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Post by theatrelover123 on May 23, 2023 16:06:01 GMT
Jason Pennycooke no longer involved in the production. I wonder why?
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Post by theatrelover123 on May 11, 2023 7:03:38 GMT
I wanted to like this tonight. I wanted to LOVE this. I really really did. But my reaction to it what's on the stage is..."Why?" Why does this need to exist? It's a condensed version of the story, clocking in at a nice 90 minutes which ended up being more than fine with me. When there's a film that's as well known with performances so ingrained in people's minds, there's got to be a reason to do a play like this and I guess I just couldn't come up with what that reason was here. Maybe if it were a true musical then that question would be answered, but as is, it's just a reason for very good actors to give pretty good performances that make you remember why Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal were so iconic. Plus add to that things that I know they wanted to set this show apart from the film, like starting with the older Ennis lurking onstage the entire time "narrating" (or remembering?), it was distracting and weird and absolutely unnecessary to the story being told and I actually feel that way for the songs, too. To me, they were kind of pointless. Yes they added to the mood of the scene but it was nothing an instrumental score couldn't accomplish and I think probably do better. All that said - I didn't hate it. I just wish it was "more". Case in point, I'm not asking for an explicit sex scene but when Jack and Ennis do have sex for the first time it's in a tent where we can't see anything except the tent move around. And that moment is such an important part of this story that to not even show the start of it seemed wrong to me. I'll sleep on it and think some more about it, for sure. If I could give it 2 1/2 stars out of 5, I would. You could just give it 5 out of 10
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Post by theatrelover123 on May 5, 2023 17:25:12 GMT
I've got two spare PWC tickets I've listed on the noticeboard if anyone would like them. I couldn’t see them there so I guess they’ve gone?
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Post by theatrelover123 on May 3, 2023 12:40:36 GMT
I don't know whether we dodged a bullet with this one but my car broke down on the way to Chichester to see this last night, so our evening's entertainment involved a lot of people watching from the edge of the A27 while waiting for the AA. Were you stuck in a motorway vortex?
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 27, 2023 20:43:44 GMT
Julie Atherton herself doing two of the dates. Will attend one of those. Thanks for that info, I've not seen her on the stage in years and she is one of my favourites. What dates is she doing? Sorry I'm being lazy as I could look it up. 13th and 29th July
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 25, 2023 13:19:46 GMT
No £20.00 seats for this, which seems pretty bad There were lots of £20 seats across the run for all membership periods. Maybe some will be held back for public booking.
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 24, 2023 21:21:41 GMT
Sold out. What is ironic is that whatever happened at that time, in WWII Churchill mastered the medium par excellence. The run is not in any way sold out
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 23, 2023 20:54:25 GMT
I’m guessing Jennifer Hudson will be Usher with Billy Porter, Mindy Kaling and Alan Cumming as 3 of the Thoughts. Possibly Giles and the Krankies as the other 3. Will place some money on it tomorrow
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 23, 2023 19:31:43 GMT
Sometimes they do write a dame into Peter Pan - they'll probably do so for Wilmot. I actually quite like the casting of Saunders as Captain Hook I have to say. Unexpected but interesting. Whichever young musical theatre actor becomes the "hit" of the year in the West End will be cast as Peter Pan I'm sure, as in previous years. Wilmot is playing Henrietta Cook, Captain Hook’s mother
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 19, 2023 6:10:12 GMT
Kwame Kwei-Armah and Lucy Davies (Executive Director) just did a livestream with updates about upcoming work and mentioned that they thought there was a good likelihood of tickets available on the day for The Second Woman. They imagine it being quite fluid and especially at less popular times. Another interesting thing he said was that they had planned to do a play about Chelsea Manning but it fell through so they decided to put Beneatha's Place on instead. They also spoke about the challenges post-pandemic including that people are booking much later and that event theatre was important. Did they talk about any other work that hasn’t been announced yet?
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 19, 2023 5:59:30 GMT
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz This Isn’t Happening I’m sooooooo looking to watching this when it comes into London. Which it definitely is. There is no doubt about it. It will be really exciting. I’m so excited. Definitely.
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 18, 2023 18:59:19 GMT
I’m assuming some tickets are being held back for public booking opening? Its the same relatively sporadic seats being offered across all sites for some reason. Whole swathes (like half the auditorium) not on sale so I'm assuming so. It's also the same prices across every show with no reductions for previews. I also don't see them flying out the door but maybe Seatplan and Todaytix 'pre-sales' might change that.
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 18, 2023 16:24:30 GMT
Tempted by E24 and E25 in Stalls (fairly middle). To those who have seen the show (or more generally frequented the Barbican) is Row E generally OK? I have checked Seatplan and there seems to be generally good feedback but good to open it wider.
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 18, 2023 15:29:10 GMT
Thanks for the heads up. I have just managed to snag a couple of the back-row stalls tickets at £32.50 too. It was a block of three, so needed to hold one on SeatPlan in order to buy the other two on TodayTix. There was no mention at any point, even in the confirmation email, that I have paid more than face value. My previous booking directly with the Barbican incurred a £3.00 booking fee (per transaction and not per ticket) which was not charged via TodayTix. What is the face value of the cheapest price band booking directly? I can see "from £25" mentioned, so I guess I have been stung for a £7.50 per ticket "fee" less the Barbican transaction fee. I wouldn't have minded that, had it been disclosed. On Todaytix: Back row Stalls £29.50 £125 ones are £144 £99.50 ones are £115 £85 ones are £98 £79.50 are £92 £60 ones are £69 £45 ones are £51 £29.50 are £32.50 On Seatplan: £125 ones are £149 £99.50 ones are £118 £85 ones are £101 £79.50 are £95 £60 ones are £71 £45 ones are £54 £29.50 are £35
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 18, 2023 12:26:32 GMT
£85 seats on Barbican site are £98 each via Todaytix pre-sale ;( Equivalent jumps for other price bands too Guess there's a price to pay to get in first and without having to pay for membership though
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 14, 2023 17:57:35 GMT
Anybody logged in today to book and can share what prices are like for previews and main shows please?
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 11, 2023 21:54:03 GMT
I'm a computer programmer by trade. In my 30s, I discovered the power of neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) to reprogram my own brain to overcome some serious mental health issues. With that back story, little did I realise that Marjorie Prime would play directly to subjects that fascinate me. Although it's good to know nothing before going in, it was instantly clear that all was not right with Richard Fleeshman's stilted Walter. Channeling a cross between Max Headroom and Jimmy Carr, he had either embraced that plastic way of acting beloved of American daytime soaps, or he was doing a fine turn as an automaton. I'm being facetious: it was self-evidently the latter. Well, I wasn't expecting that. Before long, there are a few more twists and turns, and the juxtaposition of the human and the artificial makes for some insightful comparisons as to what, if anything, is actually real about us, and what can be said to be unreal about the machines. We are firmly in the territory of Blade Runner and its equally brilliant sequel. In those films, the deconstruction of the human psyche concludes that humans and machines are ultimately no different; programmed needs and innate ones amount to the same thing. Here, playwright Jordan Harrison seems to infer that maybe it's the machines that excel and the humans that are broken. What makes us human, with the need for human connection, is to be flawed and to so often fail at basic human interaction. This piece could not work though without the steadily assured hand of director Dominic Dromgoole and master classes in acting from each member of the cast of four, which are worth the price of admission regardless of the somewhat slight narrative. This is a strong four stars from me. Ideally, I'd have liked something a little longer and more in depth -- maybe the film version that I will now seek out delivers that? -- and I was rather distracted by the odd video backdrop that lies beyond the living room window. Rather than seat this parallel to the glass, the set designer has set it at an angle, flush with the rear wall of the stage. This creates a bizarrely unnatural perspective effect between scenes when the video image is wiped downwards as a sort of proxy for the curtain. That irked me far more than it should have, but I can be a bit too mechanical in my thinking sometimes. Four stars. One act: 19:36-20:50 (There is what felt like a skipped interval break after, I think, the third scene, at the 48-minute mark. I'm not sure if anything was gained by ploughing straight on.) The film is just the play stretched out longer with more artful shots of the sea and a few different settings. I don’t think you will get any more from the film tbh.
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 10, 2023 22:01:52 GMT
What’s this based on? Odd thread to start?
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 8, 2023 21:39:56 GMT
Who said it was speculation?
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 7, 2023 22:19:02 GMT
I would be surprised if he works again anytime soon once the full story comes out
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 7, 2023 7:46:25 GMT
There’s always two sides to every story
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 4, 2023 20:52:26 GMT
I am so confused is this happening or not? no Or is it? !!
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 4, 2023 19:28:21 GMT
Don’t distress. This isn’t the only show Jamie will be doing this summer (although no, it’s not Sound of Music). Any hints on what the other show he's in might be? I’m guessing La Cage
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 4, 2023 15:56:57 GMT
You'd just hope they'll use their brains and cast Julian Ovenden as Von Trapp As Villanelle might say..........."BOOOOOORRRRRRRIIIIIIINNNNNNGGGGGGGGGG!!!!"
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 4, 2023 15:49:11 GMT
Danny Lee Wynter has announced that he is withdrawing from the play. But it is still going ahead. Due to personal reasons. Wow. I’ve heard it hasn’t been an easy process. Maybe not a great idea to cast yourself as the lead? Maybe a bit too close to the play. Very sad. Either way. Yes, that's a lot of pressure, putting a first time writer on in the main house and having them in the lead role too. The theatre could have handled it better though. We're used to the idea of actors being off, shows cancelled through covid and they could have just said that so audiences could make other arrangements. I think the full story will come out soon.
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 3, 2023 21:39:20 GMT
Sold out for the rest of the run No it’s not
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 3, 2023 19:59:38 GMT
Now reflected on the Royal Court's website: It is with deep regret we have to announce that due to personal circumstances, Danny Lee Wynter has taken the difficult decision to withdraw from performing the role of David in BLACK SUPERHERO. The role of David will now be played by Lewis Brown. royalcourttheatre.com/whats-on/black-superhero/Can’t say I’m surprised tbh. Not the ‘technical difficulties’ then
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 3, 2023 14:04:20 GMT
Perhaps I was expecting more because of some of the effusive praise here, but I found it to just be a very nicely done production. Nothing wrong with that at all, but I wouldn't suggest it is a must see or that people need to pay an exorbitant ticket price to catch it, particularly if you've previously seen a quality staging. Yes! My thoughts exactly!
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Post by theatrelover123 on Mar 29, 2023 12:37:00 GMT
I don’t know the full story, but it sounds like it’s not technical difficulties… Ooh curiouser and curiouser. What part of the story do you know?
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Post by theatrelover123 on Mar 28, 2023 7:54:40 GMT
Anyone think any last minute tickets will come back on ATG? I saw a few £85 over the last few days but they seem to come on a few days before…? Oh for sure, nothing is ever really sold out, if you check the website regularly it's unlikely you won't get tickets. Probably returned tickets or similar AKA ‘likely you will’
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