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Post by tom on Dec 4, 2021 16:27:35 GMT
Sounds very good but it seems that it’s following the old film rather than the stage production which is annoying. I much prefer the order and score from the production to the old film. It isn't following the old film, most of the songs have been moved... I meant, for example, America being a song between the men and women . Wonder if the somewhere sequence will be like the show as it’s unclear from the recording.
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Post by tom on Dec 3, 2021 22:44:41 GMT
Sounds very good but it seems that it’s following the old film rather than the stage production which is annoying. I much prefer the order and score from the production to the old film.
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Post by tom on Dec 3, 2021 20:54:00 GMT
The Lord and his muse were on Loose Women today according to Cinderella sm. Anyone tune in? Plug or damage control PR exercise?
Plug - brief chat with the Lord and Carrie sang I Know I Have A Heart, not terribly well. ALW seemed in very merry spirits!
It just sounds like something from "Tell me on a Sunday".
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Post by tom on Dec 3, 2021 11:59:57 GMT
Killian Donnelly must have a great agent, he seems to have more holidays than Thomas Cook. He wasn’t great as Phantom when I saw him so I wouldn’t be bothered if he was out when I went.
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Post by tom on Dec 1, 2021 14:31:49 GMT
This angle then then solves the Dorothy conundrum too, as it allows us to see her story unfold through the eyes of Glinda and the Scarecrow. Maybe it could resolve the glaring plot hole I’ve got which is how Dorothy could have met the scarecrow if he’s trussed up in the field long after she left There’s nothing to say Dorothy met the scarecrow straight away when she arrived in Oz I guess.
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Post by tom on Nov 25, 2021 22:30:12 GMT
Wrong person won in my opinion although I’m glad that she won over the ego of the one who thought she had it in the bag. So hard to do this without giving anything away.
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Post by tom on Nov 25, 2021 8:44:50 GMT
This is a prime example how bad casting (and we are talking all three leads, Christian, Santine and Ziegler) can completely alter the feel and emotion of a show. Now, the amazing staging and spectacle are still there and the audience still seemed to love it, but it is a profound disappointment for those who saw the original Broadway leads! I am unsure how Timbers signed off on (especially) these two poor young performers who are giving lackluster, mediocre understudy readings of these roles. No chemistry, no charisma, no amazing vocal talent...I am, as you Brits say, gobsmacked! I didn’t think the originals had that much chemistry either. Not sure if it is just poor casting or if the show goes too much in for the visuals and cramming as many songs in as possible than it does on trying to convey the love story aspect?
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Post by tom on Nov 25, 2021 8:27:35 GMT
Maybe ALW said more than he’s admitting and some of it was a bit more personal? Would be good to have heard the phone call to the dressing rooms. Surely someone in the cast recorded it?
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176 posts
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Post by tom on Nov 24, 2021 21:48:44 GMT
Could it be that Andrew has moved on to the improved and "as he always envisioned it" Broadway version so he is throwing the London cast under the bus? Sorry but for me this musical has been a dud from the start so I won't miss it when it inevitably closes in the next few months.
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Post by tom on Nov 24, 2021 20:30:29 GMT
Th fact that all of the comments below her posts are calling ALW a dickhead and she has kept it all up there is telling. Regardless of what he said, which in my opinion is fair enough, she needs to be a bit wiser and more professional. I hope she doesn't think she is bigger than she actually is.
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Post by tom on Nov 23, 2021 9:16:52 GMT
Has anyone sat in the front side stalls seats for wicked at the Victoria Apollo? I’ve booked to sit in E37 but I read some reviews that said the speaker can drown out the vocals and I’m worried about not being able to hear the singing properly. If you’ve sat in that area did you find this to be a problem? And if so did it interfere enough to be worth me trying to sell my current seat and buying a more expensive one? I think the orchestra (particularly the percussion) is quite noticeably loud on that side. It doesn’t drown out the vocals too much though from what I remember.
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Post by tom on Nov 18, 2021 22:56:58 GMT
I dislike it when people say you either get it or you don't. It implies that people who don't "get" it are too stupid to understand it. I hated this show - partly as the score was rubbish, in my opinion, but mostly because the story, such as it was, was about some guy telling lies to a grieving family and then you are supposed to feel like he deserves redemption at the end? I know some people will disagree with this take and that's fine, I am not going to accuse them of not "getting" my point of view. I meant 'get it' as in 'relate to it', I wasn't implying anyone who doesn't enjoy the show is stupid. But while the score is obviously open to individual taste, if you think the show is just about 'a guy telling lies' then you did miss the point of it. And apparently a whole song in Act 2 which explains it. I get that you didn't mean it that way and it is just the phrase of "getting it" generally that annoys me and it wasn't meant as a personal attack so maybe I should have made that clearer. Obviously there is slightly more to the show than the telling lies but it was not that deep so I don't think I missed any point and no song in act 2 explained why I should feel a certain way about characters or justified any of the decisions they made. The show doesn't appeal to me at all and is up there with the worst things I've seen on stage but we all like different things and I'm glad you enjoyed it as did the 2 people I saw the show with.
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Post by tom on Nov 18, 2021 21:53:14 GMT
I think it's a show that you either 'get' and can relate to, or you don't. It does seem to be very polarising. Sorry it didn't work for you. I love it. I dislike it when people say you either get it or you don't. It implies that people who don't "get" it are too stupid to understand it. I hated this show - partly as the score was rubbish, in my opinion, but mostly because the story, such as it was, was about some guy telling lies to a grieving family and then you are supposed to feel like he deserves redemption at the end? I know some people will disagree with this take and that's fine, I am not going to accuse them of not "getting" my point of view.
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Post by tom on Nov 12, 2021 9:34:34 GMT
Carrie has built her following by responding to people and making people feel like she cares about them. She needs these interactions and the exposure to stay noticed and maintain her online presence so that when she has her latest book, fashion thing or whatever out, her followers will lap it up and buy and then tweet her to try and win her attention back. She is very savvy so I don’t think there is any naivety on her part whenever she posts something. I don’t follow her but have seen many tweets from her and she seems on a mission to preach a lot. Is it because she truly believes she’s perfect or is it to stay on people’s timelines so that she keeps up her social media presence? Either way, it annoys me. I know I should just ignore it but I like moaning so I won’t!
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Post by tom on Oct 23, 2021 7:51:45 GMT
Why are they having a 10 performance week? ? If it were Christmas week I'd understand Half term, I assume Am I miscounting? I see 9 shows in a given week which is only really 1 extra?
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Post by tom on Oct 18, 2021 11:22:41 GMT
Or it could be that people don’t like self righteous social media posts from the leads? Then where is the criticism for Killian Donnelly, for example? His tweet telling off audience members was far stronger and yet has gone completely without comment. Seems unfair to me (to be clear though I DON'T want to criticise Killian either!). Dunno. I don’t follow any of them. I just see what’s posted here I did criticise Killian on the phantom thread though but that was because he is miscast.
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Post by tom on Oct 18, 2021 5:17:30 GMT
Theatreboard showing its equal opps cred after all - No sexism here. On come the balancing pages of why Ivano shouldn't have been given the job. What is it about this show - I know many are disappointed by it - that causes such quickly triggered negativity towards its performers? I haven't seen this on any other thread for musicals. There seems to be antipathy that leaps out at the smallest opportunity to lash the leads, and suggest they're unworthy of their opportunity. Albeit couched in terms of fake-kind: 'I hope it's not the case that...[ drop in any negative trait you fancy linking them to]' Or it could be that people don’t like self righteous social media posts from the leads?
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Post by tom on Oct 14, 2021 17:15:13 GMT
Gutted I am no longer in the UK as this sounds right up my street. Amazing cast with amazing voices too.
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Post by tom on Oct 14, 2021 16:06:58 GMT
Glad people remember how good Gina Beck was/is. My favourite Cosette too. I regret that I didn't see her as Cosette but the first time I saw her was in Phantom, & that was 6 months before I (finally) saw Les Mis for the first time. Saw Gina in Les Mis, Phantom, Wicked and Matilda and she was excellent in all. I agree with those that say the Gina and Ramin times were golden in terms of Phantom but my favourite Phantom and Christine are still JOJ and Rachel Barrell to this day.
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Post by tom on Oct 9, 2021 19:36:06 GMT
I agree on the whole that the ageing down is an issue but not to condemn everyone, Killian Donnelly and Nic Greenshields were an impressive pairing on the last tour. And of course, as we get older everyone starts to appear younger (especially policemen!) Nic is great, very down to earth guy and superb performer. He was a good Javert and an even better Phantom. He is also 42 years old... Just commented on Phantom thread before I read this and couldn't disagree more about him being a good Phantom. When I saw him he was off pitch at several points. Seen him in other things where he was good though so maybe he had a bad night when I saw him as Phantom?
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Post by tom on Oct 9, 2021 19:31:06 GMT
andrewlloydwebber.tumblr.com/post/664350224830070784to think that the former Plan B "shooting sparks at chandelier from an opera box" is now the actual direction AND the in-theatre box is now occupied IRL so the Phantom has to pop up from the onstage set piece box... so much for "bigger and better and more immersive" ! The "go!.." feels so flat. To be fair I think Killian is miscast as Phantom. He is probably the second weakest I've seen ahead of Marcus Lovett but only just slightly behind Nic Greenshields.
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Post by tom on Oct 4, 2021 3:30:52 GMT
Extended pause still happens. Understudy/alternate Christine was on today (and she was brilliant). Show stopped ten mins into second half due to technical issue. The stage management and tech today was shambolic with many missed sound/lighting cues. The actors were excellent except for Carlotta, who was poor - off-key, screechy, screamy, terrible diction. The extended pause didn’t happen when I went a couple of weeks ago, it was one of the things I was looking out for as I didn’t like the audios I’d heard with it in. Maybe it’s back due to safety as it must be a bit of a rush to get to the top of the bridge? I saw the main cast and they were generally good (Carlotta was OK but not the best I’d seen) but the sound/orchestra was the thing that left me a little underwhelmed. It lacks punch in the parts that used to be and need to be loud and climactic.
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Post by tom on Oct 3, 2021 17:42:35 GMT
Never heard anyone call that magical scene 'hokey' before Don’t worry, it was just the doubles turning their heads very obviously away from the audience that used to strike me as hokey, not the entire scene. It’s even more magical now that they’re able to show their faces all the time they’re descending because that moment which used to look odd (to me) doesn’t take one (me) out of the story any more. I sort of agree but they could at least use one set of doubles at the beginning where they used to walk across the stage and then descend the stairs under the stage as what they do now is a bit awkward for the first part of the song - at least they now go straight into the title song after Raoul has said "angel" rather than the extended music that they had when it first reopened. Although it was obvious it was doubles, it was still quite clever doing that and then a pair walking out on to the bridge straight after.
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Post by tom on Oct 3, 2021 8:06:05 GMT
I took particular notice of who was on the bridge when I saw the show a couple of weeks ago. I’m sure it was the real phantom and Christine all the way. There was none of that hokey turning away from the audience, their faces were visible throughout. I also thought it was the real pair all the way as they no longer go across the stage and down under it.
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Post by tom on Sept 19, 2021 15:22:08 GMT
That west end live performance did nothing to convince me that this show is worth seeing. It was basically Carrie looking out of breath and uncomfortable moving around and being tied up and pulled around without resistance and not looking like she cared. I guess it makes more sense in the context of the show but it looked very amateurish to me. She didn’t sound as terrible as she made out though for most of it.
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Post by tom on Sept 16, 2021 17:43:50 GMT
I'm really curious about supporting roles, especially the Danny Burstein one Clue- CC Clive Carter?
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Post by tom on Sept 13, 2021 17:12:29 GMT
They need a pair who you believe have feelings for each other in this. I loved the show when I saw it in Boston for the spectacle but the chemistry between the leading pair was non-existent which made me think it lost a lot of what the film has to offer.
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Post by tom on Jul 20, 2021 23:21:31 GMT
Anyone else bored of the same 3 or 4 people saying the same thing over and over again? I will be gutted if the new production is awful compared to the old but am open to some changes as it was looking a bit dated. The lightning effect was awful and if those fireball effects are improved then all the better.
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Post by tom on Jul 16, 2021 21:57:43 GMT
Not to divert the discussion to Les Miz, but JOJ is a fine singer, but I think he is so dire and boring with zero facial expression. I've never seen him in Phantom, but I just don't think he's a good fit at all. He's kind of a big husky guy. Works for Les Miz, but it isn't the Phantom look I am accustomed to. But I guess he must be doing something right for doing the role again and again. And again and again. And again and again. He is amazing in Phantom. "but his voice filled my spirit with a strange sweet sound" sums it all up. He has an amazing voice and presence. He is one of the best Phantoms I've seen and certainly the best vocally. Oops, bit drunk so replied to a message from years ago!
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Post by tom on Jul 16, 2021 21:56:10 GMT
Not to divert the discussion to Les Miz, but JOJ is a fine singer, but I think he is so dire and boring with zero facial expression. I've never seen him in Phantom, but I just don't think he's a good fit at all. He's kind of a big husky guy. Works for Les Miz, but it isn't the Phantom look I am accustomed to. But I guess he must be doing something right for doing the role again and again. And again and again. And again and again. He is amazing in Phantom. "but his voice filled my spirit with a strange sweet sound" sums it all up. He has an amazing voice and presence. He is one of the best Phantoms I've seen and certainly the best vocally.
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