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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2023 18:49:26 GMT
With the quality of the cast and such interesting characters I'd hope it is a good play. I'd think that Luke and Dame Penelope accepted the roles should mean they like the script which should be a good starting point.
The QM cannot really be too comedy but me might find she "gets a bit tipsy" perhaps. Luke can probably have a more freer reign with Billy and switch from fawning, bitchy, being very OTT and I can see him having a lot of fun with the role especially the mannerisms and things like serving the drinks. He'll have a lot of props to play with so can put extra bits in with the director and see what works and doesn't.
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Post by talkingheads on Oct 11, 2023 16:44:02 GMT
If anybody wants it, I have a front row ticket for this on the 4th November evening performance. ATG are refusing to even give a credit so I'd rather it didn't go to waste!
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Post by barelyathletic on Oct 13, 2023 9:44:35 GMT
I wonder what this will be like. I have visions of a middle of the road BBC sitcom or something like the Queen & I by Sue Townsend. On one hand it could be quite a safe comedy but then again the writer's play "Feeling Afraid as if Something Terrible is Going to Happen" with Sam Barnett got fantastic reviews so maybe we're in for something with a bit more bite. Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going to Happen is one of the sharpest, smartest and laugh out loud funny plays I've seen. I can't wait to see it again when it opens at the Bush next month, so I have high hopes for this. Exciting to get a double whammy off and on the West End from a truly promising new playwright.
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Post by thinton on Oct 22, 2023 0:25:50 GMT
If anybody wants it, I have a front row ticket for this on the 4th November evening performance. ATG are refusing to even give a credit so I'd rather it didn't go to waste! I'll take the ticket if it's still available!
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 22, 2023 10:44:47 GMT
If anybody wants it, I have a front row ticket for this on the 4th November evening performance. ATG are refusing to even give a credit so I'd rather it didn't go to waste! If anybody wants it, I have a front row ticket for this on the 4th November evening performance. ATG are refusing to even give a credit so I'd rather it didn't go to waste! I'll take the ticket if it's still available! Folks, for future reference please use the Noticeboard and PM for ticket sales/giveaways. Cheers.
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Post by barelyathletic on Oct 27, 2023 10:00:28 GMT
Opening tonight. Who's first to see it? I'm not there til late November.
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Post by drmaplewood on Oct 27, 2023 10:07:26 GMT
This really doesn't appear to be selling so am hoping for everyone's sake that its good!
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Post by A.Ham on Oct 27, 2023 10:22:21 GMT
I'm there next Thursday - looking forward to it. It still surprises me it's selling poorly given the star casting - especially given Lyonesse has been pretty much sold out for ages with similarly-starry names.
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Post by theatrefan62 on Oct 27, 2023 13:03:50 GMT
I wouldn't say they are equal star castings tbh.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2023 13:36:11 GMT
I wouldn't say they are equal star castings tbh. If Luke Evans was in a musical role I think he'd be a bigger draw. Dames Penny and Kristin are totally different profiles one much more a stage and TV actress who is borderline national treasure whilst the other is Anglo French film star, was a model too. Both great members of the Acting Dames club but very different in the roles they play. Will Backstairs Billy try to get walk ups via TKTS and other offers this early as if people know they can likely get in this way there would be no urge to pre-book at full price.
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Post by theatrefan62 on Oct 27, 2023 15:06:48 GMT
Yeah, although Luke Evans never seems to have fully broken through to mainstream fame. Yes he did BATB, but aside from that his movie cv is more miss than hit (or a supporting role). People like him, but not enough to be excited (and pay) to see him
My personal view is he also isn't that great an actor either. Quite samey.
If Downton was still on penelope might be more of a draw. But again she's never quite got the same level of fame/love compared to some of the other dames.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2023 17:46:14 GMT
I fully agree Theatrefan 62, Luke has a lot of fans for his film work and has been in stuff where he can have a nice side line doing the convention circuit and if he was in a West End musicial he'd be a big draw there. But this might be a bit bwtween his two main fanbases.
Dame Penelope had been a major stage star and had numerous TV roles before she became widely known in the mid 1980's in Ever Decreasing Circles since then she has gone onto a wide range of roles on stage, screen and TV and done her finest work of her career after she earned wider fame. She is borderline national treasure but her being on stage is a nice thing to see rather than a real event and ots not like they have said this could be her last stage work or we think it could be.
I do hope the play does well as it is an interesting subject and well known real life characters which I think the main actors can have a lot of fun with. I just hope the script is up to scratch and look forward to some reviews on here.
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Post by mkb on Oct 29, 2023 12:31:49 GMT
Cards on the table: I'm an ardent anti-royalist. I loathe the monarchy -- how they behave, what it represents, and how it acts as the keystone to the British class hierarchy, keeping all others in their place -- with a passion.
So how detached could I be to enjoy a play about that most beloved of royals, the Queen Mum, and her relationship with her flamboyant Page of the Backstairs? It helps that she famously kept her personality out of the public spotlight, so much so that we barely knew how her voice sounded. Writer Marcelo Dos Santos has this to his advantage, because he can create a largely fictional persona and narrative, and it doesn't really matter.
And guess what? It's a total hoot! I haven't laughed this much in ages. And it has two real corgis! What more could you ask for?
The players are uniformly good, including some who double up in quite different roles as various visitors to Clarence House.
There's a scene near the end that will be marmite as to how you respond. I thought it didn't work in its current form in this early preview, but I managed to not let that put me off.
The set is sumptuous, and Michael Grandage's direction is expertly judged, apart from that late scene.
Simply because I had such a good time: five stars.
Act 1: 19:36-20:38 Act 2: 20:59-21:57
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Post by alece10 on Oct 29, 2023 14:11:31 GMT
Cards on the table: I'm an ardent anti-royalist. I loathe the monarchy -- how they behave, what it represents, and how it acts as the keystone to the British class hierarchy, keeping all others in their place -- with a passion. So how detached could I be to enjoy a play about that most beloved of royals, the Queen Mum, and her relationship with her flamboyant Page of the Backstairs? It helps that she famously kept her personality out of the public spotlight, so much so that we barely knew how her voice sounded. Writer Marcelo Dos Santos has this to his advantage, because he can create a largely fictional persona and narrative, and it doesn't really matter. And guess what? It's a total hoot! I haven't laughed this much in ages. And it has two real corgis! What more could you ask for? The players are uniformly good, including some who double up in quite different roles as various visitors to Clarence House. There's a scene near the end that will be marmite as to how you respond. I thought it didn't work in its current form in this early preview, but I managed to not let that put me off. The set is sumptuous, and Michael Grandage's direction is expertly judged, apart from that late scene. Simply because I had such a good time: five stars. Act 1: 19:36-20:38 Act 2: 20:59-21:57 Great news as I'm going on Friday. I'm not a play person at all but loved the subject matter and the cast. If its funny then it's win, win for me.
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Post by drowseychap on Oct 30, 2023 1:57:03 GMT
I’m going Saturday looking forward to it now … got tickets as my partner is huge luke fan mind you me too after seeing home 7 times in the original Taboo he was fabulous
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Post by showgirl on Oct 30, 2023 4:10:33 GMT
I've not heard of this Luke person whom people keep mentioning (is he known for tv rather than theatre?) but coincidentally, was talking about theatre to my hairdresser who has done some showbiz work and still has friends in the business and she said one of them was doing hair for an actor called Luke, but of course I had no idea who this could be. Now thinking probably this one. Now had she said Penelope Wilton...
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Post by bobbievanhusen on Oct 30, 2023 4:52:10 GMT
' I've not heard of this Luke person whom people keep mentioning This Luke person? wow..... I would imaging there's proabably more than 1 luke in the industry.
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Post by anthony40 on Oct 30, 2023 11:49:06 GMT
Although I know who this Luke person is, forgive my ignorance however, as he is Welsh, is it fair to say he's much more well known in Wales, than the rest of the UK?
To be cast as Gaston in the Beauty and the Beast remake, he's obviously well known in Hollywood. He was also had a small part as The Coachman in the recent Pinocchio re-make and released a solo CD.
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Post by vdcni on Oct 30, 2023 13:27:37 GMT
That Luke person was first well known in the West End for years before he broke into films unlike a lot of the primarily TV and film actors who aren't well known on this board usually.
He's probably a bit more famous in Wales than in the UK as a whole but not by much I wouldn't think.
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Post by lookingatthestars on Oct 30, 2023 14:22:06 GMT
I would like to see this, but had a look at the tickets and they are a little out of my price range in the stalls at the moment (i can only do stalls) Does anybody know if there will be day seats for this. Thank you
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Post by couldileaveyou on Oct 30, 2023 14:23:18 GMT
I would like to see this, but had a look at the tickets and they are a little out of my price range in the stalls at the moment (i can only do stalls) Does anybody know if there will be day seats for this. Thank you There's a rush on todaytix and decent discounts on TKTS
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Post by lookingatthestars on Oct 30, 2023 14:31:23 GMT
I would like to see this, but had a look at the tickets and they are a little out of my price range in the stalls at the moment (i can only do stalls) Does anybody know if there will be day seats for this. Thank you There's a rush on todaytix and decent discounts on TKTS Appreciate the info, thanks!
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Post by frankubelik on Nov 2, 2023 7:11:14 GMT
I found this hugely enjoyable. Old fashioned, fun, super set, two terrific performances from the leads and corgis! I'm not sure they know quite how to end the piece though. How nice to see a curtain too........
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Post by A.Ham on Nov 2, 2023 14:10:04 GMT
Braving the weather to head to this this evening. Very much looking forward to it, just hope I’m not too soggy by the time I arrive at the DOY!
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Post by zahidf on Nov 2, 2023 23:08:38 GMT
I'll add to say this was ace. Very funny and interesting. Great performances from luke and wilton
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Post by Steve on Nov 2, 2023 23:48:56 GMT
I agree. I also saw this tonight and LOVED it. It's not often you get Penelope Wilton in a comedy, and she's so good at being the straight woman to Luke Evans's delightful, mischievous force-of-nature Backstairs Billy. They have great chemistry, and get a lot of laughs together. And this play isn't one note, as it has some really touching moments as well. Some spoilers follow. . . Luke Evans is a wonderful lead (I think I last saw him in the ensemble of Avenue Q lol), combining all the cultured knowledge you'd expect from a butler with a wild and crazy breathless joie de vivre, that has him spicing the drinks of the Queen Mother's boring guests to keep himself entertained. But of course, although she doesn't know what he's up to, he's doing it because he loves her, and wants to keep her entertained. And it's necessary, because as long as he's known her, the loneliness of losing her husband has hung over her like a cloud. And perhaps he feels that loneliness too. It's a lovely set-up that allows for the introduction of enemies (the Queen Mother's dastardly Private Secretary, Kerr, played by an eagle-eyed Ian Drysdale), allies (Iwan Davies's loveable new raw recruit of a Welsh footman) and wild cards (Eloka Ivo's strident and mischievous artist/gigolo), with well judged farce taking centre stage, while poignant emotions simmer in the wings. The Queen mother was a Queen before she was a mother, and Wilton nails that sense of a greatness humbled, where the uniqueness of her status is isolating, and where even the solace of being a mother has receded as her children have gone their separate ways. In his own way, Evans's Billy is just as uniquely isolated as Wilton's Queen Mother, given that he spends decades in her service, living apart from the "real" world, a gay man living in a leaky closet that could easily lead to scandal and ruin. Because both actors find the unspoken hidden hearts of their characters, their bond feels deep, and their comic interactions are funnier for being rooted in something believable and precious. That said, I know what mkb means, in his excellent review above, about a jarring moment towards the end, which is indeed jarring, but I liked it regardless, as it illuminated the strange bond these two unique characters have shared for many years, and allows plot tensions to find appropriate expression. Overall, this is farcical fun, with a big heart, and although I'm no expert, it feels like there's a bit of true history in there as well. 4 and a half stars from me.
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Post by zahidf on Nov 3, 2023 0:29:57 GMT
I found the jarring moment to be just a way for the play to slip in that the queen mother wasn't all THAT accepting really. She wasn't going to let the other character know who was really in charge.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2023 15:23:16 GMT
Lovely review Steve, I still think they missed a trick not including William's long term partner in the show. There could have been some comedy and nice tender moments between the duo.
The Royal Family had a long history of employing gay males when homosexuality wasn't legal and Billy had probably served a dozen years or so in Royal Service before the laws were changed. It was always rumoured that gay males were employed as they would be no threat to female royals.
Whether gay men felt more safety working a job like this or if they were ever arrested then the powers that be could probably get the charges dropped. But Royal Palaces would be heavily guarded so I doubt many men they might have met socially would have been bought back to their quarters. Also I expect these staff had to be very discrete as if they did any major midemeanors they would have soon been out if there had been any whiff of a press story or scandal.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Nov 3, 2023 17:22:32 GMT
Seeing this tonight.. haven’t heard positive things at all from the 2 friends who have seen it so I’m a little nervous.
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Post by alece10 on Nov 3, 2023 17:29:31 GMT
I'm going to put on the ticket section but I have a spare ticket for tonight if anyone is around and can make it last minute.
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