Comments on: Godfather Death http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/godfather-death/ Group authored publication covering theatre and the performing arts in London and beyond Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:24:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Stephe Harrop http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/godfather-death/#comment-3349 Stephe Harrop Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:14:22 +0000 http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/?p=1754#comment-3349 And as last night was a genuine first night (and not a gala press night a few weeks in) I'm pretty sure it'll get some, and tighten up significantly as the run goes on. And as last night was a genuine first night (and not a gala press night a few weeks in) I’m pretty sure it’ll get some, and tighten up significantly as the run goes on.

]]> By: Andrew Eglinton http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/godfather-death/#comment-3348 Andrew Eglinton Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:18:12 +0000 http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/?p=1754#comment-3348 Good to see you back and in fine form! I hope it wasn't anything too serious. On to your mad-scientist suggestion. I might be wrong, but hasn't this been tried before? I seem to remember reading about a company that experimented with green and red lights in performance where the action on stage would change according to the audience's response. I'll google it and see if I can find a reference. In any case I'm sure <em>Godfather Death</em> doesn't deserve 'shock treatment'! From Stephe's review it sounds like a piece that needs some fine tuning. Good to see you back and in fine form! I hope it wasn’t anything too serious. On to your mad-scientist suggestion. I might be wrong, but hasn’t this been tried before? I seem to remember reading about a company that experimented with green and red lights in performance where the action on stage would change according to the audience’s response. I’ll google it and see if I can find a reference.

In any case I’m sure Godfather Death doesn’t deserve ’shock treatment’! From Stephe’s review it sounds like a piece that needs some fine tuning.

]]> By: TheatreGoer69 http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/godfather-death/#comment-3347 TheatreGoer69 Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:41:57 +0000 http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/?p=1754#comment-3347 I've been out of action for a while, no doubt a little worse for wear, but I'm back now and trying to catch up. This is a superb review. The expression you use at the end, 'stifled yawns', got me thinking about the nature of audiences... Restlessness in audiences is a curious thing. When you're on stage I can think of nothing worse, but when you're in the audience it can go both ways. Either you're trying hard to give the show a chance, praying for some sort of coup de theatre, in which case other people's fidgeting is a source of sheer torment - OR - you've already condemned the piece to death and you've decided to form ranks with the fidgeters. In this case you'll find yourself checking your watch every three minutes, you'll be scouting around you for accomplices and if you're daring you might even resort to the ultimate sign of silent protest: your mobile phone! Despite this most British of silent charades, people in this country are usually pretty fair. They'll put on a brave face. They won't storm out, they won't shout in defiance or cause a 'scene', though when pushed they might ask for a refund come curtain call. So to all long-winded drama, devised, imagined or otherwise, perhaps we could try something a little more radical. If we could equip audience members with a dual-button control pad - green for good, red for bad - and somehow connect these devices to our actors, we'd have perfect orchestration...wouldn't we?! I’ve been out of action for a while, no doubt a little worse for wear, but I’m back now and trying to catch up. This is a superb review. The expression you use at the end, ’stifled yawns’, got me thinking about the nature of audiences…

Restlessness in audiences is a curious thing. When you’re on stage I can think of nothing worse, but when you’re in the audience it can go both ways. Either you’re trying hard to give the show a chance, praying for some sort of coup de theatre, in which case other people’s fidgeting is a source of sheer torment – OR – you’ve already condemned the piece to death and you’ve decided to form ranks with the fidgeters. In this case you’ll find yourself checking your watch every three minutes, you’ll be scouting around you for accomplices and if you’re daring you might even resort to the ultimate sign of silent protest: your mobile phone!

Despite this most British of silent charades, people in this country are usually pretty fair. They’ll put on a brave face. They won’t storm out, they won’t shout in defiance or cause a ’scene’, though when pushed they might ask for a refund come curtain call.

So to all long-winded drama, devised, imagined or otherwise, perhaps we could try something a little more radical. If we could equip audience members with a dual-button control pad – green for good, red for bad – and somehow connect these devices to our actors, we’d have perfect orchestration…wouldn’t we?!

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