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Post by talkstageytome on Jun 3, 2016 10:10:52 GMT
If you look at the size of the theatre and the space backstage, the reason for multi roling becomes apparent. I didn't mind it at all, as the characters were distinctly different and so were the costumes worn. There's only so much that can be done in such a small space and personally I thought that the piece fit very well in the Charing Cross Theatre (which I also think could be a very cute little space if they did it up a little bit).
I personally got the impression that this piece would be received extremely well, and I am expecting reviews to pretty much be identical to those received at the SP. I guess we'll have to wait and see.
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Post by The Matthew on Jun 3, 2016 11:15:20 GMT
Finally at the end of the show there was a fishy and smoke smell in the theatre. We laughed on the way out saying surely they didn't add this to effect. Funny enough, when I was at home once watching "Titanic" on DVD, the same thing happened. I thought "This film is very realistic." Then it dawned on me that my dinner was burning. I had a similar experience watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer. There was a rather interesting shimmery effect on the screen that I thought was quite entertaining, followed by a stream of smoke from the back of the TV which was less so.
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Post by theatremiss on Jun 3, 2016 11:31:15 GMT
I loved the camp guy, reminded me a little of Anthony Perkins.
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Post by liverpool54321 on Jun 4, 2016 23:33:27 GMT
Saw the matinee earlier today and really enjoyed it. I've seen several shows at Charing Cross Theatre but this was on a different level.
Never seen or heard Titanic before so was unsure what to expect - apart from ship sinking. For first 10 minutes with lengthy opening number I thought I had walked into a Gilbert & Sullivan revival but things quickly change and although the score bounces around quite a bit, I liked the different styles used for each story line. No idea how big music ensemble was but they sounded great - felt like a full orchestra at times hidden away.
Only criticism was the sound level early on which was way too loud and meant it was very distorted. May have been worse because we were in the balcony and therefore getting effect as sound bounces off ceiling. Fortunately seemed to be fixed after about 15 minutes.
Staging worked well in the space. Couldn't fault any of the singers in the performance I saw. For those thinking of booking and unsure where to sit, I would suggest the balcony towards the front. Cheaper than stalls and as long as you don't mind looking over the side gives a great view - plus avoids having to be looking up all the time at the action on the upper deck.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jun 4, 2016 23:39:45 GMT
I also saw this at the matinee on Saturday!
I thought it was fabulous! Very well sung throughout, very well staged with great lighting. The company of 20 worked their socks off constantly changing costumes and classes of passengers. I thought they were all good but a special shout out to Niall Sheehy who was in fine voice for 3 different characters and joined the cast late I understand. A really terrific performance with some very quick costume changes.
I did not see this production at the Southwark Playhouse so cannot compare but I thought this production and cast really very good.
I would echo what others have said and sit further back. I was in row E - too close! SO much action above and high. Better to get a proper perspective futher back I think and usually I like being close.
Not a bundle of laughs though! Very emotional in parts. Very well received from a 75% house. Runs 2.5 hours.
4.5 stars for me.
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Post by steve10086 on Jun 4, 2016 23:41:07 GMT
Never seen or heard Titanic before so was unsure what to expect - apart from ship sinking. Spoiler alert!!
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Post by Being Alive on Jun 5, 2016 13:01:31 GMT
Was also at the matinee yesterday and had no idea what to expect of the musical - only had heard Barretts Song which i loved.
I agree the venue is horrible but this show makes it less so. It fills the stage (possibly overfills) but it adds to the sense of doom ahead. Fantastic performances by wonderful cast who work very hard with a fantastic book and score.
Will be trying to go again (I was in row H and thought it was the PERFECT seat).
4.5 stars
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Post by JJShaw on Jun 5, 2016 15:03:28 GMT
Agree row H! couldn't ask for a better seat in my opinion!
It was my first time going to this theatre and i found it rather charming, no pealing paint and the bar and foyer areas looked rather nice, but that might just be me.
I was amazed to see how far back the seating extended, for such a small auditorium!
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Post by westendwendy on Jun 6, 2016 12:44:40 GMT
The Charring Cross theatre under a stinky dark arch opposite a sweaty nightclub inside a drunken after party place is not sweet!!!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2016 22:40:23 GMT
You say 'sweaty nightclub' and 'drunken after party place' like thats a bad thing.... Some of my best nights/mornings our have been spent in those places!
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Post by westendwendy on Jun 6, 2016 22:45:53 GMT
You say 'sweaty nightclub' and 'drunken after party place' like thats a bad thing.... Some of my best nights/mornings our have been spent in those places! You can tell you haven't travelled much then! London's nightlife is very dirty, sticky floors, crazy opening/closing times, expensive and generally lacks style and often health and safety! Each to their own.... Now back to the sinking ship and the camp actors.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2016 1:24:19 GMT
you totally missed the point of my post..... bless.
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Post by alece10 on Jun 7, 2016 7:39:17 GMT
You say 'sweaty nightclub' and 'drunken after party place' like thats a bad thing.... Some of my best nights/mornings our have been spent in those places! Agree with you. I have some great memories of my younger days in London and Saturday nights at Heaven. Mind you I talking about the late 70s/earlys 80s. On another note. Is it the same cast as they had in Southwark? If so I remember a camp guy in the cast who I thought was hilarious.
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Post by stevejohnson678 on Jun 7, 2016 8:22:40 GMT
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Post by theatremadness on Jun 7, 2016 10:50:01 GMT
Interesting! I saw this last night and would not give it 5 stars. Maybe 3/3.5.
First act was so long and really, not much happened. I thought the grandeur of seeing this huge ship off on its Maiden Voyage could have been played much more (maybe that's to do with limited space more than anything). So many little snippets of each couple that I felt like I didn't really get to know anyone without the use of exposition in the book. So much exposition. And actors in their multi-roles made it quite hard for someone, such as myself, who actually doesn't know this musical well at all, to keep track of everything and everyone. The class divide of the passengers also struggled to make any impact as a result of the multi-roles. I know it's acting and suspending disbelief but sometimes they would go off as a third class passenger and enter again just seconds later as a first class passenger, which dampened that particular message. The first act was all about getting the ship faster, yet I felt like the pace was really slow. I didn't find the book particularly engaging, other than some very well-delivered one liners from James Gant's character and the radio boy and some touching moments between the older couples. Made harder to listen to by some really bad accents and missed/cut off sound cues, and direction that was, at times, a little muddy.
Luckily, the second act was much shorter and picked up incredibly in pace, as one would expect given the ending of Act 1. The panic and struggle of the passengers and crew was presented to great effect and I found the parts when the crew started turning on each other (and themselves) really very interesting and quite hard to watch at times! More upsides were the incredible orchestra playing this lush score with which, as I've said, I am unfamiliar, and that the ensemble singing was truly some of the most thrilling I've heard in a theatre, I can't commend it enough. The ending was done very well indeed. It was truly touching and thought-provoking and the memoriam was such a classy touch.
So I did enjoy myself, but I wasn't overly enamoured with it and wouldn't go and see it again - but I would recommend it to musical theatre fans.
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Post by niklas on Jun 7, 2016 21:05:26 GMT
The critics seemed to love it. Haven't had the time to read any of the articles, but just looking at the rating, the production got five stars from The Times, The Stage, Theatre Weekly, Stage Review, Gay Times, Theatremonkey, Reviews Hub, Livetheatre, The Upcoming, The Bardette, Londontheatre1, amongst others ... Seems pretty rare for a musical in London to get such an enthusiastic reception throughout.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2016 21:08:09 GMT
The critics seemed to love it. Haven't had the time to read any of the articles, but just looking at the rating, the production got five stars from The Times, The Stage, Theatre Weekly, Stage Review, Gay Times, Theatremonkey, Reviews Hub, Livetheatre, The Upcoming, The Bardette, Londontheatre1, amongst others ... Seems pretty rare for a musical in London to get such an enthusiastic reception throughout. Bend it bend it
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2016 22:15:54 GMT
Saw this tonight. Really enjoyed it! Great production and the score sounded excellent at all times. Slightly let down by the ending, didn't move me in the way I wanted it to. Took me out of it a bit. Not one bad performance though. 4*
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Post by stanne on Jun 9, 2016 18:35:43 GMT
The reviews for this really do seem to be pretty much 100% excellent - I am still hovering on the brink of booking.......
Anyone else seen it and want to give an opinion on it?
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Post by nordickthrust on Jun 9, 2016 20:33:38 GMT
I saw it last night and it is stunning, I loved the music and the cast are terrific. I rarely take any notice of the reviews but i must say that for once they are right it really is worth 5 stars. I had never been to the Charing Cross Theatre before and was very impressed plus the ticket prices aren't expensive when you compare them to other venues, whats not to like?
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Post by groupbooker on Jun 9, 2016 23:29:47 GMT
After falling in love with the score after the Broadway production in '97, I thought it would come to the West End but no! Couldn't get to see it at Southwark but made sure of getting to see the show at long last. Found the Theatre quite easily and it is amazing place seeing as where it is placed. Pity it is not on the usual "visitors looking for a show" route. We had Premium Stalls (row G)for £39.50 plus a drink and a programme, not bad for that price!! Wish a few other theatres would think on that! There are always the pros and cons for a show but I thought the cast did a marvellous job in covering all the roles. The set worked well in a small area to much effect. Plus top marks to the orchestra - all seven of them for the full sound they gave out. Others may not enjoy it and that is their choice, but to make the journey to come up from Cornwall to see the show was 100% worth it and I hope I may be able to enjoy it again before it finishes. Look forward to Ragtime & Death takes a holiday as well.
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Post by mallardo on Jun 10, 2016 5:52:03 GMT
I saw it last night as well. If anything it has gotten better since the Southwark Playhouse and it's a great fit in this theatre. I had a lump in my throat from the opening moments, not because I was empathizing with the characters (although I was) but because it was all so damn wonderful!
This production of this show is a testament to the power of musical theatre. No wonder musicals produce Superfans. For two and a half hours one can be transfixed and transformed and utterly overwhelmed by what's taking place on that stage. It's a high like no other.
The entire cast is fabulous, as is the orchestra, but I would single out David Bardsley as Ismay, who opens the show so magnificently, setting the bar at a level from which it never descends. And Philip Rahm's deeply credible Captain Smith and James Gant's sympathetic Etches, the 1st Class Steward, and young Luke George's Hartley who led "Doing The Latest Rag" with such style and Rob Souchon's Fleet whose "No Moon" from the crow's nest was stunningly beautiful - what a voice he has! And, speaking of beautiful, I have to admit my heart skipped a beat every time Victoria Serra's Kate McGowan came on - and she's not just a pretty face, her lead vocals in "Lady's Maid" were perfection.
As always, though, the emotional centre of the show is in the radio room duet with Barrett (Niall Sheehy) and Bride (Matthew Crowe) and it did not disappoint last night.
I was sitting in row E and the view was just fine, everything played on the upper level was clearly visible. It was a great night. Thank you, Thom Southerland.
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Post by talkstageytome on Jun 10, 2016 15:38:27 GMT
It is just outstanding isn't it? I may have to go back before it closes. A wonderful story, and such a great cast. Hopefully this sets the bar for other shows at the Charing Cross Theatre in this season and beyond.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2016 15:43:54 GMT
Yes I definitely want to go back too.
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Post by Jonnyboy on Jun 10, 2016 18:06:55 GMT
Booked this over Show Boat. I just couldn't get interested enough in Show Boat to commit to booking it.
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Post by Jonnyboy on Jun 10, 2016 18:13:08 GMT
Booked this over Show Boat If I'm honest, if I were actually taking a trip on either of them, I'd prefer a ticket on the Cotton Blossom, though... Ha! While you're here, I need to thank you for your seating plans and seat information, INVALUABLE for all my theatre trips
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Post by steve10086 on Jun 10, 2016 21:57:57 GMT
I didn't have many expectations for this when it played in Southwark, except that I liked the Broadway Cast Recording and really hoped I'd like the show. I was incredibly impressed.
So I was worried that a return three years later might not live up to that memory, but it definitely has. It must be one of the classiest scaled down shows I've ever seen. It's crammed into a tiny stage, but like at Southwark, all that does is magnify the power of it.
It always impresses me how a relatively small cast, in a small theatre under a railway arch, with a simple (but very effective) set can make as much impact on me as a massive show like Aladdin, with its huge staging and far larger budget. I'm all for spectacle, but great voices singing great tunes can be all you really need for a great musical.
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Post by stanne on Jun 11, 2016 9:10:32 GMT
Just booked for this in a bit of a panic when I realised that there aren't many tickets left for next Saturday (evening) which is the only time I can make it. I hope that this means that the good reviews are filtering through to people...maybe a bit of a buzz starting about this??
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Post by littlesally on Jun 11, 2016 12:00:54 GMT
It is buzzing, which is good. BTW, don't know if others noticed, but when they tear up their boarding passes and throw them, if you look at the bits of paper, they have actually gone to the trouble of printing them as "White Star" boarding passes, rather than blank bits of paper. Impressive little detail. We had a 12 year old with us last Saturday and she collected them all up to try to piece one together!
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Post by Stasia on Jun 11, 2016 17:10:39 GMT
Just booked for this in a bit of a panic when I realised that there aren't many tickets left for next Saturday (evening) which is the only time I can make it. I hope that this means that the good reviews are filtering through to people...maybe a bit of a buzz starting about this?? Also there next Sat, feel free to say hi!
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