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Post by loureviews on Sept 11, 2016 17:52:06 GMT
I liked both Jumpers and that African Tempest.
But I have left early four times - Macbeth with Pete Postlethwaite at Bradford (interval, misguided production), RSC Midsummer Night's Dream at Bradford (interval again, lots of sellotape, rather dreadful - then at the bus station the PA suddenly played the National Anthem as the death of the Queen Mother had been announced), musical Gone With The Wind (during act two, we escaped along with about 20 others because we just couldn't stand it), Globe Macbeth this year (messed up on the seat booking and my bad back couldn't cope with the benches).
There was also Ken Dodd in Kingston - no reflection on the quality of his act but he had been on three hours and it was only the interval ... He finished after 1am apparently and the car park had closed leaving many patrons unable to retrieve their vehicles.
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Post by loureviews on Sept 9, 2016 6:55:34 GMT
I'm really sorry this has failed to find an audience as it is a lovely musical and Crawford is wonderful.
Sadly flashier and noisier musicals are pulling in the punters.
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Post by loureviews on Sept 8, 2016 12:06:05 GMT
I have this one plus OLC and OBC. Used Used to have one with Sian Phillips as Desiree on cassette ... and the Radio 2 broadcast with Betty Buckley, ditto. Even the Liz Taylor film can't really harm this score.
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Post by loureviews on Sept 7, 2016 19:21:48 GMT
Sometimes our sophisticated machinery, aka TheatreDust has a blip. I'm sure he will be able to sort that for you loureviews Really sorry about that loureviews - was there a hole in the envelope? I'd be really surprised if I actually didn't put one in - I don't think I've lost the plot quite that much yet, but who knows...! Anyway, drop me a PM with your PayPal email address (so I can link it up with your original order with the postal address) and I'll happily send you out a replacement tomorrow. Many thanks. No hole in the envelope but the little folded card inside looked as if it had a badge clipped to it at some point! Will PM you ...
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Post by loureviews on Sept 7, 2016 17:39:35 GMT
I'm afraid all I got was the card. No badge.
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Post by loureviews on Sept 2, 2016 16:57:44 GMT
Is it Monday for members only and public booking later? Nothing visible on the Menier website yet.
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Post by loureviews on Sept 2, 2016 11:40:14 GMT
I was put off Sean O'Casey for life by the soul-sapping Ciaran Hinds/Niamh Cusack *Juno and the Paycock* in the same theatre a few years ago, so I was always going to steer well clear of this. The National's website shows a load of unsold seats for the remainder of the run, even at weekends, so alongside *The Suicide* it's going to be a rum year for the Lyttleton in terms of attendance figures; Rufus will have to hope that *The Deep Blue Sea* and *The Red Barn* can do enough to help massage the overall numbers when it comes to the Annual Report... Sinead not Niamh. I liked that production and will be going to this one shortly. I don't have any problem with O'Casey's work.
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Post by loureviews on Sept 2, 2016 11:36:47 GMT
No, although I read reviews to get a sense of how a production is doing.
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Post by loureviews on Aug 28, 2016 12:51:31 GMT
"It's Getting Hotter in the North" from Show Boat. Agree with "The Lady's Got Potential".
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Post by loureviews on Aug 27, 2016 20:48:12 GMT
I saw this today (a £15 ticket). I love the piece, but this version left me a bit puzzled. Not a fan of the lyric changes, when I could make them out (diction in some songs is poor). Kinnear was excellent but neither a convincing Casanova or an East End hard man, but nevertheless he had something and sang well. Polly - very good. Jenny - got better after her first song. Peachum - too comic? Mrs Peachum - vocally strong. I didn't care for the chap in the wheelchair being there for laughs. I was bemused by the gay blackmail references. The staging (the shadows, the paper doors, the steps, the red ribbons of blood), lighting and use of the drum revolve were all excellent. This is a vibrant and spirited revival, bawdy rather than filthy (Mackie and Polly in coitus on a crescent moon in their first appearance), but a bit of a misstep, and definitely missing something, but I didn't feel strongly enough to walk out at the interval.
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Post by loureviews on Jul 30, 2016 14:05:31 GMT
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Post by loureviews on Jul 21, 2016 19:40:10 GMT
Douglas Hodge in La Cage aux Folles is one of the best performances I have ever seen on stage. Just glorious. He was wonderful, wasn't he? I saw him with Philip Quast at the Menier and then with Denis Lawson at the Playhouse. Also saw Roger Allam with Philip Quast in between those two appearances. It is a fantastic show and if it was still running no doubt I would still be going to see it.
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Post by loureviews on Jul 12, 2016 20:00:42 GMT
Jesus Christ Superstar was amazing.
Pity Cabaret and A Little Night Music are not being aired, they were excellent too.
And Sunset Boulevard with Petula. And I think there was a My Fair Lady too (with Tom Conti?).
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Post by loureviews on Jul 12, 2016 19:57:05 GMT
Thanks Michael, will give that a go ...
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Post by loureviews on Jul 12, 2016 19:44:58 GMT
I don't mind a bit of banter, but what's stopping me visiting as much as I used to are the pornographic pop-ups I sometimes see when accessing this board on my phone. Apparently a known issue with some Proboard ads and not much can be done about it. I can't risk this if I am on a work wi-fi connection.
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Post by loureviews on Jul 5, 2016 20:25:54 GMT
An amazing finale last night! Want them to do it again next week And highly topical too Did you see George Osborne watching it in the stalls? Ironic.
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Post by loureviews on Jun 30, 2016 20:51:15 GMT
So ... half way through, what's the consensus here? I think this has been a marvellous Ring thus far, and my husband, who is not familiar with the music or the story, has really appreciated the way the story has been portrayed, as well as very much enjoying the operas for what they are.
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Post by loureviews on Jun 18, 2016 21:21:36 GMT
I just found out that Sam Barks has released a self-titled solo album: www.amazon.co.uk/Samantha-Barks/dp/B01DNA8IBG/Just ordered that CD, but it'll take some time until it'll be delivered to Germany. Anyone got that CD already and can report back? Oh yes. My husband is rather a big fan so we have it. I've heard snippets. It isn't bad.
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Post by loureviews on Jun 17, 2016 19:56:44 GMT
Interval thoughts. Very 'Broadway' but trying to shoehorn in loads of UK references. Aladdin himself is a bit flat! Genie is fun. Friend Like Me is spectacular. The baddies look like Paul Daniels and Teller. And I want great magic, so waiting for that carpet
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Post by loureviews on Jun 15, 2016 11:00:13 GMT
Aladdin on Friday evening
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Post by loureviews on Jun 14, 2016 20:49:07 GMT
Both times I saw The Crucible. West Yorkshire Playhouse in 1996, and the Old Vic in 2014.
Henry IV part 2 at Stratford with David Troughton as the old king. He was incredibly good.
King Lear with Tom Courtenay at Manchester Royal Exchange.
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Post by loureviews on Jun 14, 2016 6:57:31 GMT
The best:
West Side Story Guys and Dolls Gypsy Hair Jesus Christ Superstar Show Boat (36 and 51) The King and I Chicago
Reasonable:
Evita The Sound of Music Oklahoma Carousel The Phantom of the Opera Godspell Rent Hello Dolly
Not good:
A Little Night Music Jersey Boys Nine A Chorus Line
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Post by loureviews on Jun 12, 2016 20:07:33 GMT
Not strictly theatre (except for all the theatrics!) but I can't stand the last night of the Proms. Boo. We attended four of them and had a fantastic time.
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Post by loureviews on Jun 10, 2016 6:40:34 GMT
I went last night. It is a slow piece with a dark heart and although the ensemble are excellent, especially Crawford, the songs are not memorable and the transition to a musical is not entirely successful.
However it is well acted, has a fine solo piano accompaniment throughout, is lit beautifully and does well with a tricky storyline. Gemma Sutton is very good as Marian and Issy van Randwyck is scary as her mother.
A minimalist set uses lots of tricks and invention to portray different locations (the tailor's shop, the farm, the outhouse). It is a pity this is clearly not selling that well - and I can't imagine Crawford, still a huge theatre name even past his Phantom prime, came cheap.
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Cats
Jun 9, 2016 16:20:20 GMT
via mobile
Post by loureviews on Jun 9, 2016 16:20:20 GMT
The strength of this show is that the dancers move like cats, and that is 100% down to Gillian's choreography.
She is right that she basically created the show, and she is right to feel concerned and slighted at being the only original creative excluded.
This new show will definitely not be 'Cats' as we know it.
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Post by loureviews on Jun 6, 2016 5:55:59 GMT
I loved the original Donmar production. I suppose it is relevant in the current US political climate.
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Post by loureviews on Jun 5, 2016 8:43:02 GMT
And so you should. You're in for a treat. Last night she sent a tweet saying Goodbye London, Hello Manchester with a photo of Royal Docks (?); truth be known I am not familiar with Manchester (must get there) so the photo could have been of anywhere in Manchester. Just outside the city in Salford.
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Post by loureviews on Jun 4, 2016 15:53:27 GMT
Y'know that advert for Galaxy choccy, where Hepburn lookie-likie jumps off the bus and goes for a ride with a total stranger in a convertible? That's not a lookie-likie, it's AH's actual face CGI'd onto a real person. Who knew! I thought they'd just found some bird who looked a bit like her. Kind of. It uses images of her to create the CGI which is why it is a bit creepy. I don't think the end result looks much like her.
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Post by loureviews on Jun 3, 2016 10:19:06 GMT
I thought it was awful. No humour, pointless changes, noisy music, a terrible Helena and no concept of what the play is about.
Maxine Peake was good but there wasn't much else to be positive about.
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Post by loureviews on Jun 2, 2016 7:04:30 GMT
As well as being a great Norma she was probably one of the best Fantines. A pity she seems so at war with the world.
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