426 posts
|
Post by alison on Dec 2, 2016 18:02:36 GMT
The Last 5 Years for me tomorrow - both shows. I'm the stage right end of the front row for one show and stage left for the other, can't remember which way round though.
|
|
426 posts
|
Post by alison on Nov 29, 2016 20:45:38 GMT
I saw this again last night, this time from mid-theatre rather than the back row (I was supposed to be front row, but the box office were nice enough to swap our tickets so my friend and I who booked at different times could sit together). Jonathan was indisposed, so Sam Thomas was on as Jamie for the first time. If I wasn't going back on Saturday I'd have been gutted to miss him, but I am so it's all good (assuming he's better by then).
Overall, he did a great job, particularly for his first time on. He made a few small mistakes (mainly incorrect pronouns), nothing anyone who doesn't know the show well is likely to notice. His vocals were a bit tentative at times, but I'm sure that would go if it was a longer run and he had more opportunities to play the role, and he's got a nice tone to his voice. He definitely plays younger than Sam B - but as my friend and I discussed afterwards, if you're going to have a difference in playing age between the two we thought it feels more natural for Jamie to be the younger one.
It was interesting seeing the show with one cast member I've seen previously playing against someone different. I didn't realise until last night how each actor actually influences the audience's perception of the other character (eg. how Jamie plays the phone call with Cathy affects our impression of her).
Oh, and as a note on A Miracle Would Happen, since I griped last time ... the lack of wedding ring in the first preview was definitely an oopsie, and last night Sam T didn't have the bottle in his hand for the last section. He was gesturing as if trying to signal to someone else in the bar, but that's more open to interpretation than sitting there with a bottle clearly ordering another drink, and doesn't so openly paint him as lying to his wife. I definitely preferred it.
|
|
426 posts
|
Post by alison on Nov 25, 2016 20:30:36 GMT
For those who want to go but would rather not see Katherine Jenkins, ENO website says KJ is not scheduled to appear on Tuesday 18 April. Ooh, and that happens to be during the school holidays. Can we get rid of Alfie that night too? Add me to the wave of people saying they've been put off by this casting. I was so looking forward to hearing Carousel from that glorious orchestra too.
|
|
426 posts
|
Post by alison on Nov 24, 2016 6:45:41 GMT
That's strange, what about Marcus? I mean it's not exactly a lot to say "take those things off your feet and get inside her, stupid boy". Marcus would probably have looked way too young for that role, especially at that part in the show but he could have got away with doing the part in the nursing home after the old man make up is applied. Hmmm, I can't remember exactly when it was, it might have been when Marcus was out too (I know I've seen the show once without him). Either way, they were down a male in the ensemble so Marcus would have been needed as an angel, so he'd still have had to do it backwards - Simon Sr. being in drag makeup doesn't exactly fit the character.
|
|
426 posts
|
Post by alison on Nov 23, 2016 21:08:09 GMT
Simon is a slightly different swing from the others in that he doesn't cover any of the angels, only Lola and Factory Workers! Once again, I've no idea why this is the case. I could only assume its because with the original cast, when Robert Grose who plays Simon Senior, is off, they had to get one of the angels to go in his track as its fairly essential to the plot that its a person of colour who does that track, although I guess they could away with it as that part in the scene is quite dark. Simon played Simon Senior from his debut in August for 3 months straight while Robert was off ill, he had some kind of operation I believe. BIB - they've had to "get away with it" in the past. I saw the show in the summer while they were having issues with lots of people off and so certain ensemble members/swings playing multiple roles - one of the (white) angels had to take the Simon Sr role, as Matt and Callum were both out, and Arun was Lola. For his two appearances, he had his back to the audience, and at the end they had young Charlie and Lola hug each other rather than their fathers.
|
|
426 posts
|
Post by alison on Nov 21, 2016 18:08:36 GMT
Ugh, why do I have to learn about these things too late to get there ... not that I'd be able to afford to anyway, since I paid peak train prices to go see Michael Vinsen as Charlie last week. Oh well, another time, I hope. I haven't seen Craig as Lola yet, although I've now see all the Charlies.
|
|
426 posts
|
Post by alison on Nov 17, 2016 17:57:05 GMT
In Kinky Boots (Take What You Got), the line about a "laundromat" is removed for the UK production ... which really means it shouldn't be there at all, since we don't use that term here.
Original: Yeah well, now the pub is a laundromat, now the yard is a high rise flat. London: Well, the places we loved came down with a blast, high rise flats rose up so fast.
|
|
426 posts
|
Post by alison on Nov 7, 2016 17:30:56 GMT
Did anybody who saw the matinee on November 5th take a photo of the cast list? I forgot, but I would love to know who I saw (especially the kids). I didn't see it, but Joel Montague (who was on as Dewey) posted a pic of the cast list on Twitter. Here you go:
|
|
426 posts
|
Post by alison on Nov 6, 2016 11:53:35 GMT
I've just been having a nosey at how the extension week has sold (only Thursday mat with any cheaper seats left) and noticed that there are now a handful of front stalls seats available for the 26th (the original closing night) that weren't there before. I guess those people changed their seats for the new closing show. If only more theatres would let you do that.
|
|
426 posts
|
Post by alison on Nov 1, 2016 16:09:29 GMT
|
|
426 posts
|
Post by alison on Nov 1, 2016 15:29:21 GMT
Just announced a 1 week extension - get on those £10 tickets! Got one for the 2nd! Result! Thanks Jordan! I've just booked for both performances on the 3rd - stage right for the matinee, stage left for the evening.
|
|
426 posts
|
Post by alison on Oct 30, 2016 17:07:41 GMT
Bailey is very charming as Jamie, and does an excellent job for someone who is not as known for musical theatre. I was distracted throughout the show by his less-than-convincing American accent, and by the extraneous stage-business I mentioned above, but otherwise he was good. Samantha Barks has an incredible voice, and her acting, as I said above, was very grounded and subtle, though perhaps not as interesting to watch. BIB - I did wonder what you thought after our conversation about being more sensitive to dodgy accents that are close to your own, and forgot to ask you afterwards. It wasn't something that bothered me at all, I can't really say I had an opinion at the time over whether it was good/bad/indifferent, but I can see why it would annoy you. talkstageytome, your comment about Jamie becoming despicable reminded me of something else that confused/irritated me - the end of A Miracle Would Happen ("I'll be there soon, Cathy ..."). Every time I've listened to the recording, I've never imagined that section as anything other than Jamie genuinely getting caught up in his work and inadvertently putting it before his wife, rather than him outright lying to her (which seems to be what's implied here, since if I remember rightly Jonathan still had a bottle in his hand while he was on the phone). It's not a choice I like at all, and makes him a far less sympathetic character in my eyes. Sure, the whole "I'm wondering if I did the right thing getting married and feeling a bit trapped" thing is less than perfect, but perfect characters are boring and not realistic. The important thing is that he doesn't act on it and tries to be a good husband ... *that* Jamie I'm behind until Nobody Needs to Know, when he does go too far. Which I can understand, with a good actor to play the journey, even if I don't agree with it. But I do not like the lying coming so early in the story, and the realisation that that's probably what JRB intended ... it's funny how we look at things differently, isn't it? And to add another one into the mix, my choice of "where you might have seen Jonathan Bailey before" material has been Broadchurch. Given that that and Hooten and the Lady are the only two things I've seen him in, it was an easy choice.
|
|
426 posts
|
Post by alison on Oct 29, 2016 22:12:04 GMT
I've only tried walking up to the box office at weekends (when they didn't offer me £25 seats), but I've never had a problem with a midweek show. The £28 seats offer seems to be standard during the week if you don't win, so it's not the risk of if you don't win lottery you don't get a seat, you just don't get a front row one. Of course, it's worth double checking that they're still doing it (easiest way is probably to enter the lottery the day before to see if you get sent the offer), but it's never failed me yet.
|
|
426 posts
|
Post by alison on Oct 29, 2016 21:46:40 GMT
George, every time I've tried the lottery for midweek they've offered me £28 for good stalls seats if I didn't win. If you don't have your heart set on front row, that would probably be an option.
|
|
426 posts
|
Post by alison on Oct 28, 2016 22:14:47 GMT
I don't know how I picked up on the tattoos line in the movie but not the Ohio one. Oh well. Maybe I tuned out for a second.
The view was fine. The rows are well raked (although I had an irritating moving head in front of me), and although we were looking down on the performers I didn't feel too distant. Ideally I'd like to see it from closer, but for the price it was great.
On the negative side, I could hear some whispering from the sound desk at the start of the show, and whenever anyone left/entered the auditorium (which happened too many times for a 90 minute show, grr) it was mildly irritating.
|
|
426 posts
|
Post by alison on Oct 28, 2016 22:03:42 GMT
Well, the prices are stupid, but the show is well worth a visit if you can swing it. I'm trying to figure out if I have any spare organs to sell on the black market so I can afford to go back later in the run.
For a first preview it's in good shape, even if it did start half an hour late. JRB came out at the start to tell us that the actors were ready for us but the set might not be (cue much laughter), and it's true that there were a couple of set mishaps: some falling paper, a missing bench, a door that wouldn't open properly etc. Nothing unexpected for a first preview. There may have been some sound issues, a couple of lines were a little quiet and it seemed that Jonathan was having trouble hearing the band at the start of The Next Ten Minutes.
Samantha Barks ... what a voice. Of the two, it's clear that she's a more accomplished singer, but I thought her acting was fine for the earlier songs and she really came into her own later on. Both Climbing Uphill and I Can Do Better Than That were very funny and got a great reception, and by Goodbye Until Tomorrow I was just about ready to burst into tears from her utter hopefulness. She was also really lovely afterwards.
Jonathan Bailey is not the soaring, effortless tenor who's often cast as Jamie, but his voice is solid enough (and will improve over the run, I'm sure) and I didn't feel his overall performance was any the less for it. He's ridiculously charming and engaging, and a fantastic actor. He played his first couple of songs to several individual audience members (at least that's how it looked from the back row) to much laughter. There's a lot going on in those staging-wise (possibly too much), yet he made it look easy. I Didn't Believe in You had me welling up - it's always been one of my favourites and he didn't disappoint. For the shallow-minded among us: A) the beard has gone and B) he's just as gorgeous close up.
I noticed a couple of lyric changes. I Can Do Better Than That: "Met a guy in a class I was taking with some very well placed tattoos." (which I think I've heard before), If I Didn't Believe in You: "Is it just that you're disappointed to be touring again for the summer?" was changed to a specific reference to Ohio, I can't remember the exact line. Oh, and the Linda Blair reference in Climbing Uphill was David Hasselhoff.
And as an aside, I do find it amusing that they have an advert in the program for their cocktail offers, with a notice saying remember to order your interval drinks before the show. Oops!
Oh dear, I appear to have written a mini novel. That's what happens when I have a slow train home and I've finished my book.
And I almost forgot - it was lovely to meet Anthony and sondheimhats and talk theatre with you both. :-)
Edit: I've just remembered the thing that irritated me (probably more than it should have). No idea whether it was an oopsie for today (fingers crossed, since he did then have it for the rest of the show) but Jonathan wasn't wearing a wedding ring for A Miracle Would Happen. If you've got a lyric (and accompanying gesture) that draws attention to it, you really should have the ring.
|
|
426 posts
|
Post by alison on Oct 27, 2016 23:43:03 GMT
I think they had a little warning about the guitar - someone ran out on stage to fiddle with the cable shortly before Zach's solo. Still remarkably well handled by all involved though, true professionalism from those kids tonight.
I loved the show, really glad I picked up the ticket when the £15 ones were mentioned here. I really hope Joel gets some dates as Dewey - having seen him in both Funny Girl and Rocky Horror I can picture him making a great Dewey.
Oh, and I didn't hear any mention of Donny Osmond. The Trump line was definitely there, as well as one about how if Summer ran for president next month he'd vote for her.
|
|
426 posts
|
Post by alison on Oct 27, 2016 18:22:02 GMT
I'm sitting in circle E33 (great view, a little more distant than I'd normally choose but a steal for £15). Anyone else here tonight?
|
|
426 posts
|
Post by alison on Oct 26, 2016 22:53:48 GMT
I now have a spare £19.50 ticket for this Friday as my friend is ill, I've just posted it in the noticeboard section. PM me if you're interested - it seems a shame for it to go to waste.
|
|
426 posts
|
Post by alison on Oct 24, 2016 16:03:11 GMT
Thursday for me, £15 row E circle.
|
|
426 posts
|
Post by alison on Oct 22, 2016 20:48:19 GMT
Managed to pick up a pair of tickets online for the first preview on Friday - row N so back row but only £19.50 rather than the eye-watering £50. It'll be a theatre-full couple of days, with School of Rock (£15 row E circle) the night before.
Really looking forward to it - L5Y is a staple at the Edinburgh Fringe so I've seen it many times (including with the current Raoul as Jamie) but this'll be my first professional production.
|
|
426 posts
|
Post by alison on Sept 4, 2016 10:20:18 GMT
H from Steps was utterly awful in Joseph years ago. Duncan James from Blue wasn't much better in Chicago.
On the other hand, his bandmate Antony Costa was surprisingly good as Mickey in Blood Brothers. I saw him several times in the end, and his singing was varying degrees of decent to weak depending on the day, but I was surprised by how well he could act. I found him very believable both as child Mickey and all the way through to the troubled adult. It's still one of my favourite pieces of celebrity casting I've seen.
|
|
426 posts
|
Post by alison on Aug 22, 2016 13:19:00 GMT
Thanks dippy and jeanhunt!
Interesting how we all see things differently - I found that particular instance to be very effective, but not something to get overly excited about (tbh, I was more impressed by the similar trick in Harry Potter). Or maybe I'm just a cynic and difficult to impress (which is entirely possible!)
|
|
426 posts
|
Post by alison on Aug 22, 2016 13:04:33 GMT
Oh heck, yes, I didn't mean post it openly on here - either spoiler tags or PM me, I wasn't meaning spoiling anyone else. It's just been frustrating me for several days now, I really can't figure out what it is.
|
|
426 posts
|
Post by alison on Aug 22, 2016 12:51:58 GMT
Can someone put me out of my misery as to what the big illusion everyone is talking about is please? I honestly can't remember and it's driving me nuts.
|
|
426 posts
|
Post by alison on Aug 19, 2016 15:32:16 GMT
I was there yesterday afternoon. I thoroughly enjoyed three of the four main characters (as a side note, having seen Oliver and Siubhan earlier this year, it was great to see that their understudies aren't just playing carbon copies of them). I found it interesting that Frankie sings I'll Know in the higher key that Anna O'Byrne used on tour, rather than the lower key Siubhan used last time I was there. Obviously keys are sometimes changed for different performers/productions, but I've never come across an example of an understudy using a different key to the principal before.
Rebel ... well, I enjoyed her more than I expected given the comments on here, but her style of broad, brash humour isn't really my thing, so I suppose it was a given that she wouldn't be my favourite. I got the impression that her singing voice is actually decent, but she's so over-the-top on the comedy front that the singing gets lost. I found it difficult to make out half her words, and I know the show well - goodness knows how anyone who'd never seen it before got on. I overheard a couple of ladies at the interval saying she'd be funnier if she toned it down a bit, and I agree.
I think the laughter is a combination of things. There are probably some who are there to see Rebel and would find her funny regardless, sure. There are probably some who are laughing because they're "supposed" to. There are also some people who are normal theatregoers who are genuinely entertained by her. I have a friend who didn't particularly expect to enjoy Rebel's performance but found her very funny.
|
|
426 posts
|
Post by alison on Aug 17, 2016 13:13:28 GMT
Do we know for sure that it's the matinees Carolyn will be doing? All the articles I've seen just list her as alternate but don't give days. I'd love to see both of them if I can (tbh, I'm more interested in seeing Carolyn than Kerry).
|
|
426 posts
|
Post by alison on Aug 7, 2016 19:56:24 GMT
It's the Wednesday night in London (Thursday night on tour), so you're absolutely fine on a Saturday matinee. Unless Linzi is off due to illness/holiday obviously.
|
|
426 posts
|
Post by alison on Aug 7, 2016 19:17:44 GMT
There was definitely background music to the curtain call on Friday night when we were there, but no singing.
Loved some of the songs (There Will Be Sun, One Day, Playing Nancy, If I Had My Time Again, Seeing You), unsure about some of the others, but as a whole I thoroughly enjoyed it. Like several others here, it seems, we picked up great centre stalls seats for £30 on the day. Not sure I'd have paid their original £90 price tag, but for that price it was well worth it.
|
|
426 posts
|
Post by alison on Aug 6, 2016 18:39:51 GMT
Although unless I missed something the Part One polyjuicing process happened far quicker than it *should*, doesn't the brewing process take several weeks whereas Scorpius seems to magic it out of nowhere? I'm clawing back to my memory of Chamber of Secrets at the moment so I may be very wrong. I'm sure one of the boys said something along the lines of, "Thanks to Delphi's potioning," - I took the implication that she'd been preparing the potion already. Certainly the ingredients that McGonagall mentioned had been taken from the potions stores in the first Extraordinary General Meeting scene are Polyjuice ingredients.
|
|