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Post by princeton on Oct 1, 2018 21:24:16 GMT
That would be the lovely Philip Bertioli - who is first cover for both Pat Denning and Billy Lawler.
Here when he went on as Pat while Sheena Easton was playing Dorothy Brock
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Post by princeton on Oct 1, 2018 10:27:34 GMT
I believe that this cast is only contracted for the first part of the tour - up to Christmas. They haven't yet confirmed the cast for the 2019 dates - though some theatres may be using the wrong graphics and photos in their listings - and without acknowledging that they are of the 2018 cast.
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Post by princeton on Sept 28, 2018 11:35:40 GMT
Thats's the way the Old Vic booking system works - you're given a queue number - and that remains your number - it doesn't count down - although the estimated time does. Confused me when I first started using it.
And PWC £10 preview tickets don't usually go on sale until about 4 weeks before the start of the run - not when general booking opens. For those performances only full price tickets will be available at the moment.
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Post by princeton on Sept 27, 2018 22:16:44 GMT
A Les Miserables reunion - Allyson Brown played Fantine in the 2008/9 cast when Jon Robyns was playing Marius.
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Post by princeton on Sept 24, 2018 22:53:50 GMT
If Miriam leaves Hamilton - and I suspect that unless she's given either Angelica or Eliza on a permanent basis she will - I'm pretty sure that she'll be inundated with offers of roles. I know at least two producers who are actively looking for/developing work for her. So while she'd be great in The Colour Purple whether two weeks in Leicester and a week in Birmingham would fit in with any other things she might have on the horizon - only time will tell.
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Post by princeton on Sept 18, 2018 20:52:05 GMT
It's a 7.45pm start tomorrow at 42nd Street - presumably to allow Bonnie time to do the programme (or at least most of it) and then get back to the theatre.
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Post by princeton on Sept 18, 2018 11:58:27 GMT
The Telegraph review says that: "The Old Vic has been admirably honest in admitting that the show isn’t yet ready" seems that they've only been admirable honest to the press. The Sylvia page of their website still only has vague phrases such as: "be there at the beginning" "first lease of life". You have to go to the news section to find the acknowledgement that "what we are sharing with you today is a work in progress" - and I, as someone who has already booked to see this, certainly haven't received an email from the Old Vic explaining that I'm now seeing something which is far from its finished state.
Also the Stage is reporting that "The run is due to continue until September 22, and will be shown as a work in progress with lower ticket prices, the Old Vic said." I don't know abut others but I haven't been told that my tickets are going to have their price reduced.
Theatregoers are usually pretty understanding about the problems inherent in developing new productions and accepting of unexpected cast illness - however they are intolerant of poor communication - particularly when it transpires that the press has been fully informed - but the ticket buying public told almost nothing.
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Post by princeton on Sept 13, 2018 22:38:56 GMT
Or some curious hybrid. The Curve production was choreographed by Nick Winston and directed by Nicolai Foster - whereas Arlene Phillips did the choreography for the 1993 London version which has been the one touring ever since.
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Post by princeton on Sept 12, 2018 23:23:25 GMT
Why on earth is this happening? This is a show which couldn't even manage a six month run on Broadway with the sainted Allison Janney in the lead.
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Post by princeton on Sept 8, 2018 21:26:23 GMT
When I was looking for something else I noticed that Seann has a tour this autumn, including Saturday gigs, all seemingly still on sale! I believe the whole tour has been postponed until Spring 2019.
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Post by princeton on Sept 4, 2018 22:19:55 GMT
Russell Tovey was actually cast in Half a Sixpence and then bailed out when a better offer came along (tv work) Wasn't it Bryan Dick who was originally cast as Kipps in Half a Sixpence?
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Post by princeton on Sept 3, 2018 23:27:36 GMT
She will indeed. She is ridiculously talented, hardworking and the epitome of the professionalism. She's spent more that 50 years in the business and no one has a bad word to say about her. I mean - on Broadway aged 10 - starring alongside Angela Lansbury - she's learned from and worked with the best throughout her career. Come to think of it she'd make one hell of a Rose now.
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Post by princeton on Sept 3, 2018 23:00:13 GMT
I have no idea whether he can sing or dance - but I've always thought that Russell Tovey would be great in the part. He's got that effortless Robert Lindsay-eque charm and would do all the fish out of water comedy routines very well - and he's very good at pathos too. True he's not quite from Lambeth - but what's a few miles?!
Given this production tries rather harder than it needs to (not a patch on the original or the Sheffield production) - it would be good to have it centred by someone wouldn't overplay everything and who the audience would naturally root for - but isn't too squeaky clean.
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Post by princeton on Aug 31, 2018 9:14:00 GMT
I think it's rather inspired casting. He was very good in the Abigail's Party and Assassins at the Menier, and in Hangmen when it transferred to Wyndham's. I remember reading in an interview once that he's a real musical theatre buff - making regular trips to New York to catch all the new openings. Not sure that I'd ever thought of him as a comedian. He's done some comidic parts for sure, but many which aren't - and as far as I know never done stand-up as such. He's a highly skilled magician, as mentioned above, and member of the Magic Circle, but his work there tends to be in an advisory role - writing and directing most of Derren Brown's shows (which probably means he can afford to spend three month's working for very little at the Menier).
Incidentally his daughter Macy is in Pack of Lies at the Menier.
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Post by princeton on Aug 27, 2018 13:10:07 GMT
I've always found the almost fully staged, choreographed, costumed musicals such as last year's Oklahoma, and previous ones like My Fair Lady and Kiss Me Kate, slightly incongruous as part of the Proms - no matter how entertaining they were (and I suspect they are very costly - no where else would they spend 4 weeks rehearsal for a couple of performances). The Proms is first and foremost a celebration of music - and these concerts versions put the music - orchestral and vocal - front and centre. True it sometimes makes the plot difficult to follow - and for those who know the work it can feel lacking particularly during longer orchestral moments when on stage there would be large dance routines. However it allows really good voices - from people who might not be cast in a full production (or have the wrong haircut!) - to perform great songs from the musical theatre cannon. And played by a full orchestra which you simply wouldn't hear in a theatre these days. I saw the West Side Story prom and The King and I in the same week - and didn't feel shortchanged by either (even with the severely truncated WSS). That's not to say that I didn't picture great dance routines while at the Albert Hall - or sit wishing for John Wilson and his Orchestra whilst at the Palladium - Kelli O'Hara and a full orchestra - can you imagine.......
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Post by princeton on Aug 27, 2018 12:43:57 GMT
Sorry if I'm missing something but what has Eva been in or going to be in this year that she can get nominated for an Olivier ? Hadestown at the National (pre Broadway) though obviously at the stage no idea whether the role or the performance will be award worthy.
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Post by princeton on Aug 27, 2018 12:41:51 GMT
I think the difference would be that the Billy Elliots shared the role from the very start of the production. For entirely understandable reasons Ruthie Ann Miles didn't make her first appearance until several weeks into the production - and it's only this week that any sort of schedule for the role of Lady Thiang has been produced (and interestingly - and perhaps unfairly to Naoko Mori - Ruthie now gets specific billing on the home page of the website). Given that they tend to get Olivier voters in during the first few weeks - it may be that most saw Naoko in the role - though as we know by now - trying to find any sort of logic where the Olivier Awards are concerned will prove to be futile.
And I'd also add Sharon D Clarke to the list of likely Best Actress nominees.
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Post by princeton on Aug 27, 2018 12:24:23 GMT
Whilst I had some reservations about the play (in need of quite swingeing dramaturgy in my opinion) - there's no doubt is is one play - not two - indeed i'd have much rather a very long play (with aforementioned editing) than spread over two performances. Although that said I'm planning to see it in different weeks this time - to see it it changes how I feel. The performance are, however, utterly flawless - with Kyle Soller anchoring the piece magnificently with real subtle calibration across the six hours. And I agree Paul Hilton's monologue was an absolute highlight for me.
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Post by princeton on Aug 17, 2018 20:30:27 GMT
Actually, Bill Pullman (fine actor that he is) has never been nominated for a Tony Oops - guess that's my penance for pointing out someone else's mistake and then not fully researching the facts myself! Actually I looked at IBDB for The Goat (I saw the replacement cast with Sally Field and Bill Irwin) - just didn't read it correctly.
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Post by princeton on Aug 17, 2018 13:09:15 GMT
Baz B seems to have awarded both Sally Field and Bill Pullman Tony Awards - the American Theatre Wing doesn't seem to be of the same view! Both nominated - neither has won. Or maybe he has the power to see into the future.
Looking forward to seeing this - Tony Award winners or not.
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Post by princeton on Aug 16, 2018 10:26:41 GMT
I'm waiting until they announce Matthew Needham has been cast. Isn't he giving us his Cock in Chichester?!
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Post by princeton on Aug 15, 2018 20:34:11 GMT
Isn't this the concert which was criticised because they originally announced an all-white cast (billed as The Best of the West End) singing songs from shows including Dreamgirls and The Lion King Report from The Stage 25 JuneAnd got some traction on Twitter As they don't seem to have listed any additional cast members since then - presumably the promoters are trying to avoid further criticism by not having white actors sing songs from musicals which, in the context of a show, would be performed by BAME actors. And definitely down to the promoter not the venue.
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Post by princeton on Aug 14, 2018 20:49:27 GMT
I'm very fond of 'The Small House of Uncle Thomas' and it's well done in this production. However it is quite difficult to watch it now without thinking of 'Joseph Smith American Moses' from Book of Mormon.
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Post by princeton on Aug 9, 2018 11:58:20 GMT
And now from The King and I website - and not before time - official notification of planned absences from performances. Kelli's as per her twitter feed and:
On Thursday 30 August and Thursday 6, 13, 20 & 27 September (evening performances) Mr Ken Watanabe will not be appearing and Mr Takao Osawa will be playing The King of Siam. Mr Kok-Hwa Lie will be playing the Kralahome.
Seems to me that it anyone is at fault it is the producers - and now, rather late in the day, they've decided to be more open. It really shouldn't be the responsibility of individual actors to publicise their holiday dates (and some producers, as we know, do not allow this).
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Post by princeton on Aug 3, 2018 19:58:30 GMT
And an update on Kelli O'Hara's performance schedule:
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Post by princeton on Jul 22, 2018 16:59:01 GMT
No - you're quite right. It ran at Theatr Clwyd 25 June-14 July - which is where lots of the national critics reviewed it. It begins previewing at the National on Tuesday 24 July (I'm there the following evening) with a London press night scheduled for 31 July - although as noted most of main newspapers have already covered it.
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Post by princeton on Jul 20, 2018 8:43:53 GMT
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Post by princeton on Jul 16, 2018 13:30:17 GMT
Melissa Jacques has indeed joined the cast - understudying Margaret and Miss Hedge.
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Post by princeton on Jul 14, 2018 18:50:57 GMT
You’d think so - though several first night critics including those from The Times and The Stage, who were presumably sitting in the best seats in the house and could clearly see the faces on stage, praised Ruthie Ann Miles In their reviewsl. I suppose you could put it down to sloppy journalism - on the other hand......
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Post by princeton on Jul 14, 2018 17:57:40 GMT
Probably for a separate thread really - but there's such a deficit of good theatre criticism these days. Very rarely do I see a review which propels me to book for a production. The mixture of pedestrian writing, misguided opinion and factual inaccuracies mean that very few are pleasurable to read. The right balance of creativity and information is usually sadly lacking.
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