http://blogs.whatsonstage.com/2007/10/30/give-us-a-break-do-me-a-favour/ Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:12:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 http://blogs.whatsonstage.com/2007/10/30/give-us-a-break-do-me-a-favour/#comment-686 Michael Coveney Mon, 05 Nov 2007 23:16:23 +0000 http://blogs.whatsonstage.com/2007/10/30/give-us-a-break-do-me-a-favour/#comment-686 Oh Malcolm, of course, have I forgotten so soon the joys of that Menier interval? (obviously, I have)..no, I haven't, because the scene change was indeed amazing! I shall obviously have to insist that intervals must spruce themselves up in order to justify punctuating very fine productions... I have just returned from the Gate's production of Arrabal's Car Cemetery at the Gate...a two act play with no interval; do you, does anyone, remember Arrabal? ..just as well, probably...I got the distinct impression that some folk in the audience of about 67 might not have returned if there had been one. I would not have followed them. Oh Malcolm, of course, have I forgotten so soon the joys of that Menier interval? (obviously, I have)..no, I haven’t, because the scene change was indeed amazing! I shall obviously have to insist that intervals must spruce themselves up in order to justify punctuating very fine productions… I have just returned from the Gate’s production of Arrabal’s Car Cemetery at the Gate…a two act play with no interval; do you, does anyone, remember Arrabal? ..just as well, probably…I got the distinct impression that some folk in the audience of about 67 might not have returned if there had been one. I would not have followed them.

]]> http://blogs.whatsonstage.com/2007/10/30/give-us-a-break-do-me-a-favour/#comment-676 malcolm sinclair Mon, 05 Nov 2007 18:20:01 +0000 http://blogs.whatsonstage.com/2007/10/30/give-us-a-break-do-me-a-favour/#comment-676 Michael, like you I quite like intervals...did you mean to give the impression that Dealer's Choice at the Chocolate Factory plays straight through sans interval? It doesn't ....our interval falls after the Second Act and this interval and the spectacular scene change done by our amazing SM team of Helena and Teeks greatly adds to the build up of the poker game that is Act Three. Can you have forgotten so soon? Do tell.... Michael, like you I quite like intervals…did you mean to give the impression that Dealer’s Choice at the Chocolate Factory plays straight through sans interval? It doesn’t ….our interval falls after the Second Act and this interval and the spectacular scene change done by our amazing SM team of Helena and Teeks greatly adds to the build up of the poker game that is Act Three. Can you have forgotten so soon? Do tell….

]]> http://blogs.whatsonstage.com/2007/10/30/give-us-a-break-do-me-a-favour/#comment-630 michael brogan Sun, 04 Nov 2007 22:30:37 +0000 http://blogs.whatsonstage.com/2007/10/30/give-us-a-break-do-me-a-favour/#comment-630 hi , speaking as a cast member in 'joe guy' I can give you a little inside info regarding the interval issue..Our director, Femi had originally thought of doing the play without an interval then he had a change of mind and requested both the New Wolsey at Ipswich and the Soho Theatre that we insert one.( One reason being to give Abdul who plays 'joe' a bit of a breather, as well as the rest of us of course...) But in the case of Soho they had already had another show on after ours in the space and couldnt rearrange things; so in effect timetabling was to blame. On a personal note I am in full agreement that intervals are important and do not like the trend towards running shows of over an hour an a half without one. It gives you a mental breather to chew over what you have just seen and also a physical one to relieve yourself by taking on liquids and getting rid of them. Nothing effects my concentration more than a full bladder. I would have thought it would make economic sense for the venues from the extra revenue that interval drinks provide. As a performer I miss them when they are not there... hi ,
speaking as a cast member in ‘joe guy’ I can give you a little inside info regarding the interval issue..Our director, Femi had originally thought of doing the play without an interval then he had a change of mind and requested both the New Wolsey at Ipswich and the Soho Theatre that we insert one.( One reason being to give Abdul who plays ‘joe’ a bit of a breather, as well as the rest of us of course…) But in the case of Soho they had already had another show on after ours in the space and couldnt rearrange things; so in effect timetabling was to blame. On a personal note I am in full agreement that intervals are important and do not like the trend towards running shows of over an hour an a half without one. It gives you a mental breather to chew over what you have just seen and also a physical one to relieve yourself by taking on liquids and getting rid of them. Nothing effects my concentration more than a full bladder. I would have thought it would make economic sense for the venues from the extra revenue that interval drinks provide. As a performer I miss them when they are not there…

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