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Post by Mr Snow on Jun 8, 2017 10:40:01 GMT
Can you tell me what she has achieved? At the moment I think she is an idiott. Please enlighten me.
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Post by Mr Snow on Jun 8, 2017 9:11:53 GMT
Wish her well in recovering.
During one of the Blair elections, Matthew Parris wrote an article about trying to get hold of her for a comment. She was clearly avoiding him. His conclusion was something like Alastair Campbell had locked her up for the duration.
It says a lot about Corbyn that he has no other MP’s to put into important positions in the Shadow Cabinet. But they’ve always been loyal to each other. AS a backbencher, she was entertaining and thankfully not my MP.
The prospect of her as Home Secretary is about as reassuring as the promise of Boris being the next to hold the top job.
Where oh where are the competent Politicians? Being an optimist I like to think there are still a few in Parliament, but because they don’t do soundbites, we’ll never hear of them.
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Post by Mr Snow on Jun 7, 2017 21:48:19 GMT
Just wondering how people plan?
For me Go through every page in Fringe and Festival Catelogues
Make lists of 'intersting ' options. Do this on large A3 sheets showing what time of day they are on at. Divide into comedy/music/play/whatever
Solicit opinions of one or two others attending.
Make my plans.
Book
Its all very time consuming. Is there an app that would help?
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Post by Mr Snow on Jun 6, 2017 13:39:37 GMT
The theatre community's obsession with William Shakespeare can be summed up in just four words - the emperor's new clothes. When I become Prime Minister, all public funding for the RSC will be transferred to the Royal Godber Company. Waiting for Godber to do something memorable. (Sorry couldn't help myself).
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Post by Mr Snow on Jun 6, 2017 9:38:34 GMT
Plus - and now I really do need to take cover: I'm not saying "never again" re Shakespeare but I'm giving him a very long rest which shows no sign of ending. +1, or more, judging from the above comments. I sit there just longing for them to shut up and someone to sing a song...and then the Director hits the hip-hop button to show how relevant it still is. I'm just smart enough to know I'm stupid and that Shakespeare's not really for me.
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Post by Mr Snow on Jun 5, 2017 6:57:46 GMT
Yardbird Friday
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Post by Mr Snow on Jun 4, 2017 17:29:30 GMT
Ok I've finalised it
In addition to my above choices I want something written in 2117. 😇
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Post by Mr Snow on Jun 3, 2017 7:26:58 GMT
Great thread! Overture from Phantom Hand me the wine and the dice from Aspects Goodbyeeee from 'Oh what a lovely war' That's a great choice, can I get an invite 😀 Goodbye-ee, goodbye-ee, Wipe the tear, baby dear, from your eye-ee, Tho' it's hard to part I know, I'll be tickled to death to go. Don't cry-ee, dont sigh-ee, there's a silver lining in the sky-ee, Bonsoir, old thing, cheer-i-o, chin, chin, Nap-poo, toodle-oo, Goodbye-ee.
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Post by Mr Snow on Jun 2, 2017 11:44:01 GMT
Here’s Showgirls review of a Pop Up Opera production. “I couldn't find a thread for this one but am sure some others here are familiar with this company, which tours to non-traditional venues. Current production is Cimarosa's Il Matrimonio Segreto (sung in Italian but with hilarious projected dialogue help - can't say whether it's an exact translation.) I caught this at the Geffrye Museum but there are further dates in the London and general south-east area. I don't think I've ever enjoyed an opera production so much; the smile never left my face for the whole 2 hours 30 duration and at times I was actually grinning broadly or laughing. www.popupopera.co.uk/whats-on
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Post by Mr Snow on Jun 2, 2017 11:40:36 GMT
Thank you for this, a new company to me, I am hoping to see this next week. Also I see they are doing Hansel & Gretel later in the year. Wonderful. (To attend a perfomance at the Minack Theatre is on my bucket list, but sadly not this one) popupopera.co.uk/whats-on
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Post by Mr Snow on Jun 1, 2017 11:46:40 GMT
Just picking up on that point, there are always lots of stands at this event. (Maybe) We could meet outside a designated stand at a certain time(s). I was going to suggest the same thing actually. That seems a good idea. But the offer still stand that if something is required from TheatreBoard to support this meet up or recognise each other then do let us know and we will look into it. Thats really helpful so if the Admin team will just dress up as Frank N Furter and Kinky Boots, then we'll all have a real good time.
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Post by Mr Snow on May 31, 2017 12:06:31 GMT
You have reminded me. So tourtured am I by this question that although a signed copy of my will exists, the complete version isyet to be written and deposited with the solicitors.
Possibles As guests gather Either Seigfrieds Funeral March or Tom Buckley Dolphins
for a contemplative moment Either Ry Cooder Maria Elena or the Humming Chorus from Madame Butterfly
But definately I want to go out to this.
Sing it Mildred...
Well, I think we ought to talk about death. Old people do, you know, and so far we've avoided any mention of it. So now I'd like to sing this death song. Don't worry, it's not your ordinary death song. Lorraine...?
When a person dies, he's put in the ground And his friends and relatives gather around And he gets a little stone and he gets a little mound Where the ivy likes to grow. Tell me, how many graves have you seen so far? When you're riding by in your motor-car, You can spot where all dead people are, But here is what I'm dying to know:
Where does an elephant go? Where does an elephant go? When an elephant gets so old and grey That the poor thing's got to be put away, Well, if somebody knows, won't somebody say Where does an elephant go? Where does an elephant go? Now, when Hannibal's elephants made that track Way over the Alps to the Roman sack, Surely one of them had a heart attack, Where did that elephant go?
When the Pharaohs roamed in a Biblical land To keep those Nubians well in hand, There were lots of elephants, I understand, Everywhere you'd go. There've been elephants came from Kipling's pen, There've been elephants here since God knows when, So a hell of a lot must have died since then, And here is what I'm longing to know:
Where does an elephant go? Where does an elephant go? When a Pharaoh finally met his doom, They would lay him out in a swanky tomb, But an elephant takes so damn much room, Where does an elephant go?
"Where did the elephant go? Where did the elephant go?" When the coffin's shut and the lid is firm, A man's consigned to the pine and worm, But what kind of box fits a pachyderm? Where does an elephant go? When an elephant sees his final dawn, When an elephant's final breath is drawn, It's a cinch there ain't no Forest Lawn -- Lorraine, think about that next time you're tickling the ivories! Where does an elephant -- Where does an elephant -- Where does an elephant -- Where does an elephant go?
(sorry about the poor quality the orginal has been deleted, but its a great perfomance.)
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Post by Mr Snow on May 30, 2017 15:58:46 GMT
See my post above. I cant' believe it hapenned twice. This is the first I heard of the conclusion eventually being staged, as we we advised by the staff to move away with haste. It was a Saturday night. We were told to evacuate the theatre and that the performance was abandoned but some of us hung around and after over half an hour were invited back in. Sad thing to consider, but its worth remembering we overcame those terrorists and we will overcome the next. As a point of fact, "we" (the UK Government?) didn't overcome the IRA. All parties engaged in a peace process. Just as we discover we have something in common...you just cant help yourself, can you? I shan't lose any sleep tonight wondering if EVERYONE understood my point. Just to save everyone's time, all further comments from you will be ignored.
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Post by Mr Snow on May 30, 2017 12:30:13 GMT
i think what can be learned from this thread is don carlo is cursed!!! stay home and watch the dvdNo, it's Rigoletto who is cursed....
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Post by Mr Snow on May 30, 2017 12:29:13 GMT
Don Carlo does seem an accident - prone opera. When I attended an ENO production of Don Carlo, the performance was interrupted by an IRA bomb alert in the West End locality. The Coliseum was evacuated and searched and about half the audience returned to hear a heavily cut conclusion. See my post above. I cant' believe it hapenned twice. This is the first I heard of the conclusion eventually being staged, as we we advised by the staff to move away with haste. Sad thing to consider, but its worth remembering we overcame those terrorists and we will overcome the next.
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Post by Mr Snow on May 29, 2017 21:22:14 GMT
Saw this last Monday can't put my finger on why, but it was dull. Sad because this is one of the great Operas but not performed that often.
About 25 years we saw it at the ENO and before the last act the MC(?) Ask us to vacate the auditorium for security reasons. The IRA were very active at t h as time. The next day the box office offered tickets to an alternative night but the run was ending and we couldn't make it.
Saw an electrifying performance by Opera North in NottinghM and the old Covent Garden one with a young Karita Mattila. But there havent been many opportunities to see it since, so was sadly disappointed last week.
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Post by Mr Snow on May 29, 2017 20:59:08 GMT
Just thought.
Isn't the title of this thread what Sondheim calls juke box musicals?
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Post by Mr Snow on May 25, 2017 11:39:04 GMT
He was old school, in a good way. A star with manners and humour.
Things were simpler then. Whe today could envison a 'hero' as being Saintly pure or even use a word with religious connotations in such a way.
I love people who realise how fortunate they are. Blessed with a modicum of talent and good looks he realised how far he'd travelled with that. He gave back and unlike many who achieve success, seemed to enjoy everything it brought him
As far as I know, a life well lived. RIP Roger.
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Post by Mr Snow on May 24, 2017 14:35:07 GMT
The Secret Seats are an absolute bargain. Go get em! So how do these work?
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Post by Mr Snow on May 22, 2017 8:16:07 GMT
I have a two disc set of G&S – one with and the other without, singing. Lyrics are provided.
I thought it would be fun to take on Holiday. My sister declared that if either disc was put on she was packing up and going home.
I will confess, I was tempted.
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Post by Mr Snow on May 19, 2017 15:06:37 GMT
Discovering Theatreboard.com for the first time.
Yours sincerely,
Mr Sycophant.
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Post by Mr Snow on May 18, 2017 16:31:42 GMT
WE're going to the Matinee on Sat 1st July last day.
Wimbledon wil be on so it never rains, right?
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Post by Mr Snow on May 18, 2017 10:29:58 GMT
I'm also amused it took Physics to get me in an arena... But of course it did.... Fedora? Gaberdine? Check. Check. Now where's the exit?
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Post by Mr Snow on May 16, 2017 7:41:58 GMT
I believe Placido Domingo walks from the ROH to the Savoy. Street cred!
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Post by Mr Snow on May 16, 2017 6:03:20 GMT
Late to the party with this as most of you fellow board members seem to make it to the first few performances, so much of what I have to say has been mentioned already. I SO wanted to love this as I am a great musical theatre fan but came away a little disappointed. No wonder it did seem like a long evening. I so wanted to love it ..... I have to report though that the theatre seemed completely full on Friday night. Very well received but no standing ovation. Great review even if I found more positives than you did. However you should have turned round at the end, on Friday night they were on their feet.
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Post by Mr Snow on May 14, 2017 6:49:55 GMT
I think they were lucky opening just before 42nd St. This is the second best dance musical in London, though most years it would be the best.
Great cast although I agree on some of the accents, worst offender Miss Asher who was dreadful.
Re the 3 men falling for her, well who wouldn't? But the constant running away didn’t work as well as I recall it from the film?
I realise this is a jukebox musical version of a juke box film, but the songs were crowbarred into the plot and if the Gershwin's don’t have 50 songs better than Lisa and Itchy Feet, I'll eat my first edition Ella Fitzgerald Songbooks. Still it may now be my favourite Gershwin musical. Time has not been kind to their work. Same goes for Jerome Kern but at least he has Showboat.
The undoubted star of the evening was a new name to me, Zoe Rainey. Her resume doesn't seem that long but she had real star quality. Her part Milo Davenport, was clearly based on Vera Simpson a character in Pal Joey who gets to sing one of the great Theatre songs Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered. (Rita Hayworth was miscast in the film).
So My plan to stage Pal Joey in the west end in 2019 nears completion
1 Stunning singing/actress/comedienne to play Vera Simpson. Check 2 Stunning singing/dancing/actor like the young Sinatra to play Joey. TBC 3 Win many millions on lottery. TBC
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Post by Mr Snow on May 12, 2017 12:17:38 GMT
I was confused by this. (Don’t worry I find it happens all the time)
The evening fairly flew by, no expense was spared and there were some lovely sounds. However, as a drama it failed to engage and the music was all over the place.
Also none of the reviews seemed to pick up on what I thought were strong Catholic overtones to the piece. The visual Lamb of God who taketh away…everlasting life “etc. IT was part of the framework of the prison they found themselves in, IMO.
Still we’re glad we went but I doubt there’ll be that many opportunities to decide if we want to see it again.
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Post by Mr Snow on May 12, 2017 12:11:26 GMT
Lifted from another Forum. If you like Opera at the Cinema heres a free day out WITH REFRESHMENTS! to help a Phd student. "I'm a PhD student from King's College London, conducting research in collaboration with the Royal Opera House about how novice respondents ('opera virgins') respond to opera streamed live to cinemas. I'm organising a symposium for the 16th of June at KCL, at which I am bringing together a range of speakers including artists, opera and theatre company representatives and academics to talk about opera in the movies. I'll also be debuting findings from my own research. If anyone is based in or around London and thinks this sounds interesting, please consider RSVPing here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/opera...ts-34277422694And of course, there will be complementary refreshments throughout the day! Cheers everyone, have a nice day and feel free to ask any questions (about the symposium or my research). "
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Post by Mr Snow on May 10, 2017 11:52:56 GMT
Well I went last night and was very underwhelmed. I love a tap dance, so I went into this thinking I would love it. Flimsy stories are fine with me, and I absolutely adored Top Hat for its spectacle despite not the strongest book, and I know you shouldn't go in thinking 'because I like x show I should like this one', but not even the tap dancing could make me like this. The story was non-existant. I had never seen the show, but even before it started I just knew how it would end. The cast were average at best. Sheena Easton, nice voice, dull actress. Tom Lister, nice voice again, but just didn't charm me. Norman Bowman, charming and incredibly wasted. Christopher Howell annoyed me, even more did the western guy who seems made about Dorothy. I can't remember the female composer in the shows name, but she didn't wow me either. The only star in this is Clare Halse, a good but not great voice, but a brilliant tapper. I could keep my eyes off of her, and she is genuinely a likeable girl, and with time and more big roles she will be spectacular. The sets were nice, having watched the trailer I was surprised from my row B stalls seat that some of them looked a little flimsy. Maybe my expectations were too high. The train station set and the steps at the end scenes were spectacular to look at - it's a shame they could only be used once in the story though. Dancing very good, the choreography is really one of the few truly brilliant things about this show. It is stunning, even if it did look a bit lost on the stage - a theatre the size of the Prince Edward would have been better in my opinion even though it would probably lack the logistics for the set etc. Also great was hearing a proper orchestra. The forgettable score sounded brilliant, which I guess is something. Overall, a good but not great show. I'm glad I only paid £15 for row B stalls, had I paid more I would have been disappointed, especially as my mind did start to wonder at numerous points. 2.5 stars. If you want to hear a "proper orchestra" Going to a WE show is probably the wrong venue to be attending I am also surprised someone found Top Hat to have "spectacle" In comparison to 42nd Street Then again many people would not be able to tell Primark from Marni These are just your 'opinions' and nothing more. They are expressed so strongly that in this case you've actually succeeded in putting people off a show you’ve invested in (see posts below). Do you feel quite so smart now? I must say that compared to other Forums I frequent the criticism is pretty mild. Each to their own and I can see that could be a downward spiral. I DO value the overall air of civility on here. I think I’ll now leave this thread alone.
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Post by Mr Snow on May 10, 2017 7:53:21 GMT
Yes Opinions maybe just opinions but the show was put together around a brilliant set of songs. Someone about mentioned the ‘forgettable’ score. Unfortunately the weight of INFORMED opinion weights heavily against that.
The following have been revived by singers and bands over and over because they stand up to repeated examination, with delightful melodies and a nice way with words.. Dubin and Warren may not have been at the apexof the pyramid of 20th century songwriters but at their best they produced high quality memorable songs. The following will be remembered long after this year’s crop of hits stop being whistled!
You’re Getting to be a Habit with me I only have eyes for you We’re in the Money About a Quarter to Nine 42nd Street Lullaby of Broadway.
It’s a very strong score. IMO of course.
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