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Post by mistressjojo on Mar 17, 2017 2:00:08 GMT
Not if there is something you want to see. I'm in Sydney & travel to London most years for shows, usually for about 2 weeks. Off again in a few weeks. And I was in NY this time last year specifically to see a show. If you have the money & time off work , why not use it doing something you enjoy? Having said this, I have already been to a lot of other places in the world (other than London & NYC). If you are concerned that you might be missing out on other things, maybe combine a trip to NYC/London with a stopover along the way ( Asia/Middle East/Africa/Europe). Or you can always take side trips to Europe from London or Canada/Mexico from NYC. Just a suggestion.
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Post by mistressjojo on Mar 14, 2017 10:03:58 GMT
This is fairly standard pricing for Sydney theatre.
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Post by mistressjojo on Feb 24, 2017 7:54:43 GMT
That reminded me of a production of Evita I saw many years ago. It was sold out on the promise of Julie Covington coming to perform as Evita, but she cancelled about a week out & a local musical theatre performer who knew the part had to step in at short notice. Unfortunately the new leading lady was a bit larger than the missing star, and the white ballgrown was quite visibly not laced up at the back , and other costumes could be seen to be held together with clips & tape! So in this case, it seems there was only one set of costumes. I'm fascinated by this story of Julie Covington's promise to perform the part... Where and when was this? (Tim Rice writes in his autobigraphy about a meeting with her to discuss the role; he thought it was a done deal, but she refused it. Enter Elaine Paige!) This was in 1989 in Sydney, Australia. Don't know if it was intended to go to other cities.
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Post by mistressjojo on Feb 24, 2017 1:45:27 GMT
How does it work with costumes in shows? Do they make three sets (depending on numbers of understudies) or do they all share the same costumes? Maybe it depends on the show. That reminded me of a production of Evita I saw many years ago. It was sold out on the promise of Julie Covington coming to perform as Evita, but she cancelled about a week out & a local musical theatre performer who knew the part had to step in at short notice. Unfortunately the new leading lady was a bit larger than the missing star, and the white ballgrown was quite visibly not laced up at the back , and other costumes could be seen to be held together with clips & tape! So in this case, it seems there was only one set of costumes.
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Post by mistressjojo on Feb 24, 2017 1:36:35 GMT
The wolf in the recent The Crucible in NYC.
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Post by mistressjojo on Feb 16, 2017 1:33:55 GMT
Immigration at LAX is now automated, so if you have a valid ESTA you don't even speak to a person unless you have a problem. Just scan your passport, answer a few yes/no questions on a screen and it spits out a receipt, which you hand in on the way out the door.
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Post by mistressjojo on Feb 10, 2017 2:30:49 GMT
I echo everyone else in saying NYC is probably the safest it's been in years. I started visiting in the 80's , and that was a different much scarier place. Now, the subway is for the most part clean and efficient, and rarely will you find yourself alone in a car. Times Square was cleaned up and pedestrianized and now it's like midday all night, the amount of lights going on and the crowds that never seem to go home.
Don't limit yourself to hotels in mid-town ( unless mobility is a factor for you). You can often find a better deal across the river in Brooklyn or Queens and still be only a few stops on the subway from Times Square and the theatre district.
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Post by mistressjojo on Feb 4, 2017 8:58:19 GMT
Balance of the cast now announced.
David Tennant (Don Juan), Adrian Scarborough (Stan) and Gawn Grainger (Louis) are joined by Theo Barklem-Biggs (Pete), Mark Ebulué (Aloysius), Mark Extance (ensemble), David Jonsson (Col), Dominique Moore (Lottie), Emma Naomi (ensemble), Alice Orr-Ewing (Mattie and Ruby), Himesh Patel (Vagabond), Adrian Richards (ensemble), William Spray (ensemble), Danielle Vitalis (Elvira) and Eleanor Wyld (Dalia).
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Post by mistressjojo on Feb 1, 2017 2:09:15 GMT
This wasn't on my radar at all until I saw Baz's tweet - will definitely try and nab tickets for this on feb 1st. I must admit that, as a fan of Buffy and Nurse Jackie, Anthony Head and Eve Best are definitely the draws for me! I just think of the prime minister in Little Britain when I see Anthony Head.
I saw Anthony Head speak at a Doctor Who convention a few years ago, and all he got asked about was Little Britain & Buffy! Not one question about his Doctor Who appearance.
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Post by mistressjojo on Jan 27, 2017 2:01:41 GMT
I can't see the date being changed any time soon.
It's not really the date that some people object to, it's that the day is seen as a celebration of the whole European invasion of their country. ( January 26th being the day that the First Fleet came ashore & planted the flag at Sydney Cove, and thus the start of the invasion) It wouldn't matter what day it was on, if it was still celebrating European settlement.
The only other date that would have any relevance to the majority of Australians would be Jan 1st , as this was the date that 'Australia' came into being as a country. But that's already New Years Day.
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Post by mistressjojo on Jan 25, 2017 2:05:20 GMT
Lots of my friends agreed with me on this one having something common with Once. Which is obviously the "I believe in you and will make you to believe in you, too", and the bittersweet ending, and a bit moody male character (I immediately imagined a stage version with Arthur Darvill playing that part)
Thank You! I was trying to tell my friends it reminded me of Once but they weren't having it! No imagination some people!
I imagine Arthur Darvill quite a bit....and sometimes on stage too.
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Post by mistressjojo on Jan 24, 2017 1:52:54 GMT
I think the view from most places is fine unless you are behind a pillar. People do squash up but I'm at a loss to understand why when they realised they had a blueprint for a Jacobean theatre they couldn't make it more accommodating for us now with just a few centimetres here and there. Perhaps it's a secret ploy to get us all the slim down to Jacobean sizes and shed some pounds?!
I wish them joy with that!
I spent an agonising few hours in the pit, squeezed between 2 very large men on either side, and a tall & large woman behind who had her knees in my neck the whole time. Most uncomfortable theatre I have ever sat in.
But as others have said, very beautiful.
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Post by mistressjojo on Jan 18, 2017 2:12:37 GMT
The opening of the movie is stunning but it goes downhill quickly. For me, it felt like two movies meshed together, and neither were executed very well. It seems afraid to be a full blown musical and it does not work very well in the more dramatic moments either.
Funny, I felt that the opening number was the weakest point of the whole film. It was all very colourful and brilliantly choreographed, but it didn't really gel with the rest of the film. Was a bit too much like Glee for me.
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Post by mistressjojo on Jan 18, 2017 2:05:36 GMT
TodayTix runs the Front Row Lottery for Dreamgirls. (rather than at the box office)
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Post by mistressjojo on Jan 17, 2017 2:01:24 GMT
It does seem to be more of an American thing in straight theatre , doesn't it ? ( Apologies to any Americans here who are not rampant SO givers - just going by my experience!) I'm not really a musicals goer so can't comment there.
But what does irk me is the 'applause on entrance' thing. I've experienced that a couple of times in London but nearly every show I've seen in NY - and it's annoying! And applause at the end of a scene too. Stop it! As they say at schools awards nights 'please hold your applause till the end of the performance'.
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Post by mistressjojo on Jan 16, 2017 2:42:32 GMT
This is off-topic but if you go to the cinema often, a Unlimited card from Cineworld or Limitless card from Odeon is really good value for money. Back to La La Land, the group numbers are excellent but I really like Audition (Fools who Dream) the most, Off-topic: Annual Curzon membership is really expensive but I've used mine so much that with a quarter of the year still to go, I've reduced the individual ticket cost to the equivalent of about £6 - and it will continue to fall. Back to the film: I'd be interested in the soundtrack, but for the fear that it would include lots of jazz, as there seemed too few of the other numbers to justify a recording otherwise. Cinemas might be missing a trick by not offering merchandise, especially as it has been reported that some people are going back to see this several times. The soundtrack is available on iTunes and on CD (in some countries anyway).
Here is the track listing - the download version is the same as the CD. If you have iTunes you can sample before you buy.
itunes.apple.com/us/album/la-la-land-original-motion/id1175664785
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Post by mistressjojo on Jan 13, 2017 2:53:02 GMT
I find the issue with Travelodge Covent Garden is they won't mind your bags if you arrive early, or after you check out. They also charge for wifi, which is patchy in areas further away from the bar.
I nearly always stay at an LSE Vacations property, although you are limited to student vacation times. Passfield Hall on Tavistock Square is around 45 quid a night including breakfast & wifi - only a small room with shared bathroom but good for the price. And easy walk to Covent Garden or bus stops at the end of the square. Euston Station is just around the corner. Grosvenor House in Drury Lane is a bit posher for around 80 quid a night for a single studio with ensuite and kitchenette, but no breakfast. It's about 2 minutes walk from Covent Garden tube.
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Post by mistressjojo on Jan 11, 2017 2:17:37 GMT
Are STC productions good bad or uneven or the most part?
Overall I find them excellent - I think I've only really had one other play in the 4 years that I've been a subscriber that I really didn't like. ( And that was a Caryl Churchill play, so more the play rather than the performance)
They tend to do a mix of new & old material every season, and at least 1 Australian play and a Shakespeare. For example , last year included Speed the Plow - (with Rose Byrne guesting), A Flea in her Ear, King Charles III ( with Robert Powell guesting) , and two Australian plays , The Secret River & The Golden Age, plus a series of new young playwrights short plays .
I have learned my lesson & not booked for next years Caryl Churchill offering!
This (The Present ) was the first thing Cate Blanchett has done with the STC for ages, so there wasn't really an alternative play they could have used.
I just remembered - the most exciting part of seeing this play was that Hugh Jackman was in the audience!
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Post by mistressjojo on Jan 10, 2017 3:05:02 GMT
Can't say I disagree with any of their comments. I saw it in Sydney and felt pretty much the same - dull, boring & convolutedly pointless for the most part. The first 20 minutes drag on until Richard Roxburgh makes his entrance & wakes everyone up for a bit.
It wouldn't have been my choice of the STC's recent productions to take to Broadway ( certainly their recent All My Sons, Suddenly Last Summer and The Secret River have been far superior) , but of course they are using the lure of Cate Blanchett to get bums on seats.
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Post by mistressjojo on Dec 20, 2016 3:25:07 GMT
Yes, I saw it in Sydney. I'm not a huge fan of Chekov nor Cate Blanchett,but I would watch Richard Roxburgh read out the phone book! Why she is an excellent actor. Her performance in Blue Jasmine was something to be hold. And the fact she did this in a small theater company says something bout her. She's a perfectly fine actor. Just not one of my favorites. And she works a lot with the Sydney Theatre Company - she and her husband were CEO's and artistic directors until 2013 .
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Post by mistressjojo on Dec 19, 2016 8:08:05 GMT
Yes, I saw it in Sydney. I'm not a huge fan of Chekov nor Cate Blanchett,but I would watch Richard Roxburgh read out the phone book!
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Post by mistressjojo on Dec 18, 2016 8:17:44 GMT
London
Found 111 - The Dazzle Sam Wanamaker Playhouse - Pericles Barbican - Richard 11 Donmar Warehouse - Les Liasons Danereuse
New York
Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre - American Psycho The Laura Pels Theatre - Love Love Love Booth Theatre - Les Liasons Danereuse BAM Harvey Theatre - RSC Richard II , Henry IV, Henry V
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Post by mistressjojo on Dec 13, 2016 1:46:27 GMT
Some of us are just inveterate planners, anyway. I'm planning a trip to Sydney and New Zealand for 2018 right now, in fact I've been planning it for well over a year and will be ready to book it in early January. Definitely going to be checking out what Sydney Theatre Co are putting on while I'm there and booking as soon as I can - it's not like I can drop by Oz any time!! STC have just put casual tickets for the first half of 2017 on sale this week, so you will be looking at around the same time next year to book for Jan - June 2018. The second half of the year goes on sale around February. Something for your diary kathryn .
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Post by mistressjojo on Dec 12, 2016 1:59:39 GMT
I have never paid a premium ticket, wha is the point? If most of the tickets are premium it means it is selling well anyway and likely to get extended, so will see it eventually. I have bought premium tickets once, and that was only because I was treating a friend. And it included autographed programmes. In Sydney, most theatres just have the one price regardless of where you are seated, although Saturday nights are slightly more expensive . No cheap seats for us! We will get the odd Lastix offer, but they are not discounted that much. Sydney Theatre Company's standard prices for the upcoming season are around 60 GBP, 45 GBP for concessions.
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Post by mistressjojo on Nov 21, 2016 4:27:24 GMT
I know in the Australian version of Tell me on a Sunday, they changed the nationality of the girl to Australian.
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Post by mistressjojo on Nov 18, 2016 4:29:33 GMT
Further casting - Adrian Scarborough and Gawn Grainger
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Post by mistressjojo on Nov 2, 2016 13:16:55 GMT
Quick & painless here too- longest time was waiting for my card to process!
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Post by mistressjojo on Nov 2, 2016 10:26:21 GMT
Do we know dates or rough dates for this? Nothing yet, but according to LondonTheatreDirect, tickets go on sale today. They've now updated the page to say on sale at 1pm today. Limited run starting 17th March.
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Post by mistressjojo on Nov 2, 2016 8:00:37 GMT
Do we know dates or rough dates for this? Nothing yet, but according to LondonTheatreDirect, tickets go on sale today. The Kite Runner is playing until 11th March, so I'm guessing around Easter.
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Post by mistressjojo on Nov 2, 2016 1:41:03 GMT
Initial thought - David Tennant is so likeable, especially to his fans, but Don Juan isn't! David has played some fairly un-likeable characters over the years , hasn't made the man any less loveable! Actually, I think the nastier characters are some of his best.
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