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Post by christya on Dec 22, 2022 10:08:31 GMT
I really didn't like the Royal Variety performance. It didn't feel like the same routine I saw in the theatre, and they seemed to spend a lot of time standing still. I know the staging has to be different, but if I didn't know better I'd think they were hustled into there without any time to adapt the choreography.
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Post by christya on Dec 21, 2022 12:49:18 GMT
That is absolutely dire. What on earth is going on with that dreadful huge puppet? And I don't know who that is as Belle, but good grief, if I went to a performance and saw that I'd say 'stuff this' and go to the pub. She looks really pretty in the costume but then opens her mouth and this weird overly-soft autotuned sound comes out.
I think Martin Short's effort speaks for itself.
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Post by christya on Dec 18, 2022 0:55:33 GMT
I took part in Showman when it was on tour, doing a thing I'm not allowed to talk about or the NDA police will get me. Had a great time and Derren seemed like a genuinely good bloke. Didn't see anything to indicate a set-up either.
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Post by christya on Dec 12, 2022 18:02:26 GMT
I gave in and phoned, which considering how much I absolutely detest the phone, should say something about how much I wanted to get a good seat! Got the one I was after though.
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Post by christya on Dec 12, 2022 13:07:19 GMT
I had just put my payment details in and the bloody thing crashed. Frustrating, as I'm very picky about where I sit (front row or nothing, I cannot stand heads in front of me) so I'm never certain of getting what I'm looking for and I'd snagged a good seat.
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Post by christya on Dec 11, 2022 16:42:35 GMT
I saw it the other day - finally caught Jennifer Tierney as Beverley, and holy hell, what a voice! Glad to have seen her before it closes. Matthew Whennel Clark was on for Oz, and his version of the plane passenger was very Scottish, which made me laugh. Sad to think that I probably won't see this show again until closing night.
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Post by christya on Dec 9, 2022 11:06:52 GMT
I'd love to have one of the razors used in the original 'Sweeney Todd'. It would make a lovely display with my Playbill. My current prize prop posession is a newspaper from the Broadway production of 'Newsies'. Not one of the ones they dance on and throw into the audience - the one held up by Jack Kelly at the end of 'Once and For All'. A cast member swiped it for me the night I saw the show.
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Post by christya on Dec 9, 2022 10:59:02 GMT
I'd also like to ban reviews complaining about songs not being catchy. This isn't top of the pops (did I just age myself?).
Considering that my Mum ends up humming 'Bad Cinderella' for a week every time she hears it once, I don't think songs being 'catchy' are an indication of quality, so I'd second this one!
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Post by christya on Dec 8, 2022 10:10:45 GMT
Once again, Sebastian is way too attractive. Hire a nerdy looking bloke, for heaven's sake!
The stepsisters could be funny. Other than that, meh.
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Post by christya on Dec 8, 2022 10:05:11 GMT
Sick of the sight of the pair of them. How convenient to have cameras around just when she spontaneously cries out of actual real emotion and not because she's an actress who bragged she could cry on cue at all. Unpleasant, bitter pair of people who didn't get what they wanted one way or another and now play perpetual victims.
When I remember how happy I was for them when they got married I feel like an absolute mug.
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Post by christya on Dec 2, 2022 19:32:35 GMT
The view looked to be fine from Woodside. It's a side section, but still fairly forward. First three rows look the best, with a good rake, then behind that the second section is set back a little (a walkway in front) with a single-bar rail in front (looked like that was set forward of the seats, on the other side of the walkway). The rake in that section looked good, too.
As an aside, anyone thinking of buying tickets, I'd avoid the second row of Brooklyn. The seats are raised, but not a true rake, just raised seats without a raised floor - some people couldn't touch the ground.
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Post by christya on Nov 30, 2022 21:05:37 GMT
Interval - a lot of the sound issues seem to have been sorted tonight, much clearer. I’m sure there was a chanting bit in Seize the Day that wasn’t in last night. But maybe I missed it yesterday!
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Post by christya on Nov 30, 2022 12:48:23 GMT
Out of luck on the life size Jeremy, I'm afraid. Merch was:
Logo T-Shirt £25 Women's T-Shirt £28 Long-sleeve T-shirt £28 Hoodie £55 (!)
Pencil set £6 Keychain £8 Pin set £8 Acrylic magnet £8 Enamel pin £8 Programme £9 Mug £10 Tote bag £18
Merch queue beforehand was huge - better chance if you're close to an exit is to high-tail it out after bows as they're open again after the show.
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Post by christya on Nov 30, 2022 11:41:56 GMT
Does Jack have much dancing to do in this? I was never quite sure if it was minimized for Jeremy Jordan or it's written that way. I've only heard good things about the leads elsewhere and have been impressed with Michael's voice in the past so looking forward to see what I think later. I did think the bows videos he looked a bit shell shocked! Theatre twitter is practically wetting itself over last night, there's definitely a hype building but I wonder if it's sustainable. He doesn't do the all-out dancing, but I did think he did a bit more than Jeremy Jordan. If I'm remembering correctly, Jack was originally (as in, back at the Paper Mill Playhouse) even in King of New York, but that was pulled. Possibly because Jeremy Jordan isn't really a dancer, possibly to give the lead a break. I thought Michael made a charming Jack Kelly, and will only get better as the run goes on. He could do with a little more visible confidence, but you have to cut the lad a bit of slack on first preview of course. I'm looking at booking later in the run, I'd like to see how he grows into it. Regarding hype, I did find myself wondering whether we might see a repeat of what happened with the US production, but it's possible the current climate for theatre just won't support it.
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Post by christya on Nov 30, 2022 11:36:08 GMT
It's not exactly flying, but there are parts where someone will swing down from (I think) the back of the 'Manhattan' section. Another part where multiple people are in the air spinning about on lights. I'm not convinced it's necessary and would happily give it up in exchange for moving the production to a 'proper' theatre, but it went down really well and I did like the bit in King of New York.
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Post by christya on Nov 29, 2022 23:14:30 GMT
Really enjoyed this tonight - huge energy, beautiful set, and everyone seemed to be having a fantastic time.
The sound needs sorting out a bit, the balance was off in quite a few places, and I think they were going for an effect in Once and For All which didn't quite work (I really missed the moving set there). Nothing that can't be sorted out, and probably will be, it was a preview after all.
The only things I wasn't keen on were the whole 'in the round' aspect as a concept, though I felt they did well with it, and I really didn't like what they did with Brooklyn. Minor things though, and not enough to knock off a star.
It was a bit late starting tonight - around 7:45 - and finished at 10:25, so I think once they're actually able to start on time it'll be finishing earlier.
Forgot to add - there was a bit in King of New York that was a really nice callback to the film, not sure if it was intentional but echoes of the newsie on the ceiling fan.
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Post by christya on Nov 29, 2022 19:34:51 GMT
For anyone coming later to this - the merch queue tonight was a bit on the long side! As in, massive.
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Post by christya on Nov 28, 2022 22:19:48 GMT
Of course - will post for both nights as Wednesday might be a better example.
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Post by christya on Nov 28, 2022 17:52:52 GMT
I'm there tomorrow and Wednesday. Didn't think I could do tomorrow originally so have been stalking the website for returns - got one quite close to the back, and then snagged another ticket in a better position so will be returning one probably. Then front row on Wednesday.
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Post by christya on Nov 23, 2022 17:16:04 GMT
For anyone going to closing night - the recently announced train strikes for 6th and 7th might affect your travel arrangements, so worth checking. I've just booked a flight instead, so it'll be either fingers crossed the tube is on to get in from Heathrow, or book a car or something. Not missing this!
However, the good news for people who live close and couldn't get a closing night ticket might be that some people who did get one may return theirs, eyes peeled I think!
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Post by christya on Nov 22, 2022 11:53:16 GMT
Yep, I'm assuming that will be the tour. Which will cost me an absolute fortune if it comes anywhere in a remotely reasonable distance! The only other options would probably be Not Closing After All (doesn't seem likely), or a cast recording (doesn't seem likely either, considering there aren't really any changes since the Broadway one that I can think of). And since it's also unlikely that I'm getting a personal invitation to join them onstage for a reprise of Welcome to the Rock, I'm betting on a tour.
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Post by christya on Nov 17, 2022 23:37:07 GMT
Honestly, I think recording this one was a bit of a no-brainer. Lea Michele is fantastic in this role, I'm actually looking forward to getting hold of a copy.
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Post by christya on Nov 16, 2022 12:48:31 GMT
Fingers crossed, I know a few people who would love to see it but can't get to London.
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Post by christya on Nov 14, 2022 10:37:46 GMT
I'd have said that I'd listen to him sing anything, but I didn't like the Age of Madness stuff so had no desire to go to that.
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Post by christya on Nov 10, 2022 11:53:46 GMT
I did laugh a little at some of the Twitter posts claiming 'diversity' at the casting of the three leads. It absolutely isn't diversity. Inclusive, maybe, and a good development for the Glinda role specifically, but it's no more diverse than an all-white trio. I'd be more impressed if they'd had the nerve to make Glinda or Elphaba fat.
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Post by christya on Nov 8, 2022 22:28:10 GMT
I've been wanting to pay this another visit, but can't say any of the new leads appeals to me. I'm not a big fan of either Alexia or Lucy, and I definitely need a different Fiyero. Might try a visit beforehand to at least catch Lucie before she goes.
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Post by christya on Nov 5, 2022 11:46:26 GMT
Seriously? Seems like they've been promoting it for a while for something that's not out. I could have sworn our local cinema had tickets for it a couple of weeks ago. But then, I didn't pay too much attention as I'll probably leave it until it comes out free on something, maybe it was a rerelease of the DeVito one.
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Post by christya on Nov 5, 2022 11:18:37 GMT
Is it me, or has this more or less sunk without a trace? Most of my friends are into musicals, and not one person seems to have seen it, even those with kids.
Also, that version of Revolting Children is not great. So shrill, I don't recall it being quite that shrill.
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Post by christya on Oct 21, 2022 16:47:40 GMT
I thought about going, but when I looked the tickets were more expensive than Jeremy Jordan (£20 more for where I'd normally sit), and it just seems a bit much for a solo concert when I have no idea what to expect. Loads of availability left though, enough that I'm wondering whether it might have been an idea to do a smaller venue and test the waters a bit.
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Post by christya on Oct 15, 2022 20:54:51 GMT
I get so, so bored with the acrobat and the escapologist. It just goes on, and on...
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