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Post by tom on Feb 22, 2024 7:36:21 GMT
Ticket prices for theatre are high and in some cases too high in my opinion but since when was there this requirement for cheap seats to be offered? I always thought it was a nice thing that there were day seats and lotteries but I never felt I or anyone else was entitled to these offers. In my mind it is sort of like me calling out Ferrari because I can’t afford one of their cars. I don’t think it will set a precedent because not all shows will be able to keep the punters coming in with high prices, even Phantom, but since they are businesses and like any other business are there to maximise profit why wouldn’t they set prices at a level where people will still buy them?
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176 posts
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Post by tom on Feb 21, 2024 19:34:38 GMT
Well people seem to still be paying so why wouldn’t they? The production changed quite a while back now and no matter how much people moan and keep bringing it up, it won’t change anything! I disagree with this. Speaking up against injustices is important (such as the use of COVID as an excuse to sack long serving cast members/musicians/technical crew and cut costs). Having a long term memory is important in calling out future controversies. We learn from our successes and our failures. Phans, such as myself, have two choices: either accept it and continue to see the show, or don’t accept it and don’t go and see the show. It has no bearing on the new show’s success or failure. I know people personally who were treated appallingly by the production. But I still gave the new show a try, and thought it had its soul ripped out with the small orchestra, new lighting and replaced set pieces/costumes. I haven’t been back and that’s my choice. If people choose to go that’s their choice. There is no positive way to spin it for the consumer; regardless of one’s opinion of the artistic merit of the new show, it is brazen shrinkflation in theatre form. Less than half size orchestra, cheaper effects, underwhelming casts in return for higher prices. Pay more, get less. It was the plan all along - in a show which has made hundreds of millions. So yes, I say people are entitled to continue speaking out in a democratic and constructive way and attempts to silence critics as “negative” or “living in the past” is simply an attempt to shut down debate. People will keep bringing it up whether you permit that or not. Permit it??? Lol! I preferred the older version too by the way and agree with you about the lighting and orchestra size being detrimental to the show but the new version isn’t as bad as I expected.I didn’t try to shut down any debate all I said is that they are running a business and attendance is good and costs generally are rising so why wouldn’t they raise prices and also mentioned that moaning about the changes isn’t going to change anything for Phantom now. Of course people can continue speaking out but for me it becomes boring and tedious when it is every other comment from the same people.
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176 posts
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Post by tom on Feb 21, 2024 10:13:01 GMT
Well people seem to still be paying so why wouldn’t they? The production changed quite a while back now and no matter how much people moan and keep bringing it up, it won’t change anything!
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176 posts
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Post by tom on Oct 5, 2023 21:52:29 GMT
Personally, I’ve been a lifelong fan of Les Mis and saw the show last year. Frankly, it was as good as I’ve ever seen it from my perspective. It was dreadful at times in the mid 2000’s, where it looked like it was on life support. I’d go more often if it wasn’t such a hot ticket. I miss the revolve of course, but the positive changes far outweigh the negatives. My only wish is they’d slow down a bit and let moments breathe. It feels like it’s been getting faster and faster since the Palace run. Could do with a genuinely superb Javert too, as the last great one I saw was Hans-Peter Janssens and that was in 2006… I’ve seen it about 50 times since then. Not enough people bring up Hans-Peter Janssens lately! He was fantastic. That 2006/2007 21st anniversary cast with him, JOJ, Tracie Bennett, Gina Beck, Simon Bailey and later Joanna Ampil remains one of my favourites. Maybe it's because I hit an age where I first had my own disposable income so saw I saw them more than most other casts and it's a fondness related to that, I don't know. But they felt like a strong cast to me. Plus David Thaxton was always very enjoyable as Bamatabois. That cast was the first I saw but with thaxton as enjolras. Great cast
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Post by tom on Sept 3, 2023 17:24:21 GMT
Did John Owen-Jones ever return to the show? He was back not long after. He was in it on Thursday 24th when I saw it.
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Post by tom on Aug 22, 2023 8:21:03 GMT
Looking forward to seeing this twice today! Can anyone confirm if the only merch is the programme? & which version of Beauty Underneath did they use? Out of everything in the Australian version, the slowed down version of Beauty Underneath is the one thing I really dislike - think the original was significantly better! Our questions overlapped there - how odd!
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176 posts
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Post by tom on Aug 22, 2023 8:20:32 GMT
Did they use the original Beauty Underneath or the newer version? I prefer the original.
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Post by tom on Aug 13, 2023 21:33:11 GMT
How is she underrated? She has had big roles in Phantom, Wicked, Matilda, Les Mis, Sound of Music... and always seems to get good reviews. I am not sure that she can be much bigger than she is as musical theatre people don't seem to be big "stars" to the public anymore. I am referring more to the fact that certain performers have been in shows which have caught the zeitgeist, and developed a relatively large fan following off the back of their performance. Performers such as Carrie Hope Fletcher (Heathers), Kerry Ellis (Wicked) and others are better known in my opinion, with similar or weaker bodies of experience and critical acclaim. This is meaning no disrespect to those performers, but it’s what I meant by “underrated”. Yes I get that. I think with Kerry it was more to do with the role and the show at the time. CHF uses social media and manipulation to her advantage. Gina just does her job!
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Post by tom on Aug 13, 2023 20:44:17 GMT
Gina Beck has announced on instagram that due to rights issues the production is unable to be transferred at this time Gutted, was sure this would transfer. Glad I saw it when I did, Gina is consistently brilliant. What a talent. Edit: I realise that I’ve now praised Gina Beck in about 25% of my posts. I am not her agent or president of the fan club, I just really can’t think of a more underrated but consistently excellent leading lady currently working. How is she underrated? She has had big roles in Phantom, Wicked, Matilda, Les Mis, Sound of Music... and always seems to get good reviews. I am not sure that she can be much bigger than she is as musical theatre people don't seem to be big "stars" to the public anymore.
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Post by tom on Jun 29, 2023 21:34:02 GMT
I went in to Cats with her as Grizabella expecting the worst and she was amazing. She seemed to be taking the role seriously and committed to it so I don't think we can write her off yet (I know Norma is a way bigger ask in terms of acting though!) I think she will make it work and it will be a good show.
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Post by tom on Mar 10, 2023 16:07:34 GMT
Who was her understudy back in the day? I want to say it was Ashleigh Gray though I'm sure I'll be quickly corrected if I've got that wrong. Though I can't imagine how Ashleigh would have overshadowed Alexia's performance, but then I have never totally understood how the die hards pick their chosen ones. It's whoever lets them believe they are their best mates and whoever lets them buy them a microwave or bake them cupcakes!
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176 posts
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Post by tom on Feb 7, 2023 22:31:01 GMT
Is Jamie Lloyd's version the worst thing I've seen on stage at the Regent's Park open air theatre? Please no!
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Post by tom on Dec 7, 2022 5:53:11 GMT
I know people have had mixed experiences in terms of watching this with a lot of the audience being kids, is there a quieter time in the week to go? (I don't mind the odd interruption due to it having a younger audience, I'm glad they're being introduced to theatre, but if I can go at a quieter time I may as well!) I went to a midweek matinee during school term time and even then the audience was full of kids. It was the noisiest audience I’ve ever been in (even more so than the drunken hen parties at Mamma Mia!) but it didn’t seem to affect my viewing as I sort of expected it.
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Post by tom on Nov 25, 2022 22:54:40 GMT
I caught this today and loved it. I saw the stage show back in 2013 and this is such a fun, clever and magic adaption. All the actors where brilliant and I did well up at momets. I can't fault it and look forward to watching it on Netflix again next month! Edit- Have seen other comment saying it will be on Netflix UK next summer. I hope this isn't the case. Apparently Netflix international on Christmas Day but netflix uk and Ireland next summer.
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176 posts
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Post by tom on Nov 19, 2022 22:36:56 GMT
Saw her in the palladium and she was great. Totally blew me away after low expectations.
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Post by tom on Nov 8, 2022 20:25:10 GMT
Alexia wasn’t great first time around, far too nasal and little girly sounding for me. Didn’t enjoy lucy and her boring and underwhelming portrayal of Christine and although I’ve not seen Ryan, reviews on here have been awful! I could go and see this and perhaps I’d be pleasantly surprised but it doesn’t look good to me. Not impressed with this casting.
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176 posts
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Post by tom on Sept 19, 2022 19:32:50 GMT
This was one of the worst productions I have ever seen so I am not sad that this will not be back!
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Post by tom on Jul 2, 2022 17:51:37 GMT
Saw this today. Saw the show on Broadway and I don’t know why but I preferred it here. Brief show stop after little bit of luck. I didn’t think Omara’s voice was strong enough on the higher notes but her performance overall was excellent. Harry was good just as he was before. No Vanessa but I’m not sure she would have given the same level of performance as Heather Jackson and would have been there as a name. I gave it 4 stars.
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Post by tom on Jun 26, 2022 6:28:14 GMT
I was expecting worse from Isaac based on the comments in here to be honest but they weren't that bad in the WEL video. The dog was annoying though.
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176 posts
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Post by tom on Jun 20, 2022 14:15:31 GMT
Disappointing cast "change" news. Killian and Lucy both staying on.
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Post by tom on Jun 2, 2022 5:55:37 GMT
Although Lucy is not my favourite Christine, she is not the worst I have seen and I don’t think she is necessarily bad in the role, just a bit ordinary but I think that is the way it has been for a while with the casting of the role. Killian on the other hand is underwhelming and in my opinion miscast.
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176 posts
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Post by tom on Jun 1, 2022 4:53:25 GMT
As dull as it sounded in the theatre from these two. Not the greatest cast at all.
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Post by tom on May 28, 2022 20:35:28 GMT
Long-time lurker, first-time poster here. Just thought I'd give my review for balance! I saw Legally Blonde this week and really enjoyed it. The audience seemed to be really on board with the whole thing - there was a full standing ovation, and I heard nothing but positive comments from people around me during the interval and at the end. To address some of the criticisms which have been brought up here, I found the dogs funny and I don't think I was in a minority with this. There was lots of laughter, and even applause when the second 'dog' appeared. I had zero issues with Isaac's voice as Margot. To me, their vocals didn't stand out as being worse than anyone else's. I think it was also mentioned here that Elle doesn't look different enough from the Harvard students. This was the most confusing comment to me, because Elle is wearing bright pink and the Harvard students are all in brown, so she couldn't have stood out more... Unless there were different Harvard costumes in previews that got changed? Just wanted to share my thoughts in case anyone had been keen to see this, but was put off by the reaction here. You might like it! Out of interest, did anyone see But I'm A Cheerleader at the Turbine? The incredibly camp staging reminded me of that a lot. The damage has been done for me. People whose opinion I’ve seen and agreed with in the past have posted their views on this which is enough to make me think twice about booking. A new poster suddenly deciding to post defending all the criticisms is unlikely to change my opinion.
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Post by tom on May 8, 2022 18:29:57 GMT
What a lovely gesture from Simon Bailey The danger now is people will try to get his attention in future shows and possibly annoy the other audience members. What was the audience member doing to get noticed on stage?
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176 posts
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Post by tom on Mar 7, 2022 20:59:05 GMT
In no particular order... Phantom Billy Elliot Matilda Jesus Christ Superstar Cats (Unpopular I know!) Wicked Rent Sweeney Todd Les Mis (It is a great musical but gone off it due to poor casting the most recent times I've seen it) Little Shop of Horrors
I do love Evita and West Side story to listen to but not seen a good enough production to add to my list.
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Post by tom on Feb 18, 2022 19:03:42 GMT
Laura Emmitt is making her debut as Elsa tonight, Friday 18th Feb! Oh interesting, I was wondering who the second cover was if Danielle Fiamanya couldn't make it! I'm a bit confused though as it looks from her Instagram like she was on as Elsa back in October? Unless it was just a rehearsal or something? http://instagr.am/p/CVSt7fRvmrl says cover run in the hashtags
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176 posts
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Post by tom on Feb 4, 2022 20:35:16 GMT
Kerry did do a bit of dancing during Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats when she was Grizabella.
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Post by tom on Jan 26, 2022 20:26:05 GMT
Not sure Carrie would want to go. She'd have to weigh up Broadway vs a less than stellar working environment. She'd jump at the chance to star on Broadway if she was given it I'm sure. I just don't think it'll happen.
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Post by tom on Jan 24, 2022 18:26:58 GMT
Shaq Taylor will be on the Big Night of Musicals performing Beauty and the Beast tonight live / on Saturday night on TV And Courtney Stapleton….no need to only name the guy! I assume they only mentioned him because he’s not been seen in the role before?
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Post by tom on Jan 5, 2022 21:20:53 GMT
The show could have received great publicity and wonderful reviews and people still wouldn't go in numbers that would make any difference. It's got nothing to do with the revamp or cost cutting. The average person has no idea about those things.Its been in London for 30 odd years, numerous tours up and down the country, anyone that wants to see it, already has. Its a tourist trap and without them in the usual numbers, it was going to struggle. They have been losing money on it since it reopened. Dont be surprised if it's gone by the end of the year. Well, the 'new' production did receive positive reviews but it doesn't seem to have done the trick. I think social media word of mouth has not been great and even from so-called average punters, I see regular comments by people who say they were tempted to go but have been put off as they've heard of cuts (most of them have heard of the orchestra cuts as that was the most publicised, admittedly few have heard about the cuts to the scenery). I do agree that the lack of tourists has hurt the show probably the most, but this time of year was never a great season for tourists anyway in any year and that's when the show relied on repeat attenders and domestic audiences (and you never saw price cuts like what they're offering now). Neither of whom seem to be very interested in seeing this. I suspect that's mostly due to COVID, but from comments I've seen online the cost-cutting has been an element in customers' decision-making. They probably heard it from you as it's all you ever go on about. It's happened and is unlikely to change - move on!
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