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Post by ukpuppetboy on Nov 14, 2019 23:49:51 GMT
Heard two rumours about casting for this in the last week. Lee mead was one and Killian Donnelly was the other. I saw Killian a few months ago as Jean Valjean and thought he was wonderful. Hope its him. Well done on scooping Baz by a week Theatrefan48 . Hopefully you can take over full time.
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Nov 14, 2019 4:36:04 GMT
He’s all over every comment just promoting his own tacky channel. The Ambulance Chaser of theatre reviewers. What a nasty piece of work.
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Nov 12, 2019 0:52:59 GMT
"International version" do you mean World Tour version? Unsure about orchestra size but otherwise that one retains the original staging, sets and costumes does it not? For the World Tour Maria Björnson’s designs were adapted by the Edward Pierce Studio in the US to facilitate travelling with the original chandelier drop without having to install it into the ceiling of each receiving house. Unfortunately this meant sacrificing the central angel in the proscenium in order for the cables to pass through to the ceiling track (2 cables and a track replace the originals’ 6 cable sling configuration). The angel is now static and incorporated into the (rather less impressive) rooftop scenery at the end of Act 1 for the Phantom to emerge from. (Hopefully that didn’t require a spoiler alert).
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Nov 10, 2019 1:34:49 GMT
Upper Street Oxfam apparently..
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Nov 9, 2019 1:06:06 GMT
Even with the adjusted start times she still didn’t get to the stage until gone midnight for her Vegas gig on Thursday. Or conclude until 2.30. David Badella and Friends at The Alleycat used to have a more reasonable show schedule.. Madonna’s Vegas Shows Off to a Rocky Start
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Nov 8, 2019 23:07:20 GMT
The issue at the Apollo was structural, severe, and required the input of a range of professions to redesign, construct and certify the improvements safe before the venue could reopen for the public (and many more months for the work to be completed). In the case of the Piccadilly if, as appears the cause was local and the damage cosmetic then there isn’t really any reason to remain closed. They could conceivably have the damage completely fixed in this instance before the theatre opens on Monday. It really is unfortunate that the two events should be compared in the same sentence really; though obviously understandable.
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Nov 7, 2019 7:57:50 GMT
Another performer (although I never saw him live in Les Mis) that I wish had returned as Valjean or Javert, is Anthony Warlow. 100% agree. If only he’d been the Enjolras at the Albert Hall concert that cast would have been almost perfect (though admittedly Lea Salonga wouldn’t have been my choice). Still if we were only allowed one Secret Garden cast member then Phillip Quast almost walked away with the night with that rendition of Stars. The video/recording just doesn’t do justice to the power in that man’s voice. Nor the way he commanded the stage in the role.
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Nov 6, 2019 23:52:58 GMT
The HSE will likely be involved, it's now run by the previous boss of my company, she'll be right on the case. I really hope she is and that it doesn’t just “blow over” pianowithsam. It may have been a lot less serious than at the Apollo where the amount of debris and the height fallen appear to have both been more significant but it is not acceptable that you should have to worry about the integrity of a West End Theatre given the economics of the industry these days. It certainly doesn’t look good for ATG that there were signs out indicating they were aware of a leak. Though obviously there is a chance that may be unrelated to the one in the ceiling. Not on the same scale perhaps but add to the mix the issues with the roof at The Southwark Playhouse in recent months.
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Nov 6, 2019 21:28:00 GMT
It really is very shocking. The grand circle was OPEN at the Piccadilly?!
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Nov 6, 2019 21:21:39 GMT
A big YES to Barry James in any character actor role. His Beadle Bamford will live with me for the rest of my days. And my favourite thing about Grand Hotel by a million miles. So good to see some of these legendary names in the mix and not the same casts from the last few years. Meredith Braun was my first Eponine and, like Frances Ruffelle she had a very distinct raspy quality that was perfect for that French sparrow conceived originally. I would much rather that than the generic musical theatre belter with no soul that is typically on offer.
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Nov 6, 2019 20:55:54 GMT
First Curious Incident. Now Death of a Salesman? Remind me to pack a hardhat next time I go and see a Marianne Elliott show. She’s taking immersive theatre to new heights.
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Oct 31, 2019 23:44:58 GMT
Does this mean that London production of Next to Normal with her that apparently the authors were holding out for is finally off the cards? Devastating. But on the flip side perhaps they can start thinking about a new Diana now...
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Oct 23, 2019 3:02:09 GMT
Love the bit about no one tells her to be quiet at the pub. A theatre is not a pub. It really beggars belief. Does she need to be reminded that the playing of darts, watching of football & holding a weekly quiz is also frowned upon in the middle of a show?
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Oct 22, 2019 7:28:12 GMT
If she wasn’t going into Les Mis I’d say it would be a great career move for Carrie Hope Fletcher. She sort of reminds me of Linzi Hateley in some respects. Anyone else on here a fan of the Canadian Cast Recording with Donny? Janet Metz is my all time favourite narrator. Could listen to her sing Pharaoh’s Story on repeat (despite the occasional ‘Sierra Boggess’ style of weird pronunciation).
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Oct 21, 2019 20:50:06 GMT
Your talents are wasted on here.
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Oct 21, 2019 0:06:47 GMT
My guesses would be Miranda Hart or Dawn French. Both have worked with the producer previously in Annie & panto! 🦄 Fixed this for you too.
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Oct 21, 2019 0:03:43 GMT
I like to put “🦄” at the end of a message that was intended as sarcasm. It needs to catch on in this thread...
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Oct 17, 2019 19:47:03 GMT
The rumour was again that Lin Manuel Miranda was going to be Hamilton for a few weeks. As you can see it turned out not to be true. This was definitely a persistent rumour with the initial casting, but I really don’t see it happening now - with 2 young kids and a million other new projects on the go. At most a few weeks like in PR for publicity. But Lin would be WAY down the list of OBC members that I’d be keen to see again. Renee, Daveed or Leslie on the other-hand and I’d be at the front of the mad clamour to be there. They were all electric.
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Sept 21, 2019 21:18:38 GMT
Saw this in the short run in 1993 in the WE with Roger Allam and Haydn Gwynne...a fabulous show...sophisticated entertainment indeed...loved it! So nostalgic for that original production and that cast from the Prince of Wales. Haydn Gwynne was sensational. I never really got that into the Donmar production. I think I missed those amazing sets/set changes. And the overuse of projections was an irritating replacement.
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Sept 19, 2019 20:48:19 GMT
Sounds like the Lyric’s found it’s next tenant.
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Sept 14, 2019 8:19:18 GMT
‘To break in a Glove’ wouldn’t really work if the story was set in Britain. It’s not that we can’t play baseball I suppose, but we just don’t. And that whole scene really focuses on the regular things that Evan missed out on by not having a dad at home and I’m almost positive conditioning a mit isn’t part of the standard father/son bonding in the UK. The “high school shooter chic” line would also have to be rewritten..
Early on when Avenue Q was initially auditioning I was told they were going to set that in the UK too - with Christmas Eve rewritten as an Indian Shop Owner (and the actress who played Sharmila in Eastenders was before me in auditions at Stratford East so I know it was definitely on the table). Mercifully they saw fit to keep the setting intact and the show seemed to be pretty successful. I’m sure DEH will do likewise.
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Sept 12, 2019 21:58:30 GMT
The irony that this is on page 72 of a thread where the only information is* already in the title 😉 *WAS
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Sept 12, 2019 12:16:41 GMT
The 1990s National Theatre revival demonstrated how amazing the show can be. If the Park can repeat the feat, it'll be a smash. I doubt very much the Open Air will be able to match the epic scale of those Bob Crowley designs and that gorgeous orchestra from the Lyttleton.
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Sept 11, 2019 11:57:25 GMT
Yes I find him very hit and miss. Loved In the Heights, but the dance in King Kong was all wrong for the show. And JCS was way too fussy for me. Much like Andy Blankenbuehler’s work on Hamilton - must there be a different gesture for EVERY lyric. Starts to look like a signed performance for the deaf.. But different strokes as they say..
Hanging on to my memories of Janie Dee with Clive Rowe at the National. And Kennith MacMillan’s ballet. And THAT orchestra....
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Sept 10, 2019 5:47:53 GMT
"ALW seems to think adding in electric guitar to his shows makes him cool and up to date, when it often dates the shows" It does indeed feel dated because of it, while the version I posted feels much more timeless. It really is a shame, because aside from the dated feel, I think the scene is the climax of act one and this electric guitar distracts from the chords and makes the scene much more generic to me and I believe it takes audiences out of the right feel. The chords and key changes and intensity it takes away from are much more haunting. The electric guitar riffs are also SO incongruous with the orchestrations for the entire rest of the show. Should have been ditched with Steve Harley.
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Sept 8, 2019 10:28:53 GMT
I’ll take that as a “no”. All you need to do is put 'populism' in Google and read for 30 minutes.
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Sept 8, 2019 9:54:29 GMT
As a Brit abroad can anyone tell me if ANY positive aspects to leaving the Union have emerged since the vote? Ones that can actually be verified. Apart from that (short term) 20p price cut at Wetherspoons (and rampant city currency speculation and dodging the new year EU Tax Avoidance directives)?
Much like with Trump in America the rest of the world looks on bemused as to why any nation would act with such wilful self-destruction.
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Sept 7, 2019 0:50:37 GMT
Personally I think Mrs Doubtfire is as funny today as it’s ever been.
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Sept 7, 2019 0:44:23 GMT
Really? I thought the music was the least significant feature of the movie (except for the finale). Unusual in a Tarantino flick.
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Sept 4, 2019 6:43:05 GMT
Hi, has anyone got any cast lists or are able to help me? I've bought some roller skates which I believe were used in London for Starlight Express, the seller told me they were Anne-Jane Casey's but after speaking to her on Twitter they arnt. On seeing the pictures she said they would be someone's second pair. The only clue to the owner is the initials JS on the bottom of them. Anyone have any ideas? Starlight - London Casts (1984 - 2001)
I hope they’re not Jeff Shankley’s from 1985!
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