Just For One Day - Old Vic / Shaftesbury

I had no idea the Old Vic did this - or that any theatre could.  It certainly looks bad for them as what positive reason could they give?  And why should such behaviour inspire audience confidence and willingness to risk sometimes large sums on booking?  It's enough of a gamble for a new production, but when you also have no idea whether you'll be able to see it from your seat, that's disgraceful and suspicious.  Bottom line is that if the Old Vic doesn't trust its audience members with all the information they need, they can't expect the latter to trust the Old Vic with their custom.

The 40th anniversary is next year, so could tie in nicely (assuming it's a hit). 

To give SeatPlan the benefit of the doubt, the Old Vic does change it's layout quite regularly, so the photo I took at Lungs, for example, wouldn't be much use to someone booking A Christmas Carol.

Is it basically a jukebox musical with a shouty Irishman weaving a narrative thread, do we think?

I’m just terrified that people are playing the Live Aid artists in some way so that we get ‘tribute acts’, rather than an original tale told with Live Aid as its backdrop.

Saw or read an interview with one of the creatives who was adamant it wasn't going to be that (or & Juliet style intros to the songs). 

Really intrigued about this now! I’d been on the fence but took the plunge and booked yesterday when they emailed about the front row seats so looking forward to seeing what it’s like.

Personally I rather like the Old Vic but other than on one occasion I’ve sat up close so haven’t had the pillars to contend with. I do recall there’s very little rake in the stalls though as I found to my cost when booking very late in the day for All My Sons.

Just noticed on Today Tix that there are rush seats for this production for anybody who likes buying tickets this way.

Check your QR code / ticket. Should be on there. Otherwise just go to Box Office desk (on the left through main doors past main staircase up three steps to the auditorium).

Interval... after a nervous opening this found its groove. A superb first half. This show feels like a hit already.

Excellent second half. This show is prettty long. Two and a half hours. Some bits will tighten up, perhaps some song sections might get cut as they gauge audience reactions.

What do I think? Well, this is similar in storytelling style to Come From Away. It gets the full rock treatment - a superb band, literally hundreds of lights, it's VERY loud. If you don't like loud stadium gigs, you won't like this. If you do, you'll love it!

I think it needs to find it's audience - tonight there were a mix of people of all generations, and I sensed some of the younger end of the scale were bemused and found it disjointed. The older end enjoyed the nostalgia (though to me nostalgia is the smog that stifles the kind of proactive response that this show seeks to provoke in its audience).

The best bit for me was the end where the focus swivelled to today's generation - a handing over of the baton as it were.

Personally, I loved it. I thought it was really good. The songs are in no way "tributes" or mimics. There are distinct characters in this, some of whom are excellent. For me, the younger performers really own their songs with modern takes of some absolute classics. Thirty-eight songs are credited in the programme - not all sung through, several abridged. The best for me was one called Mrs T/Mr G, which is a Hamiltonesque track featuring... well, you work it out...

For a first preview this was stunning. It will undoubtedly be a hit and will definitely see life beyond the Old Vic.

To some, it'll be the ultimate jukebox show, but to others it'll be so much more.

Standouts for me were Craige Els as Bob, Julie Atherton as Margaret, Jack Shalloo as Midge, Olly Dobson as John and Joel Montague as Harvey.

Would I recommend it? 100%. Absolutely. It needs fine tuning and that's exactly what the preview process will do.

I don't think it's for everyone and must reiterate that it is LOUD. If you don't like 2.5 hours of thumping drums and guitars, this isn't the show for you. If you do, you will be in heaven!

A definite 'must see'.

Are the cast good?