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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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Post by anthony on Oct 16, 2023 18:05:20 GMT
Looks like the link still works - you can buy up to 6 tickets, guess it doesn't need to be in 1 transaction. If anyone else wants the link, first to post here...
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Post by anthony on Oct 16, 2023 14:01:26 GMT
I've won the lottery but cannot attend. First person to reply here can have the link
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Post by anthony on Oct 15, 2023 14:29:10 GMT
Was it amazing? Was it a comedy? Was it awful?
I honestly don't know... I loved it but also hated it. I feel conflicted. I DO NOT KNOW.
I can't wait to see it again in 2 weeks.
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Post by anthony on Oct 10, 2023 7:05:36 GMT
For Rebecca, if you're on the Off West End mailing list, they sent around a 50% off discount code recently. It's hidden in the email (not even mentioned in the subject line), so check if it's the kind of message you delete without reading. Not sure if I can share it in public. A PM would be greatly appreciated
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Post by anthony on Oct 9, 2023 19:50:32 GMT
Take everyone's present favourite whipping boy (girl) Rebecca: After all the negative feedback Charing X can't hope to shift many tickets at short notice, even if they did offer discounts (which, strangely, they haven't yet). Had they lured people in early with a discount, those seats would be sold now. I keep thinking I'm missing out on discount offers for Rebecca - I check to see how they're selling and it's not very good - so where are those discounts, it can't be fun for the cast to look out at a half-full theatre at every show. Decent discounts now appearing - the £50 seats have been £27 every day for the past week or so on tkts.
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Post by anthony on Oct 1, 2023 20:26:42 GMT
I've found TodayTix to be pretty dodgy recently, funnily. During London Theatre Week, they inflated the prices of the tickets prior to the discounts. If you looked at Book of Mormon, tickets were being advertised as being 30% reduced - the same tickets were £3 more expensive outside of the deal. Rebecca had the cheapest seats in the main auditorium upped by near £30 and then charged the same price as they normally were via the Charing Cross website (which wasn't offering a discount).
Personally, unless I think it's going to sell out, I'll just buy the tickets on the day, either via Rush or tkts.
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Post by anthony on Oct 1, 2023 12:10:50 GMT
Can anyone give me any insight into what traffic is likely to be like for taxis? I have to be in London for work and from my hotel to my destination is technically walkable (44 minutes) but not fun while carrying a backpack, and getting back to Kings Cross is twice that and just too far to walk in the time I have to catch the last train. There's no way in hell that I'm getting on a bus, especially not if it's crowded, so thinking of a taxi. I live in Welwyn and get the train to Kings Cross. We then walk - it usually takes about 30 minutes, even though Maps always said about 45. It isn't too bad.
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Post by anthony on Sept 24, 2023 15:08:38 GMT
Yesterday I saw sat row B of the stalls. You could hear the cast members talking when they're mics are off (all in character - I'm assuming there is a proper word for this?!). My favourite moment was hearing Mme Giry go up to some dancers as the managers are talking and I heard her say "You look happy. Well don't". Made me chuckle!
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Post by anthony on Sept 24, 2023 15:05:26 GMT
Natasha Hodgson gives the most forced and unfunny performance I’ve ever seen on a stage. Excuse me? Meet me at the back gates after school.
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Post by anthony on Sept 24, 2023 15:03:23 GMT
I don't think she ever did - Danvers has an alternate and from West End Understudies, I think the alternate has done all matinees? Why would the character of Danvers need an alternate? I know the last chorus of the reprise of the title song has some big notes, but Danvers is a supporting role. Even Willemijn (who was clearly the star of the show in Austria) took her bow before the actors playing Maxim and I. If you have Elphabas doing eight shows a week, then surely Danvers should be doing eight (especially for such a limited run). There are far heavier roles in musical theatre than Danvers. I wanted to see Kara Lane, but I’m attending a matinee. At the time of booking, there was no announcement of an alternate. I don't know. I didn't cast it Another observation from the bootleg... at the end of Act 1, when Danvers descends the staircase for the first reprise of 'Rebecca', the lyrics are so random. She sings "how can the curtain go up when there is no play?" SURELY it should be "how can the curtain go up when there is no star?" or something to that effect? Comparing Rebecca (as a person) to a play is such a weird metaphor that just doesn't work in English?
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Post by anthony on Sept 23, 2023 18:46:05 GMT
Just curious -- if I want to maximum my chances of seeing the main cast rather than understudies, would it be better to book an evening show (as opposed to a matinee)? Or is it really just luck of the draw? I spoke to the box office today actually and they said Kara Lane isn’t doing matinees, now. I don't think she ever did - Danvers has an alternate and from West End Understudies, I think the alternate has done all matinees?
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Post by anthony on Sept 23, 2023 18:44:56 GMT
Does Gant do all of the matinees? No idea - I think he's doing all performances at the moment whilst Jon recovers from his concussion?
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Post by anthony on Sept 23, 2023 17:03:22 GMT
James Gant is stupidly good. His final lair is just wonderful.
I hope when Robyns leaves that they give him a chance at the role full time. He deserves it.
Matinee was packed. Show is in really good shape.
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Post by anthony on Sept 22, 2023 22:51:28 GMT
Watching the Bootleg has made me so angry that they butchered Zeit in Einer Flasche. The English demo isn't too bad:
(Same with Kein Lachen... the demo translation is honestly so superior to what we ended up with in London).
(And who decided that Rebecca's bed REALLY needed was a hot pink runner?!?!?!)
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Post by anthony on Sept 20, 2023 19:37:16 GMT
First bootlegs doing the rounds.
It really is so disappointing... what it could have been.
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Post by anthony on Sept 19, 2023 16:51:29 GMT
With mostly 2 and 3 star reviews, I am pretty sure this has exceeded most people’s expectations, especially those of people involved with the show. They should be ecstatic with the 3 stars. I was expecting 1 and 2s.
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Post by anthony on Sept 18, 2023 22:18:06 GMT
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Post by anthony on Sept 18, 2023 21:51:07 GMT
If anyone attends tonight, I’m dying to know if Lauren Jones is back. Lauren Jones was back. Pictures of the bows on Twitter show that the 2nd Mrs de Winter has a new costume for the final scene compared to the earlier previews.
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Post by anthony on Sept 18, 2023 21:47:25 GMT
"Well done to Michael Calbourne ( @mikecolbourne ) who made his DEBUT as THE PHANTOM mid show tonight at @phantomopera ! #2ndcover #debut"
What did they do about the make up?!
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Post by anthony on Sept 18, 2023 5:45:48 GMT
Its such a strange role isn't it, on stage for about 5 mins. The last time I saw Hamilton (Jan '22!), Joel was part of the ensemble when not on stage as King George. I can't recall because it was so long ago, but I guess it could also be that due to cast illness there were split tracks, I guess. I just remember thinking it was good that they found something for him to do!
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Post by anthony on Sept 17, 2023 20:36:04 GMT
I feel so bad for everyone involved. This is going to be a blood bath. To be honest, though, they deserved it; they've seen view reaction to the human seagulls, for example - why are they still in the show? A commenter on MickeyJoeTheatre's video said that the seagulls are gone. There may be other changes. We won't know until the reviews come out. Oh, entirely possible - saw it on a Facebook post from someone who saw it yesterday. Interestingly, Wait in the Wings (who seems to have some access to Kunze - constant references to emailing him, etc) said in his video recently that the fire scene won't be ready in the way its intended until press night... seems odd, but he seems confident that the version we currently have isn't the final version?
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Post by anthony on Sept 17, 2023 16:56:22 GMT
Doesn't look like press night has moved - they've just tweeted a few moments ago that all of their previews are complete and their next performance is press night.
I feel so bad for everyone involved. This is going to be a blood bath. To be honest, though, they deserved it; they've seen view reaction to the human seagulls, for example - why are they still in the show? I was really hoping that the cancelled shows was really code for "We are trying to fix some of the major issues with the show!" but it genuinely feels like they just don't care?
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Post by anthony on Sept 11, 2023 22:10:36 GMT
Have they pushed back press night? I believe it is (and always has been) Monday 18th. You are right - I was looking at the ticket buying page incorrectly. In my defence, I am half asleep!
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Post by anthony on Sept 11, 2023 22:05:06 GMT
Have they pushed back press night? Wasn’t it tomorrow? It’s no longer listed on the website, but it was previously. Or perhaps it was tonight? (Although 50% of the cast seemed to be out tonight according to West End Understudies).
You guys have no idea how desperate I am for this to do well. But I have no sympathy. How did no one say something during rehearsals? When the set was being built? When the concept art was created?
I’m not a huge Micky Jo fan, but his latest video says “you might be used to Rebecca with a capital R, but this could be more Becky”. 😂
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Post by anthony on Sept 10, 2023 16:56:20 GMT
So Holly was amazing yesterday but I can't help but feel slightly bad for her - the problem is that Natasha is so perfect in the role that it is always going to feel like a downgrade. Like I said, Holly was wonderful and if Natasha hadn't spoiled the role for me, I'd be going nuts about how great Holly was.
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Post by anthony on Sept 10, 2023 16:55:15 GMT
To be fair, it genuinely wouldn't be surprising if the set has broken... The set is also so badly fitted that every scene change, it is damaging the floor, so eventually, the set will just be swinging around on its hinges as a result...
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Post by anthony on Sept 10, 2023 11:07:05 GMT
Apologies for being that person, but to those of you who have already seen it what is the running time? Website currently states 2hours 15mins but that seems a little short. We have tickets for a Sunday matinee in a few weeks and are trying to work out if we could fit something else in afterwards. I counted 2 hours 35 ish including the interval on Thursday evening. I was out at 22:05. Interesting - we got out just shy of 22:30 on Monday. It did start about 5 minutes late, but still. Suggests they've cut something because there weren't any pauses (I remember because we were irritated at missing the 22:28 train we usually get!)
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Post by anthony on Sept 9, 2023 19:01:07 GMT
Yeah I don't really get the comments about the quality of productions at Charing Cross. Granted, last time I was there was Woman in White, but I remember the staging for that being pretty amazing. A shame there aren't any videos on YouTube to see if my memory is accurate, but there are some photos on Thom Southerland's website: thomsoutherland.co.uk/shows/the-woman-in-white/36Sadly not many photos of the whole set, but you can see how atmospheric the piece looks. The lighting was amazing. Rebecca lacks all of this. The orchestra was a huge waste of money and I STILL don't understand how it still sounds PAPER THIN?! I mean it's a larger orchestra than Phantom (14), than Les Mis (14), than Wicked (17)... it's madness. Anyway, popped into Charing Cross this afternoon to buy a programme (they didn't have them Monday night!) and Melanie Bright (alt. Danvers) was in the lobby talking to people who had just seen the show's matinee. Heard her saying that she was worried that people would have booked for Rebecca to see Kara Lane and then be upset when they realised it was her. But I also heard her say that she (and the rest of the cast!) were loving performing. The people she was speaking to seemed to love it.
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