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Post by danielwhit on Jul 18, 2016 23:14:20 GMT
Regardless Matthew Warchus has staked his reputation on both Groundhog Day and the Master Builder both transferring to Broadway, now both seem very unlikely, the problem when you set the bar too high, you are a sitting duck to get shot down. Under Matthew Warchus tenure the business model for the Old Vic has changed, with shorter runs with a big name, this creates demand so ticket prices sometime have been sky high, the production costs must also reflect this, but some shows haven't set the box office on fire, notable Future Conditional, The Hairy Ape and The Caretaker. Groundhog Day will sell out its entire run, which isn't surprising as it is so short, but I fear this production in its current state has bled a tonne of money, so needs to transfer, to either to the West End or Broadway to stand a chance of making some money back. Tim Minchin is a massive draw and if it does get good reviews, then that could be its impetus and I hope that this will happen. I think with the Broadway production being in danger, a West End transfer is very likely. Yeah - if Broadway is unlikely immediately, a West End transfer with the view to build up momentum for the project is probably a good starting point. It'll definitely have a life after this run, so long as word of mouth is decent and the reviews are solid.
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Post by danielwhit on Jul 18, 2016 14:32:06 GMT
That said - the Old Vic is not actually that big a stage is it? It certainly never struck me as being any bigger than a lot of West End houses.
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Post by danielwhit on Jul 15, 2016 21:42:37 GMT
Sssssssoooooooooooooooooooooo Just spoke to box office. If u want a later date then they will only give u seats amounting to what u paid for the preview. As non preview tickets start from £12 and half the preview audience paid £10 if u decide to change your date then u end up owing them money! Classy! Said its '2hrs 30' running time. Said almost everyone has decided to come tonight coz (and I quote) 'it's free' and not because u basically have to pay more to come another night. I asked if I could have my seats moved tonight if there where any spare somewhere better but was told no. Gonna ask again with my biggest smile to the box office this evening! That's a very different experience to mine - both times I've had early previews booked and then cancelled at the Old Vic this year (including tonight) they've phoned up offering to transfer tickets to a later performance at no extra charge. No fuss, no arguments, just a very organised and attentive box office. I've changed my £10 tickets to £67.50 tickets later in the run at no extra charge.
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Post by danielwhit on Jul 14, 2016 17:06:19 GMT
OK. I've just had a phone call offering either a refund and seeing it tomorrow or an exchange to see it at a later stage.
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Post by danielwhit on Jul 14, 2016 16:52:57 GMT
It was a "cold flame" though, danielwhit. Guess you were not of the generation where teachers made you stick your hand in the Bunsen burner while it was yellow flames LOL. I wasn't, mind I worked in a school science department for a year not all that long ago! But surely in this generation of Health & Safety in the workplace they wouldn't be allowed to risk actors heading through fire every night on stage (the fire definitely subsided when actors were going through it!).
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Post by danielwhit on Jul 14, 2016 15:32:40 GMT
Supposed to be there tomorrow evening too. I'm assuming changing from 'preview' to 'rehearsal' means it's gonna be stopped and starting? I suspect it more means they don't know if they will have to stop/start or if they'll even be able to complete the performance. They obviously won't intend on stopping if possible! However, until we get official confirmation from the theatre this is all based off of one (admittedly usually accurate) tweeter, so we'll have to keep an ear out for what's going on.
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Post by danielwhit on Jul 14, 2016 14:27:16 GMT
I have received several marketing emails from the Old Vic which are completely blank when I open them. I remember someone else posting here that the same thing happened to them too. I expect this means that they are at the forefront of internet technology and so lesser mortals like me are no longer equipped to communicate with them. Strangely - marketing emails get through to me fine, it's the order confirmation and alteration ones which never seem to be able to send.. The problem with me is obviously at their Box Office, in some fashion or another. I'm not sure what's going on with your one. In any case, if anyone gets official word about tomorrow, let me know on here please
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Post by danielwhit on Jul 14, 2016 14:09:33 GMT
If it was done over eBay or similar, there's probably going to be some form of buyer protection layer you can invoke. If it was someone you know done in person, you'll have to hope they pass on the money to you. But yes, I don't think the Old Vic would have any responsibility to get the money back to you rather than the original purchaser.
My slight concern is the Old Vic seem to be persistently unable to email me, I've missed various emails from them (I use bog standard Gmail) over the last year or so. They always tend to make a call to me, so I'll have to wait for them to get around to doing that (presuming this is true).
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Post by danielwhit on Jul 14, 2016 13:30:11 GMT
Ooh - interesting. I've got tickets for tomorrow so I'll very happily go along for free!
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Post by danielwhit on Jul 14, 2016 10:59:23 GMT
On another topic, do we think there is a small slide behind the fireplace, so that everyone using flue powder comes on at the same angle? Absolutely definitely - I would go so far as to suggest there is some kind of laser (or otherwise) sensor so the fire is appropriately cut before the person reaches it, then resumed by a pressure sensor being deactivated when they walk off. Strikes me as far too much of a potentially dangerous thing for them to not have deployed technology to prevent burns.
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Post by danielwhit on Jul 13, 2016 22:12:29 GMT
I went to see the play last Saturday and there was one joke near the end of part 2 that I didn't get. When the adult characters travel to Godric's Hollow to go back in time to meet Albus and Scorpius, they start talking about how the village has become very popular with muggles and tourists. Draco then looks into the distance and says "Is that a farmers' market?!" Cue HUGE laughter and applause. Probably the biggest audience laugh of the whole play. But I didn't get the joke at all and neither did my brother who I was with. Can anyone explain? It has been bugging me massively! Got to admit that made me wonder as well. There's certainly not a big in joke within "Potterverse" about farmers' markets.. I can only presume it's such a clash of worlds that it causes such a laugh (the idea that this fabled wizarding village has a muggle market it in). Possibly also at that stage the audience want something to laugh at as the tone has got darker, so people latch on to anything vaguely amusing. I'd happily hear better opinions than mine though!
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Post by danielwhit on Jul 13, 2016 22:09:12 GMT
I've heard complains of the theatre being too hot. Is that true? A jacket is a no go? Agree with moony93, the back of the stalls did get warm. I guess it seems to depend on where you are!
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Post by danielwhit on Jul 11, 2016 19:41:44 GMT
Speaking of exiting, anyone got any idea why the stalls didn't clear after the final act? Was stuck until finally some sensible FOH did the correct thing and opened the side fire exit. Nope, sorry - helpfully I was in the side of row S so I was out of there after about 30 seconds.
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Post by danielwhit on Jul 11, 2016 15:44:06 GMT
It was the way he vanished behind the curtain leading to the loos and bar that really creased me up. Could have been worse - at least he didn't have to ask an usher for the way out. Have to say I really liked the character of Scorpius, the fact he doesn't fit the Malfoy or Slytherin stereotype felt refreshing and also Draco was redeemed as a character, I'm not convinced he and Harry could be friends but I think they have a mutual respect for one another. Albus was a bit harder to like but I could understand his plight, being Harry Potter's son and not living up to expectations is something I think a lot of people can relate to. Yeah, I'd agree with that. I think it's a shame we didn't see any of James or Lily's school life, to have the comparison between their (presumably successful) schooling career and Albus' broken one.
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Post by danielwhit on Jul 11, 2016 15:28:35 GMT
How many of us were there yesterday in the end..?
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Post by danielwhit on Jul 11, 2016 15:27:12 GMT
And that elaborate stair thing at the front of the stage, only used the once. Eugh. I reckon they ran out of rehearsal time and just blocked it as best they could, there. Ha, I doubt that - unless those stairs were meant to be used for something else which was dumped and someone said "we've got the stairs, we need to use them". "Oh it's fine, we'll send Voldy down there, give the kids something to giggle at" - which is basically what happens now.
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Post by danielwhit on Jul 11, 2016 15:25:18 GMT
So if you're saying Rose is underdeveloped as a character, I agree. I'd say that's the case with a lot of the female characters, sadly - it's partly why Delphi seems so OTT in Part 2, why Ginny has nothing to do except continually stand up for her family, and Hermione really only comes to life in her resistance fighter guise (IMHO). Hmm - I'm not, so much, saying she's underdeveloped (heck, her brother isn't even there), however the story isn't about her. She becomes very tangential as soon as we get into Hogwarts, as she's in the wrong house for the action to take place. I don't have a problem with the character, I just don't think we see enough to be able to make a realistic judgement over how she is seen by her peers (but that is fine, we aren't meant to be focusing on it). I do agree that Ginny and Hermione never really take off as characters. Ginny is sturdy and unchanging whilst Hermione isn't ever really pushed to the fore, but you could say the same about Ron who is mostly there for comic relief (some things never change).
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Post by danielwhit on Jul 11, 2016 15:20:37 GMT
Anyone else think, as HWMNBN made his final exit, "oooh, bet he's just gone for a slash?" I nearly said it out loud. Needs deleting IMHO. I wasn't much convinced by the idea of him walking through the audience. I get it, so everyone can face out while we hear the next scene - but it strikes a bit too much along the line of the pantomime villain for my liking.
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Post by danielwhit on Jul 11, 2016 13:17:39 GMT
The easy escape to this is Draco was at Hogwarts when she would have been showing. I know he went back for his final year, however don't remember whether he went home for Christmas or not (or even if this is mentioned in Deathly Hallows). If the child was born in late February, say Bellatrix would have only been 3 months by the time he went to school - plausible enough she hadn't told anyone by that stage. It's plausible the timeline is slightly later, so she was less than 3 months over the holidays.
Who else saw her during that time I don't know - however it's probably fair to say if Voldemort knew she was carrying his heir, he'd have kept her under tight security. That presumably includes people deployed specifically to keep her safe (a secret keeper does not seem unimaginable for this).
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Post by danielwhit on Jul 11, 2016 9:27:30 GMT
So - I can finally step back into this thread! Saw both parts yesterday and am still generally processing a lot of it. I even ended up doing some digging last night to see if there is a reasonable timeframe for Bellatrix to fall preggers and have the sprog before the Gringotts break in and the Battle of Hogwarts (there is, if she was pregnant by Dumbledore's death). Anyway - the plays. I felt they fit in well to the original books. Hinging it all on the Triwizard Tournament made a great deal of sense, it was a turning point in the books. I felt as if the first hour was predominantly there to coax the audience in and believe this is an extension to the original plot, once that's done the plot can really take off. I was pleased by the constant references back and how intrinsically the story wraps around the original books, as well as taking off on its own direction. During the first half of the second part, I did start to wonder whether Delphi was actually a remarkably young looking Bellatrix, owing to the fact her name is mentioned in the programme but very few other characters were. I guess I was half right! I didn't have any problems with Esther's portrayal, the script deliberately hides the fact she's the baddie until the reveal - and I don't think we are meant to work it out before. Scorpius' reaction to her before strikes more of jealousy at her attention towards Albus than a genuine distrust of her (until the owlery scene). Actually, for anyone who was at the first pair of previews - was there a flying owl in that scene as well, or just for the letter moment in the first part? I share some thoughts of others towards the ending - Hagrid taking Harry away from Godric's Hollow is a nice touch, but I think somehow messed up by the casual slinging over the shoulder as he turns. I know he's literally "plucked from the flames", but it's somehow easier to accept that than the baby simply becoming a blanket. It's one of the very few moments which feels as if it is there for a laugh or a stage reaction where it needn't be. I'm glad we saw the two boys getting on again afterwards, I almost wanted to see Draco/Harry have some interaction at the end, but ending on a Harry/Albus scene was the only sensible conclusion. Yes, in that sense you're absolutely right, Baemax. Sorry, my fault for not making myself clear. I meant from the point of view that though Hermione could be a know-it-all at Hogwarts, she did seem to have at least some awareness that her peers didn't really like smart kids, which gave her some vulnerability and that made her likeable. Without that slight self-consciousness, Rose is harder to like. That said - we see very little of Rose in school except for when interacting with Albus and Scorpius, so we don't really have much of a sense as to how likeable she is among her peers do we? Mind you, she is the daughter of the Minister for Magic, so she's bound to have a few people giving her a wide berth.
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Post by danielwhit on Jul 10, 2016 21:02:25 GMT
Have they installed a new curtain tonight or has that always been there? YES! I thought that. There was definitely no curtain when I went at the end of June and went again tonight and there was one down. Love the design on it. Is it actually a printed design? I thought it was black with projection..
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Post by danielwhit on Jul 10, 2016 18:46:10 GMT
Three quarters of the way through today's performance - plenty of twists and turns, I can definitely understand this plot would never work in a standard two act format.
Mind, at one point in the first half I did think that the plot belonged more in Doctor Who than Harry Potter..
I share the thoughts other have mentioned over the last month that it's a shame we don't have a complete cast list by characters - however there would definitely be a few spoilers if that were the case.
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Post by danielwhit on Jul 1, 2016 19:32:19 GMT
The only time I've known it happen was a matinee at Spring Awakening.
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Post by danielwhit on Jun 21, 2016 7:16:16 GMT
I've had that problem a few times over the last few weeks. I've wondered if it's my computer or whether the website is using its own cached record for the date selection (which is slightly out of date) and then updating to the 'live' data for seat selection).
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Post by danielwhit on Jun 12, 2016 20:10:21 GMT
It's rare but does make good sense to do. Priscilla, I think, shut down for over two weeks once?
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Post by danielwhit on Jun 8, 2016 12:29:56 GMT
I feel the correct response to this thread is: "There's a SpongeBob musical?"
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Post by danielwhit on Jun 8, 2016 12:26:39 GMT
I've been wondering what's been happening too. People, Places and Things certainly deserved to get a broadcast with the transfer.
Hopefully this isn't the beginning of the end for the concept - so far as I could tell it was going from strength to strength.
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Post by danielwhit on Jun 7, 2016 23:18:18 GMT
Most new shows can't afford the luxury of private previews and the enhanced rehearsal period that goes with it. The Potter brand meant that they could do that, safe in the knowledge that they would get the money back. Yes, let's face it - this show could spend a ton on anything and recoup instantly. Heck, I'm certain it already has (if not, they must have spent even more than a ton, considering the first year is a virtual sell out). I wonder when we'll get Broadway confirmed.. immediately after press night would be a good guess (July 31st, for characterful reasons).
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Post by danielwhit on Jun 7, 2016 23:16:06 GMT
I will get back along to the Criterion soon.. probably by the end of the month at a guess. Slight business of a holiday in the middle.
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Post by danielwhit on Jun 7, 2016 23:14:22 GMT
Everyone seems to be gushing about how amazing it is.. Is it first-preview-itis? Or maybe it really is that good.. I cannot wait! At an approximate guess - a bit of both. When are you seeing it?
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