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Post by kathryn on Jun 2, 2018 10:29:51 GMT
I saw this last night and yes, the understudies were all very good and it was an enjoyable show (especially for £15!).
Shame about the Garrick having such a poor rake in the mid-stalls - luckily the seat next to me was empty so I could do some extreme leaning to look over the shoulders of the couple in front of me. I was all ready to be cross at the lady for seeming to cling to her gentleman friend instead of sitting up straight - and thus block my view - until I realised that she herself was leaning to see around the chap in front of her. There was no-one behind me so hopefully I wasn’t blocking anyone else!
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Post by alece10 on Jun 2, 2018 10:38:05 GMT
The stalls at the Garrick are very odd which is why I decided to go for dress. It's only got 5 rows and a good rake. I was centre of the back row and had perfect view even with tallish people in front of me. Good legroom too although seat narrow so I had to wedge myself in and prize myself out. Overhang does not interfear with the view either.
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Post by shady23 on Jun 2, 2018 13:08:04 GMT
At the matinee and have been upgraded to row G of the stalls. Yay!
Josh Wilmott on as Frederick Gemma Scholes on as Inga
Rest as usual but have not seen Nic or Cory yet so very excited to see them!
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Post by shady23 on Jun 2, 2018 17:08:47 GMT
Josh was incredible. A worthy lead. Very like Gene Wilder in his approach and lots of funny little extras thrown in here and there. Did not miss Hadley at all which is some feat as I love Hadley. Definitely go and see Josh if you can.
Gemma great as Inga.
The new Monster was great.
Thought Cory lacked something for me as Igor and he kept changing accent from American to Cockney. I much preferred Ross Noble's portrayal. More naturally funny.
Dianne Pilkington an absolute dream as usual.
Cannot wait for the cast recording to come out!
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Post by thenightowl on Jun 3, 2018 22:40:06 GMT
I caught this last night (second viewing for me) and was interested to see the understudies (Josh as Victor and Gemma as Inga). I previously saw the full original cast back in January and grabbed a day seat in the stalls.
Last night had a great receptive audience that really enjoyed the humour. I didn't quite enjoy Josh's performance as much as Hadley's, unfortunately he went wrong whilst singing The Brain and missed a section during the speeding tongue twisting section at the climax of the song. Credit to him he managed to pull it back but I just thought he looked a little too young in the role, other than that I can't fault him, I just preferred Hadley. On to Gemma as Inga and she was fantastic, her singing voice really reminded me of Sutton Foster and she was faultless. I'm a big Cory fan so did enjoy his performance as Igor, although Ross probably did have slightly better comic timing. Other great performances all round from Diane Pilkington, the monster and the blind man.
I think I enjoyed the show overall more last night than previously in part due to the great audience reaction.
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Post by Dr Tom on Jun 13, 2018 8:03:43 GMT
Finally saw this last night, after not being too sure if it would be my thing.
Fairly full, but there were pairs of seats around. I was mid stalls, centre, which was an excellent view and lots of legroom (usually a premium seat). Very mixed range of ages too and a well-behaved audience.
When I was waiting to collect my ticket about 15 minutes before the show, the bloke in front of me was buying a £25 seat, which I presume was a day seat (the sign for day seats was still up outside). He was trying to negotiate the day seat price down, which I've never seen before (have I missed a trick?), although I presume he ended up paying the full price in the end. I didn't see the final result as I moved to the other window.
All of the principals were on, apart from Elizabeth (played by Emily Squibb).
The production was rather bizarre but it worked. Don't know how rewatchable it is, but it's probably one of those quotable shows if you know the film well. Wouldn't mind going again before it closes in August.
Lesley Joseph carried the star power for the performance, but Hadley Fraser really had the audience attention all the way through.
Quite a few bangs and pyros, all bearable, but I'm glad I sat further back as they'd be really in-your-face in the front row.
Think this will tour well.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jun 13, 2018 12:50:12 GMT
When I was waiting to collect my ticket about 15 minutes before the show, the bloke in front of me was buying a £25 seat, which I presume was a day seat (the sign for day seats was still up outside). He was trying to negotiate the day seat price down, which I've never seen before (have I missed a trick?), although I presume he ended up paying the full price in the end. I didn't see the final result as I moved to the other window. Good gracious! I'm cheeky but not that cheeky! £25 day seats/rush seats are a bargain and I have always found them to be top price if not premium seats selling for anything between £65 - £100. When offered them I usually cant get my money out quick enough! Edited to add that this show has always been a bit on the expensive side with a lack of discounts early in the run which could be a reason for its closure. It's a small scale show. Most decent seats at £97.50 premium and £69.50 band A. Lots of availability.
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Post by Rukaya on Jun 13, 2018 13:10:16 GMT
When I was waiting to collect my ticket about 15 minutes before the show, the bloke in front of me was buying a £25 seat, which I presume was a day seat (the sign for day seats was still up outside). He was trying to negotiate the day seat price down, which I've never seen before (have I missed a trick?), although I presume he ended up paying the full price in the end. I didn't see the final result as I moved to the other window. Good gracious! I'm cheeky but not that cheeky! £25 day seats/rush seats are a bargain and I have always found them to be top price if not premium seats selling for anything between £65 - £100. When offered them I usually cant get my money out quick enough! Edited to add that this show has always been a bit on the expensive side with a lack of discounts early in the run which could be a reason for its closure. It's a small scale show. Most decent seats at £97.50 premium and £69.50 band A. Lots of availability. This is one of the things I absolutely hate at my job, people being far too cheeky and not being grateful for the amazing seats they're getting at an already very low price! Once managed to get a couple seats at Dreamgirls in the front of the dress circle that are usually £145 for £39.50 and the woman then asked me if I could get the theatre to make them cheaper for her 🤦🏻♀️
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2018 21:54:25 GMT
Does anyone know when exactly in July the cast recording will be released? I can't find any dates, track listings or pre-orders for it. Would have thought it would've popped up about now.
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Post by tmesis on Jun 23, 2018 16:45:52 GMT
Finally got to see today's matinee (thank you TodayTix for an excellent stalls seat for £15.) I thought it very entertaining, extremely funny and very well played by all the cast, except for the distinctively average Lesley Joseph, but hey that's an improvement, she was atrocious in Annie. While there's no really memorable numbers it's all extremely effective and satisfying. I was just thinking it's a bit Irving Berlinish and then in the second act they borrowed his 'Puttin' on the Ritz' to great effect. If you get a chance catch before it closes (or see it on tour.)
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Post by tonyloco on Jun 24, 2018 21:31:38 GMT
I was just thinking it's a bit Irving Berlinish and then in the second act they borrowed his 'Puttin' on the Ritz' to great effect. That's a very interesting observation, tmesis. Talking off the top of my head without checking anything, I understand that apart from writing 'Springtime for Hitler' for the original film of 'The Producers', Mel Brooks had never seen himself as a composer or actually written any songs. So when he decided to write the entire score for the stage version of 'The Producers' (perhaps you or other members can explain how this came about) then I guess he must have instinctively been inspired by typical older songs that he was familiar with and maybe Irving Berlin could well have been one of his influences. That's fine by me if the end result is as entertaining as the scores for the stage versions of 'The Producers' and 'Young Frankenstein'.
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Post by tmesis on Jun 24, 2018 22:36:31 GMT
I know little of the genesis of the songs in Young Frankenstein (or The Producers) tonyloco. What struck me was the excellence and polish of them, considering his lack of experience in that area. It just shows what a very talented man Mel Brooks is.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2018 23:30:24 GMT
When is the UK Cast Recording due to be released??
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2018 17:06:29 GMT
When is the UK Cast Recording due to be released?? It was supposed to be some point this month as we are now in July, according to the announcement. Hope it happens soon.
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Post by Seriously on Jul 3, 2018 7:07:13 GMT
Have we heard any rumours of what might be going into The Garrick after this?
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Post by Mark on Jul 3, 2018 7:19:27 GMT
Have we heard any rumours of what might be going into The Garrick after this? Katherine Ryan: Glitter Room runs 17/9-29/9 Don Quixote runs from 27/10-2/2
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Post by Seriously on Jul 3, 2018 7:31:03 GMT
Fabulous. Thankings.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jul 19, 2018 21:52:37 GMT
I’m afriad my friends and I left at the interval. We weren’t finding it funny and songs weren’t good.
it’s cheap looking with a tiny chorus and painted backdrops. I’m glad we didn’t pay any money for the 1 act experience.
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Post by michalnowicki on Jul 27, 2018 15:31:50 GMT
We'll this was... Interesting. I saw it last night's, tickets bought on TodayTix (stalls O1 and 2). Good view, but some bits were obstructed by the overhang. The cast is very talented and Hedley Fraser has a fantastic voice, I would love to see him in something more serious. The show was funny, but some of the jokes (usually sex jokes) felt dated and crude (bit like fart jokes in Shrek). I was disappointed that the Soliloquy was removed (as compered to OBC available on Spotify) as I really enjoyed that particular motif. Overall I'm glad I didn't spend loads of money on the tickets and in hindsight I wish I went to see The King and I for the second time.
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Post by ilovewemusicals on Jul 27, 2018 17:34:07 GMT
Doesn’t look like being July for the cast recording. I did tweet Dianne Pilkington (Elizabeth) about it the other week and she said it was coming.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 27, 2018 17:42:08 GMT
I thought this might struggle on tour without some names. I can't see Lesley Joseph touring in it for example. The film on which it is based is very old now (1974) and the humour rather dated as it is in the show. I thought that the production and all the performances were excellent at the Garrick but the material isn't as funny as Mel Brookes Producers.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2018 18:11:31 GMT
Hearing that the tour has been pulled, or postponed at the very least. Not sure why. I'd say most tours announced when a West End show closes after a short ish run never happen.... Memphis, Made In Dagenham, Woman in White. Sure there's many others. Producers just wanna inject some vague optimism into their closing notices.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2018 19:33:48 GMT
I imagine we may see one in the future, mainly because of the whole Mel Brooks connection. But it will be like Dreamgirls where there will be a tour, but not for like two or three years later.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2018 1:01:08 GMT
I imagine we may see one in the future, mainly because of the whole Mel Brooks connection. But it will be like Dreamgirls where there will be a tour, but not for like two or three years later. Dreamgirls isn’t touring until that late after?? Seems weird
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2018 18:27:44 GMT
Dreamgirls isn’t touring until that late after?? Seems weird not quite, but as I understand it their intention is to begin mid 2020. that’s not too bad...keep forgetting it’s 2019 next year when it closes!
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Post by shady23 on Aug 10, 2018 6:10:55 GMT
Anyone know what has happened to the cast recording we were promised in July?
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Post by Dr Tom on Aug 10, 2018 8:15:10 GMT
Went to see this last night (second visit) thanks to a TodayTix second chance deal. Wanted to get back before this closes in a couple of weeks. And I found much more amusing the second time around.
Think that part of that was because I got a much better seat (row F, one of the "red" seats on Theatremonkey.com, although the view for this was perfect). Quite a few empty seats around, so two next to me were empty and they were able to move a couple whose seats were double booked forward into central row F.
You can see a lot more of the detail and the subtle acting from the front.
Cover central last night:
Aron Wild as Igor (much preferred him to Cory English) Gemma Scholes as Inga (good) Perry O'Dea as Inspector Kemp/Hermit (very funny with it, but the Hermit is such a funny part) Nathan Elwick as The Monster (very good - hadn't realised he was a cover until I just checked my photo of the cast board just now)
Hadley Fraser and Lesley Joseph carried the show again with star power.
Security was way up at the show last night, with everyone getting pat downs on their way in. Not seen that for a while in the West End. The security guard attending me took a long time to feel my wallet, not sure why as it doesn't have much in.
This one attracts an odd tourist style audience, perhaps because of the big discounts at TKTS and other places. Lots of Americans and families bringing young children. I had annoying people in two places nearby who insisted on finishing punchlines verbally, with one commenting "the jokes are the same as the film" as if that was a bad thing. Couldn't tell if they were pleased to be there or not. They did both calm down after the interval so don't know if someone had a word with them, or if they'd just resigned themselves to their fate.
I think this has run its course in London, but I did really enjoy it. It does deserve to tour.
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Post by greeny11 on Aug 10, 2018 9:13:47 GMT
Anyone know what has happened to the cast recording we were promised in July? Available to download on iTunes (and I presume other places where you download music) as of this morning.
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Post by Dr Tom on Aug 10, 2018 9:14:56 GMT
(row F, one of the "red" seats on Theatremonkey.com, although the view for this was perfect). Ah, one of the end ones. Wouldn't want to pay the full price for it, though, if you could get a far more central view for the cash, right . I could see it being more of an amber for that reason, but I know these charts are difficult now with so much dynamic pricing in place. But agreed, I don't think it's a best buy at full price.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2018 12:53:40 GMT
Anyone know what has happened to the cast recording we were promised in July? Available to download on iTunes (and I presume other places where you download music) as of this morning. Haven't downloaded it yet, but having listened to the samples it sounds great and not missing anything out! I was worried it would be one of those "highlights" versions and miss out bits like 'The Experiment' or 'Fredrick's Soliloquy'. Although technically it shouldn't be labeled as the "Original London Cast" as Nic Greenshields is playing the Monster opposed to Shuler Hensley.
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