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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2018 12:22:55 GMT
Flowers is a pretty small show - it would need a smaller venue than the Savoy I think.
The Savoy only has about 150 more seats than the Crucible in Sheffield, and is actually slightly smaller than the Chichester Festival Theatre.
That said, it would need some restaging to go in there because the Savoy doesn't have a thrust stage (it would need some restaging for any West End theatre apart from the Gillian Lynne).
But isn't the Savoy stage huge? It needs a small stage to keep its intimacy
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Post by sf on Jul 9, 2018 21:37:26 GMT
The Savoy only has about 150 more seats than the Crucible in Sheffield, and is actually slightly smaller than the Chichester Festival Theatre.
That said, it would need some restaging to go in there because the Savoy doesn't have a thrust stage (it would need some restaging for any West End theatre apart from the Gillian Lynne).
But isn't the Savoy stage huge? It needs a small stage to keep its intimacy
A small stage like the very large thrust stages at the Crucible and the Chichester Festival Theatre?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2018 5:50:20 GMT
But isn't the Savoy stage huge? It needs a small stage to keep its intimacy
A small stage like the very large thrust stages at the Crucible and the Chichester Festival Theatre?
The nature of them being thrust stages creates a sense of intimacy which is vital for this piece.
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Post by sf on Jul 10, 2018 14:45:36 GMT
A small stage like the very large thrust stages at the Crucible and the Chichester Festival Theatre?
The nature of them being thrust stages creates a sense of intimacy which is vital for this piece. That may or may not be true. Neither stage is "small", which was your original point. And it is certainly possible to make a proscenium theatre feel relatively intimate. For the number of seats it has, the Savoy does not feel large. 'She Loves Me' - a show which, in terms of scope/setting/atmosphere is not that different from 'Flowers for Mrs. Harris' - played very well in there.
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Post by Oleanna on Jul 10, 2018 16:08:10 GMT
I think this show would be well suited to the Noël Coward.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 10, 2018 16:14:05 GMT
Gypsy looked absolutely tiny at The Savoy. It was my first visit and I remember walking in and thinking how narrow the stage appeared because they’d built a false proscenium.
I was surprised how well The Apollo created the illusion of a thrust for Jamie, or at least how effectively it came across at the cinema screening.
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Post by galinda on Jul 26, 2018 10:52:22 GMT
Anyone who saw this before in Sheffield.. do you think it would appeal to a non musical theatre fan? Thinking of getting tickets but will be going with my boyfriend who isn't a theatre buff like myself. What shows does it compare to?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2018 11:43:05 GMT
I was surprised how well The Apollo created the illusion of a thrust for Jamie, or at least how effectively it came across at the cinema screening. I'd have thought a thrust for Jamie would have been the last thing they'd want, especially for a cinema screening. Wouldn't that have shown through some of the frocks?
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Post by grannyjx6 on Jul 26, 2018 22:03:31 GMT
Anyone who saw this before in Sheffield.. do you think it would appeal to a non musical theatre fan? Thinking of getting tickets but will be going with my boyfriend who isn't a theatre buff like myself. What shows does it compare to?
Personally I would say no. I went on my own and really enjoyed it in Sheffield. I think my husband might just have fallen asleep to be honest. It's a sweet, old fashioned piece with a very definite theme of working class being looked down on, but eventually proved to save the day, a bit like The Admirable Crichton (but from a woman's perspective) if that's any help?
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 27, 2018 6:25:27 GMT
^^ Agree. The score is very Sondheimy for starters which could be an issue, and the other theme is women’s fashion in the 50’s. As I was leaving and listening to what people were saying there was a split of opinion with men tutting and grumbling and women cooing about how lovely it was. Not EVERYone obviously but enough for me to notice it.
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Post by galinda on Aug 10, 2018 14:47:47 GMT
Thanks for the replies. Still not decided on whether to book or not! Maybe I can drag a theatre obsessed friend instead!
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Post by CG on the loose on Aug 11, 2018 18:18:57 GMT
Thanks for the replies. Still not decided on whether to book or not! Maybe I can drag a theatre obsessed friend instead! I hesitate to be so instructive in light of the slightly mixed views above, but GO! I thought it was glorious and am really looking forward to seeing it again next in a couple of weeks,
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Post by alece10 on Aug 11, 2018 20:57:41 GMT
Didn't realise how much the train fare from London to Chichester has gone up. £30.60 cheapest return ticket so with the theatre ticket and lunch not much change from £100. Makes it an expensive day out but still looking forward to seeing the show in September.
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Post by showgirl on Aug 12, 2018 4:54:46 GMT
Apologies to others for going off-topic but alece10 do you not have any type of railcard? Or is the fare you've quoted already allowing for a discount? I know it would depend on how much you could use it, but even when I only had the Network Southeast version, with its lesser availability and reductions, I would recoup the £30 cost within weeks just through my regular twice-weekly trips to London. With my Senior version, there is no longer a minimum fare (£13 with Network Card) and I can use it an hour earlier on weekdays (9 am instead of 10 am) - and it's valid throughout the UK and even on already-reduced tickets such as Saver fares, which is amazing and great for theatre trips to other cities. Also, Southern (now GTR) do a cheap online-only one-day ticket (Daysave, £19.50, link below) for travel anywhere within their region, which can be cheaper than any day return, even discounted. Even with SWT there should be similar deals on offer. www.southernrailway.com/tickets/ticket-types-explained/daysave
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Post by alece10 on Aug 12, 2018 8:34:10 GMT
Apologies to others for going off-topic but alece10 do you not have any type of railcard? Or is the fare you've quoted already allowing for a discount? I know it would depend on how much you could use it, but even when I only had the Network Southeast version, with its lesser availability and reductions, I would recoup the £30 cost within weeks just through my regular twice-weekly trips to London. With my Senior version, there is no longer a minimum fare (£13 with Network Card) and I can use it an hour earlier on weekdays (9 am instead of 10 am) - and it's valid throughout the UK and even on already-reduced tickets such as Saver fares, which is amazing and great for theatre trips to other cities. Also, Southern (now GTR) do a cheap online-only one-day ticket (Daysave, £19.50, link below) for travel anywhere within their region, which can be cheaper than any day return, even discounted. Even with SWT there should be similar deals on offer. www.southernrailway.com/tickets/ticket-types-explained/daysave Many thanks for that info showgirl. I don't have a railcard as I probably use National Rail once a year if that (as I live and travel within London) most of the time, but the link to the Daysave ticket was great as its nearly half the price of the cheapest day return to Chichester so I am going to book that. Great tip, thanks again.
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Post by galinda on Aug 17, 2018 11:00:41 GMT
I hesitate to be so instructive in light of the slightly mixed views above, but GO! I thought it was glorious and am really looking forward to seeing it again next in a couple of weeks, I went ahead and booked it. Ticket was cheap and it's a day out even if he doesn't like it
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Post by learfan on Sept 4, 2018 17:58:30 GMT
I dont normally ask this but i am trying for a certain london train after the matinee on 22 September. What is the running time? A few here saw the show in Sheffield. I am hoping for 2 hrs 45 max. Ta muchly.
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Post by musicalmarge on Sept 7, 2018 5:18:13 GMT
I have three side stalls tickets for this next Wednesday evening show and can’t go.
Anyone want them for free? I saw in Sheffield and ADORED IT.
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Post by grannyjx6 on Sept 7, 2018 21:54:20 GMT
I have three side stalls tickets for this next Wednesday evening show and can’t go. Anyone want them for free? I saw in Sheffield and ADORED IT.
Oh what a shame. I hope someone can take advantage of your generous offer. Would the theatre not let you exchange them for another date though?
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Post by emsworthian on Sept 8, 2018 7:34:18 GMT
I dont normally ask this but i am trying for a certain london train after the matinee on 22 September. What is the running time? A few here saw the show in Sheffield. I am hoping for 2 hrs 45 max. Ta muchly.
According to an email from CFT I received today (I'm going to matinee on 15 Sept), it has a running time of 2 hrs 30 mins including interval.
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Post by learfan on Sept 8, 2018 8:31:10 GMT
I dont normally ask this but i am trying for a certain london train after the matinee on 22 September. What is the running time? A few here saw the show in Sheffield. I am hoping for 2 hrs 45 max. Ta muchly.
According to an email from CFT I received today (I'm going to matinee on 15 Sept), it has a running time of 2 hrs 30 mins including interval.
Thanx
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Post by alece10 on Sept 8, 2018 10:04:20 GMT
Heads up for anyone going next weekend and travelling by train from London. Engineering work means part of journey is by bus plus proposed industrial action. So will be a fun journey.
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Post by latefortheoverture on Sept 10, 2018 19:35:00 GMT
Has anyone heard any inklings of a transfer- gutted doesn't begin to describe how I feel about not being able to see it!
Do you think it could take the same route as 'Caroline, Or Change'; play a run off-west end then a west end run?
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Post by musicalmarge on Sept 10, 2018 21:22:33 GMT
Has anyone heard any inklings of a transfer- gutted doesn't begin to describe how I feel about not being able to see it! Do you think it could take the same route as 'Caroline, Or Change'; play a run off-west end then a west end run? Not with the current huge revolve staging no
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Post by theatremadhatter on Sept 11, 2018 11:38:34 GMT
Just booked to see this. Didn’t see it in Sheffield but don’t want to miss it again. Love Claire Burt she has such and interesting quality and is a brilliant actress.
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Post by frankubelik on Sept 11, 2018 13:07:12 GMT
Saw this last night......The positives: it's a very sweet story largely well acted, sung and is very engaging. Clare Burt is outstanding and it's fun to see other actors doubling in the two acts (Ms Riding rather over mannered in Act 1 though but great in Act 2!) The faux Dior creations pretty even if they could be better modelled. My problem was with the score. It never really goes anywhere and in those moments crying out for something, it falls flat. On that note I found it very disappointing. I also wonder if it would be better suited to the Minerva stage? The Chichester audience was somewhat bemused I thought with several leavers at the interval. Polite, sustained reaction at the end. There is a very good show in there, just needs a better composer. Sorry.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2018 16:58:48 GMT
Saw this today and after the first half I really wasn't sure. not a lot happens and it is almost inaudible at points. For me there was too much singing at times. The second half is brilliant, funny and deeply moving and by the end I loved it. The characters in the second half also seemed more likeable and more well rounded.
The score is not one of listen to but I the show is serviceable, not that it's a show that really has stand alone songs.
It also got a strong ovation than Me and My Girl when I saw it. 1/4 to half of audience were on their feet and applause was very enthusiastic.
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Post by alicechallice on Sept 15, 2018 17:01:54 GMT
I saw it last night and would agree there were sound issues during the first act. Almost like the band was too loud.
Loved the show though. Cried at the end.
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Post by alece10 on Sept 16, 2018 7:13:03 GMT
I went to the Saturday matinee performance and have to say I really enjoyed it. I knew very little about it before I went apart from the basis of the story and had not heard any of the music before. As someone else has pointed out the orchestra was drowning out the singing at the start of the first act but as it went on seemed to get better. To me there were no actual songs, it was more like continuing music (bit hard to explain really) but I really liked it and thought the singing was excellent. Clare Burt was outstanding as Mrs Harris. I cried at the end but out of happiness. In a way it reminded me of London Road in its musical style and I almost expected to here "ive got 20 hanging baskets" at the end.
The downside was the journey from London. Door to door it took me 12 hours and I was exhausted when I got home. Engineering work on the line meant we had to go allover the place to get there. Im sure I could have gone by train to Manchester to see a show and get back quicker.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Sept 16, 2018 7:32:21 GMT
I went last night and loved it.
It is composed with a having a few songs but it’s is mostly recitative. Again loved it, I hope a recording is made.
Clare Burt for PM and Joanna Riding, Laura Pitt-Pullford, Claire Machin & Nicola Sloane as the cabinet. Great to see such well written parts for woman and wow this was well cast.
Certainly the best musical I have seen this year. I totally recommend.
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