Glad you enjoyed it Pearl! Sweet Damien dreams!

Everyone seemed to enjoy it where I was watching. Everyone laughed at the jokes and I heard one woman say that she cried.

I thought it was a better performance than the one I went to see at the theatre but I guess they know how many more people will be watching around the world. This is the performance that's being kept for posterity!

Didn't Damien look magnificent on the big screen!

Pearl - really pleased that you got to see it...and that you enjoyed it!

Rosie - Oh!  Didn't he just!  And I was stupidly excited about going to see DaMo at the cinema....couldn't stop grinning all the way there!

Poetical - It's interesting to wonder what changes might have been made.  I think Tom Stoppard said that changes were even made during the previews, but I've read my copy (which must have been printed before the run started) and didn't notice any differences....

I thought it worked quite well on the screen - it's a play of dialogue...conversation rather than action - and watching from the auditorium it felt rather static whereas the viewpoint of the camera brings you into the conversation more effectively.  I think that having already seen it probably made a difference too...I kinda knew what to expect. Although I think I'd forgotten how much I laughed!

I still find myself wondering if I've missed something.  I've never studied philosophy or psychology, I'm not a scientist and I know virtually nothing about neuroscience...but I don't feel that it provoked any thoughts or ideas which I haven't previously mused over. 

I still don't like Hilary very much!  And I find it surprising that everyone seems to view her as a sympathetic character.....i just haven't warmed to her at all.  Whereas I've definately found myself warming to Spike - I didn't find him so objectionable as I did first time.... And I think that their relationship is somewhat more complex than I thought at first.

Anyway...I need to go to bed now!  Really interested to hear what everyone else thinks....

 

 

 

 

 

I thought that Spike seemed more caring towards Hilary in this performance than when I saw it in the theatre last month, particularly in the Venice bedroom scene. He seemed a lot more callous when I saw it before and this time he did seem to be genuinely concerned that she was upset. I did feel when I saw it before that it was not obvious why Hilary would put up with Spike, apart from the obvious (!), but I felt that there was more genuine feeling between them both this time round.

I agree fifi, that seeing it before helped. Because I knew what to expect and had had more time to mull over the dialogue/concepts, I enjoyed it more. I took more notice of facial expressions and the actors' movements than I did before and I also agree that the camera angles made it more immersive.

It was definitely interesting to see it again, it did feel like there had been some development in the way the actors portrayed their characters rather than changes to the dialogue as such. Perhaps it was because I went to a Saturday matinee performance so there wasn't the energy that there was last night. I'm sure that knowing there are thousands of people watching you all around the world would give you certain amount of motivation!

Poetical - He laughed after some of his jokes when I went to see it at the theatre last month too, so I wonder if that is just a character trait for Spike?

Rather than reading though the whole thread are there general opinions or questions asked, I loved it but I have an interest in neurology, psychology and nuture or nature.... And of course Spike was my favourite...

My submission to IMDb for The Hard Problem (NT Live broadcast) has been approved!

The Hard Problem | IMDb

Good to see Damien's filmography growing!

Damien Molony | IMDb

 

 

Took my friend to see this play, she liked it very much and this was the first production with Damien she saw. She told me that all those actors are so talented and I asked what she thought about Damien (she knows I'm a fan) and she said that now she knows why I'm a fan! She said that play had nothing but talking in it, so it takes absolutely fantastic and talented actor to make conversations like those intense and interesting. She does theatre herself and she told me that if you can make conversation about anything as interesting like that was (you know there are few moments when you feel huge urge to jump middle of those arguments that Spike and Hilary are having) without not much other action in it you can be nothing but very, very talented! I was so happy!

Not so sure about that Rosie;) But now she finally understand me little better (and my fandom which we talked after the play) and was impressed by Damien's work at the play, that was great! :)

New NT video discussing The Hard Problem (sadly no Damo!)

It must be really sad to finish such a long run and have to say goodbye to everyone.

To anyone who has seen the play, we would love to hear your thoughts!

Come and give your 'review' here

Vote in the POLL here

and not forgetting..

the Spike Questionnaire here

And.. talking of The Hard Problem, the play is about to debut in the US at the Wilma Theater, with actor Ross Beschler playing Spike. 

Tom Stoppard will be in converstation with scientist David Chalmers after the show on Monday December 14 at 4:30pm PST (Los Angeles) / 6:30pm CST (Chicago) / 7:30pm EST (New York). Livestream here!