Three Days of Rain in Three Days of Rain (Theatre 2009) Forum

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Three Days of Rain

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Very qwerty	Three Days of Rain		Lead	[-]
Posts: 1662 Oct 24 08 4:51 AM	Tags : None Remove this ad We've just received some good news about a new stage role for James, so I thought I'd start this new theater thread. Big screen leading man James McAvoy is ending several months of selfimposed exile and easing his way back into the limelight - with a return to the stage. The actor will star with Nigel Harman in Richard Greenberg's poignant drama Three Days Of Rain in the West End early in the New Year, a decade after it was premiered in London with Colin Firth. Julia Roberts appeared in a Broadway version a couple of years ago but it depresses me to even recall that one. But with McAvoy and Harman, Three Days Of Rain is in good hands. Both began their careers in the theatre and return as often as they can. Interestingly, before they were 'names', both appeared at the Donmar in Privates On Parade. Previews for Three Days Of Rain start at the Apollo, Shaftesbury Avenue on January 30, with an official first night on February 10. The play, a favourite of mine, is very much about parents and children. In the first act, a brother and sister, along with a childhood friend, meet up at a Manhattan apartment to discuss the legacy of their parents. They notice a diary entry which reads, intriguingly, 'three days of rain'. 'It could mean absolutely anything,' said Caro Newling, one of the producers, who runs Neal Street Productions with Sam Mendes and Pippa Harris. In the second act we go back in time and discover what those four little words refer to. Both McAvoy and Harman get to play the fathers of the characters they play in the first act. The play's director, Jamie Lloyd, and other producers Nick Frankfort and Tobias Round are in the process of casting the play's third, and only female, role. I was on the German location of McAvoy's most recent picture, The Last Station, and the actor told me how he wanted to 'disappear' and take a break for a few months after having shot The Last King Of Scotland, Atonement, Wanted and other movies back to back without a proper break. Rehearsals for Three Days will start after the Yuletide holidays. Source Feel free to post any info or reviews of the play! EDIT: I renamed this thread "Three Days of Rain", because I figure most of the discussion will be on that. Edited 1 time by Very qwerty Oct 27 08 5:26 AM.
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rorysgirl riedel		#1	[url]	[-]
Permanent Resident Posts: 3844 Oct 24 08 5:32 AM Writer of James Fiction	Question: How can he do this and do the animated movie?
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Larisie		#2	[url]	[-]
Permanent Resident Posts: 4377 Oct 24 08 5:37 AM Canadian Sweetheart	Well, firstly it depends when/where they will be holding the voice overs for the animated film. Then really at most its a few days to a week for the voicing so it won't take much time out of James' schedule to do that. So yes. lol Hmm...Reading week is Feb. 16-20...do I see a trip coming my way? My brother is going to Germany, Prague and Austria during his March Break, so only fair I get to go somewhere too!!!
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Very qwerty		#3	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1662 Oct 24 08 5:43 AM	I also have some questions... (reposting them from the Rumored Projects thread) - What are previews? - How are they different from actual performances? - Do theaters do weekend performances by any chance?? (I don't think so, but can anyone confirm?) - How long do you guys think it'll run for? I want to go so badly! I have to think of a way to make this happen.
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Larisie		#4	[url]	[-]
Permanent Resident Posts: 4377 Oct 24 08 5:59 AM Canadian Sweetheart	Just answered you in the other thread, qwerty!
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elsie		#5	[url]	[-]
Owns spare key to the front door Posts: 684 Oct 24 08 6:36 PM Board Contributor	I found this review from Pirates on Parade in 2001. Privates on Parade Venue: Where: Date Reviewed: 11 December 2001 WOS Rating: Average Reader Rating: Reader Reviews: View and add to our user reviews In the same week that the National Theatre revives Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific, chronicling wartime operations and romance in the South Sea islands, the Donmar Warehouse offers a completely different view of a British army entertainment corps working in Singapore and Malaya in 1948. The two shows couldn't illustrate the differences between an American and British sensibility towards their subject more deftly than these do. While South Pacific employs sentiment and lush tunes to provide an uplifting experience of the heart, Privates on Parade uses ironic humour and a sparsely functional, mostly pastiche set of songs to provide a journey through a dark night of the soul. Both, however, are informed by their essential humanity: the conflicts against which their stories are set allow both Hammerstein and Privates playwright Peter Nichols to explore character as much as situation. But Privates on Parade is also essentially different to South Pacific, too, in as much as its not quite a musical, nor yet just a play. The audacious Nichols threads Denis King's jaunty little melodies through his narrative to counterpoint the darker points he has to make. The tone is at once cynical yet heartfelt, rueful and rude. In Michael Grandage's production, which expertly captures these shifting qualities, it is Roger Allam's larger-than-life yet absolutely truthful performance of Acting Captain Terri Dennis, the grande dame of the entertainment corps, that brings it to soaring life. Allam, the original Javert in Les Miserables and star of the London production of City of Angels but who has also had a substantial career in classical theatre, is one of our finest actors. He proves it yet again by anchoring the production in a compassionate yet unsentimental portrait of a man with greasepaint in his blood, lead in his gay pencil and the most tender of hearts. No less brilliant is Malcolm Sinclair's Major Giles Flack, completely at sea in the leadership department but attempting to provide it to the wonderfully eclectic troupe that Nichols has created. Seen through the eyes of new arrival Private Steven Flowers (James McAvoy), whose virginity is eventually given up to Indira Varma's beautiful Sylvia, they make fine company. The show, meanwhile, remains provocative viewing, and completes the rehabilitation of Peter Nichols's dramatic reputation, begun last year with the Donmar's revival of Passion Play and continued with the current West End staging of A Day in the Death of Joe Egg. - Mark Shenton Source
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Very qwerty		#6	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1662 Oct 24 08 10:30 PM	More info on 3 Days of Rain: James McAvoy and Nigel Harman will return to the West End next year to star in Richard Greenberg's Three Days Of Rain, which plays at the Apollo theatre from 30 January to 2 May (press night 10 February). Three Days Of Rain, which received its UK premiere at the Donmar Warehouse in 1999, explores how the private worlds of one generation are reinterpreted by the next. The play follows Walker Janeway and sister Nan who reunite for the reading of their father's will in the Manhattan loft where he lived. A wealthy architect, Ned's legacy is an iconic house designed with his late business partner Theo. Joined by Theo's son Pip, they discover Ned's diary which contains the mysterious words 'three days of rain', the only clue to the truth about their parents' past. The trio of actors play characters in both generations. McAvoy, who plays both Walker and father Ned, was last seen on the London stage in Breathing Corpses at the Royal Court in 2005 and appeared with Harman in Privates On Parade at the Donmar Warehouse in 2001. But BAFTA-nominated McAvoy is now best known for his big screen appearances which include the high profile films Atonement, The Last King Of Scotland, Wanted, Becoming Jane and Starter For Ten. Since his time playing Dennis Rickman in soap EastEnders, Harman (Pip/Theo) has frequented the London stage in Guys And Dolls at the Piccadilly, The Caretaker at the Tricycle and, this year, The Common Pursuit at the Menier Chocolate Factory. The pair - who will be joined in the cast by an as-yet unannounced actress - are directed in Three Days Of Rain by Jamie Lloyd, Associate Director at the Donmar Warehouse, who previously directed Harman in The Caretaker and in Michael Grandage's production of Guys And Dolls, for which he was Assistant Director. Lloyd's other directorial credits include The Lover & The Collection at the Comedy and Piaf at the Donmar, which has just transferred to the Vaudeville. Playwright Greenberg's numerous plays include Take Me Out, Night And Her Stars, The American Plan, The Author's Voice and The Bloodletters. Currently at the Apollo is the new stage adaptation of Rain Man, starring Josh Hartnett and Adam Godley, which is booking until 20 December ---- Ok, I MUST see this. There is no way I can let myself miss seeing James on stage (especially after I missed him 3 times in Toronto! ) I checked the tickets and the opening night (Feb 10) is already sold out! How??! The tickets just went on sale today... grr. Does anyone have any recommendations for a good day to pick? Or tell me when you're planing on going so that I can maybe make it on the same day, otherwise I'm just going to blindly pick a day. (I'm thinking Friday or Saturday night).
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Very qwerty		#7	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1662 Oct 24 08 10:42 PM	You can book your ticket HERE.
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carbonyard		#8	[url]	[-]
Knows where the spare key is hidden Posts: 475 Oct 25 08 1:03 AM Official News Gatherer	Qwerty, 10 Feb is sold out because it's press night. I'm booked for the 12th!
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Very qwerty		#9	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1662 Oct 25 08 1:43 AM	Oops, you're right, carbonyard. I'm definitely set on attending this... especially since I've been wanting to go to London for the last couple of years. I will probably then go during the Easter holidays when I'll get time off (Apr 10 to Apr 13), and I'm thinking of booking a ticket for Saturday April 11 at 7:30pm. Did you pick the stalls? Just testing this out with that date, here's what I get: Stalls B1-B1 Adult Price Band A. Does this sound good? (Sounds pretty good to me, but I'd love to hear from anyone with more experience on this). Also, a couple of questions... if the play opens on Feb 10, how are they still booking for Jan 30 - Feb 10 (these would be the previews, but does anyone know what they're all about?), and even though it says that it runs until May 2, the tickets are being sold until May 9? Again, any idea why?
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Larisie		#10	[url]	[-]
Permanent Resident Posts: 4377 Oct 25 08 1:52 AM Canadian Sweetheart	Remove this ad I would be careful booking tickets later in the run. Sometimes actors will switch up halfway through the plays run and someone else will take over that character (like they do with Hairspray or things like that!). Not saying it'll happen, but you never know! Though the run is short enough that James could just do the whole run.
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Very qwerty		#11	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1662 Oct 25 08 1:56 AM	There's no other time I can go, really... unless I just go there for three days (Fri, Sat, and Sun).. but that seems like a bit of a waste, I need to make sure to get my money's worth! But you're right about the later date... though I'm sure James won't do that to his fans... (I hope) Larisie, when are you thinking of going? (if you are)
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Larisie		#12	[url]	[-]
Permanent Resident Posts: 4377 Oct 25 08 4:17 AM Canadian Sweetheart	No, I totally understand that! I'd just hate to see you go all that way and James not performing during the entire duration of the play. Um, if I go, and can get the a-OK... then I'd be there sometime during the week of February 16-20 since its my reading week and the only time before winter exams that I'll be able to go!
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Bluebell66		#13	[url]	[-]
Actually lives here Posts: 1930 Oct 25 08 6:32 AM	Very qwerty wrote: Also, a couple of questions... if the play opens on Feb 10, how are they still booking for Jan 30 - Feb 10 (these would be the previews, but does anyone know what they're all about?) Qwerty, "previews" are when they are still adjusting the play...it can go on as usual, but some scenes and dialogues can still be changed, added or cut from the play, the scenary can be modified, etc, so maybe you'll see a more polished and final version after Feb 10. Usually, the prices are lower than that of the normal run - but I don't know if that's the case with this play. I have to see this...oh I have to see this!!! Why can't I be rich?
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Very qwerty		#14	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1662 Oct 25 08 8:01 AM	Thanks, Bluebell, that makes sense... I'm still not 100% decided as to which date to book (though Saturday, April 11 sounds very good at this point), and I'm going back and forth between picking a matinee or an evening performance. (I'm thinking evening) I hope you'll be able to go. I hope everyone who wants to go is able to go... Edited 1 time by Very qwerty Oct 25 08 8:11 AM.
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kelly4c		#15	[url]	[-]
Knows the way to the fridge Posts: 220 Oct 25 08 8:30 AM	Well I looked it up and airfare round trip will cost me at least $856.00 not to mention a hotel room (don't know how much they charge there) food, etc. AND my husband figured out why I want to go...I had to go and mention a "play" and he says "Oh lemme guess, that British guy (cept he didn't say guy) you're so in love with is in it. He won't let me go when the time comes I know it.
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jmangie		#16	[url]	[-]
Sleeps on the couch Posts: 1335 Oct 25 08 8:41 AM	OMG! I want to go as well! Maybe it will be my 30th B-day present! I'm free all of February and between 7-14/10. Qwerty, what do you say? * Signature by Theresa *
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kelly4c		#17	[url]	[-]
Knows the way to the fridge Posts: 220 Oct 25 08 8:45 AM	Hey, are the ladies who plan on going, would you meet up for this event once in London? If I were to go I would definitely not want to be alone the entire time.
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kelly4c		#18	[url]	[-]
Knows the way to the fridge Posts: 220 Oct 25 08 7:44 PM	Hmm. No answers yet? Did I say something wrong?
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jmangie		#19	[url]	[-]
Sleeps on the couch Posts: 1335 Oct 25 08 7:58 PM	Hi, Kelly, nothing wrong on your part. I'd love to meet you all, if only I'll end up in London... It'll be great!!! * Signature by Theresa *
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BooksnMusic		#20	[url]	[-]
Regular Visitor Posts: 99 Oct 25 08 8:03 PM	Remove this ad Ohhhh....this is such exciting news! And I certainly hope that those who are fortunate enough to attend this play will be able to snap some photos! We who won't be able to see this will have to settle for your reviews. And please report back to us with your tales of actually being able to see James in person on the stage! OK....coming back down to earth! lol! I think this is a very smart career move for James. And I also think this is is "good" for his relationship with Ann-Marie. They seem like such a down to earth and devoted couple. But James is becoming much more well known through out the world and Ann-Marie is still somewhat "under the radar". I have only seen her in Elizabeth (which was on PBS) and a few episodes from Shameless from the second year. (Please don't suggest that I view clips on You Tube as we have dial up) She is such a talented actress but I would hope that his fame does not affect their relationship. And if he's doing a play then even though he won't be getting "world wide" attention.....IMO, it would only help to cement their devotion to each other as she seems to be more involved with Theater then films and TV. Well, just my opinion but I thought it would be an interesting point of view to discuss. I think I'll copy and paste this and add it to the thread on Ann-Marie in the General section.
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