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Post by easilypleased on Jun 15, 2016 21:32:10 GMT
Emma Williams and Ian Bartholomew are going off to Half a Sixpence so unless that doesn't do well (ie transfer to the WE) they won't be touring with MHP anyway. But good though they are it could be an opportunity to get better known names in. The question will always be, after (presumably) losing money thus far, do the producers gamble again or not?
I more or less agree with what others have said above about its attractions above, for me the reason it hasn't been successful (which is an understatement) is the emphasis in the marketing on the nudity which I believe puts as many people off as it attracts. Whoever thought up that slogan "For the show to go on, the clothes must come off" must have been very pleased with themselves but I think it gives the impression that there is a lot of nudity, which there isn't, and has turned many casual visitors off.
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Post by djp on Jun 16, 2016 3:33:09 GMT
I think this could do fairly well if it toured, the cast want it to! It would probably do better than it has done. But will the producers risk losing more money if it doesn't? I dont know why It hasn't appealed? There are a few names in the show! The theatre isn't massive either?! Elements of the audience are missing- its had quite a few tourists when i have been , and some younger females , but the audience seems mainly retired or nearing. Quite a few have no idea its a musical. The title tells you nothing about the content. I can't see it running with names - which now tends to mean soap. The older lead roles need people who can play characters and comedy well , and the show throughout seems to have recreated the look of the real characters and routines. And there's not many other top singers who can sing Maureen's score , let alone while naked, and looking ordinary, but beautiful. Not sure how nudity plays on tour. There's plenty of the same type of audience out there, but didn't Hair have trouble when it tried to tour recently? |
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Post by stevejohnson678 on Jun 16, 2016 7:26:28 GMT
I think the strap line of "For the show to go on, the clothes must come off" is quite good and would probably be taken fairly tongue in cheek if it wasn't for the poster that accompanies it which puts the nudity very much to the fore. Excluding the trench coat brigade, the poster probably has put people off and perhaps wrongly made people assume that the show is sleazy or the nudity is gratuitous when neither is the case. As to whether a more subtle approach to the themes of the show would have made a sufficient enough difference in terms of putting more bums on seats, it's hard to say but with hindsight I don't think the marketing has done them any favours.
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Post by steve10086 on Jun 16, 2016 7:40:58 GMT
Some of its lack of success must be due to the fact it just isn't very good.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2016 8:32:57 GMT
It definitely has a few issues here and there, but it is a fun little show, with great performances from the cast as a whole!
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4,799 posts
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Post by The Matthew on Jun 16, 2016 9:25:23 GMT
Some of its lack of success must be due to the fact it just isn't very good. It depends what you consider good. It doesn't have spectacle or many instantly-hummable tunes, but it's emotionally engaging and I was surprised just how much I cared about the characters, and that's what I most want from a story. I do think "For the show to go on, the clothes must come off" creates the wrong impression, and if that was the first thing I'd known about the show I'd have worked on the incorrect assumption that if the nudity is how they're selling it they can't have anything else to offer. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2016 17:33:17 GMT
Just got a text from my friend seeing the show tonight, apparently Jamie Foreman isn't on again. Is he on holiday or ill? I wonder if he will make it back for the final two performances tomorrow?
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6,276 posts
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Post by Jon on Jun 17, 2016 17:36:53 GMT
I think this could do fairly well if it toured, the cast want it to! It would probably do better than it has done. But will the producers risk losing more money if it doesn't? I dont know why It hasn't appealed? There are a few names in the show! The theatre isn't massive either?! if you're not selling well in a 800 seat theatre and having to discount, you're going to lose money. The film in which it's based on is known but it was never a huge hit in the cinema, most people who have seen the film probably saw it on television |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2016 17:38:46 GMT
I think this could do fairly well if it toured, the cast want it to! It would probably do better than it has done. But will the producers risk losing more money if it doesn't? I dont know why It hasn't appealed? There are a few names in the show! The theatre isn't massive either?! if you're not selling well in a 800 seat theatre and having to discount, you're going to lose money. The film in which it's based on is known but it was never a huge hit in the cinema, most people who have seen the film probably saw it on television Agreed, the film had its little cult following but never really took off Box Office wise. It is one of my favorites though! |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2016 17:45:42 GMT
Apparently the whole cast have just been singing Happy Birthday to Tracie!  |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2016 13:39:56 GMT
Farewell to Henderson today. Such a shame, a lush show. Hope it has a life after the West End and the cast don't stay away too long. |
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Post by mallardo on Jun 18, 2016 14:17:41 GMT
Farewell to Henderson today. Such a shame, a lush show. Hope it has a life after the West End and the cast don't stay away too long.
Emma Williams posted a very classy and heartfelt thank you to the show and all it has meant to her on her Twitter today.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2016 15:42:05 GMT
Looks like the Toronto transfer is still going ahead at the Royal Alexander Theatre from March 11 to April 2013, 2017.
And seeing as Half A Sixpence is currently booking until 11th February, maybe Emma Williams and Ian Bartholomew might transfer with it.
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Post by easilypleased on Sept 7, 2016 7:51:57 GMT
I think they set up this transfer before the less than successful run at the NC. The theatre in Toronto is 50% bigger than the NC as well, so it could be chilly for them in Toronto in March. The Mirvish website says that this "complete London production with its acclaimed company of actors" will transfer so unless that is just marketing spiel it looks like everyone is indeed going.
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Post by Honoured Guest on Sept 7, 2016 8:54:10 GMT
Toronto is a six-and-a-half-week run as part of a seven-show subscription series.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2017 20:52:41 GMT
Have I missed something? Is this getting another outing?
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Post by The Matthew on Feb 17, 2017 20:58:58 GMT
I assume it's a reference to the previous page of this discussion.
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Post by djdan14 on Feb 17, 2017 21:05:03 GMT
Yes going ahead in Toronto. Evelyn Hoskins tweeted yesterday she was playing Maureen.
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Post by mallardo on Feb 18, 2017 8:48:19 GMT
Yes going ahead in Toronto. Evelyn Hoskins tweeted yesterday she was playing Maureen.
Interesting casting, to say the least. Not exactly an Emma Williams type but I'm sure she'll be great.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2017 9:06:22 GMT
I'm intrigued by this casting choice... i'm sure she will be good though!
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Post by mallardo on Feb 18, 2017 9:09:23 GMT
^Air ticket and season ticket already booked, then, I guess, mallardo?
Ha!! You gave me a good laugh to start the day, TM. But, as it happens, I'm originally from Toronto and still have family there so....
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Post by mallardo on Feb 18, 2017 9:15:12 GMT
Not that I need "cover story", you understand. Trying to recall how high the stage is at the Royal Alex theatre.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2017 9:41:02 GMT
I'm intrigued by this casting choice... i'm sure she will be good though! I think she'll nail it! It's the first time she's getting to play an adult |
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Post by easilypleased on Feb 18, 2017 10:39:30 GMT
I was wondering when they would announce the cast for this. If they've been rehearsing for a week and it opens in three one would assume it's pretty well established by now. But it couldn't possibly be because the vast majority of the cast are brand new (I think apart from Tracie Bennett?)
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Post by Dawnstar on Feb 18, 2017 19:04:40 GMT
I was wondering when they would announce the cast for this. If they've been rehearsing for a week and it opens in three one would assume it's pretty well established by now. But it couldn't possibly be because the vast majority of the cast are brand new (I think apart from Tracie Bennett?) Matthew Malthouse is also doing the show in Canada. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2017 22:22:00 GMT
I assume it's a reference to the previous page of this discussion. Agh sorry I should have known. |
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Post by ali973 on Feb 19, 2017 5:40:17 GMT
Interesting that there will be two British casts in Toronto around the same time, Mrs Henderson Presents and The Bodyguard.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2017 9:02:10 GMT
Interesting that there will be two British casts in Toronto around the same time, Mrs Henderson Presents and The Bodyguard. Three as the West Yorkshire Playhouse production and cast of Strictly Ballroom are playing there April to June! |
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