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Post by ptwest on Mar 27, 2023 18:37:43 GMT
Was lucky enough to see Beverley Knight at the Adelphi and her performance completely made the show. Can’t imagine how it would be with a less than stellar singer and have no intention of finding our!
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Post by ptwest on Mar 24, 2023 20:57:02 GMT
I was there too, a great fun night.
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Post by ptwest on Mar 16, 2023 17:24:16 GMT
Showgirls - compulsive viewing! I had a bit of time off work recently and for some bizarre reason it popped into my head that I had never actually seen this. The problem is that now I can’t unsee it which is probably worse!
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Post by ptwest on Mar 7, 2023 17:38:34 GMT
Managed to get two for the Saturday afternoon preview, so well pleased with that. The plan will then be to join in with whatever is going on in Liverpool in the evening.
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Post by ptwest on Jan 22, 2023 10:54:29 GMT
I’m sure you would be able to follow the story, you just might not get some of the dialogue references that are very specific to Sheffield. But none of these are essential to knowing what is happening.
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Post by ptwest on Jan 22, 2023 7:43:30 GMT
Well that was something really special last night. Perfectly performed by an outstanding cast. My only gripe is that this was my first visit, and I wish I had booked earlier in the run so I could have gone more than once. A solid 5 stars from me with no reservations.
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Post by ptwest on Jan 21, 2023 8:00:08 GMT
. We’re now going to see the show in Lisbon. For £220 each we are on the floor standing near to the catwalk. We’ll have a lovely weekend in one of my most fave cities and she will be the icing on the cake rather than the entire point of the trip. London prices are ridic but yes, people are paying so… The European prices are so much more sensible (relatively) aren’t they? I was looking for somewhere to go for an autumn break and have settled on Barcelona which is a place we love, and have picked up great seats for a show there at roughly half the price of London.
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Post by ptwest on Jan 20, 2023 18:43:01 GMT
Got one ticket for the Saturday show. Paid less than the maximum but more than the minimum. The ticket prices are outrageous but everyone has a choice. From a business point of view things are only too expensive if nobody buys them - clearly her marketing team knew what they were doing .
Don’t get me started on Ticketmaster and their “platinum” tickets though:
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Post by ptwest on Jan 19, 2023 7:51:36 GMT
I am a big fan of many of his musicals, JCS still ranks in my top 3 without question, but I have lost interest of late. My theatregoing properly started in the mid to late 80s, at that time for me ALW epitomised all that was big and exciting about a West End Show and I pretty much devoured them at that point. At that time, he provided huge commercial hits which crossed over from simply being known amongst the theatregoing public. Things have changed and when you look at the shows that are the biggest hits right now, the art form has evolved away from the sung through operetta style which ALW so favoured. The other issue I have is when I look back now with older and dare I say it more cynical eyes I can only cherrypick a few shows out of the repertoire which I consider classics, the other remain fun but flawed. Sunset was in my opinion his last great show, although I enjoyed Whistle. LND was polarising - loved a lot of the music and performances, really didn’t like the story. I didn’t bother with Cinderella as the story just didn’t interest me. Back in the 80s /early 90s his name was enough to get me through the door.
In a way he’s like a star who is past his prime but is too in love with the art form to let it go but also too out of touch as to what is “now” to make a big contemporary hit again regardless of collaborators. I can’t help but think his best move now would be to stop chasing the big hit and simply write your typical ALW score. The critics would probably hate it and it wouldn’t run for ever but it would no doubt make a lot of people very happy.
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Post by ptwest on Jan 18, 2023 17:41:56 GMT
I will also be Standing at the Sky's Edge this week!
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Post by ptwest on Jan 12, 2023 12:32:17 GMT
That moment really was a highlight, if only for the complete surprise. Even though it became obvious the child had been primed, what happened to him was completely unexpected!
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Post by ptwest on Jan 11, 2023 15:14:15 GMT
Front stalls if the price is not stupid but ideally on an aisle. Most circles and balcony’s are a no go because of legroom, is I get older I am increasingly taking legroom over view. At least on an aisle there is room to stretch one leg out.
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Post by ptwest on Dec 31, 2022 23:38:59 GMT
Went for a third visit this week. This show just makes me very, very happy. Went with friends, one of whom wasn’t an Abba fan when we went in but was converted!
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Post by ptwest on Dec 13, 2022 11:53:55 GMT
Well Cory English really is something as Doc. Utterly brilliant. Could hear every word too! He will forever have my respect for holding the Producers together so well in Manchester whist Peter Kay was wreaking hilarious mayhem as Roger. So pleased to hear he’s great in this too.
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Post by ptwest on Dec 12, 2022 11:59:02 GMT
Its been a good year overall, managed to get to see a lot more than the last few years as well as being able to get down to London on a more regular basis.
My top 5 are: 1. Abba Voyage 2. Cabaret (Buckley / Redmayne pairing) 3. The Play That Goes Wrong (Manchester - original cast) 4. Tammy Faye 5. Bonnie and Clyde (Arts)
The one that just missed the cut was "She Loves Me" at Sheffield. Utterly charming, but just didn't give me quite as much joy as the top 5.
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Post by ptwest on Nov 14, 2022 21:44:29 GMT
I was there on Saturday night and loved it; a rollercoaster of emotions but so entertaining, and superbly performed. I totally agree with all the praise being healed upon Katie Brayben but felt there wasn’t a weak link in the cast. Nice to get such a vigorous handshake from Zubin Varla as he left the stage at one point too! I really hope this transfers and has a life beyond its current run.
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Post by ptwest on Nov 13, 2022 20:21:21 GMT
Interesting that the week that Arsenal play an evening match is the week that Tony lands in the bottom two. Maybe his voters had other things to distract them this week?
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Post by ptwest on Nov 6, 2022 17:35:03 GMT
Double bill of Upstart Crow and Tammy Faye this week!
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Post by ptwest on Nov 6, 2022 17:17:38 GMT
Mamma Mia at Sheffield last night: proof that gangs of middle aged women + lots of alcohol + theatre are not a good mix. Full marks to the team at the theatre for dealing with it as well as they did but they had their work cut out. Special mention to the classy lady who stuck fingers up at the team when everyone did get up out of their seats towards the end. Classy.
I should also report one or two of the cast for the damage inflicted to the Abba songs too.
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648 posts
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Post by ptwest on Oct 1, 2022 8:25:35 GMT
The musical was a wonderful surprise, we booked at Sheffield because we wanted to see something new and were blown away by the glorious cast and staging. Such a lovely night at the theatre.
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Post by ptwest on Sept 30, 2022 21:07:48 GMT
I actually did get a subscription for this - limited dates I could do and I have a few specific favourite seats at the crucible, so got what I wanted the night before press night. I’m not completely sold on the idea of a female engineer but I am completely sold on Joanna Ampil so will go with an open mind.
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Post by ptwest on Sept 26, 2022 17:45:47 GMT
To counter that a little I thought we were in for trouble at &Juliet on Saturday night when two of the cast were leaving when I saw in the row behind a huge gaggle of young women with phones, cameras, some in costume. And yes, there was a lot of whooping but actually in appropriate places, and all were respectful throughout the rest of the show. I actually felt a bit bad for pre judging them!
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Post by ptwest on Sept 6, 2022 12:05:23 GMT
Just got a good stalls ticket for a Saturday night after waiting an hour. Lots of availability at the moment if you are still waiting.
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648 posts
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Post by ptwest on Aug 25, 2022 6:29:13 GMT
Its a 7 pm start tmrw. Is that what you mean by early start? Yes, sorry I didn’t make that clear. It was 7:30 the night I went.
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Post by ptwest on Aug 24, 2022 20:45:16 GMT
It finished between 10:20 and 10:25 last night so even with the earlier start time that might be pushing it. Of course, it depends on how fast you can run!
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Post by ptwest on Aug 23, 2022 21:47:16 GMT
Really enjoyed this tonight. An absolutely first rate cast and lavish production. Well worth a visit.
The stalls perch seat was an absolute bargain. Unlimited leg room, the view only obscured slightly by the person at the end of row M. Being very tall this was not much of a problem, it may be if you were shorter and there was a tall person in that seat. But for £12.50 I’m really not complaining.
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Post by ptwest on Aug 22, 2022 21:58:58 GMT
I've seen it before and compared to previous concert versions of Les Mis, it's just not as good. The 10th anniversary was jaw droppingly good. This cast is just not good enough. I hope row A was given some raincoats to protect from Michael Ball spraying them throughout Having sat row A central for a Ball / Owen Jones night I can tell you that a raincoat may not have been sufficient!
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Post by ptwest on Aug 17, 2022 13:48:29 GMT
I’ve been lucky enough to see so many including lots of the ones mentioned on here. The one that sticks in my mind is the NT production of Anything Goes at Drury Lane. I wanted to see that and my wife wanted Bombay Dreams. We tossed a count and she won!
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Post by ptwest on Aug 16, 2022 10:13:21 GMT
Saw this for the second time last week and thought it just as dazzling as the first time. In fact I think I enjoyed it more because a) I didn’t have the concert goers from hell around me this time and b) the dance floor is the place to be for the full experience. This really pulls the virtual concert concept into another stratosphere.
The thing is, they could have just stuck to the Abba gold playlist and that would have been superb given those songs are peerless but I really appreciate the fact that they have treated the set list like it was a real concert. I love the visitors as an opening, there’s something icy and uncompromising about it while your senses are being boggled by what you are seeing. By waiting till song three before going for a hit it allows you to adjust to the spectacle before the party really begins. Also, seeing it for the second time made me really appreciate “when all is said and done”. I’ve always loved the song and it certainly needed rescuing back from Pierce Brosnan, but the lyrics are the perfect build up to the chat about reforming and then singing the new songs.
The audience treated this like it was a real Abba concert, cheering each song, singing and dancing along and having a great time. I did the same, it retains its 5 star must see status from me.
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Post by ptwest on Aug 14, 2022 20:11:29 GMT
For £12.50 I'm willing to take the chance. I think the stalls ones will be less side on.I will report back! There a week on Tuesday.
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