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Post by londonmzfitz on May 15, 2024 16:57:39 GMT
Thursday - In Woking for the night so popping along to see if Chitty flies! (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang). I have soft spot for Adam Garcia...
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Post by londonmzfitz on May 14, 2024 11:33:54 GMT
Just saw this on Twitter (never calling it X) of Nemo's performance. Compared to the above, this looks like it would have been an absolute blast to watch from any angle, anywhere, in the auditorium. *edited to add, STROBE LIGHTING*** fug it, links to other stuff on YT. Google it, it's great.
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Post by londonmzfitz on May 13, 2024 16:48:59 GMT
Finally found this online and I'm realising why it struggled to get noticed before disappearing completely....it's dreadful. I'd watch Samantha and Ramin forever but this is just a turgid flat tuneless mess. They're so talented but wasted in this, neither looks comfortable and they're not believable as a couple. The 12-year age gap doesn't help, as good as Ramin looks for 44! Ditto. I gave up half way through, still haven't seen the ending.
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Post by londonmzfitz on May 13, 2024 16:46:30 GMT
I was trying to figure out how Ollie's staging worked for the arena crowd. Kept waiting for a shot of the box from the rear of the arena showing how the crowd would view it. A four sided box - surely only those looking straight at it would get the full effect. Did it have solid sides so the side aisles would miss everything? Did it move on a platform? I don't think the song even registered, it was all visual.
I am (was?) a big fan of the West End Does Eurovision - reckon Book of Mormon could carry off Ollie's song if WEE ever resurfaces.
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Post by londonmzfitz on May 11, 2024 23:19:29 GMT
BBC clip of upcoming series Lost Boys and Fairies (just aired after Eurovision). Fra Fee + one wanting to adopt as a gay couple. I first saw him as understudy Marius in Les Mis and thought he was simply wonderful. Saw him in other stuff, was delighted to see him pop up in the Marvel TV series Hawkeye with Jeremy Renner a couple of years ago. I hope this is good ... First time I saw him was in Candide at the Menier. He was excellent. Yes! Saw it too - that was a lot of fun!
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Post by londonmzfitz on May 11, 2024 23:17:32 GMT
Was sad Spain didn't do well, seemed to be such a hit in the arena. Spent a couple of coins on France, which hit the button for me as a song contest entrant ...
Used to watch this as a family when I was a kid, honestly it felt a times tonight there were contestants on Eurovision on a bet to be as controversial as possible. Naked arses and willies. I *literally* was that angry old woman yesterday afternoon in Woking Town Centre shouting at young lads, one of whom had his hand down his trousers and having a play with his knob ... which they found hilarious.
Maybe I'm just too old for this now.
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Post by londonmzfitz on May 11, 2024 23:07:33 GMT
BBC clip of upcoming series Lost Boys and Fairies (just aired after Eurovision). Fra Fee + one wanting to adopt as a gay couple. I first saw him as understudy Marius in Les Mis and thought he was simply wonderful. Saw him in other stuff, was delighted to see him pop up in the Marvel TV series Hawkeye with Jeremy Renner a couple of years ago. I hope this is good ...
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Post by londonmzfitz on May 9, 2024 15:37:22 GMT
Booked the moment they mentioned Ramin Ditto. Haven't been to the Young Vic for years!
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Post by londonmzfitz on Apr 18, 2024 9:25:30 GMT
I'd signed up with work email, which came through about 20 minutes past the 10am pre-sale promise. I'd signed up with my personal email which still hasn't arrived ....
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Post by londonmzfitz on Apr 17, 2024 9:28:35 GMT
I hate Gigantic and I don't think I'm signed up on any of their email stuff but got presale link from them in the last couple of minutes (same prices as the LW)
(edited as link doesn't work on here)
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Post by londonmzfitz on Apr 17, 2024 9:20:59 GMT
Holy cow the prices.
Says my email came in at 9.59 but it's only just arrived in my office email inbox. Still hasn't arrived in my personal email inbox.
Booked for Monday and am on beans on toast for a month.
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Post by londonmzfitz on Apr 17, 2024 8:50:04 GMT
Nope, and I keep checking.
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Post by londonmzfitz on Apr 8, 2024 12:32:34 GMT
Christmas 2023, settled into Hallmark "Christmas In Notting Hill" film and Killian Donnelly popped up as "Uncle Howard".
Also had a colleague stay for a weekend, she wanted to (re)watch a favourite series of hers, Magpie Murders. Killian Donnelly appears for about 10 seconds as non speaking German Passport Control in the first episode. "Ooo", I said "He's an Irish actor in loads of musicals". Colleague was confused, surely not, he was German ...
(She was thrilled to go and see Guys and Dolls at the Bridge recently with Daniel Mays, who also stars in Magpie Murders... )
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Post by londonmzfitz on Apr 3, 2024 17:46:55 GMT
I've really enjoyed some of the recent concerts. Get a good starry performer, giving it their all for one/two nights rather than a run .. Monday night in London hotels are very much cheaper .. occasionally a show I don't know, or a show I love that isn't currently running. A theatre that'd normally be dark that night. I'm in favour.
Phil Dunster did a bit of a number on the Christmas Hannah Waddingham show - and I *freaking love* him in Ted Lasso. I've seen Zizi in several shows. Well staged it'll be a treat, I think.
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Post by londonmzfitz on Mar 27, 2024 10:01:18 GMT
And yes to the staging, that blooming table and chairs! And lots of "floor" action, with the kid picking up the letters - lost if you were front stalls.
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Post by londonmzfitz on Mar 27, 2024 9:57:34 GMT
I didn't think this was very good but I think it was saved by the cast, particularly Rachel Tucker, Jamie Muscato and Oliver Tompsett. They were the main reasons I booked anyway, and it's always a pleasure to hear people of their calibre sing. A couple of the songs were good, but many were bland and forgettable. This, without a cast this professional and talented would have been unbearable. Absolutely as above, although I'd rate it Jamie Muscato, Oliver Tompsett and Rachel Tucker in that order; Rachel was a bit shouty in the first song for me and I then hit the same vibe throughout afterwards. Without these three, making up half the cast, the show would have been properly grim. Overall, it was just so *GLUM*! There are musical shows that have death and heartbreak at their centre that will (usually) have a little lightness, a little charm, to them. Love Story. Blood Brothers. Love Never Dies. But this was just unending gloom without a super song to hang its hat on.
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Post by londonmzfitz on Mar 17, 2024 12:52:09 GMT
I think it's a bit of fun - my Ma and Pa were Irish and I have my Irish passport. Made me smile. It's so frigging grim out there in the real world, flag waving aggressors, 'tis a bit of whimsy and I'm good with it.
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Post by londonmzfitz on Mar 14, 2024 13:56:09 GMT
I had a couple of wakes during the night thinking - Connie Francis (raped in her hotel room). My bag on the table which could have been taken in a matter of seconds with my car keys, my credit cards and work credit cards. I could have been in the bath. When I've stayed before there have been students staying - in checking out yesterday there was a coach load of primary school children leaving. What if!!
After I'd spoken to reception I went up in the lift with a youngish guy who could see I was in a fury - I said "I've just had a man walk in my room" - he said "the same thing happened to me yesterday, twice in fact, while I was in just a towel". Now, I've no idea if what he said is correct, maybe he thought it'd calm me down or something. I'd booked through Hotels.com as I get a discount with 10 bookings (makes sense when I book for colleagues and myself), and I've told them. I'm thinking I'll tell my brother-in-law - he is Met Police based within Wembley Park. I needed a day to cool off - I don't take pleasure in giving a bad review but Jesus, how much more vulnerable could I be with my pants around my ankles? I needed a bit more of a reaction from Reception than the "sorry sorry have a full english".
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Post by londonmzfitz on Mar 14, 2024 11:37:03 GMT
Two things I expect from a Hotel no matter what the budget. Clean. Safe.
I moved out of London 2 years ago but travel into my London Bridge office twice a week. Occasionally, once a month at least, I stay at a hotel, "do" a show and have two days back to back. Stayed at a Wembley hotel on Tuesday night that I'd stayed at 5 times previously (October 2022 - March 2023) - I stopped staying there as last room I got was a bit ropey and the exterior fabric of the building was, well, awful (they'd removed the cladding on the outside of the building and I kept thinking, they'll sort it out and 18 months on it's exactly the same). Maybe it was time for a revisit, I thought, it's only for a couple of hours sleep, I thought. Didn't go to a show after all, being really tired after a 6am start. Booked in at 7pm with the firm intention if the room was rubbish I'd ask for another. No, room was OK but hot - took my shirt off, went for a wee in bra and jeans. And heard the room door open, mens voices, and the door shut again.
Oh boy did I let rip at reception (face to face) who'd put the next arriving guests into my room. I got a "sorry" and a "very sorry" in the face to face, and a call to my room later offering me free breakfast. Free breakfast offered again next morning when I saw another "manager". But I doubt I'll ever walk into a hotel room again and not put a shed load of furniture in front of the door the minute I get in.
*No I didn't have the free b*st*rd breakfast! Probably lifelong trauma being mid-wee and strange men walking in...
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Post by londonmzfitz on Mar 5, 2024 16:21:32 GMT
Cyber wave to the young guy on my (late running) train this morning who tapped me on the shoulder and said I was in his reserved seat. I showed him my ticket, Seat H49. Showed me his ticket, Seat H49. I said - the 07.19? He said - No, the 07.28. I said - you are on the wrong train, that's the one behind this. He said - I was told I could get on this one.
I looked at him. He looked at me. He sighed, said "it's alright" and sloped off to find another seat.
I wonder when (if) it'll dawn on him that not every seat H49 is reserved for him today.
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Post by londonmzfitz on Mar 4, 2024 16:01:52 GMT
The person sitting in front of me at Phantom last week was very sneakily videoing the entire show. The ushers wouldn't have really been able to see him as he had the phone pressed against his chest (probably didn't get a very good shot of the stage but hey), but every few minutes he would move the phone away from him to check that it was still recording. Extremely distracting to say the least. I very politely asked him in an applause break to put the bloody thing away, but he either didn't understand or pretended not to hear, and carried on. I had a chat with a super-helpful FoH supervisor in the interval who told him off, made him delete all his videos, and then delete the deleted videos too. She gave me a beautiful smile and a thumbs up when she'd done, and got the ushers to keep a close eye on him in act 2. If anyone knows the email address for His Majesty's, I'd love to be able to write and thank her - or if you're reading this Katie, you were bloody marvellous, and thank you again! I had the same thing at Phantom years ago (12, 15 years ago?), not even sneakily recording. I was about 5 rows back, she was front row so probably in the eyeline of lots of people including the Circle, Upper. I told FoH at the interval who did the same thing, made her delete and kept an eye on her.
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Post by londonmzfitz on Feb 27, 2024 12:52:14 GMT
The second clip seems to suggest the West End is still going to get Groundhog Day ... sometime ...
Thanks Anthony.
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Post by londonmzfitz on Feb 26, 2024 12:11:57 GMT
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Post by londonmzfitz on Feb 21, 2024 10:00:54 GMT
I buy a programme every visit to the theatre and still have most of them, really gutted during a move a few years back a box went missing with all my programmes from my first programme (Summer Holiday, signed by Clare Buckfield, Darren Day and Ross King) to around 2015 had some real great memories in there from lesser revived shows like From a Jack to a King and Doctor Dolittle signed by Phillip Schofield (don't think that one would be worth much these days though). I was thinking about From A Jack To A King only yesterday - that was a lot of fun. 20 years ago I knew someone who knew Jack Carlton and said he'd get my programme signed for me. Dunno where that is now ... I do still have the Rolf Harris panto at Wimbledon programme though, goddammit.
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Post by londonmzfitz on Feb 20, 2024 12:07:58 GMT
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Cash
Feb 20, 2024 12:01:15 GMT
Post by londonmzfitz on Feb 20, 2024 12:01:15 GMT
Every couple of months I get £20 of .50p coins from the bank. I like to tip my regular morning coffee haunt (and I'll always look for one of the picture / commemorative .50p's which I keep (not collect, just like to have them) although I've only ever had 1 or 2 out of 40 coins).
I'll tip cash to my hairdresser, that's about it. I've made a first appointment with a local chiropodist next week and was told over the phone she prefers cash payment but will take cards if she has to. Immediately my head went to money laundering / tax avoidance.
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Post by londonmzfitz on Feb 14, 2024 15:50:14 GMT
Darren Criss did a bit of Starkid at his recent London Palladium shows (full shows available on YouTube, matinee and evening)
- (matinee with Carrie Hope Fletcher) - A Very Potter Musical.
Youthful audience around me were absolutely raving for it.
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Post by londonmzfitz on Feb 14, 2024 13:56:15 GMT
BBC Concert Orchestra with West End Stars Louise Dearman and Graham Bickley www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/bbcco-great-outdoors-13march24# (link to apply for free tickets) Showstoppers, Oscar winners and West End hits – as the BBC Concert Orchestra and an all-star line-up salutes the wonders of nature in the stunning surroundings of Alexandra Palace. Live from Alexandra Palace – the spectacular venue on the roof of London, where dreams have been made for over a century – the BBC Concert Orchestra joins two sensational West End singers for a night of melodies that were born to soar free. From The Big Country to Jurassic Park, whether we’re flying you to the moon or whirling you Over the Rainbow, tonight it’s all about boundless horizons and impossible wishes: the wonders of nature, the power of the imagination and – above all – about great, great tunes. Expect classic film scores, light music classics and some of the best-loved songs of all time. And expect them sung with style and delivered with a swing by Louise Dearman (Wicked, Evita, Guys and Dolls), Graham Bickley (Les Misérables, Sunset Boulevard, Bread) and the full BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by Richard Balcombe.
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Post by londonmzfitz on Feb 13, 2024 17:14:21 GMT
Front and centre last night (and no, I do not wear a wig, Uncle Fester). Ramin has a fabulous voice and great comic timing. He corpsed on the funny line, much amusement from audience. One female audience member seemed struck with Tourettes at the moment Ramin gets prepared for the Tango. Honestly, his voice is terrific and it's such a loss to the West End he's not around. Michelle did a lot of looking. Meaningful looks. Seemed terribly nervous of the tango (counting the "one two three four"). Pugsley was fab. Wednesday has a powerful voice but I couldn't make out half of what she was singing. Thought Uncle Fester was going to pass out during first song (gasping for air), but he* improved greatly through the show. I don't want to colour the opinion of anyone else seeing this, just to say, for me, it was OK. The staging was terrific for a "Concert". The show itself, not for me. *apologies, "they".
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Post by londonmzfitz on Feb 13, 2024 13:21:21 GMT
Front and centre last night (and no, I do not wear a wig, Uncle Fester).
Ramin has a fabulous voice and great comic timing. He corpsed on the funny line, much amusement from audience. One female audience member seemed struck with Tourettes at the moment Ramin gets prepared for the Tango. Honestly, his voice is terrific and it's such a loss to the West End he's not around.
Michelle did a lot of looking. Meaningful looks. Seemed terribly nervous of the tango (counting the "one two three four"). Pugsley was fab. Wednesday has a powerful voice but I couldn't make out half of what she was singing. Thought Uncle Fester was going to pass out during first song (gasping for air), but he improved greatly through the show.
I don't want to colour the opinion of anyone else seeing this, just to say, for me, it was OK. The staging was terrific for a "Concert". The show itself, not for me.
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