Rooftopper "Closer" reviews and pics

[lovethemanrs]

. I was lucky enough to see Closer this evening. It was very impressive. The entire cast were excellent. Still reckon Rufus stole the show though. It was funny (extremely funny) in parts, yet tragic at the same time. Brilliant use of the stage and lighting. Sorry no photos of Rufus this time, didn't hang around afterwards. Plan to go up to the play again so hope to get a photo another time maybe. Some of the other Rooftoppers were there tonight so maybe they got lucky.

[jamolivej]

Yes I too was lucky to see the play tonight, sorry last night now. Can't praise it enough, and in such an intimate little theatre, could not have been any Closer!

[GreenEyesToo]

Just got back from London and seeing the play - as LTM says, it was very impressive, very funny at times, very emotional at others. It made me smile to see the actors, including Rufus, effectively used as stagehands throughout the performance, moving the props and furniture around! The audience is kind of wrapped around the stage on three sides and it would have been intrusive to have actual stagehands on the set, so all the moving about was weaved into the changes of scene quite seamlessly.

For those of you lucky enough to have tickets, you're in for a real treat.

We were lucky enough to speak with Rufus for a few minutes. Immediately after the performance, there was a 10-minute "notes" period (which presumably means the actors got some feedback on their performances), then there was a private first night drinks do, and we saw him after that. He looked very happy and relaxed, very lean-looking right now. He spoke about the play and working towards getting it right, and how we were the first to see it. I asked if he was glad the first performance was out of the way: "Oh, God, YES!" He grinned when we mentioned a particular scene which was a little bit...um.....well, raunchy's not quite the right word, but it was certainly unusual (!!!), and sounded quite gleeful about all the swearing throughout (there was a lot!).  I commented on the moving around of props, etc. : "Yes, we get an extra 10 quid a week for that!"  He's so funny. He said that aspect of the play was only added at the last moment, and took a bit of choreographing to get right.

I can't remember most of what he said (sorry! I was a little bit distracted.....  Maybe the others can remember more) but I can definitely Rufus's performance!

Oh, and there might just be some pics from Mr Nell coming at the weekend....   so watch this space!

[adina]

Go on! Tell some more details, all the details! I am so curious, tell me more about Happy Rufus and Swearing Larry and the play and...and about everything!

Yay!

[kissmekate]

Ohhh, thanks for sharing your experiences, ladies! That sounds just fantastic, and I can't wait to see some first pics.

[BuildersPassion]

Thank you so much ladies! Glad you enjoyed it  ! Can´t wait to hear mooooore and maybe see some pictures! 

[lovethemanrs]

Woke around 5am buzzing!! Mainly still thinking about the play, but maybe all those cups of coffee may have taken their toll!! I usually sleep for England. Plus I am a tea drinker!

Yep it sure is an intimate little theatre. It's like you are actually there in the room with them (well you are, but I'm sure you all understand what I mean).

I agree totally with GE2 with regard to the seamless changes of the props and furniture. Whoever thought of that idea, well it was a masterstroke as it was done so beautifully. And yes it would have been extremely intrusive had it been done by stagehands. It would have broken the flow of the play, which was both magnetic and absorbing. Plus it's good to know that Rufus earned himself some extra coffee money!!

So glad some of the Rooftoppers got to see Rufus afterwards. It had been a long day for the actors, apparently they'd been rehearsing during the day before the first performance!!! They must have been exhausted, the play is extremely intense in parts.

Hope Mr Nell comes up trumps with some photos.

And it's soooo much better than the film (IMHO) in so many ways. Fabulous cast. Even when Rufus was not on the stage, I was engrossed in the story. I have to admit that I did find the film rather depressing. Not so the play.

And even at the very start of the play the perception of the props on the stage is altered very cleverly...Can't say more, don't want to spoil it for those yet to go.

Enjoy the play, like I said before, it's impressive.

[walt]

a lot for all the infos about the play and the performance! 

I'm also looking forward to some pics....

[Petruchio - Good God]

ladies for your lovely stories... more details pleeeeez. I am not surprise, Rufus is brilliant again on stage .... just saw "CLOSER" on DVD yesterday (YES, indeed with LTM - the film is rather depressing) and thought of you

Looking forward to the pics....

[midoro]

 Ladies for your reports about the play and performance! Glad you got to have a few words with Rufus GE2! Looking forward to pics!

[judypatooty]

So good to hear the reports from the front lines! I can't wait for Mr. Nell's pics!

[rueful]

So excited and happy for all of you who got to see the show last night!   It sounds amazing.  Thanks so much for sharing your experiences and your thoughts about the performance with the rest of us!      

Tell Mr Nell this is what he can expect from us if he comes up with some pics. 

[nell]

Well I loved it! What a great show. It completely blew the film version out of the water. It was funny, rude (Rufus asked if we were shocked after the first night performance) . I wasn't but overheard a lady telling someone her girlfriend was completely shocked during the interval . But I digress the performances were great and the emotion and energy put in particularly by Rufus was spot on. Rufus also has some great lines and delivers them superbly. There are fleeting sad parts but even in those there is black humour. I also went last night and noticed a few minor changes had been made from the first nights performance. It worked. I can't wait to see it again and see how it's evolved.
All in all a very slick job.  

Below a few pics hubby took on the first night

[GreenEyesToo]

OOOHHH!!!! Thank you very much, Mr Nell - I like my souvenir photo very much indeed! (And that reminds me how soft Rufus's coat material was..... <goes off into a daydream>)

Give Ian a thank you hug from me, please, Nell.

I'd forgotten he asked if we were shocked. The only other bit I remember now was asking him to do a play in summer next time, and him laughing and saying at least it [doing one in winter] gives him a chance to wear his coats and scarves!

[nell]

Tell Mr Nell this is what he can expect from us if he comes up with some pics

Ian says he's waiting Rueful........  

(Lol, that the image is the sultan.  You don't know how appropriate that is.  Or do you?!   )