She Stoops to Conquer

I saw this NT Live performance on 29 March at Notting Hill Gate Picture House

This was an enjoyable performance, broadcast live from the Olivier theatre, and the first NT Live showing I have seen.

The acting was superb, a totally ludicrous story of course that the actors made believable, even that Kate should fall for such a pompous fool as Marlowe, but that pointedly showed the social attitudes of the time, one of the reasons I guess the the play remains so popular. Lumpkin I thought was excellent.

The experience felt like neither a film nor a theatrical performance. The actors came over loud and clear, far louder than when one sits in the Olivier, so no problem in hearing every word. The real audience applause was audible but very muted in comparison, not at all as when one is in the auditorium. The actors were seen better than even in the best seats (which unfortunately I can never afford) but it seemed odd viewing the Olivier stage always in almost close-up, a very different experience from sitting in the real Olivier. The showing was sub-title which I found distracting, far more so than on a normal film.
Given the choice I would prefer the real theatre, but perhaps I would go to both.