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Post by notmymuse on Feb 2, 2023 13:26:46 GMT
I saw the first preview last night. A solid 3 stars at the moment, audience reaction generally positive. One show stop in act 2 and the curtain went up late, so it finished quite late.
The main issue at the moment is the sound. All the dialogue is pre recorded and the sound mix needs serious work. Generally it's ok, but regularly you just couldn't hear the dialogue, especially certain characters. This is also a problem when the audience laugh or clap as this then drowns out the dialogue, and as it's pre recorded, the actors can't pause and wait for quiet. There were some late entries etc., but for a first preview it was pretty slick (apart from one guy clearly not knowing the dance in one scene).
Unsurprisingly, some bits work well, others less so. Suella Braverman is genius, as is the song sung while riding 4 "horses" (I won't spoil it by explaining more) but the Stormzy song needs to be cut and the Spare joke repeatedly fell flat.
I'm also not sure the premise of the show, that everything is the fault of the fools in charge, works. The question of how they get there, what structures put them there and sustain them there, and the role of citizens in that remains an elephant in the room.
But it's a fun night. The puppets are fantastic, and the voice artists great. Some nice dancing and choreography and some very funny bits. This will tighten up and improve too.
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Post by notmymuse on Dec 13, 2022 12:35:18 GMT
I just rang, picked up within 4 rings and booked. I feel a bit sorry for the box office staff, they must just be overwhelmed - but the guy I spoke to sounded very calm!
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Post by notmymuse on Dec 12, 2022 16:54:31 GMT
Phonelines are now overwhelmed too - it either gives you a message saying phones are not being answered immediately, or you ring out and then get the same message. Web bookings still down.
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Post by notmymuse on Dec 12, 2022 12:52:25 GMT
I think the OV's payment system has fallen over! Im trying to pay and the page is blank, just says 'Enter Card Details' and nothing else Whole thing has gone down for me now. Frustrating as I was on the last bit after waiting ages.
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Post by notmymuse on Dec 8, 2022 12:47:24 GMT
Yeah I had no audience issues at Frozen either. Obviously it was full of families and there was some talking and noises but nothing that disturbed. By far the worse audiences have been at shows with drunk adults or younger (teens/twenties) theatre fans/drama students who love to show how well they know a show/how much they love it etc Drama students are the worst. They are so bad I really think they should get lectures on not trying to perform from the audience. Not in terms of Frozen, it was fine when I went too, no real issues and nothing worse than any other show.
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Post by notmymuse on Nov 9, 2022 13:01:25 GMT
Is it worth seeing before it closes? not been interested as one that was always there and felt in no rush. I'd say yes. Try and sit nearer the front. It's a classic and can be genuinely thrilling and scary and a lovely example of theatrecraft. Also, cheap seats are easy to come by.
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Post by notmymuse on Sept 22, 2022 22:48:16 GMT
Pipe Dream. I'd love to finish the R+H cannon and I've only 3 to go. It was on at The Union years ago and coincided exactly with my dates for being away on holiday so I missed it.
I loved LOTR, the most spectacular thing I've ever seen. Stephan Ward mainly left me a bit puzzled about why it was a thing.
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Post by notmymuse on Aug 30, 2022 7:26:25 GMT
I wouldn’t have thought Emma Williams has the pure soprano sound that that role requires… but she did? Shame I couldn't see this, I love Emma Williams. She's def a trained classical soprano, I'm sure she was even in a filmed opera years ago. Fingers crossed she lands a role in the West End again soon
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Post by notmymuse on Aug 1, 2022 7:12:07 GMT
I've also wondered what Netflix was thinking previously about this one. On the one hand, just because I call something "unofficial" doesn't give me the right to use someone else's work for my own benefit. On the other hand, I doubt the Friends musical and others got permission and no one got sued (as far as we know...).
I'd always assumed Netflix allowed it as it was generating interest for their show, so on balance they counted it a good thing. I suspect when it was on tiktok only they were really happy with the free advertising. But now it's grown to full, fee paying concerts they may have decided it's become too big of a monster. If they don't step in now, what's next and when do they step in? So they allow a fully staged Broadway run? Surely that's not fair to the original creatives.
But at the same time, they would be stupid to try and do their own Bridgerton musical as it can only be unfavourably compared so that can't (surely?) be their motive so a better approach (and one with less PR headaches) would seem to have been to approach B&B quietly and negotiate rights. But I'm guessing they have reasons and a game plan. Although that hasn't stopped bad decisions having been made before by huge corporates.
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Post by notmymuse on Jul 11, 2022 19:12:41 GMT
I've always wondered if the Colliseum staff are just down on musicals and snobbish. I remember telephoning them about Sunset Boulevard and the person I spoke to made a fairly sarcastic comment about showtunes. It's a shame, but I'm guessing putting on musicals is what's keeping their whole operation financially viable so it would be nice if they were a bit more friendly.
But so glad to hear your first visit was a success! It took me a while to get used to going by myself but I'm immune to feeling funny about it years later. I always told myself the ones going alone are far less sad (not that they are sad at all) than all the ones who are sitting at home, wishing they were brave enough to go!
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Post by notmymuse on Jul 8, 2022 17:13:39 GMT
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Post by notmymuse on Jun 1, 2022 12:54:36 GMT
Not sure what to make of that recording really. I mean, it's not the first recording in 20 years of it or whatever ALW said, the Royal Albert Hall one was about 2011. It's hard to see how they actually sing due to what must be the huge amount of production on this. The final section sounds like they've sampled Lucy's voice then just played the notes on the keyboard. No way anyone can hit those notes with that precision and come off them in that way, not even the best coloratura's in the opera world. So I'm non the wiser about how Lucy actually sings it.
I saw Camelot live and I wasn't blown away by Lucy. She has a nice stage presence and could sing the score fine, but I couldn't help (perhaps unfairly as no-one could match it) comparing her to the Julie Andrews recording.
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Post by notmymuse on May 23, 2022 15:02:23 GMT
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Post by notmymuse on May 23, 2022 15:00:04 GMT
Afraid I joined the ranks of people who left at half time. I was excited for this as I've liked Tim Firth's previous stuff but this just about passed the time, that's the best I can say. Things brightened considerably with the older 2 women (and I'd rather it focus on them), but I found the scenes with the children cringey and the decision to cast actors who can't really sing was a strange one. The actors were trying their best with the material, but weren't given a lot to work with. A pity.
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Post by notmymuse on May 12, 2022 12:48:58 GMT
Has anyone seen this yet? I'm going next week and looking forward to it.
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Post by notmymuse on May 12, 2022 12:48:16 GMT
Agreed, after Camelot I'm going to give it a miss. Books matter in musicals and I want to hear the dialogue, even if the actor has a script to hand.
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Post by notmymuse on May 12, 2022 12:46:28 GMT
I've just checked out a lot of bootlegs on YouTube and yeah, I am quite confident in saying the singing is still the same as it has always been. Ie. Pre-recorded - the whole track. I can understand "preserving the magic" and it's a theatre white lie to use pre-recorded vocals on occasion - a deceit with a good reason, which doesn't harm the show or make the performance any less credible. And yet she talks about the use of doubles?! A very strange quote from Lucy there. I doubt she gave this interview, looks like a written piece. The request probably was sent to the POTO press people who drafted something for her. I'm hoping she got to sign off on it but I doubt it's her own words.
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Post by notmymuse on May 6, 2022 9:32:24 GMT
The true story of Martin Guerre is on radio 4 extra now, but sure it'll be on catch up too
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Post by notmymuse on May 6, 2022 8:49:56 GMT
This should be a great concert. I really loved their "A Man of No Importance" at the Union (and a transfer to the Arts). Surprised we haven't had Anastasia in London (or a UK Tour) yet. I also wish we could get the recent Once on This Island production - it was fantastic. I forgot about A Man of No Importance. One of my favourite ever nights at the theatre. A great show and a lovely production.
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Post by notmymuse on May 1, 2022 12:14:00 GMT
Kind of off topic, but I also love Tim Rogers (and Matt Rawle for the record). I saw the Southwark Aspects with Rosalie and was quite underwhelmed. A funny choice for a ALW revival, I really can't see it doing that well but I've been wrong before (often).
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Post by notmymuse on May 1, 2022 12:10:44 GMT
Quintet from West Side Story (I think that's the right name?). I think it's the Act 1 closer, and starts with just couple of singers then builds as other main characters join in with singing their main themes, and adds in gang members etc. and packs quite a punch.
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Post by notmymuse on Apr 28, 2022 22:43:38 GMT
Hand me the wine and the dice...
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Post by notmymuse on Apr 14, 2022 12:43:06 GMT
Interesting that a few think the music lets it down. I loved the music in the original. I wonder if this is because they've cut some numbers, or how it's being performed or something else? The original cast were all great singers which may have helped.
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Post by notmymuse on Apr 6, 2022 22:42:17 GMT
Fingers crossed for them. I've got such good memories of this at the Garrick.
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Post by notmymuse on Apr 1, 2022 13:43:17 GMT
Wow. Given it was announced on 1st April makes me wonder if the cast is an April fools joke! Seriously impressive.
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Post by notmymuse on Mar 31, 2022 21:41:41 GMT
Can someone explain what the £95 Twitter thing was about? I'm a bit lost.
On another note, I was lucky enough to see this at Jermyn Street with a great cast (Rosalie Craig among them) and really enjoyed it so fingers crossed for this production.
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Post by notmymuse on Mar 14, 2022 12:47:02 GMT
That struck me too, Elsa kind of shows up for a few big numbers but Anna seems to have far more stage time and you really follow her story rather than Elsa's.
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Post by notmymuse on Mar 6, 2022 23:27:06 GMT
Very smart, Maria, very smart.
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Post by notmymuse on Feb 9, 2022 12:53:22 GMT
Lucy seems to be strongly hinting there's more to come for Camelot... I hope so, but I hope it includes dialogue and the full score, especially Take me to the fair.
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Post by notmymuse on Feb 7, 2022 14:10:22 GMT
Totally agree. It was a nice evening, but on reflection I went to hear a musical performed in concert format, but got the music from a musical performed (albeit very well), with a narrator saying what happened between. I think I would have gone again had I realised that, but advertising needs to be more clear and I'm left still wanting to see Camelot, dialogue and all. Yes, I noticed at least 3 late mic cues too in act 2.
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