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Post by Mr Wallacio on Feb 9, 2016 23:31:47 GMT
More of us in tonight than I expected. Well done forumites on the support we showed.
Sadly I don't see much they can do with the comedian, maybe better material to work with if they can think of jokes that'll make the audience laugh.
I knew I wasn't going mad about the overture. I liked it, it should stay. I think every show should have one.
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Post by Mr Wallacio on Feb 9, 2016 23:33:34 GMT
We all need to start wearing badges or something with our screennanes on them so we can all recognise one another at the theatre haha I recognised you , just didn't want to look like a crazy waving guy from the front.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2016 23:35:44 GMT
I liked the Overture too, I had no clue it was new until the interval when the woman told me!
But that last scene, the If Mountains Were Easy To Climb scene, holy crap I had chills, shed a few tears and my jaw nearly hit the floor with the level of belting coming out of those two women!
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Post by Michael on Feb 10, 2016 5:14:52 GMT
Front row is C as they've removed two for the orchestra. So I'm front row now. It wasn't when I booked my ticket, but actually, I don't mind being up front. I was sat with someone who was friends with the Musical Supervisor and apparently the Overture was written this morning just to try it out tonight and see if it is needed. I love Overtures. Really hope they keep it. And yes, it is needed. Every show needs an Overture. @all: Thanks for posting your thoughts. Looking very forward to seeing this on the 27th
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Post by viserys on Feb 10, 2016 6:22:09 GMT
Thanks for the first reviews, keep 'em coming.
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Post by Mr Wallacio on Feb 10, 2016 8:03:16 GMT
Front row is C as they've removed two for the orchestra. So I'm front row now. It wasn't when I booked my ticket, but actually, I don't mind being up front. I took a seat in the front row during the interval to gauge the view and the stage is low enough to get a good view from there. However beware that the whole stage has old stylee shell looking stage lights across the front. Wasn't an issue when I sat there briefly and the sort of thing you'd get used to after a while.
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Post by Michael on Feb 10, 2016 8:22:56 GMT
I took a seat in the front row during the interval to gauge the view and the stage is low enough to get a good view from there. However beware that the whole stage has old stylee shell looking stage lights across the front. Wasn't an issue when I sat there briefly and the sort of thing you'd get used to after a while. Maybe I should ask them to move me to 3rd or 4th row as originally booked. I just realised that I've never been to the Noel Coward before. Another first and one more theatre to tick off my list...
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Post by Mr Wallacio on Feb 10, 2016 8:36:52 GMT
I took a seat in the front row during the interval to gauge the view and the stage is low enough to get a good view from there. However beware that the whole stage has old stylee shell looking stage lights across the front. Wasn't an issue when I sat there briefly and the sort of thing you'd get used to after a while. Maybe I should ask them to move me to 3rd or 4th row as originally booked. I just realised that I've never been to the Noel Coward before. Another first and one more theatre to tick off my list... If you prefer to be a little further from the stage. Be mindful that the Noel Coward doesn't have much of a rake at the front of the stalls, so personally for my taste I prefer not to have others heads in my way.
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Post by Mr Wallacio on Feb 10, 2016 9:29:11 GMT
Emma and Traciee are just stunning. That final number is a showstopper if there ever was one. Emma is surely giving Lara a run for her money for that Olivier?! She has to win! This show was brilliant. I loved it, from the music, to the design... everything was just delightful. And the audience in the packed stalls seemed to agree. Eruptions of laughter and applause throughout, with the cast treated to TWO standing ovations from many members of the audience at the end. Emma even shed a few tears from the response. I can't wait to go back! The Olivier is pretty safely Lara's. Mrs H isn't eligible until 2017, so Emma can be a contender then. Hopefully people will remember the show by the time nominations for 2017 are revealed.
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Post by horton on Feb 10, 2016 9:59:05 GMT
The problem the the stand-up is that he also has to carry the rather cumbersome narrator role. It will be difficult to simply cut him, or cut the jokes as it would make the narrative device even more exposed.
Better option is to write funnier material and integrate him more centrally into the actual plot.
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Post by liverpool54321 on Feb 10, 2016 11:25:28 GMT
I need to get my booking in for this. Out of interest what are the sight lines like? I think we normally end up in Box M at the theatre which is at the end of dress circle on left side. Works fine as long as stage use not too deep.
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Post by Mr Wallacio on Feb 10, 2016 13:23:12 GMT
I think the stage goes quite a way back.
I can't comment on box views, but mine was fine in row H and the trial I took in row C.
Not the whole stage is used across though. For a good portion there's a second proscenium arch on stage since they are performing a show in a show and recreate the Windmill stage.
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Post by wickedgrin on Feb 10, 2016 14:00:40 GMT
So here are my thoughts from last nights first preview - for what they're worth!
Overall I enjoyed this. It's great to see a new musical in the WE that isn't some juke box show and a pleasure to support it! Some lovely songs and witty lyrics from George Fenton and Don Black. Terrific performances from Tracie Bennett and Emma Williams and Samuel Holmes (who has a lovely bottom for those of us who are interested in that sort of thing!) All three had great voices and Tracie Bennett leads the company with gusto!
The show was in very good shape for the first preview with only minor sound and scenery issues which I am sure will be sorted. It needs a little trimming - the first act runs 1.15 - just a shade long.
The show was received rapturously by the (slightly partisan?) audience at the first preview with lots of laughter and applause one minute and rapt silent attention the next.
One of the best moments of the show for me was when Mrs Henderson on complaining about the huge costume bill for the review suddenly has a "light bulb" moment when she comes up with the idea of having no costumes for the girls at all! Plus of course the scene where the girls refuse to strip at the rehearsal until the guys strip as well with a very clever choreographed scene preventing them from showing too much!!!
However, the show not without its longeurs and faults. The narrator/compere character is dreadful. Poor material delivered badly. Jamie Foreman struggling to land the material. It needed Roy Hudd a few years ago to pull off this role. Played like a Max Miller (cheeky chappy) type one minute playing to the Windmill audience and then having to play narrator playing to the Noel Coward audience the next. It simply did not work at all! I would have preferred perhaps a radio announcer in clipped BBC English to announce times/places/events etc. I could not decide if it was the material or the actor which did not work for this role.
Incidentally there was a man next to me in the mid stalls who had brought a small pair of binoculars with him and kept squinting through them at opportune moments - rather creepy!
Running time 2.40 - this will tighten a little I suspect. I do hope this show finds an audience.
3.5 stars.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2016 15:32:25 GMT
The Olivier is pretty safely Lara's. Mrs H isn't eligible until 2017, so Emma can be a contender then. Hopefully people will remember the show by the time nominations for 2017 are revealed. Are we sure about that? Seeing this tonight. I know nothing! Exciting!
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Post by Michael on Feb 10, 2016 15:38:48 GMT
I feel like I'm forever a few rows away from a fellow forum member! I guess the basic rule is: There's always one of us in the audience.
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Post by Mr Wallacio on Feb 10, 2016 17:18:47 GMT
The Olivier is pretty safely Lara's. Mrs H isn't eligible until 2017, so Emma can be a contender then. Hopefully people will remember the show by the time nominations for 2017 are revealed. Are we sure about that? Seeing this tonight. I know nothing! Exciting! I believe eligibility ends on 16th Feb and they need 30 performances. Do previews even count as performances where awards are concerned?
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Post by chrismis on Feb 10, 2016 17:39:11 GMT
I'm seeing this in a fortnight from the slips but wish I'd booked a better seat after seeing these posts.Maybe I can upgrade on the day? Really looking forward to it now.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2016 17:45:01 GMT
I believe eligibility ends on 16th Feb and they need 30 performances. Do previews even count as performances where awards are concerned? I think they do. I really hope it's eligible this year. It will be forgotten next year.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2016 17:53:46 GMT
Well Beautiful was eligible and opened in previews on February 10, 2015. Preview do count as it didn't actually open until February 25, 2015. So Mrs. Henderson Presents should, in theory, be eligible.
And I wouldn't be so sure Lara is a lock.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2016 18:05:16 GMT
Well Beautiful was eligible and opened in previews on February 10, 2015. Preview do count as it didn't actually open until February 25, 2015. So Mrs. Henderson Presents should, in theory, be eligible. And I wouldn't be so sure Lara is a lock. True, but the Oliviers are earlier this year. Lara is a lock. I can't see Kinky or Beckham getting that one.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2016 18:13:02 GMT
According to twitter, some changes are going in tonight with the music so will be interesting to go back and see the changes. And also, fun fact, Jon Jon Briones was in the audience last night!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2016 18:15:36 GMT
The album is released February 19th! Very happy bunny with this news!
www.amazon.co.uk/Henderson-Presents-Original-Cast-Album/dp/B01BCZ37RO/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1455128083&sr=8-15&keywords=mrs+henderson+presents
To feature pretty much the run of songs from last night bar Overture and Walkdown...
1. Everybody Loves the Windmill 2. Mrs Henderson Presents 3. Whatever Time I Have 4. Lord Chamberlain's Song 5. What a Waste of a Moon 6. Rubens and Renoir 7. Ordinary Girl 8. It Starts With a Dream 9. Perfect Dream 10. Living in a Dream World 11. He's Got Another Think Coming 12. Women at War - Medley 13. Now is Not the Time 14. Anything But Young 15. We'll Never Close
16. What a Waste of a Moon - Reprise 17. Innocent Soldier 18. If Mountains Were Easy To Climb 19. We'll Never Close - Reprise
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Post by foxa on Feb 10, 2016 18:28:15 GMT
I'm going to see this Friday, so looking forward to it!
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Post by Michael on Feb 10, 2016 18:36:06 GMT
The album is released February 19th! Very happy bunny with this news! ... and pre-ordered, thanks for posting. Now lets see if I can manage to not listen to the CD until I see the show live on stage.
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Post by sophie92 on Feb 10, 2016 19:11:13 GMT
Are we sure about that? Seeing this tonight. I know nothing! Exciting! I believe eligibility ends on 16th Feb and they need 30 performances. Do previews even count as performances where awards are concerned? The way they word it is quite confusing - they don't need to have done 30 performances before the cut off date, they just need to be scheduled to do at least 30 performances. It was the same thing with Beautiful last year.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2016 19:23:01 GMT
So by that, it will be eligible then?
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Post by Mr Wallacio on Feb 10, 2016 21:35:56 GMT
I hope it isn't eligible as it'll lose out to other shows I fear this year.
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Post by chrismis on Feb 10, 2016 21:57:51 GMT
The album is released February 19th! Very happy bunny with this news! ... and pre-ordered, thanks for posting. Now lets see if I can manage to not listen to the CD until I see the show live on stage. I tend to like listening to the score before seeing something new. I did it with Grand Hotel and Stephen Ward and found it really helped my enjoyment of those shows. If i'm slightly familiar with the music I find it easier to take in everything else that's happening. Maybe it's just my age!!!
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Post by Joseph Buquet on Feb 10, 2016 22:27:30 GMT
The album is released February 19th! Very happy bunny with this news!
www.amazon.co.uk/Henderson-Presents-Original-Cast-Album/dp/B01BCZ37RO/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1455128083&sr=8-15&keywords=mrs+henderson+presents
To feature pretty much the run of songs from last night bar Overture and Walkdown...
1. Everybody Loves the Windmill 2. Mrs Henderson Presents 3. Whatever Time I Have 4. Lord Chamberlain's Song 5. What a Waste of a Moon 6. Rubens and Renoir 7. Ordinary Girl 8. It Starts With a Dream 9. Perfect Dream 10. Living in a Dream World 11. He's Got Another Think Coming 12. Women at War - Medley 13. Now is Not the Time 14. Anything But Young 15. We'll Never Close
16. What a Waste of a Moon - Reprise 17. Innocent Soldier 18. If Mountains Were Easy To Climb 19. We'll Never Close - Reprise £23.68. Seriously??
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Post by Phantom of London on Feb 10, 2016 22:40:02 GMT
I never pre-order, I find it gets cheaper, once it is released, when secondary sellers come in.
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