|
Post by nick on Mar 26, 2023 12:38:26 GMT
Why is everyone assuming the photos were taken with a phone? There are discreet cameras disguised as, say, pens available on Amazon. For £40.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Mar 19, 2023 10:24:29 GMT
Wow, that article completely misses the point (and I usually like reading The Guardian!). The line, “The industry, you could argue, has partly driven this change itself with the rise of relaxed performances.” 🙄 I don’t think so! Relaxed performances were introduced with access in mind, for those who may not be able to or feel comfortable attending a “typical” performance for whatever reason. Is there any evidence that there are more problems at relaxed performances? The only relaxed performance I've been to was a dog friendly performance and we were all impeccably behaved apart from the odd slobbering noise.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Mar 19, 2023 8:34:47 GMT
Recent-ish. Last year or two. Have a google, the story’s on multiple sites online. I know people drift apart, but it seems at odds with the public persona she’s built up of being everybody’s BFF. I looked and couldn't find anything? She's doesn't want to do a reunion of their comedy was best I got that's basically it. Here's a quote from the Daily Mirror: "Strictly Come Dancing star Will, 46, claims that their friendship didn't last off-screen, alleging that his phone calls to Sheridan, 41, went unanswered for years. "I don't know what happened, she won't reply to my calls or text messages at all," Will, who played Gaz in the long-running show, told The Morning After With Paul Danan podcast in May 2020. And despite being keen to get his cast mates back together for a reunion, Will said he was scuppered by Sheridan, insisting he wouldn't do it without her."
|
|
|
Post by nick on Mar 13, 2023 19:36:36 GMT
I’d assumed that these days they’d have ear pieces set to their own preferences. They seem very discreet - more so than mics.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Mar 7, 2023 13:00:30 GMT
I've just rewatched the first TV series. I'd forgotten how good the script is. It allows the characters to have opinions which are neither good or bad. And our expectations are shifted as the episodes progress.
For example Spike (Dee's boyfriend) starts as a typical commune communist. He then reverts to male aggressive behaviour when he gets jealous and finally we realise that he genuinely loves Dee and is battling with himself. All the other main characters go through similar evolution during the course of the series.
I think it is open to a modern rethinking about sexual politics, exploitation in the music industry, the influence of academic thinking and political polarisation. Potentially deep stuff layered under a musical extravaganza. Time will tell.
In other news Daisy Jones and the Six looks to be treading similar ground in a similar era on Disnay+.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Mar 4, 2023 10:21:10 GMT
I joined the queue at number 410. I'm used to queues for the GP where 10 people can take an hour. This queue dropped by 50 people every 10 seconds! Couldn't get the best seats for Rock Follies but they're reasonable.
I jumped back on an hour later - no queue and it didn't look like they'd sold many more tickets for ROck Follies so I wouldn't let the queue put anyone off booking.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Feb 27, 2023 17:45:32 GMT
Thanks - looks like a lot of promising shows there, which has cheered me up! Yeh I put it together to cheer me up as well. But I'm often surprised which shows makes the biggest impact. I've just ploughed though Poker Face which is fun especially if you are a Columbo fan.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Feb 26, 2023 11:20:00 GMT
Here's my list. Spoilered for size. Usually dramas - usually has something that makes it stand out from the usual suspects. {Spoiler - click to view} The 39 Steps - Netflix - 6 eps - Cumberbatch
The Abandons - Netflix - 10 eps - 1850s wild west
Am I being unreasonable series 2
Archie - ITV - 4 eps The Artful Dodger - Disney - 8 eps - Tim Minchin, 1850s Australia Dodger grown up
Ballad of Renegade Nell - Disney+ - 8 parts - Highwaywoman
Best Interests - BBC - 4 eps - Sharon Horgan, Michael Sheen, disabled daughter
Boiling point - BBC - 5 eps
But When We Dance - BBC - 1 ep - Parkinson’s
The Change - c4 - 6 eps - comedy woman going through life change
The Cleaner s2 - BBC - 6 eps
Constellation - Apple TV+ - Woman returns from space, parts of her life are missing
Dark Matter - Apple TV+ - 9eps - man kidnapped returns to changed life - sci-fi
The Devil In The White City - Hulu - 8 eps - 1883 first serial killer
The Doll Factory - Paramount Plus - 6 eps - 1850
Death Comes As The End - BBC – 3 eps (probably been cancelled) Dick Turpin - Apple TV+ - Noel Fielding
East of Eden - Netflix - based on book (film version 1954)
Fellow Travellers - Showtime - 8 eps - 1950s, 2 men romance over decades
Following Events are Based on a Pack of Lies - BBC - 5 eps - 2 women and a con artist
Franklin - Apple TV+ - Benjamin Franklin
Gaynor and Ray - BBC - Pilot - Ruth Jones, Rob Brydon
The Gallows Pole BBC - 6 eps - 18th century
Generation Z - CH4 - 6 eps - young fighting boomer zombies
Great Expectations - BBC - 6 eps
Human Error - Australia
Lost Flowers of Alice Hart - Amazon - 7 eps - handling violent childhood
Love and Death - HBO - 6 eps - church goers and axe murder
Manhunt - Apple TV+ Lincoln Assassination attempt
Miss Austen - PBS - 4 eps
Malpractice - ITV - 5 eps
Mary and George - Sky - 8 eps
Masters of the Air - Apple TV+ - 9 eps
Maryland - ITVX - Suranne Jones
My Lady Jane - 8 eps - Amazon
Metropolis - Apple TV+
Minx - series 2 - Starz
Netherfield Girls - Netflix - Movie
One Day - Netflix
One Night - Paramount - 6 eps - Australia Jodie Whittaker - 2024?
Outlander - Summer
The Power - Amazon
Paper Dolls - Channel 10 - australia
Rain Dogs - BBC - 8 eps
Ripley - Sky - 10 eps
The Reckoning - BBC - 4 eps
Sympathiser - HBO
Saint X - Hulu
Safe Space - Sky - 8 eps
School for Good Mothers
Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle - Netflix - 7 eps
Surviving Summer season 2 - Australia
Swift Street - SBS australia - 2024?
Tattooist of Auschvitz - Sky
Then You Run - Sky - 8 eps
Ten Pound Poms - BBC - 6 eps
Trust - HBO
Tom Jones - ITV - 4 eps
This Town (Stephen knight)
Three Little Birds - ITVX - 6 eps
Three women - Starz
Truelove - c4 - 6 eps - Julie Walter
The War Rooms –
While the Men Are Away - SBS Australia - WWII
The Winter King - ITVX
Wool - Apple TV+ - 10 eps
World on Fire series 2 - BBC - 6 eps
The Woman in the Wall - BBC - 6 eps
2024
The Perfect Nanny - HBO - Nicole Kidman
Shardlake - Tudor detective - Disney+
Sign Here - Amazon - Phoebe Waller-Bridges produces
The Venary of Samatha Bird - Stars - 8 eps
|
|
|
Post by nick on Feb 26, 2023 7:18:12 GMT
A lot of the big name series of recent years are coming to an end this year and next. Is there anything coming up that you're looking forward to that looks like filling that gap? These are what I've got down of interest for the next couple of months. They could all be terrible though. I'm not sure any jump out as stellar but Daisy Jone and Big Door Prize intrigue me the most. (I have a very long list of interesting things for 2023 if you're interested) Daisy Jones and the Six - Amazon - 12 eps - March 3rd Ted Lasso - March 13th Bali 2002 - - IITV - 16th march Extrapolations - Apple TV - March 17th Lucky Hank - AMC - March 19 Rabbit Hole - CBS - March 23rd The Power - Prime - March 31st Big Door Prize - Apple TV+ - March 29th - Chris O’Dowd, machine changes small town lives Schmigadoon - Apple TV+ - April 7th Tiny Beautiful Things - Disney+ - April 7th Dead Ringers - April 21st Mrs Davis - Peacock - April 20th A Small Light - 8 eps - Disney+ - may 2nd - Ann Frank’s helpers Queen Charlotte - 4th May - Netflix City on Fire - Apple TV+ - May 12th - student shooting The Last Thing He Told Me - Apple + - May 19th
|
|
|
Post by nick on Feb 22, 2023 7:53:46 GMT
Looking at the two cast lists they appear to be keeping some aspect of Dee's commune house (Gloria), Anna's middle class (Polytechnic lecturer) husband (Jack), the record company from the second series (David and Kitty) and their manager/songwriter is from the second series (Harry) rather than from the first series.
I'd love to know who is playing the Julie Covington role. In the original the Carly and Zizi roles were significantly worse singers than her. Surely some sort of a 'name'?
|
|
|
Post by nick on Feb 20, 2023 11:26:14 GMT
I do wonder if it will be an updated story or the original story updated to today or a period homage to the original version. The character names are from the original. As a fan I'd want the latter but I think that would be the wrong direction. Although I struggle to see how they could update it but then I'm not a writer.
There was some nice observations in the original : The three women were from very different backgrounds so there was friction amongst them. They also had different levels of talent which also ramped up the tension. The male manager (and supposed songwriter) could be both a help and a hindrance - pushing them towards success or into enterprises that are failures. But he's the driver of progress rather than the women themselves. There's a strong feminism slant. I found it interesting that the commune - supposed equal opportunity - is still very sexist.
The songs drive the plot forward either as commentary on events or as part of their act.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Feb 19, 2023 18:13:02 GMT
Is Rock Follies a jukebox show? It was a original musical (albeit a television one) with original songs written for it. There's a problem in that it was 12 fifty minute episodes with 2/3 songs per episode so it will a lot of editing to create a stage musical.
it was one of my favourite TV shows of the 1970s so i am very excited but I hope they can make intelligent choices so it's not just a nostalgia fest but has something to say for today.
The bare bones story - a group of women from differing backgrounds come together to try and form a rock band - is good. They are helped/hindered along the way by a male manager and a variety of people who have differing interests from the women. As they try and find their way, they experiment (or are forced to try) a variety of musical styles (Glen Miller is Missing as a 1940s heritage band for example).
If it's an updated then there are parts that will not work - the Julie Covington character is in a commune for example.
I'll be there.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Feb 10, 2023 11:25:24 GMT
Close To You was so good. I accidentally bought tickets (at the Menier) for the sofas on stage - such a happy accident. Very enjoyable.
And a good life, well lived for Mr Bacharach. RIP
|
|
|
Post by nick on Dec 25, 2022 7:39:02 GMT
I'd feel more secure alone in a room with John Barrowman than Harvey Weinstein. But the question should be would you feel secure in a room with John Barrowman, full stop. Actually the answer is probably 'yes' as it's clear his antics were to entertain friends and colleagues (however misguided that might be) and not as a predator. So the question becomes should he get away with normalising behaviour that makes other people uncomfortable? If he'd held his hands up and made it clear that he understands this and is regretful of his actions then this would have been forgotten by now (IMO) - at least it should under normal circumstances.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Dec 22, 2022 19:22:35 GMT
Beat that, I hear you say!! Would it be wrong for me to suggest Prince Andrew, the Musical (C4 29th December) as the potential highlight of Christmas?
|
|
|
Post by nick on Dec 9, 2022 17:25:35 GMT
|
|
|
Post by nick on Nov 20, 2022 16:04:54 GMT
I don't vote but I like Ellie and I'm a bit mystified why she gets significantly lower marks from the judges than the other celebs. I can see people voting for her for that reason.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Nov 20, 2022 15:28:21 GMT
I think the finals have often been disappointing throughout its existence. That said it's clear that the bakers are not being given chance to shine - lack of time, silly bakes and presenters woi aren't very interested in food. I like both of them but they openly admit that neither of them want to try half of what is being made - isn't Noel a vegan? And Matt confessed to having the taste buds of an 8 year old.
I'd like to see: - the bakers being given enough time to finish bakes with flair - the niceness returning where we see everyone just being nice to everyone else. The gentle acidity of Paul to leaven that a bit. - bakes we can identify with more easily and which don't feel so much like Generation Game challenges
|
|
|
Post by nick on Nov 14, 2022 18:38:27 GMT
Edit: please, no average or ~165cm person come at me. I don't want to break the illusion and learn that I've just got abnormally short legs! Abnormal the other way, due to a genetic condition my wife and children are average height but have long legs and short bodies. An absolute pain in a theatre as they tend to vanish sitting down. Mind you they all look very elegant - also having big eyes and defined cheekbones. While I look like I have stubby legs when walking with them.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Nov 14, 2022 18:33:58 GMT
I do appreciate when people accept that they have made a mistake though. As I get older I've found it saves my heart rate and my anxiety levels to embrace my mistakes with humour. I've never got a theatre trip wrong but I've more than made up for it in other areas. Obviously makes life easier for the people I'm talking to as well which is a pleasant bonus. And I would assume that a pleasant demeanour is more likely to get a positive result?
|
|
|
Post by nick on Nov 9, 2022 19:50:14 GMT
I think it's a bit impractical to tell audiences that they have to stay seated during a standing ovation because of who may be sat behind them. It's an unfortunate circumstance but we can't police everything I'm afraid. I also suspect that many theatregoers who use wheelchairs would feel terribly uncomfortable if it was made to seem that their presence was preventing a standing ovation. "I also suspect that many theatregoers who use wheelchairs would feel terribly uncomfortable if it was made to seem that their presence was preventing a standing ovation." In fact, I am sure that all wheelchair-users absolutely hate it when any consideration at all is shown for them and would be much happier if, for instance, if organisations didn't feel they had to provide ramps or lifts for access, dedicated parking facilities, and so forth. They are much more comfortable being disadvantaged. So that's all right, then. Are you a wheelchair user? My wife uses a wheelchair and would be very embarrassed if she felt she was inconveniencing anyone else because of her disability. However she, quite rightly, has the expectation that society takes the effort to allow her to take part in normal life by providing lifts, ramps, parking etc. To mix those two up is ridiculous. Would a non-wheelchair user feel comfortable telling all those around them not to stand up? And conversely how would they feel if they were told they were barred from a venue because it wasn't set up for them? A few years ago we felt so mortified for a woman in a wheelchair. It was at the Chapel in the Greenwich Naval College. The concert was delayed and we heard a noise behind us. She was in one of those stairclimbers slowly clanking her way up while the entire audience turned round to watch her. It was a student concert so at least she got to see her child/grandchild perform.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Nov 7, 2022 17:24:41 GMT
I also suspect that many theatregoers who use wheelchairs would feel terribly uncomfortable if it was made to seem that their presence was preventing a standing ovation. This is true. It's bad enough not being able to stand - preventing other people would be worse. It's a mild inconvenience not being able to see but it rarely happens until the very end so not a big deal.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Nov 7, 2022 9:27:46 GMT
I get nervous doing a standing ovation if very few others around me are (I have anxiety and the idea of someone behind me snapping at me that they can’t see I would make me want to die) - but I’d probably get the opposite in this situation. Being the only person to NOT stand up would make me more self conscious even if I didn’t enjoy the show! I can’t imagine the lack of self awareness / care these two audience members had. I wont defend the stony faces and lack of applause but, self aware or not, there are people who cannot stand for an ovation. My wife is one and I stay sat with her. It can be embarrassing but necessary and we will applaud albeit gently.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Sept 13, 2022 8:23:02 GMT
At Saturday Night Fever tonight we were asked to stand up for the national anthem just before the show started. One young man a couple of rows ahead of me remained seated and texted on his phone. My wife is disabled so doesn't stand up for any length of time and I stay with her in solidarity. You wouldn't know to look at her (she used to be a ballet dancer and looks it). So it's possible he is is the same boat. Possible. I'm just reminding that invisible disabilities exist so be careful about jumping the gun with outrage.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Sept 5, 2022 6:16:33 GMT
I assume because not all territories showed Come Dancing on which our title is based, so when it was exported they came up with the more generic Dancing With The Stars to reduce confusion. Who remembers the original show? The best bit for me was the formation dancing - they should bring that back. Sadly most episodes have been junked* but I have a 1976 episode and it has not dated well. It assumes a good working knowledge of ballroom (probably back in 1976 more people would have that knowledge) so it's difficult to know how it is scored. I agree that the formation part is a relative highlight. *If anyone is interested nothing from the 50s and 60s. The first existing episode is the final of series 19 in 1974, next two from 1976 then nothing until 1982 where there are still large gaps.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Jul 26, 2022 17:51:54 GMT
|
|
|
Post by nick on Jul 26, 2022 11:22:22 GMT
I was once told that you can apply to see some progs that are not available to the public but this was before streaming took off. I expect you still can apply ..and pay..to see stuff. ITV have an online archive that researchers (programme makers and academics but not general public) can use. Same at the BFI although it's not online - you have to visit their premises. The BBC have an online archive that is open to production staff (internal and external) but not academics that is used to research clips for new TV programmes. None of them have open public access. The ITV and BFI one's are limited while the BBC has pretty much everything they own. If the rights could be worked out (and that's a huge IF) then there's no technical reason why they couldn't be made available on subscription to the public. But I think it is a long way off, if ever.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Jul 23, 2022 13:28:35 GMT
Something I find endlessly frustrating is that, whenever there's a TV documentary about any aspect of theatre, we get to see brief clips of rehearsal and performance footage from all sorts of productions, past and present. I want to know where all this material comes from! I SO wish there was an archive where it was all available and we could search it and watch it at our leisure. I think all sorts of treasures must be sitting in various vaults and private collections... I think I'm right in thinking that many productions are recorded for posterity but not for broadcast so not likely to be widely available. Many are available here en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Video_Archive_of_PerformanceThere are also many TV documentaries from which clips can be culled. Two that spring to mind, that I have, are a doc showing the rehearsals for the original West End Production of Hair which probably has 15/20 minutes of the cast performing. Another one is a feature in BBC News's technology programme, Click, which has a long feature about the projection system used in the Menier Chocolate Factory's production of Pippin. Local news programmes are also a good source. I have copies of some Granada TV local news programmes from the 1970s which feature quite extensive clips of both Liverpool and Manchester Theatres. Finally when Arena started in the mid 70s it alternated between Theatre and Art and Design. The theatre strand has things like visiting Scarborough to look at the new Alan Ayckbourn play and, to quote: "What is Great Acting? Claire Bloom and Kenneth Tynan discuss three performances. Amongst them Peggy Ashcroft in an extract from BECKETT'S Happy Days and Judi Dench in SHAW'S Too True to be Good, plus a rare treat, filmed on Broadway - Irene Worth in her triumphant success in TENNESSEE WILLIAMS'S Sweet Bird of Youth." "Goodbye to a Building takes a glimpse at Britain's most modern theatre complex. Meanwhile, 100 yards down the road stands the Old Vic - probably the most famous English theatre in the world.Barbara Jefford , Laurence Olivier Joan Plowright , Kenneth Tynan Billie Whitelaw and many of the people behind the scenes say goodbye to the building and wonder what will become of it." "A Dream Come True the Manchester Royal Exchange. The theatre structure sits among the dignified pink marble columns of its host building rather like a lunar module of the arts. It is a dramatic three-tiered structure of glass and steel, seven-sided like a 50-pence piece. It will seat over 700 people in raked seating, at ground level and in two suspended galleries above.The Royal Exchange Theatre's first season, opening with Sheridan's The Rivals, will bring an impressive list of talents to Manchester. It will include TOM COURTENAY, ALBERT FINNEY, SIR ALEC GUINNESS, LEO MCKERN and TREVOR PEACOCK" etc etc There's a lot of good stuff hidden away in the TV archives.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Jul 6, 2022 18:17:12 GMT
Am I the last person to have discovered This Is Us? (Amazon Prime). It’s been out since 2016 and I’ve never heard of it. Watched 3 episodes and I’m really going to have to decide whether to stick with it for 6 seasons and 103 episodes. The first three are fantastic but that’s a heavy commitment to make. It’s about a family and their interconnected stories. I feel a lot of Tales Of The City vibes in it with the regular surprise reveals and twists, and characters who you immediately empathise with and… wait for it..l LIKE,! Try S01 E01 and see what you think. Unless you’ve all already seen it and haven’t let on 😠 Did you watch Thirtysomething many years ago? Ken Olin was involved in both and the series certainly have similar DNA. Although I think This Is Us has the edge on the writing front. The first 4 four series keep the standard as high as it started (episode 1 is one of my favourite opening episodes of any series ever). I think it becomes merely very good for the last two series but still worth sticking with it.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Jun 24, 2022 7:39:59 GMT
My brother-in-law has been on lots. The highlight is probably Crystal Maze with Richard OBrien (oh on topic for this board as well). He was the team leader and the scored something like minus 70 which I think was the worst record at the time. his best prize was a set of luggage on the Paul Daniel's one whose name escapes me.
|
|