Season's Greetings Thoughts
Dec. 30th, 2010 05:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dweomeroflightIt's about time I wrote this. I did see the play twice and keep thinking about how much I enjoyed it/had thinky thoughts about it. It was a good play in its own right (not just because we all know Nicola is acting Goddess) so review below cut link with some spoilers. There are more thoughts to perhaps blog on this play but they are still ruminating and yeah...
The beginning of the play was a bit slow to start starting as it did with two of the characters talking about an unnamed film. I felt a bit removed from the play's start and I know that others felt a bit the same. Catherine Tate took me a little while to understand the first time round but I enjoyed her performance alot (which is saying alot coming from me. I usually find CT too overbearing.) Hers was the first character I latched onto and began to sympathise with. My Mum and Dad seperated and later divorced and I really sympathised with Belinda's familial problems. I remember what my Mum sounded like when she was exasperated at my Dad when he failed to help around the house and was busy with his own hobbies and Catherine had the voice down pat. So did Katherine Parkinson. Her voice was really irritating and naggy and I remember my Mum did sound like that when she was really upset. In this respect, the play actually did bring back some rather painful memories for me but it did help me to sympathise with Belinda.
I found Rachel incredibly irritating (I get frustrated by people who don't make something of themselves or stand up for themselves) and incredibly tragic. Again Nicola Walker finds a new way to scar my already overly Nicola scarred heart. I liked the symmetry of her saying falsely cheerily "It doesn't matter at all to me," "It's all the same to me" etc re Clive the writer. I also agree with Nicola who said in an interview that it was unusual to play a character who didn't conform to a recognised sexual identity. Rachel literally doesn't want or even necessarily need sex. She'll have it if it means she can feel loved but its not something she herself necessarily wants. That is pretty interesting to me. I also thought it was ironic that all of the other characters consistently referred to Rachel's plainess and lack of sex appeal and the whole time I was like "STOP BEING SO BEAUTIFUL NICOLA. CLIVE YOU ARE AN IDIOT."
I understand that Belinda was trying to get some of her own back in getting Clive but it was here that I lost sympathy for her. She knows Rachel can't compete sexually with her and uses sex anyway like a weapon. That was pretty damn cruel to me. I liked how it ends with Nicola still saying "It doesn't matter at all to me" (YES RACHEL IT EFFING DOES) and Belinda's "YES. He's got Rachel." What a mess.
I liked Mark's character the most overall. Belinda I liked at first but lost sympathy for her and poor Rachel's self induced patheticness really bothered me at various points. Harvey was a freak and the two husbands were selfish and reminded me far too much of my own non existent Dad. Katherine was quite annoying but that was her character so oh well. Mark played the most endearing character I think.
The costumes were good I thought and I liked the sets. I remember reading one review where they complained that the three tiered set was for show and wasn't fully utilised. I can understand that. The top and middle floors were really used to put the characters who weren't necessary for the central plot at any one time (this was especially annoying if you get distracted by Nicola like I do and watch her sit there staring into space rather than watching the actual main part of the play like you should be doing :P) Having said that, I liked the set alot. It made for something interesting to look at and drew me into the story. The props were also well used and the music wasn't intrusive I don't think.
The play itself was very funny in a black kind of way. I especially laughed myself silly over Belinda, Clive and the Christmas tree sex and Nicola's sex speech with crazy hand gestures that reminded me of Makaton and her jumping up and down on the spot in annoyance with weird crying :P See it if you can would be my reccomendation, especially if you like Catherine Tate or Mark Gatis or black humour or Nicola.
Also, hi to all of my new Nicola lj friends. Us fans need to stick together. By the way, I have been listening to alot of Nicola's radio plays of late and was wondering if you guys had listened to any. If so which ones? If not, do you want some from me? I was considering making a complete list of her audio works and putting it in with her film and TV list because I keep getting sent new audio stuff of Nicola's and not knowing where it fits with her acting career chronilogically speaking. if you are interested in me posting this list to my lj let me know :) I will try to make it as accurate as possible.
EDIT: Just found this on the updated NW fansite. How useful :) The list here looks pretty complete (never realised just how much radio and theatre this woman has done!)
http://www.nicola-walker.com/?page_id=54
The beginning of the play was a bit slow to start starting as it did with two of the characters talking about an unnamed film. I felt a bit removed from the play's start and I know that others felt a bit the same. Catherine Tate took me a little while to understand the first time round but I enjoyed her performance alot (which is saying alot coming from me. I usually find CT too overbearing.) Hers was the first character I latched onto and began to sympathise with. My Mum and Dad seperated and later divorced and I really sympathised with Belinda's familial problems. I remember what my Mum sounded like when she was exasperated at my Dad when he failed to help around the house and was busy with his own hobbies and Catherine had the voice down pat. So did Katherine Parkinson. Her voice was really irritating and naggy and I remember my Mum did sound like that when she was really upset. In this respect, the play actually did bring back some rather painful memories for me but it did help me to sympathise with Belinda.
I found Rachel incredibly irritating (I get frustrated by people who don't make something of themselves or stand up for themselves) and incredibly tragic. Again Nicola Walker finds a new way to scar my already overly Nicola scarred heart. I liked the symmetry of her saying falsely cheerily "It doesn't matter at all to me," "It's all the same to me" etc re Clive the writer. I also agree with Nicola who said in an interview that it was unusual to play a character who didn't conform to a recognised sexual identity. Rachel literally doesn't want or even necessarily need sex. She'll have it if it means she can feel loved but its not something she herself necessarily wants. That is pretty interesting to me. I also thought it was ironic that all of the other characters consistently referred to Rachel's plainess and lack of sex appeal and the whole time I was like "STOP BEING SO BEAUTIFUL NICOLA. CLIVE YOU ARE AN IDIOT."
I understand that Belinda was trying to get some of her own back in getting Clive but it was here that I lost sympathy for her. She knows Rachel can't compete sexually with her and uses sex anyway like a weapon. That was pretty damn cruel to me. I liked how it ends with Nicola still saying "It doesn't matter at all to me" (YES RACHEL IT EFFING DOES) and Belinda's "YES. He's got Rachel." What a mess.
I liked Mark's character the most overall. Belinda I liked at first but lost sympathy for her and poor Rachel's self induced patheticness really bothered me at various points. Harvey was a freak and the two husbands were selfish and reminded me far too much of my own non existent Dad. Katherine was quite annoying but that was her character so oh well. Mark played the most endearing character I think.
The costumes were good I thought and I liked the sets. I remember reading one review where they complained that the three tiered set was for show and wasn't fully utilised. I can understand that. The top and middle floors were really used to put the characters who weren't necessary for the central plot at any one time (this was especially annoying if you get distracted by Nicola like I do and watch her sit there staring into space rather than watching the actual main part of the play like you should be doing :P) Having said that, I liked the set alot. It made for something interesting to look at and drew me into the story. The props were also well used and the music wasn't intrusive I don't think.
The play itself was very funny in a black kind of way. I especially laughed myself silly over Belinda, Clive and the Christmas tree sex and Nicola's sex speech with crazy hand gestures that reminded me of Makaton and her jumping up and down on the spot in annoyance with weird crying :P See it if you can would be my reccomendation, especially if you like Catherine Tate or Mark Gatis or black humour or Nicola.
Also, hi to all of my new Nicola lj friends. Us fans need to stick together. By the way, I have been listening to alot of Nicola's radio plays of late and was wondering if you guys had listened to any. If so which ones? If not, do you want some from me? I was considering making a complete list of her audio works and putting it in with her film and TV list because I keep getting sent new audio stuff of Nicola's and not knowing where it fits with her acting career chronilogically speaking. if you are interested in me posting this list to my lj let me know :) I will try to make it as accurate as possible.
EDIT: Just found this on the updated NW fansite. How useful :) The list here looks pretty complete (never realised just how much radio and theatre this woman has done!)
http://www.nicola-walker.com/?page_id=54
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no subject
Date: 2010-12-30 09:35 am (UTC)I started off feeling really sorry for Rachel, but as the play went on and she refused to do anything about it, I kind of gave up. (On the character, obviously - never Nicola Walker =P)
Belinda was a character I was rather liking, up until the point where, as you say, she used sex kind of as a weapon against her sister in order to get Clive, and she knew Rachel couldn't compete.
Still, her scenes even after that were brilliant - the Christmas tree sex bit was hilarious, and when she kept coming back downstairs because she thought she'd left the oven on, etc. I was definitely stifling a laugh.
I definitely sympathised with the whole trying to organise something and no-one's helping situation though, even though it's usually my mum in that situation, not me. But yes, definitely a dad who's no help (in the kitchen, at least), that was something I really got with the play.
Pattie (spelling?) was whiney, but I can see why she would be. Her voice was very well pitched for the character.
The set was gorgeous, but yes, the top level especially was rather distracting. Half the time I was watching whoever was sitting up there (mostly when it was NW) and thinking 'Flip, that's bloody high, hope no-one falls'. That said, the middle level was quite useful when everyone's woken up by the tree, and in the bit when Clive is leaving and you see Harvey creeping along.
Then again, perhaps staging it with only one level, in a smaller theatre, would have made it more claustrophobic...
Some of the best bits I thought were: the decorating of the Christmas tree (how many trees must CT have had to decorate???), Christmas tree sex, puppet show run-throughs, the balaclava/'theft' incident and Rachel's sex talk. =D
Also, I loved Belinda's black top and white skirt costume. Just saying =P
And I really need to get a NW icon...
no subject
Date: 2010-12-30 09:53 am (UTC)Glad you agree :P
Yes, yes you do.
no subject
Date: 2010-12-30 07:53 pm (UTC)*sniff*
Still hoping to go up at some point next month or something. Maybe February.
no subject
Date: 2010-12-30 09:57 pm (UTC)Good luck with the second time.
no subject
Date: 2010-12-31 10:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-12-30 11:07 am (UTC)I'm super excited to see it!!!!!
if you get distracted by Nicola like I do and watch her sit there staring into space rather than watching the actual main part of the play
LOL this made me giggle, cause that's definitely going to be me!! :p
I've only heard The Big town All stars, which I loved. Would love to hear more
no subject
Date: 2010-12-30 11:39 am (UTC)I was waaaaaaaaay to distracted by Nicola. There was one bit were she was sitting on the couch tilting her head from side to side and I was so distracted by this I missed all of the action and actual dialouge happening on the other side of the stage :P
I have Lifecoach, Gilly, The Listeners, The Big Bang: Genuine Particle, The Birds and Out of a Clear Sky. BTAS is so funny. My new fave thing for sure. I LOVE LORELAI AND HER TERRIBLE TASTE IN MEN DAMN IT.
no subject
Date: 2010-12-30 07:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-12-30 07:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-01 10:58 am (UTC)this was especially annoying if you get distracted by Nicola like I do and watch her sit there staring into space rather than watching the actual main part of the play like you should be doing :P)
This totally happened to me. I was trying to talk to my friend about this after the show and she hadn't noticed Nicola was up there in the attic. I just felt my eyes drawn to her all of the time. And also when she was sitting in the chair, although her part of the stage was in darkness I was still keeping tabs on what she was doing.
I've been loving Nicola's audio stuff lately too. She is so good.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-01 11:39 am (UTC)I was waaaay distracted by Nicola. There was one point where I was craning my neck to stare at her in the chair in darkness for about fifteen minutes because I didn't want to miss anything.
Her voicework is astounding. I don't understand how one person can be so talented :P
no subject
Date: 2011-01-04 06:29 pm (UTC)(Love, _amylittiere from newspooks.net/forum :) x)
no subject
Date: 2011-01-04 09:09 pm (UTC)Yes, yes you do!
no subject
Date: 2011-03-10 11:00 pm (UTC)I'm another one that was almost constantly focused on what NW was doing, right from the moment she arrived and headed up to the attic guestroom.
Gem x (aka MrsHat on SF /NW Forum & Mrs_Hat on twitter)
no subject
Date: 2011-03-11 05:16 am (UTC)Thanks for the comment :) I was waaaay too distracted by Nicola. Really the guy next to me was like wtf girl? The action is over this side (coz I was craning my neck over to where Nicola was sitting in the dark :P )