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Post by ptwest on Mar 14, 2020 14:11:14 GMT
Sat in the opera house waiting for it to start. Love how the set extends into the auditorium.
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Post by ptwest on Feb 26, 2020 11:01:10 GMT
Not a fan of mid show standing ovations, I will only own up to have being part of this at the 42nd Street Closing Night after the staircase routine (not during!) and that was at a point where the show could be stopped without having much effect on what followed. That was also a very different kind of night to the usual theatre going experience.
When I saw Dreamgirls I got the impression that there were too many people in the audience waiting for "the big moment" and who were going to stand and shriek regardless, even though that then ruined the dramatic moment which followed given that the actress playing Effie doesnt have a moment to soak up the applause before shes offstage and the other Dreams come on.The action continued very quickly which led to an awkward moment when the standers didn't really know what to do. I did wonder at the time whether that should have been staged differently but thats immaterial - it was done as written in the score.
In my opinion you need to respect the story and the mood that is created on stage. There is plenty of opportunity at the end to give the ovation for an outstanding performance. To do so mid show runs the risk of fragmenting any piece into "moments" without regarding how it hangs together as a whole.
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Post by ptwest on Feb 22, 2020 21:26:07 GMT
The original London cast recording is available on the Apple store.
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Post by ptwest on Feb 19, 2020 10:50:38 GMT
A qualified yes from me. When the show worked (which it certainly did the night I saw it), it was a triumph, and really used the space well. I was very impressed that it was clearly a show designed for the theatre rather than simply a concert in a theatre, and it really brought the album to life. The move into smaller venues worked beautifully. As a long term fan who doesn't need to hear the greatest hits every time it was something very special.
However, it is hard to ignore the negativity around the cancellations, the cut shows, the general petulance that she showed on a number of occasions. She really does need to work on her PR! At least for the Paris and London legs she has (so far) avoided the last minute cancellations that happened in Lisbon, but all that complaining about the curfew - just start 5 minutes earlier, its not hard.
So I would hope she will return in the future, my experience would mean I would be very likely to book again, although I am sure there are many who would feel differently.
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Post by ptwest on Feb 17, 2020 22:53:16 GMT
First time back after the Manchester run tonight - the show is just as much fun and in great shape. Understudies on for Shakespeare and Anne. Arun Blair Mangat was stronger than before I felt, but frankly Jordan Luke Gage steals every scene he’s in. All levels open, theatre pretty much full.
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Post by ptwest on Feb 9, 2020 11:27:54 GMT
Proving she can do it when required, last nights show started at 8:50 and finished at 11:05ish. Loved it - I’ve been struggling with Madam X a bit but last night really brought it to life. Such a beautiful show, and Madonna sounded better than I have ever heard her.
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Post by ptwest on Feb 7, 2020 21:19:47 GMT
I remember the 8 hour stakeout for The Girlie Show at Wembley then the extra 4 hours before she came on stage. Worth every minute to get down to the front. But there is no way I would have the stamina now!!
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Post by ptwest on Feb 1, 2020 8:57:24 GMT
Totally get this. I am a Robbie Williams fan and he always talks of when he does songs he really wants to play (but aren't the hits) the crowd just aren't interested and it's a bit souls destroying. He did a tiny show at Camden Roundhouse back end of last year and it was only non released songs and album tracks. Not a hit to be seen! It was my favourite concert of his I have ever been to and I have been to a lot. Only £40 a ticket as it was to give back to the crazy dedicated fans like myself. It was a very special night. I know Kylie’s Anti Tour has been mentioned a few times but it was exactly this, and so much fun. I’m not sure Madonna is able to loosen up to that degree,the only time she’s really come close was that bizarre clown thing that was discussed early In the thread. I would love it if she did though, so many songs that she has never performed live.
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Post by ptwest on Jan 31, 2020 21:29:13 GMT
I think cancelling with this amount of notice is so much better than the situation in Lisbon (although obviously not good) so I hope this action allows her to do the remaining dates, hopefully with the first section restored.
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Post by ptwest on Jan 31, 2020 8:08:45 GMT
I shall reserve judgement at the moment and see what happens over the next few dates...
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Post by ptwest on Jan 29, 2020 17:09:32 GMT
Pleased it worked out for you and that you had a great time.
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Post by ptwest on Jan 28, 2020 19:23:40 GMT
Legroom tight in all seats as far as I'm concerned, ranging from knees pressing up against the back of the next seat through to having to sit sideways. I find the stalls better overall, although the front half of the circle wasn't as bad as expected. But then again I expected no room whatsoever so anything was a bonus. Its a lovely theatre though.
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Post by ptwest on Jan 26, 2020 16:26:12 GMT
I've just caught up on Friday's episode. The croquet mallet near the start and the cat / piano joke were definite laugh out loud moments, but found myself chuckling throughout. As others have said, it really helps knowing the actors and the characters they are trying to portray, as well as understanding the whole premise of continuing with the script no matter what happens. But after that fairly poor Christmas episode, I have been very pleasantly surprised by the rest of the series.
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Post by ptwest on Jan 26, 2020 11:16:23 GMT
As far as I am aware they are just giving refunds. I guess its logistically much easier to do that and let those who want to rebook to do so given the tight timescale involved.
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Post by ptwest on Jan 25, 2020 18:15:28 GMT
Won’t be the last cancellation,I fear😢 Sad for those who have booked travel and accommodation. Agreed. I suppose at least this gives time for those who have to travel to make other arrangements, unlike the very late cancellations last week. Not much consolation though for those affected.
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Post by ptwest on Jan 23, 2020 21:05:38 GMT
Very fond memories of watching Crackerjack with Ed Stewart. Never could quite take to Stuart Francis the same way.
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Post by ptwest on Jan 23, 2020 20:08:39 GMT
London is about to get very messy. They haven’t contacted anyone who is supposed to be attending the soundcheck (that’s 300 people per show), there’s possible last minute cancellations looming, tickets haven’t been issued, resale has been forbidden, and now I’ve been informed those who bought front row packages have been informed they have been moved as far back as row H, apparently because it offers a better view. Also if you bought the hotel package, check into the hotel on the day of the show and the show is then subsequently cancelled, the hotel part of your package is non-refundable (but if you don’t check in and the show is cancelled then it is refundable). Add all that to the fact that even if she does the show, she might not come on stage until midnight. I've made no secret of the fact on this forum that I am a long term fan, and that I am booked in for this tour. But all the things you have listed here show what an absolute mess this has become. No doubt this was all in the small print when booking (ie possibility of seats being moved and the hotel issue etc) but all this, added to the bad press that has already happened makes this a PR disaster. Her adding instagram posts of doing fun things when shows have been cancelled really feels insensitive to those who are missing out. But the reality is this. It was my choice and mine alone to choose to book, and I did that based on the great time I have had at the majority of her concerts that I have been to. For the weekend I have booked to see Madonna I have also booked to see Hamilton, and will be running the London 10k the day after, so I will be travelling to London anyway. So if the concert is cancelled, for me personally it will be very disappointing but the weekend will not be ruined. But, if the concert goes ahead, I cannot get a refund or afford to write off the money so choosing not to go is not an option. So the choice is to sit there and deliberately not enjoy it because the whole situation has been such a mess, or embrace the moment and enjoy myself - which is exactly what I intend to do. Its not like I'm sitting here now wondering whether or not to book, that deal was done many months ago.
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Post by ptwest on Jan 22, 2020 21:02:22 GMT
With another show cancelled tonight, I feel that London as a whole is looking less and less likely. Some clarity is needed now though, either she is continuing the tour or she isn’t. Obviously I would want her to be match fit to do all dates but this doesn’t look like that’s possible at all right now. The night I am going is after she has a day off which gives me some hope but I don’t think I will really believe it is going to happen until I am in the Palladium and the show starts - which could well be a long wait!
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Post by ptwest on Jan 21, 2020 22:37:35 GMT
“See you on Tuesday..... fingers crossed” seems a tad vague in terms of commitment. If she’s that unwell just reschedule the shows and take time to recover. Exactly. Surely if recovery is that uncertain, ploughing on with the tour at this stage will only aggravate things further. Not to mention extremely disrespectful to people who are travelling long distances to see her.
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Post by ptwest on Jan 21, 2020 16:00:38 GMT
I've taken many school groups without a problem. Its all down to training.
On the other hand, being a few rows behind the child who spent virtually the entire flight between Copenhagen and Manchester yelling the chorus of "Let It Go" was like torture!
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Post by ptwest on Jan 10, 2020 17:56:55 GMT
Yes, this happened in the final section of “one more try” when they flew up into the air and had smokey bubbles blown from the top of the set. It was a nice moment but couldn’t have lasted for much more than 45 seconds so you didn’t miss too much.
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Post by ptwest on Jan 10, 2020 7:11:44 GMT
4.5 stars. I cant give it 5 stars juat because there were a few no Enya where it dragged a tiny bit and I was willing it to move on to something else but still brilliant. I realise this is a case of auto correct going mad but it is making me chuckle that you aren’t giving it 5 stars because there’s “no Enya”! I’m sure with time the creative team could shoehorn in Orinoco Flow or Caribbean Blue!!! (Seriously - glad you loved it!!)
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Post by ptwest on Jan 8, 2020 21:17:30 GMT
I’m actually wondering how many effects there are going to be. Obviously there is the car, but the majority of the 1950s section is pretty straight forward up until the sequence in the courthouse. It’s part two which is very effects-heavy
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Post by ptwest on Jan 8, 2020 20:54:21 GMT
Just watched on catchup. This really has to be the most surreal programme ever but it’s strangely addictive! Although it’s only watchable with the fast forward button - managed to get through 90 minutes of programme in 20
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Post by ptwest on Jan 5, 2020 14:13:35 GMT
And its just popped up on my Facebook that I was there a year ago today for the final performance of 42nd Street which will go to the grave with me as one of the best nights ever at the theatre and also the saddest, especially when the ushers almost had to physically throw the audience out as we just didn't seem to want to leave. Popped up on my facebook too. What an amazing night that was. Although the photo of me posing with the line of showgirls on the board outside the theatre is this months calendar picture in our house so the memory lives on!
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Post by ptwest on Jan 4, 2020 17:20:03 GMT
Thought this was much funnier than the Christmas one.
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Post by ptwest on Jan 2, 2020 21:19:54 GMT
Interesting that people have worried about the lack of plot in Cats - did people worry about the lack of plot in Company, or Chorus Line or Act Two of The Nutcracker and many others where there's a gathering at which each character tells their story, and perhaps get chosen. If you want a glorious example of this, look at sir David Bintley's Still Life at the Penguin Café, where there is a gathering, each character presents themselves, and then as opposed to one getting chosen, one gets left behind. To feel the emotion of this piece and the theme you do need to see it. It's a structure family in all arts. I think this is a fair point. For me the difference is that in "A Chorus Line" (the only one on the list that I've actually seen) is that with the interactions between the characters and each one having their moment, I actually cared about what happened, and also couldn't fully predict it. In Cats, the only character development is in each cat's one song and then nothing more; I haven't watched the film but in the stage version we all knew how it was going to end, and I personally couldn't invest in any of the characters.
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Post by ptwest on Dec 22, 2019 22:46:39 GMT
I was there this afternoon; to clarify I don’t know much of Penn and Teller’s repertoire so for me this was all new. It’s a bit hit and miss, and there’s certainly no need for the sudden “character development” part towards the end of act two, but my wife and I laughed a lot, as did most of the audience as far as we could tell. The mind mangler sequences were enhanced by some very entertaining audience interaction, but there was lots to enjoy throughout. It’s certainly not perfect but for us it was enjoyable enough to make it worthwhile.
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Post by ptwest on Dec 22, 2019 6:49:44 GMT
Yes, she definitely flew right up to the ceiling originally. I think this covers part of the reason what I was a little dissatisfied with the show last night, I’ve seen this production many times on tour and have loved it. But there is no doubt that due to the mechanisms needed to create some of the Illusions / entrances / exits from the original, the touring equivalents are just not as good. I could accept that on tour but given that this show is now back in its original London home and hopefully for a long run, I hoped for better. It’s hard for me to be specific without giving away spoilers but it felt a little cheap. Add to that a couple of missed cues ( Mrs Brill opened the door , closed it again and then burst in looking surprised at one point, and the big reveal at the end of Brinstone and Treacle was spoilt by the child half opening the door then waiting) , it just didn’t feel as slick. Performance wise, the children were great as were the actresses playing Mrs Banks and Mrs Corry. Nothing wrong with any of the others but it felt a bit underpowered, as if going through the motions a bit when it came to the dialogue.
This sounds very negative; but despite all this we had a lovely night. Once the dialogue stopped and the music started, all doubts disappeared. The song and dance sequences were as wonderful as ever, particularly highlights being Step In Tine, and Anything Can Happen, other than what I have outlined above, the staging is beautiful and it’s still a show I would highly recommend. It’s just that it isn’t quite as good as the original and that the previous tour cast were stronger.
So overall a very solid 4 stars from me which in any other night would be great but on this occasion. felt like a comedown from previous visits
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Post by ptwest on Dec 21, 2019 23:02:36 GMT
Just out of tonight’s show - this has always been a solid gold 5 star show for me but something was missing tonight. Came away having enjoyed it but not dancing on air like I have every other time. Might work out what by the morning!!!
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