310 posts
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Post by showoff on Dec 7, 2017 17:33:00 GMT
Just back. Can say that whilst you may miss a very very very small side of the set, the view from royal circle box b at 47 quid a ticket is an absoloute steal compared with other prices in the theatre for not as good a view and to be so close with a view of both the stage and audience was amazing! The show is in amazing shape for a first preview, although having seen an extremely polished performance in Chicago this September, there is a little bit of refining and tightening up to do but way beyond what a first preview should look like so only praise is intended! Giles is incredible in this role, and owning it already. Rachel John and Rachelle Ann Go were both awesome, and Jason Pennycook was also a brilliant performer who really stole his moments. Michael Jibson I thought needed to milk Youll Be Back a little more the first time, but was very good none the less. Some of the little touches and attention to detail really did make all the difference including one moment where Eliza broke my heart with a movement of her hand and I let out a little sob - I dont know how to insert spoilers yet so just in case no one has heard the cast recording or seen it (can this be possible?) I wont give the full details. I also want to give credit to the VP staff and ticketing system. Incredibly friendly, helpful, and enthusiastic. Ticketing was a breeze and dare I say the way forward for all theatre and concert events moving forward! I've queued longer at McDonalds. I will post a picture of the view from my seat shortly. I believe this is ok as there were hundreds of people taking pictures and videos of the set quite clearly with flash etc before the show began and ushers did not stop or make any announcements. Apart from 1 rogue flash towards the very beginning of the show from the mid stalls, the audience were impeccably behaved but to be expected for a first preview and for a show that getting tickets is like winning the lottery - literally in some cases! Fantastic review, as are all of them, thank you to all for sharing your experiences from last night. I was looking at the side boxes, I've never used one, but feel they would be good for me with my requirements. Can I ask, was it the rear royal V&A box you was in? And it says rear, but is it positioned at the front? Thanks for any answer on this.
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Post by Jon on Dec 7, 2017 17:33:47 GMT
I wonder how it's going to work if you're going to the same performance and you've bought tickets for someone else but they're seated elsewhere.
I get the feeling there will be a lot of people who didn't look at the T&C and not let into the theatre, I pity FOH and box office when that situation occurs.
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Post by stuartmcd on Dec 7, 2017 17:36:06 GMT
I wonder how it's going to work if you're going to the same performance and you've bought tickets for someone else but they're seated elsewhere. I get the feeling there will be a lot of people who didn't look at the T&C and not let into the theatre, I pity FOH and box office when that situation occurs. If you have purchased all the tickets and everyone shows up together then it doesn't matter once you enter the theatre. You just need to be together to get into the building.
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310 posts
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Post by showoff on Dec 7, 2017 17:36:37 GMT
stuartmcd, how would it work if I went to collect the tickets and then gave them (along with my credit card) to my daughter and her friend to enter the auditorium? I can't work it out from what people are saying - it almost looks like I'll be held prisoner inside the theatre until the show is over! Actually, as long as the two of them can get in, a book in the bar until the show is over would be fine by me! How many tickets do you have? Two? If you only have two then only yourself and one other person will be allowed into the building. It might be worth contacting them to see if you can go with them to print the tickets and then they enter the building but if this is allowed you would then have to leave the theatre. I don't know how old your daughter is but the website does say that anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. If you only have two tickets then only two people are getting in. They are very strict with this. If you bought them with your card, you will need to see the show. You can't even gift them, it says on the website if you are wanting to gift them then give cash and let them buy them with their own card. There's zero allowance for it, because if they let you, they'll let another person who is doing it to tout them.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2017 17:40:59 GMT
Seriously, all this kerfuffle over picking up a ticket and watching a show is making my head spin. What is this? Colditz?
As for bringing photo ID, do they want my real passport or the one for my alias, Tarquin van der Schlampehausen, which says I'm 24?
If they don't ask for ID from Lin Carmen Miranda then they certainly won't be getting a sniff of ID from me. And I am unanimous in that.
Well not unless they throw in a full body frisk.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2017 17:43:17 GMT
Personally speaking, I always think when it gets to the point where you can't even give tickets as a gift, its a bit too much of a "we are better than everyone else" kinda thing. I get the point of avoiding touts and all that jazz, and that its a hit and everything, but there are other shows that have lasted years and don't have these levels of security and such. To not let people even leave the area at interval. Its a bit much isn't it? What if you want a cashpoint or a little walk to stretch your legs outside? I get why they do it, I just think its a bit over the top and ridiculous personally.
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Post by Jon on Dec 7, 2017 17:54:25 GMT
Personally speaking, I always think when it gets to the point where you can't even give tickets as a gift, its a bit too much of a "we are better than everyone else" kinda thing. I get the point of avoiding touts and all that jazz, and that its a hit and everything, but there are other shows that have lasted years and don't have these levels of security and such. To not let people even leave the area at interval. Its a bit much isn't it? What if you want a cashpoint or a little walk to stretch your legs outside? I get why they do it, I just think its a bit over the top and ridiculous personally. Given the reselling that went on for the Broadway production, I think this system had to be implemented and shows do have problems with touts, Potter had tickets being sold for £1000s and I suspect if Nimax and ATG had a similar system in place, they would use it and if Hamilton's method works then I could see it being implemented elsewhere
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Post by Tibidabo on Dec 7, 2017 17:58:52 GMT
Thanks all for the replies. Yes. I KNOW NOW what it says on the small print on the website about not gifting the tickets. I didn't read it. Who did? Before they bought their tickets? I had/have no interest in the show, happened to see that some more tickets were about to go on sale for a show someone in my family had been moaning about never managing to get tickets for, so I spent my entire nursing home savings (!) on 2 tickets to give them. I never thought any more about it as it's something I do very, very often. Not such a strange thing. I realised there was going to be a problem and was asking people who have been exactly what happens to be clear. Thank you to those who have explained as this has been really helpful - especially stuartmcd. The whole thing is making me quite cross to be honest. But thanks all. I will try and get an answer from the theatre or risk giving my daughter my driving licence.....
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2017 18:02:47 GMT
Personally speaking, I always think when it gets to the point where you can't even give tickets as a gift, its a bit too much of a "we are better than everyone else" kinda thing. I get the point of avoiding touts and all that jazz, and that its a hit and everything, but there are other shows that have lasted years and don't have these levels of security and such. To not let people even leave the area at interval. Its a bit much isn't it? What if you want a cashpoint or a little walk to stretch your legs outside? I get why they do it, I just think its a bit over the top and ridiculous personally. Given the reselling that went on for the Broadway production, I think this system had to be implemented and shows do have problems with touts, Potter had tickets being sold for £1000s and I suspect if Nimax and ATG had a similar system in place, they would use it and if Hamilton's method works then I could see it being implemented elsewhere Completely get that, and thats fine. I just personally find it a bit meh, but thats just me. If there were something I think that is good about it, is that Harry Potter and Hamilton are two of the hottest shows, if not, the hottest shows in London to get a ticket for. It also makes it a hotspot or target for some of the actions currently facing the country sadly. In that respect, I'm glad for the sake of safety and security of the performers, staff and audience. I actually think my main issue is this barrier to stop people leaving the front of the theatre apart from having a cigarette or having a breather. If I wanna go for a short walk or go to a cashpoint, who are they to stop me? They can search me again if they want when I come back in. That, for me, is ridiculous.
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Post by ghw on Dec 7, 2017 18:14:17 GMT
I just went on Ticketmaster and selected tomorrows performance, the seat map loads and there were 6 blue dots/seats available for purchase. Refreshed the page about 15 minutes later and they'd all gone. Some have now appeared for Friday evening which weren't there earlier, so looks like new seats are becoming available all the time How do you make it so you see the seating plan? That would make life so much easier!
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2,765 posts
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Post by daniel on Dec 7, 2017 18:25:33 GMT
Tibidabo there is one way that I suspect is the only way that it'll work. Definitely breaks all the rules though so I'm not sure if you'd want to try it. When your daughter joins the queue, she'll be checked that her faces matches the photo ID, and that the name on the photo ID matches the card. At this point they don't check the confirmation (or didn't for me at least), so if she were to show her own ID and payment card she should be able to pass. Between here and the front doors she'll need to switch her card for yours, so that that is the one that they swipe to release the ticket. Again, at this point they didn't ask to see the ID or confirmation. As I say if definitely breaks the rules, and in line with their T&Cs they could refuse entry, but I can see it working if you were to give it a try. Of course this wouldn't work for secondary market sellers as there's no way anyone is going to give their card to a random person!
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310 posts
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Post by showoff on Dec 7, 2017 18:29:36 GMT
Given the reselling that went on for the Broadway production, I think this system had to be implemented and shows do have problems with touts, Potter had tickets being sold for £1000s and I suspect if Nimax and ATG had a similar system in place, they would use it and if Hamilton's method works then I could see it being implemented elsewhere Completely get that, and thats fine. I just personally find it a bit meh, but thats just me. If there were something I think that is good about it, is that Harry Potter and Hamilton are two of the hottest shows, if not, the hottest shows in London to get a ticket for. It also makes it a hotspot or target for some of the actions currently facing the country sadly. In that respect, I'm glad for the sake of safety and security of the performers, staff and audience. I actually think my main issue is this barrier to stop people leaving the front of the theatre apart from having a cigarette or having a breather. If I wanna go for a short walk or go to a cashpoint, who are they to stop me? They can search me again if they want when I come back in. That, for me, is ridiculous. I do agree about the leaving thing, but otherwise, I really like the system, the only thing is gifts, and you could just gift people the cash to buy them, or theatre vouchers. I like that this means touts will not drive up the prices, and it seems the fairest way to do it. I think they could solve the not going out thing with maybe stamping people's hands when you go in if you want to go out. I guess it must be quite hard for the smokers in the audience, or no, just saw you'er allowed to smoke. Oh well, it's really not that big of a deal to stay inside for the duration.
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310 posts
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Post by showoff on Dec 7, 2017 18:31:30 GMT
Tibidabo there is one way that I suspect is the only way that it'll work. Definitely breaks all the rules though so I'm not sure if you'd want to try it. When your daughter joins the queue, she'll be checked that her faces matches the photo ID, and that the name on the photo ID matches the card. At this point they don't check the confirmation (or didn't for me at least), so if she were to show her own ID and payment card she should be able to pass. Between here and the front doors she'll need to switch her card for yours, so that that is the one that they swipe to release the ticket. Again, at this point they didn't ask to see the ID or confirmation. As I say if definitely breaks the rules, and in line with their T&Cs they could refuse entry, but I can see it working if you were to give it a try. Of course this wouldn't work for secondary market sellers as there's no way anyone is going to give their card to a random person! That's quite risky, and runs the risk of none of them getting to see the show.
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Post by callum on Dec 7, 2017 18:34:41 GMT
Anyone there last night know if you can buy programmes with card or is it cash only? Thanks
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2017 18:40:04 GMT
Oh Tibidabo , I know I shouldn’t but I’m having a bit of a chuckle here at the High Priest’s House...! There are all these people who would give their eyeteeth for a ticket, and you are desperate NOT to see it! Not only this but it seems that your only chance of escape might be to risk being carted off for breaking the Hamilton Ticket Rulebook. Good luck m’dear...
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2,765 posts
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Post by daniel on Dec 7, 2017 18:44:55 GMT
Anyone there last night know if you can buy programmes with card or is it cash only? Thanks you can buy programmes and souvenirs with card from the merch stand and bars - cash only from the ushers.
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Post by stuartmcd on Dec 7, 2017 18:45:25 GMT
If there were something I think that is good about it, is that Harry Potter and Hamilton are two of the hottest shows, if not, the hottest shows in London to get a ticket for. It also makes it a hotspot or target for some of the actions currently facing the country sadly. In that respect, I'm glad for the sake of safety and security of the performers, staff and audience. They are definitely on it with security. They had a sniffer dog (the cutest sniffer dog ever!) on patrol in the theatre and through the auditorium before the show.
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240 posts
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Post by Anniek on Dec 7, 2017 18:47:33 GMT
Anyone there last night know if you can buy programmes with card or is it cash only? Thanks yesterday both cash and card were accepted.
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Post by The Lost on Dec 7, 2017 18:53:22 GMT
If there were something I think that is good about it, is that Harry Potter and Hamilton are two of the hottest shows, if not, the hottest shows in London to get a ticket for. It also makes it a hotspot or target for some of the actions currently facing the country sadly. In that respect, I'm glad for the sake of safety and security of the performers, staff and audience. They are definitely on it with security. They had a sniffer dog (the cutest sniffer dog ever!) on patrol in the theatre and through the auditorium before the show. What do they think people are going to be sneaking in exactly? Or is it a sniffer dog designed to seek out people with tout bought tickets?
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264 posts
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Post by squidward on Dec 7, 2017 19:01:30 GMT
Is it just me or are people pretty much keeping their powder dry about Jamael Westman? I've only seen a couple of mentions of him alongside some very fulsome praise of his co-stars. Is that because the people who were there last night want to give him a proper chance to bed in before they venture their opinions (which would be fair enough seeing as he's only done one performance so far)?
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Post by Tibidabo on Dec 7, 2017 19:44:46 GMT
daniel, I love that idea and it would probably work, but not sure it's worth the risk. @caiaphas, Don't wanna be rude, dude, You got some right sap att i tude. Yo bro. I is goin' to a show, doncha know? I is goin' wit ta flo' bro. Merry Christmas, ho ho ho.
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Post by actorsinger on Dec 7, 2017 19:56:43 GMT
Re. The sniffer dogs. I suspect security wise they would be negligent, in this current climate, if they didn’t have all bases covered. Bag searches only do so much.
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Post by callum on Dec 7, 2017 20:59:15 GMT
Interval and it's totally amazing. Is Lin here tonight? Already spotted Cammy.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2017 21:04:54 GMT
Interval and it's totally amazing. Is Lin here tonight? Already spotted Cammy. He is here. Not a massive fan of Mr Terera as Burr so far, mainly because of his lisp, which – in this show – is quite unfortunate. He struggles with the wordy parts (so basically 90% of the score). Great staging, still not sold on the cast as a whole, but it’s definitely worth seeing.
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Post by ghw on Dec 7, 2017 21:20:21 GMT
I am listening to last nights show and I am SO jealous of those of you that were there.. omg, Schuyler Sisters especially, holy crap!
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