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Post by distantcousin on Jan 20, 2024 0:05:40 GMT
I have not seen this production so am not in a position to comment but your stand and have to keep moving it sounds like Here Lies Love at The National a couple of years back. ! 9 years ago!
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 19, 2024 23:18:17 GMT
5 star production of a 2 star show.
Thought the physical production, direction and choreography were outstanding. Incredibly exciting.
But the piece itself? What a load of hokey old rubbish. I zoned out after the first hour. Totally not my kind of musical. It literally had nothing to say
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 19, 2024 8:30:18 GMT
There must be a demand for it. And I bet they're selling like hotcakes! I reckon we've got this experience hanging around for quite some time yet. Someone told me that they only have another 3 years lease on the land and then it's being developed into social housing. Don't know how true that is but I think at the beginning they said it would be here for 5 years and then move on.
I understood that the situation had progressed in that respect, and (I guess due to the runaway success) that the venue had no deadline to work to anymore.
You know what local authorities are like - change planning rules all the time to suit themselves and are generally answerable to no one.
Perhaps Svana, Ludwig and co bunged the council top brass a proverbial "brown envelope"....
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 18, 2024 18:23:31 GMT
Dance Floor tickets now £105!! Gawd I paid £80 for them back in 2021! (prior to the show opening)
Get that coin in, ABBA...
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 18, 2024 9:12:16 GMT
Jessie Buckley was a guest on a recent episode of the Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware podcast, and she talked a few minutes about her experience doing Cabaret. She said it was the hardest thing she’s ever done, and seems like she may have struggled with calibrating herself to be able to perform the role the way she wanted during her run, which speaks to her absences. I would say that had to have informed her decision not to open the show in NY. Did Jessie Ware slate her for not doing 8 shows a week like she did the contestants on the Mamma Mia casting thing? 😂 Camp!
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 16, 2024 10:54:33 GMT
They are good friends still. Even better Fielding put a photo on her twitter later that night of them meeting up for dinner with Peter Davison. This warms my heart. They were my first Doctor Who team/crew
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 12, 2024 9:23:08 GMT
I found this pretty thrilling, in parts anyways. Personally I think the comparisons to Jamie Lloyd's Sunset Blvd a little unfair - a fairer comparison would be with Lloyd's Evita in which case I think Foster wins. Buenos Aires was stunningly done and Dan Partridge's Magaldi is certainly the hunkiest I've ever seen. His voice was as muscular as his body which was a lovely surprise. I loved Art of the Possible and Peron's Latest Flame but was a little cold about You Must Love Me becoming a duet. Don't Cry For Me was unforgettable but Rainbow High was rather wonderful. Rainbow Tour and Rolling was fun as well, so it's not all amazing but I didn't think Sunset was either. I saw the understudy run on Sunday and would've liked to see Martha Kirby but must say Chumisa was great as Eva too. Gary Milner seemed too old and the chemistry between him and Evita didn't quite hit and I thought Tyrone Huntley's Che a little too charismatic and lacking the cynicism that the role requires.
Gary Milner is the right kind of age. There was a significant age gap between Peron and Eva. He was in his 50's by the time he met her. In more recent productions he is often cast younger.
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 11, 2024 8:46:02 GMT
As I said earlier, Petula almost ruined my love for Sunset. The score was also transposed down a lot to "fit" her voice. When you compare that to Patti (who's upper register I don't really "like" - as in find it beautiful - but still find most exhilarating), it was almost ridiculous. Anyway, give me Betty or rather Elaine any time. Goosebumps the whole evening when she was on, and a definitive Norma for me. I wish I could have seen Elaine more times. She was my first, and I've only even seen "unofficial" footage since (apart from those clips on the South Bank Show) But she was electric!
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 10, 2024 20:49:49 GMT
For the 80s Doctor Who fans out there Janet (Tegan) Fielding and Sarah (Nyssa) Sutton at the Old Friends matinee today.
TOGETHER?! How lovely!!!
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 10, 2024 20:48:52 GMT
Jessie Ware at Sunset Boulevard this evening. Admittedly I only recognised her because I’ve been watching the Mamma Mia casting show!
One of my absolute favourite artists! So glad she saw it. Absolute queen!
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 10, 2024 20:47:56 GMT
Andrew Marr in the Stalls bar of The Gielgud for Old Friends last Friday.
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 10, 2024 13:57:32 GMT
My memories of Pet & Bickley was of all the grey being removed from the story; there was no way that this handsome young man would ever fancy an old lady whoever she was, so MUST just have been with her for the money & kudos. No ‘being touched by her folly’, just calculating how to offload her of some bucks. Yes. Pet was in her 60's by this point, and although Graham Bickley was almost 40 (the upper limit of most Joe's) the age difference was very "pronounced" :/
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 10, 2024 13:09:09 GMT
All I can say about Patti is: 1) Immensely talented but often miscast. The only thing worse than her Nellie Lovett or Joanne was her Norma Desmond. But all is forgiven thanks to her wondrous Mama Rose which was a knock-out. 2) Her bitterness and bad taste do her no favours. Her diatribes on ALW and EVITA are remarkably tasteless given that it was the composer and show that gave her a life-changing break. A small ounce of gratitude would go quite far. 3) Patti is correct that the closing version of SUNSET in London was boring. The only Norma worse that her own was Petula's who played the role like a dotty grandma - no tension whatsoever. Thanks for clarifying with your point 3. I'd never thought about this before, but assumed the closing Norma and Joe were "Pet" Clark and Graham Bickley. I booked tickets just after the closure was announced and saw them in it.
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 7, 2024 22:18:34 GMT
Amazing. I wish I’d seen them! I assumed the ripple of applause was for Hannah’s appearance behind the curtain but perhaps more likely for the Brodericks. I also meant to comment on how well behaved the audience were last night - thankfully. Having read musicbox’s post in the Bad Behaviour thread earlier this week I feared the worst, but I don’t think I heard one whispered comment or sweet wrapper opened or anything. A miracle! Hannah Waddingham bloody turned up in this too? Give it a rest love!
Got her sights on the role?!
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 7, 2024 21:45:49 GMT
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 7, 2024 11:37:05 GMT
I would bet that not only does this production have the full backing of the creative team, they are on their knees begging Jamie Lloyd and Nicole S for more. This production is the biggest hit ALW has had in years and actually appeals to the general/youthful public (ALW tried and failed with 'Bad Cindrella', Phantom has closed on Broadway too now). It's making the show, and ALW, relevant again. Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and his creative team do not need to beg on their knees to become relevant again. Apart from the many ALW productions still running around world in 2023 we had concert versions and new productions as well as the announcements of a Sarah Brightman led sunset in Australia and the starlight express opening this year has extended already with strong sales . This board has reported the London Phantom is having another resurgence and full houses. School of rock was a massive broadway and west end success five years back, ALW will continue to run successfully his shows long into the future with or without Mr Lloyd. Yes this sunset may have attracted some new people to ALW show but it was also run for most of the season dynamically pricing seats down and until mid December was the "show of the year" which you could get the best seats less than half price for on the day of the show. It's great so many board members enjoyed the show and supported it seeing it multiple times but trying to make out that Sir ALW desperately needs jl for recognition is a p*ss take even JL wouldn't put in this show.
Where to start with this post....
I'll have to come back to this, but firstly ALW is not a "Sir" and hasn't been for over 25 years.
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 7, 2024 10:26:24 GMT
Glad everyone had a good night, but I honestly cannot BEAR mid show standing ovations. I find them utterly ghastly - like something out of a Britain's Got Talent live audience.
It would have really detracted from my enjoyment, so I'm glad I wasn't there!!
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 6, 2024 14:28:05 GMT
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 6, 2024 14:14:43 GMT
Performances cancelled today and both Martha Kirby and her understudy are indisposed
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 6, 2024 12:55:42 GMT
It’s interesting how you describe it as ‘very discreetly exits’. Isn’t she directed to kind of throw up her arms and walk off the stage in protest? That’s how I saw it. CLOSING TONIGHT! Oh, there was so much to watch, I completely missed her exit! One minute there, next gone!
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 6, 2024 0:45:38 GMT
Anyone in tonight and know if Clare Burt is back? I'm happy to report she was! The only thing I noticed that was different from my October visit was Bernadette not doing the Broadway Baby dancing. She very discreetly exited stage right. The only thing I didn't like about being second to last row of the stalls is that they leave 2 rows of house lights on. Very distracting! I'm Still Here got the biggest reception of the night along with Losing My Mind, Send in the Clowns and Everything's Coming Up Roses.
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 5, 2024 11:20:18 GMT
Trying to get a reduced price ticket for tonight or tomorrow - all the offers seem to have dried up! Plenty at full price though!!!!!! Your best bet is trying to get a rush ticket tomorrow as I don’t think there will be anymore offers for the rest of the week. Or get a £30 in the Grand circle and upgrade for £20/30 once you’re there (if there are better seats available). Thank you. Got a rush ticket - took 10 minutes though - glad I didn't give up!
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 5, 2024 11:13:28 GMT
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 5, 2024 10:08:24 GMT
I wish they would completely reinvent Blood Brothers. A brilliant score and story cheapened by hopelessly dated production design, musical direction and cheap production values. God yes. Fantastic score. But production wise, the descent since the early days at The Albery has been quite depressing. Hopelessly dated and cheap are the right words. (What's more depressing is despite this it seems to remain a money making machine for BKL so there's not much incentive to do something with it). Re-invent it and stick Sheridan in it I say. They'd pay £89.50 for that! I actually have an entire vision of how they should reimagine it!! And Sheridan would fit perfectly into that, come to think of it.
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 5, 2024 9:42:45 GMT
I hope that it is the impetus for others to find other ways of livening up old musicals and giving them a relevant fresh lick of paint (not for twenty copycat prods…Les Mis with no set…Wicked with no flying and no green, recreated on an etch a sketch). It really is the creative blueprint for moving forward both creatively & financially. Remove the expectations & shackles and find a different way to ‘stage’ these things. (No John Doyle/CRH, not you 🤣) I honestly couldn't agree more with this. Also not saying apply the no set/barefoot/white light model to everything - but just do something radically different and creative! Both this and Miss Saigon in Sheffield have made me so excited at the possibility of reinvention of musicals in totally different ways. I've also thought (for the very first time really) that I'd be indifferent to Phantom closing in London as it would give the opportunity to do something totally different with it. It's almost suffocated by it's own success. Anyway - my hunch is Starlight is gonna be radically different to what's gone before, so guess that's the next one..... We'll see how it goes! I wish they would completely reinvent Blood Brothers. A brilliant score and story cheapened by hopelessly dated production design, musical direction and cheap production values.
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 5, 2024 9:40:24 GMT
I have to admit, I was shocked by the difference in how much to mount in London ($2.5 million) as opposed to Broadway ($17 million) If that's accurate, no wonder ALW was saying what he was about the costs on Broadway when Phantom closed Blame the unions! (among other things!)
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 4, 2024 18:25:24 GMT
I love old school audiences that don't over emote like they're watching the Britain's Got Talent final.
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 4, 2024 18:18:11 GMT
Tom is going with this- him and NS only. Will you let Grace and David know they need to cancel their flights?
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 4, 2024 14:19:12 GMT
Wow - that's incredible! Consider my words eaten. Quite a coup - have Broadway Equity ever allowed 3 out of 4 British leads to transfer before? Amazing news; though still wish was extending here instead..... Well, Glenn took 2 British and 1 Swedish lead over with her in 2017....
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 4, 2024 14:17:01 GMT
Trying to get a reduced price ticket for tonight or tomorrow - all the offers seem to have dried up! Plenty at full price though!!!!!! Your best bet is trying to get a rush ticket tomorrow as I don’t think there will be anymore offers for the rest of the week. Or get a £30 in the Grand circle and upgrade for £20/30 once you’re there (if there are better seats available). Today Tix is the only place to get Rush, right? (I missed out the past two days)
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