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Post by anthem on Sept 9, 2018 10:46:02 GMT
I hope they’ve sorted out the ending (or lack thereof) by next Thursday when I see it.
Do we think they simply haven’t rehearsed the ending properly and ‘safety’ is being used as a cover? It seems odd that this hasn’t been sorted before now.
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Post by firefingers on Sept 9, 2018 11:31:07 GMT
Do we think they simply haven’t rehearsed the ending properly and ‘safety’ is being used as a cover? It seems odd that this hasn’t been sorted before now. Personally, I am highly skeptical. I'd argue that all a musical needs is some words and a tune to sing them to, anything else is a bonus, and there can surely be nothing unsafe about that. I've worked on a hell of a lot of previews in my life and whilst changes do happen every audience has has had an ending, even if that ending has changed later on. I've dropped The Old Vic a message voicing my disappointment and asking them to clarify the safety concerns. See if it turns up anything.
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Post by Mark on Sept 9, 2018 12:01:33 GMT
I really fancy this but holding off booking until it is actually a full show. Seems like a bit of a disaster to be honest.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2018 12:28:27 GMT
This ending that is on hold due to safety had better be technically spectaculant and worth waiting for. I'm thinking along the lines of Grizabella on the tyre flying up and out to meet a staircase descending from the roof of the theatre.
Not that sort of show you say?
I jest of course. Booked as thought the story be good and I loves me a bit of Bev's belt. Going week after next.
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Post by showgirl on Sept 9, 2018 14:07:31 GMT
I've been interested in this since it was announced but am still holding off booking due to the "missing ending" issue. There's nothing on the Old Vic website about it but I'm not booking until I know when I may expect to see the full version - or the truncated one if they are forced to settle for that but either way, have the courtesy to tell the paying public, please.
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Post by Seriously on Sept 9, 2018 17:48:35 GMT
Unless the last scene is Emily Davison being tramped by a hologramatic horse, they better have something good up their sleeves!
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Post by zahidf on Sept 9, 2018 19:10:50 GMT
I'm going on press night so I'd hope they have an ending by then!
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Post by danb on Sept 9, 2018 19:32:26 GMT
Unless the last scene is Emily Davison being tramped by a hologramatic horse, they better have something good up their sleeves! All I know is that they’ve borrowed the horse from the field behind my Mums house, and Bev has hoof prints on her left thigh. You join the dots...😂
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Post by theatrelover123 on Sept 9, 2018 20:33:34 GMT
Unless the last scene is Emily Davison being tramped by a hologramatic horse, they better have something good up their sleeves! You see Davidson and the horse incident and I thought it was done pretty badly tbh. Kate said that they couldn’t do the last section as there were lots of boxes that needed pushing around. Which is surprising considering very few things were actually moved in the 2 hours previously. So my feeling is that it’s a lie. There is no reason why they couldn’t have stood on the stage and sung it. The cast were more than happy to come back on and jump around and sing. I also reckon that the audience in the previews (or at least on ‘the first preview’ on Thursday matinee) were mainly friends and family of the cast because I genuinely don’t believe the show deserved the ridiculous level of applause and standing ovation at the end. Sure, they worked hard amidst a few setbacks but they acted like they had all been through serious life altering dramas from the way they gushed.
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Post by Stasia on Sept 10, 2018 6:45:43 GMT
Do they return the ticketholders money proportionally to the amount of show they have not shown them? Or is that supposed to be OK - to take the money and not present full show? Previews or not previews, call these dress rehearsals then and give the money back. I really wonder how people are taking this. Are they ok with not seeing the show in full and not knowing the ending?
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 10, 2018 7:01:43 GMT
You do have to wonder what is going on in the producers heads that makes them think it’s ok to do this. Absolutely appalling disrespect to paying customers.
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Post by theatrelover123 on Sept 10, 2018 7:47:44 GMT
I was annoyed afterwards and have thought about complaining but I only paid £10 for the ticket and they were quite explicit constantly that it's a preview and a work in progress and that we should be grateful to see it at that 'exciting stage'. So it felt a little churlish to complain.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Sept 10, 2018 7:52:43 GMT
No-one should be 'grateful' to see a partial show.
It is the audiences doing them a favour not the other way round.
They are arrogant to believe otherwise.
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Post by Polly1 on Sept 10, 2018 8:11:11 GMT
I'm going on press night so I'd hope they have an ending by then! If this is tomorrow (Tuesday), I note it is now designated on the OV website as 'guest night' - whatever that means.
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Post by westendcub on Sept 10, 2018 12:24:20 GMT
I’m going tonight so will report back but I’m now prepped for no ending!!!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2018 12:51:21 GMT
If this is tomorrow (Tuesday), I note it is now designated on the OV website as 'guest night' - whatever that means. Are you sure that's not a typo and they mean ' guess night' instead? As in, "guess what the ending might be like"?
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Post by showgirl on Sept 10, 2018 14:03:53 GMT
I’m going tonight so will report back but I’m now prepped for no ending!!! This has gone on for so long that if they do at last have an ending, you'd be entitled to complain about the unexpected extra time and scene(s)!
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Post by Stasia on Sept 10, 2018 14:22:59 GMT
Still you paid them to see a full show, not 80% of it. Imagine paying full price for a pair of jeans and getting one leg 20 cm shorter than the other. "Sorry, this is work in progress, you are not getting the full leg covered but you should be grateful for getting this unique opportunity of trying our amazing new model@
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2018 14:40:47 GMT
I would just like to chime in here. - I am truly shocked by all these negative comments. I’m guessing not many of you have seen the show because otherwise you would think differently. I went on the Thursday matinee and I am not friends or family and I gladly gave the most genuine standing ovation I have ever given. It was an honour to be there and witness the magic that happened onstage. This musical is mammoth! And for two cast members to be called upon to take on two new roles, one of them being the leading lady who barely leaves the stage, and learn what they can within 3 days is outstanding. Yes, they had books (which you hardly noticed because the dialogue flowed so well and they performed as if they didn’t have books in their arms) and yes, there were microphone issues but none of it mattered. Why? Because this production is truly that good. It’s fresh, raw and feels unbelievably British, which I think is fantastic. I have booked another ticket for the closing night and yes I’d like to see a completed show but at the same time, I’d be just as happy to see what I saw again, just more polished. I didn’t realise the theatre community was full of such negativity towards new British work or any work for that matter.
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Post by danb on Sept 10, 2018 14:45:10 GMT
I would just like to chime in here. - I am truly shocked by all these negative comments. I’m guessing not many of you have seen the show because otherwise you would think differently. I went on the Thursday matinee and I am not friends or family and I gladly gave the most genuine standing ovation I have ever given. It was an honour to be there and witness the magic that happened onstage. This musical is mammoth! And for two cast members to be called upon to take on two new roles, one of them being the leading lady who barely leaves the stage, and learn what they can within 3 days is outstanding. Yes, they had books (which you hardly noticed because the dialogue flowed so well and they performed as if they didn’t have books in their arms) and yes, there were microphone issues but none of it mattered. Why? Because this production is truly that good. It’s fresh, raw and feels unbelievably British, which I think is fantastic. I have booked another ticket for the closing night and yes I’d like to see a completed show but at the same time, I’d be just as happy to see what I saw again, just more polished. I didn’t realise the theatre community was full of such negativity towards new British work or any work for that matter. New member you say...welcome along. But I can’t agree with you I’m afraid; for all of the reasons that people have already said. If your show isn’t ready cancel it...reschedule it, but for Gods sake, at least finish it!
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Post by poster J on Sept 10, 2018 14:50:52 GMT
I would just like to chime in here. - I am truly shocked by all these negative comments. I’m guessing not many of you have seen the show because otherwise you would think differently. I went on the Thursday matinee and I am not friends or family and I gladly gave the most genuine standing ovation I have ever given. It was an honour to be there and witness the magic that happened onstage. This musical is mammoth! And for two cast members to be called upon to take on two new roles, one of them being the leading lady who barely leaves the stage, and learn what they can within 3 days is outstanding. Yes, they had books (which you hardly noticed because the dialogue flowed so well and they performed as if they didn’t have books in their arms) and yes, there were microphone issues but none of it mattered. Why? Because this production is truly that good. It’s fresh, raw and feels unbelievably British, which I think is fantastic. I have booked another ticket for the closing night and yes I’d like to see a completed show but at the same time, I’d be just as happy to see what I saw again, just more polished. I didn’t realise the theatre community was full of such negativity towards new British work or any work for that matter. It's very simple - people have paid good money to see a professional production and they are perfectly entitled to expect a full show. Illness is unavoidable. A show not being ready is avoidable, or at least should lead to the good grace to cancel or comp the show until a full performance is possible. Not having an ending sorted and still charging people full price to see it is embarassing and unprofessional. I was intrigued by this and intending to book, but I won't be going near it unless/until I know I'll actually get to see the whole show.
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Post by andrew on Sept 10, 2018 14:53:53 GMT
Some of the most memorable and fun moments of theatre are when things go horribly wrong but with everyone comes together and still puts on a show. Think of the splash Rufus Norris made as an emergency understudy a week or two ago. Coming out and saying "we haven't got this ending together yet" and then cracking on standing centre stage, scripts or whatever in hand, narrating things that are happening, and finishing would've been spectacular. A missed opportunity.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2018 14:56:40 GMT
I'm extraordinarily easy-going in real life and am always happy to roll with whatever punches happen in a theatre, but I have to say I completely sympathise with people being unhappy about not getting a complete show. As has been pointed out, there's no reason why they can't just stand on the stage and sing the finale without any of the staging or whatever it is that makes it unsafe to perform at the moment. People will *understand*, but you need to give them something *to* understand. I'd be interested to know how generous they're being with refunds for this one...
(I don't doubt for a second that people who've enjoyed what they've seen have been genuine, but I am very glad I didn't book an early performance.)
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Post by foxa on Sept 10, 2018 15:07:40 GMT
Welcome llreelcell - I'm going to see this Thursday night (after the performance I had previously booked for was cancelled) and nothing I've heard has made me wish I wasn't going. It sounds like an event if nothing else - and that's one of the exciting things about live theatre.
BUT this is a forum where people express their varying opinions - we aren't Stepford Wives who have to blandly comply or agree with each other or praise everything - and being disappointed that a performance is, for several performances, cut off 15-20 minutes before its end with no attempt to convey what that ending might have been doesn't seem a shocking complaint. From those who have seen it, there has been a lot of admiration for the Dunkirk spirit of the cast who sound like they are doing amazing work and people have noted the standing ovations. I wouldn't say that this board is full of negativity towards British or other theatrical work - if you stick around, you'll see it's full of enthusiasts.
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Post by sf on Sept 10, 2018 15:12:05 GMT
As has been pointed out, there's no reason why they can't just stand on the stage and sing the finale without any of the staging or whatever it is that makes it unsafe to perform at the moment. People will *understand*, but you need to give them something *to* understand. Absolutely (and I'm seeing it next week). I'd be fine with them doing the last scenes concert-style if necessary. Having paid (admittedly not that much) for a ticket and travelled a fair distance (at significantly greater cost than the theatre ticket) to see it, I would NOT be OK with being told that they just aren't going to perform the ending. I'm looking forward to seeing it for myself, and I wish them well, but to do that demonstrates a fundamental lack of respect for the audience.
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Post by danb on Sept 10, 2018 15:14:09 GMT
It kind of reminds me of when we did a musical version of ‘Hamlet’ at the ‘Piecrust Players’ but the lad playing Hamlet only learnt the first four acts, so we just ended things with a singalong of ‘Ophelia’ sung to the tune of ‘Cecilia’ by Simon & Garfunkel/(The Vamps if you’re under twenty). Some of the purists left muttering about ‘desecration’ and it being a ‘romping travesty’ which I assumed to be positive comments. Perhaps they should get Dr Hook in to finish things off with a blast of ‘Sylvias Mother’?
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Post by westendcub on Sept 10, 2018 16:58:24 GMT
Agree with you on this, I have seen works in progress (‘Prom Queen’ & ‘Son Of Rambo’ most recent) and it’s perfectly acceptable for some scenes to wither not being fully written yet or rehearsed to stage but in effect they are claiming there is a ending but they can’t stage it for safety then why not sing it, read from scripts and explain what plans to happen on stage!
However ending or not I am looking forward to this tonight and I love supporting new domestic shows!
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Post by latefortheoverture on Sept 10, 2018 18:17:35 GMT
looked on the OV website and saw that all performances are now being listed as previews and the tickets sales for the Thursday mat are shocking! Such a shame might still go catch it but it looked so promising but feel like the understudy dramas and the abrupt ending situations will knock on this production.
Does anyone know if the understudies are still on or if principals are all back now?
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Post by Rukaya on Sept 10, 2018 20:05:09 GMT
A friend of mine is there tonight and apparently, it's the first night they're doing the entire show, ending and everything! I'm seeing it next week, can't wait.
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Post by westendcub on Sept 10, 2018 20:10:06 GMT
Quick interval post!
This is incredible powerhouse & masterclass musical theatre!
Tonight we are getting the whole show, believe the hype everyone!!
More to come post show!!
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