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IN REPERTOIRE:
NATION (play)
Ends 28th March 2010.
Runs 2 hours 40 minutes approximately.
Audio Described performance: 27th March 2010 at 2pm.
LONDON ASSURANCE (play)
Captioned Performance: Monday 12th April 2010 at 7.30pm
WOMEN BEWARE WOMEN (play)
Previews from 20th April, opens 27th April 2010.
PART OF THE TRAVELEX £10 SEASON.
Audio-Described performances: Tuesday 4th June 2010 at 7.30pm and Wednesday 5th
June 2010 at 2pm
Captioned performance: 8th June 2010 at 7.30pm
Nation: Without benefit of common language or years of wisdom,
shipwrecked youngsters Mau and Daphne must build a new Nation. The Terry
Pratchett book is adapted by Mark Ravenhill.
London Assurance: Young Grace may have lured old Sir Courtley to her
Gloucestershire home... but older sister Lady Spanker proves more to his liking.
Then Courtley's son turns up - and fancies Grace. Nicholas Hytner directs Dion
Boucicault's play.
Women Beware Women: An Italian Duke fancies another man's wife. Can he
pull her, and buy off her man off? Marianne Elliot directes Thomas Middleton's
play, starring Harriet Walter and Samuel Barnett.
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"Nation": Anyone remember when the National tried a traditional
version of panto in the 80s? They simply over-thought it, and it didn't work.
This nearly goes the same way, but is just about saved by the scenery and a few
finer moments of comedy. A near squeak, though. Quite honestly, the plot is
pretty slim and though it hangs together to provide a reasonably coherent
experience, it rarely absorbs unless you are willing to give in to every
incredulous question you can think of in the duller moments. Pratchett fans, and
probably younger teenagers and those with an interest in theatrical scenic
technique will get the most out of this.
"London Assurance": One of those productions that screams
"National Theatre" from both the stage and auditorium. Lesser performed old work
- check; large, super-talented cast, with sprinkling of well known names -
check; lines that are not that funny getting a good (look at me, I'm
sophisticated enough to laugh at an ancient joke) laugh - check; pretty long and
uneven but ultimately worth seeing because it's there and this is the National
and it is done well enough that we don't notice the flaws too badly - triple
check. So, the tale twists with loopy old world predictability, the cast act
their socks off and Nick Hytner fills a large stage with effortless ease. It was
either here or the Theatre Royal Haymarket for the atmosphere to suit this one,
thinks the monkey... and the National is usually cheaper - so get thee over to
the South Bank, it's worth it.
"Women Beware Women": Not available.
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