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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 7, 2019 7:36:08 GMT
There’s very little sold for the rest of the week so I’m pleased they had a reasonable house last night. Such a shame for that talented cast to be playing to a few people in the centre stalls. I haven’t seen any more ATG offers which I find completely mystifying. Why don’t they get people in for ten or fifteen quid rather than having it so empty?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2019 9:04:15 GMT
That 'twist' at the end. What a cop out! BurlyBeaR exactly the same situation as you. I was sat stalls center of row M and really struggled to understand alot of what was said/sung in Act 1 and some of Act 2 meaning I really didn't care about anything going on in the second act. I think it's a combination of really bad sound design made worse by the forced accents. Whatever PA they were using was definitely the wrong choice for this venue. There was no clarity in anything, you could hear it all, granted, but no definition in the sound. Everything was just there in a mush of sound. I don't think the accents helped at all. They could establish we're in France early on and leave it at that. Phantom manages to place itself in Paris pretty successfully without the need of dodgy accents throughout it. I also though the lighting design was incredibly cheap. That glowing clock and the two specials, the globes, also pulsing away all night needlessly. Far too much LED Tape on the set, probably because it's cheap. A Lot of missed cues and lots of a bad focus meant the wrong characters were lit in people heavy scenes. Musically I really enjoyed it, but unfortunately as mentioned couldn't follow much of it. There was some tittering during bits of the first act, but mostly during the little dialogue there was connecting the songs. It felt a bit underdeveloped to me. Once the guy gets his box back we don't see him again, so we've wasted alot of time following that just to show she likes returning stuff to people. They'd be better off doing more to establish and develop a stronger Amelie/Nino relationship. I had no reason to invest in Nino and didn't see why she would suddenly fall for him. The Elton John scene felt like an unnecessary big finish crowbar-ed in for the sake of a big act closer. Same for the fig attack. Needless distraction from what could be a nice show. Agree there's far too much of people on stage for the sake of seeing them. There was a lot of unnecessary direction, such as when everyone is facing upstage except Amelie, why does the cello player turn round to play facing the audience, with no discernible lead or reason? There were a few understudies on, I'm fairly sure Danny Mac wasn't Danny Mac. Really enjoyed the score but there quite a few flaws in it's execution unfortunately.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2019 9:16:15 GMT
Do have to say, perhaps I didn't get into it because I was far too bemused by the Asian girl sat next to me who had brought along a plate of suishi, which sat on her lap for the duration.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Aug 7, 2019 9:23:57 GMT
There was some minor issues with the sound when i went, i agree it could be quite a bit clearer, but it wasn't a major problem at all. I stand by my review that it was excellent.
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18,778 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 7, 2019 9:25:32 GMT
Maybe I’m not going deaf after all then.
It was definitely Danny Mac. I saw that Sunset Boulevard tour four times, I could pick Danny out of a line up any time, even with his clothes on.
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Post by theinvisiblegirl on Aug 7, 2019 10:02:24 GMT
There’s very little sold for the rest of the week so I’m pleased they had a reasonable house last night. Such a shame for that talented cast to be playing to a few people in the centre stalls. I haven’t seen any more ATG offers which I find completely mystifying. Why don’t they get people in for ten or fifteen quid rather than having it so empty? I’d love to see it again this weekend especially as Danny wasn’t on the day I saw it but after paying £10 for second row in Leicester I don’t really want to pay the high Manchester prices!
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4,158 posts
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Post by HereForTheatre on Aug 7, 2019 12:02:12 GMT
Maybe I’m not going deaf after all then. It was definitely Danny Mac. I saw that Sunset Boulevard tour four times, I could pick Danny out of a line up any time, even with his clothes on. Petition to bring Sunset Boulevard back.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2019 12:24:53 GMT
Maybe I’m not going deaf after all then. It was definitely Danny Mac. I saw that Sunset Boulevard tour four times, I could pick Danny out of a line up any time, even with his clothes on. Petition to bring Sunset Boulevard back. I was sat in Manchester Opera House last night thinking how Sunset Blvd would have been a better fit there than up the road at the Palace. Then found myself wishing that was still rolling.
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Post by xanady on Aug 7, 2019 14:27:33 GMT
Shame about sound issues as the show is packed with layered exposition and the songs are plot-ridden.The thick French accents are an attempt at authenticity,I believe but in Brum the sound wasn’t too loud,so although we caught everything in the front stalls,some patrons may have not heard everything in other areas of the theatre.In the bar at the interval one guy was telling his friend that he was sick of hearing the sound engineer in the rear stalls on the desk talking loudly via his head mike throughout the first act so not sure what was going on?All the symbolism with the telescope,living in the clock,the fish,the revenge figs dance,Amelie’s isolation as a child with the neurotic parents, the ripped photos and masses more come thick and fast.We are going to see this again as I felt that I had missed a lot as events came one upon another.My daughter and I discussed this for days after seeing it and we both felt each other had spotted/missed various allusions,imagery and metaphors.Some lovely songs and great to see actor-musicians on stage.A favourite show of 2019 without a doubt and a great fridge magnet with the gnome on it,no less.... Agree on Sunset Boulevard...thought it was sublime...
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Post by hussymare on Aug 19, 2019 21:58:13 GMT
Saw first night in Glasgow tonight. Wonderful and well received
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Post by BoOverall on Aug 30, 2019 16:53:13 GMT
Very tempted to book a ticket for this tomorrow night in Woking
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Post by fiyero on Aug 30, 2019 22:10:50 GMT
Very tempted to book a ticket for this tomorrow night in Woking Do it! I saw the show in Wimbledon and adored it. I booked to see it in Southampton (in a more suitably sized theatre!) as soon as I knew it was coming and have added a second visit too now!
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Post by duncan on Aug 31, 2019 9:25:49 GMT
As noted the sound mix is awful, its a wall of noise for a lot of the time with very few discernible lyrics.
As a play, its a far better telling of the story than the film but as a musical its an abject failure - there is nothing memorable about the music or lyrics.
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Post by jampot on Aug 31, 2019 10:48:42 GMT
Very tempted to book a ticket for this tomorrow night in Woking Do it! I saw the show in Wimbledon and adored it. I booked to see it in Southampton (in a more suitably sized theatre!) as soon as I knew it was coming and have added a second visit too now! I saw it in Bournemouth and like you have booked for Southampton...Its incedible...Loved it sooo much..What a musical adventure...Both my friend and I were in tears at the end...Will drop in to the other palace over the festive period for a further viewing...Would love a cast recording..
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Post by stevejohnson678 on Aug 31, 2019 11:08:10 GMT
Another repeat visitor here. Saw it in Leicester, booked again for Liverpool Playhouse and contemplating a trip to The Other Palace too! Audrey Brisson and Amelie are a match made in heaven and the whole production is just magical.
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Post by xanady on Aug 31, 2019 15:39:13 GMT
There is something magical about this show and I too will be seeing it again in London near Christmas.
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Post by bimse on Sept 2, 2019 8:48:11 GMT
Bit late posting but won free tickets via sky for the Manchester Opera House. Surprised to be in the second row of the stalls, centre seats. I’m so glad to have seen this musical, all the performances were brilliant , very engaging , and the set was perfect, interesting without overshadowing the perfirmers. Like some previous observations I found the direction a bit fussy at times, too many people centre stage and too much going on . This tended to divert attention away from the action. Having never seen the film and knowing next to nothing about the story, I was none the wiser for much of the show . I guess the opening pieces gave much information about what was to come , but due to the busyness and the lack of audibility (even from the second row ) I missed a lot . I’ve still no idea what the figs were all about !
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3,072 posts
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Post by david on Sept 2, 2019 15:28:13 GMT
I didn't have any plans to go and watch this, but from the positive reviews this production is generating from Board members, I've just booked for the Liverpool Playhouse run.
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Post by originalconceptlive on Sept 5, 2019 23:39:40 GMT
Live acoustic rendition of 'Stay':
I hadn't really cared for Audrey Brisson's voice in a video of 'Times are Hard for Dreamers', but I'm on board now! She sounds lovely here.
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Post by xanady on Sept 8, 2019 15:30:16 GMT
^A question about the figs? There is a character who is a grocer who bullies his assistant.Amelie is appalled and when she learns that the grocer has a phobia or allergy about figs,she imagines a scenario where giant figs dance and torment the grocer as revenge.Strange,but the show is full of such abstract invention. This was my interpretation but I concede that It is only guesswork.
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Post by fiyero on Sept 30, 2019 21:41:59 GMT
I am on my way home from my second visit, this time at NST City, Southampton. Have they changed the way Amelie gets to her room? I don’t remember that part from Wimbledon.
I loved the show again, it deserves a recording but I know that is a big ask. I wonder if the Americans would have take to this version?
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18,778 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 1, 2019 17:11:19 GMT
I am on my way home from my second visit, this time at NST City, Southampton. Have they changed the way Amelie gets to her room? I don’t remember that part from Wimbledon. I loved the show again, it deserves a recording but I know that is a big ask. I wonder if the Americans would have take to this version? In Manchester it involved the lampshade.
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Post by xanady on Oct 1, 2019 17:24:49 GMT
Yeah,In Brum,it was quite a rapid vertical lift on a Kirby wire,I’m thinking and into the clock face...I think they used it too many times,though...it lost its impact imo.
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Post by stevejohnson678 on Oct 15, 2019 7:25:29 GMT
Fantastic to see this playing to a packed house at the Liverpool Playhouse last night at the start of its final week on tour. The whole week in Liverpool seems to have sold really well, surprisingly so compared to the rest of the tour, despite Les Mis being on round the corner at the Empire. No Danny Mac who finished on Saturday, but as long as Audrey Brisson was on I was going to be happy. Can't wait to see it again on Friday and so pleased for the cast they're getting the audience numbers they deserve to round off the tour before they head to The Other Palace.
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Post by marob on Oct 15, 2019 12:56:42 GMT
I'm seeing it on Thursday so that's good to hear. Surprising too as I went there to see Little Miss Sunshine a few weeks back and that had hardly sold any tickets. Never seen it so quiet there. Interesting that an adaptation of a French film has sold so much better than a Hollywood film, I would have assumed it would be the other way round.
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Post by david on Oct 15, 2019 14:58:45 GMT
I'll be at the Thursday night show myself. Looking forward to it after all the positive reviews that have been posted.
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Post by ABr on Oct 15, 2019 16:46:52 GMT
Anyone spotted any offers for The Other Palace run? Missed this on tour so wanting to catch it while its in town!
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Post by amp09 on Oct 15, 2019 21:15:45 GMT
There have been a few, but you are now in the run-up weeks, so my guess is you may have to wait for Black Friday now. Oh what happens on Black Friday? Is there a specific website to be checking?
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Oct 16, 2019 9:59:32 GMT
Lots of shows and booking websites have good deals on Black Friday. Checking here would probably be the best advice!!
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Post by amp09 on Oct 16, 2019 10:47:50 GMT
Lots of shows and booking websites have good deals on Black Friday. Checking here would probably be the best advice!! Fab, I shall book the morning off work to grab some deals 😆
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