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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Jun 15, 2016 13:20:06 GMT
As guessed, been upgraded from the back row of the Upper Circle at £15 to a Central Row G Stalls seat at Premium Price I believe? ... not complaining. Haha. Closer than I was the first time I saw it! Also, full cast on bar Jamie Foreman. Alexander Delamere is on as cover. Boo, I knew I should have gone for Wednesday!
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Jun 14, 2016 11:00:15 GMT
For whatever reason, Monday night seems to be busier in most theatres than either Tuesday or Wednesday. Mrs. H doesn't even do a Tuesday night show. Interesting to know! I guess it might be the last night of someone's weekend break in London.
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Jun 14, 2016 9:28:34 GMT
I didn't get upgraded last night, so I suspect not - I noticed the whole Upper Circle was reduced to £15 on the day, so it makes sense they're managing to sell a few tickets up there. There were certainly quite a lot of people around me who'd taken a chance on something cheap, not really knowing anything about it. And it makes sense a last week will be fuller (as I learned to my cost leaving Gypsy to the last minute), though it could also be because they're re-accommodating people who were there on Friday when it got cancelled.
Edit: Having said that, I just looked at the ticket booking site, and Wednesday is far less sold than Monday was when I booked my ticket - there's loads of empty seats in the stalls and dress circle, so I take that back, you probably will get upgraded.
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Jun 14, 2016 8:27:51 GMT
By the way, something that occurred to me having read back in the rest of the thread - have they revised some of the comedian's lines/jokes? He certainly felt a bit tired and lame in places, but it was nowhere near as unfunny or awkward as it sounds like it was from early comments. Or was it because we had an understudy on for the role last night?
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Jun 13, 2016 22:24:38 GMT
Finally saw this tonight, and scandalously, didn't get upgraded! :-o My £10 ticket in the Upper Circle remained a £10 ticket in the Upper Circle, in what seemed to be a pretty well-sold theatre (balcony still closed).
I'm glad I did finally decide to see it. It's a good show with a lot of heart. It's not great... it's too slow to get going, and it had a habit of puncturing its big moments with overly silly following numbers. Its highlights are very high (If Mountains Were Easy To Climb, but also Living In A Dream World), but it's far from perfect, with far too many inconsequential music-hall revue numbers for my liking.
But the performances are excellent, and as a show its generally very likeable - and I certainly did like it. Definitely worth £10 of anyone's money!
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Jun 8, 2016 9:29:05 GMT
We were at the Funny Girl opening night at the Savoy. We didn't get to walk the carpet (we were shepherded around it while someone I didn't know was having their photo taken). We stayed to watch for a bit, but they were very keen to shepherd everyone inside, though I suspect that's partly because there isn't much space outside the Savoy at all.
And it very much did not start on time, and the interval was about 30 minutes - I was still queueing three deep at the bar when they gave a 'the show will start in one minute' announcement, but it was obvious that was not going to be the case!
That said, I suspect the Aladdin press night will be much more glam than Funny Girl was. It's a bigger show on a bigger scale, and will presumably have a more high-level guestlist than Myleene Klass and Marcus Brigstocke.
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Jun 7, 2016 22:40:07 GMT
Saw this tonight, from a great seat right in the middle of Row D in the stalls, and my impression is... 'good, but not great'.
I think it has three main problems: 1. The songs are very uneven and vary greatly in quality. The ones from the film, plus Proud of Your Boy, are best, though in a couple of cases they've actually been toned down from the film, and really don't give the cast the chance to sing out. And several of the other songs are just filler, plain and simple.
2. Similarly uneven are the sets. The treasure cave set is astounding. The palace is good. The magic carpet is wonderful. The marketplace in the early scenes, on the other hand - very obviously made of cardboard.
3. Dean John-Wilson. He's just lacking in the charisma needed of a leading man, and doesn't have the vocals too. When he's playing second-man to the Genie he's good, and he works well in his scenes with Princess Jasmine. However, in a song like One Step Ahead or Somebody's Got Your Back, he's outshone by his three sidekicks, and when it's his moment, neither his acting nor his singing are strong enough. I didn't 'believe' Proud of Your Boy at all, which is a shame.
That all meant that I thought the first 20 minutes or so was very poor, and the rest of the show, which does get much better, is just playing catch-up. One Step Ahead and the scenes that surround it, for example were just painfully amateur, almost school-production level, because of the combination of Dean John-Wilson and the cardboard set, as well as one-too-many self-consciously deliberate 'bad' jokes.
I did enjoy the evening - there's some real stand-out moments, and Trevor Dion Nicholas is fabulous as the Genie, ruling the stage whenever he's on it, in several brilliantly scripted scenes. Jade Ewen is really good as Princess Jasmine, even if the way the show is scored prevents her from really being able to sing out and belt like she can. And the magic carpet scene really was wonderful, and made the hair on my arms stand up, even if I could see how it was done.
So yes - good, but not great. But the audience around me seemed to love it (totally sold out tonight), so it's certainly hitting its target audience, and will run and run.
Edit: and if nothing else, there's lots and lots of mostly bare torsos (very sweaty and shiny ones tonight, as it was a warm evening), so there's plenty to look at if the set doesn't take your fancy.
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on May 31, 2016 9:51:54 GMT
I know the lottery isn't on at the moment, but just checking that this production isn't selling day seats or anything along those lines? No, just the lottery (or rather, the lottery *is* the day seats).
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on May 30, 2016 21:05:32 GMT
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on May 29, 2016 15:32:16 GMT
Does the online lottery not exist anymore, btw? Couldn't find any sign of it on the website when I looked the other day.
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on May 27, 2016 15:11:52 GMT
And tomorrow night's performance is already on TKTS... Can't say this show is filling me with confidence. And tonight's was there too before the performance was cancelled. Had been considering nipping down after work. In their defence, it is in their interest to discount now and make sure these early shows are as full as possible, to try and spread word of mouth.Tomorrow's performance does look relatively well-sold on londontheatredirect, with the exception of the premium seats, which aren't being discounted as far as I can see.
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on May 24, 2016 9:20:58 GMT
On the website of tkts, they list what is available today, tomorrow and the day after - www.tkts.co.uk/whats-on-sale/For tomorrow and the day after, does that mean they are selling those tickets today already, or is it just a way of showing what *will* be available if I went tomorrow or Thursday?
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on May 23, 2016 15:05:04 GMT
I guess it depends if they have enough female ensemble members for one of them to 'be' Yolanda for that scene. The show I saw the other day didn't - I can't remember who danced with Usnavi, presumably Carla?
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on May 22, 2016 19:07:24 GMT
If you mean the character, Yolanda is the character Usnavi apparently had sex with, and the one that chats him up at the club. Ahh, I see, thank you! I hadn't realised that Yolanda is meant to be a character on stage.
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on May 21, 2016 22:16:48 GMT
When I saw it last week, Jocasta was the only ensemble (although she was listed as Yolanda). If any female cast member goes sick now I think they would struggle. However, I would secretly like to see Dani played by a man one time. They have had to do the show a lot without any females recently. In that situation, Carla has to play Yolanda as well and Camilla has to sing about Usnavi's shop without the headphone near the end. Which is Yolanda?
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on May 20, 2016 23:48:06 GMT
Wow it's amazing how they get by with so many cast missing all the time. I saw they had a show last week with only one Ensemble (Reiss). I guess effectively it was only one ensemble member tonight - Ryan Reid, with the rest of the dancing done by the actors also playing Carla and Graffiti Pete and, where necessary, Sonny, with Piragua Guy doing some of the pushing of the steps.
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on May 20, 2016 23:01:52 GMT
From tonight's castboard, I finally remembered to take a photo of it: Usnavi - Michael Cortez Nina - Gabriela Garcia Daniela - Sarah Naudi Kevin - Vas Constanti Camila - Jocasta Almgil Piragua Guy - Spin Carla - Courtney-Mae Briggs I thought Cortez was pretty good as Usnavi, and Gabriela Garcia was really great at Nina - very good singing and excellent acting. I thought Sarah Naudi was good as Daniela, though probably less good than Philippa was when I saw her, I thought her comic timing was impeccable. I did think the show suffered a bit from so many people being off - 13 in total again. Particularly the Blackout scene feels small, and the finale. I wish they just had a couple more covers/swings. But loved it once again
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Apr 29, 2016 23:09:07 GMT
Is there a cast recording of the Betty Buckley version?
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Apr 29, 2016 17:52:39 GMT
I loved her on Les Mis, the first place I heard her, but not a fan of her singing on Sunset Boulevard, nor any of her solo stuff.
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Apr 27, 2016 22:14:03 GMT
Just back from tonight's performance, and I barely have any words for how much I loved it.
I suspect Glenn Close isn't back to 100% yet (not holding the big note at the end of With One Look, for example), but boy, it really doesn't matter. She's still phenomenal, and acts the hell out of the role. Michael Xavier is also superlative as Joe (and wondrous in trunks too), and it was amazing to hear the score played to wonderfully by the huge orchestra.
Such a great night, and well worth the £12(!) I paid for a seat in the second row of the balcony. Might go again tomorrow...
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Apr 27, 2016 15:29:10 GMT
But it is just a beautiful and amazing rendition of that song, so it doesn't matter one little bit. Well I would argue that it's a little self-indulgent and (possibly) off-putting to both the orchestra and conductor (maybe someone who has experience of playing for musicals can offer us their opinion on back-phrasing during this particular performance!), and it certainly sounds a little weird on the ears when the sung melody is stretched so far over an orchestration that is playing the actual vocal line being sung, BUT, I never said it wasn't any good. I agree it's amazing and that's why I love it - and her rendition of Being Alive in the Sondheim section, too! OMG love that too. BAY-YANG. AAAH-LLLLAAAAAIIIIIII- VAH
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Apr 27, 2016 11:31:14 GMT
There's always the Bernadette Peters' version where she sings completely out of sync with the orchestra (I know there's a name for this but I have forgotten it!). I just love this. It's another of my all time favourite play it LOUD and singalong songs. I can even do it out of sync like she does! Available on the Hey Mr Producer! concert recording. God I love that version from Hey Mr Producer, and standing in the middle of my living room screaming it at the top of my lungs. Sometimes I even hold a clipboard for the full effect.
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Apr 26, 2016 9:02:11 GMT
I'm assuming the guy with David Bryan was Joe DiPietro, the other writer? I wonder if they're just here to see the show, or if this visit was business - i.e. if they're responsible for the changes the show's had (the moving of some songs, for example).
tbfl, I can totally see why this musical isn't for everyone, and you certainly weren't the only person who left at the interval. At least you weren't the person who left about five minutes before the interval, diving across the entire stage at breakneck speed, and presumably colliding with one of the actors who was coming in through the exit door in the dark!
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Apr 26, 2016 8:38:04 GMT
Just bought a ticket for Sunset Boulevard tomorrow!
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Apr 24, 2016 18:01:03 GMT
Went to her Singular Sensations show today at Charing Cross Theatre. Nice way to spend an afternoon, she speaks engagingly and openly - for example, finding her role in Mary Poppins very difficult, as they'd changed how the character was written from the movie, meaning people were expecting something very different.
She sang several songs, mostly from her career, but a couple from other roles in musicals she'd done, and one or two that were just songs she enjoyed. Was nice to discover Meadowlark from The Baker's Wife, something I don't think I'd ever heard before, but is really good and has already been added to my Spotify list.
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Apr 23, 2016 22:40:07 GMT
Can anyone give a bit of advice on the balcony? I'm finally considering this, but am broke so can't really justify more than the £12 seats. What's better - the ones nearer the front (sides of Row A and B) that say 'partially restricted view and legroom' or the ones at the back corners, which are further away but don't state a restricted view or legroom? I've seen the show twice and sat in A14 (£25) and B38 (£12) so can't advise other than from those experiences. I'd definitely go for a row A or B rather than further back though. I'm pretty short so I had ample leg room in both rows, about 1.55m I think (yes, I don't know how tall I am). In row A I saw straight under the bar, the vertical bar was easy to see past. From row B I had to slouch in my seat to be able to see under the bar, the person next to me seemed to be sitting up straight to see over it. However having an aisle seat was great because I could look past the person in front of me. From 38 I could see the whole stage, not sure how much further over you are before you start loosing the sides though. Hope that's of some help. Thanks, that's really helpful And I'd basically made a decision to go for that B38 which is actually available for one of the dates I can do, until my boyfriend suddenly decided he maybe wants to come too... Back to the drawing board!
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Apr 23, 2016 21:56:43 GMT
Can anyone give a bit of advice on the balcony? I'm finally considering this, but am broke so can't really justify more than the £12 seats. What's better - the ones nearer the front (sides of Row A and B) that say 'partially restricted view and legroom' or the ones at the back corners, which are further away but don't state a restricted view or legroom?
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Apr 21, 2016 8:38:00 GMT
Sunny Afternoon - next to the box office windows in the main lobby.
Didn't see any at Funny Girl last night, though it might be that they don't display one when nobody's off?
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Apr 21, 2016 8:36:28 GMT
Oh God, I had the horror of being the Person With Cup Full of Noisy Ice at Funny Girl last night. I did ask for ice, but I hadn't realised he'd given me so much til I got back to my seat.
Mostly it was fine while my cup was full, but at one point I took a big swig and realised it was the last of the liquid as the ice clunked and rattled up the side, fortunately during applause. I then realised that we were going into a long quiet scene, and I still had my cup in my mouth - and I had no way of tipping it back to vertical position without it all rattling back down into the cup. So I had to sit for at least five minutes holding my cup to my mouth, stock still, until there was another loud bit!
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Apr 21, 2016 8:29:44 GMT
Was at the opening night last night - what a wonderful show. I went in not knowing much about the show or the plot, and was quite surprised at a few elements of it, notably the fact that it's shorter than I expected and I felt it ended quite suddenly.
But Sheridan Smith in particular is just amazing in the role, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
And glad to hear there's a cast recording coming too.
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