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Post by sf on Jan 18, 2019 17:53:29 GMT
I would be wary of being cheap and booking the back rows. I was row T, and the angle you're watching at is much steeper than it was designed to be, because the stage is so much further forward. So every head, in every seat, in front of you is potentially an issue. I was much more aware of the rest of the audience than I should have been, because I was looking down across them, rather than over.
For other shows in that theatre, that back row has been on sale at the same price as non-premium stalls seats further forward. At £21, based on the layout for this, it is reasonable value, and possibly better value than the (more expensive) balcony seats. Even given the rake, the view will be better than it usually is from the side benches they've replaced. The view won't be as good as it is from the first couple of rows, but - newsflash! - the view from the cheap seats is never as good as the view from more expensive ones, and paying more isn't always an option.
I saw SWEAT yesterday, for example, from the £10 seats in the Donmar. In that case, even if I'd wanted to pay more (and I didn't), there was literally no other choice when I booked the ticket: I couldn't get online at the exact time tickets went on sale, and when I got to a computer an hour or so later, that was what was left for the performance that fit my schedule. I didn't get as good a view as the people who paid £40, but I did get an experience that was worth having. The view from row T in the stalls in the Charing Cross Theatre, believe me, is better than the view from row C of the circle in the Donmar, where you're viewing the stage from (way) above AND from the side - but it was that or nothing, and the view was good enough to make the experience worthwhile.
For VIOLET, I imagine discounts will not be difficult to find unless it gets really spectacular reviews (which as far as I'm concerned it deserves) - but if no discount is forthcoming, seats in that row are significantly better value for this production than they have been in the past, when sitting in the back of the house has left you feeling as if you're peering down a tunnel at the stage.
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Post by sf on Jan 18, 2019 18:00:14 GMT
...and one more thing: the programme and the signs in the lobby say the show runs 90 minutes with no intermission. Last night it was closer to 110 - which I expected, it's the same version of the script used in the Broadway production, for which the running time was listed as 1 hour 45 minutes - and they are not going to get it down to 90 minutes without making huge cuts, which I would guess isn't going to happen. If you're planning trains etc, assume 1 hour 45.
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Post by melly on Jan 18, 2019 20:22:38 GMT
I would be wary of being cheap and booking the back rows. I was row T, and the angle you're watching at is much steeper than it was designed to be, because the stage is so much further forward. So every head, in every seat, in front of you is potentially an issue. I was much more aware of the rest of the audience than I should have been, because I was looking down across them, rather than over.
For other shows in that theatre, that back row has been on sale at the same price as non-premium stalls seats further forward. At £21, based on the layout for this, it is reasonable value, and possibly better value than the (more expensive) balcony seats. Even given the rake, the view will be better than it usually is from the side benches they've replaced. The view won't be as good as it is from the first couple of rows, but - newsflash! - the view from the cheap seats is never as good as the view from more expensive ones, and paying more isn't always an option.
I paid nothing for the seat, didn't make the sea of moving people any less distracting, and there wasn't anyone in the seat in front of me. Just giving a helpful warning to anyone booking, as the cheaper back rows seem to be getting a lot of recommendation based on the usual layout. Pillars, balconies, edges of circles and overhangs don't move, people do. Personally, I'm way more distracted/bothered by that than having to peer uncomfortably because of a restricted view, and just wanted to give people that extra piece of information to consider. Also, I paid £16 to see it with Sutton Foster, so £21 to look at people's heads isn't great value!
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Post by sf on Jan 18, 2019 21:43:44 GMT
I paid nothing for the seat, didn't make the sea of moving people any less distracting, and there wasn't anyone in the seat in front of me. Just giving a helpful warning to anyone booking, as the cheaper back rows seem to be getting a lot of recommendation based on the usual layout. Pillars, balconies, edges of circles and overhangs don't move, people do. Personally, I'm way more distracted/bothered by that than having to peer uncomfortably because of a restricted view, and just wanted to give people that extra piece of information to consider. In no way, shape or form could those seats be described as "restricted view", and the rake is significantly steeper than the rake in the stalls of most West End theatres. It's a non-issue. For those of us who actually have to pay for our theatre tickets, more expensive seats are not always an option. As I said, for the price they're charging, those seats are reasonable value, possibly better value than the more expensive balcony seats, and better value than they have been for other productions in the same venue. When price enters the equation, sometimes you have to be prepared to compromise.
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Post by melly on Jan 18, 2019 22:00:36 GMT
I paid nothing for the seat, didn't make the sea of moving people any less distracting, and there wasn't anyone in the seat in front of me. Just giving a helpful warning to anyone booking, as the cheaper back rows seem to be getting a lot of recommendation based on the usual layout. Pillars, balconies, edges of circles and overhangs don't move, people do. Personally, I'm way more distracted/bothered by that than having to peer uncomfortably because of a restricted view, and just wanted to give people that extra piece of information to consider. In no way, shape or form could those seats be described as "restricted view", and the rake is significantly steeper than the rake in the stalls of most West End theatres. It's a non-issue. For those of us who actually have to pay for our theatre tickets, more expensive seats are not always an option. As I said, for the price they're charging, those seats are reasonable value, possibly better value than the more expensive balcony seats, and better value than they have been for other productions in the same venue. When price enters the equation, sometimes you have to be prepared to compromise. I have no idea who you are or why you've felt the need to tear apart my posts, without even reading them correctly, but I won't bother trying to post advice to help others in future.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2019 12:38:22 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2019 17:54:45 GMT
I really hope the reviews are stellar and this picks up business, it's selling horribly! I hope it lasts until the end of the run.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2019 18:16:37 GMT
Now home after seeing Violet this afternoon, I’m afraid it jut wasn’t for me though. I’ll admit that the experience has more than likely been marred due to the person sat next to me, details of which I’ll provide in the Bad Behaviour thread later, but it’s difficult to tell. The reconfigured layout works well for this, and Kaisa Hammarlund was lovely, yet that’s where the compliments dry up. Jay Marsh is great as Flick but Monty, played by Matthew Harvey, could have been performed much better by another actor. The music is inoffensive though each song is indistinguishable from one another. I’m pleased to have seen it, but I won’t be rushing back.
Two and a half stars from me.
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Post by Mark on Jan 19, 2019 22:00:16 GMT
3 stars from me. It was good, but not great, and seemed to take a while to get going. The staging works very well though, and Kaisa Hammarlund does very well. Music was enjoyable but the plot I wasn’t mad on.
I was in row R on the twenty pound deal and thought it decent enough value - just I wouldn’t go much further back as other comments have mentioned you look down over the heads rather than across. I felt they were playing to our side a lot but having no experience sitting the other side - maybe it was pretty even!
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Post by robertb213 on Jan 19, 2019 22:15:24 GMT
As someone who yawned through Caroline Or Change and was unimpressed by Fun Home, I actually enjoyed this today! I loved the new seating layout and the end of Row N was perfect. No real standout songs but still enjoyable music. The piece belongs to Kaisa, she shines and it's worth seeing just for her performance.
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Post by sf on Jan 19, 2019 23:40:25 GMT
Is it structurally similar to Caroline or Change? Considering going but I found Caroline incredibly boring so if it's the same composer I might not like this either. Though I do enjoy Jay Marsh in anything
Caroline... is basically an opera (and was describes as such in the programme by the composer and librettist, at least at Hampstead). Violet is a book musical, albeit a music-heavy one, and it has far more in the way of standalone identifiable songs, some of which are very memorable ('On My Way', 'Luck of the Draw', 'Let It Sing', 'Lonely Stranger', 'Lay Down Your Head', 'That's What I Could Do'). There are some of the same 60s pop influences you hear in Caroline..., but it's a much more accessible score.
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Post by yokollama on Jan 20, 2019 19:17:49 GMT
The website indicates a running time of roughly 100 minutes. Could anyone please confirm this?
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Post by sf on Jan 20, 2019 20:59:43 GMT
The website indicates a running time of roughly 100 minutes. Could anyone please confirm this?
It was slightly longer than that on Thursday night, but only slightly - it started a few minutes late and finished around 9.20pm. I would say expect 105 minutes.
The programme says the running time is 90 minutes (unless they've changed it since Thursday) and that's way off, and it isn't going to be attainable without significant cuts.
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Post by robertb213 on Jan 20, 2019 23:20:49 GMT
Yes, it finished between 9.15 and 9.20 on Saturday night 😀
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Post by Phantom of London on Jan 21, 2019 0:22:27 GMT
Dead handy for me, my train leaves at 9:24 from the station above, might give it a bonus stat for that reason (joking), this is when theatre works well.
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Post by partytentdown on Jan 22, 2019 16:54:53 GMT
Monkey, are there any decent offers out for this? Thanks
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Post by stevejohnson678 on Jan 22, 2019 18:31:03 GMT
£35.50 tickets reduced to £20 for performances up to and including 26th January on Theatre Tickets Direct.
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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 Jan 23, 2019 7:21:47 GMT
Mixed review for this, and several (including The Guardian) complaining about over-amplified music drowning out the singers. Did people find this a problem?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2019 8:11:35 GMT
Yeah, I did. I'm glad it was more about character than plot, 'cos there were times when I couldn't understand a word being sung and if I'd had to follow all kinds of plot twists, I'd've been stumped.
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Xanderl
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Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on Jan 23, 2019 8:46:56 GMT
Ok so apart from the poor sightlines and inability to hear the singers did people enjoy the show? Weird that this should be a problem in such a small space.
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Post by Mark on Jan 23, 2019 9:04:56 GMT
I found it hard to hear young Violet particularly at the beginning.
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Post by stevejohnson678 on Jan 23, 2019 15:33:57 GMT
£20 stalls seats for all performances now available, if booked by 31st January, using promo code JOURNEY20.
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Post by JJShaw on Jan 23, 2019 18:16:32 GMT
went to see it this afternoon and i guess there was either a last-minute flurry of ticket purchasing or it got papered this morning because it was rather full (and when i booked my ticket last night there were plenty of seats, rows, available)
although we were a rather muted audience i was glad that the show had a good number of people, id say about 75% full? if anyone wants seating tips dont sit on the side with row A, as more faces and action was directed at us than it was to the row A side.
I really enjoyed the show, well acted, the band sounded amazing, staged nicely. it felt like a southwark playhouse show, so if you like what they normally programme then i think youd enjoy this. I never knew that the Charing Cross theatre was so versatile with their space, i think it was perfect for this show and after the dip post Thom Sutherland productions i really think this venue could start to rival SP, menier, union etc as being a really good high profile venue. The woman playing Violet was amazing and i think only left stage once, huge props to her.
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Post by caa on Jan 24, 2019 19:14:15 GMT
Saw Violet last night sat in row N, had no sound issues. Really enjoyed the show if you liked Fun home or Caroline or Change then I think you'd like it. I really don't understand Billington's review of this show.
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Post by jgblunners on Jan 24, 2019 22:55:42 GMT
I really enjoyed this tonight - Kaisa is outstanding and Charing Cross works very well in this configuration. Plus I love a bit of revolve action. The score is I think my favourite of those I’ve heard from Tesori - a half-way point between the sung-through Caroline, Or Change with its elusive melodies and the more traditional book musical style of Fun Home. The blend of musical styles in Violet is very enjoyable and Tesori manages to maintain her unique styling of phrases without sacrificing melodic satisfaction. The direction could’ve been a bit more refined, and I wasn’t quite satisfied by the ending, but overall I’d say Charing Cross have managed to fire out another little gem of a show.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jan 25, 2019 10:13:14 GMT
I said to my theatre frau afterwards that it was 20 minutes too long. He said it should be 20minutes, if that
God this a boring show. I normally like Kaisa Hammarlund but here she is reduced to sporting a hunchback, Quasi is on at ENO dear!
The production looks good but such a shame the producers have put effort into a revolving stage and a decent band when you have a dull concept with unlikeable characters and inaudible lyrics.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2019 18:45:59 GMT
Well. For those who love a revolve (and really, who doesn't?) you will be in heaven. It goes spinning around more times than Kylie for the duration of the show, giving everyone the chance to have a gander at the results of Matthew Harvey's many hours in the gym. Which was very nice of them.
Other than that, I thought the show was cute with some nice country-tinged numbers and a thrilling bit of gospel towards the end. I had to stop myself from standing up and shouting out 'Hallelujah! Praise Jesus!' at the end but I didn't. I'd have had to put my glass down. No sound issues from what I could tell when I saw it. They must have sorted it out knowing that I was in. Some great singers in the cast and Kaisa Hummingbird Bakery was smashing even though they made her look like Ute Lemper after a decade in the workhouse; she was barely off the stage and coping manfully with a dreadful wig and a tatty house dress but singing like a dream. I think they spent all the budget on Matthew Harvey's gym membership though as they couldn't stretch to a bit of makeup to represent the scar they all kept banging on about. I thought the band sounded rather groovy too.
There's a lot of moving of chairs and suitcases around on the revolve it almost reminded me of a musical version of 'The Lehman Trilogy'. Half the running time though thank heavens.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2019 1:03:24 GMT
There's a lot of moving of chairs and suitcases around on the revolve it almost reminded me of a musical version of 'The Lehman Trilogy'. Half the running time though thank heavens. Coffee spewed.
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Post by galinda on Jan 28, 2019 11:32:02 GMT
When did the restaurant close at this theatre?
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Post by westendcub on Jan 28, 2019 21:59:09 GMT
Very much enjoyed this musical this evening!
It was odd to be sat where the stage is normally, the simple set was great for this & the resolve suited this.
It doesn’t cut as deep as ‘Fun Home’ but it’s clever storytelling once again & I really got involved in it (tears at the end).
Full of interesting characters & a great gospel vibe to many of the numbers.
Definitely worth your time!!
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