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Post by wickedgrin on Aug 2, 2017 21:52:06 GMT
2 hours 15 minutes including interval
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Post by wickedgrin on Aug 2, 2017 16:14:45 GMT
It will be down to all that passionate kissing and over excitement!
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Post by wickedgrin on Aug 2, 2017 14:05:18 GMT
Now there's off topic and there's OFF TOPIC!!!
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Post by wickedgrin on Aug 1, 2017 15:35:45 GMT
Oh what a shame....Mark Shenton twittered/bitched that there are no guaranteed tickets for critics for this.
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Post by wickedgrin on Aug 1, 2017 12:54:38 GMT
Was going to ask if I'm the only one not bothered, but the answer is clearly yes! No, I'm not bothered either. Really unlucky with lotteries anyway ... I shall save my time and money. I hope that some people from this board are lucky though and they enjoy it.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 30, 2017 11:19:47 GMT
Having just seen Yank in a half empty sweltering auditorium I really cannot face a repeat in a different venue.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 28, 2017 16:17:43 GMT
I went to the box office at 2.00pm - the performance started at 2.45pm. Timing is everything and ensuring beforehand that the performance is quiet. They cannot have the tables empty, it would look bad. Plus a huge amount of natural personal charm of course!! Many thanks for the info. I think I might crack and start to panic before then. Unfortunately, I'm a bluff, straight-talking Yorkshireman with zero charm! Yes, that is leaving it late....you can always try earlier and if they don't give you a deal you can walk away and see something else on a matinee day. Of course, you let the box office know this by saying something like "oh not to worry, thank you anyway, I'll go and see XXXX round the corner instead". They usually don't want you to leave and spend your money elsewhere......and a deal miraculously appears! A bluff straight talking Yorkshireman can have their attractions! Good luck!
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 28, 2017 13:24:49 GMT
I went to the box office at 2.00pm - the performance started at 2.45pm. Timing is everything and ensuring beforehand that the performance is quiet. They cannot have the tables empty, it would look bad.
Plus a huge amount of natural personal charm of course!!
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 27, 2017 23:34:31 GMT
Late to the party for this (no change there then!) but put off by the high prices. Although I notice the prices have come down for midweek performances.
I did not win the Today Tix lottery today (again) but saw on the Delfont Mackintosh website there was ALOT of availability for the matinee so went along to the theatre to see what bargain I could bag! The Upper Circle and Balcony were clearly closed so I asked for a seat at the back of the circle for £19.50 - the lovely girl in the box office clearly wanted me to sit at the front tables (which were sparsely booked according to the plan) and was clearly upgrading people so Audra was not playing to an "empty club". These seats were £39.50 and I hesitated saying I was uncomfortable with any interaction or audience participation. She assured me there wasn't any and said I would "love it at the front" printed me off a ticket and only took £19.50 with a smile and a wink!
The stalls and the circle looked busy - not sure how they managed to make it so - clearly a lot of upgrading and discounting going on.
What can I say about the show that has not already been said. A knockout performance from Audra McDonald - just incredible. No wonder she won a Tony for the role. Great staging and lighting. I was spellbound for 1.5 hours. I only wish I had known more about Billie Holiday before going. A little more knowledge of her life would have increased my enjoyment even further I think.
But the show has clearly not taken off in London as it did in New York. Audra is not well enough known over here I don't think and Billie Holiday is a bygone era to many who will not be familiar with her work.
Edit - the front stalls table seating is incredible - you feel like you are actually in the club, but the on stage seating I would avoid unless very cheap (it isn't) as you would only see her back for much of the show.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 27, 2017 23:12:15 GMT
Enjoyed this very much and unfortunately still so pertinent today with Donald Trump "banning" transgender persons from the military in America - clearly we still have a long way to go......
I thought the show was melodic with great period style, with some good lyrics. Effectively staged, lit and costumed. A strong, affecting story very well sung by the entire company especially Scott Hunter and Andy Coxon as the leads.
A pity the audience was so sparse. On leaving I was given a voucher entitled "We want you! It's your turn to #jointhesquad". £10 off Premium and Band A seats for ALL performances across the rest of the run. Use code YANKRETURN to access the offer. This brings Band A tickets down to £22.50.
A real gem of a show, I thought.
The theatre was boiling hot - very uncomfortable apart from watching the sweat on all those male bodies in vests!!
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 26, 2017 23:19:38 GMT
The last sentence of the website notice "This is subject to change and may be affected by contacts, holiday, illness, or events beyond the producers control" reads like the producers throwing the towel in regarding getting a schedule together. It sounds like they are herding a bunch of wild cats that they have no control over!
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 26, 2017 14:46:30 GMT
However talented you might be at your job, one of the prerequisites of the job is to actually turn up for work.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 23, 2017 9:19:44 GMT
Spacey ruined that place. Pandered to the built in snobby audience. At least Warchus us trying to get a more diverse crowd in It is interesting you use the word "snobby" as I would completely agree about the Old Vic audience. I go to the theatre a lot (obviously) and attend many theatres and the Old Vic is the one theatre I find myself distinctly uncomfortable, always feeling slightly underdressed - despite my immaculate smart casual clothing!. The front of house staff seem to have "attitude" and there is always this ticket checking going on as you even re-enter the auditorium after the interval as if you are trying to "steal" a look at the second half. I always feel like telling them they are lucky I am returning to my seat at all!
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 23, 2017 9:07:14 GMT
The stage at the Leicester Curve is massive. Do they open the "blinds" at the sides of the stage at the end so you can see into the wings for this production?
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 21, 2017 13:51:58 GMT
Leicester Curve doing Scrooge (the Musical) if anyone fancies a sing....thank you very much!
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 19, 2017 22:46:05 GMT
She was dreadful in Flare Path too. I don't understand how she gets the work.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 19, 2017 15:50:52 GMT
I thought it was fabulously staged beginning with a great shipwreck/storm/tempest scene. Superb lighting and projections and fascinating avatar computer work. Some scenes were truly beautiful to behold. It is a testament to the cast that they were not upstaged by the staging.
Edit - the Barbican is in an awful location to get to.....
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 19, 2017 15:46:00 GMT
So....the drama continues....so how many shows a week is Amber scheduled to do now? It really should be made clear as other posters have said. Frankly, I don't think it is a bigger sing than Evita or Elphaba for example.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 14, 2017 8:45:08 GMT
When I saw the overblown production at the Palace Theatre I thought that it would work much better as a small "chamber" musical as there is very little ensemble work and is character based on a few principle roles. The staging was terrible with dizzying projections which were awful. Who will ever forget some of the cast "running" up a staircase on the spot!
It certainly isn't a thriller though......
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 13, 2017 8:46:02 GMT
I have to say I thought it was a straightforward adaptation of the novel.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 10, 2017 22:56:22 GMT
I thought it was just me...but I hate that staircase - it throws everything off centre. I too have seen much better amateur work. Plus of course the heat. God alone knows what it has been like these last few weeks. Cannot face Blondel at all.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 10, 2017 22:53:02 GMT
It's just that when in town I think there will always be something more interesting/entertaining/exciting to see.....
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 10, 2017 20:33:24 GMT
This was terrific at the Charing Cross Theatre - but it was hardly a sell out. I do wonder how this will do both artistically and commercially in some of the biggest UK venues. Especially with an unknown cast. Do we think they will try and draft in "name" ?
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 10, 2017 9:54:35 GMT
ANYWAY that really is the end of my rant (for now) Oh keep ranting! Don't even get me started!
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 9, 2017 11:03:45 GMT
I concur with the posters above - an incredible night in the theatre last night for Matt's last performance as Lola. The entire cast were on fire and blew the roof off the theatre.
I do wonder if Matt will return to the role of Lola somewhere in the world at some time. These roles only come round once in lifetime. He will certainly be missed. The new Lola has indeed, got big boots to fill. I have only seen his performance on video at WEL and was not impressed although it is unfair to judge a performance at gigs such as this. It will be interesting to hear views from people who will see both.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 8, 2017 15:23:58 GMT
There is no audience participation.
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Follies
Jul 8, 2017 15:17:03 GMT
via mobile
Post by wickedgrin on Jul 8, 2017 15:17:03 GMT
How about some product placement for cash like they have on the TV?
Suggestions?
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 7, 2017 17:08:57 GMT
Parsley will not be able to leave at the interval if there isn't one!
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 7, 2017 12:10:59 GMT
I was on the second row sat behind the two prompters who were part of the tour group in the first scene. I could not help but notice the HUGE chunks of dialogue for Felicity Kendal highlighted in green! A huge role to learn. The prompters were riveted to the scripts on the first preview, a few prompts but more noticeably flicking through the pages in panic to find where Felicity had jumped to ( or made up) and if she could get it back on track. This was the most amusing part of the evening!
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 7, 2017 8:35:41 GMT
I saw the first preview performance of this and was very disappointed too. I did think it might improve ( especially some familiarity with the lines would have been appreciated) but clearly it hasn't.
No West End transfer looking likely, although I am sure with the names involved they must have hoped for one?
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