Do what you can to see part one first and if the only part you can see it's the better one and complete within its self. Slight spoiler but part two is far more mixed and as prior comment the arguments and issues won't work as well without the build up and bonding you have had with the characters from part one. I hope to see part one again but not part two Main thing is to get to see this great cast and clever staging as once it goes Jan 19th hard to see it coming back for ages I did the both in a day route ands it does not seem like seven hours and didn't drag and all time used fully no padding. Not completely sold on all its points the script raises but it is a powerful play and remarkable theatre.
Congratulations you are in for a treat and a very enjoyable day and one with much laughter as well as the dramatic moments. For anyones info they don't sell a poster which must have lost them a fortune but the quality programme is £4.50. The script paperback is £10. T shirt with the main characters names on £20 The is a mug £10 and magnet £5 with the tree logo and cast pic but they are very small pics. Also a pop socket at the seemly high price of £12.50 and if you need to Google what it is as I did in one of the very short intervals you don't need it. Spoiler alert it's a phone stand. Thankfully the ice creams are only £3. The bars get busy and as said the intervals are short. Side note the gents toilets are few and far between with royal circle partrons having to go down to stalls and then walk to the back to queue for the very compact ones by the bar. Hint go back to foyer and up the stairs to the grand circles ones as less of a queue and interval time is of an essence in these plays! Play two finished 22.40 when I saw it on a Saturday.
It shows the power of the nearly seven hours play that you don't check your watch and with part two only having one interval you are racing to the drinks or gents to notice. I think act one was about one hour twenty then 15 mins interval before the final acts with only a five mins pause between them with doors remains closed but ushers about if people want to pop out and holding signs advising it is only a pause. Part two finished about ten 40 when I saw it. 7.15 start.
When I saw part two people seem to have a more vocally tearful reaction than part one and as it was a all in a day showing most of the crowd were the same. For me part one is complete in its self
So, I did see The Inheritance p1 & p2 on 12/29 during my London visit. GO! It is an amazing experience and should not be missed. Is this transferring to Broadway? (it has to be....anyone have info?)
Part two is worth the investment if only for Lady Redgrave zipping in as Nurse. In all honesty, it is no ANGELS IN AMERICA. I hope I it be transferred that they combine PT 1 & PT 2 and EDIT DUTIFULLY. It is much too long by two hours. FWIW from my experience.
A lover of theater for decades. Teacher by day. Family man by night. See more theater than most, oftentimes a hesitant plus one.