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Post by andromedadench on Oct 12, 2017 14:31:59 GMT
This sounds really interesting but I can't buy a ticket in advance - do Trafalgar Studios normally do day seats? I seem to remember dayseating there, but don't know if it depends on the show or is a matter of a particular venue's practice?
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Post by andromedadench on Oct 11, 2017 18:28:22 GMT
No, I'm horrid. I wouldn't even befriend myself on facebook let alone marry.
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Post by andromedadench on Oct 11, 2017 16:54:53 GMT
I'm sympathetic to the general concerns that Natasha Tripney is raising, but I think this is a strange place to dwell on them. I've only seen the film, not this adaptation, but everything that's in bad taste in Young Frankenstein is knowingly and overtly in bad taste. It's unconsidered misogyny or the stealthy abuse wreaked by the powerful that needs exposing. Exposing the not PC values of Mel Brooks is like complaining that there's blood in a steak. I haven't seen the show (so I'm basing this on the film version) and am not exactly familiar with Natasha Tripney's views in general, but I also find her comments odd and misplaced. She might have as well complained about the perpetuation of stereotypes about Germans, Jews, Eastern Europeans, people with deformities and probably another half a dozen various groups of people. As much as she has every right to be upset about the way the society (mis)treats women and even to feel personally irritated by the fact that all female characters in YF are unpleasant, insulting cliches - a brainless bimbo, an old hag and a frigid bore, I still don't think it should have ended up in the review as it's completely taken out of context of the show and Brooks' particular brand of humor. I mean, it's not as if the male characters get off lightly? On the other hand, how many current WE shows are both directed and choreographed by a woman? From what I gather, the stage version of YF is as much Susan Stroman's brainchild as it's Mel Brooks'. And finally, regarding the ongoing abuse scandal, if Madeline Kahn is to be believed, Brooks was one of few men in Hollywood who treated his actors of both sexes with respect (unlike Peter Bogdanovich, but she wouldn't go into any details).
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Post by andromedadench on Sept 28, 2017 13:26:34 GMT
There was a Wednesday in late August that seemed to cause some peculiar behaviour among WE theatre-goers. At a Half A Sixpence matinee, half the first row of the grand circle decided to take of their shoes and put up their socked feet on the safety rail. At the evening performance of Hamlet, a girl seated next to me came up with a similar idea but she put her socked feet in her boyfriend's lap, whereas a couple seated in front of me became really horny, so one of them climbed onto the other one's lap so that they can cuddle. I wouldn't have even minded that much if they didn't happen to be the two tallest people in the house
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Post by andromedadench on Sept 28, 2017 13:13:19 GMT
who do we think Marc is playing? Oscar or Vittorio? Charity? (you gotta have a gimmick)
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Post by andromedadench on Sept 10, 2017 18:58:32 GMT
This production felt a bit like a concert version to me, but I did enjoy it. Reminded me how much I love this musical. Probably both ALW's and Time Rice's finest effort. I can also confirm Pilates Song remains the firm favourite. Err, it's such a firm favourite I seem to thing it's a song about a pilates workout, instead of Pilate's Dream.
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Post by andromedadench on Sept 10, 2017 18:13:15 GMT
Other than the fact that I was ill-prepared for this visit and in a general state of chaos and confusion, I really have no other explanation as to why I didn't put this show near the top of my to-see list. But once again, your wonderful site has come to my rescue. I adored this production. If I could, I'd go and see it every week. There are few things in life I love as much as good tap-dancing. Such a wonderful, joyous evening. Thanks once more!
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Post by andromedadench on Sept 10, 2017 18:06:24 GMT
This production felt a bit like a concert version to me, but I did enjoy it. Reminded me how much I love this musical. Probably both ALW's and Time Rice's finest effort. I can also confirm Pilates Song remains the firm favourite.
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Post by andromedadench on Sept 5, 2017 23:05:48 GMT
All the comments on here re. the current production are fascinating. I saw the original Hal Prince version on Broadway (Winter Garden) in 1972 and found it totally original and thrilling. But even then I was aware that it wasn't a total success. I was partly involved in the 1987 London production which had a very strong cast (well, casts really, as several of the principles changed half way through the run) but, once again, was not really a bone fide hit. I now realise that the most enjoyable version was the partly staged New York concert (still available on DVD) with the best cast it has ever had including Barbara Cook, Elaine Stritch, Mandy Patinkin, Lee Remick and Carol Burnett. The numbers were beautifully sung and minimally but smartly staged and the actual book was cut severely. And I now realise that was the reason I enjoyed it the most of all the productions I have seen. Sondheim is seen here at his witty, inventive best but the actual dialogue linking the numbers just doesn't add up to a solid dramatic structure. You can throw as much spectacle and clever staging at it as you can afford (as Hal Prince did originally) but there is still no weighty text or story to drive the evening along. There - it's taken me 45 years to work that out! Thank you so much for this post, oldstager. I had never seen a production of Follies before this one, so this clears up a lot for me. I noticed the lack of dramatic structure but wrote it down to the fact the show is a kind of a homage to the variety genre. Otherwise, I enjoyed the production. I wish Janie Dee had more dancing numbers as she's wonderful, and I didn't think much of Zizi Strallen's acting, but I'd love to see it again. It'll probably all smooth out over the course of the run.
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Post by andromedadench on Sept 5, 2017 22:37:13 GMT
My two penneth ... Quibbles The age of some of the actors is not convincing. Although as actors burst into song and lug various instruments around the stage I cannot argue The use of percussion at times seemed a bit unnecessary and jarring. Does Night Music really require cymbal crash crescendos and the like? Hurrahs Phoebe Fildes was astounding as Charlotte. Everyday a little death sung though tears was very powerful and how she managed the bitter remarks but remained fragile was incredible Dillie Keane - just wonderful. Her face could launch a 1000 bitchy remarks. Liaisons - best rendition ever. Both of the above actress are I feel the 'best in role' I have seen. In fact all the casting was strong. Great direction, design, lighting and movement. Generally a massive thumbs up from me and I really hope this production has a life elsewhere. I thought she was marvelous, too. Also gets bonus points for killing it on the violin. I loved everything about this production so much I could see it several more times. Even if it once again involved getting lost, ending up in a ravine and getting caught in the rain in the middle of a golf course I accidentally wandered into after climbing out of the said ravine. That's how much I loved it.
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Post by andromedadench on Aug 31, 2017 21:14:19 GMT
Don't have the time atm to read this entire heated, intense, dramatic discussion, but I don't think you have any reason to be worried - I sat through the show without feeling any discomfort whatsoever and I'm the panic attack queen. I didn't notice anyone else having an issue with the lack of interval either. You'll enjoy the show. The light princess was horrific so it's not surprising you had a panic attack. Can you get a seat on an aisle for Follies if you are worried? Would the lack of interval bring an attack on? I'm genuinely interested.. I once swapped seats at the NT with a man who was sitting on the aisle as he was nervous about having to sit in the middle of the row. I had an aisle seat (I always try to get those just in case), but I felt ok that evening and he was looking so embarrassed and eyeing my seat wistfully, so his wife explained the situation, I offered him my seat and no one had a panic attack even though the show we saw wasn't much either (I think it was Everyman)
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Post by andromedadench on Aug 31, 2017 20:43:56 GMT
Dear @theatremonkey , thank you SO much for bringing that famed £15 A1 seat to my attention, as I wouldn't have gone and seen this show otherwise. And what a mistake that would have been!
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Post by andromedadench on Aug 31, 2017 20:37:47 GMT
I have a ticket for this tomorrow night. However all the discussions about the lack of an interval are so offputting that I'm not sure I want to go, especially as I'm getting flashbacks to the last time I went to the National, when I had a panic attack during The Light Princess. Don't have the time atm to read this entire heated, intense, dramatic discussion, but I don't think you have any reason to be worried - I sat through the show without feeling any discomfort whatsoever and I'm the panic attack queen. I didn't notice anyone else having an issue with the lack of interval either. You'll enjoy the show.
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Post by andromedadench on Aug 5, 2017 21:07:02 GMT
In defense of my great-auntie, I don't think it's necessarily her fault she keeps playing herself on the screen (she keeps forgetting to send me freebie tickets for her theatre shows, so I've no idea how she's been faring there lately). It appears that film and TV producers reckon people want to see her play the same role of herself (or what we perceive as such), so they cast her and direct her accordingly. The same thing's been happening to Maggie Smith for many a decade. To Helen Mirren since Prime Suspect, too. And I love As Time Goes By Nice that you do, but no need to defend your great aunt. 😳😳😳😳😳😍😍😍😍😍😍 I was kind of hoping she'd finally remember to send me the odd freebie if I selflessly defended her honour.
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Post by andromedadench on Aug 5, 2017 11:00:28 GMT
Judi Dench has been phoning in performances for the past twenty years. Oh yes, I'm sure she was marvellous as a younger woman, singing badly as Sally Bowles (but Sally is supposed to sing badly, dontcha know) or washing her hands as Lady M, but since that dreadful, lazy tv sitcom she's basically played herself in everything she's done. You never get a character with Judi. You just get Judi. Sorry Judi x In defense of my great-auntie, I don't think it's necessarily her fault she keeps playing herself on the screen (she keeps forgetting to send me freebie tickets for her theatre shows, so I've no idea how she's been faring there lately). It appears that film and TV producers reckon people want to see her play the same role of herself (or what we perceive as such), so they cast her and direct her accordingly. The same thing's been happening to Maggie Smith for many a decade. To Helen Mirren since Prime Suspect, too. And I love As Time Goes By
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Post by andromedadench on Jul 8, 2017 17:44:46 GMT
They suddenly realised they were so over commercial theatre and went to see what's on at the Peckham's local experimental amateur theatre of post-modern deconstruction.
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Post by andromedadench on Jun 30, 2017 17:32:35 GMT
''Bella, ciao''. I love that song and all the best people have had it at their funerals, so despite the fact that I'm neither the best person nor particularly bella, it's still the one I want. It would fittingly commemorate my life-long proletarian struggle for cheap theatre tickets.
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Post by andromedadench on May 9, 2017 12:01:16 GMT
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Post by andromedadench on May 8, 2017 8:05:13 GMT
It used to be a lot more common - you used to have a company of actors performing different productions on different nights, which not even the NT now does - but has mostly died out. It was how a lot of older actors learnt their trade. In the West End The Winters Tale and Harlequinade/All on Her Own in the Ken Branagh season is the only time we've had old-style rep that I can recall. If I'm wrong someone will correct me I'm sure. European theatres, on the other hand, often work on the principle, building up a repertoire of shows that they perform for years but without any exhaustive continual runs. This page for the Schaubuhne, gives you an idea. www.schaubuehne.de/en/spielplan/index.htmlAll the theatres in Serbia/former Yugoslavia have always worked on the repertory principle, so I also found it difficult to grasp the meaning of the word as I wasn't even aware there were any other principles. Every theatre has its own company of actors and resident directors/dramaturges/technicians and up to a dozen different productions are performed each month (except during the July&August summer break). There are no limited runs - every given show remains on the repertoire for as long as it sells enough tickets, meaning that a particularly good (or popular) production can stay on for decades. A meta-farce version of Feydau's A Flea in Her Ear holds a record - it premiered in 1971 and stayed on the repertoire for 34 years. So the West End concept confused the heck out of me upon the first encounter.
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Post by andromedadench on May 3, 2017 8:19:32 GMT
can anyone get in with amex? it doesnt like me (sad face) It all went really smooth for me, so it's probably some temporary glitch you're experiencing.
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Post by andromedadench on Apr 25, 2017 16:00:58 GMT
I've never used AmEx booking before - do you or anyone happen to know how I go about it? Do I just enter the first 4 digits for access and then proceed as usual, or do I need to register or something previously? No, just put the first 4 digits Thank you!
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Post by andromedadench on Apr 25, 2017 15:53:37 GMT
I've never used AmEx booking before - do you or anyone happen to know how I go about it? Do I just enter the first 4 digits for access and then proceed as usual, or do I need to register or something previously?
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Post by andromedadench on Apr 24, 2017 8:39:12 GMT
I'm not even trying to book any today and I'm stressed - the way the first couple of posts started, I fully expected to see ''Made it to the checkout but the theatre burst into flames''. Now I really wonder what will be left on offer by May 3... 250 £ ones?
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Post by andromedadench on Apr 23, 2017 18:13:26 GMT
If The Globe's BO ask - I'm a socialite Viscountess. Otherwise, I used to work as a translator both for a news agency and free-lance, a part-time pilates instructor for beginner groups/elderly, a volunteer at the marketing department of the only local theatre that stages musicals and a volunteer at an old-people's home (drama workshop facilitator). Nowadays, I'm mostly a lost soul.
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Post by andromedadench on Apr 18, 2017 13:48:24 GMT
I've booked for 12th August matinee too. Looks like it's a popular date for the board! As you trudge along that long country lane in the pouring rain and that taxi passes you, speeding through the pothole puddle and drenching you from head to foot in Berkshire pondwater, look up to that cheery face waving at you from the back of the receding taxi, and wave back at martin1865. Well, that's immersive-theatre for you.
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Post by andromedadench on Apr 17, 2017 16:20:42 GMT
I'm more probably than not getting ahead of myself here, but as the runs of Follies and this overlap for a couple of weeks, it's really tempting. However, I google-earthed the Watermill and it appears to be in the middle of nowhere, indeed. I'm not sure my budget could cover taxi rides, but does anyone know how much it would set me back? And if walking from and back to Newbury (during daytime) is a realistic option (not in terms of the distance, but in terms of safety and not getting lost)? See my post on page 4 of the Theatre Ambience thread (General Chat section) for walking instructions to the theatre. Thank you! Much appreciated!
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Post by andromedadench on Apr 17, 2017 13:52:20 GMT
Just carry a long ball of wool and leave a trail behind you. And wear full body armour.What for? Mud or dragons?
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Post by andromedadench on Apr 17, 2017 12:15:52 GMT
I'm more probably than not getting ahead of myself here, but as the runs of Follies and this overlap for a couple of weeks, it's really tempting. However, I google-earthed the Watermill and it appears to be in the middle of nowhere, indeed. I'm not sure my budget could cover taxi rides, but does anyone know how much it would set me back? And if walking from and back to Newbury (during daytime) is a realistic option (not in terms of the distance, but in terms of safety and not getting lost)?
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Post by andromedadench on Apr 6, 2017 17:13:05 GMT
Absurdities of life - when I was 16-25, I couldn't afford a trip to London (or get a UK visa, for that matter); now that I'm (well) over 25, I can't afford ticket prices for the middle-aged. Woe woe woe!
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Post by andromedadench on Dec 20, 2016 16:24:53 GMT
Just tried to find their production of "Chicken Soup With Barley." Not in the database. All I remember was seeing it, and buying a Coke at half time that was like making love in a boat... f**king close to water. Never went back. Thanks for taking a look at the site. The Stages of Half Moon website currently only lists productions that were created but Half Moon, so other productions that performed at the theatre(s) are sadly not included. It's still a wonderful record of 44 years of theatre history and there's lots ro explore. Hello lovely HM people! What a great site you've created - much appreciated! I've especially enjoyed the interview section.
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