170 posts
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Post by moelhywel on Apr 11, 2017 14:18:40 GMT
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170 posts
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Post by moelhywel on Apr 10, 2017 22:55:09 GMT
Saw this tonight. Very funny, absolutely manic at times with a small amount of audience involvement if you're sitting in the front row. Mark Addy excellent in the leading role and also Laura Ellsworth as Connie, who also acts as a narrator at the beginning and end. A few topical mentions in the script and also references Shakespeare, probably done as produced in conjunction with the RSC.
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170 posts
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Post by moelhywel on Apr 9, 2017 11:53:32 GMT
4 stars in the Culture section of the Sunday Times.
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170 posts
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Post by moelhywel on Apr 2, 2017 23:23:02 GMT
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170 posts
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Post by moelhywel on Apr 2, 2017 7:59:44 GMT
I tried booking via the Almeida priority and found the range of seats on offer so limited that I decided not to bother as they were either too expensive or too restricted so I gave up. I then suddenly remembered that ATG priority also opened at the same time and found a much better selection of seats where I managed to get the seat I wanted.
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170 posts
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Post by moelhywel on Mar 27, 2017 22:03:04 GMT
For those asking about the view from side seats I have found the Seatplan web site useful for checking out seating at various theatres. For the Theatre Royal go to seatplan.com/london/42nd-street/ but note that the seat reviews do refer to a previous show. Thanks for that, A23 still definitely looks like a bargain seat. Can't wait now to see it.
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170 posts
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Post by moelhywel on Mar 27, 2017 21:44:31 GMT
A double bill of Stoppard for me on Wednesday, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead in the afternoon and Travesties in the evening, then Jewels at the ROH on Saturday afternoon.
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170 posts
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Post by moelhywel on Mar 27, 2017 11:24:43 GMT
After all these comments I was convinced I really must see this but left it too late for the bargain front row tickets I have managed to get A23, however, which I know is rather on the side but still only £15, for the matinee on 13th May. Does anyone know how restricted this seat is?
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170 posts
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Post by moelhywel on Mar 7, 2017 23:34:53 GMT
Just back from the first night of this in Birmingham and not having seen it on stage before (only the cinema broadcast of the stage show) I hadn't got anything to compare it with but to say that I was impressed is an understatement. There were one or two slight hitches with the scenery and the sound system played up a few times but these apart it was a splendid evening. The energy of the entire cast was impressive but especially that of the boy playing Billy. To be able to dance ballet and tap with some gymnastics thrown in, and sing on top of that is more than you would expect from such a young boy. The standing ovation at the end was well deserved. Also Daniel Page as Mr Braithwaite got a round of applause with his dance which came as a total surprise from someone of his size. Highly recommended.
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170 posts
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Post by moelhywel on Mar 6, 2017 23:49:29 GMT
Julius Caesar (RSC) tonight (just back), Billy Elliott (Birmingham Hippodrome) Tuesday, Hedda Gabler (NT Live) Thursday and An American in Paris Saturday afternoon.
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170 posts
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Post by moelhywel on Mar 3, 2017 23:45:08 GMT
Tomorrow afternoon The Glass Menagerie. Trying to work out how to avoid getting caught up in the NHS March as it will be coming down Shaftesbury Avenue and Charing Cross Road.
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170 posts
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Post by moelhywel on Feb 14, 2017 22:39:08 GMT
I've just returned from seeing the "RSC" in William Shakespeare's Long Lost First Play (Abridged), apparently found in a car park in Leicester! A really fun evening with plenty of laughs and I'm full of admiration for the three actors who take all the parts. I feel you do need to know Shakespeare's plays to get the best out of the evening but there are also references to Disney and Harry Potter among other things. The company is on tour until 28th May if anyone wants to catch them. They're at Wilton's Music Hall in London from 28 March - 1 April and lots of other places around the country.
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170 posts
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Post by moelhywel on Feb 12, 2017 10:13:06 GMT
Well I'm doing a double Stoppard at the end of March with this in the evening and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in the afternoon. Given that they both refer to other plays I may be well and truly confused by the time I get my train home! I've never seen either play before either so don't even know what to expect.
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170 posts
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Post by moelhywel on Feb 1, 2017 23:26:06 GMT
I saw this this afternoon and although I thought there was rather too much swearing I eventually got beyond the point of really noticing and was able to appreciate the performances, especially those of the actors playing Caravaggio, Lavinia, the Grandfather and the boy. I found myself with a lump in my throat at the end and genuinely moved. I thought the changes from one time frame to another worked well, the only problem I had was sometimes understanding what was being said because of the accents.
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170 posts
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Post by moelhywel on Feb 1, 2017 23:09:01 GMT
I logged on not long after 9 and found myself in a very short queue but didn't realise that the booking had opened so didn't bother to click on book tickets until I saw the message on here that the booking was open. I really kicked myself as I then found myself at over 700 in the queue and finally managed to get 2 tickets just before 12 o'clock. I thought I was going to have to give up as I had to be in Stratford for the performance at 1.30. Even then I got the 30 minute message for the first date I tried for and then when I did get the tickets the pay button wasn't showing and I had to reload the payment page, talk about traumatic.
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170 posts
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Post by moelhywel on Feb 1, 2017 9:47:58 GMT
Twelfth Night seems to be part of the Christmas season as when you look at the trailer it comes up with Christmas Season and then shows Twelfth Night followed by A Christmas Carol.
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170 posts
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Post by moelhywel on Jan 30, 2017 22:41:38 GMT
Just back from seeing this. It's extremely funny but also serious at times with parts of the story easy to guess but others coming as a surprise. The cast are all excellent with Sarah Hadland getting a round of applause after one impassioned speech. The play is bookended by Nigel Harmon speaking directly to the audience as a narrator. It doesn't seem to be touring anywhere after Birmingham, which is a shame as it deserves a wider showing.
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170 posts
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Post by moelhywel on Jan 29, 2017 14:12:30 GMT
What's in a Name at the B'ham Rep tomorrow, Seven Acts of Mercy in Stratford on Wednesday, Amadeus (NT Live) on Thursday, Love at the B'ham Rep on Saturday and the Bolshoi Ballet's Swan Lake at the cinema next Sunday. After several weeks of very little theatregoing I'm back in with a vengeance.
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170 posts
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Post by moelhywel on Jan 27, 2017 17:10:40 GMT
Any chance of more tour dates for PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS do you think? I'm in two minds about seeing it without Gough, as her performance was astonishing. However, the play should stand up as it is extremely well-written. A listing of tour dates is on West End Wilma here: www.westendwilma.com/news-people-places-things-uk-tour/
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170 posts
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Post by moelhywel on Jan 26, 2017 22:34:02 GMT
Hedda Gabler on Saturday matinee
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170 posts
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Post by moelhywel on Jan 14, 2017 22:46:42 GMT
I saw this in Birmingham on Tuesday. I wouldn't exactly call it a thriller, it's more of a psychological drama/melodrama as you quickly pick up what's happening but the way it's constructed still keeps you in suspense. Keith Allen is excellent as Rough, I always associate him with villainous roles but not in this. Kara Tointon is also very good as Bella Manningham. The set has a slightly skewed perspective of the drawing room and a few surprises. I booked seats in the Upper Circle, as the cheaper seats at the back of the Dress Circle are no longer, but got upgraded to there as they closed the Upper Circle.
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170 posts
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Post by moelhywel on Dec 26, 2016 11:27:32 GMT
My only new Theatre this year was in Paris, Théâtre Châtelet for New York City Ballet.
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170 posts
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Post by moelhywel on Dec 26, 2016 11:16:53 GMT
I received the Gypsy DVD and cast recording CD, a DVD of Tosca with Bryan Terfel and the Duke Ellington CD Such Sweet Thunder, the music of which which was used for David Bintley's Shakespeare Suite ballet.
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170 posts
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Post by moelhywel on Nov 22, 2016 23:49:46 GMT
Saw this tonight and really enjoyed it. SRB excellent as Prospero and his last speech to the audience very moving. I thought both Joe Dixon and Mark Quartley as Caliban and Ariel were also excellent. The technology and lighting effects work really well with the basic set of the inside of a ship.If you can't get to Stratford to see it go to the Barbican when it's on there.
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170 posts
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Post by moelhywel on Nov 11, 2016 0:04:07 GMT
I saw this yesterday afternoon and struggled to follow what was happening at times but thought Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan were superb. The nuances they brought to their roles at times just emphasised what great actors they are. I shall be seeing it again next week so will be interested to see what I make of it knowing what happens.
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170 posts
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Post by moelhywel on Nov 10, 2016 23:48:43 GMT
Just back from seeing this at the B'ham Hippodrome and really enjoyed it. Very traditional production but really well performed. Claire Wild, who had to step into the role of Lilli Vanessa/Katherine last week in Southampton, was excellent but thought Quirijn de Lang as Fred Graham/Petruchio a little under powered at times, although still good.Thoroughly recommended for anyone who can get to the remaining performances in B'ham this week or Llandudno or Cardiff the end of the month or in December. Be warned, however, that it's a long evening as it ran over by 20 minutes tonight and didn't finish until 10.40.
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170 posts
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Post by moelhywel on Oct 25, 2016 23:29:47 GMT
Just back from seeing this and thoroughly enjoyed it, I haven't laughed so much in ages. Joseph Millsom was excellent as Willmore and the scene with him, Faye Costelow and Alexandra Gilbreath in the second half was hilarious with the corpsing, deliberate or not, taking over. Don't leave it till the last minute to go in as the musicians are playing some time before it starts and are well worth listening to.
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170 posts
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Post by moelhywel on Oct 21, 2016 19:29:14 GMT
Me too. I will be interested to see this again as I last saw it in 1969 with Jane Freeman (of Last of the Summer Wine fame) as Amanda Wingfield.
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170 posts
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Post by moelhywel on Oct 6, 2016 16:58:47 GMT
Sir Matthew Bourne?
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170 posts
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Post by moelhywel on Sept 29, 2016 23:01:56 GMT
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