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Post by kathryn on Jul 26, 2017 16:28:40 GMT
She was deffo on. And magnificent!
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Post by Mr Wallacio on Jul 26, 2017 17:40:20 GMT
She definitely was
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Post by publius on Jul 26, 2017 17:43:20 GMT
Just got a 19.50 in circle for matinee. Clearly been reduced at some point. I hope it's not because Audra isn't on. Either way, cheap matinee sorted. They're struggling to sell tickets by all accounts so that's probably the reason why. |
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Post by Mr Wallacio on Jul 26, 2017 18:16:50 GMT
Just got a 19.50 in circle for matinee. Clearly been reduced at some point. I hope it's not because Audra isn't on. Either way, cheap matinee sorted. They're struggling to sell tickets by all accounts so that's probably the reason why. The evening everything was still top price, so happy with what I got. The upper and balcony were shut this afternoon. |
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Post by kathryn on Jul 26, 2017 22:33:54 GMT
Ah, that's why the stalls were pretty much full. I thought it was odd that my otherwise-empty row on Monday had pretty much sold out by Wednesday afternoon. They must have been upgrading people from the upper and balcony to fill it.
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Post by Phantom of London on Jul 26, 2017 22:45:01 GMT
The onstage seating more than likely will pay the whole wage bill.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 27, 2017 23:34:31 GMT
Late to the party for this (no change there then!) but put off by the high prices. Although I notice the prices have come down for midweek performances.
I did not win the Today Tix lottery today (again) but saw on the Delfont Mackintosh website there was ALOT of availability for the matinee so went along to the theatre to see what bargain I could bag! The Upper Circle and Balcony were clearly closed so I asked for a seat at the back of the circle for £19.50 - the lovely girl in the box office clearly wanted me to sit at the front tables (which were sparsely booked according to the plan) and was clearly upgrading people so Audra was not playing to an "empty club". These seats were £39.50 and I hesitated saying I was uncomfortable with any interaction or audience participation. She assured me there wasn't any and said I would "love it at the front" printed me off a ticket and only took £19.50 with a smile and a wink!
The stalls and the circle looked busy - not sure how they managed to make it so - clearly a lot of upgrading and discounting going on.
What can I say about the show that has not already been said. A knockout performance from Audra McDonald - just incredible. No wonder she won a Tony for the role. Great staging and lighting. I was spellbound for 1.5 hours. I only wish I had known more about Billie Holiday before going. A little more knowledge of her life would have increased my enjoyment even further I think.
But the show has clearly not taken off in London as it did in New York. Audra is not well enough known over here I don't think and Billie Holiday is a bygone era to many who will not be familiar with her work.
Edit - the front stalls table seating is incredible - you feel like you are actually in the club, but the on stage seating I would avoid unless very cheap (it isn't) as you would only see her back for much of the show.
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Post by bramble on Jul 28, 2017 10:38:34 GMT
A fantastic performance.
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Post by TallPaul on Jul 28, 2017 12:35:21 GMT
Lady Day...is next on my list so I'd be very interested to know. wickedgrin, how early, or late, you went to the box office. I'll be travelling from outwith London, so won't be able to make it much before 12 noon. |
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 28, 2017 13:24:49 GMT
I went to the box office at 2.00pm - the performance started at 2.45pm. Timing is everything and ensuring beforehand that the performance is quiet. They cannot have the tables empty, it would look bad.
Plus a huge amount of natural personal charm of course!!
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Post by TallPaul on Jul 28, 2017 13:33:47 GMT
I went to the box office at 2.00pm - the performance started at 2.45pm. Timing is everything and ensuring beforehand that the performance is quiet. They cannot have the tables empty, it would look bad. Plus a huge amount of natural personal charm of course!! Many thanks for the info. I think I might crack and start to panic before then. Unfortunately, I'm a bluff, straight-talking Yorkshireman with zero charm! |
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 28, 2017 16:17:43 GMT
I went to the box office at 2.00pm - the performance started at 2.45pm. Timing is everything and ensuring beforehand that the performance is quiet. They cannot have the tables empty, it would look bad. Plus a huge amount of natural personal charm of course!! Many thanks for the info. I think I might crack and start to panic before then. Unfortunately, I'm a bluff, straight-talking Yorkshireman with zero charm! Yes, that is leaving it late....you can always try earlier and if they don't give you a deal you can walk away and see something else on a matinee day. Of course, you let the box office know this by saying something like "oh not to worry, thank you anyway, I'll go and see XXXX round the corner instead". They usually don't want you to leave and spend your money elsewhere......and a deal miraculously appears! A bluff straight talking Yorkshireman can have their attractions! Good luck! |
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Post by couldileaveyou on Aug 4, 2017 20:21:38 GMT
Tonight's performance has been cancelled due to Audra's sickness
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Post by AddisonMizner on Aug 6, 2017 16:44:34 GMT
I'm just back from a fantastic few days of London theatre. I saw this on Thursday afternoon (3rd August), and it was the first of my four shows over three days.
Well, let me just say that I have seen Imelda Staunton in GYPSY, Denise Gough in PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS and Billie Piper in YERMA (more on that in the YERMA thread later), but Audra McDonald in LADY DAY is giving without doubt, the best performance I have ever seen in all my years of theatre-going! What she does in this play is totally extraordinary - transforming herself entirely into Billie Holiday both physically and vocally, and disappearing into the role. Knowing what Audra usually sounds like when she sings, with that glorious voice that she has, I was absolutely amazed at what she does here. It is almost like she is performing witchcraft on stage. Furthermore, she holds the stage for an hour and a half, practically on her own, and you can't take your eyes off of her. She puts you through the emotional ringer. I knew next to nothing about Billie Holiday, the music or the awful things that happened to her in life, but Audra made it devastating and real for me, so much so that I wish now to do more research on Holiday. Directly at the end of the play, and for a while afterwards, I just wanted to burst into tears due to what I had just witnessed. I do not know how Audra does this night after night, as it must be absolutely exhausting with everything that she has to remember. A real tour-de-force performance! I will probably not see a performance like this again for some time.
The play itself I probably found a little less convincing. The ending particularly just seemed to fizzle out. I know it is based on real life. The events recalled in the play are dramatic, and the character arc throughout the evening is clearly developed, but I just expected something more to finish. I'm not sure what though.
Ultimately, you are going for Audra's performance, and what a performance it is!
Performance: 5 stars.
Play: 4 stars.
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Post by bramble on Aug 6, 2017 17:02:01 GMT
Totally agree with Addison Mizner
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Post by frosty on Aug 12, 2017 8:15:22 GMT
Finally saw this last night. Sat at the on stage seating, it was astonishing, never seen a performance like it. Audra deserves every award possible! We didn't want to leave, we had a linger and discussed the show with other people, who, to be honest, looked a bit shell shocked, it's like we had all shared something a bit special and didn't want it to end. I know that sounds a bit over the top, but that's really what it felt like. That's the magic of theatre I guess, sometimes you are so moved you can't get it out of your head. I have the broadway screening that was broadcast on Sky Arts (or was it BBC 4?) somewhere, definitely going to pour myself a large gin later and watch it again.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2017 22:21:18 GMT
Saw the show a couple of Saturdays ago, and to say Audra is anything short of astonishing is just plain ridiculous. What a performance! She gives you everything. She sounds exactly like Billie, and sings the hell outta those songs, it is actually chilling. It is onw of those rare performances where you are completely compelled the moment she enters and cannot take your eyes off her and what she is doing. It helps too that the set and whole atmosphere is made to make you feel as though you are there, really watching her in this bar. Some of the scenes were truly heartbreaking and you just believe every, single moment in the safe hands of Audra. Having now seen it, it is incredibly tough to deny Audra the Olivier next year, even if she is up against Imelda. A West End debut of this calibre of performace and skill, she deserves every award under the sun.  |
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Post by alicechallice on Aug 13, 2017 23:10:38 GMT
Saw the show a couple of Saturdays ago, and to say Audra is anything short of astonishing is just plain ridiculous. What a performance! She gives you everything. She sounds exactly like Billie, and sings the hell outta those songs, it is actually chilling. It is onw of those rare performances where you are completely compelled the moment she enters and cannot take your eyes off her and what she is doing. It helps too that the set and whole atmosphere is made to make you feel as though you are there, really watching her in this bar. Some of the scenes were truly heartbreaking and you just believe every, single moment in the safe hands of Audra. Having now seen it, it is incredibly tough to deny Audra the Olivier next year, even if she is up against Imelda. A West End debut of this calibre of performace and skill, she deserves every award under the sun. Welcome back, dearie |
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Post by d'James on Aug 15, 2017 15:14:20 GMT
Hello hello. Can someone confirm or deny if there are aisles at either side of the Balcony at this theatre. I can see there is one down the middle, but either side??!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2017 15:20:53 GMT
The Wyndham's? Yeah, there's stairs at the sides of the balcony for walking up and down. |
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Post by d'James on Aug 15, 2017 15:23:05 GMT
The Wyndham's? Yeah, there's stairs at the sides of the balcony for walking up and down. Great thanks. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2017 10:00:20 GMT
Thoroughly enjoyed this. As others have pointed out, the play is fine, but the performance sensational. I'd pay to watch Audra sing the phone book, but this was something very, very special. She really becomes Billie Holliday.
However, those cabaret tables at the front of the stalls are very uncomfortable. but love the ambience of it all...
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Post by TallPaul on Aug 17, 2017 13:05:08 GMT
I'm not sure I can add anything constructive to what has already been written, but I thought this was AM-A-ZING. I'm not one for hyperbole, but the way that Audra McDonald inhabits that role for 1 hour 50 minutes, with perhaps just three or four minutes offstage, is truly breathtaking. I had to keep reminding myself that I was watching Audra (we're now on first name terms!) playing Billie Holiday, rather than Billie Holiday herself. No wonder she's won every award known to man. Credit must also go to the three musicians, and sundry audience members for playing along, including 'cigarette man'.
Sadly, the top two levels were closed, with the other two not full either. Although, on one hand, the cabaret performance depicted on stage suited a more intimate audience, I am also slightly angry. Where was everybody? The queue for the TKTS booth was probably the longest I have ever seen, so there was clearly high demand for theatre tickets on a warm Wednesday in mid-August.
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Post by d'James on Aug 17, 2017 13:29:33 GMT
Do the Theatre tend to do upgrades for this or does it sell well enough to have all levels open?
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Post by wickedgrin on Aug 17, 2017 13:35:13 GMT
The top two levels were closed when I went too, but the tables, stalls and dress seemed full (when the seating plan wasn't) so they must upgrade to ensure the front is full for Audra to play to. This really is unmissable.
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