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Post by hulmeman on Sept 27, 2017 20:44:52 GMT
Amusing as it is to read the reviews of this show, I have to wonder where, why or how a show like this attracts the finance to mount a tour and book the sort of venues this show has. Clearly someone is going to loose money on this debacle?
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Post by hulmeman on Sept 27, 2017 17:31:17 GMT
On the wider discussion I do some writing and direction work on immersive horror experiences. Some of them very much one on one and intense. I would never put myself in the shoes of the participants though there seem to be many willing to pay upwards of £100 for a very intense 3 hour nightmare That would define a VIP ticket for Stomp then!
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Post by hulmeman on Sept 27, 2017 13:26:46 GMT
I can usually find at least one positive thing about every musical I've seen. Even Wicked has that song, the one about physics. The exception is Sweet Charity. Despite all the great, 5* reviews for the Royal Exchange production last Christmas, I just couldn't bring myself to go and see it. Along with The Pajama Game and Hair, Sweet Charity is one of those musicals from the 1950s and 60s that should be allowed to quietly slip into retirement. Sorry! Well, TallPaul, I feel the same way about Brigadoon so I'm not going to berate you for not giving "Sweet Charity" a chance. BUT It has a heart warming story which is not too sickly sweet, it has energetic dance routines and a slew of great songs (Big Spender, Where am I going, Rhythm of life, There's got to be something better than this, I'm a brass band, I love to cry at weddings) So, whilst I respect your opinion..... YOU ARE JUST PLAIN BLOODY WRONG. SO THERE. NOW GET YERSELF OFF TO NOTTINGHAM!!!!!
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Post by hulmeman on Sept 27, 2017 12:59:39 GMT
Hmm an interesting read, but I am not sure about the fact that "you" are the focal point. In a previous discussion on here, quite a lot of us agreed we don't enjoy audience participation. Now clearly Hall and Mirrors is taking the participation concept to a different level entirely, but I'm not sure I would be comfortable with being the focus of so much attention as a viewer (and in this case, as the payer!) For me immersive theatre is that wonderful state where the presentation and the presenters are so at one and, so convincing that one is happy to succumb to their will. That is very different to having the presentation and presenters set out to take you over and to immerse you in their work. This would apply to the Hull offering to. I love to be part of an audience, that collective experience which can sometimes, as I have tried to indicate, totally envelope you. Even if it doesn't, you still need somebody else to bitch with don't you!
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Post by hulmeman on Sept 26, 2017 18:23:31 GMT
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Post by hulmeman on Sept 26, 2017 15:46:04 GMT
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Post by hulmeman on Sept 26, 2017 6:17:50 GMT
Got comps for Son of a Preacher Man so going to see just how bad it might be tomorrow evening. Me too 😆 Lets read your words on it.....
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Post by hulmeman on Sept 25, 2017 21:43:43 GMT
It's final tour stop is Hope Mill and it's a real tour de force for the actors and a brilliant piece of theatre. Rob Ward and Ryan Clayton play at least seven different characters, sometimes funny, sometimes sad. Go if you can.
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Post by hulmeman on Sept 25, 2017 21:33:16 GMT
Gypsy Queen @ Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester tonight. Must check this Theatre out . What are the seating arrangementslike? Proscenium , in the round ? It is a flexible space I have seen proscenium and studio style. Pippin was apparently a thrust. So you pays you producer's money and you takes your choice! Gypsy Queen is a good reason to visit!
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Post by hulmeman on Sept 25, 2017 13:20:37 GMT
Branagh's whiskers though? It's a comedy version right?
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Post by hulmeman on Sept 25, 2017 10:43:42 GMT
Gypsy Queen @ Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester tonight.
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Post by hulmeman on Sept 24, 2017 7:37:57 GMT
Saturday was a lovely day for me and my partner. Last minute we arranged for my sister and brother in law to visit and we drove over to Alderley Edge. Normally I find it pretentious and full of people with attitude, but yesterday we were so unpretentious, it wasn't true. We shunned the oyster bars and wine palaces in favour of fish and chips (from Foster's at the top of town, jolly good they were too) and cakes from Wienholt's bakery.
Perfect!
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Post by hulmeman on Sept 19, 2017 17:26:40 GMT
On Wednesday I shall be going to 'Oslo'. I hope my flight isn't delayed. You might if you are Ryanair.
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Post by hulmeman on Sept 17, 2017 14:42:38 GMT
You are all very rude and clearly it has got out of hand.
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Post by hulmeman on Sept 17, 2017 12:26:11 GMT
Runt
Sweat Charity
and recently ended a run at The Charrig Cross Theatre
W*nk! (although it doesn't work when you have to use an apostrophe instead of an "a")
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Post by hulmeman on Sept 16, 2017 23:24:58 GMT
Talking of Brian Rix, did anyone watch the Whitehall farces on the telly, black and white and filmed very basically from back of the stalls I reckon? Oh do I!!! Always with Elspeth Grey and Robertson Hare!!! One of the few times we all sat round as a family to watch.
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Post by hulmeman on Sept 16, 2017 21:47:13 GMT
Does anyone remember being allowed to stay up late for the top of the bill on "Sunday night at the London Palladium". I was when Shirley Bassey was on. I was only 35!!!!!! (joke)
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Post by hulmeman on Sept 16, 2017 17:29:45 GMT
Ah! The innocence of youth ! Allen Christie was the perfect stooge for Jack Tripp , and I'm told they were devoted to each other . My late brother was a very keen theatre fan and loved pantomime . He corresponded with Jack Tripp for several years while he (my brother) was compiling details of all Jack's pantomime appearances. My brother died suddenly , and I informed Jack . He sent me a lovely letter saying how much he appreciated corresponding and reminiscing with my brother , although they never met, and Jack later sent a last Christmas card for my brother , asking me to place it in his room so he would know Jack was thinking of him. So unexpectedly thoughtful, a delightful man and one of the finest performers this country has produced . Must be the most touching post we've had on Theatreboard. Brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for sharing. I am all ready to go out for dinner and read this post and I too, have tears in my eyes. I'll have to rise me face!! What a lovely memory to have of both your brother and Jack Tripp.
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Post by hulmeman on Sept 16, 2017 15:58:37 GMT
I saw Les Dawson twice in panto, but alas never with Roy Barraclough. He was with John Nettles and to this day, I'm not sure how much of the ad-lib and anarchy was "rehearsed" because John Nettles always looked as if he didn't know what day of the week it was, but something tells me he was always in control!
Love the Jack Tripp/Sunset Boulevard line. When I was a naïve youngster I did comment to my panto going pal,Isn't it funny how Allen Christie is always in the same panto as Jack Tripp......
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Post by hulmeman on Sept 16, 2017 9:49:28 GMT
Oh gosh I'm enjoying this thread! I think a future "theatreboard" get together should feature tonyloco's memoir's. Great stuff!
Mention earlier of Jack Tripp, who was for me the best pantomime dame ever. Sometimes raucous and sometimes subtle.
One of my earliest theatre memories was a production of "Aladdin" at the Royalty Theatre, Chester. It started Mikki and Griff and started my life long panto love of led in lines for songs. Theirs was " Aladdin, you look so sad you are usually such a clown", which lead to their then hit "Little bitty tear"! (another favourite was from "Babes in the wood" - Little John - "I will carry Robin Hood out of the forest, because He ain't heavy, he's my brother"!)
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Post by hulmeman on Sept 15, 2017 10:38:18 GMT
Just reading about the problems at Parsons Green tube station, and I hope none of you London based or visiting boarders are anywhere near or involved n the incident.
Hate shall not win.
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Post by hulmeman on Sept 14, 2017 19:29:54 GMT
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Post by hulmeman on Sept 13, 2017 9:33:12 GMT
It’s certainly a thing of delicate, brutal beauty. What a marvellous summary of this film.
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Post by hulmeman on Sept 12, 2017 23:56:23 GMT
Thank you all for alerting me to "Film stars don't die in Liverpool" I think I will enjoy this film.
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Post by hulmeman on Sept 12, 2017 23:41:45 GMT
Certainly he has done amazing things, and taken huge quality theatre round the world. Part of me is uncomfortable about seeing exact replicas of his shows. I'd like to see them breathe and change for different audiences and locations and theatres and times, and I'm afraid I cannot forgive him the hideous lapse of taste in allowing Neil Morrissey's Fagin to put in a Bob the builder reference. That's just not on. I don't really have a problem with his shows being replicas of each other. Most shows around the world are replicas of each other like Lion King or Wicked, just the nature of commercial theatre. Thank you Jon for giving me a sense of perspective on Sir Cameron's ethos of presenting the same show worldwide. It did bother me that he was so in control, but I realise now, he has taken a pragmatic view, like Disney, to give the punters what they think they want, every time. I haven't seen Les Mis in London since it left The Palace for the Queens theatre, but I guess he wasn't so fussed about reducing the orchestra to some kind of sinfonia track as long as it sounded the same (this is no criticism of your post jon) like a Disney theme park. Sir Cameron Macintosh has made Musical Theatre into a theme park. Now whether that is a good thing or not, is another matter.
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