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Post by alison on Apr 28, 2017 22:17:32 GMT
Oooh! Anyone know who the u/s is? I might be tempted if he's off again tomorrow afternoon. Not that I wish Alfie any ill, but given the reviews here and the prices I'm not interested in seeing him.
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Post by alison on Apr 28, 2017 15:56:34 GMT
Drew Sarich has also done Enjolras, Valjean and Javert.
I haven't been to Les Mis in ages, this casting might tempt me back. Probably on my own, though - my usual theatre-going partner isn't a Killian fan.
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Post by alison on Apr 27, 2017 15:36:04 GMT
I REALLY wish they would put in some kind of discount, I'd be back this weekend like a shot.
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Post by alison on Apr 25, 2017 19:35:34 GMT
I saw this on Saturday night and LOVED it. We had Ben Purkiss as Strat and Olly Dobson as Jagwire, both of whom were great (and now I have an excuse to go back when it's in London to see Andrew Polec after all the raves). I can only echo what others on here have said: staging WOW, Danielle Steers WOW, basically everyone else WOW.
From the song list posted earlier in the thread, Good Girls Go to Heaven and Making Love Out of Nothing At All have been cut. The others are all there in full (or mostly, at least more than just a verse and a chorus). They must have lost a bit from the dialogue scenes since they started though, we were out by 10:15, including the curtain call where basically everyone (around where I was sitting in the front circle at least) jumped to their feet as soon as the ensemble appeared.
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Post by alison on Apr 19, 2017 22:33:33 GMT
In Sister Act, Eddie's transformations in I Could Be That Guy were always fun and only one person I went with spotted something underneath before the first one. (Don't know if this happens in the current UK touring production). It does (and happened seamlessly last week with u/s Eddie, too), although it's amusing to watch the homeless ensemble moving into place knowing what's coming. Also amusing to see Eddie looking so much bulkier in the preceding scene with three layers on, although again you might not notice if you weren't looking for it.
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Post by alison on Apr 11, 2017 22:25:11 GMT
I'm really irritated that they've chosen to announce that now, having previously announced it as being Sheridan and Chris. I particularly wanted to see Chris, darnit, and now I won't get to because the only other venue I could reasonably have got to that he was scheduled for (MK) has already passed.
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Post by alison on Mar 25, 2017 10:57:03 GMT
Murder Ballad Fame Footloose Love Never Dies Only the Brave
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Post by alison on Mar 19, 2017 22:16:32 GMT
Side gallery row D for me - it being a 6pm start rather than 7:30 makes it possible on a school night. That cast!
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Post by alison on Feb 26, 2017 13:43:53 GMT
The character of Alice spends most of the time onstage just as an onlooker to the action - there seemed to be little direction to her character for these long sections. She just looked on, frequently tucking her hair behind her ears - in fact, she did it so many times, I wondered if that was the actual direction!! Considering Alice is the main character, she seemed poorly defined and strangely uninvolved in the background of several scenes. I'm sorry if that's what you saw (and I do agree about the hair tucking, although during One Knight at least I did feel like it was in character), and you're obviously not the only person to feel that from the comments here, but it's not what I saw so I figured I'd put my version out there. (Not saying your opinion isn't valid, just sharing mine, before anyone jumps on me). I saw very little of Alice just looking on (with Kerry, at least - Rachael was a little more of an onlooker). She dances with and reacts to the ensemble throughout the first few scenes in Wonderland, alternates between fangirling and trying to keep her daughter away from the "boyband" during One Knight, has a discussion with Ellie across the table about the cake during the Tea Party, and one with Jack standing beside her, worries about Ellie with Jack reassuring her then tries to talk sense into her during The Mad Hatter, and chickens out of going through the looking glass several times before she finally does it. And that's just the first act. I agree with the people saying there's not a massive amount of emotional height in the plot itself - there isn't. For me, when I saw the show in Brum, that came from watching Alice's changing relationships with Ellie and Jack, and herself, and most of that is in the details and not so much in the script. If that's not there, the show as a whole really suffers.
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Post by alison on Feb 24, 2017 14:46:09 GMT
How odd. I guess the stage at the New Alex must be less deep or something.
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Post by alison on Feb 24, 2017 14:39:46 GMT
I went again last night to see Rachael as Alice (very good, although I slightly preferred Kerry I think). I thought the sound was better than it was in Birmingham, although still not brilliant - I seriously don't understand why they're having so many issues.
There's now a fountain made of books in the Love Begins scene that wasn't there in Brum ... has it been there at any other venues (so just didn't fit for whatever reason) or is it new? Either way, I'm glad to see it added. Also, the boss who fires Alice at the start is now played by the Queen rather than the Hatter. So they're still tweaking things - if only they'd do something about the "everyone squeeze in front of the block of flats curtain" opening number.
The audience wasn't as empty as I expected from comments on here, but certainly a long way from full, and very quiet. It's the only time I've heard the gutless half-man rant get no reaction.
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Post by alison on Feb 18, 2017 23:42:06 GMT
I went again last night to catch James Gant as Death. Having made such a wonderful Fidele, I was intrigued to see how he'd do in such a different role. I found him very earnest and charming, and he has such lovely eyes (Chris might also, but I didn't see him from the fourth row so I don't know *g*). I did find it hard to hear him when he was singing with Zoe, but I don't know whether that was him or a sound issue, I didn't have any issues during his solos (and did still have issues hearing various people during the opening).
Talking of that opening, we were right in front of Sam Thomas spinning chairs. Eek! I see why people have commented on the risk of them flying through the air. I must have missed that - or tuned it out - the first time.
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Post by alison on Feb 15, 2017 20:04:23 GMT
I really dislike watching a "name" put in a poor performance in a show where you know they've been cast purely in an attempt to put bums on seats. On the other hand, if they're actually capable of doing a decent job of the role (and some are, for sure), I have no issue with it. It's a reality of the business that sometimes the producers are going to have to put their profits first, or very little new would end up being produced.
One of my favourite celebrity castings I've seen remains Antony Costa (from Blue) in Blood Brothers. I went in expecting very little and ended up loving him ... his singing varied from poor to somewhat decent depending on the night, but his acting was surprisingly solid, and ultimately I found him very believable and really enjoyed his performance. Also Matt Cardle in Memphis, who surprised a lot of people.
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Post by alison on Feb 12, 2017 22:00:47 GMT
Death Takes a Holiday at Charing Cross on Friday to catch James Gant as Death. Also possibly Thoroughly Modern Millie in Brum, but only if a discount appears. They're not even offering TheatreCard discount for tomorrow night, and I'm not willing to pay the prices on offer.They have got a £10 discount for ATG cards tomorrow... though bizarrely tomorrow night's full price is a couple of quid more than later in the week! Also, intrigued to know what you think of James Gant in DTAH Really? It's not showing up when I log in with my card number. Odd. I thought James was brilliant as Fidele, so I'm looking forward to seeing how he does in such a completely different role.
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Post by alison on Feb 12, 2017 21:20:33 GMT
Death Takes a Holiday at Charing Cross on Friday to catch James Gant as Death.
Also possibly Thoroughly Modern Millie in Brum, but only if a discount appears. They're not even offering TheatreCard discount for tomorrow night, and I'm not willing to pay the prices on offer.
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Post by alison on Feb 11, 2017 23:11:04 GMT
Is this is a big sing for Alice and Mad Hatter?! Just wondering why both roles need a formal alternate when clearly Kerry and Natalie have the ability to nail 8 shows a week based on previous roles?! Alice is offstage for less than 15 minutes in the whole show (one song + scene in each half), has three big solos, three duets and contributions to a couple of ensemble numbers. Having said that, Janet Dacal did all the shows on Broadway, except a couple where her u/s was scheduled to go on. Although when I think about it, I think she had more time off stage, not such a large role in the opening, and This is Who I Am wasn't in. So possibly not quite so demanding. The Hatter has less stage time, but her two solos are both big sings, plus the new duet with Alice. As a random (vaguely related) note, there's a new higher riff been added to the ending (not the crazy belted last note, but just before, on the part that used to be "and heaven knows" in the old lyrics) that Natalie and Michelle both did earlier in the week, which Natalie didn't do this afternoon but did do tonight. Also, that technical hitch was flipping hilarious. Made worse by the fact that the dry ice that comes out of the bottom of the looking glass was working, so it was hanging just in sight at the top of the stage, smoking away.
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Post by alison on Feb 10, 2017 20:48:10 GMT
I may have seen this too many times this week (and have another trip planned tomorrow to catch Michelle as Alice). What can I say, I'm a theatre addict (also, a £12.10 offer for midweek tickets didn't hurt ). On Monday night, I enjoyed act one but didn't love it, although I did love act two. I'm very familiar with the Broadway production from YT and the cast recording, and it took me a while to get that out of my head. By last night I was able just to appreciate this version for what it is - which is, imo, a very enjoyable show, with a fantastic cast. I'll admit, somewhere in my brain Kerry had become associated with the fangirl craziness and I'd forgotten that I actually liked her in the first place for her talent. Whatever you think of the book, the score for the show is great, and she sings the heck out of it, as does Natalie as the Hatter. Stephen Webb and Naomi Morris are wonderful as Jack and Ellie, too. I've been trying to work out for the last few days why This Is Who I Am irritates me a little, and last night I finally got it. Most of the songs in the show are verse-chorus in structure, but the words for the chorus change somewhat each time round, it's never exactly the same. This Is Who I Am is the only song where they repeat the same chorus three times, and it feels jarring. But I'm awkward like that.
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Post by alison on Feb 9, 2017 22:19:28 GMT
When my friend and I won for Dreamgirls in December it was two tickets. I've entered several times since then for one and not won.
Like the others above though, I have won a single ticket for Kinky Boots a couple of times.
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Post by alison on Feb 2, 2017 20:29:06 GMT
Natalie tweeted someone saying she's off a couple of nights in the Birmingham run. Just found the tweet and she's off weds and Thurs night so unless she's ill in the meantime the Weds will be Michelle's first show Also you know when Michelle is on as she posts a blue heart for Alice and a purple heart for Hatter. Oh, I didn't think of checking Natalie's tweets - excellent. That'll be a visit on either Weds or Thurs for me then. Thanks!
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Post by alison on Feb 2, 2017 20:19:34 GMT
Surely she must do all the matinees, since Michelle Pentecost (alt Alice/Hatter) is on as Alice at the matinees. Michelle doesn't seem to have been on as the Hatter yet, nor has she posted to say she's got a scheduled first date. I'm still holding out hope for some time next week in Birmingham.
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Post by alison on Jan 29, 2017 15:31:55 GMT
It wasn't called the Story of Musicals. It was the Sound of Musicals. If it had been a straightfoward history then jukebox musicals would have had their place. But it was about songs written for musicals so I don't see what Mamma Mia would have added to the themes of the show I don't know, it would have been interesting to have a segment on taking a song that's been written as a standalone pop song and making it "fit" into a musical story. Obviously some shows make more changes than others, and a lot of the songs are just performed as is, but there are some examples out there of clever reworkings. One of my favourites is the use of Cum On Feel the Noize in Rock of Ages - with a few minor lyric changes it becomes a full out musical number that furthers the story. Equally there are examples of songs that have been reworked musically for a more musical theatre feel. A random observation ... for most of the song performances, they've clearly got in people who have played those roles recently. So how did we end up with Siobhan Dillon doing Evita (not that I'm complaining, I like her very much)?
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Post by alison on Jan 28, 2017 22:29:44 GMT
Saw the matinee today. Loved it. The score is more like Phantom and less like Titanic and must be the most lush score in London. Lovely song after lovely song. Music to get lost in. And Chris Peluso. Wow. Utterly believable and what a voice. Someone cast him in something else, quick, before he goes back to the states!It wasn't perfect and there were a few week moments (and the end was a bit sudden!) but it was such a nice couple of hours. If I was an actor, is just love to be in this and singing these songs... I was also really happy to see the Charing Cross nearly full! It's usually not even half capacity when I'm there so I'm pleased this new model seems to be working. They have, he's doing the Funny Girl tour. That's why he's leaving DTAH early. I have to agree with the comments on him though, he plays the otherworldly thing perfectly, and what a voice. I could happily listen to him sing I Thought That I Could Live all day.
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Post by alison on Jan 28, 2017 10:22:28 GMT
Not sure why Jack disappears in the Second Act (I'm sure he didn't in the original). Jack the character did, because I Am My Own Invention used to be sung by an image of Lewis Carroll, played by the same actor. We saw Jack being taken prisoner during I Will Prevail at the top of act two then not again until the scene before Together. They seem to have now swapped that song to the White Rabbit, but it sounds like they haven't thought about putting Jack back into the story for that segment.
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Post by alison on Jan 27, 2017 16:10:06 GMT
I was obviously excited about this anyway (did manage to get a ticket during presale for the first Friday, even if it is right at the back of the stalls), now I'm even more so. They haven't put a foot wrong with the casting so far yet, imo. I can see the point about about the latino and asian representation, but we haven't had the ensemble yet so hopefully they'll have some actors in there of latino/asian origin.
And I must admit, I like the idea of John Barrowman as King George.
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Post by alison on Jan 27, 2017 16:05:36 GMT
Alice's/Kerry's outfit is horrible and tacky. Otherwise, I actually think it looks fine and better than what I anticipated. From what I recall there were no pictures of the Mad Hatter or The Queen. Natalie (Mad Hatter) is on the right of the photo of Kerry and Stephen posted below. I agree with you on Alice's dress, I can see what they're trying to do but I don't like it. I'd rather she was in something completely different, like she was on Broadway: Just over a week until Birmingham. I'm either going to love it and spend my whole month's theatre budget going as many times as possible, or hate it for being different. Still not certain which, although obviously I'm hoping for the former. Maybe I should put away some money for another trip to Death Takes a Holiday once James Gant takes over as Death now.
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Post by alison on Jan 22, 2017 18:35:43 GMT
5. Cat Shoe Shuffle (Cheshire Cat, Cat Gang) Is this a replacement for Go With The Flow, or the same song with a different name? According to a friend who was there, it's a different song. Also, Heroes might be in the programme but it wasn't in the show on Friday night, which is a shame since I really like it from the cast recording (it was cut before Broadway) and got excited when I saw it in the song list on here. I've booked for the first night in Birmingham. Having been so looking forward to this tour, I'm now starting to worry that I'll be disappointed ... despite agreeing that the show still needed work, I've watched the *ahem* clips on Youtube so many times that I'm not sure how I'll take to a different version.
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Post by alison on Dec 20, 2016 17:15:50 GMT
I've got a decent handful ...
London:
London Coliseum - Sunset Boulevard Old Vic - Groundhog Day New London - School of Rock Charing Cross - Ragtime Phoenix - Guys and Dolls
Regional:
New Wimbledon - Keep Dancing Wales Millennium Centre - Only the Brave
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Post by alison on Dec 11, 2016 9:34:24 GMT
It's surely all to do with making sure she's 110% for both press night and the shows prior to that when the press are actually in reviewing, as seems to have been the case last night. Makes perfect sense from a commercial point of view - she's the billed star, so to a certain extent the show will stand or fall with the general public based on how well reviewed she is. That may be, but if they keep mucking around with the schedule that's going to have an effect on word of mouth, no matter how good Karen is. They can't announce an alternate schedule, which people who're travelling a distance to get there or arranging their timetables specifically will trust, then just change it around all the time to suit. Either set a schedule and stick to it, or remove it and go with no set schedule. People might grumble about the latter, but at least it's closer to playing fair. I'm lucky that I'm now close enough to the city that I can just try the lottery whenever I have a free afternoon/evening and make it in if I win, but having spent most of my life visiting a couple of times a year from Edinburgh, it's not hard to imagine how I'd feel if I'd made a specific trip to see it.
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Post by alison on Dec 11, 2016 0:25:19 GMT
I'm seeing this on Tuesday. Was hoping to see the full cast (as I love so many of the principles in this from their previous works) but I'm sure everyone will be fab! When's press night for this? Gotta be soon, hopefully everyone's well by then! Full cast were on tonight. Hugely talented. See, that irritates me. If they've all been told to take "vocal rest" (like Amber's tweet) and not do both shows today, why not split them between the two, rather than having three principals out at the matinee? Matinee audiences aren't less important than evening ones.
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Post by alison on Dec 10, 2016 18:33:34 GMT
Matinee or evening? My friend and I won for the matinee - both entered and she was successful. Yay! Matinee. Just collected my tickets and seen Amber is off. That's a shame, but I'm sure Karen will be great. I think I saw you - were you middle-ish of the row? We were far stage left (seats 1&2). Karen was fantastic. I thought she was very like Amber in her speaking voice and some of her mannerisms - not being familiar with her before now (I haven't watched The X Factor in years) I have no idea if that's just her or if she's intentionally channeling Amber. Listen was amazing from both her and Liisi, highlight of the show for both of us. I thought Tosh was solid (now wondering if he can rap, because physically I could see him as Lafayette/Jefferson). Less convinced about Rohan as Curtis - he wasn't bad, but his voice sounded a bit weak in parts.
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