I’m a huge Rami Malek fan and wish I could mail my eyeballs across the pond so I could see this (I’m American). I’ve read some reviews that loved his performance, some that hated it, and some that were lukewarm. As a fan I naturally hoped for positive reviews but I suppose this is one of those productions that are so unique as to either endear people to it or put them off. He started his career onstage but hasn’t done a stage show in almost 20 years, and I’m proud of him for giving it a go.
It’s definitely a special treat to see your favourite actor perform on stage and Rami Malek is pretty good in this show just not to everyone’s taste as we all have slightly different expectations on how this role should be delivered as it’s such a famous story. It’s great he’s making a stage comeback and who knows maybe he graces US audiences with a theatre show too! 🤞
Ahh he is such a great actor! I think you would've enjoyed this play cause he definitely leaned into strengths of some of his previous characters. Glad I could help with sharing at least a little fraction about this play. :)
I thought it was an immaculate production, although I don't disagree with you entirely at all. I think it is indeed, down to a matter of taste. None of your 'revisions' would be out of place, but I'm not 100% convinced that I would want them. For me, I enjoyed Rami's detachment - and his wife not being quite able to reach him emotionally. This felt right at the point in the story where things were so desperate and desolate in Thebes; his detachment felt dystopian and felt relevant. I felt deeply for Oedipus because, through Rami's portrayal, he seemed as though he had been a compassionate leader who had difficult choices to make for all those he cared for and was responsible for. And thus, he shut part of himself off to do it. And of course, I felt great pity for Jocasta. I could not have asked for more from that performance. What I found so special about the dancing was it was first and foremost, visceral. I stopped trying to interpret the story through the dance. I just felt it. The seamless melding of dance styles again (including in costume) brought me into a dystopian vision of that world. I will likely, see it again, once the actors have settled in.
Thank you so much for taking time to watch my video and share your thoughts! I really appreciate it! :) Firstly, I'm really happy to hear you enjoyed the production - there's no better feeling than going to theatre and show exceeding your expectations! It's super interesting to hear how you really resonated with certain character choices that pushed me away but that's the beauty of it as everyone will resonate slightly differently with this production. I totally agree with you about dancing scenes - I also found them really powerful and refreshing! They definitely made me feel something that I didn't feel when watching the rest of the cast. That's a great shout! I'm sure it will get better as they perform it more! Hope you get to see it again! :)
So, I think I did the right thing by skipping on this show and choosing mind-blowing version at Wyndham’s theatre featuring Lesley Manville and Mark Strong What a show it was. Thanks for your review
Thank you for watching and commenting - really appreciate it! ☺ I didn't manage to catch that one but reading reviews, it sounds like it was a really good one! Shame these two productions were scheduled so close to each other!
I've seen both and mark strong and Lesley Manville were far superior . The dancing at the old Vic was over long and disconnected Overall I agree with the views about Indira Varma . She was doing her best with a thin script. Odd modern references jarred Finally there were quite a few walk outs during the performance
I'm in two minds of seeing this show, as seeing a couple of other shows next month like COME ALIVE! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular, also in May going to see-The First Step which as you prob know has Martin Freeman + Jack Lowden and also in March as you know with the London revival of Starlight Express 😀 I loved the version of Oedipus version at Wyndham’s theatre featuring Lesley Manville and Mark Strong 🤘🏻 BTW-have you watched them Starlight Express videos I sent you a few weeks ago????
So many great shows lined up! Unless you are a big fan of these actors or Oedipus, I think it might not be worth it, especially given that you’ve seen the one with Mark Strong recently. But if you can get some cheap tickets, it’s definitely worth checking out as this production has some great aspects too! I have seen them! Thank you for sending them - so authentic! So good how you managed to find them! ☺️
@@KristinaEmilyOfficial Yea-can't wait 🙌🏻 Wouldn't say I'm a big fan of them actors but don't mind them-I will def try and see it before it closes in late March. You're welcome for me sending you them links, yeah so authentic ☺ Did you have a fav video out of the 4???
It's only now, having watched your excellent review for this show (I have tickets for March), that I've realised that it's not the same production as the Mark Strong one. At all. I hadn't paid too much attention and had thought it was just a cast change. Don't get me wrong, I'm definitely looking forward to it, it's just I'd heard amazing word of mouth about the other show. Turns out I'm too late for that production. Huh.
Oh no! Sorry to hear I was the bearer of bad news. Oedipus with Mark Strong literally closed a couple of weeks before the adaptation with Rami Malek opened at the Old Vic so no wonder you thought that. It’s a shame having them so close together. Hope you still find certain elements of this show to enjoy!
I decided not to go and see this one and wondered whether I made a mistake in not getting a ticket, but your review convinced me I made the right decision. It just seems a bit gimmicky to me. Malek looks more like a little boy there than a leader of a state. I'm going to see Elektra next week, hopefully that's not going to be a let-down.
Ah glad I could help! I really wish it was better than this…I had high hopes for it. Amazing, it’s on my list definitely but will try get Rush tickets one of the days if it’s not sold out. ☺️ hope you enjoy it!
I was rather underwhelmed. Dancing seemed out of place - almost like a Bollywood movie. Acting was good, but the story was too much on the nose and there wasn't much more to it than the 'kill the father, marry the mother'. Stage design was underwhelming. It was almost like they tried to use no props at all, but had to use a couple. Tape recorder was an odd choice.
I totally agree with you about the tape recorder…I was a little bit like ‘whaaaat?’ 😂 just a weird blend of new and old. But dancers were refreshing to me, honestly not sure how I’d sit through the whole show if they weren’t there.
I’m a huge Rami Malek fan and wish I could mail my eyeballs across the pond so I could see this (I’m American). I’ve read some reviews that loved his performance, some that hated it, and some that were lukewarm. As a fan I naturally hoped for positive reviews but I suppose this is one of those productions that are so unique as to either endear people to it or put them off. He started his career onstage but hasn’t done a stage show in almost 20 years, and I’m proud of him for giving it a go.
It’s definitely a special treat to see your favourite actor perform on stage and Rami Malek is pretty good in this show just not to everyone’s taste as we all have slightly different expectations on how this role should be delivered as it’s such a famous story. It’s great he’s making a stage comeback and who knows maybe he graces US audiences with a theatre show too! 🤞
I absolutely ADORE Rami Malek and am so sad to be in the US 😭😭😭 thank you for letting me live vicariously just a bit :’)
Ahh he is such a great actor! I think you would've enjoyed this play cause he definitely leaned into strengths of some of his previous characters. Glad I could help with sharing at least a little fraction about this play. :)
I thought it was an immaculate production, although I don't disagree with you entirely at all. I think it is indeed, down to a matter of taste. None of your 'revisions' would be out of place, but I'm not 100% convinced that I would want them.
For me, I enjoyed Rami's detachment - and his wife not being quite able to reach him emotionally. This felt right at the point in the story where things were so desperate and desolate in Thebes; his detachment felt dystopian and felt relevant. I felt deeply for Oedipus because, through Rami's portrayal, he seemed as though he had been a compassionate leader who had difficult choices to make for all those he cared for and was responsible for. And thus, he shut part of himself off to do it.
And of course, I felt great pity for Jocasta. I could not have asked for more from that performance.
What I found so special about the dancing was it was first and foremost, visceral. I stopped trying to interpret the story through the dance. I just felt it. The seamless melding of dance styles again (including in costume) brought me into a dystopian vision of that world.
I will likely, see it again, once the actors have settled in.
Thank you so much for taking time to watch my video and share your thoughts! I really appreciate it! :)
Firstly, I'm really happy to hear you enjoyed the production - there's no better feeling than going to theatre and show exceeding your expectations! It's super interesting to hear how you really resonated with certain character choices that pushed me away but that's the beauty of it as everyone will resonate slightly differently with this production.
I totally agree with you about dancing scenes - I also found them really powerful and refreshing! They definitely made me feel something that I didn't feel when watching the rest of the cast.
That's a great shout! I'm sure it will get better as they perform it more! Hope you get to see it again! :)
So, I think I did the right thing by skipping on this show and choosing mind-blowing version at Wyndham’s theatre featuring Lesley Manville and Mark Strong
What a show it was. Thanks for your review
Thank you for watching and commenting - really appreciate it! ☺ I didn't manage to catch that one but reading reviews, it sounds like it was a really good one! Shame these two productions were scheduled so close to each other!
I've seen both and mark strong and Lesley Manville were far superior . The dancing at the old Vic was over long and disconnected
Overall I agree with the views about Indira Varma . She was doing her best with a thin script. Odd modern references jarred
Finally there were quite a few walk outs during the performance
I really like the dance snippets here, but can you record video in theatre during the performance?
No.
No, but this was after the curtain call. They literally did a 10 second dance. ☺️
I'm in two minds of seeing this show, as seeing a couple of other shows next month like COME ALIVE! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular, also in May going to see-The First Step which as you prob know has Martin Freeman + Jack Lowden and also in March as you know with the London revival of Starlight Express 😀
I loved the version of Oedipus version at Wyndham’s theatre featuring Lesley Manville and Mark Strong 🤘🏻
BTW-have you watched them Starlight Express videos I sent you a few weeks ago????
So many great shows lined up! Unless you are a big fan of these actors or Oedipus, I think it might not be worth it, especially given that you’ve seen the one with Mark Strong recently. But if you can get some cheap tickets, it’s definitely worth checking out as this production has some great aspects too!
I have seen them! Thank you for sending them - so authentic! So good how you managed to find them! ☺️
@@KristinaEmilyOfficial Yea-can't wait 🙌🏻
Wouldn't say I'm a big fan of them actors but don't mind them-I will def try and see it before it closes in late March.
You're welcome for me sending you them links, yeah so authentic ☺
Did you have a fav video out of the 4???
It's only now, having watched your excellent review for this show (I have tickets for March), that I've realised that it's not the same production as the Mark Strong one. At all. I hadn't paid too much attention and had thought it was just a cast change. Don't get me wrong, I'm definitely looking forward to it, it's just I'd heard amazing word of mouth about the other show. Turns out I'm too late for that production. Huh.
Oh no! Sorry to hear I was the bearer of bad news. Oedipus with Mark Strong literally closed a couple of weeks before the adaptation with Rami Malek opened at the Old Vic so no wonder you thought that. It’s a shame having them so close together. Hope you still find certain elements of this show to enjoy!
I decided not to go and see this one and wondered whether I made a mistake in not getting a ticket, but your review convinced me I made the right decision. It just seems a bit gimmicky to me. Malek looks more like a little boy there than a leader of a state. I'm going to see Elektra next week, hopefully that's not going to be a let-down.
Ah glad I could help! I really wish it was better than this…I had high hopes for it. Amazing, it’s on my list definitely but will try get Rush tickets one of the days if it’s not sold out. ☺️ hope you enjoy it!
I was rather underwhelmed. Dancing seemed out of place - almost like a Bollywood movie. Acting was good, but the story was too much on the nose and there wasn't much more to it than the 'kill the father, marry the mother'. Stage design was underwhelming. It was almost like they tried to use no props at all, but had to use a couple. Tape recorder was an odd choice.
I totally agree with you about the tape recorder…I was a little bit like ‘whaaaat?’ 😂 just a weird blend of new and old. But dancers were refreshing to me, honestly not sure how I’d sit through the whole show if they weren’t there.
@@KristinaEmilyOfficial I feel the dancers are just padding to get it to an acceptable length. Otherwise it would hardly even be 1 hour long.