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Post by frankubelik on Dec 24, 2020 5:00:46 GMT
Heartbreaking news and just 59. Lucky enough to see her in The Secret Garden, The Music Man and Showboat. Luminous.
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Post by frankubelik on Nov 8, 2020 8:07:02 GMT
I saw the UK version too and can remember Kelly Hunter walking away with the show.
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Post by frankubelik on Aug 6, 2020 3:36:45 GMT
Saw this multiple times and there was always much to enjoy despite the overblown production. Martin Smith was a charismatic Adam and Ken Page a commanding Father. Sonia Swaby, Anna-Jane Casey, Ruthie Henshall and Matthew White (before he started directing) were also featured in the large cast. I seem to recall that Earlene Bentley (Mama Noah) was under contract to another record label so couldn't take part in the recording so that's why Jacqui Dubois sings it (she was the understudy).
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Post by frankubelik on Jun 6, 2020 16:04:00 GMT
Proof, if any were needed, that winning an Olivier is not a sign of musical excellence: Sophie Thompson, Samantha Spiro, Martine McCutcheon, Elena Roger, Sheridan Smith, Zrinka Cvitesic, Shirley Henderson........ While I'm here, why does Jenna Russell get cast in everything? She leaves me cold. Poor Ria Jones has no voice left at all and Ruthie Henshall now makes a career out of singing flat. And as for Tracie Bennett, I would be banned from this board if I started. Did anyone really believe Imelda as a former showgirl?
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Post by frankubelik on May 9, 2020 5:50:02 GMT
I have received an email confirming details of a full credit voucher. What exactly is the "deal" with the drinks vouchers? From the thread it appears that anyone calling and asking for a refund was encouraged to accept a credit voucher PLUS a bar voucher as incentive. I'm not that bothered but there seems to be some inconsistency here.
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Post by frankubelik on Apr 30, 2020 6:35:25 GMT
For those of "a certain age", she appeared in Harold Rome's DESTRY RIDES AGAIN at the Donmar Warehouse in 1982 and was the last Dorothy Brock in 42ND STREET (with Ms Zeta-Jones) at Drury Lane in 1987 following Georgia Brown and Shani Wallis.
RIP.
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Post by frankubelik on Mar 16, 2020 7:04:44 GMT
It usually depends on how the show is sold and the billing. If you book to see Jake & Annaleigh "IN" SITPWG (above the title) then that's what you should see. However, if its SITPWG "WITH" or "STARRING" (below the title) then if one of them is off - tough! That's been my experience over the years anyway.
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Post by frankubelik on Mar 13, 2020 10:09:11 GMT
There is a link but it takes you to an "unsupported" network.
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Post by frankubelik on Mar 11, 2020 7:37:44 GMT
Having seen it on Broadway and the original London cast (several times) this was always going to be a hard sell for me. It was good at the Donmar and slightly better here but not really re-imagined for a proscenium arch venue which was a shame. I agree with a previous poster about the laughs never "landing" and I, too couldn't quite work out why apart from the cast not being that well directed. It's (perhaps too) smart and stylish; I would have preferred the Angel City Four to have had closer, tighter harmonies and for the band to be bigger but nevertheless there is much to enjoy. Rebecca Trehearn is the standout here - she is simply terrific. Nice work from Vanessa Williams too; I can really take or leave Ms Craig and it's best to draw a veil over Ms Roberts. Theo James looks good but does lack that 1940s cynical mood and Hadley Fraser fine. The theatre was incredibly hot which could have led to an "incident" during Act 1 when someone was taken ill.
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Post by frankubelik on Mar 11, 2020 7:10:06 GMT
Mourning was done at the Old Vic in 1961 with Sonia Dresdel, Barbara Jefford and Michael Goodliffe.
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Post by frankubelik on Mar 11, 2020 7:07:18 GMT
Uta Hagen & Arthur Hill stared in WAOVW at the Piccadilly Theatre in 1963 - (Beverlee McKinsey and Richard Easton were Honey & Nick).
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Post by frankubelik on Mar 8, 2020 3:59:47 GMT
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Post by frankubelik on Feb 3, 2020 11:06:47 GMT
Exactly one hour wait. Got my first choice of dates and the seats I wanted. Can't complain apart from the "frozen" hiatus!
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Post by frankubelik on Jan 9, 2020 7:39:33 GMT
I did see his Dolly at the Prince of Wales which, although "wrong" was hugely entertaining and a super production. He was a real pro.
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Post by frankubelik on Dec 13, 2019 6:48:47 GMT
No. Cannot stand him. Why does he consistently repeat almost everything he says TWICE? Validation? Drives me insane. Usually playing in the background on my bus journeys. I now resort to headphones!
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Post by frankubelik on Dec 3, 2019 12:48:12 GMT
A largely super fun production thanks to Matthew White with the ensemble thankfully very on point with Tiffany Graves and Gabrielle Lewis-Dodson outstanding. The Polly needs to work on her diction and I found her a little clunky. Sadly the great energy was completely dissipated with the arrival of Ms Dee who seemed to play Madame Dubonnet like a great classical role, slowing the pace and failed to land the laughs - disappointing. The rest was hugely enjoyable and elicited grins all round. Lovely.
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Post by frankubelik on Nov 22, 2019 16:56:11 GMT
From the chorus of Mame and Maggie May to her breakthrough roles in Cole and Side By Side, she has been seriously under-used and under-rated. There was nobody like her. She has my utmost respect for withdrawing from musicals when she did, realising the commitment was simply too much and also that her voice was no longer (after Sweeney) in peak condition. Very very classy. I will not forget her Sally not to mention her appearances in Ayckbourn's plays (Woman in Mind and Communicating Doors) - take a look at her "Ice Cream" on Youtube. Stunning.
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Post by frankubelik on Nov 22, 2019 16:49:52 GMT
Little Shop was my first brush with Claire and she was amazing. From that to Phantom where she was infinitely superior to Brightman and then Born Again at Chichester (with Mandy Patinkin), and Saigon and the concert of Starting Here, Starting Now....she had a stunning range with a good "mix" and terrific "belt". She was (in my view) the ONLY thing in Calendar Girls, better than Di Botcher in the Follies re-cast and is now doing sterling work in Poppins. I am a HUGE fan.
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Post by frankubelik on Nov 22, 2019 8:12:43 GMT
Jeez. JR AGAIN? Lame, boring and completely uninspired casting. Imelda - can see her obvious choices already.
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Post by frankubelik on Nov 14, 2019 8:59:38 GMT
Er, because it was a "false alarm" and the theatre was not evacuated.
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Post by frankubelik on Nov 14, 2019 8:12:05 GMT
A complete snooze-fest for me and I thought it would never end. We got the understudy (I think it's really poor not to have announced this if nothing else for the poor guy playing the role) and sadly he was bad; cracking on the top notes and shouting when he should have used his (non existent?) falsetto. His tics and physicality simply annoyed me and I felt nothing for him or in fact anyone on that stage. Given that many of the youngsters have had little professional experience, they've cast it cheaply and it woefully shows. It's been over hyped and now it's over here presumably for a while judging by the reaction last night. We had a false evacuation before Act 2 started and part of me was thrilled to be able to escape but depressed at the thought of having to return to see the entire show again!
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Post by frankubelik on Nov 11, 2019 7:35:24 GMT
Superb. A very classy affair, proper songs, properly sung. Personally I would have done away with the interval and about three second act songs but that notwithstanding, she was great.
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Post by frankubelik on Nov 6, 2019 6:20:18 GMT
I'm just curious......previewing for a week (?) and much talk of seating but very little about the show (cast). I'm there next week, so we shall see.
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Post by frankubelik on Nov 3, 2019 10:18:06 GMT
The only reason I returned to this show having not enjoyed it 15 years ago was Zizi Strallen and she did not disappoint. She has superb "placement" and seems to be really enjoying herself which is quite infectious. Otherwise I found it all rather dull and just don't think this stage adaptation is very good. I never understood the park statues coming to life. where Mrs Corry comes in or the awful doll sequence and still don't. The Robertson Ay character is unnecessary and not performed well here. The set looked cheap - I am presuming this is the touring one as I seem to recall much more detail originally. Top marks to Claire Moore (as ever) but I am I alone in thinking Petula Clark was simply an embarrassment? Living legend and all that but she looks unsteady and really cannot sing - come back Julia Sutton who delivered it superbly. I wasn't keen on Mrs Banks hysteria and thought Joseph Millson lacked gravitas. Charlie Stemp was fine. The sound was not so hot. I guess it will be there for a while but Prince Edward, DO please employ proper bar staff who know how to serve drinks!
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Post by frankubelik on Oct 19, 2019 6:23:02 GMT
Thank God for this channel; true there are some decidedly dodgy items but it champions many overlooked and forgotten movies and is now really the only place where these can be seen. I have given up on TCM (which has become the Western channel - zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz) and the other channels ignore the "classic movie" canon. Anybody else remember the Saturday and Sunday afternoon matinees on the BBC?
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Post by frankubelik on Oct 12, 2019 15:03:42 GMT
Horrendous. How anyone can even think the vocals are acceptable must be deaf. The trajectory of Ms Bennett is a mystery to me and (I hope) all musical theatre lovers.
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Post by frankubelik on Oct 8, 2019 15:07:26 GMT
Pretty disappointed at the Amex allocation for The Visit. Have specific seating requirements (an aisle and NOT the Olivier circle) and nothing available for previews. I have largely given up on the NT and trying for tickets to this has stiffened my resolve!!!
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Post by frankubelik on Oct 5, 2019 7:49:31 GMT
She is glorious on the NO STRINGS Broadway cast album. For those of you who don't know it, do listen. Please note the correct spelling of Diahann.
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Post by frankubelik on Sept 29, 2019 7:03:48 GMT
Oh dear.......
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Post by frankubelik on Sept 19, 2019 7:04:24 GMT
Agreed. Although I have no great desire to see Fiddler (not a favourite of mine) and certainly not at the high Playhouse prices, I did try to access the code via the link as soon as it was received but nothing was available.
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