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Post by groupbooker on Dec 8, 2016 17:27:47 GMT
Don't worry about a clash - Hairspray Friday and Ball and Boe repeated ITV 11/12/16 at 22.25.
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Post by groupbooker on Dec 8, 2016 17:15:39 GMT
Yesterday two of us came to London to see Dream Girls at the Savoy - matinee performance. I came up from Cornwall and my friend flew over from Germany to see it with me. I only received an email at 1350 from ATG telling us that both performances were cancelled. On arrival all ushers were outside the Savoy giving everyone slips telling them that due to multiple cast illness both the Wednesdays shows were cancelled. One told us that all three "Effies", lead and both understudies were sick. We had booked to see Ragtime in the evening so what to do now? We did a quick walk to the Noel Coward and even though the show was about 20 minutes in, got 2 tickets for £25 each - sorted! Now to try and see when Amber may be going (or staying) and try to book again!
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Post by groupbooker on Dec 5, 2016 14:03:45 GMT
I agree with Foxa the " am taking you some where we can get the feeling of what we need" rubbish - just pure padding by the Beeb. Also wish they could move Tess Daly far away! I do not know what it is with her but she just grates I am afraid. Let Claudia and say Anton become the compares and have a little bit of fun with them. Some of the musicals were not well thought out musically, more for show I think not dance. One more grumble - why when ever they have a name performing, the dancers get cheered for what ever they do - is it not very rude while someone is singing?? The females in the household recon that Ore goes out first and Claudia goes out second leaving Danny and Louise for the final! I am told what do I know - your a man!!
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Post by groupbooker on Dec 4, 2016 13:35:41 GMT
I can help you with Theatre Royal Plymouth and Bristol Hippodrome.
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Post by groupbooker on Dec 1, 2016 21:12:02 GMT
Happy Birthday Steve, Your site is a MUST go to. seeing what problems may arise when buying tickets or the knowledge of each theatres lay out is crucial. Great comments from you on the board have made me laugh. Great way you and the other admins look after the site. Hope you are out enjoying another show - just for a change!! lol
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Post by groupbooker on Nov 30, 2016 15:49:03 GMT
Hercules is a good score but the cartoon (didn't do well in the cinemas)and the show on the Disney ships both are pretty bland. I did see a trailer for a live action film "Rapunzle" on you tube a week ago, but this could have been a mash up by a fan? Love Aida, Tarzan and of course Hunchback to come as full shows here. Certainly Lady & the Tramp / Aristocats could be done "cats" wise. If they have done Lion King then any thing could be possible. Am I right in thinking 101 Dalmations has been done as a show in the UK with loads of kids as puppies? Sleeping Beauty with the Tschaikovsky music could pull in the punters. I also remember Disney did a Mulan show in that awful place Disney Paris (the other parks are great but ....) It was performed in the big round café which I think is now part of a Toy Story ride. The main problem for the "old" cartoons would be especially in the UK Snow White, Peter Pan, Cinderella are all Panto's here. Yes I know also is Aladdin but I would class this as a go see it - don't want to go again musical unfortunately.
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Post by groupbooker on Nov 25, 2016 21:23:32 GMT
Parsley I presume you live near London and can get into and out of London with no problem. First you moan about coach loads being the only people wanting to see this, now no diversity in the cast and an audience of old white people! I bring people to London for shows by coach - it is the only way we can do this cheaply but we have to buy top price - not premium tickets on a Saturday as a lot work during the week. My groups have a fair number of older people yes but also a lot of young and younger people as well. They do not walk with zimmer frames or have wheel chairs but they love theatre and they want to see new shows. You say because there is no coloured person in the cast of Sixpence it is total misplaced in the WE - why?? You had Bend It which you championed with coloured people in it, we have Lion King with hardly a white face in it both of which my groups have really enjoyed. A show does not HAVE to have a coloured person in the show same as a show featuring a fully coloured cast does not HAVE to have a white person in it. I hope word of mouth goes round so more and more people book to see this terrific show.
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Post by groupbooker on Nov 22, 2016 22:19:29 GMT
Happy Birthday George!! That's a great birthday present! As everyone has said it is a great show, strong story and great songs.
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Post by groupbooker on Nov 21, 2016 23:40:33 GMT
Yes that was added by Disney. They felt the scene where the toys attacked the kids for breaking them up was too extreme for the kids in the US! So it was put on all productions. Think Cam Mac got it changed. That scene was too extreme for kids in the States and they let kids shoot guns!! Poor kids being frightened. Well as I said "Aida" was a more adult show and there were hardly any kids in to see Aida when I saw it.
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Post by groupbooker on Nov 21, 2016 20:49:42 GMT
I have, I am sure a cd of King David and it was written by Tim Rice and Alan Menken mid/late nineties? The two songs you quoted are the last two on the CD and in the show. I think it was only performed once as a concert production. We all know Disney love children because they make money! They are not worried about noise in a show as long as it is full of children and parents buying. I really wish they would have the guts to stand up and do a show or shows that are not really for children. Let them try as we have been saying with "Hunchback" and now "King David" has re-appeared in this show - if it "wasn't" good enough why put it in the show? Perhaps Alan Menken suggested it?? It has some pretty good music on it. So put an age limit on it, you have the money to do it - try it they may have a big hit on your hands - after all they did it with "Aida" a hit in the States and Europe. Wasn't there some mention " it will not go in the UK" along the line I seem to remember??
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Post by groupbooker on Nov 21, 2016 20:03:54 GMT
Sorry to ask guys but do I remember that Amber is not doing matinees or doing one and not the other?? Help please? I am coming up for the 7/12 performance
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Post by groupbooker on Nov 15, 2016 1:17:15 GMT
Lets hope Marti Webb dose not do what she has done a number of times at Plymouth - not appear!!
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Post by groupbooker on Nov 10, 2016 15:03:31 GMT
Well Wendy, instead of telling others don't go - that is unfair to a great show. Why not get a group of them together and get a group rate. If you live in easy distance from London then go on a week night and get good rates. I cannot do this as to come up from Cornwall, see a show and go back is not viable in a day. We have to do a weekend, they want good seats and we then have to pay top "normal" price but not premium (I will not pay that even for myself)as it is a Saturday show.
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Post by groupbooker on Nov 10, 2016 0:50:31 GMT
Saw the show on Tuesday night and thoroughly enjoyed it. All you youngsters I expect do not remember Tommy Steele making this a massive hit and going to Broadway with it. I saw the film but just too young for the show. This has very effective staging with a good use of the revolve, great ensemble numbers, excellent costumes and Charlie Stemp is a great Kipps. One thing commented on before - I felt the photographer was too much to the fore in the BIG finale number "Flash,Bang,Wallop". Its one song from the show I expect everyone knows but he just was too much in your face. Yes its an old fashioned musical but what is wrong with that? I enjoy all your reviews on the board but now and again you just want to go, relax and have an enjoyable night at the theatre, without picking holes in it. The stalls were full, don't know about upper levels. Cameron Mackintosh was with the guys in the control box, also there were Stiles and Drewe in the audience. I think Stiles and Drewe are getting into their stride now musically. The new numbers in this show blended perfectly with the old and "Willows" has some great tunes of theirs coming along as well. I would like to see this extend, as I am sure my groups would love it - before anyone says another coach load of "oldies", yes a good few are but there are also a lot of younger theatre goers coming up from Cornwall to see some of the best shows in town. Groups may not be thought of by theatres as the way forward now but we do help a lot with the cash flow!!
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Post by groupbooker on Nov 7, 2016 23:20:20 GMT
Opens in Palladium June 2017 for a limited season. Rufus Hound continues as Toad.
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Post by groupbooker on Nov 7, 2016 12:48:29 GMT
Bit of a waste for the "Girls" from the show by the Beeb - didn't even mention them!! Still may be bums on seats if the Take That fans are thinking of Barlows Baps???
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Post by groupbooker on Nov 6, 2016 0:08:06 GMT
Phantom - 2 for your list. Bristol Hippo - La Cage 23/5 - 27/5 2017 Plymouth - War Horse 29/08 - 15/09 2018
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Post by groupbooker on Nov 3, 2016 15:47:09 GMT
Surely there are better singers/actresses than the lot from Girls Aloud??
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Post by groupbooker on Oct 23, 2016 22:51:16 GMT
No disrespect taken Mr B thanks.
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Post by groupbooker on Oct 23, 2016 21:27:56 GMT
Thank you Mr B and Trekkie for your comments and I enjoy every ones takes on everything theatreboard. The London Miseries I was meaning were the professional paper reviewers. Yes they see a lot of shows in London but a lot barely come out of town to see a see in the sticks, plus get loads of freebies. To me a lot of the time they seem to be totally oblivious to a show that you can sit down and just enjoy without picking it to shreds - there may be problems with it but "we enjoyed it". As I worked with the Royal's Marketing team for many years covering SE Cornwall, we got to know local reviewers and what sort of review they would write of the show but they were always fair. As I said about the show the first half needed sorting but we all enjoyed the experience and we were a wide ranging aged group. As Trekkie said "I found the story boring" and I think that may be the book having to put everything there on the stage? I also take lots of people from the West Country to London, most are well clued up on ALL sorts of theatrical shows in London and around the country - not just the usual touring circuit shows. I also take to Bristol, Cardiff and the Midlands as well as London - so no way are they country bumpkins and before Mr B says the usual "senior coach trips" - my "lot" are all ages that love theatre and want to see more. Lets see what reviews happens at the Lowry, Mayflower and London??
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Post by groupbooker on Oct 23, 2016 11:47:29 GMT
Having just seen the penultimate evening performance of the show in Plymouth, I must say we all (a group of various ages) thoroughly enjoyed it. The sets made by the Royal were a little bit similar to the Nationals wonderful production way back, very much river bank holes and all very organic. Toads various means of transports were well supplied from Gypsy Caravan,red sports car, barge to a huge train. Toads final mode of transport has to be seen to be believed! It has been a sell out but it has been classed here as previewing I think. Act one could be trimmed a bit but act 2 flows and goes very quickly. The music has some great songs which I am sure once a cast recording happens people would enjoy. "Spring" is done very well with the full company, "The open road", "Amazing Mr Toad", "A friend is still a friend" and "Taking over the Hall" are all good numbers. A strong orchestra of 14 bring out the music very well. Costumes are as the photo's showed - human but have animal traces, ears, tails etc. The main characters - Mole (Fra Fee), Rat (Thomas Howes), Badger(David Birrell), Mrs Otter (Sophia Nomvete) and a Spiv Chief Weasel (Neil McDermott) were all very good in their roles. A special mention of the hedgehogs - who put over their problems in the song "The Hedgehogs Nightmare" really well and got them a big ovation in the end. All the company had a lot to do and did it well. A special mention to the local children who performed very well. Last but NO way least I must say Rufus Hound really stole the role of Toad in all he sang and did during the show. Especially causing great laughter when a washerwoman on the barge, but he was hilarious throughout! I do hope it will go on to be a big hit and do a transfer into London, it deserves it. After it's London Premiere run, I could see it could turning into a Christmas show and regular tour around the country. It is really a wonderful family show - but will the miseries in London do it down buy not realising it is to be enjoyed not picked to bits? I sometimes wonder if "professional reviewers?" ever had a child hood! One grumble why can't parents avoid bringing babies and very young children into a show they cant understand??
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Post by groupbooker on Oct 13, 2016 23:25:51 GMT
Forgot just in case you all want prime seats!! £108.30 inc £13.30 fee
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Post by groupbooker on Oct 13, 2016 23:23:18 GMT
Ticket prices via Ticketmaster: £85.50 £74.10 £65.55 £62.70 £51.30 £34.20 £28.50 £17.10 All include fees from £10.50 to £2.50
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Post by groupbooker on Oct 7, 2016 15:39:41 GMT
We have just had 2 Am-Dram productions here in Plymouth, so perhaps the rights are still open only for Am-dram??
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Post by groupbooker on Oct 7, 2016 15:32:27 GMT
When I ordered it they only showed a dvd but on Amazon Germany they are booking a dvd and a Blu-ray. So cancelled my dvd and will wait and see if a Bluy-ray turns up on Amazon UK.
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Post by groupbooker on Sept 29, 2016 20:11:16 GMT
I wish ATG would come out and say if Sheridan is or isn't doing the matinees. Ive asked the local theatres who are taking the tour and no one knows what is happening!
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Post by groupbooker on Sept 29, 2016 19:48:45 GMT
Great loss to the theatre. She was as you all have said one of the best granny's in Billy Elliot. I also remember her in My Fair Lady at the National. A real scene stealer in that great show Betty Blue Eyes and such a lovely lady to meet when I got the cast cd of Betty at Dress Circle. Such a sad loss.
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Post by groupbooker on Sept 27, 2016 10:37:51 GMT
Has anyone heard any confirmation that Sheridan is doing all 7 shows at the other venues or will she not do the midweek matinees?? I wonder as they have no monday show, that may be so she could do all in the week or is that wishful thinking??
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Post by groupbooker on Sept 25, 2016 18:41:00 GMT
Reviews were not good, but do reviewers ever go to try to enjoy themselves and admit it wasn't the best they have seen but enjoyed what they saw? It was very big and spectacular, probably the biggest spectacle you will see in the West End. I brought a coach group up from the West Country and as usual with London got held up in traffic and missed about 40 minutes.► But they all came again later in the month to see the full show. They enjoyed it for the spectacle, liked the Hobbits and some songs - no one said rubbish. I do wish they would release a DVD of the show, may help some money to come back??
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Post by groupbooker on Sept 23, 2016 16:04:39 GMT
Just a suggestion guys? Couldn't this collection be pinned at the start of Musicals? I know it saves digging through many tour sights and its great that it is being updated as you go along.
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