could win? Not sure what the competition is like...

 

[Felm_heart]

Posted: 4/9/17 at 11:41pm

Can anyone speak to the view from the far sides? (Specifically looking at Linctix seat C105 or C505.) Thanks!

[little_sally]

Posted: 4/10/17 at 9:13am

Felm_heart said: "Can anyone speak to the view from the far sides? (Specifically looking at Linctix seat C105 or C505.) Thanks!

I was in row C in I believe seat 107 and it was actually a very good seat. Unlike a lot of other LCT productions at the Beaumont, the set does not extend far back so you won't miss a thing. Plus it's great to be so up close when the action is so intense. Makes you feel like you're in the room where it happens.

 

[Skimbleshanks2]

Posted: 4/10/17 at 9:15am

I was in row F right orchestra... The show REALLY plays to the whole audience (with the exception of the final scene, which is minor)... and BARTLETT SHER does a great job of having the show feel like it's constantly moving around... I loved the way JENNIFER EHLE walked around the stage as she explained what was going on...

It's a great show... I hope SHER wins the TONY!

[skymef]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 2:49pm

Updated On: 4/13/17 at 02:49 PM

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 5:50pm

I liked it, though with the raves people have been giving on here I think I expected much more. I found Act 2 to be flawless and completely engrossing while Act 1 was an incredibly dense history lesson. Lots of history and concepts and characters to introduce which takes almost an entire act to make sense of. Wouldn't be my pick for Best Play, but would love it if Aronov and Azizi were nominated. They are doing wonderful work with Aronov completely stealing the show when he is introduced. 

I thought Mays and Ehle did fine, but their characters are saddled with tons of exposition. There is not a strong emotional connection to them, in my opinion, as there is with the rest of the cast (ie: the ones actually creating the peace accords). Worth seeing for the thrilling second act, I just wish act one was condensed.