151 posts
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Post by gra on Apr 20, 2019 13:21:00 GMT
Very disappointed to see so many negative comments about a show weeks before it has opened, many made by people who have presumably never seen it, or Kelsey Grammer live on stage. Man of la Mancha will probably not attract massive audiences but is a wonderful musical which we are lucky to see performed, accompanied by the glorious ENO orchestra. It is totally misguided to presume the lead role has to be 'sung'(suggestion of Bryn Terfel for heaven's sake!) but has to be put across by a fine actor. Many who saw Kelsey in 'Big Fish' would feel he fits the bill. Lonny Price always comes up with interesting productions of these semi-staged musicals so there is much to look forward to. I wonder how many people would say the things the say to people’s faces. Everyone’s entitled to opinions (and agree to disagree) , but it’s getting a tad poisonous or school yard bitchy for a show that hasn’t even had its first preview. But hey ho...what do I know (As usual) Unfortunately this sniping at ENO musicals has being going on every year since 'Sunset Boulevard' with comments sometimes made by people who quite obviously have not seen the show. For example someone criticised the dreadful orchestral sound through the speakers in 'Carousel' not realising that it was the natural acoustic one from the orchestra pit! Agree with 'tad poisonous'! A shame, because at its best this forum is great.
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Post by horton on Apr 20, 2019 15:15:45 GMT
Actually the sniping pre-dates that: Kismet and On the Town also garnered plenty of criticism. And then there was the whole Pirates of Penzance fiasco.
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Post by Fleance on Apr 20, 2019 15:55:12 GMT
I love the ENO/Coliseum and try to get there whenever I'm in London, if there's something on that appeals to me, either opera or musical theater. I remember seeing Pacific Overtures there many years ago -- the only production of that musical I've ever seen. I loved it, though I don't think it was considered a big success. I've also enjoyed, in varying degree, ENO productions of La Traviata, The Force of Destiny, Marnie, and Porgy and Bess. I generally like Lonny Price's work, particularly his productions of Company and Sweeny Todd with the New York Philharmonic.
I've never seen Man of La Mancha on stage. I like the original cast album very much -- not the movie, though. But I just don't like Kelsey Grammer, so I won't go. As an American, I've seen Grammer on television, on innumerable chat shows, etc. It's not a question of whether he's a good actor/singer or not. I just don't like him. I'm allowed not to like him, and not to go to see him. It's not sniping. It's ok to have negative opinions. One tries to express them respectfully, but it's totally ok to express them!
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151 posts
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Post by gra on Apr 20, 2019 16:37:27 GMT
When talking about the ENO sniping, I was referring to the recent 'stand-alone' Summer musicals which started with S. Boulevard and the very unfortunate comments which started as soon as the show and cast were announced.
It is generally acknowledged that 'Kismet' was a total disaster and the bad reviews by those who saw it well-deserved.
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Post by Fleance on Apr 20, 2019 17:57:56 GMT
It is generally acknowledged that 'Kismet' was a total disaster and the bad reviews by those who saw it well-deserved. You probably know this -- apologies if I'm repeating a story that has already been posted here: When Kismet opened on Broadway in late 1953, NYC was in the midst of a newspaper strike. As a result, it was a challenge for the producers to get the word out. They managed to do so, and that, combined with word-of-mouth, helped make the show a hit. It won the Tony Award for Best Musical. When the newspaper strike was over and the reviews came out, they were mixed; some good, others (e.g. The New York Times) were not. So the strike was said to have contributed to the success of the show. In those days, the Tony Awards (to my knowledge) did not announce nominees; just winners. I think the only other musical of note that year was Can-Can. I saw a student production of Kismet at a college in New Jersey a few years ago. It was great fun.
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Post by gra on Apr 20, 2019 18:28:39 GMT
It is generally acknowledged that 'Kismet' was a total disaster and the bad reviews by those who saw it well-deserved. You probably know this -- apologies if I'm repeating a story that has already been posted here: When Kismet opened on Broadway in late 1953, NYC was in the midst of a newspaper strike. As a result, it was a challenge for the producers to get the word out. They managed to do so, and that, combined with word-of-mouth, helped make the show a hit. It won the Tony Award for Best Musical. When the newspaper strike was over and the reviews came out, they were mixed; some good, others (e.g. The New York Times) were not. So the strike was said to have contributed to the success of the show. In those days, the Tony Awards (to my knowledge) did not announce nominees; just winners. I think the only other musical of note that year was Can-Can. I saw a student production of Kismet at a college in New Jersey a few years ago. It was great fun. I hadn't heard this before. Interesting! I rather like the show itself and have MD'd /conducted a couple of productions. It was the ENO production which is reckoned to have been a disaster. Michael Ball starred in this and often recounts stories of the shambles leading up to the first performances. On the other hand, the ENO 'On the Town' is generally considered a real success.
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Post by horton on Apr 21, 2019 9:36:22 GMT
Pacific Overtures was incredible- a true epic and I count myself lucky to have seen it.
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Post by gra on Apr 22, 2019 12:22:32 GMT
Just looked at my tickets which I bought on the first booking date. Stalls centre row C. £66 each!
Dynamic pricing has certainly kicked in!
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Post by sprampster on Apr 22, 2019 21:26:52 GMT
In which site ?? Please ??
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Apr 22, 2019 21:44:34 GMT
Just looked at my tickets which I bought on the first booking date. Stalls centre row C. £66 each! Dynamic pricing has certainly kicked in! That's interesting. I remember looking when the tickets first went on sale and as i recall front centre stalls even for previews were £105.
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Post by wickedgrin on Apr 22, 2019 22:27:22 GMT
Gosh, this opens on Friday. Still full prices and lots of availability.
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Post by gra on Apr 23, 2019 9:27:28 GMT
Just looked at my tickets which I bought on the first booking date. Stalls centre row C. £66 each! Dynamic pricing has certainly kicked in! That's interesting. I remember looking when the tickets first went on sale and as i recall front centre stalls even for previews were £105. I was surprised as well as I booked these so long ago. But that's the price on the tickets!
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Post by poster J on Apr 23, 2019 9:29:06 GMT
Up to 44% off offer in Time Out today - no idea where the tickets are, but they are at least starting to publicly advertise discounts to try to fill the seats!
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151 posts
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Post by gra on Apr 23, 2019 9:33:53 GMT
Gosh, this opens on Friday. Still full prices and lots of availability. They have still sold a lot of stalls tickets for more than £100. A lot of the availability is in the back/sides of the Dress and Upper circle. This is where there are some deals. I think the stalls discounts will come on a daily basis when the show starts, at places like the Leicester Square ticket booth
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Post by Mark on Apr 23, 2019 9:35:11 GMT
I’d be surprised if they didn’t have rush like Chess did. These tended to be the extreme sides of the Dress and Upper.
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Post by JJShaw on Apr 23, 2019 9:39:06 GMT
I got my ticket from time out, £35 upper to £20, hope i haven't missed out on a later deal!
interested to see the show, its not one im familiar with
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Apr 23, 2019 23:54:45 GMT
I see that seats in the front rows of the stalls are currently priced between £65 and £75 for most weekday performances. I'm sure that's a price cut and getting close to what I'm hoping to pay.
Still plenty of availability but there has definitely been a significant increase in sales since I checked a couple of weeks ago.
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Post by theatrenewbie on Apr 24, 2019 8:06:12 GMT
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Post by Oleanna on Apr 24, 2019 9:13:00 GMT
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Post by theatrenewbie on Apr 24, 2019 10:13:59 GMT
Well that’s what I thought! Something positive atleast about the show! Kelsey doesn’t sound bad either, guess we’ll find out in a couple of days
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Post by jamb0r on Apr 24, 2019 12:38:29 GMT
Just seen TodayTix are offering £25 rush tickets for this
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Post by nash16 on Apr 26, 2019 8:53:01 GMT
Today Tix helping bail this one out momentarily again:
£10 for nosebleed seats on Press Night.
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Xanderl
Member
Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on Apr 26, 2019 9:09:18 GMT
£25 rush tickets on todaytix - just had a look and got offered row L of the stalls.
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Post by jamb0r on Apr 26, 2019 9:12:29 GMT
I just had a look too and was offered row C stalls. Much better than they were offering previously for Chess!
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Apr 26, 2019 9:20:55 GMT
I've already got shows booked tonight, tomorrow and next Tuesday, alas, so hoping for similar offers in May.
£25 for row C stalls is a brilliant deal. Not so good for the financial backers who must be hoping for great reviews from Press Night and a surge in bookings.
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Post by wickedgrin on Apr 26, 2019 10:17:19 GMT
Yes, I too checked Today Tix at 11.00am and still Rush tickets available for tonight at £25. Offered row K of the side stalls. On the ENO website for £105!! A good deal I would say apart from for the producers. Still LOADS of tickets available for tonight. I cannot go tonight but may check it out for that money just to hear the orchestra alone. Anyone going tonight/tomorrow?
Edited to add that I don't even think rave reviews will save this. Press night is Tuesday I think. Still a lot of availability even for that - back of the Circle and loads in the Upper Circle, although to be fair they have managed to fill the stalls!
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Xanderl
Member
Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on Apr 26, 2019 12:09:41 GMT
Still rush tickets available so it looks like they are pushing more tickets out this way rather than openly discounting. Just got offered a £105 seat in row G stalls Press night is Tuesday I think. Still a lot of availability even for that - back of the Circle and loads in the Upper Circle, although to be fair they have managed to fill the stalls! Yes, but they have presumably filled the stalls by giving out free tickets to the press
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Post by mrbarnaby on Apr 27, 2019 12:30:46 GMT
The set for this looks truly hideous. I was on the edge about whether to see this but that has put me of 100%.
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Post by xanady on Apr 27, 2019 12:43:56 GMT
Decided in the end to pass on this.Agree with mr barnaby about the set.The fact that anyone not savvy enough to know about discounted tickets and who rock up into London(eg tourists) and unknowingly pay full whack is rather distasteful.Sounds like another cash-grab like OFAH.
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Post by terrylondon79 on Apr 27, 2019 12:58:39 GMT
Looks like today's matinee may be cancelled.. Everyone's outside and they have no power...
And the one time I'm quick enough for the the todaytix rush. ☹️
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