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Post by danb on Apr 14, 2024 6:08:31 GMT
One of the worst shows I've seen in a long time. I grew up on that catalogue of music but this show is just diabolical and I felt embarrassed for the cast having to deliver it. Jess Daley and Matt Croke are so talented and should be in better shows than this! Yes, those two in particular, and Mel Jacques, were my wtf’s.
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Post by danb on Apr 13, 2024 15:50:34 GMT
Dementia jokes & gay stereotypes that make John Inman look restrained don’t really do it for me. Which is a shame because the cast were great. Why is dementia off limits for humour? I've a parent with dementia, and if you didn't laugh about it at times, you'd go crazy. It was more the how, married with the what that made it jar so badly. It was a cheap laugh with no grounding, and mean spirited with it. Scott Paiges’ loud, cuddly gay also makes some highly unpleasant queeny comments that jar with the rest of the script. It just doesn’t know what it wants to be.
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Post by danb on Apr 13, 2024 15:06:44 GMT
I was just offered row C dress circle at 4pm on a Saturday afternoon. I think you’d be fine.
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Post by danb on Apr 13, 2024 14:49:05 GMT
Watched a few new-ish releases on a flight recently. I dozed through ‘Mean Girls’ as I’d seen it before and most of the good songs are near the beginning. Enjoyable tosh all the same. I then watched a predictable but fun rom com; ‘Anyone But You’ that was so typical I may have written it as I went along. Again, was perfectly undemanding.
The last one however, ‘No Hard Feelings’ with Jennifer Laurence & Broadways Andrew Barth Feldman was much better and had a bit of bite to it. Jen plays a 30something waitress offered a (much needed) car to sleep with an 18 year old introvert before he heads off to college. It is full of surprises, warmth and ick and was genuinely funny. You don’t get much of that these days.
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Post by danb on Apr 13, 2024 14:14:22 GMT
Surely you are being its’ friend? 😁
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Post by danb on Apr 13, 2024 14:01:14 GMT
[/quote] On a completely other note, kind of funny that they used "The Lady's Paying" instrumental to open the video for the first day of rehearsal. Almost to say to the fans of that song who were angered by it being cut in the London/forthcoming Bway production "we've got it" [/quote] Neither ‘Eternal Youth’ nor ‘The Ladies Paying’ would make sense in last year’s ‘Sunset’. The fact that Joe has been ALLOWED into the house is a massive deal, so it wouldn’t scan to have a gaggle of beauticians allowed in, nor a load of Tailors just for a pair of mood lighteners.
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Post by danb on Apr 13, 2024 13:14:34 GMT
It’s the clamour to use the ‘what a waste/there are so many shows looking for a home’ argument that makes me howl. If they were ready to go and their financial model fit the venue they would already be in there! Nobody wants an empty house.
‘Heathers’ is really inclusive, entry level theatre that has, and will continue to, bring youngsters (and oldsters) into smaller theatre spaces in the West End showing that not everything makes sense in the Adelphi or Victoria Palace. Anyone who claims to be a patron of the arts bemoaning this, needs to have a long hard look at both themselves and the landscape of London theatre land. Because things are not the same as they were ten years ago, and for a production to be as financially agile and adaptable as this is, deserves our praise…whether you like the show or not.
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Post by danb on Apr 13, 2024 11:29:58 GMT
I’m pretty sure that the producers know what they’re doing. 🙄 Don’t forget that it’s already bought & paid for so they’re just moving it around the country. I love all the brilliant business minds on here. 😂 It's basically a tour stop so I get your point. But I wouldn't say the west end (or arts in general) is always the best place to look for business minds. We've seen plenty for wtf are they thinking moments over the years. I meant on the board rather than the W/E. I would say that it didn’t sell well initially because of the obscene pricing. It picked up once it hit Today Tix and tkts. I think all bets are off atm about what constitutes a sure fire hit.
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Corrie
Apr 13, 2024 11:17:02 GMT
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Post by danb on Apr 13, 2024 11:17:02 GMT
This whole Roy/Murder thing will have people switching off in droves. It is cruel rather than thrilling and a total betrayal of these characters, and worse still, a shabby desecration of Hayleys memory. Let me know when it’s over please.
(And the fact that ‘the only policewoman in Weatherfield’ is such a recurring character shows how badly they rely on crime to drive the show now.)
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Post by danb on Apr 13, 2024 11:04:21 GMT
Central London for a family show, during the school holidays, will sell without a problem. Why was it half empty during the last central London run too then? A lot of people who wanted to see it would've seen it last summer, and it's not really worth a repeat viewing... It's just a shame as the Gillian Lynne is a great theatre, and there's lot of new shows waiting for theatre space, but it keeps getting shows that aren't appealing to audiences for whatever reason I’m pretty sure that the producers know what they’re doing. 🙄 Don’t forget that it’s already bought & paid for so they’re just moving it around the country. I love all the brilliant business minds on here. 😂
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Post by danb on Apr 13, 2024 9:07:25 GMT
Folks seem to enjoy being down on the Old Vic don’t they? Are we talking about the Spacey days or continuing onwards? Why so toxic?
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Post by danb on Apr 12, 2024 21:53:18 GMT
Dementia jokes & gay stereotypes that make John Inman look restrained don’t really do it for me. Which is a shame because the cast were great.
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Post by danb on Apr 12, 2024 19:48:54 GMT
We’re in the interval and I’m scared that my wife has gone to throw herself off the Upper Circle rather than the loo excuse she gave. Really pleased that all of these fabulous talented people are in work, but this really is trash isn’t it?
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Post by danb on Apr 12, 2024 15:44:48 GMT
As an idea it sounded pretty nuts; the combo of star & their audience vs composer, writer & director being about as left of populist as the W/E can get away with. Bravo to those who believed in it and invested, but I can’t believe than anyone is surprised. Just because Sunset was a massive success doing (only roughly) the same kind of thing did they really think that the Channel 5 equivalent would fly? It gives me hope that populist theatre investors are willing to do something different, but fear that they won’t do again for a very long time.
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Post by danb on Apr 12, 2024 15:35:38 GMT
Dark theatre - not dark anymore.
Out of work performers - not out of work for a period of time.
People that like it and can’t see it - can now see it again.
Just coming out of a recession - money generated with only a small outlay.
Makes perfect sense to me.
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Post by danb on Apr 11, 2024 20:07:54 GMT
Doing short runs of ‘niche’ properties is a real risk when they are beloved titles that are ‘someone’s favourite’. If I’d have been able to go, and it was as terrible as described I would be absolutely livid and going full Karen all over my socials etc and demanding a refund! Charging premium prices for what can essentially be a shoddy, under rehearsed, semi-staged table read, is just not on. Put the time & money in producers…buy that extra day.
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Post by danb on Apr 11, 2024 19:50:21 GMT
All these last minute cancellations? You know its bad, it's bad, you know it. I will hunt you down Bear!! 🤣
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Post by danb on Apr 11, 2024 17:36:28 GMT
Saddened by this news. Hopefully I can make it before it closes. I wonder what they have chosen to replace it. Starter for ten from Bath? Or more likely a touring show that has a gap or has recently ended its tour. ‘Starter for Ten’ from BRISTOL (ahem!) is a great shout and would sit beautifully in the Gielgud, but I fear too many of the cast have already moved on.
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Post by danb on Apr 11, 2024 16:12:50 GMT
Mine would be super drippy overwrought Christopher Reeve/Jane Seymour 80’s time travel romance ‘Somewhere in Time’. Apparently a musical was created in the early 90’s but only ran for 3 weeks. Set ALW at it with his best Puccini hat on and the melodies could be swoonsome.
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Post by danb on Apr 9, 2024 17:19:36 GMT
I see Lauren Samuels has been announced as Elphaba on the US tour. Could see her joining the UK cast at some point in the future How funny that best friends Lucie Jones & Lauren Samuels will both have played Elphaba?
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Post by danb on Apr 9, 2024 8:56:53 GMT
The ‘reality’ on here was that the show, and particularly Myles performance, had been unrealistically hyped up. You sure spend a lot of time in a thread for a show you hated! Only to see if you’ll react, like every. single. time. Hate isn’t a word I would ever use. Let it go. …and are we not allowed to read threads about shows that we didn’t enjoy? Is this in the rules mods? Am I doing it wrong?
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Post by danb on Apr 8, 2024 15:13:59 GMT
I think the reality is that the show knows only a very small percentage of ticket buyers are going to be going for a particular performer. To use the above comparison, Imelda Staunton is a recognisable, more than established name here that lots of 'casual' theatre goers would have booked especially to see. The draw for this is Michael Jackson, regardless of who is going to be playing him on any given night. Patchy attendance from Frost isn't going to dampen the enthusiasm from the predominantly 'jukebox' crowd. The ‘reality’ on here was that the show, and particularly Myles performance, had been unrealistically hyped up.
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Post by danb on Apr 7, 2024 22:01:48 GMT
Eeek. Dodged a bullet there then. There was me sat in departures at JFK wishing I was there. Did JLG convince as a preppy sporto type? Was Cassidy Peters Mum?
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Post by danb on Apr 7, 2024 18:56:57 GMT
It was based on his attendance in NYC that I made the presumption.
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Post by danb on Apr 7, 2024 14:26:26 GMT
It is no longer searchable on See or KX tickets making me think that no more tickets are available for purchase. Pretty sure thats the definition of sold out, however many tickets were comped previously. If you can’t buy ‘em its sold out!
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Post by danb on Apr 7, 2024 12:11:20 GMT
In some sectors that's not a bad salary with experience. I'm shocked anyone would think 27k isn't a good starting salary. After 25 years in the nhs front line during Covid working with terminally ill patients and complex mental health needs and getting paid just £469 per year over that so it’s not to be sniffed at … for some of us in the nhs now that’s as much as we will ever get .. so to start on that …… 🤔🌈 Exactly! You’re saving lives rather than choosing to play pretend for a living. Both valid jobs if you want to do them, but the lack of self awareness is hilarious.
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Post by danb on Apr 6, 2024 21:34:28 GMT
I thought he was Kaya Scodelerio’s ex too? Busy boy!
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Post by danb on Apr 6, 2024 10:22:10 GMT
Happy to agree to disagree. Nothing struck me as spectacular at all. I’m sorry that you struggle with other peoples opinions. I just thought it was bang average. Glad you liked it. Well done 👏🏻 To be fair, mrbarnaby has said nothing to suggest he struggles with other people's opinions. You don't like the show - cool - you've made that clear. Other people like it and it's likely to be very successful at the box office. Ok, great. 🤦♂️ I now realise that other aspects of our visit made it difficult to enjoy the show for which the PE have since apologised.
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Post by danb on Apr 6, 2024 1:53:26 GMT
No it was ‘Tommy’s Holiday Camp’ (Uncle Ernie's act two ditty) and I think a bit of ‘Miracle Cure’.
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Post by danb on Apr 5, 2024 21:43:56 GMT
Shame about the volume - I have great memories of seeing this for the first time at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London, and the entire Stalls bobbing up in their seat in shock at the volume of the first guitar chord. Good to hear the production gathers impact. The projections were always spectacular, and surely influenced by Gilbert & George artworks. I guess it's a very simple trick, but the parachute sequence was so memorable. I'm curious about the choreography for this revivel. Clips don't look all that different from the original - including the block of bodies leaning back in awe from the pinball machine in 'Pinball Wizard', but it's not the same choreographer (Wayne Cilento) credited, despite him winning the Tony Award and many others for it. Yet the new choreographer doesn't seem credited as 'recreating' the original. How does that work I wonder? Why was it changed? It certainly felt ‘inspired’ by the original choreo, but Lorin Latarro is credited now. I realised earlier that 2 songs had been cut completely without noticing. I certainly appreciated the subsequent 2hr 15 runtime after a day of dragging myself round Manhattan.
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