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Post by charliec on Jun 22, 2016 6:12:59 GMT
Early I know, but I wonder how this will do come awards season? Would the entire production be elligible for Best New Play, or would it have to considered as 2 different plays? Do the Oliviers have rulings over the exact eligibility of each production like The Tony's do?
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Post by charliec on Jun 21, 2016 15:51:31 GMT
I was back row of the balcony last week. I'm 5"6" and was totally fine, there was a really tall guy at the end of the row who was sat at an awkward angle to be comfy. no one was complaining about the legroom then. I want to see Part 2 again so going to stop by the box office tomorrow to see if they've had any returns! Thanks Muchly! I have another seven inches on that particular gentleman so I shall see! Was the view of the stage as far away as has been reported? It's far away but you don't miss anything! You might have to lean/ stand for about 30 seconds to see something right at the front of the stage but it's fine
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Post by charliec on Jun 21, 2016 15:50:32 GMT
I was back row of the balcony last week. I'm 5"6" and was totally fine, there was a really tall guy at the end of the row who was sat at an awkward angle to be comfy. no one was complaining about the legroom then. I want to see Part 2 again so going to stop by the box office tomorrow to see if they've had any returns! Just Part 2? Interesting. I'd got the impression that people were liking Part 1 more than Part 2... but haven't read any other spoilers. (Is this considered a spoiler?) Part 1 is definitely more polished but I like the idea that they might make changes to act 2 and i'd like to see what they are doing. Also I was so far back I couldn't see the actors faces very well and there are act 2 bits that I really want to see from a better seat. I have row C stalls tickets for October so if I can't get a ticket for part 2 then i don't mind, but I met two ladies in the queue going in to part 2 who hadn't seen part 1 but got returns that day for part 2 and as they were leaving the country the next morning they decided part 2 was better than nothing! So I know that there are sometimes Part 2 seats available! I had to tell them the plot to part 1 which was actually quite cool, it's hard not talking about it to anyone!
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Post by charliec on Jun 21, 2016 15:31:31 GMT
Well done! I'm interested to hear about the balcony legroom also, sitting there in April. I'm trying my hardest to resist opening the spoilers thread, still at least I have five months less to wait now! I think that the website is to blame for the confusion over adding tickets to the baskets. I assume that it can't keep up to date when the limited availability performances are being sold out, hence the difficulty. As I said, I only really had success when booking both parts seperately. I was back row of the balcony last week. I'm 5"6" and was totally fine, there was a really tall guy at the end of the row who was sat at an awkward angle to be comfy. no one was complaining about the legroom then. I want to see Part 2 again so going to stop by the box office tomorrow to see if they've had any returns!
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Post by charliec on Jun 20, 2016 17:21:53 GMT
Have any of you tried or plan to try the stage door? From pictures I've seen on Twitter it looks MENTAL. I'm assuming the actors are only doing it after the evening shows and not after the matinees? Part 2 on friday night started off ok but got crazy busy. My friend got Noma, Jamie Parker and Alex Price's autographs on her programme. People were actually quite friendly and passing stuff around to get signed.
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Post by charliec on Jun 18, 2016 19:02:15 GMT
What are the reactions like to certain returning characters? Are Snape and Dumbledore still getting big entrance applause? Yes big applause and gasping. I think people are just so thrilled to see these characters in front of them.
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Post by charliec on Jun 18, 2016 19:01:01 GMT
Great review Charliec! Exactly how I feel about everything really. It's not perfect, but it's probably 97% of the way there, let down by Delphi only IMO. And there is really a lot of time to get to grips with that. The casting is stunning. I'm so very happy Norma is absolutely proving how right it was that she got the job -considering the reaction, it must bey deeply satisfying for her to know every time she goes out onto that stage she is proving a large part of the world wrong. She truly is Hermione. Oh your comments just make me really really really want to go see it again! I'm sick of trying to find tickets online. Even if they extend, it's a year away... Are you based in London? I can highly recommend going to the box office in person whenever you are nearby. Quite a few of my friends have gotten tickets that way in the last few days.
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Post by charliec on Jun 18, 2016 18:20:43 GMT
This is way more than I thought I would write!
Ok! So thoughts having seen Part 1 on Thursday and part 2 on Friday.
From a staging/ technical viewpoint it's stunning, those time ripples across the stage blew my mind the first time they happen! So many moments that made me say wow. Would love a few more of those moments in Part 2.
The characters/ cast. The majority of the characters and relationships are really well written, this is totally where the strengths of the play lies. Anthony as Scorpius is fab, funny, awkward. Let's start with The Potters. Part 2 is when I realised how perfect Jamie Parker is for adult Harry. There is so much going on, so much conflict; he has all the same desire to do the good and right thing but can't run headlong into danger like before because he has something to lose which he didn't have before- family. Of course he has problems connecting to a son who he wants to keep safe more than anything. I expect Harry would consider locking Albus in a cupboard under the stairs to keep him out of harms way. Jamie Parker is properly brilliant, particularly when he stands in the middle of his friends and family watching the heartbreaking moment that defines his entire life happen in front of him, knowing he can't do anything about it. Albus is exactly what you expect going in, a typical awkward teenager with the wait of legacy pressing hard upon him. Everyone tells him that his Dad is this incredible man but Albus just wants and needs a Dad. Sam Clemmett is sweet and plays the teenage frustration and confusion well. He's best ( and written best) in his scenes with Scorpius. Ginny is a wonderful, consistent bastion of calm. Poppy Miller plays her with the poise and thoughtfulness which I feel has always defined Ginny.
Scorpius is such a good addition to the Potter universe, I loved Anthony Boyle and thought he gave a funny, heartbreaking and heroic performance. He embodies the geeky outcast with a heart of gold just trying to do the right thing and for me he very much embodied the Harry type hero role from the books for much of the play. Adult Draco is the exact kind of complex, closed off, sad and conflicted man that messed up teenager should have become. Alex Price is a great Draco. I never thought I would come out of something Potter based loving the Malfoys!
The Granger- Weasleys! Noma Dumezweni is as others have said, perfect Hermione. I love that Hermione is minister, of course she is. Age has made her more subtle about just how much smarter than everyone else she is. More perfect casting ( and writing) when it comes to Paul Thornley as Ron. Ron hasn't really changed with age and that's ok; Paul is pitch perfect and Ron is always there to give moments of light in times of extreme darkness. I was sad that Rose wasn't more of a feature. I see why but at times this does feel like a boys club and I desperately wanted more of a female stamp on this show.
Delphie. I loved Delphie and Esther Smith's (who is brilliant in so many things) performance in act 1, I think they have some serious character development work to do to make Delphie's progression to her reveal and subsequent actions more serious and grounded. Right now she's a little panto. We don't get a scene of her by herself or her really opening up about what a messed up life she's had in an honest way which would make her more accessible to an audience. I hope they are tinkering and will fix this in the next few weeks because Esther is a great actress but right now the writing doesn't get her to the place she needs to be to give the character the depth required.
Other randoms bits I liked...
The end of Part 1 is such a huge story thing and a stunning image to end on. When Umbridge appeared the entire audience lost their s**t! That final scene of Scorpius slowly realising what reality he has found himself in and the Dementors swooping down was breathtaking and such a great way to leave Part 1.
I love how it ties into the Triwizard Tournament. It was always a big moment with repercussions for everyone in the original series and it's a perfect choice for an anchor for this story.
So much redemption for Slytherin in this show. I love that.
As soon as changing the timeline comes into play you can feel the audience exploding with thoughts about the possibilities. I'm sure I was not alone in going into part 2 wishing for Snape. The scene where Scorpius risks everything and confronts Snape with the truth was one of my favourites, and of course Hermione is still around in that timeline. She is Hermione after all!
Overall I think act 1 is stronger in terms of staging and story, but act 2 is stronger for character and relationship development. Yes it's fan service but there's no way it can be anything else. I hope they fix Delphie to give her enough depth and background to make her a more serious, and legitimate threat/ character. For her to really work we need to empathise with her more.
My one big disappointment was the lack of a more heroic, involved female character. I guess they were locked in by the characters created in the books and I love the Albus/ Harry conflict, but I think they had a huge opportunity here to give little girls another hero to look up to.
Ultimately it really is magical. Being one of the army of twenty somethings who grew up alongside these books; new stories in Harry's world are always going to feel special. I really feel like you have to see it in person to experience it properly because the staging lifts it so high. It has all the light and shade we expect from Potter and then some.
I'm so pleased I got to see this completely unspoiled but sad that no one else I know has seen it yet!
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Post by charliec on Jun 18, 2016 12:38:22 GMT
First double show today! Wonder how does the experience change when watching over two nights vs both parts on the same day. Those of you who have seen it, based on your experience, do you think it'd be better to watch it on the same day or two separate nights? I sort of needed the 24 hours to process what I'd seen in part 1. It's a long time sitting down and the 24 break meant I was ready and fresh for part 2. I expect audiences who see it the same day will be more emotionally involved, engaged and caught up in the story because they don't have time to think too much between the parts.
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Post by charliec on Jun 17, 2016 23:35:43 GMT
hello spoiler thread! I've read all the posts here and will post some thoughts tomorrow once I've had time to gather them. Just quickly though...
I bloody loved train witch and I don't get the dislike of her!
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Post by charliec on Jun 17, 2016 23:34:16 GMT
. For the 2nd and 3rd preview viewers have they put in a fake owl? The owl delivered a letter to the Potter house which was possibly the letter telling them that Albus didn't get to Hogwarts (can't think of any other letter). Harry and Ginny were sitting at/near a table and the letter dropped to the floor. Also CBP1 what was it that you thought wasn't going down as well with your audience as with the first preview? They project an owl flying across the back of the stage, it's a blink and you'll miss it thing.
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Post by charliec on Jun 17, 2016 12:55:55 GMT
When I collected my tickets yesterday I asked about returns. They said they had quite a few for this and next week trickling in.
So today someone I work with went to the box office at lunchtime, wandered straight in and bought 2 front row seats for shows next week! So if you work nearby or are in the area, check in with the box office!
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Post by charliec on Jun 16, 2016 23:18:11 GMT
I'm sure I've seen somewhere today something saying that Javier is doing 7 performances a week and they are casting for a new alternate right now. That's the one! Thanks!
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Post by charliec on Jun 16, 2016 23:04:12 GMT
I'm sure I've seen somewhere today something saying that Javier is doing 7 performances a week and they are casting for a new alternate right now.
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Post by charliec on Jun 16, 2016 22:46:31 GMT
Just back from Part 1 no spoilers obviously.
Was sat in O14 right at the back of the balcony. It's far away from the action but I didn't miss a thing, had to lean up out of my seat for one little bit but otherwise pretty happy with my cheap seat I got 2 weeks ago when they released those few precious new seats. Oh I cold hear everything too!
Really impressed with part 1, it's so so polished. One or two tiny line fluffs but otherwise you wouldn't think it was a preview.
One thing if you are going and buy a programme, the initial cast list is a little spoilery so don't look at it until the interval!
Oh and it was really, very warm by the end of the show up in the balcony so if you are sat there think about what you are planning to wear!
Can't wait for part 2 tomorrow night, not venturing into the spoiler thread until then!
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Post by charliec on Jun 16, 2016 14:37:08 GMT
I saw Javier in October, loved his performance and he is the obvious and best person to replace Lin!
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Post by charliec on Jun 16, 2016 6:26:28 GMT
Anyone else going to part one tonight?
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Post by charliec on Jun 14, 2016 10:54:09 GMT
I've been listening to the cast recording and have really fallen for this, I'm in New York in a few weeks time and very tempted to see this!
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Post by charliec on Jun 13, 2016 7:59:56 GMT
Harry Potter on Thursday and Friday!
...and, um Nashville live in concert on Saturday.
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Post by charliec on Jun 13, 2016 7:58:15 GMT
Wasn't going to stay up and watch because of important work stuffs today but ended up awake at 3am and watched it till the end. I started just before Hamilton performed. Really good show this year, so happy for Cynthia. Thrilled with the Hamilton acting recipients, especially Daveed Diggs!
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Post by charliec on Jun 10, 2016 20:57:26 GMT
Saw on Twitter people saying water started pouring from the stage ceiling at the interval
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Post by charliec on Jun 10, 2016 19:44:29 GMT
This may be a dumb question but I'm going to ask anyway, the under 25 ticket offer online, is this 25 and under or just under? I used it a few months ago when I was still 25 with no problems!
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Post by charliec on Jun 10, 2016 15:38:19 GMT
HERE COMES THE GENERAL!!! RISE UP!! (WHAT?!)
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Post by charliec on Jun 10, 2016 9:03:23 GMT
Presumably this £30 million refurb will put an end to row b stalls at the VP being restricted view and tickets being £19.50 like the good old days of Billy!
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Post by charliec on Jun 10, 2016 9:00:27 GMT
I logged on at 9:30, sat in the queue for a minute, got straight in and booked everything I wanted. Obviously their queuing system isn't the best!
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Post by charliec on Jun 9, 2016 12:23:35 GMT
Saw this last night, packed audience with about half a standing ovation at the end.
I found the show as a whole just a bit disappointing, it ends quite weirdly and I didn't think the women were very well written.
I did enjoy Kunal Nayar's performance, it was nice to see him do something more dramatic and less cartoony than Big Bang Theory.
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Post by charliec on Jun 9, 2016 12:16:40 GMT
feeling fairly confident about being able to stay spoiler free for the next week until the 16th/17th performance.. So excited to see it.
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Post by charliec on Jun 8, 2016 6:08:21 GMT
Supposedly The Victoria Palace from September 2017!
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Post by charliec on Jun 8, 2016 6:07:28 GMT
Thanks for all the lovely spoiler free reports everyone! I cannot wait until next week when I see it!
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Post by charliec on Jun 7, 2016 13:16:21 GMT
lots more tickets for the next few weeks just went online on the Nimax section of the site!
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