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Post by danb on Jun 4, 2023 14:44:25 GMT
I assume he'll be the alternate. It would be career suicide to take on another lead role after three years of being Strat. It’s so demanding. Glenn is doing the most sensible thing. He is cover Galileo. Just watching out for his first debut. Why would it be career suicide? Man who successfully sings the lead in a rock musical successfully sings the lead in another rock musical? If he wants to build a profile he needs to keep working. Yes it is demanding but it’s what he does for a living. I suspect he’ll get a couple of shows a week if previous WWRY schedules are anything to go by, and I can’t wait to find out when they will be.
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Post by danb on Jun 4, 2023 10:05:40 GMT
Yes to everything above. It looked great, it sounded great. Banjo did appear to be being ‘robotic’ rather than a traditional tin man. Manford didn’t overdo it too much. I felt like I’d seen the whole show just from watching that performance though. If it has more surprises it’d do well to keep them under wraps to build word of mouth. (I hope the lighting is as good in the theatre. It looked fab.)
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Post by danb on Jun 3, 2023 11:27:54 GMT
Weds: Groundhog Day Fri: Download festival to see Evanescence & BMTH.
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Post by danb on Jun 3, 2023 7:49:03 GMT
I suspect there are more than a few people who have issues with the 'problematic' or 'icky' Aspects of Love, but the murders, rape, teen suicide, sexual assault and violence in Heathers went completely un-noticed. …and yet the main criticism levelled at the movie on release & subsequently the show of ‘Heathers’ was that it didn’t go far enough. That it fumbles the ending with happy-clappy togetherness. It sells itself as a pitch black teen comedy and is only dark grey.
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Post by danb on Jun 2, 2023 9:05:08 GMT
So announced two weeks ago today, still not onsale or any dates confirmed… what’s going on? Seems they’ll lose the initial interest the announcement sparked… I thought exactly the same yesterday. Unless Nicole is the turn on the BGT final this will have been forgotten by the time they get their act together.
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Post by danb on Jun 2, 2023 8:59:58 GMT
Thanks Anthony, you're right and I'd forgotten those lines. For me, that's still what makes it interesting. We only have one word for 'love' in English. As opposed to philos, Eros, patros in Greek (philial love, erotic love, love of country - perhaps there are more). Dividing them in the heat of human feeling can be complex. Isn't there a human condition that can cause people to feel lustful during grief? etc. As for social media, I enjoy First Time music reaction videos, though it becomes hard to believe how many people haven't heard Bohemian Rhapsody.... Putting it on for effect? Then there's the practice of taking the thumbnail at your most shocked moment. It's standard YouTube practice that MickeyJoe does this for his video, and legitimate clickbait practice on a monetised channel. As with music reactions, it's infectious though. Others follow the most click-worthy trend - putting it on. So despite an online world of largely free speech, without a commissioning editor, such reviewers are still controlled by need for clicks and going with the prevailing trend that sells. All this, in my view, has a lot to do with 'Cinderella' & ALW's vote in the House of Lords. As such I wouldn't expect any positive reviews of his work in social media, from younger makers/influencers - ever. His legacy will be the silent one that Les Miserables wouldn't have happened without JCS, and the heavy influence of JCS on Hamilton. But it is akin to saying that ‘Hamilton’ is solely about his affair with Maria Reynolds or that ‘Saturday Night Fever’ is about people throwing themselves off of bridges. If they are so desperate for views how about create something with editorial worth rather than just clickbait headlines?
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Post by danb on Jun 1, 2023 19:17:09 GMT
Yesterday I saw someone on Twitter slamming this for the 'ick' factor, yet passively referencing 'Pretty Woman' apparently positively. Where was the outrage there? Someone else on YouTube had 'never felt so uncomfortable in a Theatre'. Really? I accept all views, and understand those can be about 'poor execution of difficult themes'. But it feels that something else is going on out there. Whether conscious/intentional or not, a substantial percentage of the ‘social media active theatregoing public’ have decided to take against this nearly 40 year old musical (based on a much older piece of literature) for one of its plot points that has not aged at all well. It has become a banner on which to hang the whole show. Pointing out the shoddy scenery or that one of the leads can’t act won’t fill half as many column inches. Folks are highly likely to take against a musical about an age inappropriate relationship against a backdrop of Rolf Harris and Schofield. It is the world we live in. Outrage first! People are free to like and dislike whatever they want, for whatever reason. But they need to at least be honest about it.
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Post by danb on Jun 1, 2023 13:09:25 GMT
I’m not sure why stagebyte should be busting their ass to do anything. They booked a ticket with a clear view and been given one with a whacking great pillar in the way as a result of the Old Vics’ incompetence/disorganisation/lack of care. The ball is in their court to provide a seat of similar quality.
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Post by danb on Jun 1, 2023 13:05:00 GMT
*Oh no, someone is disagreeing with me, the idea of discussion is RUINED* Solid snowflake behaviour tbh Totally! I am a delicate little flower.
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Post by danb on May 31, 2023 15:57:29 GMT
Ok, great! Battered into submission. Discussion board no more. Autocratic dominance only. I get it. I do intend to see it in the next few weeks, and will make sure not to share my opinion of it.
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Post by danb on May 31, 2023 13:06:20 GMT
I guess you’d need to ask somebody going specifically to that performance exactly why they are going.
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Post by danb on May 31, 2023 5:29:11 GMT
It’s so disappointing to see so many squeamish reviews for this. People need to grow up and do some research before they go rather than being faux shocked at the subject matter. Most of the needlessly ‘enlightened’ on-line reviewers have clutched their pearls at this in their reviews. It’s 34 years old ffs! I remember someone posted something similar to my sentiment further up but I'll say it again, I don't think a lot of people dislike the show because they're appalled at the content, I think a lot of people don't like it because they just don't think it's a good show. I'm not offended by the subject matter I just think it's weird, unearned and incompletely explored. It's hard for me to imagine in the abstract how people shooting their lovers and having intergenerational relationships and sure why not a bit of child-love as well could be boring, but my god somehow this show does it. It's completely fair to say that the subject matter felt interesting and engaging and an excellent basis for a show if that's your take, but it's disingenuous to suggest that if your negative reaction is partly based on the frankly bizarre plot then you are somehow at fault. There's a strange GBNews-esque idea that seems to float about online about this show that people who rail against the story are part of the woke-brigade and can be dismissed, but if people are like me they're happy to see something provocative and edgy, as long as it's good. And I didn't find this good, sorry. Also a minor take, but I don't read what most shows or films I see are about, I just go. You sometimes like things you didn't think you would, and vice versa. It's still valid to critique them. Do you have an online review site Andrew? You appear to have interpreted an awful lot of things that just aren’t there in my post? My ‘actual’ comments were in relation to both WEW and Mickey Jo’s reviews where they start by enjoying it, then pull back because of the ‘ick’ factor. It is about what it is about. Reviews don’t exist in a vacuum. They filter a show through the life & opinions of the reviewer. That is why here is such a lovely space.
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Post by danb on May 30, 2023 16:53:36 GMT
…and of course ‘Aladdin’ that is obviously hidden in someones wardrobe or something? I wonder if it has anything to do with Jade Ewans claim against the production or has this been thrown out? Is she even in it or was it an all US cast?
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Post by danb on May 30, 2023 15:54:14 GMT
There always seems to be last minute availability, so whether they are, as you say house seats, or agency allocations being released I do not know. Either way if you pick a day and hang tight I’m sure something suitable will appear. Edit: loads of availability across all price bands tonight.
It’s so disappointing to see so many squeamish reviews for this. People need to grow up and do some research before they go rather than being faux shocked at the subject matter. Most of the needlessly ‘enlightened’ on-line reviewers have clutched their pearls at this in their reviews. It’s 34 years old ffs!
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Post by danb on May 30, 2023 15:07:07 GMT
Is there anything ‘wrist-slashy’, cos that’s my thing and I don’t want to pull a whitey sat on a high stool? I am not the show.
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Post by danb on May 30, 2023 13:20:45 GMT
I see no big J announced as Captain von Trapp?
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Post by danb on May 30, 2023 13:18:13 GMT
What are the atg prices like? I’m not a cardholder so won’t be blessed with the intel til tmrw.
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Post by danb on May 30, 2023 11:38:14 GMT
I'd have thought a week run in most venues would be about right. It might be a night short or two short of the usual Monday or Tuesday start but I'd have been surprises if it did longer than a week in most venues. Exactly. It took a while to take off in London but once word of mouth was out there it found its tribe. I’d expect Tues-Sat runs, possibly with two two midweek mats.
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Post by danb on May 30, 2023 9:59:16 GMT
Are the dates released somewhere?
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Post by danb on May 30, 2023 6:08:24 GMT
Have either of you contacted the theatre about this in advance?
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Post by danb on May 29, 2023 20:28:46 GMT
Bristol Hippodrome also one of the venues. I may move in.
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Post by danb on May 29, 2023 20:19:24 GMT
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Post by danb on May 29, 2023 15:26:20 GMT
However, the bit that muddled me the most was when it got to what I have always thought was the last day that starts with the longer TV report. After that he runs around all day helping people ending up at the banquet. I always assumed that this was one day that he's perfected the timings of over time. The day starts before dawn with Phil waking up (looked online and the event starts at 4am, mad!), sunrise is at 7:25am, then after that he's on the go all the way through to the evening. I'm going to make these times up but it went something like 11, 2, 9, 12 (midday), banquet. I guess the times jumping around mean it's lots of different days and we're just seeing him perfecting each individual moment. I think I would prefer it if it was all just the one day and the time went in order. Where are you getting the times from Dippy? I'm struggling to remember but is the clock at the back on stage for those sections? It seems really heavily implied that the last section is all this one perfect day and that's what makes Rita change her mind about Phil, he proves he is a good man at last and the cycle breaks. I think getting uptight about Phil's hypothetical age is a bit much, I'd advise people who're concerned about this don't look too hard at Doctor Who and The Doctor's various entanglements with people centuries younger than them. …or the ‘rules’ around the amount of regenerations a time lord is allowed. 😬
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Post by danb on May 29, 2023 15:02:36 GMT
It’s not my place to speak on behalf of a black audience, but I’m not seeing much defence of this idea on here, so I am going to comment. If I say anything offensive I really didn’t mean to! As I understand it, this is a black story, which wants to reach a black audience (amongst others). Different cultures have different ways of responding and “behaving” (not meant to mean “good”, or “bad”) when watching a play, and perhaps some people want to experience their own culture on stage, and be allowed to react in ways that are culturally appropriate to them, without some middle aged white bloke (me) telling them to sit still and be quiet every five minutes! Exactly this. As I see it, they are just trying to encourage an audience that otherwise may not attend, to see a piece of theatre that they may find particularly relevant and enjoy/appreciate if they saw it. It is just removing a barrier. The likes of Katie Hopkins et al would argue that it is creating one, but after I’d told her where to go, I would point out that she was free to see any of the other 29 shows but I suspect this would not support her agenda.
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Post by danb on May 29, 2023 10:09:32 GMT
Do we think someone didn’t look at a calendar before choosing the date? Definitely something that I would do. 😳🤦♂️
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Post by danb on May 28, 2023 10:07:26 GMT
I think it just shows the flaw in Golden Buzzers being given out at the time. They should be decided at the judges ‘getting together’ stage…no confetti canons, just the announcement.
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Post by danb on May 28, 2023 9:55:33 GMT
My wife has a blue badge for her crappy arthritic knees (now replaced). The only time we’ve used it for theatre is ‘& Juliet’ at the Shaftesbury. I think the tickets were half price, there were a variety of different locations dotted around the auditorium and the theatre staff were lovely; even popping in to our box at interval to check she was ok. I’m pretty sure I booked them online.
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Post by danb on May 28, 2023 8:35:41 GMT
I have watched a couple of these this weekend. It is set about 5 years before Grease, so, at the inception of the Pink Ladies moniker. It would have worked better without the infrequent songs tbh. Trying to deal with modern issues through the lens of Commie hating 50’s America is very ‘surface level only’ so far. It’s a fun enough watch though.
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Post by danb on May 27, 2023 21:13:36 GMT
Old vic regulars help please Booked to see this Stalls T Row seats Due to staging just had an email to say our seats have been reallocated to dress circle D row 19 and 20 Is this an ‘upgrade’ or worse seats? The original tickets were expensive so don’t really want to move or go if this is the case. Does the dress overhang the stalls? How far is the stage from the dress? Review says there is a pillar at D 18 - am I going to have someone leaning my way to see round it? Quite naughty of them to do this. It’s not like the show hasn’t been there before! Thanks in advance. The reviews on seatplan say that it has a pillar in view. I’d get on the phone sharpish, and kick off! How dare they?
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Post by danb on May 26, 2023 15:29:25 GMT
Michael looks very distinguished, dare I say handsome, with the grey hair and beard. I was going for ‘ruddy’…like he’s just been chasing a scantily clad waitress around a French cafe, or come in from milking the herd.
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