1,037 posts
|
Post by jgblunners on Sept 1, 2016 16:19:59 GMT
With the (relatively) recent trend of turning Disney animation musicals into stage shows, I think the music of Hercules is begging for a Musical Theatre treatment. Not sure how staging it would work, but hey that's what designers and directors are for.
|
|
1,037 posts
|
Post by jgblunners on Sept 1, 2016 16:17:13 GMT
Entry Pass is fantastic, I've been really impressed by the NT providing that. If you're into Opera/Ballet, the Royal Opera House also do a student scheme, and of course there are plenty of shows that do student discounts.
|
|
1,037 posts
|
Post by jgblunners on Sept 1, 2016 16:13:25 GMT
no discount just for having a cute rear. Damn, there goes my plan for a cheap seat 😛
|
|
1,037 posts
|
Post by jgblunners on Sept 1, 2016 9:20:35 GMT
You're right, it does sound rather confused. I guess we'll have to wait for an official announcement. And yeah, the pricing seems rather harsh, but maybe that just means that they're confident that the views are actually worth that much. From memory, the Noel Coward doesn't have much to cause restricted view. I'll be going for day seats/lottery, though. The warning about double safety bars on the balcony is enough to make me nervous about going for the dirt cheap slip seats up there.
|
|
1,037 posts
|
Post by jgblunners on Sept 1, 2016 7:07:05 GMT
I might consider sharing my face too if it gets me into the theatreboard matchmaking service
|
|
1,037 posts
|
Post by jgblunners on Aug 31, 2016 22:51:50 GMT
She understudied Elphaba? Is there any audio recording out there? Back in the day she did.
Well damn, that's a whole lot better than I was expecting. I do think she sounds a little more strained on the high notes now - maybe that's why she stopped covering Elphie? (it could just be the difference between recording/live though)
|
|
1,037 posts
|
Post by jgblunners on Aug 31, 2016 22:42:34 GMT
The photographer is played incredibly camp, purely for laughs, in one scene only. I don't mean to speak for the entire LGBT population, but as a gay man I had absolutely no issue with it, in fact I was almost distracted from the rest of the number because I was laughing so much. Yes it's a stereotype, yes it's done purely for comedic effect, but I don't believe the creative team meant any animosity at all by putting it in. I think the fact that it's put in purely for comedic effect is the reason I'm ok with it - I'm confident that the creative team didn't intend for it to make any sort of political point or be representative of any group of people. It would be an entirely different situation if this was a fully fleshed-out character who was meant to play the 'overly camp gay man' stereotype seriously.
I know many people will disagree with me, but that's my two cents for what it's worth.
|
|
1,037 posts
|
Post by jgblunners on Aug 31, 2016 21:01:01 GMT
Wow. Didn't even know that Christopher had an alternate, I just sort of assumed that Natasha Barnes would win this. Interesting to see that a play won out over a swarm of musicals.
|
|
1,037 posts
|
Post by jgblunners on Aug 31, 2016 18:29:53 GMT
I think it'll do pretty well as long as they can spread the word, in my opinion it's a stellar production but people may be reluctant to see it if they don't know what it is, so that's their main hurdle to get past.
|
|
1,037 posts
|
Post by jgblunners on Aug 31, 2016 16:30:03 GMT
Is the current show extending or is another one coming in to take its place? What do you mean? The Chichester production of Half a Sixpence is transferring to the Noel Coward Theatre.
|
|
1,037 posts
|
Post by jgblunners on Aug 31, 2016 14:23:20 GMT
Is Half a Sixpence a new musical or musical revival? Interesting one. It features original material, which to me would suggest it should be classed as a revival, but it is being marketed as 'the NEW flash, bang, wallop musical'. I'd put my money on revival, though.
|
|
1,037 posts
|
Post by jgblunners on Aug 31, 2016 14:17:38 GMT
Does anyone know the performance schedule when Sixpence transfers to the West End? What day is their midweek matinee? Thanks! I believe their matinee day in Chichester was Wednesday, but this won't necessarily carry over to the West End run. Tickets go on sale tomorrow though, so you won't have to wait long to find out! What's the height of the stage and will the programme feature a song list? The programme at CFT featured a song list - as for stage height, you'll have to wait until it opens to find out. Possible staging spoiler: {Spoiler - click to view}If they want to install revolves like they had in Chichester, that might bump up the stage height. Can someone who knows more about that sort of thing clarify?
|
|
1,037 posts
|
Post by jgblunners on Aug 31, 2016 13:10:21 GMT
|
|
1,037 posts
|
Post by jgblunners on Aug 31, 2016 12:12:23 GMT
Not booked yet but will definitely be going. Recently went to the smaller space in Park Theatre, but not visited the space this will be in yet. The theatre is rather nice, quaint cafe/bar feel to the foyer.
Nice to see two relatively famous plays with LGBT themes revived within 6 months of each other (with Angels at the National). Always wanted to see them so very excited!
|
|
1,037 posts
|
Post by jgblunners on Aug 31, 2016 12:01:19 GMT
Those of us who don't work in theatre in any way all have our various patterns and habits of what sort of shows we like to see and how often and where and when. But I've always wondered about the theatregoing habits of theatre folk. While they're not resting, they're not free to see anything much, so they must miss loads of shows they'd've really liked to see. And if you're performing or rehearsing or preparing, is it too conflicting and distracting to go see something anyway? On the other hand, at some venues and shows, it often feels like I'm the only audience member who isn't actually in the business. Not in the industry myself but a recent relationship with a guy who works on a west end show didn't take off for me because he was never, ever available in the evenings. The answer is they see random things on random days off, but when you're working to an 8 show a week schedule you can't really see much. Over a couple of months I easily saw 10 times the number of things he saw. So if you love the theatre, stay out of it as a career. Never thought about this before - must be difficult to be so immersed in the industry but only rarely get to see shows from the other side of the curtain. Nice to see that 'stagey matinees' are happening more often though - Titanic did a Tuesday in its last week and Groundhog Day have got a Monday coming up.
|
|
1,037 posts
|
Post by jgblunners on Aug 31, 2016 11:57:25 GMT
|
|
1,037 posts
|
Post by jgblunners on Aug 30, 2016 23:49:54 GMT
Something did indeed happen on Tuesday night:
|
|
1,037 posts
|
Post by jgblunners on Aug 29, 2016 21:04:22 GMT
It's got to be Groundhog Day for me - I'm seeing it on my birthday and everyone's been raving about it so I'm looking forward to it immensely!
|
|
1,037 posts
|
Post by jgblunners on Aug 29, 2016 16:08:18 GMT
How do people rate the chances of more dates being added? Really want to see this, but it's not currently going anywhere that's easy for me to get to...
|
|
1,037 posts
|
Post by jgblunners on Aug 29, 2016 15:10:00 GMT
I go up to London about twice a month, and usually try to get to both a matinee and an evening performance. I usually see a couple of touring productions a month too. For me, the frequency of theatre visits hasn't taken the joy out of it, as I'm working through a list of shows that I've always wanted to see so I'm usually quite excited, and going to the theatre in any capacity always feels special to me. Maybe that will change once I've seen all the shows on my list, but theatre has been such a significant part of my life over the past few years I don't think I could ever become bored of it!
|
|
1,037 posts
|
Post by jgblunners on Aug 28, 2016 13:16:19 GMT
'Bring on the Men' from Jekyll and Hyde - it's on the concept album but not the OBCR, although it is included in the current MTI licenced version of the show.
|
|
1,037 posts
|
Post by jgblunners on Aug 28, 2016 13:14:58 GMT
I am finding it remarkable how nothing has been confirmed for the Noel Coward!! The theatre is now dark and that is a terrible situation for any theatre to be in and with no show confirmed, I wouldn't be surprised if another show goes into there until October to build up promotion. It's hardly that big of a deal that's it's gone dark, it's not really a 'terrible situation', I think you're overexaggerating a bit there It may not be a disaster, but it's certainly unusual for Cam Mack to not have anything announced - there's usually at least one show lined up in each of his theatres.
|
|
1,037 posts
|
Post by jgblunners on Aug 27, 2016 23:36:27 GMT
My first time seeing this, and loved it! Very clever staging and design, and couldn't fault any of the cast. I can see why it wouldn't be for everyone, but for me it was done brilliantly.
Also got a surprise upgrade from my pretty decent Entry Pass seats to best-in-house stalls seats, which was unexpected but very welcome.
|
|
1,037 posts
|
Post by jgblunners on Aug 27, 2016 13:27:54 GMT
I wonder what it is about Wicked that attracts all the over-the-top fans. You don't get it (or at least it's less obvious if it does happen) with the other big musicals like Les Mis and Phantom, so why does it happen with Wicked? I love Wicked, it is going to be my 14th time seeing it on September 5th. It came from Broadway with the craziness, and Broadway audiences tend to be quite hysterical regularly. The hype carried on here and just seemed to continue. Even though it's fanbase has calmed down a little bit since the Kerry/Rachel years, it still gets its fans regularly going crazy. You just have to listen to audio from random performances, audiences go crazy most nights at that place.
I don't know what it is that does it, but something happens in the show that causes a lot of people to love it. For me, it seems to occur after The Wizard and I that the audiences start going into the hysterical territory.
Don't get me wrong, I love Wicked too! It's interesting what you say about the hype from Broadway audiences - that probably had something to do with it. And you're absolutely right, it's always Elphaba's big numbers that seem to have the greatest effect on the audience. Popular, too, but it's those big belting moments that really do it. Stephen Schwartz clearly found a way to write music that people really connect with.
|
|
1,037 posts
|
Post by jgblunners on Aug 27, 2016 12:52:20 GMT
I wonder what it is about Wicked that attracts all the over-the-top fans. You don't get it (or at least it's less obvious if it does happen) with the other big musicals like Les Mis and Phantom, so why does it happen with Wicked?
|
|
1,037 posts
|
Post by jgblunners on Aug 27, 2016 12:22:07 GMT
I can't make this cast change, but I've already got my ticket for Rachel's last show in January. Hoping it'll be a bit more subdued than 2012.
Do let us know what the 3rd and the 5th are like though!
|
|
1,037 posts
|
Post by jgblunners on Aug 26, 2016 23:53:02 GMT
Don't think there's a thread for this already, so thought I'd make one. Concert performance of The Hired Man at Cadogan Hall on 22nd of September - cast led by John Owen-Jones and Jenna Russell, with Melvyn Bragg narrating. Still quite a few tickets left. www.cadoganhall.com/event/the-hired-man-160922/Hadn't heard of the show myself until I saw this advertised, and JOJ and Jenna Russell were enough to get me interested. Cadogan Hall seem to have quite a good reputation for these sorts of events, and apparently this includes 'stunning projections'. Should be interesting.
|
|
1,037 posts
|
Post by jgblunners on Aug 26, 2016 21:27:34 GMT
Has she ever done stage work before? I thought she was only a presenter... It was after Strictly that people realised she could really dance quite well. Singing though, unknown! Ahh I see... well, it will be interesting if it does happen then!
|
|
1,037 posts
|
Post by jgblunners on Aug 26, 2016 19:54:22 GMT
Off to the National tomorrow evening to see The Threepenny Opera!
|
|
1,037 posts
|
Post by jgblunners on Aug 26, 2016 18:24:57 GMT
There is also the issue that Lucy Jones will be doing the RENT tour, so if the Curve production were to tour they would need to re-cast it.
|
|