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Post by jgblunners on Apr 15, 2023 17:18:36 GMT
I’m sorry but it looks like they’ve just recycled the set for Translations Don't apologise, they have (this is the 4th occasion that fake grass has been used - first use was indeed Translations)
Also, Theresa May's wheat field from Phaedra (second use).
NT policy.
I’m all for recycling pieces of scenery - the less waste the better! It’s just that the design is almost identical, but with vibrant vegetation instead of dull grass and mud. I wonder if the designer did it subconsciously or if they were encouraged to go along similar lines.
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Post by jgblunners on Apr 15, 2023 17:02:52 GMT
I’m sorry but it looks like they’ve just recycled the set for Translations
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Post by jgblunners on Apr 14, 2023 9:53:49 GMT
Booked for the matinee, I'm thrilled that this is finally happening!
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Post by jgblunners on Apr 12, 2023 23:57:51 GMT
Yes, but you figure Bill Deamer will get her to dance somehow. You could easily give Maggie some choreo in Keep Young and Beautiful and/or Shuffle Off to Buffalo, or just get her to join in with the girls in Go Into Your Dance. Also, the full cast is listed on the Leicester Curve website.
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Post by jgblunners on Apr 12, 2023 16:59:52 GMT
I’ve heard Le Gateau Chocolat as Albin… This was also the last rumour I heard. Also I think I recall that Tim Sheader and Harvey Fierstein were in some sort of discussion about Sheader’s desires for this production, which Fierstein was resisting. My memory isn’t 100% clear and it was a while ago so I don’t know what the situation is now.
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Post by jgblunners on Apr 12, 2023 16:53:07 GMT
Interesting! My apologies, I wasn’t aware of those previous regional productions.
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Post by jgblunners on Apr 12, 2023 10:07:28 GMT
So along with Miss Saigon at Sheffield Crucible, that's two shows that Cam Mack is licensing to a regional theatre this year. I find this very interesting - in the past he has kept tight control of the properties for which he holds the rights. Why has he now decided it's time to let other producers have a go at these shows? Whatever the reason, I'm thrilled that we'll get to see new productions of both Oliver! and Miss Saigon.
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Post by jgblunners on Apr 11, 2023 10:54:31 GMT
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Post by jgblunners on Apr 7, 2023 9:51:00 GMT
She loves herself and loves to act the diva. It’s certainly true that she doesn’t have any Glyndebourne jobs lined up this year - she pulled out of the lead role of a brand new production there, and then popped up as appearing in this!
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Post by jgblunners on Apr 7, 2023 9:48:55 GMT
Mental health issues should of course be approached seriously. I’m sure we would all commend Mr Wynter for making a very difficult decision in order to protect/improve his mental health. However, I would caution against doling out too much sympathy for him. There are indeed two sides to every story.
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Post by jgblunners on Apr 7, 2023 8:12:11 GMT
Has anyone seen anything to say who will be George when MB is off? I mean, I'm sure I'll enjoy them more than him either way, but it would be nice to know who I'm going to see. Even that BWW article credits Soophia as alternate Giulietta but doesn't mention anyone as alternate George. Assuming that they won't give them both the same alternate night, I might have to go twice - Soophia was captivating in Rumi, I need to hear her Hand Me the Wine and the Dice. I’m really surprised that an alternate is needed for the role of Giulietta. It is a prominent role, but not huge - and it is very much secondary to the role of Rose. I assume there must be an alternate for the roles of Rose and Alex too then? I still think it’s a strange decision for a more featured, rather than a starring, role. I don’t ever remember any alternates for any of the roles in Aspects of Love before this production - I could be wrong though. I wouldn’t overthink it, it’s probably just Danielle De Niese being a diva.
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Post by jgblunners on Mar 24, 2023 10:59:20 GMT
“When lyricists are replaced by ChatGPT, Zippel will not be mourned.”
💀
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Post by jgblunners on Mar 23, 2023 6:33:26 GMT
Also, having been to their Croydon and Islington sites several times recently, I've been disturbed and annoyed to have someone charging into the auditorium mid-film (twice on one occasion) and marching around with a clipboard before leaving just as abruptly and with no apology or explanation. Presumably a member of staff and I haven't yet got round to contacting Vue about it but it shows complete contempt and disregard for their customers - any who actually attend to see the film that is, rather than chat, scoff and socialise with friends. This is something called screen check. I am not sure about policies for other chains, but at Vue each screening must be checked 3 times - during adverts, shortly after the film starts, and in the middle of the film. It is the duty of the screen checker to look out for problems with the picture, sound, or lighting, as well as checking that the correct film is playing and that no-one in the auditorium is recording in any way. Official policy is that the screen checker has to enter the screen and walk all the way up one of the aisles to do these checks. However, as you say this is often distracting to audience members so lots of screen checkers just stand by the entrance to do the checks in order to minimise disruption.
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Post by jgblunners on Mar 21, 2023 15:13:25 GMT
Tim Minchin seems to have inadvertently announced that this will tour after the Old Vic run:
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Post by jgblunners on Mar 7, 2023 12:41:33 GMT
Well I got through the queue for the Thursday afternoon Semi-Final Preview. Standard seats and standing appear completely sold out, but there’s plenty of availability for the premium hospitality seats. Unfortunately they are out of my price range so I won’t be going. So close!
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Post by jgblunners on Mar 3, 2023 13:32:23 GMT
I’m torn - Ruthie will be fab and I want to see her, but my memories of the Drury Lane production are so special that I’m scared this (understandably) smaller production will just seem disappointing by comparison. I’m sure Bill Deamer will do a great job with the choreo though. And yes, Being Alive, Nicole’s casting is a concern after her damp performance in AG (although her dancing was good, so that’s something).
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Post by jgblunners on Feb 23, 2023 9:05:29 GMT
Oh dear… I think I’ll wait for the tour and hope that they cast it with actual actors.
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Post by jgblunners on Feb 22, 2023 15:39:40 GMT
I don't suppose there's any chance of Hannah Waddingham reprising her role as the Wicked Witch? I'm sure she's a big enough name now to shift a decent number of tickets. We can pray...
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Post by jgblunners on Feb 17, 2023 20:56:34 GMT
Oh dear, those vocals aren’t very pleasant…
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Post by jgblunners on Feb 17, 2023 12:11:55 GMT
Looks like the wooden panelling extends into the auditorium too, presumably to minimise the separating effect of moving to a proscenium theatre.
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Post by jgblunners on Feb 16, 2023 18:03:58 GMT
I just hope she doesn’t riff like she did in the concert version…
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Post by jgblunners on Feb 16, 2023 13:44:42 GMT
There is of course the infamous 'Springtime for Hitler' in The Producers.
Also 'Pretty Lady' in 42nd Street.
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Post by jgblunners on Feb 16, 2023 13:15:47 GMT
Saw this last night and enjoyed it a lot. I wouldn't quite rave about it the way some have, I'd go 4 stars rather than 5, but it's solid and the cast are excellent. I'll certainly be trying harder to see Chris Bush's work. There was one thing that I really didn't like about the ending though... in spoilers for those who want to avoid: {Spoiler - click to view}I couldn't believe that Poppy took Nikki back! It really grated on me, I thought the show would've been far more impactful if the moral had been about Poppy finding a new home and community for herself rather than, as she puts it, a Richard Curtis ending.
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Post by jgblunners on Feb 15, 2023 21:10:00 GMT
What is the difference between a musical and a play with music? (Answers from TallPaul don’t count). This is bound to be a divisive question, but here’s my interpretation: In a musical, the songs are a part of the narrative. They can propel plot and give us insight into characters’ thoughts or feelings that we wouldn’t get from a book scene. In a play with music, the songs do not form part of the narrative. They are complimentary to it. Remove the musical numbers and the plot works just fine, you’re not left with any holes. Here what the music contributes is a mood or atmosphere, something which helps to immerse you in the characters’ lives without necessarily describing them. I don’t think it’s really that binary, but that’s the best I can do to explain my thoughts on the difference.
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Post by jgblunners on Feb 14, 2023 16:43:07 GMT
The Young Vic twitter account posted an (admittedly obstructed) image of what the pros-arch staging looks like from tech rehearsals yesterday:
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Post by jgblunners on Feb 13, 2023 14:36:12 GMT
The one you are missing is ‘Freaky Friday’ (It’s only professional was in Arlington, Virginia) & they made a TV musical for the Disney channel /Disney+ however I saw this at Arts Ed in early 2020 & would be wonderful if fringe got hold of it! I love the Freaky Friday score! I didn’t really warm to the film adaptation but I think it’d be a great show for a regional house like Sheffield Crucible.
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Post by jgblunners on Feb 13, 2023 12:22:22 GMT
I have the studio cast recording which is breathtaking That studio cast recording is sensational. I’d even go so far as to say that it’s one of the best things Menken and Schwartz have written. I’m not surprised at Schwartz’s comment - the show is so big, not least in its requirement for both an ensemble and a choir, that I really doubt any producer would want to risk putting it on. It’s the kind of thing that could perhaps have a life in opera companies, but I fear the music is seen as not classical enough for that. Of course we were rumoured to get AIDA as the Coliseum summer musical a few years ago, and maybe we still will if this European production comes to our shores. The Bedknobs tour was sublime and I would love to see it come into town for a season. The other shows from your list I’m not so fussed about.
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Post by jgblunners on Feb 11, 2023 15:57:01 GMT
Would these be kept in the space behind the stage - there must be a lot of room there if so…! I can’t comment on this production, but for general information: the Lyttelton stage has two spaces off it (one behind, one to the side) which are the same size as the stage. When shows used to play in rep, the set for whichever wasn’t playing performances would be stored in one of these spaces. For larger shows (like Angels in America), the spaces could be opened up and used as extensions of the stage space. So it is definitely possible that there could be multiple sets for this play as you suggest.
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Post by jgblunners on Jan 26, 2023 18:21:53 GMT
I think that Tina Landau’s vision was a big part of what made the Broadway production work so well. I’m sceptical that this UK team will be able to find the same alchemy, but I’ll hold judgment until I’ve seen it. De Campo as Plankton is good (or at least interesting) casting, Gareth Gates as Squidward not so much…
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Post by jgblunners on Jan 26, 2023 18:14:31 GMT
If I may ask jgblunners Do you consider yourself a Phan? How often do you see the show? I've been 3 times. 1st was to see Martin Smith in it, up to Manchester with the Manager of Her Majesty's to see the 1st tour and again in London when a friend was in it briefly. How do you know its a mediocre productio when you havent seen it yet? No I wouldn’t say I’m a Phan, but I’ve seen the show 4 times over 10 years. I don’t know for sure that the new production is mediocre but based on the changes that have been described, I don’t think it will be as good as the original.
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