PRIMA FACIE Starring Jodie Comer Coming Spring '23- Page 2

[Smaxie]

Posted: 6/9/22 at 5:39pm

Peter Marks, Washington Post, went nuts for it just last month. Might be spoiler-ish? 

Ralph Fiennes, Jodie Comer and other stars light up London plays

"In Comer’s case, her breathtaking turn underlined all the strengths of a vibrantly assembled solo act. If you’ve watched her on TV in "Killing Eve," you may think you’ve experienced the full extent of Comer’s talent. But you haven’t, and certainly not before you’ve seen her in “Prima Facie.” Alone onstage for 100 minutes in the West End’s Harold Pinter Theatre (through June 18), Comer unspools the tale of a brash, highflying criminal lawyer who knows precisely how to work the system — until the judicial tables are turned and the system comes crashing down on her. Suzie Miller constructs her monodrama at the intersection of #MeToo and British justice, and though the dramatist appends a superfluous moral to the story, the proceedings amount to a virtuosic, blow-by-blow account of a process stacked against female victims. 

There’s balletic and interpretive precision in Comer’s embodiment of Tessa, a courtroom killer of far different intent than her nonpareil television hit woman, Villanelle. It’s the essence of bravura, the kind of consummate conquest of the stage we theater freaks seek, night after night. ...

... an announcement of an American engagement of Comer in “Prima Facie” would be most joyful tidings. You marvel at the physical exertion, anguishing emotion and narrative detail Comer has to master, as self-possessed Tessa moves from discrediting victims’ testimonies to being a victim herself. Director Justin Martin has helped Comer hone the evening to its sharpest possible intensity — a feat that offers audiences a luminous encounter with a star made for the stage."

[pmensky]

Posted: 6/9/22 at 6:02pm

I’m sure it will be a very limited run in a smaller house and will sell just fine. Anyone who was a fan of Killing Eve and has the means to get to NYC will definitely want to see the show. If you haven’t seen Killing Eve and are mildly interested in seeing this show, you should binge the 4 seasons, then you will definitely want to see it. Comer is an exciting actor and gives a legendary performance as Villanelle.

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 6/10/22 at 9:58am

I am usually not into non-musical shows, but this looks really interesting to me. I'm mad I cannot see the National Theatre broadcast they're doing next month because I work that night. Hope I can get a ticket for Broadway before they become hard to get. 

[suzycat]

Posted: 6/10/22 at 10:02am

Our local cinema was planning to show the NT Live recording of the London production this summer, I wonder if they’ll pull it?

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 6/10/22 at 10:07am

suzycat said: "Our local cinema was planning to show the NT Live recording of the London production this summer, I wonder if they’ll pull it?"

3 cinemas in my area in the states have them listed for July 21. I work at a local theatre and we have a show that night. I just wish it would be the day before. Who knows, maybe they'll show it again in the future. I would like to have it on the National Theatre's streaming service for a limited time. Kinda like what they did with War Horse. 

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 6/10/22 at 10:12am

I also ordered the book. I want to familiarize myself with this play if I plan to see it LIVE. 

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 6/12/22 at 7:28am

My daughter and I loved Comer in Killing Eve, so we're in. Do we know when tickets go on sale?

[theblackumbrella]

Posted: 7/21/22 at 8:46am

If folks go to this tonight, please post your thoughts afterwards. 

NT Live: Prima Facie - Regal Cinemas

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 7/21/22 at 3:19pm

I wish I was seeing it tonight but I work till 9:00. I did see one cinema near me is showing in on August 14. I really want to watch this before I book a ticket for Broadway. 

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 7/21/22 at 10:14pm

I just got back from seeing it at one of my local movie theaters. Solo plays can always serve as a great showcase for any performer in general as they have to carry the whole show by themselves. That is certainly the case with Prima Facie. Although under Justin Martin’s direction, the staging has some impressive bells and whistles. The lighting designed by Natasha Chivers especially has its standout moments.

As for Jodie Comer’s performance…OH MY GOD! It is so exhilarating to watch from beginning to end. We the audience literally go on quite a roller coaster of emotions with her throughout. Everything culminated perfectly into such a heartbreaking conclusion. Not to mention that with the exception of about a couple minutes or so in the middle, Jodie never leaves the stage at all. She even does her own costume changes right in front of the audience.

If/when Prima Facie comes to Broadway and you happen to be in New York then, go see it. I’m definitely curious to hear how it’ll evolve there and potentially do at next year’s Tony Awards. I think Jodie Comer could be one to watchout for in the race for Best Lead Actress in a Play.

Updated On: 7/21/22 at 10:14 PM

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 7/22/22 at 8:15am

I saw this last night with my husband at our local cinema (Was supposed to be with my daughter but she's still recuperating after CovidWeek2). There were maybe 10 people in the audience.

Instead of the usual coming attractions, there was a lengthy National Theatre announcement, followed by a discussion with the show's playwright, Suzie Miller, Jodie Comer, and an attorney. If there was going to be any dramatic suspense in the show for the audience, this discussion killed it, telling us pretty much the issues in the plot. Personally, I would have enjoyed this more after the show.

As others have said, Jodie Comer is a WOW. She starts off hyperkinetically strong, and you think there is no way she can continue at this pace, yet she does. A tour-de-force performance. My husband, who has never seen Killing Eve, thought she was spectacular. That is the good side of this production. 

The downside is it is pretty clear where this is all heading and it takes too much time to get there, making the play sadly predictable. How I wish this was just a draft and they honed it a bit more. Because the play's message about how the justice system lets down sexual assault victims is an important one.

So, will I buy tickets to see Prima Facie when it comes to Broadway? You bet, as soon as they are available, for me and my daughter.

Updated On: 7/22/22 at 08:15 AM

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 7/22/22 at 8:47am

Hearing what people think about this show just makes me want to see it even more! I am glad NT Live is doing encore screenings of the show. I am definitely buying tickets for Broadway, but I want to see the pro-shot before it comes here. I am normally a musical person, but this show might break that barrier I have when seeing live theatre. 

[theblackumbrella]

Posted: 7/22/22 at 9:16am

An utterly captivating tour de force central performance by Jodie Comer. The play begins at 100 mph and does not let up for quite some time. Suzie Miller gives the audience a truly developed and necessary understanding of Tess so we can understand the trajectory. 

The script was incredibly well structured, but fell prey to a treacly preachy ending. It’s not that the destination is surprising or any less infuriating, but I think a more concise finale would’ve struck harder. 

While pro shots for theatrical performances are fairly hit or miss - Comer’s charisma left my mouth largely agape.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/22/22 at 9:53am

Her performance really is the definition of “I don’t know how someone does that 8 times a week.”

[theaterdarling]

Posted: 7/22/22 at 11:24am

Saw it last night in a movie theatre and all the praise for Comer is well-deserved. As Jordan Catalano said, "don't know how she does this 8 times per week." Spectacular performance of incredible emotional range while making her own costume changes and moving the furniture. Astounding

The production values and staging were terrific. My disappointment is in the play itself --as succinctly put by Nick Curtis in the Evening Standard "Suzie Miller's script is a great vehicle rather than a truly great play, however --shrewd and economical in its analysis of how the system treats assault survivors, but schematic in its plotting."  Schematic and pamphleteering both came to me as I was watching. Another poster said "treacly preaching" which seems appropriate as well. For me, the textual flaws blunted the power of the first half of the show. What was dramatized as to how the system treats sexual abuse victims was not that much beyond an episode of "Law & Order:SVU."   Now, for some, a polemic suffices, given the gravitas of the subject matter and so to each their own- but I wanted a fresher verbal expression of that particular hell to match Comer's startling and intelligent performance. That all said, despite my waning interest in the words being said as the show progressed, Comer's performance always made it so that it was impossible to lose interest.

[BETTY22]

Posted: 7/22/22 at 11:54am

Does anyone know when this is arriving and if they have a theatre?

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/22/22 at 2:30pm

Can someone speak to the production value?

[theaterdarling]

Posted: 7/23/22 at 1:30pm

RippedMan said: "Can someone speak to the production value?"

I thought the production values were wonderful – commensurate with it being a one woman show where the performance was the star and the set design providing a secondary yet very utilitarian and very evocative role. If economy of stage design bothers you, this might disappoint you.

 Miriam Buether’s set is one of towering bookshelves (and I do mean towering) with 2 or 3 desks and traditional chairs and library lamps that might be found in English law firms. It provides the only backdrop for Comer’s retelling of events that occur not only in various offices in the firm, but, with Comer herself moving around the existing desks and chairs, but occur in her apartment living room, her bedroom and bathroom, a bar, a courtroom, the kitchen of her childhood home and a cab (and I believe also a police station with the addition of a video camera—my memory fails me but there was something a little different about the police station and can’t remember why). Sensational in its simplicity and ingenuity.  I am sure there is a metaphor in having Comer doing all the set changes, rearranging the deck chairs if you will, but you asked about production values not, themes.

Without giving too much away, there is one “bell and whistle” to the otherwise economical stage design:  there is an impressive, let’s just call it a water-based feature, thrown into the mix to great, powerful effect.

Lighting kept the proverbial spotlight on Comer amidst the dark and cavernous bookshelves that surround her and helped define a change in locale given that the same stage space stood in for various locales with only the rearrangement of office chairs and desks as described above.

 Comer’s costume changes occur before our eyes and she slips in and out of various outfits while she seamlessly continues the narrative (in between moving furniture). It is crazy all the spinning plates Comer manages. The fact that she was doing this all herself was as impressive a production value in and of itself. Yes I know Mirren did it in “The Audience" but if I recall correctly, there the action stopped –but here Comer keeps advancing the story. I am sure this costume change technique has been used in other shows as well, but I have never seen it utilized to such dramatic effect and with it becoming so part of the narrative. I'm sure others will want to correct me- but you can save it. I'll self-chastise. Same with Comer moving the furniture - I am sure other shows have done it but for me not to this extent and effect. Again, save it!

There was a song at beginning and end performed by Self-Esteem (Rebecca Lucy Taylor) and a supporting band. I don’t know if a live band appeared at the beginning of the each of the live performances or just for the capture (I missed the interview at the beginning of the capture that could have explained this inclusion) but I could have done without it. Couldn't catch all the lyrics, but I am sure they were resonant- still could have done without it. There was also percussive music spread throughout (like a heartbeat) underscoring some particularly tense scenes, which I believe were also written by Self-Esteem but I could be wrong. That was effective.

So, for me, the production values were pitch perfect and captivating, but I suppose it would depend on what floats your boat design wise. You can catch glimpses of it in pics from the West End production. I could be mistaken about some of what I described above – so apologies in advance, but it was hard to keep your eyes on and make mental notes on anything but Comer's performance.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/23/22 at 1:34pm

Thank you!! Will try to catch a taping! 

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 8/14/22 at 8:06pm

So I just saw an encore screeing of Prima Facie.

HOLY F****ING S***! Jodie Comer's portrayal of Tessa was stunning, emotional, and gut-wrenching at the exact same time! That woman gives a high-class performance that CAN NOT and SHOULD NOT be missed! It blows my mind that she memorized the entire book and hardly ever left the stage. That is what I call high-class acting! I could not believe how intense it was to watch this at certain points of the play. Suzie Miller's play is truly one for the ages. The message this play sends to audiences is of utmost importance in today's society! For people who have not seen it yet, I hope you will take an opportunity to. Whether it's another encore screening by the National Theatre or even see it LIVE when Jodie Comer makes her Broadway Debut next spring! Personally, I hope this show goes beyond Broadway, especially here in the states. For people who cannot see it in NYC, there definitely needs to be a tour for sure! Overall, this show is a high-class masterpiece! I cannot wait to see it in NYC next year! It will definitely be a HOT TICKET! Also, let's just give Jodie Comer her Tony Award now, she definitely will win an Olivier for the West End production!

[Fan123]

Posted: 8/15/22 at 4:44am

I also saw a cinema screening recently. Jodie Comer was great, and not in an overly 'showy' way; she made it look easy. The play itself, I liked when it wasn't drawing attention to itself and the character was simply enveloping us in her story; but I also found it to be a bit too "play-ey" for me at certain moments, such as the big speech at the end. That might just reflect my tastes though; there are certain aspects of contemporary non-musical plays that I find irritating, but that seem to be deployed often enough that somebody must see merit in them.

By the way, there's apparently a film adaptation in the works, as per https://theagency.co.uk/the-clients/suzie-miller/.

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 8/15/22 at 10:06am

Dylan Smith4 said: "So I just saw an encore screeing of Prima Facie.

HOLY F****ING S***! Jodie Comer's portrayal of Tessa was stunning, emotional, and gut-wrenching at the exact same time! That woman gives a high-class performance that CAN NOT and SHOULD NOT be missed! It blows my mind that she memorized the entire book and hardly ever left the stage. That is what I call high-class acting! I could not believe how intense it was to watch this at certain points of the play. Suzie Miller's play is truly one for the ages. The message this play sends to audiences is of utmost importance in today's society! For people who have not seen it yet, I hope you will take an opportunity to. Whether it's another encore screening by the National Theatre or even see it LIVE when Jodie Comer makes her Broadway Debut next spring! Personally, I hope this show goes beyond Broadway, especially here in the states. For people who cannot see it in NYC, there definitely needs to be a tour for sure! Overall, this show is a high-class masterpiece! I cannot wait to see it in NYC next year! It will definitely be a HOT TICKET! Also, let's just give Jodie Comer her Tony Award now, she definitely will win an Olivier for the West End production!"

As much as I would love to see this tour, I can't imagine an actress doing this on the road weekly. Far too demanding. So my thoughts are, if you want to see this show with Jodie Comer, save up and come to Broadway. 

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 8/15/22 at 10:20am

Don't worry, I intend to see it on Broadway!

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 8/15/22 at 11:23am

Yep, just mentioning it to others.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 8/15/22 at 9:15pm

BETTY22 said: "Does anyone know when this is arriving and if they have a theatre?"

I heard they wanted the ''Music Box'' but it's not coming until late winter -spring '23.