1,868 posts
|
Post by Marwood on Nov 6, 2017 12:05:26 GMT
Email from The Other Palace this morning: 'BIG FISH has accepted the kind invitation from the Royal office to be part of this year’s Royal Variety Show. As a result there will not be a performance on the evening on November 24th' The email then goes on to say: 'Please could you call 0207 087 7900 to arrange a new date to attend Big Fish at no extra charge.' Having just called The Other Palace, and spent at least 10 minutes listening to the most boring, soporific music while on hold that I think its ever been my misfortune to have to endure, I was put through to an operator who didn't seem to have a clue what I was talking about. I asked for a date towards the end of next month, only to be told that I'd have to pay an additional £2.50 to do so. After repeatedly reading out the bit about 'no extra charge' I was told that the prices go up in December - after trying to explain that is not my fault and that they had decided to cancel the show, not me, and that I realised the show I'd booked for was at the end of the preview period but I was not trying to grab a free upgrade to premium seats (I had booked row B), I decided to cut my losses and get a refund, I'll go and see something somewhere else where the ticket office have a bit more class and understanding (was not expecting too much from this to be honest, I thought the film was pretty terrible and only booked to see Kelsey Grammar, but as it looks like his Broadway gigs are drying up when he starts playing venues like this, he'll probably be appearing in panto this time next year).
|
|
578 posts
|
Big Fish
Nov 6, 2017 13:22:33 GMT
via mobile
Post by lou105 on Nov 6, 2017 13:22:33 GMT
At least you've had the email. I realised last week that the performance I'd booked for clashed with the Royal Variety and saw that it had been taken off the website. A confused box office worker eventually got confirmation from a supervisor that I was correct but said I should wait for an email. By Sunday afternoon I decided just to book another set of tickets then get a refund when the email arrived. Still waiting..
|
|
4,965 posts
|
Post by TallPaul on Nov 6, 2017 14:53:25 GMT
Okay, here's a question for those much closer to the coalface than I am.
I know it's all for charity, but you only really appear on the RVP, especially if it means cancelling a long scheduled performance, to sell tickets, an album, or comedy DVD.
By the time the RVP is broadcast on ITV, there will be less than a month of Big Fish's run left. So, does this mean a future life is on the cards, otherwise why bother?
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Nov 6, 2017 15:30:19 GMT
Given the positive word of mouth on this forum from early previews, I think a transfer is very much on the cards.
Lloyd Webber always said that the Other Palace was going to be used to work on musicals before they become too fixed with the computer programming required with a big show.
|
|
2,452 posts
|
Post by theatremadness on Nov 6, 2017 16:06:36 GMT
Could it also be that because Kelsey Grammer is so well known, what with Cheers/Frasier being the phenomenon it was even in this country, and being the voice of Sideshow Bob in The Simpsons (which most people do seem to know), it was also a good excuse to get someone properly famous on the RVP and so they brought Big Fish along with it? Do shows have to pay to be on there or is it a case of giving up time for free as it's for charity? Or everyone just gets paid anyway?
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2017 16:17:31 GMT
Okay, here's a question for those much closer to the coalface than I am. I know it's all for charity, but you only really appear on the RVP, especially if it means cancelling a long scheduled performance, to sell tickets, an album, or comedy DVD. By the time the RVP is broadcast on ITV, there will be less than a month of Big Fish's run left. So, does this mean a future life is on the cards, otherwise why bother? Aren't ATG producing? Would definitely imagine they're aiming for a transfer!
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2017 10:56:05 GMT
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Nov 8, 2017 12:00:36 GMT
I saw this show having no previous knowledge of the musical or the film.
I thought it was very well (if economically) staged and performed with special mentions to Matthew Seaton-Young - a glorious voice, Jamie Muscato - a very engaging performance as the Young Edward Bloom and a completely show stealing performance from Clare Burt who had the best moment in the show with a beautiful ballad "I don't need a roof" in the second act, beautifully played. Incidentally she reminded me of a young Millicent Martin - for those old enough to remember!
However, I did not "connect" with the material or the story at all. It was far too sweet and sentimental for me. It felt like a real "Christmas" show somehow and I felt like Scrooge muttering "Humbug"! Parts of the show felt very derivative of others - Wicked, The Wizard of Oz - journeys and stories, with the company all dressed in green at various points. Plus the ending of Act One was a complete restaging of the ending end of Act Two of The Girls just substituting daffodils for sunflowers.
I felt that the fantasy story elements, although well staged, needed more budget to really work.
I have to report though that the packed audience around me LOVED it. Two guys in front of me openly weeping at the end and the whole audience spontaneously rose to their feet at the end.
3* for me - a solid production of a schmaltzy show!
|
|
614 posts
|
Post by jamb0r on Nov 8, 2017 13:07:18 GMT
Plus the ending of Act One was a complete restaging of the ending end of Act Two of The Girls just substituting daffodils for sunflowers. I thought that too, however if you search on youtube you can find footage of the Broadway production (which was pre-The Girls) and this scene was pretty similar to how they've done it at The Other Palace, so it was definitely Big Fish's idea 'first' 😀
|
|
4,159 posts
|
Post by HereForTheatre on Nov 8, 2017 13:12:34 GMT
I think you'll find that The Girls act closer was a restaging of the Big Fish act closer.
|
|
4,159 posts
|
Post by HereForTheatre on Nov 8, 2017 15:10:37 GMT
Does the proscenium mean that the seats more at the sides of the rows have a side on/restricted view? I'm looking one a seat now but it's only the 5th seat in the row and i don't want to miss anything.
|
|
614 posts
|
Post by jamb0r on Nov 8, 2017 16:53:39 GMT
The proscenium mean that the seats more at the sides of the rows have a side on/restricted view? I'm looking one a seat now but it's only the 5th seat in the row and i don't want to miss anything. I was sat 3rd seat from the end of row C and didn't miss a thing. When I saw the proscenium arch they've put in I was worried, but everything happens in front of it and not behind.
|
|
426 posts
|
Big Fish
Nov 8, 2017 17:11:38 GMT
via mobile
Post by alison on Nov 8, 2017 17:11:38 GMT
I was on the very end of row L and didn't miss a thing.
I loved the show, and really thought that doing it with the older and younger actors worked brilliantly.
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Nov 8, 2017 17:11:56 GMT
I think you'll find that The Girls act closer was a restaging of the Big Fish act closer. Ah OK, so the other way round. As I said, I had no prior knowledge of the show at all.
|
|
734 posts
|
Big Fish
Nov 8, 2017 18:11:18 GMT
via mobile
Post by dippy on Nov 8, 2017 18:11:18 GMT
I sat on the end of row B (high number side) and did miss stuff but I think B is the longest row.
|
|
131 posts
|
Big Fish
Nov 8, 2017 22:14:29 GMT
via mobile
Post by blobble84 on Nov 8, 2017 22:14:29 GMT
Hi all - I potentially have a spare ticket for the matinee tomorrow (Thursday). Any takers? Would rather it gets used than go to waste. Drop me a message.
|
|
989 posts
|
Post by nash16 on Nov 9, 2017 2:09:48 GMT
|
|
3,057 posts
|
Post by ali973 on Nov 9, 2017 4:00:08 GMT
^ I personally don't think reviews in the British press amount to much anymore. In New York, yes. I honestly think in London, most of the shows are driven by the audience and word of mouth.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2017 6:18:29 GMT
Those reviews are wrong. Plain and simple wrong. I understand opinions are opinions, but sometimes they are just wrong.
|
|
885 posts
|
Post by lonlad on Nov 9, 2017 8:04:10 GMT
I agree completely. These reviews are INCREDIBLY stupid, even by the (already low) standards of London critics when it comes to musicals. I remember Terry Hands (ex-RSC and CARRIE) once saying he would rather do a musical and be panned in NYC than get raves in London where the critical knowledge of the genre is so poor.
|
|
665 posts
|
Big Fish
Nov 9, 2017 8:09:04 GMT
via mobile
Post by westendcub on Nov 9, 2017 8:09:04 GMT
I disagree with all those reviews especially ‘The Telegraph’ very Pompous critic that seems to hate anything that borders on emotion or matters of the heart.
Don’t read ‘The Stage’ review yet as it contains two major plot spoilers for no good reason.
This is looking like my musical of 2017!!!
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2017 8:17:46 GMT
I haven't seen the show yet, but Michael Billington's review seems like a combination of his not really liking musicals that much and really just wanting to see a lot of Kelsey Grammer on stage. Hopefully Susannah Clapp will be going too so we can get something a little less leaning-towards-failure-from-the-off from her.
|
|
2,452 posts
|
Post by theatremadness on Nov 9, 2017 8:38:23 GMT
I've always wondered the reason why the Guardian sometimes review things twice with different reviewers? Anyway, you can tell the reactions from people on here who've seen it are pretty genuine so I'm definitely more inclined to listen to you guys! I'm away for the entire run so I wouldn't mind a transfer to be able to see it!
|
|
2,566 posts
|
Post by viserys on Nov 9, 2017 8:45:11 GMT
Billington sounds like a lot of sour grapes.
"I am not sure that right now the world needs a paean to a narcissistic fantasist like Edward(...)" sounds like a dig at Trump and while I detest Trump as much as the next person, I really don't need to see him shoehorned into everything.
And as much as I'm a feminist who likes to see strong women on stage, this: "(...)the women in the story are marginalised(...)" sounds daft to me - it IS far and foremost the story of a father-son-relationship after all and at least Sandra gets to sing what I think is the show's best song.
I hope Ali is right and the critics don't matter much. If word of mouth spreads and the run at the Other Palace sells out, surely a transfer could still happen.
|
|
Xanderl
Member
Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
|
Post by Xanderl on Nov 9, 2017 8:50:23 GMT
I've always wondered the reason why the Guardian sometimes review things twice with different reviewers? Often they will review it for the Guardian, then again for the Observer on Sunday - but on the website all the Observer content just appears as Guardian content.
|
|
885 posts
|
Post by lonlad on Nov 9, 2017 8:56:05 GMT
Trust me, Susannah Clapp will hate it - SO not her cuppa - that said, I doubt she will bother to see it. Sigh ..... it's SUCH a sweet and warm-hearted production.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2017 9:18:13 GMT
Meh. Reviewers don't mean anything. I mean they're just people with an opinion writing a load of old nonsense on the interweb.
Oh.
|
|
|
Big Fish
Nov 9, 2017 9:22:55 GMT
via mobile
Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2017 9:22:55 GMT
WOS 3 stars Times 3 stars Metro 3 stars ES 3 stars The stage 3 stars London theatre 3 stars Guardian 2 stars Telegraph 2 stars
I doubt it will be transferring anywhere And it will be papering to fill what’s left no doubt
A show which was never a critical hit on Broadway
Has also been received unfavourably here despite being reworked
Enjoy it while you can
It’s also way way below WE standards in terms of staging and budget
|
|
|
Big Fish
Nov 9, 2017 9:42:59 GMT
via mobile
Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2017 9:42:59 GMT
In fairness, most dates have few tickets left according to the qebsite, i get some are sent to agencies. in terms of sales, they should be good for its run.
I know they don't mean much, the reviews, but its still frustrating when these reviewers slam shows that audiences love.
|
|
1,868 posts
|
Post by Marwood on Nov 9, 2017 9:44:25 GMT
When I tried to (unsuccessfully) change my tickets for another date, plenty of availability on every single day I looked at (and I look at two weeks worth), so no, not looking likely for a transfer (well not to Broadway anyway, maybe somewhere on the waffles and grits circuit?)
|
|