MovieChat Forums > Run for Your Wife (2013) Discussion > Has Anyone Seen/Read The Play?

Has Anyone Seen/Read The Play?

posted 13 years ago by knitflick
14 replies | jump to latest

Hi,

Has anyone seen or read the play? I have just ordered a copy of the play and can't wait to read it. I have read a few reviews of the play, for performances in the US and the UK. Negative reviews are about a particular actor/actress not being funny, a couple of negative reviews mentioned that the story is dated. Positive reviews rave about the performances. So comedic timing is important.

I am not very familiar with Neil Morrissey and the 2 actresses but I will be checking to see if I can rent any of their previous movies. I think Danny Dyer can pull this off because he is naturally funny and can be funny onscreen.

If anyone has seen the play, I would love to hear your opinion about it.

[–] elvisgraceland 12 years ago

I played the second wife (Barbara) in the play, about 10 years ago. It was absolutely hilarious! Ray Cooney has an amazing talent and whenever i think of this play and the awesome reception we received every night, i smile. Brilliantly timed, you'll love this play!

[–] knitflick 12 years ago

Oh great! I have bought the play but I don't want to read it yet. I want to be totally surprised when I see the movie.

I think this will be good. I have checked reviews of the play, it is very popular, there are productions all over the world, and it always gets rave reviews from audience members and critics.

[–] elvisgraceland 12 years ago

I really hope you love it. It's a typical British farce through-and-through, lots of running about and awkward entrances and exits, well, on stage it was. I hope they don't change it around too much to adapt for the big screen. It could either go one way or the other. Even if you don't like the film, i'd definitely recommend reading the play afterwards, just to see how the original was written. =)

[–] pete3194 12 years ago

I played Troughton in a production of the play in country Victoria (Australia) in the early '90s. I hope the film version manages to retain the brilliant humour and doesn't censor anything for "PC"... eg the gay upstairs neighbour redecorating, the revelation of the other cop's nickname... etc. The play is watertight logically - in eight weeks of rehearsal (we only did three performances, which was the only sad thing about it) none of us could spot any plot flaws at all, and there were many moments where it was very hard to keep a straight face - in fact there was one scene in which I could never do it. Very gratifying for me (and my character) to have the closing line every night :)

[–] knitflick 12 years ago

How wonderful. I am definitely not reading the play before seeing the movie because I want to have a totally fresh experience.

[–] antj999 11 years ago

The play is hilarious!
There is a sequel to the play, called 'Caught in the Net', which I have recently performed in. Both plays are phenomenally written. I am dubious about a film version however, especially given the cast that is in it...

[–] biffertron 11 years ago

yes I was taken to see the original West End Play when I was a kid, I cant believe they have made a film of it! Even at a tender age I thought it was dated back then.

Having said that I cannot wait to see the film out of perverse curiosity. The caste is draw droppingly ....er....average? I believe this film could out Room 'The Room'.

[–] d-whicker3901 11 years ago

I've actually acted in two different productions, playing Porterhouse then Bobby Franklin. This play is very funny and was so much fun to act.

[–] jagheterjack00 11 years ago

A work pal of mine saw the play many years ago with Les Dawson in the lead role and Bob Grant who played Jack in the sitcom 'On the Buses'.

Despite the dreadful trailer, I have heard lots of positive things about the original stage play.

[–] paof2 10 years ago

I saw the play many years ago in London, and I'm sorry to say I don't remember who the actors were, but then saw it in a touring production in Blackpool with the two wonderful (now late) actors Eric Sykes and Terry Scott.
Having seen the really awful reviews of the film version I waited until I saw it for pennies, but I honestly didn't think it was as bad as the critics said. Okay Danny Dyer is not your first thought as a comedy actor but he did a credible job as the lead character.
Part of the fun of this was spotting the 'old' character actors and actresses in the background.
Watch it to the end, you'll see that they were planning to do "Caught in the Act", but I'll be surprised if they do now.

[–] knitflick 10 years ago

Hi,

Thanks for the info. I saw the movie and I agree, the critics exaggerated. I find Danny Dyer naturally funny, especially during interviews and his stints on panel tv shows.

I have never seen any of the Carry On movies but this reminded me of old black and white slapstick movies. The acting style I think is more suited to the theatre than to a movie but I think theatre is the director's background, so I understand his choice.

The tv show Vicious premiered on PBS last week, and it's not as funny as I expected but the two leads are playing very campy characters. I do know gay men who are that dramatic all of the time. I guess one's comedy style either tickles you or it doesn't.

Oh well, I hope Danny Dyer gets the opportunity to do comedy on film. I'm enjoying him on Eastenders: good character and has opportunities to show a lot more emotional range.

[–] paof2 10 years ago

Hi Knitflick,
If you get chance do watch "Carry On Camping", it's a great introduction to the sort of humour through the majority of the series.
As for 'Vicious'.... rename it 'Dire'! It was really built up here in the UK prior to its initial airing, and lost something like 65% of its audience by episode two. We (my wife and I) were really looking forward to it, and were so disappointed. It felt like something written by a failed drama critic as a stage play that was commissioned purely on the strength of the lead actors.

[–] dolorespark 9 years ago

Saw it in London in '84. It seemed funny enough as an evening's entertainment, but I don't remember it being earth-shatteringly good, as popular as it became. It was your typical bedroom farce. I saw the original Little Shop that same year, and while I'm not a fan of musicals, I have to say that was an excellent production.

[–] hifiexchange 7 years ago

I saw the play around 1990 in Melbourne (David McCallum in the lead) and loved it so much I took my wife and some friends to see it in the West End (Ray Cooney in the lead) when next in London. Absolutely the funniest play (or indeed any performance) I have ever seen and the entire audience agreed. Both performances. Hard to believe anyone could stuff it up so much to make a movie that rates this poorly.