5,278 posts
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Show Boat
May 21, 2016 18:08:57 GMT
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Post by mrbarnaby on May 21, 2016 18:08:57 GMT
Are there any offers on tickets for this? I'm assuming there must be seeing as it's coming off.
Sooo want to see it but can't bring myself to pay lots for a ticket.
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2,452 posts
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Post by theatremadness on May 21, 2016 18:15:18 GMT
Are there any offers on tickets for this? I'm assuming there must be seeing as it's coming off. Sooo want to see it but can't bring myself to pay lots for a ticket. Have a look a couple of pages back Mr B, same question was answered with an up to 50% off Time Out link and some others and also our own Theatremonkey has posted/tweeted a while back about a deal for Wed & Thurs afternoons from as little as £9. Hope that helps!
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Post by ali973 on May 21, 2016 18:41:37 GMT
First row seats are around 39 and there are some that are around 25, I think. Alternatively you can literally get the cheapest seat in the house and you can either move if there's space or stay where you are and you'll still be fine. It's a rather small space and I feel that there are no bad seats in the house.
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Post by fossil on May 21, 2016 19:09:03 GMT
Make sure you go to the Showboat web site (just Google Showboat). I paid £9.75 for the front row next Wednesday matinee. Going via other sites they were a showing as few pounds more.
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2016 19:35:10 GMT
Great audience this afternoon. About 80% full. Circle was a bit patchy, and mostly a standing ovation! Brilliant performances, Malcolm Sinclair has really come into his own. He seems to be having a lot more fun with the part.
Gutted this is closing early. I hope people, especially keen theatre goers give it a chance! It really is the best thing on offer at the moment and if we don't go, who will?
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4,451 posts
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Post by Being Alive on May 22, 2016 12:36:26 GMT
This was wonderful yesterday. Booked totally off the cuff and so glad I did. Gina and Chris were a perfect leading team, but Rebecca Trehearn stole it with 'Bill'.
I urge you to see it, best 'old show' I've seen for a long time.
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Post by firefingers on May 25, 2016 12:46:14 GMT
I can't say I was as enamoured with this as everyone else. I found it a fascinating piece of history, and had some lovely moments, but it was a flawed piece in a production that didn't do much to fix those flaws.
The good: Some great performances in a few rolls (partially Rebecca Trehearn's). An incredible orchestra sound, with each instrument very clear and balanced. A very intimate space and staging, so you didn't feel far from the action. There were some witty lines peppered throughout, and wit is something a lot of musicals lack. Audience well behaved, and when a small disturbance started in the stalls, an usher swooped immediately.
The bad: I thought the set and costume designs were dull, overly simplistic and uncolourful for the most part. I know the Show Boat is meant to be a little run down but there was an awful lot of greys on stage. And why they didn't have a bit of steam and whistles to give a bit of life to thing is a mystery to me. The vocal sound when characters were downstage was horrible! I understand why, with nowhere to get speakers where they need to be on a thrust stage with a very high roof, but people sounded like robots and it made even simple dialogue difficult to understand. Others' have outlined the story's flaws better than I. I understand why they had cast come into the audience for certain scenes to add "immersion", but having them chat in character a few feet away when you are trying to enjoy a number was bloody annoying.
I am glad I saw it, as it is the starting point for all musical theatre, but for me it is definitely not worth a return visit.
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18,811 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 25, 2016 16:36:59 GMT
The vocal sound when characters were downstage was horrible! I understand why, with nowhere to get speakers where they need to be on a thrust stage with a very high roof, but people sounded like robots and it made even simple dialogue difficult to understand. The Crucible has a very large thrust stage and there were no sound issues. That cant be the reason for the problem. If it was then it wouldn't just affect this production.
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Post by firefingers on May 25, 2016 17:16:30 GMT
The vocal sound when characters were downstage was horrible! I understand why, with nowhere to get speakers where they need to be on a thrust stage with a very high roof, but people sounded like robots and it made even simple dialogue difficult to understand. The Crucible has a very large thrust stage and there were no sound issues. That cant be the reason for the problem. If it was then it wouldn't just affect this production. Is the sound issue something people have noticed during the New London run? I think the problem is actors being far nearer than the speakers, so hear the actor's natural voice and then the speaker's amplified voice a split second later, but late enough to muddy the sound. Perhaps there was an issue with the system last night if this is a new problem.
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Post by CG on the loose on May 25, 2016 17:59:06 GMT
The Crucible has a very large thrust stage and there were no sound issues. That cant be the reason for the problem. If it was then it wouldn't just affect this production. Is the sound issue something people have noticed during the New London run? I think the problem is actors being far nearer than the speakers, so hear the actor's natural voice and then the speaker's amplified voice a split second later, but late enough to muddy the sound. Perhaps there was an issue with the system last night if this is a new problem. I noticed it at the beginning of the run - it was better on a more recent visit, but still noticeable... and "muddy" is a very good word for it.
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Post by Flim Flam on May 25, 2016 18:27:07 GMT
Yes, we were sitting side stalls (quite early on in the run)at the New London, and the sound was very poor at times, even though we were quite close to the stage. I remember commenting on it.
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Post by loureviews on May 28, 2016 22:39:14 GMT
Well that was rather marvellous, and despite missing our on all the great deals we felt it was worth £60.
The ending though remains problematic. On balance I prefer the way it was handled in the 1950s film (i.e. without the huge time leap).
Sandra Marvin is brilliant. But a great cast, and lovely orchestrations.
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749 posts
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Post by horton on Jun 1, 2016 22:21:29 GMT
Found this really tedious, I'm afraid. Top problem: muddy sound!
As a piece it is so dated and left me totally unengaged emotionally.
Sorry, but the guy playing Joe could not reach the lower notes.
Such a disappointment.
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540 posts
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Post by freckles on Jun 2, 2016 7:07:33 GMT
I loved this (went to matinee yesterday) - one of the best things I have seen lately. Beautiful production with a stunning cast. Such a shame it has to shutter early. We had side stalls seats which were great. I did notice a few sound issues early on, some of the dialogue was indeed "muddy".
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540 posts
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Post by freckles on Jun 2, 2016 8:24:29 GMT
The more I think of it, the more I realize just how flawed the entire show is simply by story-telling means. Gaylord returns decades later and all is forgotten and forgiven. Girl, please. Magnolia starts off feeling like a secondary character, but lo and behold by the end of the show you realize that she's the lead. Julie La Vern, by far the most interesting character in the show (with the best songs), is written off at second two, runs off into the wings and we know nothing of what happens to her. So unsatisfying. Isn't the whole point of the show that they can't help lovin' dat man, and are going to love one man 'til they die, etc... "When he goes away, that's a rainy day And when he comes back that day is fine The sun will shine He can come home as late as can be Home without him ain't no home to me" They both lose their man, Nola gets hers back and Julie descends into despair because she doesn't. And there's lots of examples of couples who don't have a wholly satisfying relationship, yet stick with it; Andy and Parthy, Queenie and her husband. Not very modern, of course but it isn't!
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4,594 posts
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Show Boat
Jun 2, 2016 10:57:25 GMT
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jun 2, 2016 10:57:25 GMT
1 thing I've never understood is, in the nightclub Nola is told to jazz up the song with "Ragtime" and then her song comes and she sings the most lovely but old fashioned waltz. How does that work out?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2016 15:44:45 GMT
1 thing I've never understood is, in the nightclub Nola is told to jazz up the song with "Ragtime" and then her song comes and she sings the most lovely but old fashioned waltz. How does that work out? Isn't that after Julie leaves though, so the club is without a singer?
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391 posts
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Jun 3, 2016 9:49:42 GMT
Does anyone know if there have been any understudies on recently?
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1,008 posts
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Post by talkstageytome on Jun 3, 2016 10:13:21 GMT
Does anyone know if there have been any understudies on recently? I think I saw on Twitter that the Julie understudy went on a few days ago.
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Post by cathyfromlex on Jun 3, 2016 10:21:54 GMT
Does anyone know if there have been any understudies on recently? Dale Evans was on as Frank while Danny Collins was doing Jekyll & Hyde. I saw on Twitter one day last week that Victoria Hinde went on as Julie and Linda John-Pierre went on as Queenie. Also, Alex Young was out for a few days recently with an ankle injury and Georgie Ashford went on as Ellie.
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391 posts
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Jun 3, 2016 10:33:56 GMT
I'm going to the matinee tomorrow, I really hope that at least Gina, Sandra and Rebecca are on!
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Post by talkstageytome on Jun 3, 2016 10:41:57 GMT
Actually, it totally slipped my mind earlier, but about a fortnight ago I got Georgie Ashford and Dale Evans on together as Ellie and Frank. They were both very very good.
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41 posts
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Post by cathyfromlex on Jun 3, 2016 10:45:39 GMT
I'm going to the matinee tomorrow, I really hope that at least Gina, Sandra and Rebecca are on! Most likely they will. Rebecca posted on Twitter that she is on holiday next week. Gina rarely calls out of any show she ever does and recently responded to someone on Twitter that she has no holiday scheduled at this point.
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391 posts
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Jun 3, 2016 11:00:28 GMT
talkstageytome I agree I saw them a few weeks ago and they were excellent. cathyfromlex Thanks for the update, I will let you know who I get!
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Post by BGLowe on Jun 3, 2016 20:12:23 GMT
I saw this again last night (3rd time - once in Sheff and once in London). Still adore it but agree about the sound. I found it difficult to hear some of the words during ensemble songs and Captain Andy was virtually impossible to make out. I didn't buy a programme this time but I am sure the ensemble was smaller than normal? Unless they have simply left the show. I only saw it in April though. Anyway, I still loved it. Joe sounded a little tired to me but everyone else was wonderful. I much prefer Chris to Michael Xavier (runs and hides) and Rebecca Trehearn is the best thing in it for me. 'Bill' is the best part of the show. Love it. Determined to go and see it again before it ends!
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5,278 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jun 3, 2016 21:26:47 GMT
Seeing it tomorrow night.. Cannot. Wait!
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4,564 posts
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Show Boat
Jun 3, 2016 21:58:52 GMT
via mobile
Post by Mark on Jun 3, 2016 21:58:52 GMT
Saw it tonight.
Thoroughly enjoyed, especially can't help loving that man of mine.. Agree about the sound, especially in the opening number.
Preferred act one to act two.
Technical error stopped the show for around 10 minutes about 15 mins before the interval. Seemed to be a problem with the set.
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1,718 posts
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Post by stevejohnson678 on Jun 5, 2016 7:55:57 GMT
I saw this yesterday afternoon. Sound was a bit muffled at first but seemed to improve significantly.
Much preferred the first part but overall this sat in the 'glad to have seen it but wouldn't rush back' category for me.
The highlight of the show by some distance was the performance of Gina Beck. What a whirlwind of energy she is! And that voice....
Quite a youthful audience which was a surprise including a woman who was loving every single minute - half a dozen or more solo standing ovations at the ends of songs and manically cheering, jumping around and waving her arms about at the curtain call! She was a more popular topic of conversation after the show than anything that had taken place on stage!
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5,278 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jun 5, 2016 8:40:18 GMT
Saw it last night and LOVED it. I had no issues with the sound at all.. I thought the cast sounded glorious and the band good too.
Stand outs for me were Rebecca T- her voice truly is remarkable. Unlike anyone else's I know. I could have listened to her sing Bill 5 times over.
Chris Peluso- handsome and with a great voice. Really wish I'd seen him instead of Vibrato Brammer in Saigon now.
And best of all .. Gina Beck. Wow. Stunning acting performance and a glorious voice. She better be on the Olivier nominations list next year or I will be most unhappy.
This production NEEDS to have a cast recording
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724 posts
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Post by basdfg on Jun 5, 2016 8:57:30 GMT
I saw this yesterday afternoon. Sound was a bit muffled at first but seemed to improve significantly. Much preferred the first part but overall this sat in the 'glad to have seen it but wouldn't rush back' category for me. The highlight of the show by some distance was the performance of Gina Beck. What a whirlwind of energy she is! And that voice.... Quite a youthful audience which was a surprise including a woman who was loving every single minute - half a dozen or more solo standing ovations at the ends of songs and manically cheering, jumping around and waving her arms about at the curtain call! She was a more popular topic of conversation after the show than anything that had taken place on stage! Can I ask how busy it was?
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