2,584 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by viserys on Jan 17, 2019 9:54:32 GMT
It's a national theatre but is excluding non-Londoners from the chance of getting tickets. Yea, but it gives all us foreigners, who were completely excluded from the ballot a fighting chance to get in. I'm not trying, mind, but if I were a massive Blanchett fan, I'd know now that I could book a weekend trip to London and get a dayseat. As could non-Londoners by the way. This simply rewards people who want to get in most badly. Actually, I wonder if this is partly why they’ve decided not to NT Live it? This sort of content would find difficulty getting mainstream distribution if it was in a film - there’s all sorts of issues with various international ratings board That makes sense. I guess it's also different for the performers to show themselves in front of a small live audience (sitting in the dark) or have it all exposed on screen across the world.
|
|
2,584 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by viserys on Jan 16, 2019 13:35:28 GMT
I'm fine with everything here really - the choice of the small theatre if that's what works for this play, the ballot system and even the fact that foreigners like me were excluded from said ballot (although I wish they had clarified that early on).
What I don't get is, that they don't do a NT Live to satisfy all those who missed out on tickets for one reason or other. I'm sure many Cumberbatch/Hiddleston/name your superstar fans were very happy that NT Live allowed them to get a look at their fave's performances of Hamlet and Coriolanus after all, so why not do the same here?
|
|
2,584 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by viserys on Jan 15, 2019 9:11:25 GMT
This ^
I'd like to add that so much also depends on your own mindset and whether characters appeal to you. I was SO very sceptic about this, but found that Bobbie, as played by Rosalie, directly spoke to me, having been there as a 35 year old single woman myself.
Many others may not care for her, be it that they're male, or one of those types who've been in relationships ever since they had their first boyfriend at 15 or whatever. Personally I hated the couples in Follies intensely, especially Sally, as that kind of needy coupledom is so alien to me, so I'm afraid that show did nothing for me, while many many people will probably identify with her or Phyllis or both or everyone.
|
|
2,584 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by viserys on Jan 13, 2019 9:51:03 GMT
Someone asked them on their Facebook page whether it will be in English and they replied yes, so Clare can put the dictionary away If it had been translated, the posters, website, etc. would also mention a translator which they don't. This is basically a sequel to the previous successful English-language productions at the Châtelet, so I guess they think that people know by now that these classics are done in English.
|
|
2,584 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by viserys on Jan 12, 2019 18:31:05 GMT
Haha, I had no idea Bord Gáis means Gas Board, I had thought it would be something exotic and Celtic Anyway, thanks for all the help. I've clicked around now and a few shows (among them Calendar Girls) show a seating plan where you can choose your own seats, while others just show a non-clickable map - including We Will Rock You, which I wanted to book. I could only click each single row and check what place I was being offered in that row, but I have no idea how well it's selling or anything. Just panicked a bit because I saw it's nearly sold out in many other places in autumn. I guess I wasn't the only one walking out of Bohemian Rhapsody thinking, man, I'd like to hear these Queen songs on stage again. Since I wasn't sure which town to pick and I have wanted to visit Dublin for a long time, I thought I'd go for it. That 5* hotel next door is definitely out of my price range, but there are some others nearby, so I'll take a closer look when the time comes closer. PS: I had a really blonde moment realizing with glee that the prices were Euro, not Pound
|
|
2,584 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by viserys on Jan 12, 2019 13:28:36 GMT
When I go on the official website, I get forwarded to Ticketmaster Ireland which won't let me pick my own seat from a full seating plan. Does anyone know if there's another site where you can see the seating plan INCLUDING which seats are still available? Also, since this is sadly outside Theatremonkey's part of the jungle, does anyone familiar with the venue have suggestions which seats/rows are good and which to avoid at all costs? And general question from a female solo traveller: Is the area safe to walk around in after the evening performances? I see there are plenty hotels nearby, so would ideally walk from the theatre to one of those within 5-10 mins. Complete newbie to Dublin, so any help is welcomed
|
|
2,584 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by viserys on Jan 10, 2019 6:22:35 GMT
They just released a goodbye offer for Aladdin for 30% off, so if they do the same for Vampire, you'd be better off with the Twofer, I think. It's the one I always wait for whenever I feel the urge to see a Stage Entertainment production.
Keep in mind though that 99 Euro means two rather awful seats. For 109 Euro (also part of the offer, just better category) you can usually get fairly decent seats. That's 55 Euro per seat plus fees, comes to around 60 Euro - which is what a Stage Entertainment production is generally worth, lol.
At 30% off really good seats, you are end up with around 70-80 Euro, but I can't guarantee a 30% off goodbye offer will happen for Vampire as it has far more hardcore fans than Aladdin, so there may be more demand...
|
|
2,584 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by viserys on Jan 9, 2019 15:43:20 GMT
Are you able to take someone along? There's a "2 for 99" offer for all performances going: www.stage-entertainment.de/landingpages/b2b-aktionen/urlaubspiraten/urlaubspiraten_byebyespecial.htmlThe "Twofers" are the best-possible offers there as their regular offers for about 15-20 percent off rarely make a dent in the ridiculous prices. I'm sure they will have some sort of goodbye offer going out closer to the date. The local TKTS in Berlin is called Hekticket (hekticket.de) but I don't know if they discount Stage Entertainment productions. Stage is notorious or rather playing in front of empty houses than offer proper discounts.
|
|
2,584 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by viserys on Jan 9, 2019 8:10:24 GMT
OH GOD I HATE ALL YOU DRAMA QUEENS
LOL, I can't believe y'all here got me swept up in this hype and I booked for early July when I'm in London anyway.
As some others here wrote, Les Mis has sort of been part of my musical life since the beginning of my musical fandom in the late 80s, so I guess it won't hurt to say goodbye.
|
|
2,584 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by viserys on Jan 8, 2019 9:45:25 GMT
Don't we all miss this iconic (musical) theatre shop? One of the London shops you HAD to visit as a regular theatre goer.. I visited regularly, but rarely bought, admittedly as prices were fairly high. I still have a few signed CDs from Dress Circle though. What I loved was that even when you couldn't make it to a signing (which I never could, being stuck on the wrong side of the channel) they would still send signed CDs out. All this talk reminds me of the times when collecting international cast recordings was a big deal - I used to collect Cats in every conceivable language and spent so much time running after the Starlight Express recording of the Japan/Australia tour. I wish there would be some sort of fusion between the current Theatre Cafe and Dress Circle - a place to drop in for a cup of coffee and to meet other theatre lovers, admire the signed posters, enjoy some live performances once in a while, etc. BUT also be able to buy albums, show merchandise and so on. PS: I might have some of those Dress Circle tokens somewhere too, never collected enough for £10 off, I think.
|
|
2,584 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by viserys on Jan 7, 2019 12:09:00 GMT
There are hundreds of examples of the damn things being built - at great expense - and turning out to be expensive white elephants, in cities all over the world. They seem so logical on paper! And human laziness? I mean, when I look at a staircase that MIGHT lead me to a nice café or something, my mental reaction is "oof, no", but when I see an escalator, I can be more easily lured to see where it goes (this way I discovered the Wagamama somewhat tucked away in the new mall/accumulation-of-ugly at Victoria Station whe I looked for somewhere to eat before a show at the Other Palace.
|
|
2,584 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by viserys on Jan 7, 2019 11:42:24 GMT
Makes sense (on their side) - After reading this discussion I went to take a look at the area on Google Maps/Earth and realized for the first time that there's a nice garden space of sorts on the building next door (Queen Elizabeth Hall?) - I'm not sure if it IS open to the public, but if it is, I have never known of it before. Why not signpost it better, same with at least the biggest NT balcony, put up the lawn chairs there in the summer months, a little mobile café, and it would all be rather lovely. Similarly, until an American friend went to college in London a few years ago and used the Royal Festival Hall's free wifi sometimes, I had no idea that that place was even open for the public (or where the entrance is)... I'm sure that we all here know about the NT being open to the public because we're theatre nerds, but how many people are even aware that the're a good bookshop and cafe inside that's open to everyone?
|
|
2,584 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by viserys on Jan 7, 2019 10:28:14 GMT
I know, very different climate and all that, but they should take a look at the Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay in Singapore, that managed a very successful mix of free public entertainment, accessibility and performing arts for paying customers. On only two days in Singapore I sort of accidentally caught a very beautiful dance performance and an ear-killingly awful Chinese orchestra performing for free. I wouldn't have wanted to hear more of that Chinese orchestra, but might have booked for a full performance of the dance company if I had been in town longer.
It may be a bit more difficult for a theatre mostly dedicated to drama, but surely the NT could come up with some ideas for free public performances, allow some budding musical performers to do small free concerts, lure parents & children with some short drama workshops for kids, whatever.
And yes, the balconies of the NT are a criminal waste. The ground floor as it is now is at least some progress, but I really don't think the NT looks very inviting to all the people walking past along the river.
|
|
2,584 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by viserys on Jan 6, 2019 16:47:21 GMT
I still have big reservations, too, about the National's publicly-funded resources being used to give commercial producers what amounts to a cut-price out-of-town tryout, and while I'm totally in favour of the Equity exchange arrangement that allows performers from the UK and US to cross the Atlantic with shows like this, it leaves a slightly sour taste to see a production at the National where all five leads are Americans parachuted in under the exchange programme, with British performers relegated to the ensemble. It would leave less of a sour taste if some members of the ensemble were going to be making the transfer to Broadway, but since the only casting announced for Broadway so far is those five leads there's a good chance they won't be. Hm, I can do some extent understand this feeling, but this is not one of those bland commercial Broadway enterprises like Tootsie or Mean Girls, that milks some existing movie. This is a very creative, offbeat strange thing that has divided opinions on here strongly and I don't think any producer would be taking the risk to bring Hadestown into the West End AFTER the Broadway premiere as a second commercial production with an entirely British cast (just like Chavkin's other completely off-the-wall production Comet doesn't seem to be happening). I'd rather see it done at the National like this than not getting it at all (or in five years' time in a very scaled-down production at Southwark). Who knows, seeing how well it's been selling at the National now and has had some time to build up steam, they MIGHT be willing to risk a West End transfer now with a new British cast.
|
|
2,584 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by viserys on Jan 6, 2019 7:01:54 GMT
Am I the only one who's not especially excited about this? I'm very un-excited, too. I might want to see it as I have never seen Hello Dolly live, but I don't care much for Bette Midler and am certainly not ready to pay insane prices. I hope that her alterlate's performances will be cheaper to begin with and/or heavily discounted, then I may go towards the end of the run. Right now I'm not ready yet to return to the Dominion for another show anyway.
|
|
2,584 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by viserys on Jan 3, 2019 12:45:58 GMT
It really had to be THAT popular during the last days? I dayseated from 9.30 and the only seat they had for the evening show was a really bad one at the Dress Circle... 😔 I feel I shouldn't "like" this post, but I still do, because it gladdens me that my beloved Bats go out with a bang in front of full houses and not close with a whimper with many empty rows. Happy to see the fandom's support although with this surge in demand I just wish once more they had at least been allowed to complete a full year. Enjoy the final performances, all of you lucky people who are there!
|
|
2,584 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by viserys on Jan 2, 2019 18:09:24 GMT
There isn't even the danger of people mistakenly booking Barnum expecting to see The Greatest Showman, like many people might book Titanic - the Musical, expecting the movie story of Rose and Jack and Celine's "My heart will go on" because it's basically the same title.
There are also two Phantoms around and while Maury Yeston's isn't half as known/popular/often performed as ALW's, it's still around.
Perhaps Barnum will even benefit from the interest in the story with fans of Showman curious to explore different versions.
|
|
2,584 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by viserys on Dec 29, 2018 22:40:20 GMT
I just know there was no pool. And while the pool/plunge is a fun moment, I don't think the show lives and dies by it.
I'm not sure if they've done the "exploding motorbike" in Toronto, in Oberhausen it's just a projection and again, while it's a fun moment, it's also not strictly necessary as long as you have performers who can rock the joint and sing the stars from the sky.
|
|
2,584 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by viserys on Dec 29, 2018 22:13:42 GMT
Well, let's not forget that Bat had already done a run in Manchester and at the Coliseum before, filled a huge theatre in London and has a massive fanbase (both Meat Loaf fans and now fans of the musical), which none of those other shows had. And if they could scale it down reasonably for the US Tour, why not for an UK Tour?
|
|
2,584 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by viserys on Dec 29, 2018 6:35:07 GMT
Vocally and visually, Barney is the most like Andrew! His voice is so powerful. I hope the show goes out on tour with Barney as Strat and Eve as Raven.
I'd agree, Barney is great and would deserve to lead the tour. Really liked his voice and he's the first since Andrew who really puts some rock star crazy into the performance with so much energy. Glad I got to see him for my final Strat in London.
Now it's over for me, so let's hope the tour does happen as the show deserves to live on.
|
|
2,584 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by viserys on Dec 28, 2018 7:30:52 GMT
But whyyyyyyy? It’s not like you have a job or a life or anything is it? X (And I shall need all the support I can get when faced with a non-Polec performance. I have therapy slots booked for Monday & Tuesday just in case).
Unfortunately I do - and I do need the job to save up for a summer trip to New York in case Bat really happens there with Andrew. I miss the blonde mop more than anything and Adam Pascal syndrome has truly kicked in, feeling meh about Jordan and Simon (liked the latter slightly more, though I mentally called him Stoner Strat). Let's see how I'll feel about Barney today.
|
|
2,584 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by viserys on Dec 28, 2018 7:19:07 GMT
Count me in the camp who loved this. In an insipid Broadway year with biography jukebox musicals and movies uninspiredly slapped onto the stage, Hadestown should and will be cleaning up the Tony Awards.
The folk/jazz music by Anais Mitchell is probably not to everyone's taste, nor is Rachel Chavkin's direction, which repeats her "Comet" theme in turning a well-known classic completely upside down with amazing creativity. But while the music roots this in the depression-era USA, I felt like it was one of those universal stories that could take place anytime anywhere. And while I KNEW the Orpheus legend, while I KNEW what would happen, the last minutes were still incredibly tense, hoping against hope there would be another outcome and I loved how clearly the point was made, how often we, as humans, are our own worst enemies, doubting and worrying instead of having faith (not least in oneself).
The cast was pretty much terrific, too. I don't get the complaints about Reeve Carney being bland - if anything Orpheus should be bland, as the everyday human caught up with the Gods (who by dint of being Gods have a far more forceful personality). I just think that after all this fuss how Orpheus is the greatest singer on Earth and working on a song forever, when that song does come in Act Two, it needs to be much better than it is now, we need to believe in the song being so fantastic, it melts Hades' heart.
I got to try the National Theatre's smart caption glasses for the first time and while they were a bit heavy, they were overall terrific. Much better than regular captioning where your eyes keep darting between the captions on the side of the stage and the performers on stage. Such a wonderful service!
|
|
2,584 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by viserys on Dec 27, 2018 22:39:44 GMT
Can you not just stay for a week or so? Unless you’ve managed to rearrange life around a week on Saturday? 🙄 I wish I could! Alas, tomorrow is my last hooray
|
|
2,584 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by viserys on Dec 27, 2018 18:03:51 GMT
He was on for the matinee and in fine form... Splashed me wet...
|
|
2,584 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by viserys on Dec 26, 2018 13:15:24 GMT
I was pretty clueless about musicals when I came across the vinyl of the Vienna cast recording of Cats in a record shop in 1988. There was something about the logo that didn't let me go and for days I wondered what that record would sound like. So I returned to the shop a few days later to buy it - and a lifelong obsession was born. Such was a magic of a creative beautiful musical poster/logo back then.
|
|
2,584 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by viserys on Dec 24, 2018 15:07:00 GMT
Yea, that's fair I just thought the remark "But I can’t believe those are Austrian hits. I mean really?" was rather strong/cruel, particularly considering the kind of music that's popular in Germany
|
|
2,584 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by viserys on Dec 24, 2018 9:47:22 GMT
I just don't get this kind of bitching about jukebox musicals. If I don't care for a singer/group or don't know the music, I just don't go, even if it's cheap. And if I want to go because of a favorite performer, I familiarize myself with the material and could then still decide if it's worth sitting through for the performer or not. Being German, I don't know many songs by Fendrich, but I know about the "secret national anthem" and about classics like "Weusd a Herz host wie a Bergwerk", which I find about a thousand times better and nicer than the nonsense churned out today by the likes of plastic doll Fischer. That said, I ADORE the Austrian dialect anyway and would probably enjoy the show, but I would never set foot into anything featuring the songs of that wannabe-Elvis slimeball Andreas Gabalier and I would also never ever waste time and money on that "Wahnsinn" musical even when it's here in Cologne because I can't stand Wolfgang Petry's Ballermann schlager crap. Couldn't even finish the cast recording on Spotify, but I acknowledge there's a market for it, I'm just not part of it. Anyway, it's amusing to be discussing German-Austrian schlager nonsense on an English-language forum dedicated to British theatre
|
|
2,584 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by viserys on Dec 23, 2018 17:23:22 GMT
I can't single out a particular show as a disappointment (though I've yet to see Hadestown this upcoming week before the year is over...). The only show I found myself bored with was Tartuffe at the Haymarket, but I still file it away under a positive experience because I got to see Audrey Fleurot live on stage.
My negatives are more of a general kind:
- the astonishing speed with which prices have risen/are rising in the West End,
- the fact that a rather great Broadway season full of creative new work such as Hamilton, Evan Hansen and Comet was followed by an incredibly uninspired season consisting mostly of jukebox musicals and a theme park monkey,
- the fact that Stage Entertainment got their mitts on Bat out of Hell in Germany and turned it into exactly the blazing dumpster fire I had feared,
- and for me personally that Bat didn't run longer than it did in London.
|
|
2,584 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by viserys on Dec 21, 2018 9:48:53 GMT
I think it is perhaps a) a general sense of disappointment with Disney, one of the producers who COULD produce spectacular magic and fail time and again to truly deliver and there are so few shows around today that "dazzle" in that aspect and b) connected to that the extortionate pricing both on Broadway and increasingly in London. If I am expected to fork over close to $200 or £90, I just want a bit more than something half-heartedly slapped together in the hope that people will come anyway because the movie was such a hype. "enjoyed it well enough" just doesn't do it for me at this price.
I thought the movie was nice enough and I think there had been plenty of scope for some magical winter wonderland atmosphere on stage but nothing I've seen and heard of the stage version makes me want to part with the hefty sum demanded for non-premium regular tickets. I'll probably go at some point, but for me it will depend on the casting how excited I'll be getting about this.
|
|
2,584 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by viserys on Dec 20, 2018 20:26:27 GMT
1. Bat out of Hell 2. Eugenius 3. Everybody's talking about Jamie 4. 42nd Street 5. Company
|
|