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Post by longinthetooth on Jul 2, 2018 18:10:08 GMT
I'm hopeless at recognising people. The only one I've ever spotted was Angela Bassett at Memphis - and that was just because she was sitting in front of me, and FOH came to speak to her with a message during the interval; only later, through Twitter, did I see who it was when a photo of her backstage with the cast appeared.
The fact that I usually go to midweek matinees could have something to do with it! You rarely get 'celebs' at those.
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Post by longinthetooth on Jun 30, 2018 18:05:52 GMT
I had just the opposite of them 'going through the motions' at the Coliseum. I knew about the drinks ban, so didn't have any with me, but I had bought a small bottle of make up before the show (note to self: do shopping afterwards, in future). The bag checker virtually turned out my bag, before he even found the offending object - which he then picked up to examine before returning it to me. Wow, that's strange. When I went yesterday I had a small back, but it's a flap over but there's two zip departments to actually get into the bag. He didn't even undo and look in the zip departments. This was when Chess was on. I obviously fitted the profile of a trouble-maker - either that or the bag checker was on a bonus for contraband goods!
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Post by longinthetooth on Jun 30, 2018 15:53:30 GMT
To be honest, I think keeping hold of your water is a simple game of chance. I know there was a big discussion about this during Chess at the Coliseum. By the time I got to the theatre (around 2:00 for a matinee), the bag check was very ‘going through the motions’ in terms of the way it was done. I opened my bag, they took a quick glance and let me through - there were two bottles of drink on the top, clearly visible, but they said nothing. I sat and drank (quietly) quite openly. I think it’s just luck depending on who checks your bag and how busy they are at the time you turn up. The priority at certain times is to get the audience in quickly and on-time. I've been in the Coliseum twice in the past few weeks for Chess and Kiss Me Kate. Both times I've arrived very early so there's nobody waiting to get their bag checked. Both times they've let me go through with water bottles that are open too. I had just the opposite of them 'going through the motions' at the Coliseum. I knew about the drinks ban, so didn't have any with me, but I had bought a small bottle of make up before the show (note to self: do shopping afterwards, in future). The bag checker virtually turned out my bag, before he even found the offending object - which he then picked up to examine before returning it to me.
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Post by longinthetooth on Jun 29, 2018 19:50:44 GMT
Not in a theatre, but a coffee shop, where a woman proceeded to inspect (and pick) the blisters on her feet ……
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Post by longinthetooth on Jun 21, 2018 15:18:16 GMT
Whaddya mean dodgy Australian accents? Dodgy as in the show, not dodgy as in real Australians!
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Post by longinthetooth on Jun 20, 2018 20:03:41 GMT
I went to the matinee today with some trepidation after the negative comments. If you want serious theatre, forget it. If you want a bit of fun, with great dancing, then it's fine (I have to say, I didn't pay full price for a ticket, I had a voucher which I put towards it, that helped!).
Once my eyes were over the shock of Mr Young's attire, I found it quite easy to ignore him and concentrate on where the action really was. I thought the sound was dreadful and it took me a good ten minutes to understand what anyone was saying - those dodgy Aussie accents, I guess! There were groups of super fans in, with a lot of whooping and cheering near the beginning, but they settled down after a while, thank goodness. I have never seen the film, so have no idea how closely (or not) it follows the story of that. However, after that ten minutes I got into it, and enjoyed it. I loved Zizi Strallen and Johnny Labey, there were some very funny performances from other cast members and fabulous paso doble/flamenco from the guy playing Zizi's dad (I didn't get a programme, unfortunately, so no idea who was who).
It was pretty full downstairs, coach parties and the like - and to my surprise a school party of 25 or so girls of around 14-15 I would guess! Not sure how that would fit into the curriculum!
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Post by longinthetooth on Jun 1, 2018 17:09:14 GMT
Something for everyone here... the ladies of a certain age, the gents of a certain persuasion, the coach-parties from the provinces, the hens from hell ...
No?
As a "lady of a certain age" can I just say this leaves me stone cold!
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Post by longinthetooth on May 30, 2018 23:02:39 GMT
Went to see 42nd Street today. Missed the bus to the station. However, still managed to catch my intended train - forgot it was half term, though - train full of happy families. At first, I was relieved none of them had sat near me - then, a large woman got on, crashed down in the seat next to me, elbowed me several times and fell asleep. Yes, you've guessed it, before long she was practically lying on my shoulder. I shoved her awake and off me several times, but to no avail (I would have moved, but the train was full and I can't stand for long). Finally reached London, leapt up over her, to see that she had kicked her trainers off into the aisle. I was so tempted .....
Had a few things to do before the show, so caught the Tube. An extremely large man sat down opposite me - then I noticed that his trousers had split underneath .... noooooo!
Finally reached the theatre, hoping for a bit of respite from Joe Public. Sandwiches behind me, popcorn to the right, and teenagers with enough stuff with them to qualify for excess baggage to the left - but hey, 42nd Street worked its magic again and all was well with the world.
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Post by longinthetooth on May 30, 2018 22:41:45 GMT
Saw this for the fourth time this afternoon (third time in my favourite A1 seat).
I loved Matthew, preferred him by far over Tom! Sorry, but I couldn't stand Lulu.
For the first time I saw the microphones down the back of Clare's legs to pick up the tap sounds - I knew she wore them, but hadn't noticed them before - have they always been done that way? Unfortunately, I thought they looked like a case of dodgy varicose veins! However, their visibility had nothing to do with Clare's ability to dance - I take my hat off to her every time I see her. She is just sensational!
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Post by longinthetooth on May 28, 2018 22:53:25 GMT
Blimey! All the millions that Cam Mac spent on the refurb and it still springs a leak!
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Post by longinthetooth on May 23, 2018 23:03:15 GMT
Yes, but there's a difference between wanting a quick getaway (quite understandable) and being downright rude. A little courtesy doesn't go amiss, and if the 'star' is in a hurry, a smile and a 'sorry, but I have to rush' is so much more polite than totally blanking someone. I have frequented the Stage Door on many occasions, and have only encountered downright rudeness and blanking twice (sorry, no names!). Everyone else has been really friendly.
I hasten to add that my Stage Door visitations are purely to thank 'whoever' for a great performance, with possibly a request to sign the programme - I do not bombard them with gifts, or, heaven forbid, the dreaded Nutella!
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Post by longinthetooth on May 23, 2018 22:52:24 GMT
Looks like Adam Linstead was called back to play Tenardier the other night! He was in the ensemble again recently, but I thought he'd left (I stand corrected if not).
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Post by longinthetooth on May 23, 2018 16:36:26 GMT
It’s Chicago, they scraped the barrel to the point where the bottom doesn’t exist! Casting the barrel would be a step up compared with some casts they've had. It's only mostly wooden. It could be worse - it could be Marti Pellow!
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Post by longinthetooth on May 17, 2018 19:20:01 GMT
Will she riff?
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Post by longinthetooth on May 17, 2018 15:52:43 GMT
Best moment of yesterday at work, my colleague Tom Lynas had a sales promotion letter addressed to Dear Mr Tom Lionass. LMAO. Funny story. My name is Gonzalo and once was addressed by an Irish client as Gorgonzola. I'm not an Italian cheese, thank you very much. I bet you have fun in Starbucks!
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Post by longinthetooth on May 17, 2018 15:45:06 GMT
Finally found out what everyone was talking about.
Laurel. No question.
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Post by longinthetooth on May 15, 2018 17:48:58 GMT
Thats been on the site for ages, surely they mean something previously unannounced? Oh, has it? I only saw today's tweet and link this morning.
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Post by longinthetooth on May 15, 2018 17:02:34 GMT
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Post by longinthetooth on May 9, 2018 19:12:34 GMT
I've just remembered this thread!
The award for Greatest Deduction goes to the lady who wondered, "if the right stalls are here, and the left stalls are over there, then the centre stalls must be in the middle ...."
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Post by longinthetooth on May 3, 2018 20:23:56 GMT
My first visit this afternoon. Not sure what to say, really. It didn't blow me away, but it wasn't bad either (sorry, diehard Hamilton fans). I read the story of Alexander Hamilton, and was up to speed with the story, so it wasn't that. I just found I didn't care about any of the characters.
I understand that tickets are like gold dust, so can someone please explain why the theatre seemed to be full of repeat visitors, whooping and cheering throughout, and screaming with laughter at King George (who I have to say left me stone cold, stupid not funny). Then they sobbed at the sad bit (won't say what, just in case I'm not the last person to have seen it) - which again did nothing for me.
The cast performed their socks off (if that's a theatrical term!), it was slick and clever, but not for me.
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Post by longinthetooth on Apr 26, 2018 22:20:12 GMT
Same old script then.
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Post by longinthetooth on Apr 20, 2018 21:46:11 GMT
I can't stand J K Rowling.
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Post by longinthetooth on Apr 20, 2018 21:39:17 GMT
Oops, sorry about the above, got in a bit of a mess.
I was going to relate a story about an ex-colleague who turned up at work one day with a No.1 haircut. Prior to this he had resembled Bigfoot, if you get my drift.
Apparently, and I do apologise for what he said, he told his (male) barber that "all male hairdressers are poofs". You do not say this to someone with a pair of clippers in his hand ..... the clippers promptly ploughed a furrow straight through the middle of Bigfoot's luscious locks and then, of course, the rest of his hair followed suit!
This ex-colleague could be quite intimidating at times, so no one at work dared ask about his radical change of image for hours, but finally the story came out.
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Chess
Apr 15, 2018 19:21:23 GMT
Post by longinthetooth on Apr 15, 2018 19:21:23 GMT
I took a chance with Carousel during its final week, and bagged a Dress Circle ticket from TKTS for £50 (originally £115 or thereabouts).
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Post by longinthetooth on Apr 15, 2018 19:16:24 GMT
Popcorn in cinemas is less of an issue, because an awful lot of films are SO LOUD, and there being multiple screenings of each film throughout the day makes it much less likely that the audience will all be rammed in together in tight proximity, plus even if the biggest star in the film is Imelda Staunton, you can eat ANYTHING without disturbing the performers. You can tear my over-priced salty buttery nutrition-free snack from my cold dead hands, or on the day when I actually eat it loudly enough to bother you from five rows away. There's no excusing people who leave litter all over the floor though. You're going to pass several bins on your way out of the cinema, take your rubbish with you! Yes in a cinema, aside from obviously smelly food that will stink the place out, I'm never usually close enough to anyone for their food to bother me. Plus with Marvel et al believing LOUDER IS BETTER for everything, I'd challenge someone to eat their popcorn louder than whatever is going on. Obviously generally not munching on a loaf of garlic bread sitting next to someone is good form but other than that I'm less inclined to be militant about it in the cinema. I mentioned previously about a family in the cinema who brought in KFC, chips and ketchup, and were about to leave all the rubbish on the floor until they saw our filthy looks and heard our comments.
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Post by longinthetooth on Apr 11, 2018 20:03:25 GMT
Caught the matinee today in Wimbledon and really enjoyed it. Danny Mac surpassed my expectations. Ria sings better than Glenn Close, but her acting isn't as nuanced. A really enjoyable afternoon. I agree with foxa, especially regarding Danny Mac. I thoroughly enjoyed today's matinee at Wimbledon, but then Wimbledon has rarely disappointed me with its touring musicals, despite what some other people think about the venue! I seem to be the third Theatreboard member at Wimbledon this afternoon. I agree totally with what has been said. Danny Mac really looks the part, as well as sounding great. Yes, Ria is a better singer than Glenn, but lacks the charisma - notwithstanding this, she gave a great performance. However, I did keep getting shades of La Paige along the way ..... A word about Adam Pearce as Max - his voice was a revelation to me.
Oh, and I like Wimbledon!
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Post by longinthetooth on Apr 4, 2018 20:37:53 GMT
With some trepidation I went to today's matinee. It's true CGJ will never win any awards for singing, but he wasn't as bad as I feared, and didn't miss any cues or forget his lines. He was very popular with the audience.
All the female leads were excellent, but for me, Sarah (Roxie) was definitely the star. I loved the ensemble too.
There was a technical hitch in Act 2. When the "not guilty" Hungarian girl went up the ladder for her "rope trick", nothing happened and they swung the ladder off into the wings, at which point the curtain came down, and an announcement was made that there would be a slight delay but would we all remain in our seats. Just then, the "rope" for the "trick" (sorry if this sounds weird, not sure how to do spoilers!) appeared and someone rushed out of the wings to retrieve it. Curtain back up and Act 2 continued.
After the cast took their bows (to a very enthusiastic audience - but no standing ovation), and the on stage orchestra continued to play, almost everyone stayed in their seats until they'd finished - only a handful put on their coats and left, which I think shows just how good the orchestra are.
Going off piste slightly, I was slightly concerned about the attire of the young lady next to me - a crimson velvet, backless very mini, mini dress, fishnet tights and over the knee black boots, topped with a pink fur jacket (bearing in mind this was at the matinee, the mind boggles at what her evening attire might aspire to). I did wonder if she was at the right show - then took in the apparel of my neighbour on the other side. She was also in a mini skirt (although her top was somewhat more modest), plus fishnets and pink fur jacket. At this point I wondered if it was ME that was at the right show!
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Post by longinthetooth on Apr 3, 2018 18:35:00 GMT
Delfont Mackintosh now saying it is cancelled tonight.
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Post by longinthetooth on Mar 19, 2018 22:00:48 GMT
I'm reminded of a show a couple of years ago (can't remember what it was, it was that good), when a woman next to us started filming. My companion suggested this was not a good idea, which evoked the response, "Oh, it's not for me, it's for her Nan, who's in hospital" (indicating presumably her daughter on her other side). Oh, so that made it ok then .....
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Post by longinthetooth on Mar 17, 2018 15:41:17 GMT
Toying with seeing this for a 3rd time on Monday or Girl From the North Country - anyone who has seen both please help!! I have seen both, but they are chalk and cheese, so it depends what you want.
If you want fabulous dancing and a guaranteed smile on your face when you leave, go for 42nd Street. If you want incredible acting and heartwrenching moments, go for The Girl from the North Country (and it helps if you like Bob Dylan tunes too).
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