529 posts
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Post by ruby on Jan 4, 2022 22:21:20 GMT
Just had an email regarding a reduction in performances from next week. I'd only just booked a ticket for a performance at the end of January under the offer they were running, now they have decided to cancel Monday evening and Thursday matinees from next week until beginning of Feb so there goes my ticket! Same here - booked a Thursday matinee only a few days ago |
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Post by danb on Jan 5, 2022 10:25:01 GMT
Ditching the unprofitable shows and filling the rest of the week. It makes perfect financial sense, just not that user friendly for those who like a midweek matinee. They’ll be a thing of the past if we’re not careful. It sets a dangerous precedent.
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Post by scarpia on Jan 5, 2022 16:36:27 GMT
Not surprising. Audience numbers haven't been great at all since this opened last year. Lack of tourists will be a huge problem for the show, even without Covid in the cast/crew. And the supposed 'revamp' hasn't really enticed London audiences with all the negative publicity re cost-cutting etc. I feel sorry for the cast/crew, it's not a great way to start 2022.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2022 18:18:39 GMT
The show could have received great publicity and wonderful reviews and people still wouldn't go in numbers that would make any difference. It's got nothing to do with the revamp or cost cutting. The average person has no idea about those things.Its been in London for 30 odd years, numerous tours up and down the country, anyone that wants to see it, already has. Its a tourist trap and without them in the usual numbers, it was going to struggle. They have been losing money on it since it reopened. Dont be surprised if it's gone by the end of the year.
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Post by scarpia on Jan 5, 2022 20:48:35 GMT
The show could have received great publicity and wonderful reviews and people still wouldn't go in numbers that would make any difference. It's got nothing to do with the revamp or cost cutting. The average person has no idea about those things.Its been in London for 30 odd years, numerous tours up and down the country, anyone that wants to see it, already has. Its a tourist trap and without them in the usual numbers, it was going to struggle. They have been losing money on it since it reopened. Dont be surprised if it's gone by the end of the year. Well, the 'new' production did receive positive reviews but it doesn't seem to have done the trick. I think social media word of mouth has not been great and even from so-called average punters, I see regular comments by people who say they were tempted to go but have been put off as they've heard of cuts (most of them have heard of the orchestra cuts as that was the most publicised, admittedly few have heard about the cuts to the scenery). I do agree that the lack of tourists has hurt the show probably the most, but this time of year was never a great season for tourists anyway in any year and that's when the show relied on repeat attenders and domestic audiences (and you never saw price cuts like what they're offering now). Neither of whom seem to be very interested in seeing this. I suspect that's mostly due to COVID, but from comments I've seen online the cost-cutting has been an element in customers' decision-making. |
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183 posts
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Post by tom on Jan 5, 2022 21:20:53 GMT
The show could have received great publicity and wonderful reviews and people still wouldn't go in numbers that would make any difference. It's got nothing to do with the revamp or cost cutting. The average person has no idea about those things.Its been in London for 30 odd years, numerous tours up and down the country, anyone that wants to see it, already has. Its a tourist trap and without them in the usual numbers, it was going to struggle. They have been losing money on it since it reopened. Dont be surprised if it's gone by the end of the year. Well, the 'new' production did receive positive reviews but it doesn't seem to have done the trick. I think social media word of mouth has not been great and even from so-called average punters, I see regular comments by people who say they were tempted to go but have been put off as they've heard of cuts (most of them have heard of the orchestra cuts as that was the most publicised, admittedly few have heard about the cuts to the scenery). I do agree that the lack of tourists has hurt the show probably the most, but this time of year was never a great season for tourists anyway in any year and that's when the show relied on repeat attenders and domestic audiences (and you never saw price cuts like what they're offering now). Neither of whom seem to be very interested in seeing this. I suspect that's mostly due to COVID, but from comments I've seen online the cost-cutting has been an element in customers' decision-making. They probably heard it from you as it's all you ever go on about. It's happened and is unlikely to change - move on! |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2022 21:24:12 GMT
Of course people on social media have strong, vocal opinions and I'm not denying that their knowledge informed their decision to not go back to see it, but even if they did go and see it, it would make very little difference to the figures at the box office. I would say that the vocal theatre fans on social media are not the average theatre goer.
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Post by scarpia on Jan 5, 2022 21:45:03 GMT
Well, the 'new' production did receive positive reviews but it doesn't seem to have done the trick. I think social media word of mouth has not been great and even from so-called average punters, I see regular comments by people who say they were tempted to go but have been put off as they've heard of cuts (most of them have heard of the orchestra cuts as that was the most publicised, admittedly few have heard about the cuts to the scenery). I do agree that the lack of tourists has hurt the show probably the most, but this time of year was never a great season for tourists anyway in any year and that's when the show relied on repeat attenders and domestic audiences (and you never saw price cuts like what they're offering now). Neither of whom seem to be very interested in seeing this. I suspect that's mostly due to COVID, but from comments I've seen online the cost-cutting has been an element in customers' decision-making. They probably heard it from you as it's all you ever go on about. It's happened and is unlikely to change - move on! Haha! Well glad to have raised awareness if that's the case. 😛 Funny (but not surprising) how we've gone from 'trust the producers, it's coming back as it was bigger and better than ever' to 'it's happened - move on'. Oh, of course. I don't disagree. I did say in my post above that lack of international tourists will be a (if not the) main reason for this. |
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Post by inthenose on Jan 5, 2022 21:54:50 GMT
Well, the 'new' production did receive positive reviews but it doesn't seem to have done the trick. I think social media word of mouth has not been great and even from so-called average punters, I see regular comments by people who say they were tempted to go but have been put off as they've heard of cuts (most of them have heard of the orchestra cuts as that was the most publicised, admittedly few have heard about the cuts to the scenery). I do agree that the lack of tourists has hurt the show probably the most, but this time of year was never a great season for tourists anyway in any year and that's when the show relied on repeat attenders and domestic audiences (and you never saw price cuts like what they're offering now). Neither of whom seem to be very interested in seeing this. I suspect that's mostly due to COVID, but from comments I've seen online the cost-cutting has been an element in customers' decision-making. They probably heard it from you as it's all you ever go on about. It's happened and is unlikely to change - move on! Yeah, that's the thing. I worked on Phantom and have seen it somewhere between 70-150 times, all over the world. I'm past caring about the show after the decisions they've made, and haven't actually bothered going since the new production opened. I'm not angry any more, just completely apathetic and "over" the show. The way they treated very loyal and hard-working people, many of which I've known, has just put me completely off wanting to see it again. Some really uninspired casting, pretty mixed views from those I know who have gone, and Covid on top of all that has made it an extremely low priority to see. I can name ten shows I'd sooner see than the new Phantom. So I simply won't bother. It'll take some real high-effort casting, a reinstatement of the orchestra, and a public apology for their mistakes and dishonest rhetoric for me to go. None of which will ever conceivably happen. I can see it closing within a few years, if not sooner. Lots of people I know are truly disillusioned with how the whole thing went down - most of whom aren't "theatre people". |
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3,486 posts
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Post by ceebee on Jan 5, 2022 22:56:46 GMT
Until "Phantom in Concert" hits the stage in full orchestral glory...
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19,794 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 5, 2022 23:03:09 GMT
I don’t think it will close in a few years. When the tourist industry gets back up it will be as busy as ever with international visitors and the returning U.K. “phans”. It’s still a beautiful show and there is literally nothing like it in the WE.
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5,910 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jan 5, 2022 23:56:13 GMT
Assuming they have reduced everyone’s wages on the show also?
I really wouldn’t be surprised if this closes in the next few months.
The shows audience was mainly US and Japanese tourists, and they just aren’t here.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2022 0:03:57 GMT
Can Phantom hold out that long? I don't see tourism getting back to what it was anytime soon. The Phans or any fans of any show have never kept a show going. Yes someone might have seen a show for 500 performances, even 1000 perfromances, but that is 1 seat at 1 performance, in what is usually a very large 1000+ seat theatre. Besides, real 'Phans' won't be supporting this new bastard of a show. You should know that by now!
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Post by scarpia on Jan 6, 2022 0:11:22 GMT
Can Phantom hold out that long? I don't see tourism getting back to what it was anytime soon. The Phans or any fans of any show have never kept a show going. Yes someone might have seen a show for 500 performances, even 1000 perfromances, but that is 1 seat at 1 performance, in what is usually a very large 1000+ seat theatre. Shhhh, you're supposed to call it "intimate", remember? 😉 |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2022 1:27:02 GMT
Shhhh, you're supposed to call it "intimate", remember? 😉 They can call it a shed if they want, it's still 1200 seats to fill! I don't recall if it happened for Cats or Les Mis when it transferred, but was Phantom one of the very first shows that people queued for day seats for? I remember seeing it on the news and thought they were crazy, only to be in that morning queue in October 1989. |
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594 posts
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Post by og on Jan 6, 2022 11:56:51 GMT
If it does close up this year I suspect they'll give it 6 months, send it out on the 18 month tour that never happened, giving something at HMT a 2 year seat in time for Phantom's 'grand' return, London 2024.
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520 posts
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Post by anthony on Jan 6, 2022 22:49:01 GMT
Is it really struggling that badly? I've seen it three times since it reopened and every time it seemed to be pretty full. I've seen a Thursday evening and a Sat and Sun matinee...
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cpm
Auditioning
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Post by cpm on Jan 15, 2022 3:51:03 GMT
Well I had to search quite far back, past Dear Evan Hansen whatever the f*** that is, to find the Phantom thread.
I went back recently, hoping for the best, only to find the worst.
The horse was good. In comparison to the rest. But I'd rather have had the proscenium angel, and the darkness. I made it to half-time, at least, but only through being drunk & not wanting to make a scene.
Absolutely appalling singing. Orchestra might as well have been an 80s stereo. Probably better if it had been. I sincerely think that many cast members were holding back, so as to not embarrass the principles. Piangi was good, but that's it. Dire otherwise. Unspeakably so. Unbearably dreadful all round, an absolutely disgusting performance. Death on anyone who implies otherwise. A filthy disgrace.
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Post by cezbear on Jan 15, 2022 7:32:23 GMT
Well I had to search quite far back, past Dear Evan Hansen whatever the f*** that is, to find the Phantom thread. I went back recently, hoping for the best, only to find the worst. The horse was good. In comparison to the rest. But I'd rather have had the proscenium angel, and the darkness. I made it to half-time, at least, but only through being drunk & not wanting to make a scene. Absolutely appalling singing. Orchestra might as well have been an 80s stereo. Probably better if it had been. I sincerely think that many cast members were holding back, so as to not embarrass the principles. Piangi was good, but that's it. Dire otherwise. Unspeakably so. Unbearably dreadful all round, an absolutely disgusting performance. Death on anyone who implies otherwise. A filthy disgrace. Gosh, tell us how you really feel! Who was on, full cast? |
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520 posts
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Post by anthony on Jan 15, 2022 10:06:23 GMT
To be fair, the cast has improved significantly since debuting. When I saw Carlotta back in August, her diction was horrendous; I genuinely couldn't understand a word. However, they are all much better now.
You are right, though - Greg 100% steals the show... but then, he did in The Woman in White too. Just brilliant.
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Post by inthenose on Jan 15, 2022 17:51:43 GMT
My friend went a few nights ago. They loved the original production, like me, but didn't have much bad to say about the new set. "It wasn't as good, but was still fine."
The cast, on the other hand, she said was the worst she has seen in over 50 visits. She saw the full principal cast, apparently, and particularly disliked Killian Donnelly who "just isn't good enough, by a long stretch".
So there does seem to be a bit of a consensus here.
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544 posts
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Post by amp09 on Jan 15, 2022 18:32:48 GMT
Well I had to search quite far back, past Dear Evan Hansen whatever the f*** that is, to find the Phantom thread. I went back recently, hoping for the best, only to find the worst. The horse was good. In comparison to the rest. But I'd rather have had the proscenium angel, and the darkness. I made it to half-time, at least, but only through being drunk & not wanting to make a scene. Absolutely appalling singing. Orchestra might as well have been an 80s stereo. Probably better if it had been. I sincerely think that many cast members were holding back, so as to not embarrass the principles. Piangi was good, but that's it. Dire otherwise. Unspeakably so. Unbearably dreadful all round, an absolutely disgusting performance. Death on anyone who implies otherwise. A filthy disgrace. Dear Evan Hansen is a highly successful musical that has won numerous awards. You’d think you’d have known that as a member of a theatre forum. Sorry to hear of your cataclysmic trip to see Phantom. |
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19,794 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 15, 2022 19:50:42 GMT
Well I had to search quite far back, past Dear Evan Hansen whatever the f*** that is, to find the Phantom thread. We have a Search function in the menu above. “Phantom” as a key word would pull up the thread. |
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2,422 posts
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Post by robertb213 on Jan 15, 2022 21:00:06 GMT
I saw it with Killian and Lucy in November, they both sounded fine and it certainly didn't deserve the above negativity!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2022 0:10:58 GMT
Well I had to search quite far back, past Dear Evan Hansen whatever the f*** that is, to find the Phantom thread. I went back recently, hoping for the best, only to find the worst. The horse was good. In comparison to the rest. But I'd rather have had the proscenium angel, and the darkness. I made it to half-time, at least, but only through being drunk & not wanting to make a scene. Absolutely appalling singing. Orchestra might as well have been an 80s stereo. Probably better if it had been. I sincerely think that many cast members were holding back, so as to not embarrass the principles. Piangi was good, but that's it. Dire otherwise. Unspeakably so. Unbearably dreadful all round, an absolutely disgusting performance. Death on anyone who implies otherwise. A filthy disgrace. How many times have you left at the interval now? If it is as bad as you constantly say it is, maybe don't keep going back? Maybe don't go to the theatre drunk, then you might he able to appreciate it more. If you dont know what DEH is and have only come here to bash phantom in every post you make, i think there is an ulterior motive going on. A filthy disgrace indeed. |
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