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Post by lem on Aug 9, 2022 12:09:35 GMT
I’ve seen this on tour 3 times now (cos or course I have!) and I still love it! Linzi Hateley playing the narrator continues to be a masterclass in musical theatre! She’s so energetic I don’t know how she does it! Absolutely amazing. Jac is also really great! Just 2 hours of fun! I’m going to Linzi’s last 2 shows in Bristol, never done double before, 2 shows in one day and also never been to Bristol before so looking forward to it! l’ve just booked 10th September without realising it was Linzi’s last show - should be very special then.
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Post by lem on Jul 25, 2022 19:52:31 GMT
Perhaps Sadlers could ditch the obligatory crimbo Bourne ballet. They won't but no harm in wishing. please don’t wish that - I’ve been waiting years to see Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty live on stage. However, I really want this production to see a West End run somewhere.
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Post by lem on Dec 13, 2021 18:37:50 GMT
Extended until October, with cast tbc from March on Upper circle off sale and bottom price available is £70! Wow! I find myself asking if theatre is becoming even more elitist and risks alienating the everyday theatre goer who simply can’t afford this level of pricing. Sadly, I guess I’m not getting to see this Cabaret.
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Post by lem on Dec 11, 2021 19:07:51 GMT
Martin Guerre is a masterpiece compared to Cinderella. Oh dear, that really doesn’t bode well! I loved Martin Guerre but they never really fixed the issues in the many reincarnations that were staged so I’m almost worried about trying Cinderella now.
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Post by lem on Nov 13, 2021 22:00:04 GMT
Has anyone considered what you are supposed to do if (like many older people, including my Mum), you don’t have internet access, email or a mobile phone? There ARE still people who are not connected 24/7 - how do they get proof of a negative test?
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Post by lem on Jul 8, 2020 19:00:54 GMT
116 days - Saturday 14 March I saw A Number at the Bridge and then Uncle Vanya in the evening. I was very anxious about going and it’s the first time in my life I’ve ever driven in London as I was too nervous to use the train. Feels like a lifetime ago ☹️
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Post by lem on Aug 5, 2019 17:13:43 GMT
Martin Guerre’ at the ENO sounds like a magnificent idea. Martin Guerre was going to be my suggestion. Love the score. Even better using the original version with the 3 old women - never going to happen, but I can dream!
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Post by lem on Jul 17, 2019 20:12:22 GMT
In terms of set/props, how much actually made it to the Queen's from the Palace? I am assuming the original barricade was too big for the Queen's! I remember the Palace barricades as being much more substantial- but then I wondered if that was just memory playing tricks as everything looks bigger when you are smaller!
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Post by lem on Jul 13, 2019 8:07:24 GMT
Saw it last night to say "goodbye" to the original production - and found that it has already left. First time I've ever seen Miz (film included) and not come even close to tears at the end. A few decent performances - Thernadier, Gavroche, Marius, Eponine, Cosette - but last time I checked, the show was a "pop opera" that was SUNG through. Why they think speaking some of it heightens the emotion I don't know, and as others on here said, the speed of the thing. They got "On My Own" down to about 1 minute 30. And they don't keep still - wandering about and emoting all over the stage instead of staying put and thinking about it. On the plus side, I now don't mind the old show is going, as it appears to have died many moons ago and doesn't deserve this current humiliation. Saw this last weekend and sadly I have to agree with the monkey. It ALWAYS makes me cry, but the show I saw was almost soleless. Speeding up those lovely melodies and shortening the death scenes robs it of all the emotion, even the turning of the barricades, that has always tipped me over the edge before, left me cold. For me, it’s never been the same since they cut about 15 mins out back in early 2000’s but this last viewing confirms it’s best left in my memories.
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Post by lem on Jun 13, 2019 20:29:39 GMT
Adding to what @dom wrote, I think Linzi has a very expressive voice. On the Joseph cast recording she's soft and tender in the Prologue and Pharaoh's Story, having fun and belting her face off in Jacob and Sons, and camping it up in Potipher. Also she was so much fun in the show, interracting with the other characters and it never once felt forced. Also, being part of a production that was so big and well put together on every level that it just made a brilliant night out. Yes i'm biased because i'm a huge fan, but this really was one of those occasions when a show, the part and the performer all came together pefectly. Agree with everything above and more - Linzi was just total dynamite in that show, looked like she was having the time of her life every night and what a voice! The narrator is the lynchpin who owns this show and she certainly delivered that. She scarcely left the stage for the entire show and even when she wasn’t centre stage, the audience was always aware of her presence. I’ve seen many different versions of Joseph both before and after the original Palladium production and never seen a narrator that gets close to Linzi’s amazing performance.
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Post by lem on Mar 16, 2019 21:42:56 GMT
As a youngster, I regularly spent time looking at the London A-Z to find theatre locations (I lived out in the sticks, there was nothing better to do!). I now navigate all of central London by theatre - eg To get to Folyes, Leicester Square tube and up past the Palace and the Phoenix.
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Post by lem on Mar 14, 2019 11:54:52 GMT
Now all we need is the sliver fox as Jacob or Potiphar!! *rolls eyes in dispair*
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Post by lem on Jan 8, 2019 21:32:20 GMT
Pretty sad if they do that. The legacy of will be devalued in my opinion. No revolve 😢 Removal of the revolve?!? That’s sacrilege. Suggest all theatre lovers gather to build a barricade on Shaftesbury Avenue to protest (!) 😁
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Post by lem on Dec 19, 2018 18:28:06 GMT
Sunset Boulevard starts at the end and is told in flashback. So does Love Never Dies and Phantom and Stephen Ward and (I think) By Jeeves - seems Lloyd Webber likes this format
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Post by lem on Oct 23, 2018 19:43:25 GMT
I’ve had a refund once (Chess at the RAH for appalling sound problems) and a free ticket after complaining about theatre staff member, taking promo photos and trying (and failing) to keep young toddler child from running up and down the aisle for the whole show.
However, I’ve seen many more than 2 terrible plays!! 😀
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Post by lem on Aug 17, 2018 13:01:34 GMT
The original Martin Guerre - is it a face or a man?
In fact, a lot of the designs from Dewynters at that time were very clever and class in my favourites
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Post by lem on Aug 12, 2018 10:43:13 GMT
The matinee today was completely ruined by a high pitched noise throughout much of the first act. I wondered if it was a bizarre alienation effect at first, but then just felt sicker and sicker. Sometimes it would stop, and I could hear a soundtrack of birds and try and get back into the play (which I thought was rather beautiful and reminded me of “Our Country’s Good” in terms of tone. Turns out some idiot had taken her hearing aid out and left it switched on and it was interfering with the sound. I’ve never experienced this before. NT refunded me, said today’s the last day so they couldn’t offer an alternative date. I think the 40 other people who queued to complain in the interval went back in. I have no idea how, maybe they don’t get migraines like me. Am feeling sick and angry and very very uncharitable towards that woman. I was in the circle and the noise was quite annoying - I did wonder if it was a deliberate effect or just my ears playing up. The second act was fine so obviously the announcement from the SM at the end of the interval had the desired effect. Enjoyed the play but it felt to me like the writer ran out of material at the end - maybe I just missed the point, but it seemed to stop rather abruptly with a lack of any conclusion.
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Post by lem on May 4, 2018 20:26:26 GMT
It’s all a case of supply and demand. I’ve not yet seen Harry Potter or Hamilton and don’t expect to do so for several years, or at least until it’s no longer such a hot ticket. Some prices listed are way beyond stupid, but be flexible and you can get Day seats to 42nd street for £15.
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Chess
May 2, 2018 17:36:04 GMT
Post by lem on May 2, 2018 17:36:04 GMT
People are right to point out bad sound design. If you can't hear the lyrics what's the point? What is it with Chess and sound issues? Seems quite a few here remember the total mess at the Royal Albert Hall - I wonder how many refunds they ended up giving on that fiasco? Thinking about it though, some of the big numbers even on the album recordings are difficult to decipher without the lyrics book too.
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Post by lem on Apr 8, 2018 17:47:14 GMT
La Cava - ok, it sank rapidly, but I enjoyed it Me and my girl Time Martin Guerre
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Post by lem on Jun 2, 2017 20:00:27 GMT
Great thread! Overture from Phantom Hand me the wine and the dice from Aspects Goodbyeeee from 'Oh what a lovely war'
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Post by lem on Apr 12, 2017 19:36:05 GMT
I saw this at the weekend and have to agree with the comments above.
I admit to being a Tennant fan and it was great to see him on stage again and obviously enjoying the role. The pairing with Scarborough was inspired and they play very well off each other with some brilliant one liners. Sadly, the rest of the casting was poor and offered one dimensional characters in my opinion. Once you have got past the filthy language (mostly just added to the script for shock value I think), the plot is poor and act 2 is just dull (except for 1 noticeable speech that seems to turn DJs character on his head). Overall, it seems a sad waste of the talents of the 2 leads and a bit of a waste of good theatre time for the audience.
I have another ticket for later in the run but to be honest, it's not something I'm even looking forward to seeing a second time.
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Post by lem on Feb 5, 2017 21:01:57 GMT
I'd suggest Judas in JCS - depends on how the actor chooses to portray the role but can be interpreted as he knows he's being manipulated and yet seems helpless to stop it
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Post by lem on Oct 22, 2016 20:55:22 GMT
Done - I'm sure you'll get some interesting answers as I bet everyone has a different definition of a 'celebrity'
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Post by lem on Oct 19, 2016 21:03:38 GMT
I was at one of the Shaftsbury Theatre ill fated musicals many years ago and there were more people on stage than in the audience. I really enjoyed the show but obviously I was in the minority.
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Post by lem on Sept 1, 2016 18:52:50 GMT
The original Sunset Blvd set at the Adelphi deserves a mention here
Also Starlight Express and JCS at the Lyceum.
Hmmmm, I wonder if this proves a point that ALW shows put set above storyline?
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Post by lem on Aug 2, 2016 17:06:36 GMT
all very well the show being stopped or cancelled and your money refunded The Open Air don't refund "rained off" performances. You just get to exchange your ticket for an equivalent seat at either the same or another production. Yup - I got tickets for JCS last weekend as a rained off exchange from Crazy for You back in 2011
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Evita
Jul 27, 2016 20:39:02 GMT
Sue likes this
Post by lem on Jul 27, 2016 20:39:02 GMT
Pellow was the sole reason I avoided the last production of Evita - please, ANYONE but him
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Post by lem on May 1, 2016 19:58:27 GMT
Nell Gwyn? Blitz!
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