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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2018 18:53:12 GMT
So what next, @ryan? An Equity card at least, surely? I know right? I should have at least had a credit in the programme, "Special guest appearance by Ryan"
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Post by lynette on Nov 10, 2018 0:37:16 GMT
When you say picked on by the cast @ryan do you mean more than just been featured to etc? Should I be worried in the front row? I can cope with being hit by a bread roll. I had a chat with Rufus Hound, name, how are you, what do you do, made fun of my name etc, had a few quips between us, was addressed by another actress twice and held hands with another actor and was pulled up at the front of the stage to stand over him and "protect him" from Don Quixote. Trust you to get that part! Our night he caught someone who had been a cabbie. Jokes galore.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2018 9:23:56 GMT
I saw this in Stratford and have no memory in the slightest of any audience participation! How strange! I'm in the front row this time too (going in a couple of weeks).
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Post by peggs on Nov 10, 2018 10:03:42 GMT
I feel this is where my natural expression of of miserableness and 'do not talk to me' may play in my favour.
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Post by bellboard27 on Nov 11, 2018 12:14:03 GMT
When you say picked on by the cast @ryan do you mean more than just been featured to etc? Should I be worried in the front row? I can cope with being hit by a bread roll. I had a chat with Rufus Hound, name, how are you, what do you do, made fun of my name etc, had a few quips between us, was addressed by another actress twice and held hands with another actor and was pulled up at the front of the stage to stand over him and "protect him" from Don Quixote. Pretty similar to what happened to me a week ago. I was sitting middle of the front row. I had made eye contact with Rufus Hound earlier, so I suspect that singled me out as his victim for that evening. Personally, I'm quite comfortable with this, but others might not be!
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Post by peggs on Nov 17, 2018 22:50:33 GMT
Studiously avoided making eye contact with Rufus Hound until he appeared to have picked his audience participation victims but they're throwing skills are either flagging or I was singled out for not laughing enough and was properly hit by a hurled bread role. Well can safely say I've never seen anything quite like this. Someone was off so lots of cast swapping but you couldn't tell. I'm not a big laugher, tend to smile and laugh inside so to speak but one particular fall did make my laugh more than I'd have thought possible. Rather long but have had a fall so sitting is not comfortable so that played a significant part. Great double act of leads, must be rather exhausting and cleverly done, RH's breaking of the fourth wall and bits played for laughs against DT's always playing it straight. Front row a bargain if rather alarming at times.
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Post by duncan on Nov 21, 2018 23:37:10 GMT
Hit on the noggin by 2 bread rolls, water thrown over me and I was the person selected by the wife to ask in which direction Sancho had run off in.
Others had the name and job routine with Hound, holding a baby, actors pretending to fall over the person at the end and the man 2 along had to protect the knight Quixote defeats.
Or in other words, if you hate audience participation don't sit in row AA.
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Post by showgirl on Nov 22, 2018 4:18:48 GMT
On the other hand, if you're on a budget but like to see what you're paying (the lowest possible price) for, where else are you likely to sit? I'm in AA, so apprehensive, but I hope no-one tries anything with me as when I go, it'll still be relatively soon after my first op & only a week until my second.
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Post by theatrefan77 on Nov 22, 2018 8:29:40 GMT
I used my best 'Don't mess with me' face and it worked. However my poor friend was a constant target
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2018 9:16:40 GMT
Hit on the noggin by 2 bread rolls, water thrown over me and I was the person selected by the wife to ask in which direction Sancho had run off in. Others had the name and job routine with Hound, holding a baby, actors pretending to fall over the person at the end and the man 2 along had to protect the knight Quixote defeats. Or in other words, if you hate audience participation don't sit in row AA. Gosh, the cast must have been dazzled by my beautiful eyes as I was the subject of ALL of the above, except getting hit by a bread roll and getting water thrown over me (other people got that). I also got Rufus sticking his tongue out at me and giving me 'V' signs for pointing his wife in the right direction! His wife also told me that she should have married me instead at another part of the play. Rufus gave me a smile and a wink at the curtain call so he must be happy when there's a good sport in each night.
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Post by duncan on Nov 25, 2018 13:29:02 GMT
40 - Don Quixote - Garrick
A deluded old man and his "squire" set out across Spain in search of chivalrous adventure. The story of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza with SONGS and PUPPETRY and AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION!!
Already mentioned the AP upthread so lets go beyond that,
The first half of this is great, a rollicking romp that Rufus Hound drags along with the force of his personality and then after the interval it becomes a, slightly, more serious piece and it loses the fun and adventure and instead becomes a maudlin piece that not even a fine ensemble can save. Now I know this is a fault with the source material but here the section with the Duke and Duchess draaaaaaaaaaaaags for what seems like way too long. Its not helped that the actor playing the Duke is bland and attempting to play broad and it doesn't work - he just comes across as a dullard rather than the utter sh*t he should be so that we are routing for our two heroes.
Hound is the saving grace here, giving his all and taking most of the ensemble with him in heightened comedic performances and yet still able to deliver on the serious notes when required.
Whilst David Threlfall is all stoic and dull as the titular character. I've never been a fan of Threlfall the actor, and I'm especially not a fan of Threlfall the person, and there is nothing here to suggest that he deserves top billing in any show never mind this. Yes I know its the part as written and he's supposed to be the rock around which the shenanigans occur but for me there was nothing to suggest this was a man with an impossible dream, he's just a bloke with a beard.
The puppetry is far better than this show deserves with an amazing lion and some bizarre babies being a particular highlight. The music and songs come and go, less than a week later I honestly cant remember anything about them other than they were quite enjoyable at the time.
Only the bottom two levels were open and there was a lot of empty seats in the stalls.
7/10 - for the first half.
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Post by foxa on Nov 25, 2018 13:40:44 GMT
Ah - being forewarned by your posts above about audience participation, I gently warned Mr Foxa that there might be some - and we were first row centre. Taking the above advice ,I smiled, made eye contact, etc. thinking I'd take the bullet instead of miserable Mr Foxa who LOATHES audience participation, whereas I am - eh, don't love it but as long as I'm not dragged onstage and made to dance or strip, I can deal with it. However, despite my attempts at positive vibes, I was invisible - and Rufus latched onto Mr Foxa. Argh. If you knew Mr Foxa you would appreciate what a disaster this was. Half the audience had to chant his name and wave their arms, he was asked what he did and directions were demanded (he gave the wrong ones which meant the Sancho's wife scolded him and Rufus gave him two thumbs up); etc. By the interval, he could take no more and snuck into a seat at the rear of the stalls. So I had an empty seat to my right, which I imagine was not unnoticed by the cast. The guys a couple to my left got a lot of attention as well and I heard one say as we were leaving 'I have no idea what that was all about.') On the way home, I kept saying 'But the seats were only £10 - what a deal!' Our daughter was delighted by the tale.
The play: thought Threlfall was excellent and Hound had his moments. Liked the puppets. First half overall stronger than the second. Some dodgy direction in some parts and awkward shifts in tone/mood. Not sure the songs added much. But for £10, if you don't mind being pelted with bread, etc. quite enjoyable.
Edit: Hadn't read Duncan's posting before posting mine - but agree with much of it - though liked Threlfall much more.
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Post by peggs on Nov 25, 2018 15:43:17 GMT
Poor Mr foxa, what a nightmare, am impressed he stayed for the second half at all. I think they pick on men from reading this thread, it was all men when I went.
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Post by Stephen on Nov 25, 2018 16:17:21 GMT
I love how we're all seeing this in the front row. My time is coming this Friday and I just know it'll be me as I'll be on my own too!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2018 16:49:06 GMT
Ah - being forewarned by your posts above about audience participation, I gently warned Mr Foxa that there might be some - and we were first row centre. Taking the above advice ,I smiled, made eye contact, etc. thinking I'd take the bullet instead of miserable Mr Foxa who LOATHES audience participation, whereas I am - eh, don't love it but as long as I'm not dragged onstage and made to dance or strip, I can deal with it. However, despite my attempts at positive vibes, I was invisible - and Rufus latched onto Mr Foxa. Argh. If you knew Mr Foxa you would appreciate what a disaster this was. Half the audience had to chant his name and wave their arms, he was asked what he did and directions were demanded (he gave the wrong ones which meant the Sancho's wife scolded him and Rufus gave him two thumbs up); etc. By the interval, he could take no more and snuck into a seat at the rear of the stalls. So I had an empty seat to my right, which I imagine was not unnoticed by the cast. The guys a couple to my left got a lot of attention as well and I heard one say as we were leaving 'I have no idea what that was all about.') On the way home, I kept saying 'But the seats were only £10 - what a deal!' Our daughter was delighted by the tale. The play: thought Threlfall was excellent and Hound had his moments. Liked the puppets. First half overall stronger than the second. Some dodgy direction in some parts and awkward shifts in tone/mood. Not sure the songs added much. But for £10, if you don't mind being pelted with bread, etc. quite enjoyable. Edit: Hadn't read Duncan's posting before posting mine - but agree with much of it - though liked Threlfall much more.
Oh that threw me! I was sitting to the right of the lady who's chap got picked on when I went on Saturday afternoon, and thought I must have been next to you, although it didn't sound quite right because there was definitely no empty seat when I was there. But I've just realised you must have been there in the evening, so at least I know I'm not going mad.
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Post by david on Nov 25, 2018 16:59:13 GMT
Just had a look at my seat number for when I see it at the end of December - AA7 so roughly in the middle. I just hope I get “selected”. From reports on here it’s all in good fun so it should be a good afternoons theatre viewing whatever happens!
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Post by foxa on Nov 25, 2018 18:24:56 GMT
Elanor - yes, we were in the evening. David - Yes AA 7 is central (we were AA 5 and 6.) If you are up for it, the participation is quite jolly. And I loved seeing the acting up close.
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Post by showgirl on Nov 25, 2018 18:49:53 GMT
Wonder if I'll be any safer at the end of the row when I see this (rescheduled booking for a date when only a single seat in AA remained) than I would have been, in the centre, on my original date of 1 December?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2018 18:52:14 GMT
Elanor - yes, we were in the evening. David - Yes AA 7 is central (we were AA 5 and 6.) If you are up for it, the participation is quite jolly. And I loved seeing the acting up close.
We were in AA5 & 6 too!
I loved the view at the front. I loved how close we were to all the swishing cloaks/swords/whips and an excellent view of the perfect teeth.
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Post by david on Nov 25, 2018 19:26:12 GMT
Elanor - yes, we were in the evening. David - Yes AA 7 is central (we were AA 5 and 6.) If you are up for it, the participation is quite jolly. And I loved seeing the acting up close. Good to hear that row AA is a great view (especially for £10). I’m definitely up for any sort of participation that comes my way. It will be a good way to end the theatre going year with a bit of light hearted fun and a few laughs.
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Post by duncan on Nov 25, 2018 20:43:13 GMT
I was AA5 and there are a couple of times where you think they are about to fall off the stage (and not on purpose) you are that close to the actors and they are very close to the edge of the stage.
I think there are 9 seats in AA and it was full on Wednesday evening and 5 of us were directly involved with proceedings.
Hound also sat in the stalls for a couple of minutes, would have been either C1 or D1, don't know if that's a regular thing or just that it was a bit quiet and he fancied a rest.
They also went 100% on the throwing things into the bag on Wednesday which they built up expertly for a big round of applause at the end.
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Post by jamb0r on Nov 26, 2018 14:32:09 GMT
Reading all these posts about audience Interaction are filling me with anxiety already and I’m not seeing it (from row AA) for another couple of months. I wonder if I made a sign begging to not be picked on and wore it around my neck would only make it more likely.
I knew there must have been a reason why those seats were suspiciously cheap!
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Post by n1david on Nov 26, 2018 14:56:19 GMT
I have had to come clean and relate some of these stories to my partner, in response to which he has said that under no circumstances will he sit in the front row.
I've booked him another ticket in the second row, but this means I have a spare centre front row seat for the evening show on Weds 12 Dec, which I'm happy to offer free to any TheatreBoard member who feels like taking the risk of sitting next to me (arguably a higher risk that being picked on by Rufus Hound).
Anyone game?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2018 15:16:21 GMT
@n1david wouldn’t they let you swop it? It was far from sold out the night I went.
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Post by n1david on Nov 26, 2018 15:39:08 GMT
Maybe they would @happysooz but for the sake of a tenner I'm happy to let it go, and thought it might be nice to offer a freebie on here, although anyone who likes the sound of it will probably already have tickets, and those whom this terrifies are probably not going to bite!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2018 17:55:07 GMT
Maybe they would @happysooz but for the sake of a tenner I'm happy to let it go, and thought it might be nice to offer a freebie on here, although anyone who likes the sound of it will probably already have tickets, and those whom this terrifies are probably not going to bite! I'd totally bite if I was in or near that London. I really enjoyed it and would happily go again.
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Post by Stephen on Nov 30, 2018 18:20:32 GMT
Just picked up my tickets. There's a warning of moderately loud sound effects. Am I going to be jumping the whole way through this?
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Post by peggs on Nov 30, 2018 18:29:47 GMT
Just picked up my tickets. There's a warning of moderately loud sound effects. Am I going to be jumping the whole way through this? Trying to think what the noises are. Metal shield hitting metal? Singing? I clearly can't remember anything so no think you'll be fine. You might jump if a bread roll hits you.
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Post by david on Dec 1, 2018 0:25:03 GMT
Just picked up my tickets. There's a warning of moderately loud sound effects. Am I going to be jumping the whole way through this? Did you get selected for any audience participation?
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Post by Stephen on Dec 1, 2018 1:52:27 GMT
Just picked up my tickets. There's a warning of moderately loud sound effects. Am I going to be jumping the whole way through this? Did you get selected for any audience participation? I'm afraid not. As the front row began to fill up with older folks my nerves grew as I realised it had to be me. However, as the performance started there were two empty seats which were then filled by a father and young son (about 12) who then became the only target! It was all hilarious and cute and Mr Hound took him onstage for a bow at the end! I also managed to avoid all of the other front row surprises. The view was obviously VERY close but the stage wasn't too high and for £10 a tremendous bargain. I had a really good time. A taste of panto at the beginning of the Christmas season with some genuinely touching moments. There was enough comedy for me to ensure that it didn't drag. It's not everyone's cup of tea and I didn't watch several couples leave at the interval. Oh, there were no sound effects at all in the end! There are four pyrotechnics which go off in the second half but they weren't particularly loud even in the front row. I do say it just about hit the four star mark for me. Gosh the Garrick really rumbles from the tube!
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