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Post by BoOverall on Jan 10, 2024 6:52:08 GMT
I wonder what Patti thinks…. Actually, I think we know Patti looks just like the woman at the fish counter at my local Waitrose. And I am not messing with her on Fish Fridays! I loved her Norma and would pay good money to see her and Nicole doing a Sunset-off……..on the condition that Patti throws in a few twerks and Nicole adopts a few strangled vowelisms!
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Post by BoOverall on Jan 4, 2024 0:05:57 GMT
Finally caught this tonight and loved it after being very sceptical when it was first announced:but Sunset is a show I always seek out whenever it is revived as it remains one of my favourite ALW scores. Despite my initial preconceptions about this, I actually preferred the stripping back of a lot of the arguably unnecessary stuff: I never missed “the set” or even the missing songs - and for the first time in a Sunset production I actually cared for Max, Betty and even Artie: and what a great trio of actors there (David Thaxton - a particular wow!). Both Nicole and Tom were terrific: I was never a fan of Nicole’s before but I blown away by her Norma although I can see how some might not be. And I cannot wait to see Tom Francis in other shows.
There were a few choices that were not really for me and I felt the title number - while very impressively done - meant we were focusing more on the fun of everything going on around Joe and not really listening to the “bite” of the song. But these, for me, were minor missteps (other productions of Sunset had more I felt) and this Sunset will live fondly in my memory for many years to come.
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Post by BoOverall on Aug 10, 2023 15:43:59 GMT
Saw this tonight from slip seats above the stage. What a wonderful theatrical experience from a very strong cast and crew. A proper treat. I was so impressed at what was achieved in this intimate space and while I rather liked the Drury Lane version, this was more powerful for me. Ok, I felt the balrog effect was a bit weak so that scene fell a bit flat, but there was so much else to applaud (Shelob: wow). And the glorious ensemble singing: I don't think I could ever tire of "Lothlorien". I really look forward to returning. I’ve booked the slips for October 15, can you expand on the view from these please? Was it a good view? Could you see everything from where you were? The view was fine for what is essentially a cheaper seat. There was a lot of looking at the top of the actors’ heads when they were at our part of the stage and I didn’t see some the action but I could see most things and felt part of it.
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Post by BoOverall on Aug 9, 2023 22:48:49 GMT
Saw this tonight from slip seats above the stage. What a wonderful theatrical experience from a very strong cast and crew. A proper treat.
I was so impressed at what was achieved in this intimate space and while I rather liked the Drury Lane version, this was more powerful for me. Ok, I felt the balrog effect was a bit weak so that scene fell a bit flat, but there was so much else to applaud (Shelob: wow). And the glorious ensemble singing: I don't think I could ever tire of "Lothlorien".
I really look forward to returning.
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Post by BoOverall on Jan 17, 2023 10:17:05 GMT
Enjoyed the US version and also the Australian - but I found the Australian took a bit of getting into. Alan Cumming was a hoot in the US version, shamelessly camping it up to high heaven and being a great all-round presence. Loved his description of himself as “a less butch Agatha Christie”.
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Post by BoOverall on Dec 23, 2022 17:26:35 GMT
Absolutely loved this after initially thinking the trailers made it look pretty crap. But once it got going it was so addictive. I felt Claudia gave just the right tone to proceedings (big fan anyway: despite her lack of love for musical theatre!). Oh I loved the song snippets and other music along the way - totally OTT but it added to the thrill of it all.
My only negative was with the challenges which I felt were mostly were pretty dull to watch (esp. the physical ones) and came across as little more than fillers - especially when each episode was more geared towards the proper excitement at the table: LOVED those! But more of the psychological challenges where their minds feel played with and doubt is cast etc… would not go amiss next time.
But a great series.
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Post by BoOverall on Dec 9, 2021 6:34:15 GMT
Whoever the stepmother was looked uncannily like Bianca Del Rio. Now that would have made the show much more bearable. Actually, pop in a load of drag queens and go the heck for it. When I saw it, I kept wavering between enjoying some of the songs (a few are gorgeous) and then hating a lot of the dialogue, story choices etc….a real kitchen sink of ideas that really didn’t add up to much for me apart from what was a bit of a sludgy mess. I love a lot of ALW’s work but disappointingly I found Cinderella to be a tedious watch for the most part.
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Post by BoOverall on Nov 27, 2021 12:23:11 GMT
Devastated: what a loss. Such a stunningly rich canon of work and influences. For me, no theatre composer/lyricist comes close to Sondheim: I have lost count of the number of times his works have had a profound effect on me. May he rest in peace. I will be honouring this great man this weekend with at least a massive play of dvds and cast albums.
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Post by BoOverall on Nov 14, 2021 17:14:11 GMT
Did anyone else see the Menier production of Tick Tick, Boom, with Neil Patrick Harris? It was years ago now. Also had Cassidy Jansen in one of her very early roles. I remember enjoying it, but thought it was all a bit frantic. It was a great introduction to the score though. Yes, now that takes me back. I didn’t quite “get it” as a piece at the time, apart from really enjoying the score, but it has since grown on me massively.
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Post by BoOverall on Nov 11, 2021 20:48:50 GMT
Loved that lip sync tonight: fair outcome. Not nuts about the whole Bra Wars thing but some fun performances. Loved the runway looks - when Kitty came out for the runway I just kept thinking Carrie HF! But loved it
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Post by BoOverall on Oct 31, 2021 9:00:25 GMT
I often find the Halloween episode tedious and a few quirky costumes only go so far before it gets stale. And last night’s opening pro routine set the bar pretty low: a garish mess of a routine.
An adequate episode all in all for me…still, at least Shirley looked as if she was having much fun: I kind of wanted what she was having!
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Post by BoOverall on Oct 16, 2021 14:26:19 GMT
Those auditions are so rigorous and the bakers would have proved themselves at each stage. And handling nerves etc at each audition stage is so much easier than in the real thing. But I bet most of the bakers could make most of those technicals excellently at home - as indeed their signature and to a high standard.
This was not a tough technical - it rarely is - IF making at home, even with the limited recipe. But when cooking under time pressure such as in a TV cooking show it is an entirely different affair. Not least with the other distractions such as presenters chatting to you, things going wrong, cutting yourself, the occasional resetting of the task in mid-flow etc….it is SO much harder. And the cameras everywhere: they reminded me of Daleks: the minute there was a slight whiff of drama, they wheel right up to you and then you would have folk asking you questions for 10 mins or so when you just wanted to say “ bugger off and let me get sorted!”. But little things throw you easily. Ok, you’re all in the same boat and you (hopefully) learn swiftly how to adapt and how to control those nerves…but at times simple reasoning flies out of the window!
Personally, I wouldn’t change the experience for the world, but only by doing it did I see how very much harder even supposedly simple things can be. And I used to be one of those people who would almost scream at the TV when somebody screwed up a cake in Bake Off or massacred a fish in Masterchef!
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Post by BoOverall on Jul 17, 2021 14:07:30 GMT
Just got a text as I was going tonight! Same. Hoping cast and crew are well. Almost arrived in London when got the text. But going to still enjoy the restaurant we'd booked.
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Post by BoOverall on Jul 16, 2021 6:59:36 GMT
Just throw in lashings of compliments “we thought you were the definitive Norma Desmond” and sign it Robin & Steve from Kidderminster and you’re a dead cert 😀 Oh sadly they’ve gone their separate ways! But Robin got the slow cooker and Steve got the gerbil, so all is well.
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Post by BoOverall on Jul 16, 2021 6:56:52 GMT
Somehow feeling I need to exclude Caprice in Rent……shudders at the memory…..my fondest memories include:
- Saint Patti in Sunset and Gypsy (how I wish I had my camera!) - Glenn Close in Sunset - Liza Minelli in Victor, Victoria - Judi Dench in A Little Night Music - Caroline O’Connor at Charing Cross - the theatre, not in Gregg’s on the station - Maggie Smith in my hubby’s parents’ garden for his dad’s retirement bash. Not a theatrical performance, but that was the first time I had been really star-struck!.
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Post by BoOverall on Jul 16, 2021 6:30:39 GMT
“Dear Elaine, love your work and all that you do. Please could you play what we believe to be the definitive version of “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” by Madonna. Love and hugs…”. 🤣
But the last time we made a request, we did so a couple of days beforehand.
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Post by BoOverall on Jul 13, 2021 21:51:42 GMT
Finally able to see parents after the best part of a year so a spot of baking to take. Including a mocha walnut Swiss Roll - a prototype of a cake idea - IF it lasts the journey. But then my policy is: if I get caught in a traffic jam I am allowed to munch whatever is to hand!
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Post by BoOverall on Jul 9, 2021 15:29:17 GMT
Am looking forward to seeing it next Sat eve. Emailed LW theatres to check our booking is still as booked or if we have been moved to a later performance (as was the case with Phantom). So a foodie afternoon followed by a show….I can’t wait for that combo at last! Bettered only by a two show day (with fab meal in between!). Now if I can just fit in In The Heights at the cinema early afternoon……
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Post by BoOverall on Jun 18, 2021 5:51:40 GMT
I’ve got a feeling the Prince might have a happy ending in this story too... oh I am quite sure that will be the case 🤣🤣, esp. after all those buns and Carry On-isms from earlier promos. Oh I can just see that Frozen-esque sauna scene with the later-to-be-classic “Rub Down Down Tango” number..... But really looking forward to seeing Cinderella next month - all being well.
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Post by BoOverall on Jun 1, 2021 15:37:30 GMT
Oh yes, very true. Although it felt that even since the op, his moves on Strictly when he and the judges get introduced are more impressive than this - but extensive armography and the like can probably add a certain something! Although the costume in Masked Dancer - fab as it is - probably does not help. Mind you, nobody has really had anything like a “wow” moment dance-wise yet.
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Post by BoOverall on Jun 1, 2021 13:48:37 GMT
I think that the ice cream thing has to be Craig Revel-Horwood. It’s like I recognise the legs. Terrifying. We wondered that too, although my husband thought if is him then he should be able to dance better, even with the costume. Not sure how I feel about this series - ok, we are watching with curtains tightly drawn so peeping Toms can’t judge us, sipping Babycham and nibbling Mini Cheddars (The Red Leicester ones: other flavours don’t comes close! Well, apart from the cheesy jalapeño one... and well that’s another story, never mind, anyway...). The singing version is so much “better” - I mean, we are still talking about the bar so low a comatose slug could jump over it - but I am enjoying it. I think.
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Post by BoOverall on May 10, 2021 20:10:27 GMT
Ooo a nice plate of crispy squid: truly divine.
And used to love a Vesta curry! Kind of a low rent (Caprice-style!) Pot Noodle..But did enjoy them!
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Post by BoOverall on Mar 30, 2021 18:09:43 GMT
Just caught up on last night’s finale: wow! And Sanjeev Bhaskar‘s voice over and final scene had me properly welling up. Great series.
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Post by BoOverall on Mar 21, 2021 18:42:44 GMT
Well, I’m going for it. Can’t say much about my expectations. Interesting to see Barrowman channelling a camp but engaging Paul Hollywood.
Please be good. Please be good.......oh!
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Post by BoOverall on Mar 5, 2021 7:05:22 GMT
Have gone from really not warming to Bimini to totally loving her and excited to see what she turns out each week. My favourite now, with Lawrence. Quite liked A'Whora in terms of looks but for me a “look queen” alone - and I don’t think she is much more than that - is just not good enough. And the whining, petulance and perpetual vacancy had worn very thin for me.
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Post by BoOverall on Feb 17, 2021 22:45:40 GMT
I loved this this evening. I’d forgotten how gorgeous the score is and I loved the way this was staged in The Curve. Great performances all round. If I had a few tears at the end of Act One, I could probably be described as a blubbing mess in the last 20-odd minutes of Act Two!
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Post by BoOverall on Feb 13, 2021 21:19:59 GMT
Fabulous news. A very very fine production.
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Post by BoOverall on Feb 13, 2021 21:05:21 GMT
I’d see the opening night of West Side Story....or even a first preview. Still one of my favourite musicals.
And probably the final night of Aspects of Love at the Prince of Wales again - one of my favourite ALW scores, having seen that production many times in the run. Of all the changes, reworking “There is more to love” into a duet during that run was a highlight, but the set, the lighting........at the time it all just worked for me.
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Post by BoOverall on Feb 8, 2021 11:29:20 GMT
You can add me to the list of people for whom Six just 'isn't my thing.' I like what it's doing, the principles behind it, the female empowerment angle and the fact it brings new audiences to MT. But for my taste it's a bit more pop concert than MT, the songs are ok but I don't love them and it's a long way from the classic lavish MT I adore. It clearly connects with a younger audience though. That said, the aggressive fan girl-ing is one of the areas I struggle with as when I went the screaming was distracting on a Wicked cast change/flying cup cakes scale. I enjoyed Six when I saw it with our GCSE and A level students but it was a touch too “you’ve got to scream and dance along” sweeping through the core fan base in the audience. Er, no: only if I feel like it. re: Wicked, I incurred urged the wrath of several of its fan base around me when I first saw it: at the end of Defying Gravity when she just went up, wailing (as I felt at the time) I said to my partner “is that it?...lights, billowing, screaming....nothing more spectacular?”. Oh the death glares I got from the “real fans”...ok, I later became one of those fans....to an extent!
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Post by BoOverall on Jan 30, 2021 17:22:40 GMT
I thought everyone was SO strong this week, besides obviously LaLa’s final look and a few other misses. But Kandy, MISS KANDY, my god. I don’t think I’ve ever hated a contestant so much. Her behaviour on untucked was appalling and I hope Tamisha will keep putting her in her place, a complete class act. This! Just nothing there with Kandy I can find to warm to: talent aside, in contestants I need to at least like them.
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