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Post by loureviews on Dec 22, 2017 7:37:33 GMT
When Ball and Boe singing a Morecambe and Wise song is the headline ...
42nd Street and Big Fish were fabulous though and the posh comic was quite funny.
Miranda was dreadful.
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Post by loureviews on Dec 17, 2017 19:05:33 GMT
I'm not really a fan of the series of films but I liked this one a lot.
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Post by loureviews on Dec 16, 2017 16:52:37 GMT
Just on way back from this. Enjoyed what is a short but complex play (requiring two pauses in a 30 minute act one, then a 25 minute interval for a - noisy - set change).
Mamet's snappy but coarse script is well delivered by the cast of seven, with Townsend, Marshall and Glenister especially good. The play doesn't feel that dated except in its casual but realistic racism against Poles and Indians.
I haven't seen the film for a long time so can't compare but this was an enjoyable afternoon.
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Chess
Dec 16, 2017 16:27:53 GMT
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Post by loureviews on Dec 16, 2017 16:27:53 GMT
If they put Boe in Chess it would be a disaster. Groban was fine in the concert version. Not Scherzinger either. Don't think she has much of a voice. I never thought she had much of a voice until I saw her in 'Rent' at the Hollywood Bowl. She played Maureen, and she was sensational. So was Idina Menzel in that role but she was awful in Chess as Florence!
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Chess
Dec 16, 2017 15:09:12 GMT
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Post by loureviews on Dec 16, 2017 15:09:12 GMT
Nicole Scherzinger and Ramin Karimloo would not surprise me. Alongside either Alfie Boe or maybe Josh Groban again If they put Boe in Chess it would be a disaster. Groban was fine in the concert version. Not Scherzinger either. Don't think she has much of a voice.
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Post by loureviews on Dec 15, 2017 10:27:23 GMT
Hamlet John Barrymore Lee Remick Swan Theatre Stratford Leigh Bowery
Don't tell me it would be anything other than a very interesting evening!
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Post by loureviews on Dec 15, 2017 6:52:48 GMT
There are some fantastic adaptations in this set alongside some oddities. For the time it was ground-breaking and some casting looks curious but worked well.
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Post by loureviews on Dec 11, 2017 13:19:31 GMT
www.cardboardcitizens.org.uk/Cardboard Citizens has been making life-changing theatre for and with homeless people for more than 25 years. Reg Charity No: 1042457
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A Quiz
Dec 10, 2017 17:37:35 GMT
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Post by loureviews on Dec 10, 2017 17:37:35 GMT
Christmas setting.
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Post by loureviews on Dec 3, 2017 10:46:20 GMT
I'm reading The National Theatre Story right now which is very interesting about the various AD transitions.
I don't think it makes any difference to me - I look for the quality of the production, writer, actors etc. The AD can influence that to a greater or lesser degree but I'm not sure a general audience member would notice.
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Post by loureviews on Nov 30, 2017 21:08:29 GMT
Barbican! Cillian Murphy! Oh yes please.
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Post by loureviews on Nov 28, 2017 8:06:23 GMT
Good for them.
Yes it is a big deal that she is divorced, mixed race, American amd Catholic but past mistakes in the family now mean couples can at least marry for love, rather than being pushed into an unsuitable match doomed to fail.
Harry is so like Charles in that interview, same mannerisms and everything. But let's not kid ourselves the younger Royals are 'just like us': they are eyewateringly wealthy, privileged and sheltered from real life. Meghan's engagement ring is worth about £40k.
No bank holiday either.
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Post by loureviews on Nov 24, 2017 21:56:07 GMT
The chippy used to be brilliant. How times change.
The Dirty Duck can be a bit sniffy to those not in the business, or that's been the experience I have had when not with acting chums.
It's a few years since I regularly stayed over though, and that was in a lovely B 'n B on Arden Street. Basic but friendly.
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Post by loureviews on Nov 24, 2017 20:56:36 GMT
Good tickets secured for School of Rock, Motown and Jamie!
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Post by loureviews on Nov 23, 2017 20:47:11 GMT
Both. Theatre is theatre is theatre.
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Post by loureviews on Nov 23, 2017 17:03:36 GMT
Some I can remember:
Charlie Girl. Nicholas Parsons on roller skates nearly shooting off the stage, grabbed by Paul Nicholas to stop him.
Me and My Girl. Trevor Bannister leaning on one of those wheeled food trolleys and nearly shooting into the wings.
The Lion King. Technical problem required death of Scar scene to be restaged at stage level after a short interval.
Richard III. Unclear technical problems meant Robert Lindsay's 'A horse ..' entrance had to be re-run.
Amy's View. Judi Dench had a long coughing fit and someone off-stage had to bring her a jug of water and a glass.
Sweeney Todd years ago in Oldham. An unruly platform, a safety curtain which came down on its own, dodgy lights. But still a great show.
Phantom of the Opera. Peter someone in the lead, voice cracks horribly on the 'starts to soar' line.
An American in Paris. Flag fails to project in the opening scene, necessary to have a break, reset and try again.
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Post by loureviews on Nov 23, 2017 9:58:16 GMT
Didn't Simon Russell Beale break his finger during a performance of Timon (or possibly Lear) and have to be replaced by the understudy half way through the show? Yes and had his finger bandaged up for the rest of the run. I think it was Timon.
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Post by loureviews on Nov 22, 2017 14:03:23 GMT
A mixed bag for sure.
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Post by loureviews on Nov 22, 2017 7:32:51 GMT
We now have
Network Macbeth Barnum Company Kiss Me Kate The King and I
Plus some pop and classical things
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Post by loureviews on Nov 19, 2017 22:04:25 GMT
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Post by loureviews on Nov 19, 2017 21:59:13 GMT
Saw Peter Kay is now booking into June 2019 with some fairly shady ticket throttling to shift seats. And we have tickets for that very month ...
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Post by loureviews on Nov 19, 2017 21:54:49 GMT
Review ported over from my blog (and I didn't get a freebie, and I did do a standing ovation, as did my hard-to-please husband).
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Over at the rebranded The Other Palace (formerly St James’ Theatre), something rather magical is going on, with a bit of Broadway pizazz in this show of tall tales, misunderstandings, loss, redemption, daffodils, and fish.
Kelsey Grammer has been imported from the US to make his London stage debut in Andrew Lippa’s musical, itself based on the screenplay for the film (starring Albert Finney) written by John August, itself based on a novel by Daniel Wallace.
Edward Bloom is introduced at his straight-laced son’s wedding, shortly after they’ve been fishing. He’s been cautioned not to share his ‘stories’ or even make a toast, but of course, he doesn’t listen. Quickly, though, we realise that all is not well and that his son Will (Matthew Seadon-Young) will have to make sense of the man who he regards as a stranger and who is starting to slip away.
While Edward slips in and out of consciousness, with his loving wife Sandra (Clare Burt) and new (and pregnant) daughter-in-law Josephine (Frances McNamee) close by, we meet his young self (Jamie Muscato) and follow him on wild adventures with a witch (Landi Oshinowo), a giant (Dean Nolan), and a circus supremo (Forbes Masson), as well as young Sandra (Laura Baldwin). These boast bizarre and big song and dance numbers – often pastiches – while the real-time/life scenes are more of the ballad type. Little Will is present for most of the time, too, and was played by Colby Mulgrew at the performance we saw; he reacts to the fun and the sadness around him and pulls us in.
The set is simple enough, utilising sound effects and video projections to give us a sense of where we are, when outside the hospital ward. A lovely act one closer gives us a stage full of daffodils, which were always Sandra’s favourite flowers, although we might not quite believe the story of how the young Edward and Sandra met.
Some commentators on this show have scoffed at reports of audiences being moved by events as they unfold, but certainly at the evening performance I attended there were quite a few people dabbing their eyes, and rightly so, as the final scenes are deeply moving, and the effectiveness of this has to be laid at the door of director Nigel Harman and star Kelsey Grammer, who is simply superb in both the humorous and tragic scenes, as well as throwing himself into the boisterous song routines.
Incidentally, front row ticket holders may well get a closer encounter with Grammer than you might have bargained for, which was amusing in itself. There’s some doubling of roles in a hard-working cast, with Oshinowo and Masson portraying two characters, while the smaller roles in ensemble are well-drawn. The fantasy sequences are great, and Burt is quietly wonderful in a role which might have misfired, as is McNamee. I found Muscato had a lot of charm as young Edward, although it’s hard to think he grew up to turn into Frasier (still Grammer’s best-known role, and despite best efforts he doesn’t quite shake off memories of Seattle’s finest).
If you want something which is ‘flipping’ marvellous, with a ‘sole’ and a good line in ‘cod’ philosophy, then make your way to The Other Palace for this short run; it is well worth your time and is definitely the ‘plaice’ to be.
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Post by loureviews on Nov 18, 2017 22:44:52 GMT
I thought it was fabulous, fantastic and touching. No sound issues.
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Post by loureviews on Nov 17, 2017 7:04:27 GMT
Hey So I'm going to put my degree to good use and start a review website but I'm struggling to think of a name. I've come up with a fair few but none of them are striking me as THE ONE so can any of you lovely people help? Something to do with Imp to fit with your screen name?
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Post by loureviews on Nov 17, 2017 7:02:03 GMT
My parents saw Ted Neeley in Jesus Christ Superstar last year and apparently he's still great in it There's a video on YouTube from a couple of years ago where he's singing Gethsemane. He's brilliant.
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Post by loureviews on Nov 17, 2017 6:58:56 GMT
I recently saw the current UK tour of Blood Brothers - long been one of my favourite musicals. However was really quite shocked when 'Eddie' came on stage. He was being played by someone who looked to be in their 50's! Now I appreciate we shouldn't discriminate, etc, etc but this guy was clearly way too old to play a young adult let alone a teenager or seven year old! I have to say it really ruined this performance for me. Discuss The twins in BB have looked ancient for years. But it sort of works.
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Post by loureviews on Nov 17, 2017 6:57:07 GMT
Absolutely yes. You shouldn't be anywhere near a stage of any description if you can't act your role and connect with your audience. Far too many MT performers have good voices but are totally wooden. I would actually prefer an interesting vocal performance than a note perfect one with no character.
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Post by loureviews on Nov 16, 2017 12:39:52 GMT
Aspects .. my friend Gary created the role of George (then James) on its first private recording then went on to tour in the role in 1993. So he (and Dinsdale Landen who couldn't sing but was fab in the Sydmonton production) are 'my' Georges. David Essex and Dave Willetts were OK in very different versions - I actually liked the chamber piece feel at the Menier.
Having said this the plot is daft and no version has ever done justice to the score, one of ALW's underrated pieces IMO.
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Post by loureviews on Nov 14, 2017 12:17:30 GMT
I rather like that one is unsettled at the end. Completely agree. I found the ending in the production I saw very powerful indeed.
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Post by loureviews on Nov 14, 2017 12:12:53 GMT
Ooh I love Aspects! Seen it more than 10 times in various productions.
I'd like to see Spring Awakening again too as I enjoyed the Lyric Hammersmith version.
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