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Post by Nelly on Mar 17, 2023 10:12:30 GMT
My apologies for a few blanks posts - iPhone technology and old folks are not a match made in heaven. But for the sake of the very damaged feelings of others who cannot bear that another person’s opinion of this show differs from their own, I shall restrain myself from sharing my own truth or opinions about this so-called musical from now on and leave them to their shallow, boring luv fest. On to more interesting shows to discuss… And this year's Olivier for most dramatic storming off in a huff goes to.... Very often, I have a giggle at how well your posts and avatar go together.
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Post by Nelly on Mar 15, 2023 11:24:15 GMT
What exactly are they getting away with? Making a massive deal about the new cast, but not telling customers when they’re not performing. Result: hyped up customers being disappointed that they didn’t see the advertised cast member. Exactly what’s been happening for the last year with Lucie. I do get what you're saying, but I still would say the average Joe doesn't care who they have on and that makes up the majority of the audience I say? Do they make a massive deal about new cast other than just announcing a new cast? I like that on the Wicked website, you are able to see when there is holiday booked for the leads, which is helpful and realistically they don't even need to do that? They don't owe anyone anything really, in my opinion.
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Post by Nelly on Mar 15, 2023 10:11:42 GMT
What’s the performance schedule for the new cast? Don’t tell me… there isn’t one. Why would there be when they’ve got away with it for the past year? What exactly are they getting away with?
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Post by Nelly on Mar 8, 2023 8:32:37 GMT
I guess I haven’t seen that many British Glindas to know what you mean but I find that fascinating. Are there any examples you could give on differences? The act 1 characterisation is pretty different, Popular being a definite change .. the US Glindas take the campy, American, excitable cheer valley girl vibe and run with it which imo hugely helps the comedic bits throughout the show. The energy is all the way up there compared to some UK Glinda’s who are excitable but arguably just too prim and proper as they dance about haha Yes, I agree, you look at Megan Hilty’s glinda when she did it on Broadway and she used to make some of the Elphabi corpse she played the fool so much during Popular. I think you’re spot on with the prim and properness being a stumbling block.
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Post by Nelly on Mar 3, 2023 18:15:41 GMT
It isn't that different to me than any of us who come and say something positive, but don't do a lot of elaborating, or any of the "I'm really looking forward to this" posts. It's a quick reaction or opinion. I do get that, it just came across to me unnecessarily negative and because it was so unconstructive, pointless. Just the idea of someone listening to something and going oooh I should go make a comment about how my ironing was more exciting than what I was listening to, irked me. I'll get over it.
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Post by Nelly on Mar 3, 2023 16:31:11 GMT
I know its a forum and everyone is entitled to their opinions etc.etc.etc.etc but I just don't get posts like this? What's the point? The point I was trying to make, in a humorous way, was that I didn't like the music. Sorry you didn't get it. I got it, it wasn't exactly nuanced, but judging from your only other post in this thread, you were never going to like it. I just didn't get the point of specifically choosing to come onto this thread to make an unconstructive negative post. *shrug*
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Post by Nelly on Mar 3, 2023 16:17:03 GMT
Just been listening to the cast recording whilst doing the ironing and I'm afraid the ironing beat the music for interest. I know its a forum and everyone is entitled to their opinions etc.etc.etc.etc but I just don't get posts like this? What's the point?
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Post by Nelly on Mar 2, 2023 10:30:37 GMT
I saw this last night for the first time in 6 and a half years having seen the show a lot more regularly in its first 10 years. I didn't think the show was in bad shape at all. Lucy was on and was on fine form, her no good deed was one of the best I've ever heard in fact I'd put her quite near the top of my favourite Elphabi that I've seen. Lisa-Anne Wood was on as Glinda, she was great. I didn't think much of the chap who played Fiyreo, very weak vocally and didn't have much about him. I'm pretty sure we had covers on for Morrible and the Wizard too, they were very good whoever they were (forgot to look at the screen/cast board).
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Post by Nelly on Mar 1, 2023 10:08:07 GMT
She was on last night and absolutely phenomenal. Possibly the best No Good Deed I’ve heard?? I genuinely don’t care if she does all 8 shows this week just because it’s her final week - I’d personally someone take a show off if they’re not going to be 100% as long as they deliver when they’re there. If someone is going to see a show once in their whole life I’d rather each performer be on top form to make the show the best it could be, especially when there are 4 people in the building that can do the role. You've accidentally posted something positive on this thread, not sure if that's allowed? Lovely to hear Lucie was on top form. I'm going tonight and hoping to catch her!
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Post by Nelly on Feb 27, 2023 12:06:56 GMT
Brenda Edwards as Killer Queen and Lee Mead as Khashoggi.
Disappointed about Brenda's casting, I really didn't enjoy her in WWRY last time out.
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Post by Nelly on Feb 24, 2023 14:56:55 GMT
I saw this last night and was incredibly impressed with it. I also managed to catch Ravi Aujla's cover debut of Emmanuel (only found this out afterwards), it was seriously impressive that he was so polished, I wonder how many understudy rehearsals they have had. Nigel, Hadley and Ravi were mesmerising. I really loved the concept, it all worked so well together and the 3hrs 20mins which I was initially a little bit worried about flew by. One gripe, I really didn't get the part at the end where {Spoiler - click to view} a whole load of people walk on and gather round a boardroom table. What was that meant to symbolise if anything? It kind of took me out of the moment. I can understand why this wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea but I loved it.
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Post by Nelly on Feb 22, 2023 10:35:38 GMT
Nice that, quite rightly, Hannah's musical theatre background is focussed upon in this. It's been great to see Hannah Waddingham's deserved rise to fame, I've been a fan of her since I saw her in Tonight's The Night at the Victoria Palace in 2003!
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Post by Nelly on Feb 21, 2023 8:44:47 GMT
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Post by Nelly on Feb 20, 2023 10:36:15 GMT
I saw this on Saturday. I think I agree with the majority of what has been said before. The cast are what makes this show, some of the material/pacing really is off. Bits that could have had a bigger impact were done so quickly you just end up being like 'oh ok' ie when the {Spoiler - click to view} Brother Dies The band sounded great, and I did like the use of colour in the costumes, lighting and projection. Although from a really picky point of view:{Spoiler - click to view} I liked what they did with the projection when the brother died but then was surprised they didn't do the same thing when Keir dies or even Emily Davison, that would have been a nice motif throughout the show. All in all, this still doesn't seem like the finished product but I'm guessing they consider that it is given that it had an initial try-out and then a preview period where it sounds like chunks were taken out/redone.
Is there a cast recording planned for this? Sorry if I've missed this somewhere, but you can never have enough Beverly Knight.
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Post by Nelly on Feb 16, 2023 14:46:58 GMT
Wizomania in Wicked?
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Post by Nelly on Feb 15, 2023 22:56:24 GMT
Was surprised to see (what I can only assume is) positive dynamic pricing in action for this Saturday eve and picked up a ticket that is usually classed as premium for a lot less.
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Post by Nelly on Feb 14, 2023 9:15:06 GMT
They hugely loved this tonight, it was press night, but bizarrely the National decided to cut the standing ovation very short by switching on the house lights. This happened at the first preview as well, only one bow and that was it, they were gone. I thought they could have come back on for one more bow and to take in the ovation.
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Post by Nelly on Feb 10, 2023 10:07:43 GMT
I too was there last night and thought it was so very good. I went in knowing very little about it including not being aware of Richard Hawley's career/back catalogue but the songs were perfect for this. The 2hrs 50mins flew by, nothing felt like it dragged for me. I thought it was really cleverly done, very slick. They really made use of the clever yet simple set and the lighting complimented that excellently.
The cast seemed surprised and overwhelmed by the instant standing ovation last night which was really lovely to see.
One slight gripe but this is most likely down to being in a new venue with a full audience (and it was a first preview), either the band need to be turned down a tad in the mix, or the vocals need to be turned up. The band do sound great in this though, nice to be able to see them do their thing throughout too. The audience were electric last night too.
Definitely planning a repeat visit (possibly at a different angle) to take it all in again.
Was pleased they had programmes ready to buy as my last couple of visits to the National, the programmes haven't been ready early in the run (for example Phaedra's were still on a pre-order). I was also delighted to find some honey available to buy at the bookshop from the bee hives on the roof of the building.
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Post by Nelly on Jan 26, 2023 12:44:52 GMT
Booked tickets very quickly after that casting news! Delighted we get Caissie back on these shores again.
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Post by Nelly on Jan 25, 2023 15:46:01 GMT
Blows my mind when ex cast members return to a role after not playing it for years/month. So blooming talented! It's impressive and of course always exciting, but is it actually fair on anyone? Presumably they won't have rehearsed with the current cast, are they currently 'fit' vocally, etc.? It's impressive they can just slot in but I don't think they should have to. I doubt the average audience member would notice anything so perhaps I'm being picky here, but have they paid to have someone just 'pop in' who hasn't played it in months? The audience would be 99% your average audience member so if it's between that option and therefore no one really knowing any different or cancelling the performance I think it's obvious which one they'd go for? Also, no one is forcing someone to say yes to do it.
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Post by Nelly on Dec 14, 2022 12:37:09 GMT
As long as Brenda Edwards is no where near this one!!
Kerry Ellis as Killer Queen is something I'd thought about when this was announced, could definitely see it happening.
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Post by Nelly on Dec 6, 2022 10:29:12 GMT
Tickets are not cheap (duh), but returning on here to say BOOKED! What a lovely day for theatre announcements!
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Post by Nelly on Aug 20, 2019 9:17:23 GMT
I think he will do a decent job. He looks very young though so it's a good job he is paired with Laura and not Ashley. I was going to go again this week but now might actually wait until he starts because i'm intrigued. Wow he’s actually 27! He does look young. I thought he was about 20 for some reason 😆 Idk, I find this stunt casting to be disappointing. More so than Ashley tbh. With Ashley at least she had experience performing and singing (although I know she’s not the best singer) - with Joe they’ve literally just chosen a dude because he has tons of teenage stans to boost their tickets. He may well be a talented guy and I’m sure there’ll be people saying he can sing etc, but idk. All these stunt castings just take away from the show itself I think. But I guess if this is what they feel they need to do to survive .... and I’m sure he’ll bring new people to the theatre also so that’s always a good thing 👍 Question! This isn't me having a dig at anyone but genuinley wondering. What was everyone's reactions to Jack McBrayer when he was cast? Did he get the same reaction as Ashley, Blake or Joe?
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Post by Nelly on Aug 13, 2019 16:19:31 GMT
I wonder how different the above will be to the already availble Album here:
Totally different tracklist I should imagine - as the new album is full of previously unheard music. That'll teach me not to skim read things! Thanks! haha
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Post by Nelly on Aug 13, 2019 16:04:05 GMT
I wonder how different the above will be to the already availble Album here:
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Post by Nelly on Jul 30, 2019 7:49:53 GMT
Define "disaster". I really liked her.
Alexia remains one of my favourite Elphabas and I've seen a good fair few in the West End and on Broadway!
Haven't seen the show in years and years, wanted to catch Alice but never got around to it. Sounds like the new cast has given the show a bit of a refresh? Another visit might be needed.
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Post by Nelly on Jul 19, 2019 17:29:24 GMT
I've just seen that the night I'm going has JOJ on as Valjean and not Alfie Boe which I'm delighted about! Although the ticketing website is confusing. It has a note on the top stating that John Owen-Jones will be performing as Jean Valjean on Mon, Thurs Evenings & Wed Matinees but only the Friday and Saturday are marked as him not appearing?
I'm taking this to mean that they don't mark the shows that JOJ is scheduled to be on for, but only the shows Alfie is off on top of the JOJ dates? It's been a long week...
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Post by Nelly on Jul 19, 2019 15:13:39 GMT
Meat is presumably now called Oz? Yep, seems so. The international versions always had her as Oz and not Meat. The Buddy character threw me until I realised that had replaced Pop, unless that happened ages ago and I’d forgotten.
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Post by Nelly on Jul 19, 2019 14:17:19 GMT
It seems to have been cast well. I was a maaaaassssive WWRY fanboy back in the day (saw it way too many times) so excited to see this.
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Post by Nelly on Jul 18, 2019 7:12:24 GMT
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