HangletonGull
Well-known member
- Apr 10, 2023
- 2,747
Watching it now brilliant
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[TV] Inside No. 9 - New Series
- Thread starter Beach Hut
- Start date
- Oct 17, 2008
- 17,003
Brilliant! No spoilers please! Astonished no cast have been announced. I’ve got an idea what they have planned, but I’m not sharing!
Huge fan of the show as you know - very excited for this one, no excuses lads.
- Oct 17, 2008
- 17,003
I see the whole run is sold out - I bought them the day they went on sale. Sadly no room for it to extend, as The Master Builder starring Ewan McGregor goes in 12 days later. Could transfer or more likely tour though.
hart's shirt
Well-known member
The Guardian's review:
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-...ng-behind-the-scenes-tale-of-a-modern-classic
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-...ng-behind-the-scenes-tale-of-a-modern-classic
Tony Le Mesmer
Well-known member
Going in February and very much looking forward to it!
HangletonGull
Well-known member
- Apr 10, 2023
- 2,747
Why did it feel like Reece and Steve where playing us it felt like they where smirking at us and with the ending of the programme as well
Professor Plum
Well-known member
- Jul 27, 2024
- 1,242
There are standing tickets at the back of the stall and circles. Just bought 2. £22 each.
hart's shirt
Well-known member
And I'm just back from the Saturday show of Stage/Fright!
@jcdenton08 - you asked me for no spoilers, so of course I'm going to honour that as tempting as it would be mention the sur....sorry, I can't do it.
But let me say that those of you who've got tickets won't be disappointed. For those who haven't, it's a sell-out bar the odd ticket on returns. Get one.
It got roars of approval and a standing ovation at the end from many of us in the theatre. Well deserved and something unlike anything I've seen before.
The cast list was pinned up surreptitiously on the theatre door a few days ago without any fanfare or prior notice. Of course they'd do it that way!
I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I did.
- Oct 17, 2008
- 17,003
So excited!!! Thank you for your thoughts, can’t wait!!!And I'm just back from the Saturday show of Stage/Fright!
@jcdenton08 - you asked me for no spoilers, so of course I'm going to honour that as tempting as it would be mention the sur....sorry, I can't do it.
But let me say that those of you who've got tickets won't be disappointed. For those who haven't, it's a sell-out bar the odd ticket on returns. Get one.
It got roars of approval and a standing ovation at the end from many of us in the theatre. Well deserved and something unlike anything I've seen before.
The cast list was pinned up surreptitiously on the theatre door a few days ago without any fanfare or prior notice. Of course they'd do it that way!
I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I did.
- Oct 17, 2008
- 17,003
Inside Number 9 - Stage/Fright.
Spoiler tagging whole thing because it’s a review but also a write up of what happens, including spoilers - obviously
Spoiler tagging whole thing because it’s a review but also a write up of what happens, including spoilers - obviously
Royal Circle row D 15-16 - £87.75 each(!), booked the day of general sale last year. Before I begin, just some thoughts on the Wyndham’s from an accessibility aspect, as I was taking my ambulant disabled mother.
The venue remains just about the worst in the West End in terms of accessibility. There is one (1) accessible toilet in the entire building. This is accessed by leaving the theatre, and entering a rear door which opens into a box at the very rear of the auditorium. This box is awful.
Firstly, these are the only wheelchair access seats available for each production, with space for two wheelchairs. The box is behind the front row and backs directly onto Charing Cross Road. The Royal Circle overhang comes out so far, that the entire top half of the stage is blocked, making these seats appallingly restricted view. This would be a big issue in this production, where a large screen is used in the plot in the second act for a large portion, and would be impossible to see. But worst of all, to even access the box, a FOH staff member is required advance notice of one’s intention to be using the toilet ahead of arrival. This is for two reasons, firstly, with two wheelchairs in the small box there isn’t room to manoeuvre to access the attached toilet. And secondly, and most bafflingly, the box itself isn’t accessible from within the auditorium, and actually requires a user to go down several STAIRS to get inside. Whilst I was told a lift is available, I was also told I would’ve needed to notify them in advance. Absolutely horrendous.
Unfortunately, with the lack of a disabled toilet, Mum struggled with the very low down seats in the ladies lavatory, and was unable to get up. After 10 minutes waiting, and 5 minutes from curtain up, I asked a female usher for help and out they came together. When we did go up to take our (narrow) seats, someone was already in one of them and had to be shuffled out as he was on the wrong level. We took our seats with a second spare, and tried not to let the stress of the toilet situation ruin the afternoon. Cue immediately deafening jump scare.
So, this is going to be a combination of a review, some thoughts, constant spoilers and descriptions of what actually happens in this production. With the show almost at the end of its run, I appreciate a lot of people may be curious about what the show actually consists of and how certain sections work (like the celebrity guest, for example). Sorry if I make any mistakes/misinterpreted anything and feel free to correct. It was a bit of a blur to be honest!
I’m a big Inside No. 9 fan; and have seen every episode several times. I can’t imagine having enjoyed this at all if I wasn’t, as it is an incredibly meta and self-referential couple of hours (2hr 20, incl. 20min interval).
The show begins with the aforementioned jump scare, and subsequent nervous giggling from all round. It then goes into a 5-10 minute piece set in a theatre, with cast remembers watching Hamlet(?). A noisy man with multiple ringing phones and using FaceTime on a laptop (Pemberton) is vying to be the most obnoxious with a loud posh woman (unwrapping sushi) and her deaf elderly father rustling away, while Shearsmith’s character becomes increasingly irate. Being Inside No. 9, this leads to Reece murdering each of them one by one to enjoy the show in peace. The whole skit is obviously Steve and Reece asking the audience in their own way to shut up and enjoy the moment. Naturally, the second the skit ended, the lady right next to me got out her phone to check a txt message. Sigh. In the first moments, without speaking, Reece looks slightly “off”, like a lookalike. He leaves and is replaced by the real
Reece in the first moments of the sketch. This comes back later.
Downstage there’s an apron scene with Steve and Reece introducing the overarching premise of the show, the tradition of the “ghost light” in the theatre and the ghost which haunts the Wyndham’s. Apparently a stunt in a production of “Terror in the Asylum” went horribly wrong in the past, and the actress who died haunts the theatre and inhibits the body of leading ladies to this day, driving them to murder - or something. It’s silly, fun stuff.
We then go into the vast majority of the episode “Bernie Clifton’s Dressing Room”, which I won’t detail here. All of the moments and jokes are largely the same (the bottles of beer, the box skit), using the same script with a couple of deviations.
The biggest change comes when Reece’s character Thomas aka Tommy aka one half of Cheese & Crackers, a forgotten variety double act, reads a planned comeback script written by Len (Steve). After a quick change this gets played out on stage and is staged as a comedy kidnapping by inept criminals. The bungling duo get the wrong address (and a call back to the episode “A Quiet Night In”), and kidnap the wrong person - a famous celebrity.
As we know, the celebrity changes each performance, and at our performance we had Elaine Paige. I can’t help but feel this was written for the benefit of Steve and Reece more than anything else! They play out some semi-rehearsed patter, with Steve’s character getting Page’s credits wrong, lots of corpsing both real and simulated, and eventually Page tries to escape (including reference to the episode “Sardines”). She is then shot dead. End scene! It’s a silly bit of fluff and gave some good laughs. I was pleased to have gotten Elaine Paige, who happily leant in to the staginess of it all.
The second act begins with a production of “Terror in the Asylum”, with Reece as a crazed patient and Steve as an insane surgeon. Plenty of laughs and farce here (and some gross out gore as Reece under hypnosis saws his own leg off). This is revealed to be a rehearsal, and Reece is the co-star and director. From here things go even more meta, with a lengthy video sequence with both live and pre-recorded sections. Characters even mention how overdone live video sections are nowadays!
The useless TikTok/pop star leading lady is seemingly haunted by the ghost, but it all turns out to be a hoax by the director in order to get her to quit for business reasons to sell tickets (and because she’s rubbish). This brings the biggest laugh of the evening and a show stopping applause. He gets his comeuppance from the “real ghost” who has possessed an ambitious usher.
Things go even more meta at the end, as it is revealed that Reece actually died during rehearsals of the show, and his role had been “played” all evening by understudy Toby. It is all very meta, very silly and very Inside No. 9.
Naturally they finish on a song and dance number with the company, which reminded me of Reece in The Producers with top hat and cane.
It’s a very hard show to review; because it is incredibly self-aware and really just a big love-letter and goodbye to the Inside No. 9 fans and the franchise. I loved it (but then, as a fan, I would). There are constant references, Easter eggs, commentary on the theatre world (some of which is strangely dated - a reference to Lily Allen being cast in 2:22 flew over most heads). Reece and Steve are very stagey, and I suspect many of the audience frankly aren’t.
It is all very meta (there’s that word again) and very clever, just like the show, and the twists are nicely done. I just can’t see non-fans really “getting” it, because it’s 2hr 20mins of references, call backs and playing on a theme. I loved the good-natured jabs at everyone - especially themselves - throughout.
Random thoughts:
- I spotted the hare several times
- Generally well behaved matinee audience, lots of laughs and smiles throughout and afterwards - no standing ovation
- Excellent cast of ten, with a shout out to Anna Francolini and the particularly gorgeous Miranda Hennessy. The cast contained several Inside No. 9 alumnae which was fun.
- This gave off very panto vibes at times, it is more of a celebration than a stand alone episode per se - Reece even jokes that “they’ve run out ideas” for repeating the dead all along trope
May do a second post to add anything I’ve forgotten!
The venue remains just about the worst in the West End in terms of accessibility. There is one (1) accessible toilet in the entire building. This is accessed by leaving the theatre, and entering a rear door which opens into a box at the very rear of the auditorium. This box is awful.
Firstly, these are the only wheelchair access seats available for each production, with space for two wheelchairs. The box is behind the front row and backs directly onto Charing Cross Road. The Royal Circle overhang comes out so far, that the entire top half of the stage is blocked, making these seats appallingly restricted view. This would be a big issue in this production, where a large screen is used in the plot in the second act for a large portion, and would be impossible to see. But worst of all, to even access the box, a FOH staff member is required advance notice of one’s intention to be using the toilet ahead of arrival. This is for two reasons, firstly, with two wheelchairs in the small box there isn’t room to manoeuvre to access the attached toilet. And secondly, and most bafflingly, the box itself isn’t accessible from within the auditorium, and actually requires a user to go down several STAIRS to get inside. Whilst I was told a lift is available, I was also told I would’ve needed to notify them in advance. Absolutely horrendous.
Unfortunately, with the lack of a disabled toilet, Mum struggled with the very low down seats in the ladies lavatory, and was unable to get up. After 10 minutes waiting, and 5 minutes from curtain up, I asked a female usher for help and out they came together. When we did go up to take our (narrow) seats, someone was already in one of them and had to be shuffled out as he was on the wrong level. We took our seats with a second spare, and tried not to let the stress of the toilet situation ruin the afternoon. Cue immediately deafening jump scare.
So, this is going to be a combination of a review, some thoughts, constant spoilers and descriptions of what actually happens in this production. With the show almost at the end of its run, I appreciate a lot of people may be curious about what the show actually consists of and how certain sections work (like the celebrity guest, for example). Sorry if I make any mistakes/misinterpreted anything and feel free to correct. It was a bit of a blur to be honest!
I’m a big Inside No. 9 fan; and have seen every episode several times. I can’t imagine having enjoyed this at all if I wasn’t, as it is an incredibly meta and self-referential couple of hours (2hr 20, incl. 20min interval).
The show begins with the aforementioned jump scare, and subsequent nervous giggling from all round. It then goes into a 5-10 minute piece set in a theatre, with cast remembers watching Hamlet(?). A noisy man with multiple ringing phones and using FaceTime on a laptop (Pemberton) is vying to be the most obnoxious with a loud posh woman (unwrapping sushi) and her deaf elderly father rustling away, while Shearsmith’s character becomes increasingly irate. Being Inside No. 9, this leads to Reece murdering each of them one by one to enjoy the show in peace. The whole skit is obviously Steve and Reece asking the audience in their own way to shut up and enjoy the moment. Naturally, the second the skit ended, the lady right next to me got out her phone to check a txt message. Sigh. In the first moments, without speaking, Reece looks slightly “off”, like a lookalike. He leaves and is replaced by the real
Reece in the first moments of the sketch. This comes back later.
Downstage there’s an apron scene with Steve and Reece introducing the overarching premise of the show, the tradition of the “ghost light” in the theatre and the ghost which haunts the Wyndham’s. Apparently a stunt in a production of “Terror in the Asylum” went horribly wrong in the past, and the actress who died haunts the theatre and inhibits the body of leading ladies to this day, driving them to murder - or something. It’s silly, fun stuff.
We then go into the vast majority of the episode “Bernie Clifton’s Dressing Room”, which I won’t detail here. All of the moments and jokes are largely the same (the bottles of beer, the box skit), using the same script with a couple of deviations.
The biggest change comes when Reece’s character Thomas aka Tommy aka one half of Cheese & Crackers, a forgotten variety double act, reads a planned comeback script written by Len (Steve). After a quick change this gets played out on stage and is staged as a comedy kidnapping by inept criminals. The bungling duo get the wrong address (and a call back to the episode “A Quiet Night In”), and kidnap the wrong person - a famous celebrity.
As we know, the celebrity changes each performance, and at our performance we had Elaine Paige. I can’t help but feel this was written for the benefit of Steve and Reece more than anything else! They play out some semi-rehearsed patter, with Steve’s character getting Page’s credits wrong, lots of corpsing both real and simulated, and eventually Page tries to escape (including reference to the episode “Sardines”). She is then shot dead. End scene! It’s a silly bit of fluff and gave some good laughs. I was pleased to have gotten Elaine Paige, who happily leant in to the staginess of it all.
The second act begins with a production of “Terror in the Asylum”, with Reece as a crazed patient and Steve as an insane surgeon. Plenty of laughs and farce here (and some gross out gore as Reece under hypnosis saws his own leg off). This is revealed to be a rehearsal, and Reece is the co-star and director. From here things go even more meta, with a lengthy video sequence with both live and pre-recorded sections. Characters even mention how overdone live video sections are nowadays!
The useless TikTok/pop star leading lady is seemingly haunted by the ghost, but it all turns out to be a hoax by the director in order to get her to quit for business reasons to sell tickets (and because she’s rubbish). This brings the biggest laugh of the evening and a show stopping applause. He gets his comeuppance from the “real ghost” who has possessed an ambitious usher.
Things go even more meta at the end, as it is revealed that Reece actually died during rehearsals of the show, and his role had been “played” all evening by understudy Toby. It is all very meta, very silly and very Inside No. 9.
Naturally they finish on a song and dance number with the company, which reminded me of Reece in The Producers with top hat and cane.
It’s a very hard show to review; because it is incredibly self-aware and really just a big love-letter and goodbye to the Inside No. 9 fans and the franchise. I loved it (but then, as a fan, I would). There are constant references, Easter eggs, commentary on the theatre world (some of which is strangely dated - a reference to Lily Allen being cast in 2:22 flew over most heads). Reece and Steve are very stagey, and I suspect many of the audience frankly aren’t.
It is all very meta (there’s that word again) and very clever, just like the show, and the twists are nicely done. I just can’t see non-fans really “getting” it, because it’s 2hr 20mins of references, call backs and playing on a theme. I loved the good-natured jabs at everyone - especially themselves - throughout.
Random thoughts:
- I spotted the hare several times
- Generally well behaved matinee audience, lots of laughs and smiles throughout and afterwards - no standing ovation
- Excellent cast of ten, with a shout out to Anna Francolini and the particularly gorgeous Miranda Hennessy. The cast contained several Inside No. 9 alumnae which was fun.
- This gave off very panto vibes at times, it is more of a celebration than a stand alone episode per se - Reece even jokes that “they’ve run out ideas” for repeating the dead all along trope
May do a second post to add anything I’ve forgotten!
Professor Plum
Well-known member
- Jul 27, 2024
- 1,242
What an incredible memory you have. We also saw the show and loved it but I'd have trouble recollecting it in such detail - well done!
- Oct 17, 2008
- 17,003
Thank you, I used to be a theatre blogger so I find myself making mental notes “must remember that”, but I’m sure I’ve forgotten shit loads. What were your favourite bits when you went - and who was your celebrity guest?
- Jul 5, 2003
- 1,534
It genuinely was utterly superb. One of the best shows I've seen in a long time, so so well done and showcased their unbridled storytelling geniuses.
We also went to see The Last Laugh this week. A three man show depicting conversations between Tommy Cooper, Bob Monkhouse and Eric Morecambe. The blokes playing them were so good, it was just like seeing them on stage. The bloke playing Bob had the voice, mannerisms down pat. It's about to tour the country, so definitely get a ticket.
We also went to see The Last Laugh this week. A three man show depicting conversations between Tommy Cooper, Bob Monkhouse and Eric Morecambe. The blokes playing them were so good, it was just like seeing them on stage. The bloke playing Bob had the voice, mannerisms down pat. It's about to tour the country, so definitely get a ticket.
- Oct 17, 2008
- 17,003
I really want to see this!
- Oct 17, 2008
- 17,003
Also @hart's shirt think this may be of interest
hart's shirt
Well-known member
Bravo for the comprehensive review!
I'm currently on my way to Wembley, so reading it has been an outstanding timesink!
Our surprise guest was Kevin Eldon from many shows including 'Fist of Fun'.
He was introduced by Steve as "Kevin Eldon from Fisting Fun".
- Oct 17, 2008
- 17,003
Haha! Curious Orange himself!Bravo for the comprehensive review!
I'm currently on my way to Wembley, so reading it has been an outstanding timesink!
Our surprise guest was Kevin Eldon from many shows including 'Fist of Fun'.
He was introduced by Steve as "Kevin Eldon from Fisting Fun".
WildWood
Well-known member
A fantastic review - thank you! I went to one of the matinees last month & was lucky enough to have Mackenzie Crook as our 'special guest'. As an avid Inside No9 fan I absolutely loved it! My Swedish other half also enjoyed it, which was a surprise as I thought a lot of it would've been lost on her as she's not so much of a fan.
- Oct 17, 2008
- 17,003
Anything I forget in my review?
I’ve not seen every episode but still loved the stage show. I’m sure diehard fans get even more from it but very entertaining nonetheless. Comprehensive summary but glad the review is Spoiler tagged as going with no prior knowledge is definitely preferable I think.