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Post by Jon on Jul 14, 2018 22:43:31 GMT
Saw it tonight and enjoyed it a lot. It’s starts off as very typical Alan Bennett with this cosy hospital in Yorkshire with his assortment of characters, there is some cracking lines and a lot of the characters especially the self serving Chairman of the hospital and Samuel Barnett’s character are very true to life but then it’s take a very dark turn and Act 2 really does pick up the pace.
The oldies are the best but I do think some of the musical numbers could have been cut although I have to say, they use one song to very good effect at the end
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Post by david on Jul 14, 2018 22:57:14 GMT
Well after seeing this tonight, it really is a mixed bag. There are plenty of laughs to be had over the 2.5hrs, but there is a definite shift in tone from humour to some very dark and disturbing issues examined within the play, particularly at the end of Act 1 which then continues into the second act. Like other posts have mentioned I get the feeling that this could potentially be a marmite production. The audience I sat in with tonight seemed to relish what was offered, though I did notice a few empty seats post interval.
What cannot be hidden is the definite political message of the state of care of the elderly, both within the NHS and the private sector. Both sides got an equally bashing in the writing to be fair. Though I can imagine, this might not be to everyone’s taste for an evening out at the theatre. Though healthcare politics aside, the cast really where on fine form and considering that it was still in preview, the writing was very sharp and the gags, both in the text and visual ones landed easily with the audience. I don’t think that there where many towns left in Yorkshire that didn’t get ripped to pieces in one way or another.
The musical interludes really where fantastic and along with some witty choreography from Arlene Phillips, they really brought a smile and a few laughs to people’s faces.
What was noticeable from my Row B gallery seat was that there where not many empty seats in the auditorium. Personally, this is the first time I’ve seen the theatre full and it really made a difference to the atmosphere inside.
The set staging isn’t overly complex with a few sets sliding in and out from the wings when required. There aren’t any big sets, so for those people thinking of doing Rush tickets for the stalls Row A, there shouldn’t be any visual blocking and the stage isn’t particularly set high. Though just a word of warning for those who aren’t fans of audience participation, there is a bit of a clap along at the end to a song.
In all, despite the dark undertones and political bashing, a fun night out and one in my view worth watching.
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Post by dontdreamit on Jul 15, 2018 10:46:13 GMT
I had a seat booked on the side of row aa, and have just received an email to say they are much more restricted than they anticipated, so have moved me to gallery 1, r5. Has anyone sat in these side seats at this theatre? Debating whether I should just get a slightly dearer ticket or not on the day. I prefer to be as close as possible to the stage and restricted doesn’t actually bother me too much.
I’ve also got a feeling they’ve sold the same seats they’ve take off sale as rush tickets through TodayTix, so do wonder if they’ve had some complaints!
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Post by dontdreamit on Jul 15, 2018 11:12:52 GMT
I emailed them, and they called me straight back. Just to give everyone the heads up- they are having a production meeting tomorrow and they may very welll be taking out row a as well. I have 1 ticket in row a booked for August, and had one that has now been changed in row aa for September. They’ve offered me a free drink because of the change of seat for my aa, and the box office said I may well get a call tomorrow about my other ticket.
It’s a bit of a pain as I don’t mind restricted view tickets if it allows me to be closer to the front and buying them also allows me to see more theatre with limited funds!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2018 11:21:24 GMT
^ To be fair to the Bridge Theatre Box office, they’ve notified you in advance of some problems with your existing booking, responded immediately to your email with a phone call, explained what’s going on, offered you a complimentary drink for the trouble, and said they might well call you again with an update. That’s what I call service!
(I know you’re not complaining, and agree it’s a bit of a pain, especially when you’d selected particular seats for a reason, but I reckon a lot of box-offices could learn from their example...)
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Post by dontdreamit on Jul 15, 2018 11:27:57 GMT
^ To be fair to the Bridge Theatre Box office, they’ve notified you in advance of some problems with your existing booking, responded immediately to your email with a phone call, explained what’s going on, offered you a complimentary drink for the trouble, and said they might well call you again with an update. That’s what I call service! (I know you’re not complaining, and agree it’s a bit of a pain, especially when you’d selected particular seats for a reason, but I reckon a lot of box-offices could learn from their example...) I am a bit miffed about the seats, but you are right- the customer service is superb!
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Post by dontdreamit on Jul 15, 2018 11:29:44 GMT
And to add, they’ve only had 4 days of previews, so that’s pretty quick on their part.
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Post by Jon on Jul 15, 2018 11:49:35 GMT
Is it this the first time a show has removed seats during previews? Guess the height of the stage was proving to be an issue to those sat in the front
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2018 12:01:38 GMT
I'll be annoyed if they do take row A out. I paid £25 for it, knowing that the rows behind were £65, so I'm very clearly expecting it to not be the *most* terrific view. I'd be grateful if you could let us know what they say about your row A ticket as soon as you hear, so we (I) can call them directly and get our (my) exchanges sorted before they start calling everyone else. By the by, I sat way round on the sides of gallery 1 for Lucy Barton, and I had no complaints whatsoever. Obviously you're side on so run the risk of seeing more backs than those in centre stalls, but the rest of the audience doesn't get in your way at all, so it's a reasonable spot if you're after a bargain.
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Post by dontdreamit on Jul 15, 2018 12:13:16 GMT
I'll be annoyed if they do take row A out. I paid £25 for it, knowing that the rows behind were £65, so I'm very clearly expecting it to not be the *most* terrific view. I'd be grateful if you could let us know what they say about your row A ticket as soon as you hear, so we (I) can call them directly and get our (my) exchanges sorted before they start calling everyone else. By the by, I sat way round on the sides of gallery 1 for Lucy Barton, and I had no complaints whatsoever. Obviously you're side on so run the risk of seeing more backs than those in centre stalls, but the rest of the audience doesn't get in your way at all, so it's a reasonable spot if you're after a bargain. Thanks for the reassurance on the side seats! I will post as soon as I hear anything tomorrow. I am hoping that they leave in row a, but we will see...
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Post by showgirl on Jul 15, 2018 13:25:29 GMT
I also have a seat in row A for which I paid £25, but they haven't contacted me - so now I suppose I shall have to get in touch with them.
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Post by dontdreamit on Jul 15, 2018 13:35:21 GMT
They seem to have take row a off sale completely now looking at the website, but the person I spoke to earlier said there was going to be a meeting about it tomorrow where the descision would be made. AA has defrinately been pulled from sale already.
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Post by Peach on Jul 15, 2018 13:38:10 GMT
Row AA in this configuration are usually day seats so not on general sale.
Row A are the £25 seats and wheelchair spaces.
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Post by sf on Jul 15, 2018 14:52:42 GMT
I'll be annoyed if they do take row A out. I paid £25 for it, knowing that the rows behind were £65, so I'm very clearly expecting it to not be the *most* terrific view. I'd be grateful if you could let us know what they say about your row A ticket as soon as you hear, so we (I) can call them directly and get our (my) exchanges sorted before they start calling everyone else. By the by, I sat way round on the sides of gallery 1 for Lucy Barton, and I had no complaints whatsoever. Obviously you're side on so run the risk of seeing more backs than those in centre stalls, but the rest of the audience doesn't get in your way at all, so it's a reasonable spot if you're after a bargain.
Likewise on both counts. I booked row A for this expecting the view to be not as good as it would be from further back (and after having sat in the stalls in there with the theatre in the same configuration for 'Young Marx', I had a good idea of what I would be getting for the money, although I sat in one of the folding seats for Young Marx rather than in row A).
I'd be perfectly happy with a seat round the side of Gallery 1, though. I sat there for Lucy Barton too, and thought it was excellent value for what I paid.
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Post by showgirl on Jul 16, 2018 14:19:04 GMT
Having tried both galleries I wouldn't be pleased if they tried to move me to one of them as though gallery 1 was fine in terms of the view , the draught from the aircon was so savage that I had severe neck-ache afterwards and gallery 2 was too high. Plus I've never yet had the chance to sit in the front stalls and this was to be it. I expect that initially they are contacting only those due to see this soon, whereas I'm not going until September.
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Post by dontdreamit on Jul 16, 2018 15:26:38 GMT
Just to update, I’ve not heard anything back yet from them regarding my row a, but it does seem that that row are still off sale.
My aa ticket was for September. I am still hoping that the A row stays as that’s my August ticket.
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Post by littlesally on Jul 16, 2018 19:37:27 GMT
Another row A person. Be interested to see what happens. Row A tomorrow. Fingers crossed
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Post by showgirl on Jul 17, 2018 3:19:01 GMT
I contacted the Box Office to check and they said row A was unaffected. They weren't very forthcoming but I suppose that's all I needed to know, so it sounds as though, as above, it's row AA which has been a slight issue.
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Post by barbra99 on Jul 17, 2018 8:26:40 GMT
To put all your minds at rest, sat row A last night (22,23) and the view was fine, you don’t miss anything at all.
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Post by Snciole on Jul 17, 2018 8:56:13 GMT
I sat all the way up in Gallery 3 and the view was fine (Nobody cares about your cheap seat-Everyone)
I really enjoyed it, I'm mostly a Talking Heads Alan Bennett person though I enjoyed Alex Jennings in Hymn and Cocktail Sticks. This is Alan Bennett at his darkest but with a lot of warmth and understanding of current issues, which I am not sure I expected from a man in his 80s. The scene just before the interval is one of the funniest and finest twists I have seen in the theatre.
I am unsure about the casting of Samuel Barnett and Sacha Dhawan because due to their skincare regime/genetics they still look like they could be cast in The History Boys. Barnett is 38 and could feasibly be a management consultant trying to destroy the NHS with an 86 year old father but I wonder if some of the effort in ageing up Jeff Rawle (who is only 66) could have gone to ageing up Barnett. Dhawan gives a great performance but I think the character needed to be older or at least give an air of being older. Dhawan seemed very junior in his approach to his character.
I wasn't down for the singing but I got its purpose (when these old people have lost everything else they still had each other/the choir). Barbara Findlay is fantastic as Nurse Gilchrist and I am not sure if The Bridge is eligible for an Olivier but it felt like the sort of performance that deserves one.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2018 8:58:09 GMT
(Deborah Findlay. )
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Post by alece10 on Jul 17, 2018 10:34:24 GMT
Did anyone else think that Deborah Findley was channeling her inner Victoria Wood?
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Post by littlesally on Jul 17, 2018 10:35:11 GMT
To put all your minds at rest, sat row A last night (22,23) and the view was fine, you don’t miss anything at all. Phew. Good to hear. I’m in those very seats on Thursday!
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Post by Snciole on Jul 17, 2018 10:53:49 GMT
I sat all the way up in Gallery 3 and the view was fine (Nobody cares about your cheap seat-Everyone) I really enjoyed it, I'm mostly a Talking Heads Alan Bennett person though I enjoyed Alex Jennings in Hymn and Cocktail Sticks. This is Alan Bennett at his darkest but with a lot of warmth and understanding of current issues, which I am not sure I expected from a man in his 80s. The scene just before the interval is one of the funniest and finest twists I have seen in the theatre. I am unsure about the casting of Samuel Barnett and Sacha Dhawan because due to their skincare regime/genetics they still look like they could be cast in The History Boys. Barnett is 38 and could feasibly be a management consultant trying to destroy the NHS with an 86 year old father but I wonder if some of the effort in ageing up Jeff Rawle (who is only 66) could have gone to ageing up Barnett. Dhawan gives a great performance but I think the character needed to be older or at least give an air of being older. Dhawan seemed very junior in his approach to his character. I wasn't down for the singing but I got its purpose (when these old people have lost everything else they still had each other/the choir). Barbara Findlay is fantastic as Nurse Gilchrist and I am not sure if The Bridge is eligible for an Olivier but it felt like the sort of performance that deserves one. Ha! I mean Deborah! Who is Babara Findlay? Is she any good?
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Post by Jon on Jul 17, 2018 11:27:37 GMT
Samuel Barnett is 38?! He still looks like he’s in his 20s.
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