Hatfields & McCoys: Breaking all Records

I expected “Hatfields & McCoys” to do well, but this? An average of 13.8 million viewers, 14.3 millions for the third and final part!

Ratings over at IMDB are currently at 8.3. Some critics don’t seem to agree with that, but I think it’s justified. I’m actually rather baffled by people complaining about bad language, gore and violence – what did they expect a family feud to be? People pillow-fighting in the woods?

Anyway, if you’ve missed this epic family saga, you can still catch up on the History website; all three episodes are available online (alas only to people in the USA).

For a good review with some analysis of the audience demographics, please go here: Los Angeles Times. According to them, an unexpected high number of women tuned in for “Hatfields & McCoys”; 45% rather than the for History usual 30%. I have no idea why that might be…

Damian O’Hare: Various Updates

While the holiday-laundry is gently doing its spins in the washing machine, I have time for a quick update:

I’ve updated the list of reviews for Double Feature. The shows saw their last performances on Saturday, so there won’t be any further updates to that entry.

I’ve added a small gallery for Double Feature.

Now that Double Feature is over – would you like the benches as a souvenir? Or maybe the bar from The Swan?

Not quite finished with Double Feature yet – there will be a contest later this week in connection with the plays.

The Scottish Movie Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides has been released on DVD and Blu-ray. Coming to your local  DVD-by-Mail-Service very soon.

In completely different news, Kitaky has sent in fanart: “The Royal meets My Little Pony”. Looks like Dr. Burnett was really deciding his departure on a hoof…!

Review: Double Feature 1 and 2 (Edgar & Annabel / The Swan, Nightwatchman / There Is A War)

Reviewed performances: Saturday, 13 August 2011
(Four hours on the Paintframe’s “cushioned benches” – I sure suffered for art!)

The Paintframe at the National Theatre is the place where the set decorations are made, but it’s now home to “Double Feature” while it lasts. Pots of paint, ladders and tools are everywhere, reminders of the creative spirits that are usually at work in the hangar. With “Double Feature”, creativity has moved into creativity, and Soutra Gilmour’s amazing set designs have turned The Paintframe into a Russian nesting doll of art.

Reviews “Double Feature”, National Theatre Paintframe

You’ll find all reviews (or at least the ones I could find) for “Double Feature” in this entry. The list will be updated as reviews come.

THE PLAYS

Double Feature 1: “Edgar and Annabel” / “The Swan”

Double Feature 2: “Nightwatchman” / “There Is A War”

—

ARTICLES

Interview: The NT’s exciting new Double Feature writers @ Run Riot!

The Paintframe: National Service @ The Independent

Interview with the “Double Feature” playwrights @ metro.co.uk

The National Theatre goes pop-up @ The Guardian

—

REVIEWS

12 September 2011

zuberino @ twitter: Edgar and Annabel

Mark Tierney @ twitter: Double Feature 1 and 2

Fiona Mountford @ twitter: Edgar and Annabel

Sycophant @ blogspot: Double Feature 2

Annie Rowe @ twitter: Edgar and Annabel

Alex Packer @ twitter: Double Feature 1

Laura Schofield @ twitter: Double Feature 1

John Nathan @ Theater News Online: Double Feature 1

On “Edgar and Annabel”: (…) an example of get-in-quick and get-out-fast-drama, the kind that is over before you have time to ask awkward questions about the nuts and bolts of a story.

Ferdinand Kingsley @ twitter: Double Feature 2

Theo Bosanquet @ Whatsonstage: Double Feature 2

The air in the cavernous Paintframe is free from the stench of history that hangs heavy in the air of the Olivier, Lyttelton and Cottesloe.

Theo Bosanquet @ twitter: Double Feature 2

Simone @ twitter: There Is A War

Kate W. @ twitter: Double Feature 2

Anya Reiss @ twitter: There Is A War

Ben Smith @ twitter: Double Feature 2

Rajiv Nathwani @ twitter: Double Feature 1

Vicki Thomson @ twitter: Edgar and Annabel

Helen Mumby @ twitter: Double Feature 1

David Borwick @ twitter: Double Feature 1

Jen Smith @ twitter: Edgar and Annabel

Rosie Wyatt @ twitter: Double Feature 1

Gecko Sri Lanka: Nightwatchman

Margaret Ann Bain @ twitter: Double Feature 1 and 2

theatredeli @ twitter: Double Feature 1

Thomas Dillon @ twitter: Double Feature 1

Clare Nichols @ twitter: Double Feature 2  /  cont.

Julie Mayhew @ twitter: Double Feature 1

Reviews of “The Grapes of Wrath” tour

Here are the direct links to the reviews of the various performances of “The Grapes of Wrath”. Directed by Jonathan Church, the co-production of the English Touring Theatre and Chichester Festival Theatre in summer/autumn/winter 2009 featured Christopher Timothy as Pa Joad, Sorcha Cusack as Ma Joad, Oliver Cotton as Jim Casey and Damian O’Hare as Tom Joad. You can find a cast list here.

CHICHESTER FESTIVAL THEATRE
10 July – 28 August

NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE
1 – 3 October

THEATRE ROYAL PLYMOUTH
6 – 10 October

KING’S THEATRE EDINBURGH
13 – 17 October

BIRMINGHAM REP
20 – 31 October

WEST YORKSHIRE PLAYHOUSE
3 – 14 November

HALL FOR CORNWALL
17 – 21 November

“The Grapes of Wrath”: review(s) of performance at Hall for Cornwall / Truro

Reviews will be updated in this entry as they come.

Damian O'Hare as Tom Joad in "The Grapes of Wrath".

THIS IS CORNWALL: Epic rings true in 2009

“(…) The ensemble cast, including a number of local actors, is superb. Sorcha Cusack as Ma Joad, the steadfast, moral glue battling to keep the Joads together is powerfully understated while Damian O’Hare shines as her righteous son, Tom. Oliver Cotton – immensely watchable in everything he does – is a force to be reckoned with as the former preacher, forever thinking about the right thing to do. (…)”

TWITTER SAYS…

“(…) Fantastic,huge dramatic sweep. (…)” – @ TJBrinkman

“The Grapes of Wrath”: review(s) of performance at West Yorkshire Playhouse / Quarry Theatre in Leeds

Reviews will be updated in this entry as they come.
If I never see the word “accent” again, it will be too soon.

Damian O'Hare as Tom Joad in "The Grapes of Wrath", currently at the West Yorkshire Playhouse / Quarry Theatre in Leeds.

THE PRESS

“(…) Damian O’Hare, as Tom Joad, radiates magnetic charisma and old-fashioned masculinity (…)”

THE BRITISH THEATRE GUIDE

“(…) Steinbeck would have been proud of that, and I think he would have approved this production. I can think of no higher praise. (…)”

LEEDS STUDENT ONLINE

“(…) Damian O’Hare gives a stellar performance as Tom Joad, the headstrong idealist of the family, recently returned from prison. His deep Southern drawl is impeccable, as are the accents of others, creating a realism that pervades the play. (…)”

DIGYORKSHIRE.COM ****

“(…) Stand-out performances come from Damian O’Hare playing Tom Joad, a parolee who becomes increasingly militant as their journey progresses. (…)”

THE PUBLIC REVIEWS

“(…) Damian O’Hare as Tom Joad manages to get increasingly militant without alienating or irritating the audience. (…)”

YORKSHIRE POST

“(…) A difficult play for difficult times, perhaps, but like the scorched earth of the Californian desert it too often fails to show signs of life. (…)”

TWITTER SAYS…

“(…) Superb production with full rainstorm on stage. Glad not sitting at front. (…)” – @ Woman_In_White

“(…) It was very good, but by the end I did want to jump off a cliff. Not a happy ending. (…)” – @ILoveTK37

“(…) grapes of misery..I mean wrath , last night. Christopher timothy played pa, with a James Herriot on true blood accent. (…)” – @ sophieroberts17

“(…) Just saw an excellent production of the Grapes of Wrath – moving. Up the People! (…)” – @photographworks

“(…) It is not often I am moved to tears by a theatre production, but the English Touring Theatre’s performance of The Grapes Of Wrath had me thanking my lucky stars that my husband remembered to bring his handkerchief, which I borrowed and used liberally throughout. (…)” – @ KateSlaterPR

“The Grapes of Wrath”: review(s) of performance at Theatre Royal in Plymouth

Updated as reviews turn up.

THE HERALD: “A COMPELLING, EPIC DRAMA”

“(…) Damian O’Hare as virtuous yet tough ex jailbird anti-hero Tom takes up Casey’s standard and becomes labour organiser… (…)”

“(…) Drama can be grim and gruelling, but it can be uplifting too. Here it even finds shafts of humour. Utterly compelling.  (…)”

“The Grapes of Wrath”: review(s) of performance at New Wimbledon Theatre

Here’s a first review of last weekend’s performances of “The Grapes of Wrath” at New Wimbledon Theatre. I’ll update this post if there should be more.

THIS IS CROYDON TODAY

“(…) Despite being superbly acted by the large English Touring Theatre cast, under the direction of Jonathan Church, the three hours of unremitting misery which it entails as the sad story of the Joad family unfolds is heavy duty stuff. (…)”

“(…) Damian O’Hare hit the right mood as Tom Joad, fresh out of jail and looking for a new life. (…)”

Someone suggested to look for reviews on Twitter. I did, and looking for “Grapes of Wrath” was a hoot: students winging about being forced to read the book (“grapes of wrath is rly booooorin”), metal bands on tour, banned books, other students complaining about the ending (“grossest ending ever!!!“)  – and even some reviews!

Looking for information on twitter is more fun than google, no doubt (“I’m dying a slow wine inflicted death. Grapes of wrath.” \o/ ) .

“(…) Fairly intense. (…)”

“(…) Very moving. (…)“

“(…) Funny to watch Brits do American Oklahoma accents! (…)“

“(…) In the interval of marvellous production of The Grapes of Wrath at Wimbledon… (…)“

“(…) v focused story (no subplot to spk of) & sad! Good acting, rain & set. (…)“

“(…) could be a bit shorter, but gave good feel of epic journey across USA &portrayed massive courage of family. Recommended! (…)“

“(…) (play) was ‘meh’. Not engaging enough for me to truly enjoy. Hammy acting. Slow and tired storytelling. (…)“

As I don’t know the netiquette for linking to Twitter posts, there aren’t any source links here. Should you be the author of any of those quotes and want a link back to your twitter (or have the quote removed), please leave a note. Commenting on this one post is enabled.

Then are two previews for the performance at the King’s Theatre in Edinburgh

THE LIST

HERALD SCOTLAND

and the Theatre Royal in Plymouth:

THE HERALD

“Taking the Flak”: DVD Review

Disclaimer: I’m not moonlighting as cheapjack movie critic here, I just really think your money will be spent on a good product. We all have bills to pay and a life to manage; £11.48 (through Amazon) is a lot of money for many of us, so I feel decent information before you buy is nothing but fair. If I thought otherwise, I wouldn’t recommend the DVD, no matter who’s on the show.

Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Martin Jarvis, Joanna Brookes, Doon Mackichan and Damian O'Hare in "Taking the Flak".

Don’t judge this DVD by its cover! If you like your DVD to come with printed information of any kind, then you’ll be disappointed. I’d at least expected a list of the episodes and their titles. All you get is a blurb which once again mentions “irritably-bowelled” Margaret, an “aspect” of the character that only turned up in the pilot, was annoying to the ninth and luckily got dropped for all future episodes. Jane is described as hard-nosed, which is rubbish and gives a wrong impression of the character. The way this DVD looks, it will be difficult for anybody to tell the difference between the real thing and a pirated copy…

But it’s the content that counts, and here, the “Taking the Flak” DVD is definitely not on the cheap side.

EPISODES

On two DVDs, you will find all seven episodes of the series, including the one-hour pilot. Due to the unrests that broke out in Kenya after production of the first episode, the work on the series was interrupted for many months and production was moved to Tanzania. It shows; not only does the 30 minute format suit the series better than the 60 minutes it was waltzed out to for the pilot, the first episode also suffers from some  awkward scenes and jokes which are simply not funny. The series improved from episode to episode, and those who gave it a chance after the pilot were not disappointed.