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Post by mosiemo on Aug 24, 2017 8:44:24 GMT
Saw this last night and very much enjoyed it. Stockard Channing and Laura Carmichael were excellent but agree with others that Freema Agyeman was the weak link. Sat at the end of row K and had no problems with sound, there was no-one in the seat next to me either so had plenty of room! At the interval four people on the front row were complaining to the usher that they couldn't sit there any longer as the stage was far too high and they had sore necks, so they moved to empty seats a few rows back. Has anyone from here sat there yet?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2017 8:47:17 GMT
The front row does look like it would be a bit of a stretch but then aren't you paying something like £15 to sit there? What did they expect? The best view in the house?
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Post by mosiemo on Aug 24, 2017 9:26:36 GMT
The front row does look like it would be a bit of a stretch but then aren't you paying something like £15 to sit there? What did they expect? The best view in the house? I was actually speaking to the person who was sat behind the four at the end of the show, she paid £12 for her seat and said that after they'd moved she had a perfect view for the whole of the second act.
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122 posts
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Post by kirstylovesmusicals on Aug 24, 2017 10:17:16 GMT
I'm sitting front row this afternoon. Will try a d remember to report back! I don't expect a great view for £15 but I'm looking forward to my 2nd ever play in London
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Post by Tibidabo on Aug 24, 2017 13:46:16 GMT
Saw this last night and absolutely loved it. This was definitely a play of 2 halves, the first half better than the second. I really wasn't expecting it to be so funny.
I'd never heard of Freema Agyeman, apart from what I'd read on here, so wasn't expecting much. Well, we all thought she was perfectly cast and played the full-of-herself soap, sorry, serial drama star to perfection. Whilst I may not flock in my drove to her Desdemona, she was spot-on for this. The people I was with thought the 2 girls carried the show - they weren't so keen on Joseph Milson, finding his depiction of the 2 brothers too similar. I actually really liked him, though it was a shame that he played virtually the whole of the scene as Simon with his back to anyone in the low numbered seats. I thought his performances were well pitched and, whilst I'd been questioning the use of one actor to play the two brothers, thought it worked. Just.
Agree that Laura Carmichael was tremendous, playing the annoying vegetarian/religious zealot with an understated degree of annoyance.
Loved, loved, loved Desmond Barrit. Perfect timing and some absolute gifts from the writer.
For all of us (and I do realise I may be carted off to the tower for this) the weak link was Stockard Channing. I'm not going to comment about her face, except to say that I was half expecting her to bring on a budgie under a cloche. Quite why they cast a person whose face doesn't move in a play that doesn't have much action is beyond me. She looked like a waxwork standing there with words coming out of her mouth. I don't know how people at the back could hear her (or Joseph Milson at times) and I would have much preferred Dame Julie, Barbra, Joan Cusack, Lindsay Duncan, Cher.......hell, even Dame Barbara - at least she'd have tottered around...... nope, I really didn't think she did a good job.
We loved the script and the direction, though the ending felt a bit weak and someone else has already mentioned the relationship between severe angsty brother Simon and Freema's celeb character, which did seem a bit strange.
A great show and I love the Trafalgar studios - even if they didn't let me use my new ATG card at the bar, despite my ticket saying ATG on it. I've no idea why, but the lovely bartender did try to explain with such a sweet smile I really didn't care!
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4,943 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Aug 24, 2017 13:54:25 GMT
A great show and I love the Trafalgar studios - even if they didn't let me use my new ATG card at the bar, despite my ticket saying ATG on it. I've no idea why, but the lovely bartender did try to explain with such a sweet smile I really didn't care! What do I know, but I suspect it's because Trafalgar Studios is now owned personally by Howard Panter and Rosemary Squire, rather than ATG. But then, if you don't care, I've just wasted two minutes of my life.
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6,232 posts
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Post by Jon on Aug 24, 2017 15:43:16 GMT
ATG only handle the ticketing for Trafalgar Studios now, I wouldn't be surprised if like the Donmar, they switch to a different ticketing system in due course.
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514 posts
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Post by callum on Aug 24, 2017 17:49:06 GMT
I would have much preferred Dame Julie, Barbra, Joan Cusack, Lindsay Duncan, Cher.......hell, even Dame Barbara - at least she'd have tottered around...... nope, I really didn't think she did a good job. Walters or Andrews?
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2,302 posts
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Post by Tibidabo on Aug 24, 2017 20:20:51 GMT
Ha ha! Ok, maybe not everyone would have done a better job....
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2017 19:44:59 GMT
I must say, I didn't think I would be as excited as I am to see this tomorrow! Stockard of course being the main draw for me, but the play itself looks pretty great too.
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196 posts
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Post by rockinrobin on Aug 28, 2017 12:38:08 GMT
Nabbed a stalls ticket for tonight. Very excited. Joseph Millson, here I come!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2017 17:41:09 GMT
Just realised too, this will be my first time in this theatre! I saw Vanities in the smaller space last year, but this will be my first time in the larger space!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2017 19:45:07 GMT
Well this is a fabulous play! Enjoying it alot more than I expected too, Stockard is fantastic, as are all the members of the cast. That scene that follows the dress moment really is something impressive, as soon as dinner is served you get some stellar acting moments to follow the great acting that happened prior! And what a cliffhanger to end Act I on!
Very responsive audience, I'm at the end of BB, and the view is so good for £15. You don't miss any faces and you get to really feel a part of the action. Really enjoying it, looking forward to seeing what happens next!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2017 21:45:02 GMT
Well... what a fabulous evening. I really enjoyed this play alot. The cast was fantastic all over, and I was surprised to find that Stockard (the main draw for me) was one of five faces I had seen previously! They were all fantastic. The switch between drama and comedy was obvious but also somehow subtle. You never really saw the switch coming, but when it happened, you really were along foe the ride! I also loved the set, which whilst it never changed, it was a set that was very detailed and you were really brought into the reality with it. Clearly the audience loved it too, and I wouldn't hesitate to return again to the show before it closes in October!
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196 posts
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Post by rockinrobin on Aug 29, 2017 9:47:26 GMT
I enjoyed it too. The play is brilliant, funny and bitter at the same time, and acted very subtly. I love simple stories which turn out not to be so simple when you look closer... And oh, my massive crush on Joseph Millson is even more massive now.
(And I have Stockard Channing's autograph. My dad is a big fan of Grease so he'll get green with envy when I show it to him.)
The only thing I did not like was the phone belonging to a lady next to me. She checked it every 10 minutes. Come on...
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Post by HereForTheatre on Aug 30, 2017 7:56:02 GMT
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498 posts
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Post by anthony on Aug 31, 2017 8:43:31 GMT
Saw this last night and loved it. Thought that Laura Carmichael was brilliant -- by far the stand out. This should be doing much better than it is. The last 4 rows of the Studio were basically empty last night.
I will always wonder if Claire enjoyed Thursday night............
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4,567 posts
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Post by Someone in a tree on Aug 31, 2017 16:24:23 GMT
I really enjoyed this. Good play.
Last time I was in this theatre was for the John Doyle Sweeney Todd and it was configured differently. When did the studio become more 'proscenium'
(I also remember the old theatre, now I'm showing my age)
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Xanderl
Member
Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on Sept 3, 2017 8:51:11 GMT
TodayTix is now selling some of the £15 seats in advance rather than just as day seats. Row BB for the day I looked at.
Am I right in thinking that BB is better than AA due to proximity to the stage, unless you end up with someone tall in front?
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1,189 posts
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Post by theatrefan77 on Sept 3, 2017 9:39:06 GMT
You are correct. BB is much better. AA is far too close for such a high stage. I sat in row BB on Friday and had a tall person in front but didn't interfere with my view at all as I still had to look up. Had the stage been lower it would have been a problem but it wasn't the case. The view was great value for £15. You don't miss anything.
Loved the play. It's funny, sad, witty...Great acting too. Stockard Channing is excellent.
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Xanderl
Member
Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on Sept 3, 2017 10:09:33 GMT
Ta! Looks like the whole of BB is on sale in advance (played around with multiple browsers to get a seat on the aisle ) So presumably the rush seats are now just AA plus whatever else is offered on the day.
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1,936 posts
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Post by wickedgrin on Sept 9, 2017 9:12:48 GMT
First - a rant.....
I have often posted my great experiences with Box Office staff at WE theatres - getting deals on tickets at the last minute by just rocking up and being charming and polite...so I think it only fair to report when this doesn't happen and my irresistible charm proves ....well resistible!
I was unexpectedly free in the WE last night and too late for TKTS or Today Tix so I rocked up at the box office at the Trafalgar Studios at 7.15pm to buy a ticket and of course in search of a deal. The foyer was busy. I asked the girl on the box office when it was my turn to be served if she had a single seat for tonight (with a smile of course) and her response was " You want to buy one?" "Yes" I replied. "You're not picking up a ticket?" "No, I'd like to purchase one" I responded. "Oh, just wait a minute while I serve people picking up tickets". She then proceeded to deal with other people in the queue behind me. Several minutes went by and I was stood there like a lemon. Eventually her male colleague called me over and said "Can I help?" "Yes" I responded. "I would like to purchase a ticket for Apologia, sorry to be a nuisance, it seems buying a ticket from a box office is unheard of!". The girl, who was stood doing nothing now looked sheepish! "I can offer you £35 at the back or £65 at the front". "Can you do me a deal on a good seat?" I asked oozing what little charm I could muster at this point. "No" - he responded " We are very busy tonight". "Excellent" I said "I'm delighted you have managed to sell a few tickets, I'll leave it, thank you for your time anyway". "Just a minute" he says "I can offer you a mid side stalls ticket with a slightly restricted view for £35". "OK I'll take that" I said and bought the ticket. When I got into the auditorium at 7.28 there were swathes of empty seats - it was around 60% full. The row behind me was empty - so I moved back a row and along and sat in a £65 seat! The box office guy must have known the seats were empty on the screen......? No-one challenged me about moving just before the lights went down and I thought if they did they were going to get their head ripped off!!!
Rant over!
So....to the play. I was glad I wasn't sat at the back as I simply would not have heard several members of the cast.
A mixed bag I thought. Act One was excellent, good plotting , lots of laughs and really enjoyed it. But I thought the play fell apart in Act Two and did not live up to the promise of Act One.
Performances mixed too. Loved Laura Carmichael, who stole the show for me and Desmond Barrit was hilarious - no projection issues there. Joseph Millson, I thought was unconvincing as the two brothers and his monologue in Act Two was almost completely inaudible.
Stockard Channing, was OK, looked amazing for 73, and a dream of a role but I could not help but think what a better actress could have made of it - think Judi Dench, Helen Mirren, Julie Walters.
An enjoyable evening though as I was not familiar with the play and some really good laughs - loved the business with the dress!! LOL.
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Post by wickedgrin on Sept 9, 2017 10:45:22 GMT
Yes, I clearly caught them at a busy period....but I got a good seat at a reasonable price in the end. All's well that ends well, and I did enjoy the play.
Regarding rows AA and BB - they are close and the huge kitchen table must affect sight lines. I am surprised they put the rows in to be honest, unless they were expecting sell out audiences and anticipated extra revenue. However, this play does not appear to have caught on - quiet for a Friday night I would have thought.
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Post by Mark on Sept 9, 2017 10:47:21 GMT
It's an interesting one. I did the same the other week at Half a Sixpence. Plenty of seats showing online. It was either £25 for way back in the stalls or £72.50 for front stalls. No discounts offered and as cheap as the upper circle seats had been reduced I didn't want to sit up high. Went to TKTS and got a great central row N seat for £25, row M was completely empty so a nice clear view. I could have gotten front stalls for £39.50 but didn't consider the extra to be worth it. There was a play I saw last year, where I went and asked if there was any cheap last minute deals. "Yes, they're £10 in the upper circle" he said. Perfect, thanks I said. "And because the upper circle is closed I'll move you to 4 rows back in the stalls". Printed the ticket, crossed out my old seat and put the new, and a very happy me going into the theatre.
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1,936 posts
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Post by wickedgrin on Sept 9, 2017 10:54:11 GMT
It's unusual for me to have a bad experience, to be honest, but it does seem to depend on the whims of the box office staff/producers at that particular performance and time. Unless it is a really hit show (Harry Potter, Hamilton) they have a balancing act to perform of maximising revenue and filling seats. You win most, you lose sometimes. You cannot take it personally!
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Xanderl
Member
Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on Sept 18, 2017 11:34:36 GMT
24 hour deal from TodayTix of tickets for £15 for any performance this month (which looks to be the next 30 days, rather than just the rest of September). I tried and initially got offered the usual row BB seats but playing with a few browsers eventually managed to get row G Extra £10 off with the many £10 referral codes such as SEZCE
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1,103 posts
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Post by mallardo on Sept 29, 2017 13:28:02 GMT
I was very disappointed in this. What are we supposed to make of it? Yes, the activist youth of the 60s and 70s were into change and social justice and all that and, yes, they might have been so focused on the Big Picture that they neglected to see to the well being of those closest to them, like their children. It's a tired premise, ploughing a field that has already been ploughed into dry dust. And this play offers no new insights.
The cast were fine but they couldn't bring it to life. Stockard Channing got a standing O at the end - for what? She's a wonderful actress but seemed, frankly, miscast and could make very little of the role. Perhaps I'm being harsh but my expectations were high and they were not met. It was all so banal.
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Post by Tibidabo on Sept 29, 2017 14:06:34 GMT
Stockard Channing got a standing O at the end - for what? She's a wonderful actress but seemed, frankly, miscast and could make very little of the role. Completely agree with this - in fact I thought she was dreadful and the rest of the cast carried the show - which I enjoyed more than you seem to have done.
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Post by orchidman on Oct 2, 2017 22:33:51 GMT
A fairly entertaining show but nothing special. As people have said, Act Two doesn't really deliver a payoff to Act One, which had been reasonably promising.
The characters aren't wholly believable, can't possibly imagine the soap actress ever getting together with the younger brother, and the American girl's IQ seems to jump about 25 points during the interval. Having one actor play both brothers didn't really work but the cast was fine. I think three characters have the same tick of following the previous person's statement with a question like "Is that so?" or "Did you?" which I couldn't tell if was for some effect or just mediocre writing.
The writing in general felt like the competent end of second-rate, characters saying the things the playwright needed them to say (the soap actress suddenly having an informed opinion about the 1968 generation, the American girl suddenly knowing about patriarchy and who George Eliot was) rather than what they would actually have said. Some amusing lines, a good crescendo before the interval but no real depth to it.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2017 22:35:05 GMT
Her face looks like someone squeezed it
In the photo
Like a stress ball
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