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Post by clair on Jun 16, 2020 7:41:46 GMT
I love BB, it's one of the very few shows that I've seen many times, into double figures in fact. That said I'm completely open to it being given a new look - always with the caveat that the new look is enhancing the show rather than change for the sake of it. However I also feel that the tours are too long, they should be cut down with regular long breaks. I say this simply because a couple of years ago I managed to see it in the first week of a new tour and it was like seeing a different show. The cast had such increased energy levels and enthusiasm that I was drawn in and swept up in it in a way that I hadn't been for a long time. I know it's a cash cow for Kenwright and sells brilliantly but give the cast a break, they are all great but I do feel that shorter tours would enable them to keep that energy going throughout and breathe new life into it even without changes being made.
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Post by clair on Jun 12, 2020 17:43:32 GMT
I gave up listening to this as she was just making me angry. In one breath BB was a great show with fabulous writing - in the next people were only going to see her, how arrogant. As for saying that stage fright is only real if you're headlining the show, is she seriously saying that anyone else in a show has no right to nerves/stage fright/whatever you like to call it?!
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Post by clair on Jun 12, 2020 17:39:20 GMT
At the moment I don't think theatres are legally allowed to open are they - whether with a two hander or a cast of fifty? I know that where I work we do not have legal permission to open so have no options no matter how many people ask why aren't we open. Also the first one that is brave enough to open will be the only opportunity for others to see if there really is enough of an audience to make it financially viable. I would imagine most places will be wanting to cover costs and accepting that there will be nothing extra for a while but as long as they don't lose even more than they have already will open as soon as they are able to do so. Sadly this is a game of patience which needs to be approached with optimism, resignation and acceptance in equal measures right now.
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Post by clair on Jun 12, 2020 15:17:15 GMT
Having very sensitive skin right now is really unhelpful with all the handwashing and the lack of the one I know doesn't react against my skin in the shops has been annoying to say the least. Knock at the door earlier and one of my friends thrust two bottles of it at me before running back through the rain to her car. It truly is the little things that make me smile.
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Post by clair on Jun 12, 2020 14:26:38 GMT
I'm being the eternal optimist and hoping that maybe there are lots of things being discussed behind the scenes that are being kept quiet until theatres are legally allowed to open with the right precautions in place. Life is hard right now and I think I would prefer to be kept in the dark until something definite can be said, that will actually happen, rather than suggestions coming through that raise my hopes only to be dashed when they fail to materialise. Prepare for the worst and then everything that happens sooner is a bonus
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Post by clair on Jun 11, 2020 12:25:44 GMT
It's not always down to the theatre though - if the contract with a show means that the promoter, producer or whoever is the one with the power to make the official announcement the theatre has no choice, if they do it without permission they can be sued for breach of contract. This is why so many concerts are still on sale even though we know they won't be happening, promoter hasn't given permission yet. I've had a few where the performer has said the shows are cancelled/being rescheduled and it has been weeks before official confirmation.
Those who are in a position to make the decision themselves should be as open as possible - trouble is I don't know which is which so don't feel I'm in a position to judge.
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Post by clair on Jun 10, 2020 12:35:49 GMT
Surely it depends on the theatre, I do wonder if this is where Charing Cross Theatre can come into it's own as it's a flexible space and from all the shows I've seen there (many absolutely great ones which deserved a far better audience) they have a core audience who are used to socially distanced seating with far fewer people than the capacity. It's the more traditional setups with fixed seating that will struggle more
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Post by clair on Jun 6, 2020 8:10:48 GMT
I would say it's a great idea as a way of raising not only money but also saving money - so many theatres may well have a fair amount of stuff in storage, if they can sell some on then that's cash towards holding on and they might be able to cut down on rented storage space so find a financial saving.
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Post by clair on Jun 5, 2020 12:38:24 GMT
Received a lovely letter from a friend, an email from another that I'd not heard from since March and an extremely kind and talented friend has made me some face masks as she knows my creative powers are less than zero - I might be missing theatre but I am truly blessed with my friends
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Post by clair on Jun 1, 2020 8:25:39 GMT
And it's companies like Premier Inn who will get business once this changes and we can travel again - I'll be remembering those who dealt with things well as well as those who did the opposite. Equally I know which of my friends made contact and which didn't and thus which ones I will have all the time in the world for and which ones are more acquaintances than friends
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Post by clair on May 29, 2020 9:16:24 GMT
I think this is great - it's a proper live performance in the space, keeping it to the number of seats usually available with ticket to match will hopefully make it feel more like a theatre event than all the streaming of pre recorded stuff has. My budget means that Old Vic has always been £10 PWC seats or missing out sadly so this is no different, if I can get a £10 one great, if not tough. Those who would usually pay the top price can continue to support the theatre, get a one off performance as usual and still save on fares, programme costs etc.
Old Vic are putting things online free as well but they need to find some income and have found a new way of doing so, let's not criticise that in the midst of wondering how, when and even if theatres will come back from all of this
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Post by clair on May 27, 2020 17:49:38 GMT
And they've catered for solo theatregoers which makes a nice change!
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Post by clair on May 27, 2020 9:15:08 GMT
Just treated myself to a ticket for Belinda Carlisle - October 2021. Couldn't really afford it but worth it to finally get that feeling of having booked something, fingers crossed concerts will be happening again by then.
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Post by clair on May 26, 2020 18:37:42 GMT
Same here, the fact that they'll offer refunds at a later date if new dates don't work helps with that decision as like for like won't work for me (needs to be a day off) but hope they'll let me switch date so still have a ticket
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Post by clair on May 26, 2020 13:35:26 GMT
Hoping this link works, not very tech savvy me! Ok, I've been avoiding the news and all the different things I'd seen were quite confusing but this tweet made it seem much clearer
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Post by clair on May 24, 2020 8:11:03 GMT
Something that doesn't seem to have come up anywhere is that with journeys to and from work possibly being doubled if not more for many shouldn't places be looking at adding portaloos along routes? My normal bus journey home takes 3 buses and an average of almost two hours - double that with no loos and I foresee certain issues with my return to work!
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Post by clair on May 22, 2020 8:18:30 GMT
I wouldn't dare - as I react badly to even paracetamol, am allergic to penicillin, antihistamine, ibuprofen, whatever the next thing down from penicillin's called and a dental sedation leaves me out cold for three days I'm not really up for anything that isn't necessary! If I didn't have any of that I might consider it but difficult to say when I know that medically I'd be told to wait anyhow.
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Post by clair on May 21, 2020 18:43:21 GMT
My heart says yes like a shot - missing theatre badly. The sensible head part of me which knows how badly I react to any form of medication (even paracetamol) and remembers just how ill I was with swine flu says don't even think about it. Trouble is I always did let my heart rule my head...................................
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Post by clair on May 20, 2020 15:57:38 GMT
Having been to several concerts that weren't exactly sold out they can still be great - it all depends on the people in the audience and how the performer deals with the small number of people. Many shows I've seen in theatres have been less than half full but still thoroughly enjoyable - all depends on how glass half full/empty a person you are really
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Post by clair on May 14, 2020 10:31:42 GMT
I now have my rescheduled date for Lionel Richie - and it doesn't clash with the other rescheduled date for the same month next year!
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Post by clair on May 14, 2020 9:23:29 GMT
Well if he's such an insecure, mean spirited person then I for one will not be seeing anything he's written once theatre comes back to life again. If he wants to keep script writing as some kind of elite club I won't be helping him to do so. Along with many friends we've been hoping that this situation could lead to an exciting shift in theatre with people who have time on their hands coming up with new ideas for writing, producing, staging and so on - clearly this is something he doesn't subscribe to.
This competition could have found a couple of new writers, or possibly even more, and helped move theatre forward just when it most needs all the help it can get - shame on him for not seeing that.
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Post by clair on May 13, 2020 22:04:26 GMT
I'd like to get to an opening night but am not thinking in terms of specific shows - who knows what will return when, I'm guessing big musicals will be the last to come back. This is one time I'm glad I love most genres so a two hander play works for me as well as a huge musical if it's good. I've often wished I only liked one genre so that there might be a chance of seeing everything on the list but now the opposite is true as there will certainly be something that appeals in the first wave of openings.
If I were to post an idealistic view from ones that have been cancelled then: Indecent The Tempest Blood Brothers (with Lyn Paul returning, know it won't happen but this is idealised) City of Angels Choice Grenfell (not west end)
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Post by clair on May 12, 2020 18:36:20 GMT
Totally know that many on here will disagree but that's ok - Marti Pellow's daily lockdown sessions are keeping me smiling and happy. A song a day from someone upbeat and smiling is doing me the world of good!
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Post by clair on May 11, 2020 9:00:05 GMT
Feeling emotional and loved - just had my 50th and the sheer number of wonderful friends who contacted me in so many different ways was overwhelming. It put everything in perspective in a way - all of this is for a length of time even if how long is currently unknown, many of those friends have been with me for over 30 years and will still be there once this has moved on and a vaccine has been found. I am blessed to have such amazing people in my world, with them I can achieve anything because all that really matters is our health and happiness
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Post by clair on May 10, 2020 19:26:08 GMT
Steak and red onion burger with chips. Rhubarb crumble and custard afterwards. I'm eating a lot of chips at the moment. For some reason potatoes never seem to last long in my house before they sprout tentacles; perhaps they're desperate to escape. I used to buy small numbers of potatoes every three or four days but now I'm shopping on a weekly basis I've found large bags of potatoes start to get unappetising when I get near the end, so I'm relying on frozen chips and hash browns instead. My way round that is to batch cook mashed potato - it'll last about a week in the fridge in an airtight container and can even be frozen as well!
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Post by clair on May 8, 2020 22:13:50 GMT
I love ambitious production values, but I have also seen an impressive amount of theatre with minimal sets and props, ones where the story and the acting compelled all my attention and imagination. Lower costs do not necessarily equate to lesser productions. One of the best things I saw last year was 'Islander' which I saw at Southwark having seen it in Edinburgh the summer before. Superb storytelling, totally drew me in both times and could not have been simpler. Shows like that would be a great way to start the industry up again, low costs would offset fewer people in the audience for social distancing and theatres get a chance to open slowly
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Post by clair on May 8, 2020 16:21:20 GMT
I've already had my refund from ATG on this one so shouldn't be a problem for anyone needing one - I was due to see it in Richmond
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Post by clair on May 8, 2020 11:42:40 GMT
That tweet made me laugh so much yesterday - the reply this morning along the lines of if that's at 2m social distancing then share they guy's mobile number sent my tea all over the place!
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Post by clair on May 6, 2020 12:51:31 GMT
I would love this to happen at a later date, perhaps it could then coincide with Peter Polycarpou being available just to make it that bit more special for me!
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Post by clair on May 6, 2020 12:49:32 GMT
Riding a cow not for me, however if some enterprising person could come up with a good social distancing design for a load of horse drawn vehicles going into London for the commute I'd love it!
Have made the decision to stop worrying about when theatre will be back, I know it will be back at some stage which is all that really matters. Worrying won't help, getting upset over all the disappointments won't help and I keep reminding myself that as hard as it is for me to be without live performance for the foreseeable future it's far, far harder for all those working in the industry
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