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Post by wickedgrin on Feb 26, 2020 14:37:34 GMT
ES - "it's a pretty godforsaken evening". That made me laugh....I can just see the quote on the marquee.
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Post by wickedgrin on Feb 25, 2020 12:52:48 GMT
Press night is Wednesday 11th March.
Personally I would wait for offers later. A 12 week run in Manchester is a long time for a new show and there are loads of tickets to shift later in the run. The only caveat to this if it gets rave reviews then these tickets will go at full prices and the local press can be very kind!
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Post by wickedgrin on Feb 24, 2020 14:25:44 GMT
Dynamic pricing (downwards) really kicked in for this. Looking at the ATG tickets website stalls tomorrow non premium down to £30 from £65 plus on other nights. Most gallery seats £13 apart from the first couple of rows. Tons of availability later in the run where stalls are £60 - £75. More at weekends up to £95 - the prices are ridiculous out of the West End!
So, if anyone planning a visit in the next few weeks I would hold off until the last minute to book. I am sure I would enjoy it more paying £30 than £95!!
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Post by wickedgrin on Dec 11, 2019 11:49:43 GMT
Thanks for your review. Interesting that from all of the reactions I’ve seen, not many people are mentioning O’Grady. Is it just the same old form him? Yes, he plays the wicked ring master and is lumbered initially with a cod German accent which fortunately he soon abandons for his usual Scouse. I think you would enjoy this show if you had never seen a Palladium panto previously - he's fine but I felt I had seen it all before when he played the wicked step mother in Cinderella.
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Post by wickedgrin on Dec 11, 2019 0:22:16 GMT
Let's clear one thing up straight away - this isn't a pantomime. There is no plot, no "it's behind you", "oh no it isn't", no ghost gags, nothing for the children, no song sheet, which is just as well as there were very few children in the audience on Tuesday afternoon.
It's an adult variety show.
So depending on what view you take depends how you rate it.
Having seen the previous three shows Cinderella, Dick Whittington and Snow White I felt I had seen this show before and the gags are wearing thin. Some non scripted line drops and some clunky transitions - but no doubt these will be cleaned up. The packed house loved it and so why change a winning formula.
It is TRULY spectacular with FABULOUS costumes and a great fixed set (no changes apart from a few cloths flown in) and spectacular lighting and pyro effects.
Great circus speciality acts too - although the motor bikes in the dome of speed/death was too nerve shredding for me to be included.
The cast give their usual schtick. Julian wearing ever more outrageous costumes and delivering even more outrageous gags! Paul Zerdin is clever but we've seen it all before and I felt very sorry for Nigel Havers, Janine Duvitski and Lauren Stroud as Daddy, Mummy and Baby Bear respectively in huge fur outfits throughout - unrecognisable until they spoke. Poor Sophie Isaacs as Goldilocks has very little to do apart from be a magicians assistant but has a terrific voice in her one number in the second act. In fact the female cast are very poorly served in this production.
The stars of the show for me were the wonderful Gary Wilmot - lovely and warm as the Dame with a terrific musical theatre song in the second act although not topping his London Underground song a couple of years ago. The surprise for me was a wonderful performance from Matt Baker - who genuinely looked thrilled to be there with some amazing circus skills - uni-cycling, juggling, back flipping and a high wire walk (he would make a terrific Barnum) with a real winning personality.
It ran 2 hours 35 minutes including a 20 minute interval.
4 stars as a spectacular Christmas variety extravaganza, 2 stars as a pantomime.
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Post by wickedgrin on Nov 20, 2019 13:35:40 GMT
Ore Oduba has tweeted that he is re-joining the cast from Monday 6th January in London. The show is only booked until the Saturday 11th. I do feel very sorry for the talented Andy Coxon who will be kicked out of the WE run in its final week. How shabbily producers treat their actors. Is Ore Oduba really going to sell that many more tickets for a week?
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Post by wickedgrin on Nov 15, 2019 11:17:27 GMT
Great video above - thanks Jon for posting. The house in the original production was fabulous only equalled by Norma Desmond's house in Sunset Boulevard at the Adelphi. The fold out house looks effective especially for a tour but at WE prices? Haven't seen this yet, but I will. Surprisingly (apart from weekends) there is LOTS of availability on the Delfont Mackintosh website. Perhaps it's a quiet time in the WE before the Christmas holidays and this show will appeal to families during school holidays. But for a show that has just opened I am surprised it is not more heavily booked. I enjoyed this in it's original incarnation at this theatre although I didn't think it was "practically perfect" in every way. Too long and some clunky transitions between big set pieces and the new and old material. Quite frankly I am surprised to see this revived as I seem to remember the original show did not have the long run that was expected of it, although it did play 3 years in London, but went on to play 6 years on Broadway. But Cam Mack has not produced anything original for years and seems content to keep flogging Les Mis, Phantom and the family stuff to death. Oliver will be next...….
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Post by wickedgrin on Nov 7, 2019 10:42:00 GMT
Can we also spare a moment for the cast of DOAS.. how awful for them too , to be on stage and this commotion happens in the house. Apparently Wendell Pierce came out into the auditorium to reassure and check people were OK. Clearly a great thing to do.
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Post by wickedgrin on Nov 7, 2019 10:17:43 GMT
I had a hugely enjoyable time at the Shaftesbury Theatre last night. I can only concur with previous posters who have liked this - thanks for the recommendations as it is a show that I normally would not have considered "my thing", being essentially a juke box musical.
Visually spectacular with great sets, costumes, lighting, sound and special effects with a truly talented cast of musical theatre performers who all looked to be having a blast up there. Miriam-Teak Lee was sensational as Juliet and deserves to be a star.
I enjoyed the witty book and the way the songs were integrated into the story eliciting giggles and laughter as the opening bars of the song was played to illustrate the situation. Some funny lyric changes too to fit the "plot" which is full of feminine empowerment and us poor guys get a drubbing much to the delight of the female audience. I did think the first act was stronger than the second though as the show dipped after the interval and the show seemed to have nowhere to go.
Who knows why shows are hits or misses but this show deserves to be a hit. Spectacular, brilliantly performed and sung, funny and with a very "on trend" message about the role of women in relationships.
A great Christmas theatre treat especially if panto isn't your thing.
A genuine standing ovation from 90% of the theatre which appeared to be full, although a lot of people on deals I think like me.
5 wickedgrin stars for the show but only 2 stars for the audience behaviour - this show will attract the worst kind of behaviour unfortunately - so be warned. Last night amidst the usual eating, talking and numerous trips to the loo during the show, a lady in front of me and to my left applied her make up, in the dark, during act two with a mirror compact which swivelled (magnified one side, normal the other) - the stage lights bouncing off it. It must have looked like some sort of morse code signal from the stage!!
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Post by wickedgrin on Nov 3, 2019 9:24:07 GMT
On the strength of the great early reviews on here (theatreboard folk never let me down), I have booked for next week! Today Tix have some £25 and £35 pound seats currently for next Tues, Wed and Thurs (blue highlighted best value tickets) and got row C of the Dress Circle for £35 instead of £75.
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Post by wickedgrin on Oct 5, 2019 15:26:20 GMT
It will be interesting to see what the reviews are like for this. Press night is Tuesday I think. Not a must see and only at a discount in my view.
I enjoyed it for what it was - very light and frothy but can completely understand people not liking it at all.
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Post by wickedgrin on Sept 28, 2019 23:45:19 GMT
I'm considering getting day seats but the stage was reportedly very high for starry messenger. Is the Man in the WS staged on a revolve? No revolve and the stage did not look to be built up at all.
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Post by wickedgrin on Sept 28, 2019 11:13:06 GMT
It's a superb play this, written by Pam Gems but with the lead actress singing all Piaf's famous songs. It is a tour de force for the lead actress. I saw the original production with Jane Lapotaire and subsequently with Elaine Paige, and Elena Roger at the Donmar. A favourite piece for me really. It's a gritty play though and pulls no punches with language, sex and drug taking.
Tempted to take a trip to Nottingham.
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Post by wickedgrin on Sept 28, 2019 10:46:36 GMT
Attended the first preview of this last night thanks to a Today Tix rush - £20 for row D in the Dress Circle! Excellent seat!
For a first preview with a very technical show it went almost without a hitch. The set is the star of the show being very inventive and holding many surprises. Superbly designed. Great costumes too.
This is really a farce (if you like farce you will love it - if you don't you won't - I do and I did) accompanied by an onstage skiffle band for various musical interludes - enjoyable but superfluous.
Stephen Mangan is very good in the lead - a very energetic performance - on stage virtually throughout, although he starts off a little manic which doesn't leave him anywhere to go. Kara Tointon is very good and it is a pleasure to see Sue Johnston on stage although a little wasted in her role.
An enjoyable evening which finished around 9.40 - so a running time including interval of about 2 hours - so it did not overstay its welcome. Light and frothy - very much in the style of The Ladykillers and One Man Two Guvnors! 4 wickedgrin stars.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jun 10, 2019 9:53:59 GMT
Good grief, people are allowed to tweet what they like, but also to ask a perfectly reasonable question about why a certain tweet was posted at a certain time! Things like that are often done for a reason. This thread is becoming almost as bad as the Wicked one for people being jumped on for having an opinion about the show that isn't all sunshine and rainbows, and frankly that's getting really irritating! This is why I don't use social media which in most cases is anything but "social". Regarding this show, I have said nothing negative other than I didn't enjoy it and felt I wasn't the target market. I have enjoyed posting my thoughts on here (both positive and negative) after nearly 60 years of theatre going and seeing 1000's of shows over the years, but I will be posting on here less from now on I'm afraid.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jun 10, 2019 9:19:12 GMT
Yes, I was there too! A FABULOUS concert! Certainly his last tour I think. He said he would not be in Hove again, and after his world tour wanted to spend more time with his boys.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jun 10, 2019 4:47:13 GMT
Is this utterly disgusting behaviour increasing or is it just being reported more?
It sadly demonstrates exactly why we need equality education in our schools.
I trust the perpetrators of these crimes are caught and the harshest punishment possible received. Our society must give out the strongest signal that this vile behaviour will not be tolerated.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jun 9, 2019 22:54:17 GMT
Why did David Hunter feel the need to tweet the 5&4 star reviews?
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Post by wickedgrin on Jun 9, 2019 22:50:15 GMT
This isn’t exactly setting the box office alight. After Man of La Mancha too! This is really a barn of a theatre for musicals even for a limited run. Hopefully Hairspray with Michael Ball next year will have more success.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jun 9, 2019 8:19:42 GMT
He didn’t like it then? If the review is fair it sounds horrific!
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Post by wickedgrin on Jun 8, 2019 11:37:00 GMT
I wonder if they will do anything special today to honour Simon's knighthood Fellow actors and crew will take great delight in calling him Sir Simon and throwing their jackets on the floor for him to walk on!
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Post by wickedgrin on Jun 8, 2019 11:25:41 GMT
Bit of a question for the forum: is it some kind of "cashing in" or something to display a pride flag even if you are not gay? Last year, I did put one on my website for "London Pride," just because I felt strongly and wanted to show support. Then I read something about the gay community feeling "appropriated" by people and businesses who did that. That's now got me slightly confused as to whether to do so this year. I want to, but don't want to offend anyone. Thoughts welcome. Here is my view. If you are just showing support with no intentional commercial gain that is absolutely fine and the gay community needs that support, I am afraid, more than ever at the moment with some very worrying things happening around Birmingham schools and attacks on gay people - most recently on a bus in London. However, where is it absolutely not appropriate is when straight businesses who do nothing for the LGBTQ community throughout the year suddenly fly rainbow flags outside their businesses for Pride. In Brighton, Pride is a massive event and it really annoying when VERY straight bars who owned by huge breweries who do nothing for gay people fly rainbow flags outside their bars for Pride - cashing in on the day (suddenly becoming gay friendly) when they put nothing back into the community.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jun 8, 2019 8:11:53 GMT
Well, it seems to be selling well according to the Nimax website. Presumably for John Malkovich.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jun 8, 2019 7:57:18 GMT
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Post by wickedgrin on Jun 7, 2019 16:08:36 GMT
You either got it or you ain’t!
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Post by wickedgrin on Jun 7, 2019 11:07:48 GMT
My turn tonight - I've never seen the show before, and don't actually know the plot. So I'm looking forward to going in blind after all the positive comments! I’m envious that you do not know the play. To see this production without prior knowledge will be awesome. If if you have tears prepare to shed them now. Enjoy and don’t forget to come back here with your thoughts.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jun 6, 2019 22:40:08 GMT
Let's hope it's the entire cast!
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Post by wickedgrin on Jun 6, 2019 16:21:43 GMT
I wonder what professional actors who are struggling to get regular work think when this happens? a) Oh great, another tv personality who is already getting lots of work and doing very nicely is now muscling in on theatre jobs. b) Hey welcome Ore, there’s room for everyone and no it doesn’t matter that you’re completely untrained, you’ll pick it up just fine! While personally I completely agree with this, the stone cold reality of commercial theatre is that without name recognition tickets to theatre are hard to shift. When I ask friends (yes I have friends!) if they want to see a particular show, the first question they ask is “who’s in it?” and if they don’t know them “off the telly” they simply don’t want to go. So, perhaps without the stunt cast person perhaps the show may not happen and consequently the other jobs of cast and crew would not exist. With regard to Ore I suspect the very well paid TV presenting jobs have simply not materialised as expected after his Strictly win and like other performers after their recording career failed to take off after X Factor, have turned to musical theatre for employment.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jun 6, 2019 10:48:21 GMT
Yes, love “perceived” running times.
To balance it out though, Death of a Salesman at the Young Vic recently made an actual running time of 3 hours seem like 30 minutes!!
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Post by wickedgrin on Jun 5, 2019 9:52:30 GMT
I caught this earlier in the tour and thought it was dreadful. It reminded me of am dram at the village hall from the script to the set to the acting. I didn't comment at the time as my new year resolution was that if you had nothing good to say it was best to say nothing at all!
Work must be difficult to come by in the acting profession as even those "off the telly" have to tour in this for weeks on end. But the rent has to be paid!
But on a positive note the theatre was packed when I saw it, not always the case these days!
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