Does anyone have that ill-fated Discord channel #?
I worry about fabulous posters like
@AssignedEva not being able to post about their feelings, babe. I have a couple of invites that would ensure a healthy TOOB community, but I can't just give them away...
Aw thanks babes, I'm actually on the Discord but I don't use it much (it's fairly fast paced compared to a forum so catching up is a slog).
I regret to say that despite having tickets, I didn't go to watch The Prince. The impromptu
statey funes three day weekend meant I was hungover for about another three days (I'm not young anymore...) and couldn't face travelling to Elephant and Castle to watch Ollie mince about a stage.
I'd observe that the Graun's standard rating for a play tends to be three stars

Reviewers see so much theatre that it's only memorable plays (either good or bad) that get something else. For the month of September their ratings of plays were:
1 star: 1 (it turns out a prog rock musical featuring holograms is bad)
2 stars: 8 (notably including the Gary Barlow autobiographical one man show)
3 stars: 28
4 17 (I, Joan is here)
5: 2
Half the plays get three stars. Hilariously one of the rare 5 star reviews is for a revival of
Much Ado About Nothing featuring neurodiverse characters:
A number of aspects elevate the production. One is the involvement of Ramps on the Moon, which aims to normalise the presence of deaf, disabled and neurodiverse people on British stages. Another is the most compelling Beatrice you might ever see: Daneka Etchells plays this script like a maestro, somehow finding new notes in lines that are four centuries old, even making some of it feel like it was written yesterday. When Beatrice’s shield of wit is pierced by heartbreak, Etchells – who is autistic and can’t suppress their physical tics – shows the character
stimming. Watching them resolve to remain calm is deeply affecting. The presence of surtitles, actors using British Sign Language and a diverse cast all enrich the storytelling. In this production Hero mostly doesn’t speak, she signs. The injustice when she is accused at the altar of infidelity is immeasurable and extraordinarily moving. Director Robert Hastie takes liberties with the script, each one a smart decision. Guy Rhys’s eminently watchable Benedick departing the stage with an “I pity the fool” cast at those that fall in love? Perfect. When he describes Beatrice’s missives of love to him as “a bit top shelf”, it’s hilarious. Hastie also gives new context to existing lines. Benedick overhears his friends plot against him while pretending to be Don Pedro’s masseuse, giving a new meaning to “there’s the rub”. Irresistible.
Oh dear, Ollie, you got eclipsed by someone else riffing on Shakespeare by using contemporary slang and having characters be part of a marginalised group while featuring actors from that marginalised group.
Anyway the point of all this sperging (other than celebrating Kiwifarms is back) is that a 3 star review in the Graun is nothing to write home about. A lot of the time, the only people reading these three star reviews were people already considering going to see the play who want a report on what to expect. For recommendations people tend to turn to This Week In Theatre (The Prince is conspicuously absent from that) or the featured articles.
Vaguely curious that the script got published. It's not vanity press but Methuen Drama, so an actual respectable publishing house picked this up. On the other hand Methuen Drama is specifically used by drama students and drama teachers alike as a resource (they also print compilations of monologues for actors to audition with) so maybe they wanted The Prince in their wheelhouse to update their anthology for performing arts groups:
Also interesting to note that Ollie's production company was Metal Rabbit,
who are actually a professional production company that has done some good work. While the play sounds like it was pretty tepid, I will acknowledge that Ollie's exceptional work ethic has come to the fore once again - he really engaged the grift on all channels to try and make it a success.