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Post by singularsensation on Dec 21, 2023 20:39:35 GMT
Bought a ticket for this last week about an hour before curtain up and bagged a few rows back in the stall, dead centre for about £55 - a proper bargain to be honest.
Having not seen any production in person before - just the filmed version - I was excited to finally see it. It didn’t disappoint thankfully, Shaq Taylor was excellent as Hamilton and I loved Billy Nevers as Lafayette/Jefferson - a proper stand out!
Helpless into Satisfied really is the best part of the show for me though and it comes so early on I did feel like I was chasing the high of that particular 1-2 punch the rest of the show.
4/5 for me!
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Post by singularsensation on Nov 25, 2023 14:44:21 GMT
Realised I never came back to post my thoughts after I saw it last weekend with Rachel. Despite my obvious upset that I wanted to see Nicole and getting Rachel (and it turns out they had emailed my fiancé to advise of this the week before and he had just missed the email, so I’m more upset at him!), she is obviously a complete and utter sensation as Norma. I’ve seen her in a fair few roles now and she is probably my favourite of the current West End stars but this was streaks ahead of anything I’ve seen her do, the acting in particular felt like a major step up from anything else I’ve seen from her!
All the leads really gave terrific performances, not a weak link among them - a pleasure to see Tom Francis on a West End stage after last seeing him at the Hope Mill for RENT.
Direction-wise I had a fair idea of what to expect given who directs - my fiancé however did not and was somewhat confused to begin with but felt it really worked for the most part by the end. Personally loved the stripped back, modern approach to the production as opposed to the traditional/original staging - brings what I (probably unfairly) view as a somewhat dated piece of theatre into the 21st century. The anachronisms (such as the finishing the screenplay on the MacBook or picture of Rachel as Elphaba in the opening of act 2) did feel a bit iffy because as it’s still quite clearly set in 1949/1950 but I can overlook that as a choice designed to amplify the absurdity of the whole piece.
5/5 for me!
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Post by singularsensation on Nov 18, 2023 11:52:44 GMT
Have tickets for this tonight and when we booked it wasn’t advertised as a non-Nicole show so I’m a bit gutted - I love Rachel and I know she’ll be fantastic but I really wanted to catch Nicole in this so going to have to come back next month.
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Post by singularsensation on Apr 18, 2023 21:13:02 GMT
She sounds amazing!
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Post by singularsensation on Feb 21, 2023 11:51:47 GMT
I’ve still not been to see the West End production and it coming to my home city seems like a no brainier to see it but my fiancé is reluctant for a touring production to be my first performance of it in case the staging is significantly scaled back and therefore less impressive. How did they manage it with the US tour? Is it very different?
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Post by singularsensation on Feb 18, 2023 4:08:15 GMT
Got rush tickets for this today - our $40 tickets got us K24+26 aka the very back, right most seats of the mezzanine, which obscured the top half of the set but at least didn’t miss any of the stage. Fortunately at the interval the usher suggested we move up front due to empty seats so ended up a couple rows back and to the centre of the mezzanine which was a fantastic view - ended up being a real bargain!
As for the show, I loved it! I am a sucker for a tap number though so naturally this really worked for me. The Benny-Hill-goes-tap number in Act 2 was great!
Plenty of incredible talent on display with Christian Borle giving all tits and teeth and relishing it. The queer storyline worked as well, felt good to see representation like that portrayed by an actual queer/non-binary person, especially one so incredibly talented!
Oh and what a treat that they reworked Let’s Be Bad from Smash!
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Post by singularsensation on Feb 17, 2023 3:12:20 GMT
Just got out of seeing this in NY and would love for the rumours of a West End revival to be true. I went into it completely blind and was blown away. The music is great and Lillias White and Eva Noblezada were incredible but more than anything I need the opportunity to see someone other than Reeve Carney - who made a series of bizarre choices which included breathy affectations, clipping syllables/notes and a very nasal falsetto.
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Post by singularsensation on Jan 28, 2023 19:37:46 GMT
All the songs tonight are clues and Jellyfish just sang Leave A Light On - Amber Riley wrote a song with the same title for the The Saturdays.
Otter is Daisy May Cooper I think.
Ricky Wilson is Phoenix.
Jacket Potato is Richie Sambora from Bon Jovi. The fundraiser was “halfway there” in the clue package.
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Post by singularsensation on Jan 20, 2023 11:17:17 GMT
I’ve no idea if it’s possible to embed tweets here but Ariana posted a cover of Somewhere Over The Rainbow and gave a brief glimpse of her blonde Glinda hair!
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Post by singularsensation on Jan 14, 2023 20:52:20 GMT
Yeah so not a chance that Jellyfish is anyone except Amber Riley. The little mermaid reference as she was in Little Mermaid Live. Good Magic tape as she was Good Witch of the North in The Wiz Live. Her artist name is RILEY aka mononymous. There was even a point where she said “I’m not telling yous”! Phoenix is Ricky Wilson. Didn’t expect to tread the boards = Artilleryman in War Of The Worlds. Magical and film clues = cameo in Harry Potter Deathly Hallows Pt 1. Football reference = ambassador for Leeds United Foundation. Knitting goes without saying, that’s Claire from Steps. The fade to black Scared Of The Dark clue was very on the nose. As was future in 2 halves clue = What The Future Holds album Pt 1 and Pt 2. Otter remains the biggest mystery of that group for me! I thought the football reference might be that kaiser chiefs are a South African football team. Also, mononymous for Amber Riley might be cos she’s known as Mercedes from glee. Ooh yeah that fits even better for Ricky Wilson!
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Post by singularsensation on Jan 14, 2023 20:36:20 GMT
Yeah so not a chance that Jellyfish is anyone except Amber Riley. The little mermaid reference as she was in Little Mermaid Live. Good Magic tape as she was Good Witch of the North in The Wiz Live. Her artist name is RILEY aka mononymous. There was even a point where she said “I’m not telling yous”!
Phoenix is Ricky Wilson. Didn’t expect to tread the boards = Artilleryman in War Of The Worlds. Magical and film clues = cameo in Harry Potter Deathly Hallows Pt 1. Football reference = ambassador for Leeds United Foundation.
Knitting goes without saying, that’s Claire from Steps. The fade to black Scared Of The Dark clue was very on the nose. As was future in 2 halves clue = What The Future Holds album Pt 1 and Pt 2.
Otter remains the biggest mystery of that group for me!
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Post by singularsensation on Jan 13, 2023 17:47:45 GMT
The Beeb have allegedly acquired the rights to the Aus version too so I suspect that’ll pop up on iPlayer before long!
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Post by singularsensation on Jan 13, 2023 15:24:47 GMT
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Post by singularsensation on Jan 12, 2023 15:59:21 GMT
I finally caught up and I’m confident that Fawn - Natalie Appleton Jellyfish - Amber Riley Knitting - Claire Richards Rhino - Charlie Simpson The rest I’m very much less sure about it. Phoenix I thought might be Ricky Wilson or Arthur Darvill. Otter is maybe Julie Walters? She seems like the type to do something for a laugh. Rubbish clues pointed to a snooker player but that seemed like a red herring. The others I’m drawing a blank on to be honest. Amber Riley JUST won the US version like 3 weeks ago. They would have been filming at the same time so it won't be her. Aware she just won, I watched the series she just won! UK Season 4 filmed in October 22, when Amber was in London US series was filmed well before that. On top of that - the white dream catchers in the clue package = Effie White. Won before unexpectedly = first Black woman to win Dancing With The Stars Create my own light = Judge on Let It Shine Me Shell = Glee co-star Lea Michelle. The riddle was a clue about voicing an animation and she voiced a singer in an episode of The Simpsons.
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Post by singularsensation on Jan 12, 2023 15:29:01 GMT
I finally caught up and I’m confident that
Fawn - Natalie Appleton Jellyfish - Amber Riley Knitting - Claire Richards Rhino - Charlie Simpson
The rest I’m very much less sure about it. Phoenix I thought might be Ricky Wilson or Arthur Darvill. Otter is maybe Julie Walters? She seems like the type to do something for a laugh. Rubbish clues pointed to a snooker player but that seemed like a red herring. The others I’m drawing a blank on to be honest.
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Post by singularsensation on Jul 13, 2022 16:31:15 GMT
The idea that anything about Wicked on the West End is currently fresh or exciting is laughable to me. Having seen it earlier this year for the first time in years just because I wanted to see Lucie (fancy that!), I can’t remember the last time I saw something so obviously stale and past it’s sell by date. Nothing about it really impresses or wows anymore. Whilst it continues to make money nothing will change unfortunately, but a refresh would do the show wonders! I see ‘refresh’ mentioned a fair amount, so besides the DG lift and casting .. what needs to be changed ?? … As I wrote on here after I saw it earlier this year, the second half has painfully dull stretches (scenes with the Wizard in particular) and the whole thing hangs around No Good Deed and For Good. With the movie being split in two, new songs seem inevitable and maybe paves the way for them being included (if they’re any good!) in future productions Re-stage/choreograph some of the numbers. I get that As Long As You’re Mine is meant to be an intimate moment but it’s just a bit dull to watch - especially when the Fiyero isn’t up to much vocally so don’t have that to focus on. One Short Day is a solid number and works well, but I don’t think the staging does a particularly convincing job of making me believe the fantasy that it’s a city you know? It’s just a large ensemble twirling about stage with a couple of them dressed as street vendors. New costumes as well! I may be wrong here but I didn’t think anything any of the non-ensemble cast wore had changed since I last saw it 7 years ago? All these things would take significant investment from producers and I understand the logic of not wanting to mess with a show that is still doing well enough, why risk it? It’s just not very exciting for audiences.
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Post by singularsensation on Jul 13, 2022 15:55:13 GMT
The idea that anything about Wicked on the West End is currently fresh or exciting is laughable to me. Having seen it earlier this year for the first time in years just because I wanted to see Lucie (fancy that!), I can’t remember the last time I saw something so obviously stale and past it’s sell by date. Nothing about it really impresses or wows anymore. Whilst it continues to make money nothing will change unfortunately, but a refresh would do the show wonders!
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Post by singularsensation on Apr 10, 2022 20:30:11 GMT
Saw this for the 5th time on Friday with Lucie and Charli. A mixed bag overall! I thought Lucie and Charli both sang the role beautifully, but Lucie’s acting was a little lacking in places. The ensemble gave a really uneven performance as well, parts of it felt very going through the motions and other times they really popped, sometimes both of these things in one song! The first half of One Short Day felt so flat, but once those ridiculous clown things came out, the cast really sparkled.
It’s been about 7 years since I’ve seen the show and my biggest takeaway was that the show is tired now, and would really benefit from going away for a while and coming back with an all new production. The second act has large, painfully dull sections. It’s also lacking in good songs, the whole second half hangs around No Good Deed and For Good and everything before, in between and after then just isn’t that enjoyable.
Mad to think this used to be my favourite show, I think largely cause it’s the first one I took myself to see, and now it wouldn’t even bother my top 10.
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Post by singularsensation on Apr 9, 2022 22:08:14 GMT
Booked this for tonight on a whim whilst visiting London this weekend and I am blown away. Chanel Haynes is out of this world as Tina, it’s as close as seeing Tina as there must be. Just disappears into the role and completely owns it.
Really didn’t expect to like this much, but one of my favourite things I’ve seen in a long time!
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Post by singularsensation on Dec 23, 2019 13:11:49 GMT
$6.5 million in the end, well below the initial projections. A shame to see a movie musical flop, but in this case I think it’s justified given the absolutely shambolic production.
I think you might be over exagerating slightly..... nothing shambolic about the production, given that filming was done on time and in budget. Most movie musicals flop.
They made changes after the initial trailer, which isn't unheard if, but it was too late and people already hated it. Apart from scrapping the whole thing, nothing could be done to save it, regardless of what they have tried.
Phantom Of The Opera only made 6.5milllion in its opening weekend. Both are terrible film adaptations.
The film very didn’t nearly even make it to its scheduled release date due to last minute recording and incomplete visual effects. They have even had to send out a new version with updated effects after its opening weekend. Shambolic is absolutely the right word to use.
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Post by singularsensation on Dec 23, 2019 7:50:33 GMT
Predicted to open with $14-$17 million. A critical and commercial mauling it seems. That was predicted before any reviews came out, as Variety reported that on 10th Dec:
However, it possibly remains unchanged. The Greatest Showman only took $8.8 in it's opening weekend.
$6.5 million in the end, well below the initial projections. A shame to see a movie musical flop, but in this case I think it’s justified given the absolutely shambolic production.
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Post by singularsensation on Dec 20, 2019 11:08:10 GMT
Predicted to open with $14-$17 million. A critical and commercial mauling it seems.
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Post by singularsensation on Dec 19, 2019 22:11:13 GMT
Without a doubt the worst night at the theatre I’ve ever had seeing this tonight. There’s about 1 good singer in the whole cast (and it isn’t Alexandra Burke) and not a single good actor among them. To top it all off, the audience was hideous. A guy kept repeatedly shouting things out, people were constantly talking over scenes or singing along loudly or filming it. They also laughed hysterically but given how awful it was, I presume they were just laughing at the disaster unfolding in front of them but they were still the most rude and disrespectful audience I’ve ever had the displeasure of being sat in.
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Post by singularsensation on Oct 2, 2019 13:35:27 GMT
If anyone in Manchester is free lunchtime today Turns out this was a private PR event but they very graciously let me stay anyway. She was exceptional, not that anyone would have expected anything less of her.
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Post by singularsensation on Sept 13, 2019 22:26:17 GMT
Lots of bad behaviour tonight, the women behind me seemed to think it was acceptable to singalong, and not even quietly. Other than that, the shows was just as funny and entertaining as it was on opening night.
The only change that stood out with they dropped a joke in the bathroom seen. The bathroom attendant didn’t pop a towel over this head when May and Juliet asked for privacy before leaving when asked again. Instead it skipped straight to the attendant leaving and doing the Bien Sur/Bien, Sir joke/dig.
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Post by singularsensation on Sept 12, 2019 7:47:47 GMT
I’m so pleased people are enjoying it as much as I did on opening night! I’m going again on Friday and will probably book again after that as various friends have decided they want to go after I’ve chewed their ears off with how fun it is!
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Post by singularsensation on Sept 10, 2019 21:34:39 GMT
Well I saw it tonight not realising when I booked it was the premiere. It’s ridiculous and it’s campy but it was such good fun. Production value was incredible and the cast are super talented. Best £13 I’d spent in a long while.
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Post by singularsensation on Aug 5, 2019 21:08:20 GMT
Don’t suppose anyone knows Rachel’s holiday dates? I’ve tried to find them to no avail but I may have missed the obvious. I’m either seeing the show on 30th or 31st August (I’m seeing Waitress as well and don’t remember which way round I’m seeing it as it was booked for me as a gift haha). From what I can see on Twitter she’s off from the 12th - 21st August. So she should be on at the end of the month, illness dependant Lovely, thank you so much!
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Post by singularsensation on Aug 5, 2019 8:55:34 GMT
Don’t suppose anyone knows Rachel’s holiday dates? I’ve tried to find them to no avail but I may have missed the obvious. I’m either seeing the show on 30th or 31st August (I’m seeing Waitress as well and don’t remember which way round I’m seeing it as it was booked for me as a gift haha).
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Post by singularsensation on Mar 8, 2017 17:38:23 GMT
Can anyone help me locate the remnants of my scalp? Last seen rocketing past the London Eye after Marisha blew the roof off the Savoy. Christ almighty, what a talent! I'll gather my thoughts more fully later but WOW.
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