The Theatre

Biggins · 02-03-2012 04:00PM

44leto wrote: »

That is the impression alright but that is no reason why us of the lower orders should not expand their horizons. A bit of culture doesn't do anybody any harm, the opposite I think, a bit of culture is worthwhile.

Indeed. When we did go to our last show (in the Abbey, Dublin) not only did we get to have a few drinks during the break and afterwards, the cast came out to discuss the play and everything else about the work and life they do and have.
We got a very up close insight that night into a lot of things we might not have gathered/learned by just staring at 'Big Brother' or EastEnders!

token101 wrote: »

The Grand Canal Theatre? The Gay-ity? The Everyman?
I stand corrected. Toffs and nancy boys.

I'm assuming your either trolling or joking.

...But for those that actually think such daftness, think on this!

It was good enough for the people of Ireland and the men (and women) that died in 1916!
It was their form of entertainment also. It brought history and insight to them and the further masses.
It sad that its now knocked by people that really don't have a clue - and advertise this by their stupid condemnation of a good theatre show!

spankmaster2000 · 02-03-2012 04:01PM

I went to the ballet with my other half a few months ago. It's the first time I was in a theatre since I was "shepherd no.2" in my primary school play. And I suppose I use the word "theatre" loosely there since it was just the P.E. hall.

Anyway; the ballet was fab-u-lous! I found a new love for skintight leotards; with muscular shapely legs being lifted high into the air in trouser-tighteningly wonderful ways. And that was just me making my way to my seat.

I'd go again.

Babybuff · 02-03-2012 04:05PM

44leto wrote: »

That is the impression alright but that is no reason why us of the lower orders should not expand their horizons. A bit of culture doesn't do anybody any harm, the opposite I think, a bit of culture is worthwhile.

There's a difference between culture and talent and skill and what's mostly on offer throughout the various theatres in Ireland.
When I was about 12 I was hand selected at the bequest of a teacher to attend a local drama school (as I was good at art & music they thought oh well she might be good at that too) The memory of the poncyness of it all is still very clearly etched onto my cerebral cortex. Every other member was there because mammy or daddy were involved with Mr finnegan who also ran the local golf club and everyone said Brandon would make a great actor and he and Swindon were made for the stage because they watched Daddy prepare for the annual tops yearly with his "how many outfits can I change in 2 minutes" entry. The were well prepared by the parentage.
Shame was they were all crap but it was a self supporting circle so they would never actually figure that out.

44leto · 02-03-2012 04:12PM

Babybuff wrote: »

There's a difference between culture and talent and skill and what's mostly on offer throughout the various theatres in Ireland.
When I was about 12 I was hand selected at the bequest of a teacher to attend a local drama school (as I was good at art & music they thought oh well she might be good at that too) The memory of the poncyness of it all is still very clearly etched onto my cerebral cortex. Every other member was there because mammy or daddy were involved with Mr finnegan who also ran the local golf club and everyone said Brandon would make a great actor and he and Swindon were made for the stage because they watched Daddy prepare for the annual tops yearly with his "how many outfits can I change in 2 minutes" entry. The were well prepared by the parentage.
Shame was they were all crap but it was a self supporting circle so they would never actually figure that out.

But I am not going there to make friends, I will be going because I THINK I would enjoy it and it will be something different rather then the cinema or the pub. I do go to the cinema about once a week, although a few posters were comparing cinema with the theatre I don't think there is a comparison, I think they are different experiences.

Wattle · 02-03-2012 04:16PM

Babybuff wrote: »

Should have gone into film dude

I go to both movies and the theatre. I like to keep an open mind and stay away from generalisations like 'all theatre is crap'.

Babybuff · 02-03-2012 04:16PM

I don't believe I went there to make friends either but the level of acting on a regional basis in Ireland can be truly dire and it's does manage to ruin a good work otherwise. Irish people are not great at being able to express emotion, on or off stage. Very few great Irish actors but the ones who can, do it well and I just prefer to watch them on the big screen. Eliminates the need to contend with the rest of the ****e they would otherwise be acting with.

Biggins · 02-03-2012 04:21PM

44leto wrote: »

...I think they are different experiences.

Very much so.

If only from one aspect.
While watching a film on screen more so, you tend to get sucked into a good film and oft times while following story, less notice the skills sometimes of the actors of said film.

In the theatre I find that as much as I still enjoy a play, etc, the live participants more so are able to show (maybe because its right there live in front of your face) their absolute brilliant skills of expressing sorrow, explain some intense scene and/or pain.
I find I appreciate the skills of live actors/actresses a lot more sometimes than I do just seeing something on a screen (where I have to say there has been outstanding performances also).

For those that say a good show is too expensive - how much its it now to a premiership football game now per ticket (or a concert) ?
The two are different - but if you want quality sometimes, you have to pay the current price and take your chances - in both aspects!

Mardy Bum · 02-03-2012 04:21PM

Most people who dislike proper drama (Miller, Williams, Ibsen, Synge, Friel, Shaw, Maeterlinck, O Casey, Wilde, Beckett, Tom Kilroy, Tom Murphy etc) declare that it is boring or some other idiotic derivative because they are not spoon fed everything.

Ireland has produced some of the best playwrights ever whose plays reverberate all around the world in different contexts every year. I pity an Irish person who has not seen at least one play by one of our greats.

Conall Cernach · 02-03-2012 04:21PM

The two most recent plays I've seen were The Plough and the Stars and Juno and the Paycock both at the Abbey in 2010 and 2011. Tickets aren't that expensive and the production values were very high and the casts excellent. Ciaran Hinds was in Juno, his Captain Boyle drunk routine was a joy to behold.

Babybuff · 02-03-2012 04:30PM

RichieC wrote: »

Team America and south Park the movie were musicals!

I watched the muppets the other night, it was just about acceptable..but then they are muppets and make no attempt to hide the fact

tigger123 · 02-03-2012 04:31PM

Went to see 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' at the end of last summer in The Gate, was brilliant! Don't go as much as I used to.

Biggins · 02-03-2012 04:33PM

Conall Cernach wrote: »

The two most recent plays I've seen were The Plough and the Stars and Juno and the Paycock both at the Abbey in 2010 and 2011. Tickets aren't that expensive and the production values were very high and the casts excellent. Ciaran Hinds was in Juno, his Captain Boyle drunk routine was a joy to behold.

We went to the same show.

It was absolutely world class and the way the stage layout, etc was done (the cast re-arranged it themselves at times), was an eye opener in itself.
The scene where one young woman was on her knees speaking to the audience of a death she suffered and the pain she was feeling, was breath taking. She had the whole audience 'in her hand' and you could have heard a pin drop.
There is just some things you cannot experience from a screen.

Screen stuff IS good but equally, live stuff can be just as good too.
As 44leto rightly said, it's a whole different experience.

44leto · 02-03-2012 04:33PM

Mardy Bum wrote: »

Most people who dislike proper drama (Miller, Williams, Ibsen, Synge, Friel, Shaw, Maeterlinck, O Casey, Wilde, Beckett, Tom Kilroy, Tom Murphy etc) declare that it is boring or some other idiotic derivative because they are not spoon fed everything.

Ireland has produced some of the best playwrights ever whose plays reverberate all around the world in different contexts every year. I pity an Irish person who has not seen at least one play by one of our greats.

And that is a fact and you even left scores of other worldwide famous Irish playwrights off your extensive list. We punch way above our weight in playwright and acting talent, look at the amount of A lister stars this country produces. So it is definitely one of Ireland's traditions and talents, we should be proud of it and I don't buy that it is that exclusive and even if it is, so what, that doesn't mean I can't go, or I wont enjoy it.

Mardy Bum · 02-03-2012 05:10PM

Biggins wrote: »

We went to the same show.
It was absolutely world class and the way the stage layout, etc was done (the cast re-arranged it themselves at times), was an eye opener in itself.
The scene where one young woman was on her knees speaking to the audience of a death she suffered and the pain she was feeling, was breath taking. She had the whole audience 'in her hand' and you could have heard a pin drop.
There is just some things you cannot experience from a screen.

Screen stuff IS good but equally, live stuff can be just as good too.
As 44leto rightly said, it's a whole different experience.

Drama is read as well as performed. Its both a private and public experience, the best playwrights thread this line wonderfully. This is what makes it the most powerful medium of expression there is. If you look through the history of drama as far back as the Greeks it is obvious drama is far superior to anything else. 99% of screen stuff written today and years gone past is drivel for the entertainment industry and there is really no other motive behind it, few screen writers could be described as artists. The only tv series that could come close for instance to the definition of art is The Sopranos and The Wire. Drama is a form of art.
I think Juno will be back on the Abbey later this year as well because it was that successful. The astounding thing about that play is that few people realise that Juno is the real villain and thats one of the things that makes it so powerful.

emeraldstar · 02-03-2012 05:26PM

I go every couple of weeks. It's one of my very favourite things!

CrazyRabbit · 02-03-2012 06:06PM

I've seen some cracking plays in the last few years. Funnier than any standup routines or TV show.

The actors can play to, and react to the audience in a way that isn't possible in other mediums.

Haven't been to too many 'serious' plays though.

I think theatre is seriously underestimated for its entertainment value.

FouxDaFaFa · 02-03-2012 06:27PM

I'm in Galway so am surrounded by them. I go a lot. Usually to dance performances, but I've stepped up the plays recently too. I worked at the Edinburgh Fringe last year and got into a lot of stuff for free. Some of it was fantastic, like Kafka and Son. It's an under-appreciated art-form.

Ectoplasm · 02-03-2012 07:22PM

I love the theatre but I don't go enough. I'd say it's probably a once every few months thing for me. While I'll happily go to the cinema alone, I prefer to see a show with others and trying to organise this can be a nightmare.

Dravokivich · 02-03-2012 07:38PM

44leto wrote: »

I seen Hugh Leonard's play "Da" been advertised, I loved that film, so I am wondering what the play would be like. That will be my first stop.

I'm such an idiot. I saw posters for it all over town and all I thought was "why are they putting up posters quoting someone saying 'Da'"

Teyla Emmagan · 02-03-2012 07:49PM

I love the theatre. I don't go as often as I'd like (lack of someone like minded to go with mainly), but I still go a few times a year. I mostly go to productions in the Gate, I'm not one for the avant garde cutting edge stuff (the Project) or Oirish stuff (the Abbey). I will admit that I especially like short plays, as I find 3 hours sitting on my stiff arse in a warm room somewhat tiresome. And it can be very expensive. But it can be a fantastic night out. A good play will draw you in a lot more than a good film I think, because it's all so immediate and it requires more of your concentration. I've seen absolutely super stuff over the years, and amazing actors.

Theatre can be very enriching I think.

ihsb · 02-03-2012 07:56PM

Teyla Emmagan wrote: »

I love the theatre. I don't go as often as I'd like (lack of someone like minded to go with mainly), but I still go a few times a year. I mostly go to productions in the Gate, I'm not one for the avant garde cutting edge stuff (the Project) or Oirish stuff (the Abbey). I will admit that I especially like short plays, as I find 3 hours sitting on my stiff arse in a warm room somewhat tiresome. And it can be very expensive. But it can be a fantastic night out. A good play will draw you in a lot more than a good film I think, because it's all so immediate and it requires more of your concentration. I've seen absolutely super stuff over the years, and amazing actors.

Theatre can be very enriching I think.

Completely agree! I love it but the prices have to come down. The only time I actually manage to go is when the theatre festival is on and I am volunteering at it! I have been to some awful plays but it is the same in every medium, good and bad.

There is something about theatre that makes you feel like the whole performance is just for you. It makes you feel special and it is v enjoyable.

I took the boy to see a play there last year. His first ever and he really enjoyed it. It is never too late.

Freddie59 · 02-03-2012 08:30PM

Not really a theatre goer, but went to see The All Star Wars last week. Absolutely hilarious.

Going to see Man 1 Bank 0 on March 19th.

Both at the Theatre Royal, Waterford.

A great night out.

44leto · 02-03-2012 08:58PM

I just looked up the ticket prices to "Da" 25 Euro but 4 tickets for 100 (LOL). 25 euro is not a bad price for a nights entertainment, so that wouldn't really deter me. I should be going sometime during the week.

WoollyRedHat · 02-03-2012 09:17PM

token101 wrote: »

The Grand Canal Theatre? The Gay-ity? The Everyman?

I stand corrected. Toffs and nancy boys.

Christ, it's not even called the Grand Canal anymore, get with the times pleb

4zn76tysfajdxp · 02-03-2012 09:21PM

I like the ones with June Rogers. Oh no I don't.

CrazyRabbit · 03-03-2012 04:27AM

Andy Jealous Somewhere wrote: »

I like the ones with June Rogers. Oh no I don't.

Oh yes you do!

Biggins · 03-03-2012 12:48PM

44leto wrote: »

I just looked up the ticket prices to "Da" 25 Euro but 4 tickets for 100 (LOL). 25 euro is not a bad price for a nights entertainment, so that wouldn't really deter me. I should be going sometime during the week.

"Da" if done right, is absolute great play.
Funny, sad and emotional at various times.
Seen it done live myself and utterly enjoyed it.
Nice choice.

The Theatre

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