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Post by alece10 on Sept 30, 2017 13:08:54 GMT
Tried today Tix lottery. No luck but went to box office about 12.30 to see if any day seats left. Really lucky and got 2 stalls behind each other for £25 each. Told slightly restricted by pillar but fingers crossed won't be too bad. Report back later.
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Post by tom08 on Sept 30, 2017 13:23:12 GMT
Tried today Tix lottery. No luck but went to box office about 12.30 to see if any day seats left. Really lucky and got 2 stalls behind each other for £25 each. Told slightly restricted by pillar but fingers crossed won't be too bad. Report back later. I had a restricted view seat (O7, also behind a pillar) on Thursday and had few view over the stage. Mel Brooks was sitting two rows in front of me
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Post by zak97 on Sept 30, 2017 17:37:33 GMT
Just come out, and I have to say I would recommend this to absolutely anyone - provided that you aren't going in expecting 'serious theatre'. Young Frankenstein is pure escapism - silly, humours and genuine comedic flare. An outstanding cast, with a score to match and very good choreography. Whilst the story is completely unrealistic, they loopholes, the stereotypes are all played upon and recognised, making the show itself much stronger and much funnier. The narrative is engaging, and continues at a good speed throughout. Lighting and special are effects are well worth keeping an eye on, many surprises there. I liked the set, almost of a Vaudevillian style, which for the way they are presenting this show, is exactly what they need. Lots of different curtains used, and set pieces which help create a number of different atmospheres. All very effective in my opinion (although some curtain movements were a bit clunky, I would put this down to it being the third performance at the Garrick and would be ironed out soon). Cast, honestly perfect. Hadley Fraser is charming, funny, and everything Frankenstein should be. Ross Noble as Igor, great comedy, and as a comedian this is a good character for him, as there is not character progression - Igor provides comedic interludes and Ross Noble serves perfectly. Lesley Joseph is a little cracker of energy, loved her performance, and her 'He was my boyfriend...' number is sensational. Shuler Hensley is great as the monster, facial expressions are on point with the emotions he wants to present. Summer Strallen puts over a cracking stereotypical accent for Inga, it is needed like that for the comedy, and plays the ditzy and slightly sluttish girl perfectly (her voice and dancing were two highlights for me). Dianne Pilkington, who I forgot was in this till I read through the programme, whilst not featured for barely more than five minutes in the first act, is comedic perfection as Elizabeth. The ensemble is all round brilliant, all well in sync in 'Puttin' on the Ritz', which was definitely when Young Frankenstein is at its height of being stagey - it is a very stagey show overall, but one that the general public should love. Other songs that I loved would have to be 'Roll in the Hay', the Act 1 finale, Elizabeth's first number at the ship departure, and the opening for Act 2.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Sept 30, 2017 22:13:14 GMT
Wow this is expensive! £59.50 even in the upper circle!
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Post by zak97 on Sept 30, 2017 22:18:27 GMT
Wow this is expensive! £59.50 even in the upper circle! Pretty sure there is some dynamic pricing though. Wouldn't be surprised if, like Half a Sixpence, once this has (hopefully) got some good following if they changed the pricing a bit in the upper level.
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Post by alece10 on Oct 1, 2017 7:20:12 GMT
As I mentioned before I picked up a couple of single day seats for the matinee a couple of hours before the show for £25 each. Was told they were slightly restricted by a piller but they were fine and didn't miss much at all. Towards the back of the stalls and below the overhang which is huge and before the show started I was a bit concerned as it felt a bit removed back there from the rest of the audience, but once it started, all that was forgotten and it was fine. Only missed one bit when a bit of the set goes up towards the ceiling. Anyway as to the show, this was great fun, silly, vaudeville kind of humour and very Mel Brooks. Listening to people talking a lot were Mel Brooks fans or fans of the film rather than musical theatre fans so I think this could kind of be classed as a cult musical. Great cast and so well chosen, no weak link at all. Hadley Fraser excellent as always, Ross Noble was a total surprise as he has a good singing voice and great comic, Summer Strallen lovely as ever and even does the splits on a hay cart! and I adored Lesley Joseph. Sets very clever and lots of scene changes. Really liked the songs too, even though I didn't know any of the music. This is definitely not a serious musical, just plain bonkers with some really awful jokes but a real laugh and with the perfect cast. I think it might do rather well, especially if the audience reaction was anything to go by.
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Post by bramble on Oct 1, 2017 9:52:02 GMT
Pure fun Leave your critical genes at home and wallow in low comedy bliss
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Post by showtoones on Oct 1, 2017 18:08:30 GMT
Saw the show in New York and I liked it but from what I hear, it’s cleaner and sharper now. How is Hadley?
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Post by ptwest on Oct 1, 2017 18:49:17 GMT
Hadley was great in Newcastle - as was the whole cast! Hope this finds its audience, was great to go and see something that was just pure fun and silliness.
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Post by alece10 on Oct 1, 2017 19:47:23 GMT
Yes agree Hadley is really good, but then he usually is in what he does.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2017 22:36:27 GMT
Highly recommend this
Will be going again
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Post by frankubelik on Oct 3, 2017 6:12:12 GMT
Really good fun. Quite different to Broadway (which I saw) and some numbers repositioned. Cast largely great - Hadley sounds terrific and Summer quite sublime. Ross Noble cannot sing but seems naturally funny; Pilkington not great but the role has been cut down - she never convinces (for me in anything she does). It's a bit cheap looking and would benefit from a couple of extra ensemble members, but no matter. Overall very enjoyable.
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Post by dannypc on Oct 3, 2017 7:14:58 GMT
Didn't look cheap to me! In fact I thought it looked great and a big show for the Garrick. The beautiful painted backdrops keep coming all night long. If you read the interviews with Susan Stroman it's supposed to be a vaudeville show which it captures perfectly. I'm not sure it needs more in the ensemble either - where would they go? The stage is very full as it is. Brilliant 9 piece orchestra too.
This show is hilarious and the cast are just brilliant. I'm going to try and get a day seat and go again at the end of the week
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Post by musicalmarge on Oct 4, 2017 8:32:43 GMT
Saw this last night. Super fun fluffy and entertaining.
But gosh the theatre was cold. Big argument from an American couple wth the duty manager in the stalls.
My mother then had to leave in the second act. Freezing cold air blowing down on centre stalls.
Everyone loved the show, but on leaving we complained about the air con issue. Ruined the night sadly.
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Post by theatremadness on Oct 4, 2017 15:45:03 GMT
Just won the TodayTix lottery for tonight, I'm in the centre of the front row. Absolutely buzzing with excitement!!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2017 16:59:27 GMT
Just won the TodayTix lottery for tonight, I'm in the centre of the front row. Absolutely buzzing with excitement!! Sounds like you've come down with a case of Transylvania mania.
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Post by theatrelover123 on Oct 4, 2017 17:38:19 GMT
I got lucky in the Todaytix lottery today and saw the show this afternoon. I managed to get the middle of Row J in the stalls for £20 which was pretty amazing considering I thought all the lottery ones were front row. I am sure it's completely random but I applied at 7.30 this morning, got a message through just gone 11am and secured it immediately. Loved the show. Second half much better and funnier than the first.
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Post by mallardo on Oct 4, 2017 18:17:26 GMT
I was there too - 2nd row day seat which offers a great view, much better than the 1st row as the stage is high.
I liked the show although it was a bit rough around the edges. It played like a preview. I saw the original version and this is quite different. It now opens on what used to be the second scene - Frankenstein's lecture - and the scenes that follow have all been tightened up, especially the book scenes. Song now follows song in rapid succession, almost to the point where it's highlights from Young Frankenstein. There are two new songs - "It Could Work", for the leads and "Hang Him Till He's Dead" for Inspector Kemp and the Townspeople, neither particularly distinguished.
The second act is less changed although the ending felt like it had been tampered with and elongated but my memory is not good enough to get specific. The cast is strong, no week links, although, Hadley Fraser, good as he is in every other way, is not a natural funnyman. Frankenstein is by far the most difficult role to play and, of course, the Gene Wilder template can never be matched, but Roger Bart, on Broadway, did have some of Wilder's deadpan weirdness and Fraser lacks that.
The audience ate it up. It just might be a hit this time around.
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Post by longinthetooth on Oct 4, 2017 20:32:50 GMT
Saw this last night. Super fun fluffy and entertaining. But gosh the theatre was cold. Big argument from an American couple wth the duty manager in the stalls. My mother then had to leave in the second act. Freezing cold air blowing down on centre stalls. Everyone loved the show, but on leaving we complained about the air con issue. Ruined the night sadly. I recall almost expiring from cold during a previous production at the Garrick. I had to don coat and scarf during the interval and felt really ill during the second half. So things haven't improved then.
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Post by tonyloco on Oct 4, 2017 20:34:50 GMT
Wey-hey! What a frolic!
'Young Frankenstein' this afternoon was all I was hoping for and then some. I have never seen the film and knew nothing about the original Broadway version, although I am very familiar with 'The Producers' (film and stage show) and 'Blazing Saddles' (film) so I had a fair idea what to expect. I loved the first act with all its jokes, clichés, funny songs and silly business, but the second act really blew me away. I knew that 'Puttin' on the Ritz' was coming but I was not prepared for the crazy scene between the monster and the hermit, which sent me off into gales of laughter, and then Elizabeth's 'Deep Love' with her and the monster had me equally creased up.
So many of Brooks's jokes are so obvious, and you can see them coming a mile off, but for me that somehow makes them even funnier when they do finally arrive, like the scene with the revolving bookcase, and the Inspector's 'arm and a leg' story. It says in the programme that Brooks's humour is rooted in American vaudeville and although I don't know a lot about this genre, I thought I could detect echoes of the Marx Brothers, Laurel and Hardy and silent film comics like Chaplin, Lloyd and Keaton. As soon as the monster started dancing with his shadow I knew exactly what was coming (and I think one of the Marx Brothers does something similar with a mirror) but the fact that I knew what would happen for me made it even more enjoyable.
All the principals were brilliant and as I had nothing to compare him with, I loved Hadley Fraser and thought he delivered all that was required of him. So full marks for the production (sets, costumes, orchestra, sound, choreography, direction, etc) and I hope it has a long and profitable run and that Mel Brooks lives long enough to see it win all the theatre awards and maybe even give us another wonderful stage show!
Now here's a funny thing. In the foyer there was a notice saying the orchestra at the matinee would be conducted by XXXX XXXX. Then, as I entered the stalls there was another notice saying something like 'At this performance the Innkeeper will be played by XXXX XXXX'. When I sat down and looked at my programme I could find no character called the Innkeeper, nor could I detect one taking part in the show. I should have gone back to see whether the name was a joke, like 'Walter Plinge', but I forgot. Does anybody know whether this was an in joke (pun intended) or was it a genuine notice?
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Post by theatremadness on Oct 4, 2017 23:02:20 GMT
Well this is an absolute riot from start to finish and the audience response was deafening; huge, HUGE laughs from the off. The stage is very high indeed from the front row. Luckily my neck can take it and for £20 you really can't complain, and there was also no temperature problem in the theatre itself this evening. As for the show itself, well I was coming to jot down my thoughts but I refer you to tonyloco's brilliant write-up above as I really can't write any better and he encapsulates my exact thoughts...sometimes scarily well! Go see
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Post by tonyloco on Oct 5, 2017 9:45:47 GMT
Well this is an absolute riot from start to finish and the audience response was deafening; huge, HUGE laughs from the off. The stage is very high indeed from the front row. Luckily my neck can take it and for £20 you really can't complain, and there was also no temperature problem in the theatre itself this evening. As for the show itself, well I was coming to jot down my thoughts but I refer you to tonyloco 's brilliant write-up above as I really can't write any better and he encapsulates my exact thoughts...sometimes scarily well! Go see Thanks, theatremadness, for that excellent reference – flattery will get you everywhere! They say great minds think alike, so I guess that's us!
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Post by HereForTheatre on Oct 5, 2017 13:30:48 GMT
I saw the show yesterday afternoon. It's in previews and it felt a bit like that, a little rough around the edges at time. There was one thing, and i don't know if this was maybe actually part of the show as a gag, but when the Hermit appeared the spotlight literally went around the whole auditorium and stage before it eventfully landed on the bloke. I couldn't work out whether it was a massive fail or a joke. There was also a good 15 min delay to the start of act two for some reason.
Hadley was great but i agree with above that he doesn't come over a natural comedian. I thought the star of the who was Dianne Pilkington, who i just thought was brilliant in every way. I also really enjoyed the lighting effects during Puttin On The Ritz. It was all very entertaining and fun.
I went to see this and then later The Toxic Avenger, a bit of Monster themed day, and whilst i really liked this i;d say i liked Toxie more.
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Post by mallardo on Oct 5, 2017 14:11:35 GMT
I saw the show yesterday afternoon. It's in previews and it felt a bit like that, a little rough around the edges at time. There was one thing, and i don't know if this was maybe actually part of the show as a gag, but when the Hermit appeared the spotlight literally went around the whole auditorium and stage before it eventfully landed on the bloke. I couldn't work out whether it was a massive fail or a joke. There was also a good 15 min delay to the start of act two for some reason. Hadley was great but i agree with above that he doesn't come over a natural comedian. I thought the star of the who was Dianne Pilkington, who i just thought was brilliant in every way. I also really enjoyed the lighting effects during Puttin On The Ritz. It was all very entertaining and fun. I went to see this and then later The Toxic Avenger, a bit of Monster themed day, and whilst i really liked this i;d say i liked Toxie more.
Re the spotlight fail I wondered if the blocking had to be suddenly changed due to the technical problem that delayed the 2nd act. I'm guessing it was the Hermit's cottage set that was the issue.
And, btw, I agree about Diane Pilkington - her Deep Love could not have been better, or funnier. Talk about selling a song!
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Post by zak97 on Oct 5, 2017 14:26:41 GMT
There was a lighting thing like that on Saturday too which stood out, could have been the same point but not sure.
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Post by theatremadness on Oct 5, 2017 14:29:01 GMT
The spotlight "fail" happened yesterday evening too (and we had no delays), so I definitely think it's a "thing" that's part of the show, perhaps playing on the fact that the hermit is blind and the spotlight (or God, is what I was thinking) couldn't find him!
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Post by tonyloco on Oct 5, 2017 16:06:16 GMT
Does anybody have any thoughts about the cast change notice relating to the 'Innkeeper' that was at the entrance to the stalls at the matinee on Wednesday? Was this another joke like the wandering spotlight before the Hermit scene? Also, as I haven't seen the movie, can somebody please explain why the horses neigh at the mention of the name 'Blücher'. Sorry if this is a dumb question but I really would like to know! I've just checked the internet and found that the general opinion is that it is yet another Mel Brooks joke related to the conventions of hissing the villain in a melodrama. So another 'inn' joke, then!
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Post by mallardo on Oct 5, 2017 16:31:20 GMT
In the original version of the musical there was an ensemble member who, among other roles, played the Innkeeper. From memory, he would have been in the first scene which no longer exists in this production. There was a song - "The Happiest Town in Town" - in which some ensemble members, including the Innkeeper, had solos. He would now be just one of the Townspeople but the original designation might still exist as a carryover of sorts. That's the only explanation I can think of. I doubt it's a joke. It's way too subtle.
The Blucher thing is there because she's such a formidable woman - Cloris Leachman in the movie - that just hearing her name spooks the horses. It was one of the movie's most famous running gags.
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Post by tonyloco on Oct 5, 2017 18:59:46 GMT
In the original version of the musical there was an ensemble member who, among other roles, played the Innkeeper. From memory, he would have been in the first scene which no longer exists in this production. There was a song - "The Happiest Town in Town" - in which some ensemble members, including the Innkeeper, had solos. He would now be just one of the Townspeople but the original designation might still exist as a carryover of sorts. That's the only explanation I can think of. I doubt it's a joke. It's way too subtle. The Blucher thing is there because she's such a formidable woman - Cloris Leachman in the movie - that just hearing her name spooks the horses. It was one of the movie's most famous running gags. Thanks mallardo. I will stop worrying that I am missing something regarding the Innkeeper. And your explanation about Frau Blücher will enable me to enjoy fully the horses joke when I next see the show although I haven't booked as yet. BTW, I have been looking at the clips of the Broadway production on YouTube and I would say the casting we have in London has to be the tops, even though some people don't feel Hadley Fraser is enough of a comic actor. Well, whatever – I have no complaints!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2017 8:29:36 GMT
In the original version of the musical there was an ensemble member who, among other roles, played the Innkeeper. From memory, he would have been in the first scene which no longer exists in this production. There was a song - "The Happiest Town in Town" - in which some ensemble members, including the Innkeeper, had solos. He would now be just one of the Townspeople but the original designation might still exist as a carryover of sorts. That's the only explanation I can think of. I doubt it's a joke. It's way too subtle. The Blucher thing is there because she's such a formidable woman - Cloris Leachman in the movie - that just hearing her name spooks the horses. It was one of the movie's most famous running gags. They actually thought that Blucher was German for 'glue'. And the horses were spooked everytime they heard 'glue' because it meant the glue factory... But the writers/creators later learned they were wrong, but kept it in anyway as just a formidable and classic German surname. So the 'gag' is because it's 'glue', even though it's factually incorrect! Google.
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