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Post by loureviews on Feb 3, 2016 13:36:15 GMT
I definitely want to see Amadeus. This is a very good season, although I am gutted about the Sunday shows being pulled as that will limit the number I can attend, sadly.
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617 posts
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Post by loureviews on Feb 2, 2016 17:19:15 GMT
My blog is theatre and other things and can be found at loureviews.wordpress.com
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617 posts
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Cats
Feb 2, 2016 7:27:07 GMT
via mobile
Post by loureviews on Feb 2, 2016 7:27:07 GMT
I don't agree that the new Cats is necessarily a shadow of its former self. For me seeing it in 1989 and again last year it was still a powerful show, although the reboot of the Rum Tum Tugger's song is poor.
As for Phantom and Les Mis they are probably no longer the big spectacles and special events they were in the 80s, but I don’t feel they have changed that much. What has changed is the quality of the singers in these musicals - but even that is just my opinion, others may disagree.
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617 posts
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Post by loureviews on Feb 1, 2016 8:06:09 GMT
I see Frank Finlay died. A reliable stage performer only the oldies here will have seen him. I saw him a few times including as Salieri in the original West End run of Amadeus after Scofield left. The only time I saw him on stage was in the UK tour of Laughter on the 23rd Floor, sadly.
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617 posts
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Post by loureviews on Jan 31, 2016 20:40:39 GMT
I laughed long and loud at a hilarious performance by an actor I liked and had come especially to see. I was peeved that no one else was laughing, so I laughed even longer and louder. After a few minutes, it became apparent to me that the character wasn't meant to be funny. It wasn't Albert Finney at Manchester in Reflected Glory, was it?!
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617 posts
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Post by loureviews on Jan 29, 2016 15:55:57 GMT
There's also apparently going to be guided Shakespeare bus tours with Ian McKellen, but I doubt tickets for that will be available to the standard BFI members, let alone the general public. Or if there are tickets they will go very quickly to Champions. Would be fun though.
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617 posts
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Post by loureviews on Jan 29, 2016 15:54:39 GMT
Does anyone else remember David Healy singing Nicely-Nicely the first time they did that production of Guys and Dolls, in the early 80s? At that stage it wasn't expected, as it was when they revived it, that that song would get several encores. But it always did. Only from the album version, but that is such a lovely production and I bet Julia McKenzie was a fantastic Adelaide as well.
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617 posts
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Post by loureviews on Jan 28, 2016 7:43:11 GMT
The point is that Sunset is not a good musical, the only attractive it has is the star who plays Norma. This is the reason why it might struggle in amateur productions and the reason why is not revived is because it's very expensive to run. (I mean, creating a full-scale production for just 43 shows would be the stupidest thing a producer can do) Having seen a fab amateur production last year I disagree completely and think this is definitely a good musical based on a good film.
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617 posts
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Post by loureviews on Jan 26, 2016 17:44:18 GMT
I thought that top stage right light in Stars was trying to blind me/distract me from Ball's weight gain (Me too, Michael, me too). I had to shut my eyes. I thought he was slimline compared to his usual porky state!
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617 posts
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Post by loureviews on Jan 26, 2016 17:41:13 GMT
I haven't listened to it for years. I suspect that if I do I'll find myself thinking - as I do with many albums - "Ah, yes, now I remember why I don't remember this track". I haven't listened to the album in years bit I remember the whole thing vividly and yes I am looking forward to this cast.
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617 posts
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Post by loureviews on Jan 25, 2016 22:50:58 GMT
Personal highlight was Clive Rowe, but thought the whole thing was really well put together. Sound in the hall (where I was anyway) wasn't great at the start, better in the second half. Interested to hear how it comes across on the broadcast. A tad Sondheim heavy for me (ducks), but there some great individual performances and a really fabulous choir. The sound was awful until the first Sondheim piece (six rows from the front).
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617 posts
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Post by loureviews on Jan 25, 2016 21:59:17 GMT
Maria Friedman's Losing My Mind was amazing Michael Ball and Daniel Evans were great. Elaine Paige should have sung something else. But what a great night. Maria was incredible but I knew she would be. Michael Ball always is and I always like watching Daniel Evans. The mix of shows made the jukebox musicals look like poor relations though.
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617 posts
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Post by loureviews on Jan 25, 2016 21:54:33 GMT
That was very good indeed. Some special moments, a fabulous choir and a Botoxed Elaine Paige. More later ...
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617 posts
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Post by loureviews on Jan 23, 2016 22:41:17 GMT
Nice statuery at Drury Lane for me.
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617 posts
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Post by loureviews on Jan 22, 2016 20:53:05 GMT
Booked. Love the album, have the two DVDs, going with an open mind ...
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617 posts
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Post by loureviews on Jan 22, 2016 13:58:15 GMT
Yes!
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Post by loureviews on Jan 22, 2016 10:14:02 GMT
We should have been there last night but thanks to the Piccadilly Line problems we wouldn't have got there until an hour late. Annoyed as we had front row tix at £40 each.
We are looking to rebook ...
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617 posts
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Post by loureviews on Jan 22, 2016 10:09:11 GMT
Fred Johanson as Max is a brilliant choice. Michael Xavier is predictable but yes, happy enough with this.
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617 posts
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Post by loureviews on Jan 21, 2016 21:02:33 GMT
Formerly louisec but now rebranding to match my blog and the name I generally use elsewhere.
London-based theatre, film and archive telly fan so I juggle leisure time between all three.
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