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Post by emicardiff on Nov 16, 2018 17:42:33 GMT
Oh lordy. Maybe I should slide over to the unpopular opinions thread but I have never 'got' the appeal of Grammer, even before you know he was a Trump supporter.
I liked him in Big Fish, but he doesn't have the voice for this.
I was going to say, but having only seen him in La Cage I didn't feel qualified to say...but this does need a capitol S Singer really.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 16, 2018 18:10:42 GMT
It'll be more like 'The Possible Scream'...
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Post by ali973 on Nov 17, 2018 10:22:10 GMT
Oh lordy. Maybe I should slide over to the unpopular opinions thread but I have never 'got' the appeal of Grammer, even before you know he was a Trump supporter. Same. I really don't get it. And I severely disliked him prior to Trump because he's made his views very public back when people still had shame. To co-star in a Finding Neverland is fine..I thought he was completely unnecessary in Big Fish (I would have preferred one Edward Bloom)..but this is well over his capacity. With that score, I really need someone who can sing it.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Nov 17, 2018 10:36:19 GMT
50 performances of this will be a mighty tough sell. I am genuinely intrigued as to the thought processes that came in the run up to taking the decision to programme this particular piece.
It doesn't have much, if any, name recognition in the UK. I can't find reference to any significant professional revival here - just the original West End version in 1968 (253 performances)
It is loved in the US - very long original run on Broadway and many revivals/tours. But it has never found favour in the UK.
So why, out of all the musicals they could have considered, did they land on one with a tiny band (no strings - just small ensemble of wind and brass with guitar and percussion), relatively small chorus contribution and next to know UK awareness?
I thought the reason for using the resources of ENO and the Coliseum was to give musicals a chance to have the resources that only a major space/company can afford.
Oh to see the minutes from those planning meetings...
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Post by n1david on Nov 17, 2018 10:41:28 GMT
i wonder what happened that Bryn Terfel was involved with this and no longer seems to be... his name would have shifted a few tickets (like me for example, but no way on the current cast)
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2018 10:49:35 GMT
Well Sheena Easton played Dulcinea in a Broadway revival back in the 90s. She might have enjoyed being back in London.
Alternatively, oooh it's a long way from Wakefield 'ere in La Mancha. Just saying....
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Post by jek on Nov 17, 2018 11:02:25 GMT
Danielle de Niese was very good in the London Symphony Orchestra Wonderful Town last year.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Nov 18, 2018 8:48:00 GMT
5. So why, out of all the musicals they could have considered, did they land on one with a tiny band (no strings - just small ensemble of wind and brass with guitar and percussion), relatively small chorus contribution and next to know UK awareness? I thought the reason for using the resources of ENO and the Coliseum was to give musicals a chance to have the resources that only a major space/company can afford. Oh to see the minutes from those planning meetings... I was listening to it on Spotify and thought it sounds thin and not a valid reason for EN0’s resources. I assumed Spotify had selected a budget recording for me to listen to Thanks for clearing it up. You’re right sounds like an odd choice. I wonder if we are going to get new orchestrations ?
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Post by schuttep on Nov 19, 2018 10:18:20 GMT
I love this musical and it is very operatic in size and intensity of emotion but I would prefer to see a singer/actress as Aldonza rather than an opera singer. I don't want to hear beautiful arias from Aldonza. i want her to sound and growl like a trucker. I totally agree. After all she was "born in a ditch". Aldonza, that is, not Danielle.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2018 23:13:00 GMT
I love this musical and it is very operatic in size and intensity of emotion but I would prefer to see a singer/actress as Aldonza rather than an opera singer. I don't want to hear beautiful arias from Aldonza. i want her to sound and growl like a trucker. I totally agree. After all she was "born in a ditch". Aldonza, that is, not Danielle. Definitely and it's one of the toughest roles for a woman, the vocal range but the emotion. When she appears it's men treating her as a piece of meat and fighting them off. The second big number is after the rape. To sing these as beautiful arias would be distracting for me. As stand alone in a concert sing it beautifully I would love it but for the narrative of the show, I am not your lady, i am not any kind of lady. (All male cast anyone? It is set in a prison/imagination after all)
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Post by groupbooker on Nov 29, 2018 1:26:50 GMT
There was a film version with Peter O'Toole as the Don Q and Sophia Loren as Aldonza. The only time I have seen the "show" in the UK.
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Post by theatrenewbie on Jan 31, 2019 10:56:47 GMT
Cassidy Jansen to alternate the roles of Aldonza/ dulcinea. And Nicholas lyndhurst to play innkeeper. For west revival of man of La Mancha
According to Facebook, and Instagram and ENO
Your welcome
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Post by theatrenewbie on Jan 31, 2019 10:58:22 GMT
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Post by oxfordsimon on Jan 31, 2019 11:07:27 GMT
It gets crazier
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Post by jgblunners on Jan 31, 2019 11:46:39 GMT
Wait so is Aldonza/Dulcinea a legit soprano role or a belty MT role? If Cassidy has been cast I’m inclined to think the latter in which case De Niese is surely terribly miscast?
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jan 31, 2019 11:56:19 GMT
Are the producers wanting to file for bankruptcy?
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Post by theatrenewbie on Feb 20, 2019 10:10:57 GMT
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Post by wickedgrin on Feb 20, 2019 10:40:10 GMT
Well a quick check on the ENO website and virtually NO tickets have been sold for this! Ticket prices in the stalls and Dress £125 £75 £65 £50 - more at weekends top price £150.
Show opens in a couple of months - end of April. I love musical theatre but the choice of show does not appeal and the casting of Kelsey Grammer is underwhelming. I saw him in the musical Big Fish at The Other Palace and his performance was very average IMO and his name could not even sell out that small venue!
The producers must be having sleepless nights after constantly refreshing the booking website and seeing the lack of sales!
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Post by Someone in a tree on Feb 20, 2019 11:43:34 GMT
I would be interested in seeing La Mancha but I haven't really enjoyed any of these musicals at ENO... Put it on at southwark with a different cast, charge me 20 squid and then I would be happily booking
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Feb 20, 2019 11:59:11 GMT
I was deterred from ever going to the London Coliseum again when in summer 2017 seeing Bat Out Of Hell on a hot day they refused to allow me to take in the packet of sandwiches and fruit juice I had bought. Showed the M&S receipt when the security chap said it was due to an alcohol ban but he still refused.
I did succumb for Kiss me Kate for a much-reduced price on a front row seat.
Carousel did well there because of the star casting esp. Alfie Boe but that won't work with Kelsey Grammer. Their policy appears to be to charge opera prices for musical theatre. No chance
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Post by learfan on Feb 20, 2019 16:04:52 GMT
This show has been on my list for ages but the combination of cast and prices has put me off. There will be deals for this or Frasier will be singing to a lot of empty seats!
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Post by waybeyondblue on Feb 20, 2019 19:27:45 GMT
I was deterred from ever going to the London Coliseum again when in summer 2017 seeing Bat Out Of Hell on a hot day they refused to allow me to take in the packet of sandwiches and fruit juice I had bought. Showed the M&S receipt when the security chap said it was due to an alcohol ban but he still refused. I did succumb for Kiss me Kate for a much-reduced price on a front row seat. Carousel did well there because of the star casting esp. Alfie Boe but that won't work with Kelsey Grammer. Their policy appears to be to charge opera prices for musical theatre. No chance Don’t forget KMJ - she made AGRB look almost pliable.
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Post by Dawnstar on Feb 20, 2019 20:02:31 GMT
Carousel did well there because of the star casting esp. Alfie Boe but that won't work with Kelsey Grammer. Their policy appears to be to charge opera prices for musical theatre. No chance Given the premium ticket prices that now afflict most of the West End, I'm not sure how fair it is to say that opera tickets are more expensive than musical theatre ones nowadays. Hamilton is charging £200 top price vs ENO's current Boheme £125 top price.
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Post by anthem on Feb 20, 2019 21:36:38 GMT
I actually really enjoyed Chess last year but this isn’t my cup of tea at all.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Feb 20, 2019 23:00:21 GMT
I don't go to the Opera and I can only judge by an online booking I made for a friend when the price seemed astronomical to me but yes premium musical theatre seats are probably at a similar level now.
I still feel that the London Coliseum is a very expensive venue. My Saturday 8 June matinee stalls seat for On Your Feet at the Curve in Leicester has cost me £45. For the equivalent seat at the Saturday matinee at the London Coliseum exactly one week later a ticket currently costs £157. I added a National Express coach return London to Leicester for £5 so a net saving of over £100 to spend on other shows. Plus I get to see it first at a lovely theatre and I won't be hassled over my refreshments...
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Post by Someone in a tree on Feb 21, 2019 0:41:32 GMT
I don't go to the Opera and I can only judge by an online booking I made for a friend when the price seemed astronomical to me but yes premium musical theatre seats are probably at a similar level now. I still feel that the London Coliseum is a very expensive venue. My Saturday 8 June matinee stalls seat for On Your Feet at the Curve in Leicester has cost me £45. For the equivalent seat at the Saturday matinee at the London Coliseum exactly one week later a ticket currently costs £157. I added a National Express coach return London to Leicester for £5 so a net saving of over £100 to spend on other shows. Plus I get to see it first at a lovely theatre and I won't be hassled over my refreshments... That is daylight robbery. I place a curse on the producers!
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Post by QueerTheatre on Feb 21, 2019 8:36:28 GMT
I don't go to the Opera and I can only judge by an online booking I made for a friend when the price seemed astronomical to me but yes premium musical theatre seats are probably at a similar level now. I still feel that the London Coliseum is a very expensive venue. My Saturday 8 June matinee stalls seat for On Your Feet at the Curve in Leicester has cost me £45. For the equivalent seat at the Saturday matinee at the London Coliseum exactly one week later a ticket currently costs £157. I added a National Express coach return London to Leicester for £5 so a net saving of over £100 to spend on other shows. Plus I get to see it first at a lovely theatre and I won't be hassled over my refreshments... Quick note to point out that shows like On Your Feet will have their prices set by the producers, not the venue. London Coliseum Box Office would only have a say on the Opera Productions that are 100% in house, even shows like Chess & Man of La Mancha have commercial co producers (which is why ENO manage to have 500 tickets at £200 or less, and give free tickets to under 18s for all their operas!) To call The Coliseum expensive does a disservice to them.
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Post by Snciole on Feb 21, 2019 9:26:46 GMT
I went to the launch of this on Tuesday and the timing was odd. Rehearsals haven't begun, the cast only got the script on Monday and as others have said this was last performed in 1968 in London when Michael Linnit fell in love with it and nobody else did. I think coming so soon after RSC's Don Quixote is an issue BUT I think there are audiences who have a lot of faith in the April/May ENO musical and Linnit confirmed that they were awaiting news of another big name to complete the cast, which may improve ticket sales. The cast seem enthusiastic about the musical though, I hope for their sake it translates to audiences.
I think DND's Glyndebourne commitments will be problematic and one of those shows where she is used to sell the show but you will see more of Janson.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Feb 21, 2019 10:37:46 GMT
Quick note to point out that shows like On Your Feet will have their prices set by the producers, not the venue. London Coliseum Box Office would only have a say on the Opera Productions that are 100% in house, even shows like Chess & Man of La Mancha have commercial co producers (which is why ENO manage to have 500 tickets at £200 or less, and give free tickets to under 18s for all their operas!) To call The Coliseum expensive does a disservice to them. Thanks for explaining this. I still have a lot to learn about the theatre business and this forum sure helps. I can only comment from my experience and all the shows I've been interested in at the Coliseum ( Bat Out Of Hell, Kiss Me Kate, Chess, Carousel, Man Of La Mancha and On Your Feet) have had what to me were very high prices hence my expensive comment. I did pay over £100 for to get a front row seat for Carousel but I was offered and booked discounted seats for BOOH and KMK
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Post by QueerTheatre on Feb 21, 2019 14:28:44 GMT
That is quite alright FrontroverPaul Of those shows, only 3 were ENO, and all were co-produced by Grade Linnit who will have set the box office targets & priced accordingly - if you like musicals though, i have a feeling that ENO's Merry Widow is going to be pretty accessible for a musical audience and tickets are far far cheaper!
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