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Post by BVM on Oct 25, 2023 8:02:08 GMT
Related to the above, had my third visit last week and did find the audience had changed.
The pints of wine set were in, talking, texting, people trying to film. Most “bad behaviour” at least related to show. Word clearly now out that it’s “event” theatre which seems to lead to pointing and confirming (verbally) between patrons what was happening on stage. Entr’acte and title number had the audience particularly lively. I dunno, the references in former ARE funny but I don’t think they’re “look at me I’ve paid my money I’ve heard this is the clever bit and I’m gonna laugh very loudly and in a sustained manner” funny.
Sorry. I sound like a right miserable bu**er!!
To be fair it wasn’t terrible. It was nowhere near jukebox levels of disruption. And for 90% of the show audience were fine.
But I saw two previews with the most perfect audience. You could have heard a pin drop. One of those unique experiences where everyone was totally mesmerised with what’s on stage and totally engaged. And it was bliss. I guess in retrospect this was never gonna last - sigh.
(Tried to say to myself. It’s Nicole. She was X Factor. The audience reactions are more meta, more part of the production, it’s all good. But in my personal brain, alas this did not work).
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Post by damaskanddark on Oct 25, 2023 9:54:11 GMT
Has Nicole's attendance been good? I'm seeing a matinee in a couple of weeks, and hoping she won't be off
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Post by BVM on Oct 25, 2023 10:07:47 GMT
Has Nicole's attendance been good? I'm seeing a matinee in a couple of weeks, and hoping she won't be off 100% so far. Hopefully she’s being protected at all costs lol. |
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Post by normasturban on Oct 25, 2023 10:23:53 GMT
I’ve seen a lot of great performances over the years but I will say I truly did think Rachel’s performance was utterly electric.
There’s absolutely no doubt the staging and lighting does deliberately invite you to feel like you’re witnessing a star turn but my heart was pumping mid-song and that doesn’t happen often.
Or maybe I need to see a doctor!
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Post by 141920grm on Oct 25, 2023 11:19:54 GMT
Anyone noticed Rachel starts off With One Look one key lower than Nicole (/Glenn/Patti/etc.)? They change to the same key at the final 'Silent music starts to play...' and don't do the modulation at the penultimate verse- which I prefer
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Post by bellatheatre on Oct 25, 2023 12:32:28 GMT
Has Nicole's attendance been good? I'm seeing a matinee in a couple of weeks, and hoping she won't be off 100% so far. Hopefully she’s being protected at all costs lol. hmm more like 90% they had to cancel a show the day before press night as she was ill |
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Post by traveller15 on Oct 25, 2023 12:38:25 GMT
Hello, hoping for some advice. Coming to London in early November and hoping very much to see Sunset, but at the best price as the exchange (Canadian to GBP) almost ads 50% to the ticket price. I have the Today Tix app and will try the lottery route. Am wondering with TKTS if for reduced prices it's just a check in on the day you hope to go or if they start to drop in advance? Or any advice, really, about strategies. Thanks for your consideration. Hope this is the right place to ask. I saw the original mothership back when dinosaurs roamed the earth so am very curious to see what they've done here.
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Post by traveller15 on Oct 25, 2023 12:40:59 GMT
(Tried to say to myself. It’s Nicole. She was X Factor. The audience reactions are more meta, more part of the production, it’s all good. But in my personal brain, alas this did not work). I had the same experience when I saw the Evita revival in New York, with Elena Roger (who I'd seen first in the West End) and... Ricky Martin. That's all need be said in terms of audience reaction. It was a different experience in every respect and was very, very glad I'd seen it properly at the Adelphi. |
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Post by danb on Oct 25, 2023 12:59:34 GMT
In which case, no, I don’t see it as anything much like that, but I’m only speaking for myself. I couldn’t really link Nicole the Pussycat Doll to what I was seeing onstage at all. I saw someone that was used to adoration and adulation slowly learning to live with not having it any more and not know why. Someone happy to live her old life in a microcosm, in her own vacuum, than face the real world where it wasn’t a thing any more. Max has to practically kidnap Joe to come and live in the pretence rather than let her know the truth. I see Joe just as complicit and mercenary until the point where he chooses not to be.
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Post by lolaluffneggle on Oct 25, 2023 13:03:00 GMT
Hello, hoping for some advice. Coming to London in early November and hoping very much to see Sunset, but at the best price as the exchange (Canadian to GBP) almost ads 50% to the ticket price. I have the Today Tix app and will try the lottery route. Am wondering with TKTS if for reduced prices it's just a check in on the day you hope to go or if they start to drop in advance? Or any advice, really, about strategies. Thanks for your consideration. Hope this is the right place to ask. I saw the original mothership back when dinosaurs roamed the earth so am very curious to see what they've done here. On TKTS they only drop on the day if at all. Some days there have been no on the day tickets available and some there are. Tickets direct on ATG may start to reduce slightly the day before. |
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Post by danb on Oct 25, 2023 14:20:26 GMT
I had an affordable ticket in mind and waited until the Thursday when my Sat mat ticket reduced by another £20. Nothing better appeared after that so that’s the rough timescale for weekends. Think they do it more on the day in the week. (On atg tickets. It didn’t hit tkts at all).
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Post by BVM on Oct 25, 2023 17:19:48 GMT
It felt as if, alongside the actors on stage, we were being directed to do it; that we were part of the performance too… This certainly occurred to me last time I was there so did feel slightly bad at myself feeling annoyed at the mid song ovations. |
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Post by danb on Oct 25, 2023 19:06:00 GMT
It felt as if, alongside the actors on stage, we were being directed to do it; that we were part of the performance too… This certainly occurred to me last time I was there so did feel slightly bad at myself feeling annoyed at the mid song ovations. …there’s still no need for audience members to STAND and applaud, mid-song, mid-show. It just makes it about them rather than what’s happening on stage. If they want to show appreciation, wait for the bows. Write them a letter. Post about it on your socials. But don’t distract the other 1149 people in the room with your ego. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 25, 2023 19:21:12 GMT
It’s like those people who “whoop” in quiet bits. Making it all about them. I hate them.
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Post by theatrelover123 on Oct 25, 2023 19:53:13 GMT
Where is better area to sit in the theatre? Stalls or Dress? Looking at tickets in either Row M of Stalls or Row G in Dress.
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Post by andrew on Oct 25, 2023 20:04:46 GMT
Where is better area to sit in the theatre? Stalls or Dress? Looking at tickets in either Row M of Stalls or Row G in Dress. I would personally pick stalls. |
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Post by Matt on Oct 25, 2023 20:11:58 GMT
Where is better area to sit in the theatre? Stalls or Dress? Looking at tickets in either Row M of Stalls or Row G in Dress. Row G is great, there’s a gap so no one in front of you. I sat in one of the “restricted view” seats 4 in from an end, and it’s only restricted if you’re about 3 foot tall. View was brilliant. |
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Post by saints on Oct 25, 2023 21:15:14 GMT
Hello, also looking for advice please, choosing between stalls row U and Dress row J
I’m not sure how much of the screen is lost that far back in the stalls? Thanks!
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Post by evilmat360 on Oct 25, 2023 21:20:39 GMT
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Post by A.Ham on Oct 25, 2023 21:38:17 GMT
I’m not due to go again until closing night but may try to pop in beforehand when I’m in London for other shows to try and pick one of these up. As others have said, the production photos are stunning. |
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Post by ceebee on Oct 26, 2023 8:15:30 GMT
For anybody who is interested there is some very favourable dynamic pricing for tonight on ATG and a few TKTS bargains also, despite relatively low availability.
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Post by iamluisfelipe on Oct 26, 2023 13:19:29 GMT
this is gorgeous! cant wait to put my hands on it. does anyone know why Nicole isnt doing stage doors anymore? illness? |
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Post by BVM on Oct 26, 2023 13:45:49 GMT
this is gorgeous! cant wait to put my hands on it. does anyone know why Nicole isnt doing stage doors anymore? illness? It does look stunning doesn't it - can't wait to get my hands on one next week. Thrilled they've done one - so many limited run (and indeed some open ended ones) don't produce souvenir brochures these days. Re Nicole, didn't know she'd stopped doing stage door. But if she has (with apologies to members who like a bit of stage dooring) I think it's a good thing. With my medical hat on I'd say what's the point in doing everything you can, gym/diet/sleep etc etc, to preserve your health - then go and meet 10/20/30/40 strangers at stage door to share their germs with you every night. She's running a marathon on stage; her voice has to do vocal acrobatics - and whilst as an avid fan I think Tom and Rachel are too - make no mistake, for the GBP she is the star of this show. Do they want her in every scene? Of course they do - what else would they have come for? Protect her at all costs I say! Whilst we all know the small print in the UK is you pay for the show, not the star, there will be lots of moaning if she's out. Like when Glennis was put on the IV drip or when Sheridan was out of Funny Girl. (I disagree with said moaning entirely - but it's what the public will do). |
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Post by dazzlair on Oct 26, 2023 14:00:12 GMT
Well, that was interesting! It will take time to process and I'm glad I have another chance to watch it in December.
Saw it last night and as a "reimagined" multi-media extravaganza, it was without doubt a blockbuster. Bold, sexy, sultry, innovative and super stylised - everything everyone has mentioned. Nicole S is sensational and I loved every "yaaaas" and pout, every twerk and roly poly, every snap of her fingers in a "z" formation. Her singing really is phenomenal and her acting a revelation. I totally bought Norma's unravelling and descent into madness.
Tom Francis was also in fine form. The opening to Act 2 is every bit as bonkers and meta as mentioned and how he doesn't run out of breath is a miracle. Big love to the chimp and the ALW cutout lol.
I have no experience of Jamie Lloyd so wasn't familiar with his style. While my eyes, ears and brain loved it, my heart was not as moved as it has been in other productions. In fact I would probably rank this my third favourite production after the original and the Coliseum stagings. I think it's because the atmosphere is so fervid, the tech so overwhelming, the staging so lacking in physical anchors (unless you're listening to the lyrics intently, there is no indication if this is set in LA or space, the 50s or today) that I felt rather removed emotionally.
I did not buy Artie and Betty's relationship, I did not buy that Joe was touched by Norma's folly, I did not buy Artie's friendship with Joe, I missed Betty being less street smart and sassy and I wished there were fewer close-ups of Max so that his torment and longing was not so writ large and more contained and as a consequence, more impactful. Apart from Norma and Joe, everyone felt like ciphers to me (yes, even Max and Betty).
So to use that old X-Factor (how appropriate!) cliche, I loved it but I did not fall in love with it. Having said that, however, this is a truly sensational production and I feel very lucky to be able to see it twice.
PS. If your budget stretches, the bundled package is great value. The Ambassador Lounge is so beautiful and the service is first class.
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Post by ceebee on Oct 26, 2023 14:01:28 GMT
She was doing stage door early on (not that I do it myself - I don't agree with it) but I think the sheer number of people clutching merchandise with black sharpies at the ready is possibly part of it. Some of the cast tend to come out - I usually see them whilst having a pint at the pub. Each to their own but I find stage dooring a bit of an odd activity.
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