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Post by n1david on Dec 12, 2022 8:43:43 GMT
Well it is that time of the year again as we all look back and think about the year that’s gone, and with the consent of the board I’d like you to assess what they’ve seen in 2022. so I’m asking Theatreboard members once again this year about their favourite shows. This year I suspect for most of us we’ve had a more or less full year of theatre for the first time since 2019. For me, I’m not done yet for the year, but I’m at 69 shows for the year, more than I managed in the last two years put together but about half what I did in 2019. I’m sure I’m not the only person whose theatre-going habits have changed. Last year Anything Goes at the Barbican ran off with the title, miles ahead of anything else, which is by far the clearest victory we’ve had since I started doing this in 2018. You can see last year’s results here theatreboard.co.uk/post/408325/thread and there are links back to previous years in the original post in that thread. So again I’d like to ask you to dig out your programmes, your screen-grabbed etickets, and your spreadsheets to review what you’ve seen this year. Let me know your Top 5 shows that you’ve seen in 2022, as in previous years I’ll accept any sort of theatrical event, whether it be in person or online, and I’ll accept any sort of performance, be it musical, play, concert, recital, whatever. If you still have shows to see, no hurry, I’ll close the books at midnight on Hogmanay (Dec 31). Try to keep it to five, although if you absolutely can’t I’ll adjust your votes to be fair. |
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Post by Jan on Dec 12, 2022 9:40:25 GMT
The False Servant (Orange Tree)
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1,316 posts
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Post by tmesis on Dec 12, 2022 11:00:10 GMT
Crazy For You - Chichester
The Band's Visit - Donmar
Peter Grimes - ROH
The P Word - Bush
Folk - Hampstead
Into the Woods - Bath
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7,509 posts
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Post by alece10 on Dec 12, 2022 11:08:33 GMT
This is difficult as saw some great shows this year. So I have had to miss some off the list that in other years would have been top 5.
Anyway here goes.
1. ABBA Voyage
2. Sondheim Gala
3. Jeremy Jordan in Concert
4. Newsies
5. Bonnie & Clyde concert at Drury Lane.
Damm I forgot about Tammy Faye.
So I'm going to trade Bonnie & Clyde concert (as JJ already has a mention) for Tammy Faye.
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Post by londonpostie on Dec 12, 2022 11:18:12 GMT
Three stand out straight away - head, shoulders and torso:
The Doctor - a genuine modern masterpiece (Schnitzler/Robert Icke)
Mayerling - rare emotional intensity (ROH, Macmillan + Vadim/Yasmine/Fumi, etc)
Ashton Triple: Scènes de ballet / A Month in the Country / Rhapsody - perfection (ROH, Ashton/Carr)
Two to follow
After those, it's a bun fight (and that's before Streetcar at The Almeida). Shortlist: Jerusalem (performance!), The Dwarfs (wonderful fringe!), Kontakthof (the Art), Cyrano (reimagination), Clybourne Park (doing Bruce Norris justice)
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1,316 posts
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Post by tmesis on Dec 12, 2022 11:24:02 GMT
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Post by ptwest on Dec 12, 2022 11:59:02 GMT
Its been a good year overall, managed to get to see a lot more than the last few years as well as being able to get down to London on a more regular basis.
My top 5 are:
1. Abba Voyage
2. Cabaret (Buckley / Redmayne pairing)
3. The Play That Goes Wrong (Manchester - original cast)
4. Tammy Faye
5. Bonnie and Clyde (Arts)
The one that just missed the cut was "She Loves Me" at Sheffield. Utterly charming, but just didn't give me quite as much joy as the top 5.
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Post by h86 on Dec 12, 2022 12:37:02 GMT
Beauty and the Beast
The Cher Show
Into the Woods
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Come from away
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Post by zahidf on Dec 12, 2022 13:11:05 GMT
At the moment, ive got
1. The P Word
2. Blues for Alabama Sky
3. Tammy Faye
4. Father and the Assasin
5. Age is a Feeling
May amend if i see anything in the last few weeks of the year
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213 posts
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Post by frosty on Dec 12, 2022 13:26:36 GMT
These are mine:
1. Operation Mincemeat - Southwark Playhouse version
2. ABBA Voyage
3. Prima Facie
4. Tammy Faye
5. Stranger Sings at The Waterloo Vaults...not an obvious one, but I thought it was such fun!
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Post by mkb on Dec 12, 2022 14:27:02 GMT
I've included my worst as well for fun, listed in the order I saw them.
Five-Star Theatre (2022):
Best of Enemies
Scandaltown
ABBA Voyage (but this is really cinema)
Carousel (Kilworth House)
Jack Absolute Flies Again
Into the Woods (Bath)
Mrs Doubtfire (Manchester Opera House)
The Band's Visit
One-Star Theatre (2022):
Hex
SIX The Musical (Belgrade Coventry)
Mademoiselle F (Belgrade Coventry)
Newsies
Five-Star Cinema (2022):
Nightmare Alley: Vision in Darkness and Light (B&W)
Sing 2
Nightmare Alley (Colour)
The Duke
The Phantom of the Open
CODA
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
See How They Run
Don't Worry Darling
The Wonder
Living
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
The Infernal Machine
One-Star Cinema (2022):
We're All Going to the World's Fair
Firestarter
The Gray Man
Blackbird
The Feast
Table for Six
It seems to be mainly populist stuff that I've been loving and hating with 265 cinema/theatre/gig visits so far this year. More earnest work typically achieved only intermediate rankings for me.
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Post by hadeswasking on Dec 12, 2022 14:28:16 GMT
Out of 59 shows in total (including repeat viewings) The best I've seen so far this year.
In no particular order -
Operation Mincemeat (Riverside Studios)
Singin' in the Rain (UK Tour)
Anything Goes (UK Tour)
Into The Woods (Bath)
The Bands Visit
Newsies
(Sorry I couldn't pick 5)
With a special mention to Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder at the FRINGE and the wonderful under-viewed Scottish Tour of a new musical Orphans.
and the best cast of Hamilton I've ever seen, when I visited in October.
Totoro was also just really special to see on stage. Thanks day seats.
With still My Fair Lady and the Music of Zimmer Vs Williams to go before the end of the year. What a wonderful year it's been. (I'm sure I'll squeeze something else unexpected in there too)
In the past I've only been able to rely on 1 or 2 London trips to see theatre and didn't have access to many big touring productions. I'm very thankful to have seen as much as I have this year and can't wait to see what 2023 brings me. Without pricing schemes like day seats/rush I wouldn't have been able to see half of what I did this year.
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Post by Lopsided on Dec 12, 2022 16:13:46 GMT
I've definitely not gotten back to pre-pandemic levels of seeing stuff.
My favourites of what I have seen are:
Our Generation
Blues for an Alabama Sky
Tammy Faye
Into the Woods
Who Killed My Father
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Post by barelyathletic on Dec 12, 2022 16:55:52 GMT
Out of over 100 shows.
Plays
The Ministry of Lesbian Affairs - Soho
The Southbury Child - The Bridge
Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen - Edinburgh Roundabout at Summerhall
Wuthering Heights -Lyttelton
Blackout Songs - Hampstead
And a special mention for the revival of Jerusalem at the Apollo
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Post by marob on Dec 12, 2022 17:09:08 GMT
Hmmmm… Lots that I liked, but not much that I’d rave over.
The clear stand outs would be:
The Play That Goes Wrong - original cast. The atmosphere that day in the Manchester Opera House was incredible.
Oklahoma! - I didn’t like what I’d heard of the Broadway cast recording and only booked as I had credit that was about to expire, but will happily admit I was wrong. Brilliant reinterpretation.
Matthew Bourne’s The Car Man at the Royal Albert Hall.
Next, a piece of new writing I enjoyed more than I was expecting to: Celebrated Virgins - about “The Ladies of Llangollen,” two real-life Irish noblewomen (and their put-upon maid) who ran away together back in the 18th century, the scandal giving them a notoriety that made them famous. I’d never heard of them, so this was a fascinating look at a curious bit of local history, with far more humour than I would have expected.
For the final pick… I’m not sure. I really liked Cinderella at the Hope Mill Theatre but the book was too modern, more like Glee than R&H. Loved Singing in the Rain, but that’s been around a while now. Ocean at the End of the Lane - great staging, not so keen on the story. Sister Act, Mrs Doubtfire, Time-Traveller’s Wife - all very good in different ways but never quite managed to be great. Little Voice - 5 star performance by Christina Bianco in a really dated 3 star play. Anything Goes - great show but just wasn’t the same at an almost empty Liverpool Empire.
I suppose I’ll have to say
South Pacific - worked better in Chichester (where it was more immersive and had a much better Billis) but still a cut above the usual touring fare.
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Post by jamb0r on Dec 12, 2022 18:21:10 GMT
88 visits for me so far this year. The 5 I enjoyed the most:
Cruise
Tammy Faye
The P Word
Jerusalem
Moulin Rouge
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Post by Mr Snow on Dec 12, 2022 18:47:17 GMT
Looking back I find this year a bit underwhelming?
Best memories
Sondheim Memorial - albeit on screen in the other theatre.
Gregory Porter Live in Brighton. Wasn't expecting that much tba. But a really warm and sensitive performer who made a modern box intimate.
Cav Pag at ROH. The warhorses triumph again when Pappano is driving the Orchestra. This deserves 2 votes as we quickly went back.
Edinburgh Fringe Kkumdongi Puppet Theater.. One woman and the ancient art of story telling, with basic props and puppets. This will be top of the list for future visits.
Hope next year is better.
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Post by pomegranate on Dec 12, 2022 21:00:34 GMT
1. The Band’s Visit
2. Prima Facie
3. Crazy for You
4. Into the Woods
5. My Neighbour Totoro
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Post by Being Alive on Dec 12, 2022 22:32:43 GMT
1. The Band's Visit
2. Crazy For You
3. To Kill A Mockingbird
4. Much Ado About Nothing (NT)
5. The Doctor
Couple of real duds for me were:
The Human Voice
Beauty and the Beast
The Glass Menagerie
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6,318 posts
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Post by Jon on Dec 12, 2022 22:42:47 GMT
1. To Kill a Mockingbird
2. Tammy Faye
3. My Neighbour Totoro
4. Much Ado About Nothing
5. Cruise
Just missing the top 5 was The Corn is Green which I thought was very solid and The Ocean at the End at the Lane.
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Post by cavocado on Dec 13, 2022 12:33:26 GMT
I feel like I should wait for Streetcar Named Desire, but that might just make it even harder to choose.
1. The Crucible
2. The Father and the Assassin
3. The Southbury Child
4. Iphigenia in Splott
5. Jerusalem
I wish I had an extra slot for Distinguished Villa at the Finborough.
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Post by jm25 on Dec 13, 2022 15:29:14 GMT
Prima Facie
Cruise
Jerusalem
Jitney
The Phantom of the Opera
I'd never seen Phantom before this year so I've included it as one of my votes. If we're limited to productions which came out this year, I'll switch that to Orlando instead! Honourable mention also goes to Blues for an Alabama Sky.
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Post by samuelwhiskers on Dec 14, 2022 14:55:17 GMT
Top 5:
1. Tammy Faye.
2. All of Us (NT)
3. All’s Well That Ends Well (RSC)
4. Our Generation (NT)
5. Prima Facie
Worst:
Straight Line Crazy (Bridge)
Middle (NT)
The Breach (Hampstead)
Jack Absolute Flies Again (NT)
Mad House
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Post by theglenbucklaird on Dec 14, 2022 16:54:27 GMT
1. A Christmas Carol (old Vic)
2. The Crucible (National)
3. John Gabriel Bjorkman (Bridge)
4. Much Ado About Nothing (National)
5. Twelfth Night (Minack Theatre)
Not been to much this year. Easing back in after pandemic
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196 posts
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Post by Peter on Dec 14, 2022 23:44:19 GMT
I’ve seen very little this year for one reason and another…
1. The Witches of Eastwick in Concert
2. Into the Woods (Bath)
3. The Band’s Visit
4. To kill a mockingbird
5. Come from away
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Post by alessia on Dec 15, 2022 15:28:52 GMT
Can I do best 10?
1 Jerusalem
2 Cyrano De Bergerac
3 Pride and Prejudice (sort of)
4 The P word
5 Folk
6 Sing yer heart out for the lads
7 Iphigenia in Splott
8 Blues for an Alabama Sky
9 Blackout Songs
10 A Christmas Carol (Old Vic)
Worse 3
1 The boy with two hearts
2 Marvellous
3 Chasing Hares
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Post by bonnotonno on Dec 15, 2022 15:59:06 GMT
1. Blues for an Alabama Sky
2. Best of Enemies
3. Da Vinci Code
4. My Sons a Queer
5. The Play That Goes Wrong
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Post by orchidman on Dec 15, 2022 19:47:03 GMT
Jerusalem was the only 5 star play in London this year which is depressing.
Cabaret is now better without Eddie Redmayne.
The Piano Lesson on Broadway the best new production of the year even if it's still a revival.
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Post by edi on Dec 15, 2022 19:47:49 GMT
I didn't have a particularly good year with the theatre, and going through my shortish list I realized that most of the time I was happy when it made me laugh.
The first was the best but after that, in no particular order:
1 Blues of Alabama sky
Jack Absolute Flies again
All of Us
Upstart Crow
The doctor
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Post by vickyg on Dec 15, 2022 23:43:14 GMT
Not a great theatre year for me at all and struggled to get to 5. But, in order, they are:- My absolute top, untouchable favourite was Tammy Faye, Almeida
- Hilary Hahn: Beethoven's sonatas 9 and 10 for Violin and Piano with Andreas Haefliger at Wigmore Hall
(Huge gap between 1&2 and the rest)
3. Sister Act
4. The Drifters Girl
5. Operation Mincemeat
Looks like in theatre terms nothing non musical made the cut! |
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