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Post by TallPaul on Dec 4, 2017 14:40:51 GMT
They’re doing 3 Sunday matinees in December. True, but two of those are Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, which all but rules out train travel afterwards.
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18,791 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Dec 4, 2017 16:14:37 GMT
Don’t know where you live but last train out of Manc to Sheffield (as an example) in New Year’s Eve is about 11pm.
That’s not to say I’d like to be on it!
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Post by sf on Dec 6, 2017 0:01:50 GMT
Just got home from seeing this evening's performance. It's a wonderful, fresh, thoroughly enjoyable take on the show, it has an absolutely terrific cast - and it isn't racist at all unless you have the IQ of biscotti.
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Post by martin1965 on Dec 6, 2017 7:18:13 GMT
Just got home from seeing this evening's performance. It's a wonderful, fresh, thoroughly enjoyable take on the show, it has an absolutely terrific cast - and it isn't racist at all unless you have the IQ of biscotti. Excellent. Though why did you have to mention biscotti, after all the overwraught fluttering about Madeleines at the Bridge Theatre!
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1,210 posts
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Post by musicalmarge on Dec 6, 2017 7:49:57 GMT
Where is the show meant to be set now?
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Post by Honoured Guest on Dec 6, 2017 10:03:22 GMT
Harlem, in the Renaissance.
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1,119 posts
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Post by martin1965 on Dec 6, 2017 12:13:41 GMT
Thats the Harlem renaissance of the 1930s not Florence in the 16th century😆😆
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Post by maggiem on Dec 15, 2017 12:35:03 GMT
Saw this last night, and thought it was brilliant! I have booked for the matinee next Thursday. Great performances by all, colourful costumes, simple but effective staging, great band too. A very nice introduction to a musical I had never seen in full.
I'll be watching the film version over the Christmas period as well.
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Post by Honoured Guest on Dec 16, 2017 13:11:46 GMT
The run has been extended until Sat 3 Feb.
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3,059 posts
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Post by Dr Tom on Dec 20, 2017 22:20:24 GMT
Saw this yesterday. Really good, packed full of energy and the score seemed "jazzed up" to me, which suits the material perfectly.
I saw the West End production and tour a year or two back and didn't take to it (even though I like the music). For this one, the jokes hit well and some excellent vocal performances, particularly from Ashley Zhangazha (Sky) and Lucy Vandi (Miss Adalaide).
Pretty full in the lower two levels. I think there were some seats at the back of the upper level, but I really wouldn't want to sit there. The view in the Stalls is pretty good from everywhere due to the tiered seating and the staging in the round.
A few people didn't return after the interval, which surprised me, but it is a long show and the religious subject matter could be considered controversial nowadays. One downside, I had a foot tapper near me and, due to the design of the stalls, the taps vibrate all the way down row. Thankfully, it was intermittent rather than every song.
Recommended anyway. I'd allow 20 minutes for a fast walk from Piccadilly Station, plus another 5 minutes to dodge around the Manchester crowds this time of year. Then 5 to 10 minutes in the station itself, depending which side of the station the platform is on. This finished about 10:20pm yesterday, including an additional call for donations at the end.
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1,119 posts
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Post by martin1965 on Dec 21, 2017 6:39:47 GMT
Odd that some people dont come back for second half! Its all about gamblers and the seedier part of NYC, i dont understand the religion comment. Crikey! Thought most of the poster on here were youngsters, if you cant walk to Piccadilly in 15-20 mins you are in trouble!! Am going in January, very much looking forward to it, i saw the recent revival in Chichester and it was brilliant, im intrigued on how this will compare.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Dec 21, 2017 7:20:03 GMT
I do like Guys and Dolls but it is a long show
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Post by Dr Tom on Dec 21, 2017 10:20:31 GMT
Odd that some people dont come back for second half! Its all about gamblers and the seedier part of NYC, i dont understand the religion comment. It is a show with Biblical references, the Salvation Army, people talking about going to heaven and ultimately gambling their souls. Several of the songs sound like hymns. Nothing that would bother me, but enough to make some people uncomfortable in this day and age.
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18,791 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Dec 21, 2017 13:28:26 GMT
I do like Guys and Dolls but it is a long show They could cut that whole Cuba scene out for me, and it would be better for it.
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Post by amadeus on Dec 21, 2017 14:52:24 GMT
I saw this a few weeks back. Guys and Dolls is one of my favourite shows so I can quite easily overlook production faults, but this production was one of the better ones I've seen. The cast were strong and sang the score beautifully. Vocally they embraced the 'jazz' style the director was going for. I didn't take to some of the musical arrangements (like The Oldest Established) but on the whole this wasn't a problem; the dancing certainly made up for it! The lighting and the production design in general worked really well in the space. The stage never felt overcrowded, yet at the same time never bare. The direction wasn't particularly innovative, but this was only noticeable in the first few scenes. By the time we reached the nightclub scene I was full immersed.
I'd love to see this again when I head back up to Uni. I had to leave after Sit Down Your Rocking to catch a tram to the station. My train was delayed for 25 minutes so I'm gutted I missed the last 10 minutes! Sadly the exchange don't offer student tickets for matinees!!
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4,956 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Dec 21, 2017 14:57:21 GMT
Sadly the exchange don't offer student tickets for matinees It may involve a little work and/or getting up early, but I think you can book £10 seats on the day.
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Post by amadeus on Dec 21, 2017 15:01:42 GMT
Sadly the exchange don't offer student tickets for matinees It may involve a little work and/or getting up early, but I think you can book £10 seats on the day. Thanks! I'll definitely give that a try.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Dec 21, 2017 17:00:49 GMT
It may involve a little work and/or getting up early, but I think you can book £10 seats on the day. Thanks! I'll definitely give that a try. The dayseats are the banquettes at the front.
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18,791 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Dec 27, 2017 9:40:14 GMT
Just saw the dayseats being promoted on Facebook
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Post by bimse on Dec 31, 2017 10:38:13 GMT
Thoroughly enjoyed this production, the matinee on 30th December was just about full. I thought it was a good take on this musical, but not all of the ideas worked, the Cuba scene (I didn’t think the fluorescent costumes looked too good) and Miss Adelaide’s nightclub scenes , which fell a little flat somehow. That’s the direction, and no criticism of Lucy Vandi as Miss Adelaide, a terrific performance, with great comic timing, and superb singing, one of the best performances. Maybe I’m spoiled with memories of Julia McKenzie in this role. The set was good and interesting to look at without being too busy. I loved the jazzy Salvation Army band , and the wonderful comedy of this show came across very well.
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4,631 posts
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Post by Phantom of London on Jan 4, 2018 22:28:38 GMT
Saw this, this afternoon.
The Royal Exchange Christmas musical should be on a avid theatre bucket list, with the Crucible, The Curve and Menier and all do incredible Xmas shows. The Royal Exchange is truly a one of a kind theatre, with exceptional guest services.
Guys and Dolls is up there in the canon of greatest musicals of all time, as the story is so deliriously silly, but yet hilarious and the story revolves around two loveable rogues, in musical history (Nathan Detroit and Sky Masterson), the Royal Exchange in conjunction with Talawa have put on an impeccable observed production, which made me glad I went. The only dissapointment was that the programme, which costs £4 and does have great articles included, but doesn’t have a song list 😤😤😤.
4 Stars
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18,791 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 13, 2018 23:08:38 GMT
Enjoyed the show tonight without being blown away. Strong leads for the two guys and I like Adelaide although I would have preferred a bit more scatty/naive. Sarah Brown was the weakest of the four vocally.
The Havana scene was hugely pared back compared with the last tour/WE production where it went on forever (vanity project for Carlos Acosta maybe). Much snappier this time and better for it. Also no reprise of Sit Down despite a big reception from the audience.
A solid three stars from me.
Audience demographic was only very slightly different from the usual REM. crowd. 99.5% white instead of the usual 99.9% white.
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1,119 posts
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Post by martin1965 on Jan 20, 2018 18:15:16 GMT
Just on way home after todays mat. Enjoyable without being fantastic. Thpught the two male leads stronger than the female. Seen Ako Mitchell in three shows now and he has been excellent in them all. Smallish ensemble danced their socks off. Still the best Broadway Musical ever.
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1,119 posts
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Post by martin1965 on Jan 20, 2018 18:25:20 GMT
Forgot to add, totally agree with comment above about stupid schoolboy error to not list the musical numbers in the programme!
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