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Post by anthony on Mar 27, 2024 20:45:36 GMT
Points above very well taken. But to have graduates leading a high profile show is one thing. To have them leading a high profile show with the demands of skating is another thing. To have both of those for 9 shows a week is a third thing. Does the Bochum production cast graduates in lead roles? The lead isn't even a graduate. He's 17. Tbh, a balance is needed. The fact my local amateur group have more experience is worrying.
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Post by anthony on Mar 26, 2024 2:10:11 GMT
Any update on the cast album?
I'm assuming it's dead - the cast were hopeful following its closure, but it's been quiet since...
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Post by anthony on Mar 17, 2024 12:53:30 GMT
This is a great show for school groups We are taking our year 9s to see it. Can't lie, slightly nervous about potential parental reactions due to some of the language...
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Post by anthony on Mar 17, 2024 12:49:32 GMT
Steve Harley, the person who was originally due to play Phantom before being replaced by Michael Crawford, has passed away.
Their was a single released of the title song with himself and Brightman:
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Post by anthony on Feb 24, 2024 18:34:09 GMT
To be honest, the more I think about it, the more I begin to believe most of the changes have been positive. The set for the auction scene is better - as is the transformation of the Opera House during the overture, I genuinely think the Pegasus is superior to the old-style of AIAOY Reprise. In terms of the orchestra, if I'm completely being truthful, I don't notice much difference - the only moments are during Masquerade...
The only think that annoyed me about the changes was the decision not to invite Phillip Griffiths back - now, I don't have any feelings towards him as an actor, but when someone has been playing a role for 30 years, at the very least, you have a conversation with them! On the subject of the auctioneer, I don't like that the actor then takes part in Hannibal wearing a suit when everyone else is in costume. It's off-putting. As are the Piangi changes - why they decided to insert him randomly into Il Muto, or have him eye of the Slave Master is beyond me, but oh well.
As a whole, I genuinely do think the changes have been mostly positive. Went to a mid-week evening show recently and the stalls was completely sold out. It seems to be doing very well.
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Post by anthony on Feb 12, 2024 20:52:18 GMT
Kara Lane is honestly out of this world.
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Post by anthony on Feb 6, 2024 13:26:55 GMT
I was also there and really it was quite shambolic to wait until after the official end time of the show to announce the cancellation. They did do a roaring bar trade, so that should offset some of the money lost through the refunds. Plenty of people had already left before the official cancellation. It is a difficult situation and really it was the lack of information and the false announcement of 20 more minutes that didn't help. I know these things happen. Everyone I saw was being polite to the ushers thankfully, who have a difficult job, but much as I may be tempted to say "I don't get paid enough to deal with that", there are better forms of wording to use with frustrated customers. Up to the show stop, it was an excellent high energy show, with the cast having a lot of fun. Still, I can get back another time easily enough. I did wonder if it was cast illness; Conor Peirson was carrying a water bottle around during Man Up - he kept putting it down before decided he needed another drink. He also decided to skip some of the notes in the song completely. Timing would perhaps make sense - thought he could continue, opened act 2 and then realised he couldn't? I'm just not sure what could go technically wrong in the show? The set is literally so basic and most is manually moved. Audience did handle it REALLY well though - especially considering the length of time we were waiting.
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Post by anthony on Feb 6, 2024 9:32:57 GMT
I'm not as familiar with West End scheduling practices/extensions (vs Broadway). What are the chances this extends again? I'll be overseas next January and was considering stopping in London for a couple days to see a few shows, this one in particular. It's hugely popular and the theatre is small so I think further extensions are quite likely. Wonder for how much longer, though? They've essentially tied themselves to the Fortune (Horrendous theatre, by the way!) and wasn't the Fortune meant to close for renovation following The Woman in Black with Mincemeat being a filler show? It could move theatre, but with the plaque it's unlikely, surely?
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Post by anthony on Feb 5, 2024 22:03:43 GMT
After making us wait for an hour, performance cancelled.
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Post by anthony on Feb 5, 2024 21:50:51 GMT
50 minutes since the show stop. Now the message is “we will keep you informed”
Is this the norm? Never had a show stop like this before - 50 minutes with no end in sight. The orchestra have left their seats. Bars open. Surely they have to just cancel soon?
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Post by anthony on Feb 5, 2024 21:30:26 GMT
They’ve just announced another 20 minutes.
A 50 minute show stop. Just cancel, fgs.
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Post by anthony on Feb 5, 2024 21:20:39 GMT
Show stop just before Spooky Mormon Hell Dream. Initially told to remain seated and 20 minutes later, they have opened the bar. Just wish they’d cancel at this point. Going to miss my train
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Post by anthony on Jan 13, 2024 10:44:01 GMT
Just booked for the matinee today. 4th time trying to see Robyns! I do love Gant (and actually, think he's probably the best Phantom we've had (well, except Earl returning for a few months!) in around a decade!) but I do really want to see Robyns...
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Post by anthony on Jan 3, 2024 12:11:28 GMT
Has there been any inkling when the original cast will be leaving? The WhatsOnStage article suggest the new cast would begin performances in April. Seems like a very short turnaround?
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Post by anthony on Dec 11, 2023 16:27:09 GMT
Where is good to sit in the upper circle? We won the lottery anbd no other seats left, but seatplan makes them all look pretty dire?
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Post by anthony on Dec 4, 2023 21:33:53 GMT
So they cut the death dialogue at the end - DIANA LIVES!
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Post by anthony on Dec 4, 2023 20:38:01 GMT
I’ve lost count of the number of missed lighting and mic cues, but it doesn’t matter - it’s a huge amount of fun. Kerry Ellis has the perfect voice for this, and Maiya Quansah-Breed brings great comic timing (plus some great vocal moments, too). Denise Welch has a terrible voice, but is still fantastic - very tongue-in-cheek. Its tone is exactly as I hoped - not taking itself in any way seriously. And the audience is loving it! Maybe it is the sound then - Maiya Quansah-Breed sounds shocking up in the cheap seats!
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Post by anthony on Dec 4, 2023 20:33:48 GMT
Interval.
An absolute car crash. Sound could just be bad, but the entire cast sound vocally horrendous. They should have just shipped over the broadway cast.
The new dual narrative between the two Dianas doesn’t work. Abysmal.
The lack of dialogue destroys the story - audience can’t keep up, laughing throughout.
ALSO WHY IS THE QUEEN THE ONLY ONE IN COSTUME?!?
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Post by anthony on Dec 1, 2023 7:02:14 GMT
Has anyone else still not received their programme from Theatre Shop? I haven't had a dispatch email, even... all emails going unresponded.
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Post by anthony on Nov 19, 2023 14:42:40 GMT
Surely an English language cast recording for this particular show is out of the question until its translations are vastly improved. Also, if it was to come back, I think by now they will realise they need to start from scratch in terms of the adaptation. I never thought it was as bad as some in here did but the idea of a return seems far-fetched without an overhaul in so many aspects of the show. I was sat behind Christopher Hampton last night. He seemed pleased. To be honest, I actually don't think the lyrics are too bad. Sure, there are some really awful bits (kein lächeln war je so kalt (I don't know the name of the song in the English version!), for example) and some really REALLY awful bits - "Mrs de Winter bought it at the auction house" and "How can the curtain go up when there is no play?" spring to mind - WHY IS THE METAPHOR COMPARING REBECCA TO A PLAY AND NOT A STAR? I DON'T UNDERSTAND!), but my main problem with the translation is that the original demo album was by far superior in terms of the English lyrics. Kein Lacheln is horrendous in comparison comparison to the demo. "I'll never forget her smile, her haunting, taunting smile. I may forget the things she said but I will never forget that smile" to "I'll never forget that smile. It made me lose control. I might forget the way she looked but I'll never forget her smile". It literally doesn't fit into the music. Kein Lacheln: Actually, I think the only song from the English demo that they improved on was She's Invincible (and even then, there are only minor changes) The main reason I want a cast album is Kara Lane. I honestly can't explain how wonderful she is. She's a star.
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Post by anthony on Nov 19, 2023 14:34:57 GMT
The moronic young women sipping a half empty water bottle throughout almost the entire second half of Sunset Boulevard. Every time she touched it, it "cracked" like water bottles do. It was starting to become a form of Chinese water torture. Completely oblivious to the quiet and tense sense. In the end the women behind, tapped her on the shoulder in the final scene and that finally stopped her. Ridiculous. Not exactly bad behaviour but we had an Eastern European couple in front of us who were snuggled together and practically heavy petting throughout Act 1 - they didn't return for Act II... On a similar note, why do some people bring sweets into the theatre that are covered in wrappers? Who does this? There is a special place in hell for these people, I'm sure.
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Post by anthony on Nov 18, 2023 22:17:26 GMT
Tonight was wonderful.
Kara Lane is out of this world. Outrageously good.
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Post by anthony on Nov 16, 2023 21:03:44 GMT
Going for the 4th time on closing night - what I also imagine will be the final English language performance.
Although ticket sales did pick up. Hopefully we get a cast album.
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Post by anthony on Oct 31, 2023 18:51:10 GMT
Bought tickets - I love The Addams family!
Personally, I don't mind these concerts. They aren't in lieu of a proper run, but because they cannot get the backing for a proper run. I do think that Addams Family is an interesting choice though, given that the last tour had to close early due to poor ticket sales.
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Post by anthony on Oct 28, 2023 21:59:45 GMT
GOOD NEWS! Darth Vader was at Sunset Boulevard this evening. The bad news is that I had the misfortune of sitting in front of him. The breathing… 😭
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Post by anthony on Oct 21, 2023 23:04:56 GMT
I loved it! My other half has vowed never to see anything else by Shakespeare, however. The seats at the Wyndham's must be the most uncomfortable in the West End? My legs... my back... the pain!
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Post by anthony on Oct 21, 2023 16:35:55 GMT
Does Kara Lane do matinees? There seemed to be some uncertainty earlier in the thread. Wed Matinees. Mel Bright is on Thursday evenings and Sat matinees.
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Post by anthony on Oct 21, 2023 14:41:57 GMT
"Once you get over the staging it's great" is SUCH a weird sentence I can't 😂 How can you have to look past like, the fundamental thing about a production (it's STAGING!) in order to see it's good? This is madness ! I disagree. Using your logic, the majority of amateur productions would be terrible. Within the context of the piece, at an off West-End theatre, it really isn't too shocking. The performance itself is brilliant - Kara Lane is literally out of this world. The plot, performance, and songs are great. And really, if we're comparing it to the international productions, sure, it's shocking... but it's also at an off West End theatre and it's not trying to be Vienna or Budapest or Tokyo. Not really sure why it's "madness" to appreciate that.
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Post by anthony on Oct 21, 2023 11:16:07 GMT
You know, the more I see it, the more I enjoy it. Once you get over the staging, it's great... I still think this is a missed opportunity and they'd have been better mounting a full-scale production, but here we are.
Last went on a Thursday evening and surprisingly for a mid-week evening, the theatre was about 90% full - actually more full than when I saw it the previous Saturday evening. Weird when you consider this evening's production is currently only around 60% sold.
I wonder if they're trying to get investment for a larger scale run? I noticed that there have been some more costume changes for I and it looks like additional fire effects have been added in recent weeks during the fire. Seems odd to be making small changes like this at this point.
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Post by anthony on Oct 16, 2023 18:19:26 GMT
Sent
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