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Post by CBP1 on Jun 12, 2016 14:42:15 GMT
Do they use the main theme music from the film in the play? Nope. This seems to be a totally separate endeavour. They don't appear to have the rights to any of the film intellectual property, judging by the merchandise (as well as certain things that happen on stage).
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Post by CBP1 on Jun 12, 2016 14:40:32 GMT
I must have been right behind you as I was in F9! Ooh guess I'll see you on Tuesday then!
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Post by CBP1 on Jun 12, 2016 11:12:03 GMT
So could you go and see this with very limited knowledge of the books/films? I don't think so. It's very much a homage to the original stories/characters. The programme has a timeline of the books so you might not be completely confused but I think a lot of the detail would go over your head.
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Post by CBP1 on Jun 11, 2016 23:22:20 GMT
Just got in from Part 1.
I agree with a lot of what people have sai already. It's all done very well. Both cast and technical stuff are excellent. It's also running pretty smoothly. I'd change one or two little things but people in the spoiler thread seem to really like one element that I thought didn't go down so well with tonight's audience so will be interesting to see what others think.
On that note I feel like the spoiler thread needs to be in two parts! I've read some stuff there but had to stop to avoid seeing part 2 spoilers, so can't post thoughts.
Seatswise, we have E10 and E11 which are great. Nelly - I didn't try out your seat but from where I was sitting it looked like the back of the stalls would be ok. I don't think the overhang will affect too much.
I think some people have already said this but I would not want to read the script before watching the show. It's very much designed to be seen. The ending of Part 1 in particular was epic and I can't see it coming across the same in writing.
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Post by CBP1 on Jun 10, 2016 13:55:42 GMT
How similarly does the Friday Forty operate to, say, schemes like the NT's Friday Rush or the Donmar's Barclays Front Row? Is it one of those where it's worth hanging on for another half hour in case things fall or are dropped from the baskets of the people who get through first, or is it its own beast? The best option seems to be to hold on until it tells you all tickets are sold. It seems to have built in the potential for tickets being dropped from baskets. You stay in the queue until everyone has paid I think.
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Post by CBP1 on Jun 10, 2016 13:54:30 GMT
Announced on the BBC News website's Entertainment page of all places. Baz Bamigboye has also covered it (and is unrepentant even though people have expressed disappointment in him) and it's turned up on my Twitter feed a couple of times too. So the info is very very available. It doesn't seem to be at all plot-based - I think a real-term equivalent might be if your office did away with pigeon-holes because emails are easier, and there's now a gap at one side of the room that newcomers will never know once held pigeon-holes but oldtimers may or may not feel a twinge of nostalgia about, and the business carries on basically unaffected by the change. Perfect analogy! I don't think this one is a spoiler (not least because it's something that has now ceased to be a part of the play) I'm also not disappointed I missed the first preview as I was concerned when this particular element was previously mentioned. 10 points to previews.
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Post by CBP1 on Jun 9, 2016 18:11:11 GMT
Has anyone been tempted to go to the bar in the theatre and ask for "a glass of technical difficulties"? I was so tempted last night, but I bottled out. No but I am now!
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Post by CBP1 on Jun 9, 2016 18:00:30 GMT
This is fast turning into the new Bend it Like Beckham thread. Great entertainment.
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Post by CBP1 on Jun 8, 2016 16:48:16 GMT
I should add that my last post was predominantly written by my cynical side.
I also bought the books at midnight and read them the same day to avoid spoilers. I will throttle anyone who tells me what happens before Saturday!
Likewise, the commercial lawyer in me appreciated the Harry Potter world in Orlando as a fabulous money-spinner. The rest of me thought it was magical.
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Post by CBP1 on Jun 8, 2016 15:10:21 GMT
Agree with all Baemax's thoughts.
I'd also guess that part of the reason for the extra long preview period is to try and promote the #keepthesecrets idea for as long as possible. While there's a press embargo they can try and shroud it in secrecy, whilst keeping up a healthy social media buzz.
Think back to the days of the HP books when you had to try and read it as fast as possible to avoid spoilers. Clearly that's much harder with the advent of Twitter etc, but they seem to have turned this around to their advantage. Fans are happy that they don't gets spoilers and the producers/JK get lots of media attention without any focus on the actual content of the play. Just calling something secret automatically ramps up the excitement. Which makes for a great atmosphere before the play even starts (and potentially allows the audience to overlook any shortcomings because they've already been swept up in the magic).
And you can rely on the hardcore Potter fans to shut down anyone (including the press) who tries to defy JK herself and spoil it for others. It may still be hard for the critics to go to town on it once it opens, especially if nothing has leaked throughout previews. Reviews will have to be pretty generic or risk the wrath of fans. Which is fine for a glowing review. But if reviews are negative, they'll struggle to back up what they're saying without being accused of spoiling something for the army of fans who are waiting patiently to see it.
I've just talked myself into concluding that it's a brilliant marketing ploy.
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Post by CBP1 on Jun 8, 2016 8:45:25 GMT
The extra tickets released for July are still not going in my basket. Same problem as some others here, there's no option to choose the number of tickets. This seems to be a glitch with some of the times on sale. When I looked the other day there were some dates where I couldn't choose the number of tickets (it said there were between 0 and 1 available). And those dates were consistently unavailable to put in the basket. Other dates would show and allow me to chose the number of tickets immediately. Sometimes someone else would beat me to putting them in their basket but they would tend to pop back up again. And then eventually even better seats appeared and I felt a lot better about spending so much of my day pressing refresh! So if you're having this issue, I'd suggest trying some other dates as you might find that they work. And just keep trying in case more tickets appear. I am confused about when tickets become available on the waitlist though. I've only had one email about that (a few weeks ago). If it weren't for the tips from lovely people on here I would still not have tickets.
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Post by CBP1 on Jun 6, 2016 15:14:00 GMT
May I suggest that feedback that is basically "I sat here and it was fine" or "I sat here and there were a few scenes where that was a problem" don't count as spoilers as long as they refer to general visibility and not specifically what is on the stage? And therefore talking about your seat and your view isn't going to contravene anyone's polite requests to keep the secrets? This sounds eminently sensible to me! I will try to report back on stalls seating on Saturday. Theatremonkey also appears to have plans to update for the current production.
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Post by CBP1 on Jun 6, 2016 15:00:57 GMT
Keep trying! I just got row E in the stalls for Saturday/Tuesday next week. I took the plunge. I was looking for a pair which made it harder. I'm booked in for the 28th/29th June. Row V right at the end of the row in the stalls. Hopefully the seats won't be that awful, worried about them but oh well! SOMEONE TELL ME I'VE MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE!!! Where's TheatreMonkey when you need him?!.... I'd imagine they're probably fine for the most part but I'd guess it depends on how much stuff is going to happen high up on the stage*. That was the dilemma I had. I'd have probably taken them but my wife is much more of a Potter fan and a bigger seat snob than me, so I don't want to be in trouble if I pick the wrong seats. *The obvious thing that springs to mind is the possibility of some flying e.g. a Quidditch scene (to rival Aladdin's carpet!) N.B. This is wild speculation. I know absolutely nothing about what happens on that stage. On which note, add me to the list of people who favour a spoiler thread!!
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Post by CBP1 on Jun 6, 2016 13:55:57 GMT
I am holding out for less restricted seats so suspect I'll be on Friday Forty from now to eternity. I feel you! I'm a bit of a seat snob but feel I might have to relax my snobbery slightly for any chance of seeing this! Keep trying! I just got row E in the stalls for Saturday/Tuesday next week.
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Post by CBP1 on Jun 6, 2016 13:34:03 GMT
If anyone wants restricted view stalls, there are a few knocking about for (I think) 28 and 29 June. They keep disappearing and reappearing on the booking website.
Likewise, there are a few random balcony seats over the next few weeks.
I am holding out for less restricted seats so suspect I'll be on Friday Forty from now to eternity.
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Post by CBP1 on Jun 3, 2016 12:31:03 GMT
Now sold out - So seems to take around 30 mins to find out you haven't won. I guess it's much quicker if you have!
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Post by CBP1 on Jun 3, 2016 12:25:53 GMT
Still paused. I can see me losing my Friday lunchtimes for the foreseeable future....
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Post by CBP1 on Jun 3, 2016 12:17:54 GMT
I am also currently in a queue. Apparently said queue is paused. I don't know what this means although I assume they've allocated lottery tickets and are waiting for people to pay for them before confirming if there are any left over.
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Post by CBP1 on May 20, 2016 11:50:48 GMT
I have come to accept the fact now that Rachel just is Elphaba. The definitive Elphaba. I saw her on Broadway tonight and have decided it is probably my last Wicked. Nothing compares. In light of today's announcement, I retract the first sentence of my statement above! P.s. Sorry Michael! As much as you would have liked a new Elphie, I would have loved to see Rachel in something completely new. But I'll take what I can get. At least she's back on the right side of the pond. (And yes, I would have flown over to see her in something new on Broadway too. Been there, done that, got the Last Ship hoody.)
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Post by CBP1 on Apr 25, 2016 15:55:45 GMT
A friend called in to the Coliseum at 2.30pm to get a ticket on the basis that Ria would be on... not hugely thrilled at the later about turn! I think your friend has a much stronger case for complaining here than anyone who booked weeks ago expecting to see Glenn. I would be claiming misrepresentation at this stage. They have been induced into buying a ticket because Ria was meant to be on. Presumably if she went off sick, the whole show would have to be cancelled and a refund given. So anyone who bought a ticket to see Ria could legitimately claim they expected to see her or nobody. If you have been informed on the day that a particular performer will be doing a particular performance, you really should expect that they will be on (barring something unexpected e.g. illness - rather than a miraculous recovery of another performer!). This is presumably why west end shows don't normally put the cast board up until closer to the performance.
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Post by CBP1 on Apr 8, 2016 22:22:09 GMT
And you paid top whack for the front row? I always prefer to see things up close. At least then if I dislike it I know it was the show and not the seat! I liked the second act better. I just wasn't blown away. I would happily listen to Siobhan Dillon sing the phone book though.
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Post by CBP1 on Apr 8, 2016 20:00:06 GMT
It's the interval. Despite feeling a long way away Glenn is fantastic. Not sure of the staging or that dummy. Young Norma rather touching in both appearances so far. I'm also here but front row so the dummy isn't distracting. Agreed on young Norma. Not so sure about the show itself. Particularly the lyrics *hides*
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Post by CBP1 on Apr 8, 2016 19:56:46 GMT
I think it's necessary. Particularly if you see Wicked as sitting together with The Wizard of Oz. It's the Wicked equivalent of The Merry Old Land of Oz. But yes, I could lose Wizomania.
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Post by CBP1 on Apr 1, 2016 21:07:20 GMT
Bit odd. Still, very pleased I didn't bother becoming a member as I was considering. (And I do follow Tim Minchin on Twitter which is where I saw the code, before we get back to the debate we were having at the top of this page!)
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Post by CBP1 on Mar 31, 2016 21:49:28 GMT
I saw it a few weeks ago and also thought Sierra was miscast. She was obviously great at the token soprano bits but just wasn't right when she had to rock out.
Also she wasn't Rachel Tucker and I was coming down from quite a post-Wicked high at the time!
I enjoyed the show but it was very much the film on stage. So if you like the film you will almost certainly enjoy this. I'd like to see the actors put their own stamp on it but I'm sure they'll get the chance in time.
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Post by CBP1 on Mar 31, 2016 10:05:20 GMT
Interesting they have only now released the front row. I wonder if they did initially plan on holding that back for dayseats at a 'reasonable' price, but then decided they could make more money by whacking a pricetag of £100 on it. Hmmm, now, that would be a theory, wouldn't it... and not one crossing only your mind for sure... Definitely crossing a few minds. Nonetheless, they clearly can make more money this way. I had held out in the hope of dayseats but ending up booking dress circle last weekend. I just rang the box office and upgraded them to front row stalls. If I'm going to pay horrendous ticket prices, they might as well be even more horrendous for seats I actually want to sit in. (Thanks Theatremonkey for the tip!)
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Post by CBP1 on Mar 27, 2016 20:07:21 GMT
I was expecting to either love or hate this one. I actually came out ambivalent. I think it was quite ambitious covering the whole of Bad Girls Season 1 (and some nods to later seasons) in a single musical. Consequently most of the characters didn't seem very fleshed out and the story was pretty rushed. I couldn't work out if it was better to know the tv show or not.
There were some decent songs and great choreography throughout. Plus the usual added thrill you get at the Union of sitting in the front row and wondering if you're going to be kicked in the face. Thankfully no flailing limbs but the guy next to me had a narrow miss with a wayward tea caddy.
The comedy elements were a bit hit and miss. The biscuits were a real highlight! I thought the scenes involving the Julies were great (including the more serious solo while Julie 1 is on the phone to David - I thought she stole the show in that scene). But I found the Fenner/Bodybag comedy duo numbers quite awkward to watch. He was suitably sinister on his own but together they seemed quite panto.
I agree with earlier comments on the lack of microphones. I usually really like stripped back shows with no microphones because they give good singers a chance to really show off on a level playing field. But equally they can show up weaker singers and I thought a couple of people were quite badly drowned out by the band/other singers.
On balance though I thought it was a good show and I'm glad I saw it.
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Post by CBP1 on Mar 26, 2016 22:57:06 GMT
I saw this tonight and am firmly in the positive camp. I very much agree with everything TheatreDust said. Especially the I can't sing/Xanadu comments. I'd put it on a par with Urinetown.
Bonkers but thoroughly enjoyable. And, as many people have already said, what's not to like about a tap number?! I see why some people would dislike it. If you don't like slapstick or you prefer your satire darker then it may not be for you. But that doesn't make it a 1 star show.
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Post by CBP1 on Mar 1, 2016 14:51:56 GMT
I am currently struggling not to buy tickets to see her again this week. Coming down off a massive Tucker high!
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Post by CBP1 on Feb 29, 2016 4:21:03 GMT
I have come to accept the fact now that Rachel just is Elphaba. The definitive Elphaba. I saw her on Broadway tonight and have decided it is probably my last Wicked. Nothing compares.
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