19,786 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 4, 2022 18:15:36 GMT
Posts removed. Please direct snarkiness to the show if you feel that way, and not at eachother.
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306 posts
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Post by kyvai on Oct 4, 2022 23:23:40 GMT
Thanks :-)
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315 posts
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Post by jm25 on Oct 5, 2022 23:44:42 GMT
After enjoying this so much a few weeks ago, I decided to take my mum to see it tonight as I was able to nab some (slightly) discounted front row seats. She's not a theatregoer but she really enjoyed it! And I reckon I enjoyed it even more the second time around, which I didn't think was possible. There's so much more to take in up close!
Think it was the understudy for Raoul on tonight but he was great, and the lady who plays Carlotta is excellent.
Hard to tell from the front row (!) but the place looked pretty full to me.
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2,263 posts
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Post by richey on Oct 15, 2022 7:42:40 GMT
Who requested it? These are dreadful!
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2,263 posts
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Post by richey on Oct 18, 2022 9:47:29 GMT
Booking just extended to September 2023, which seems quite a long period. Hope it's not one of those cases where they're trying to test flagging sales before announcing closure.
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Post by danb on Oct 18, 2022 10:22:49 GMT
I’d say downloads of DJ Webz remixes will have bought it at least another year in London! 🙄
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306 posts
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Post by kyvai on Oct 18, 2022 13:30:37 GMT
Hamilton and Les Mis are booking till next Autumn too, so is Cabaret and Wicked, doesn’t seem too unusual or worrying to me.
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7,183 posts
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Post by Jon on Oct 18, 2022 14:29:43 GMT
Phantom is a long runner so extending the booking period to next year isn't that much of a worry.
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2,263 posts
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Post by richey on Oct 18, 2022 14:51:09 GMT
Hamilton and Les Mis are booking till next Autumn too, so is Cabaret and Wicked, doesn’t seem too unusual or worrying to me. Ah ok. Maybe they're all growing a bit more confident post-covid now. It just seemed a big jump as they've only been doing small extensions so far. |
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520 posts
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Post by anthony on Oct 23, 2022 19:50:56 GMT
I get where the negativity about Killian comes from. He’s awful. Maybe there have been worse Phantoms, but that’s not the point. He’s totally unsuited to the role. My problem is Killiam is less about vocals and more the fact that he is genuinely an horrendous actor. He cannot act. I saw James Gant back when they had Sunday performance and he was slightly better, but was vocally off several times. I'd have loved to have seen Ashley Stillburn, but I think he only got to perform the role twice and he's now quit acting to train to teach, which is such a shame. |
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Post by inthenose on Oct 23, 2022 20:25:13 GMT
I get where the negativity about Killian comes from. He’s awful. Maybe there have been worse Phantoms, but that’s not the point. He’s totally unsuited to the role. My problem is Killiam is less about vocals and more the fact that he is genuinely an horrendous actor. He cannot act. I saw James Gant back when they had Sunday performance and he was slightly better, but was vocally off several times. I'd have loved to have seen Ashley Stillburn, but I think he only got to perform the role twice and he's now quit acting to train to teach, which is such a shame. 100%, Gant’s acting fine, his voice wasn’t exceptional but good. Blown notes, but inhabited the role at least and was “present”. Killian is… a very nice guy, I’m sure. |
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Post by 10642 on Oct 24, 2022 8:00:21 GMT
I get where the negativity about Killian comes from. He’s awful. Maybe there have been worse Phantoms, but that’s not the point. He’s totally unsuited to the role. My problem is Killiam is less about vocals and more the fact that he is genuinely an horrendous actor. He cannot act. I saw James Gant back when they had Sunday performance and he was slightly better, but was vocally off several times. I'd have loved to have seen Ashley Stillburn, but I think he only got to perform the role twice and he's now quit acting to train to teach, which is such a shame. I think killian struggles with consistency in this role. I saw him as Valjean numerous times and thought he was excellent vocally and acting wise. Having seen him several times as the Phantom, his performance both vocally and acting varies greatly even after over a year playing it. Occasionally he absolutely knocks it out of the park but quite often it is much more mediocre. James Hume the 2nd cover is amazing in the role, here’s hoping he gets a few more shows this year |
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Post by 141920grm on Oct 24, 2022 10:36:28 GMT
James Hume the 2nd cover is amazing in the role, here’s hoping he gets a few more shows this year +1 re Hume- quite simply a magnetic presence! And so tall... If you catch him with Anouk you'll have the vocally best pair of this cast, they're the most classical-sounding compared to others. Hume's rich baritone and fine acting details make him a fascinating watch; though Anouk could put in a bit more acting, her effortless soprano make my ears happy at least... |
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Post by inthenose on Oct 24, 2022 14:30:10 GMT
It’s always that same problem in my mind when I’m watching shows where I find the cast underwhelming. I’m thinking to myself; “they have access to basically one of the dream roles in musical theatre history. They have the money and resources to cast almost anyone in the world. Is this person really, truly, the absolute best performer for this part?”
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Post by cezbear on Oct 24, 2022 14:35:51 GMT
It’s always that same problem in my mind when I’m watching shows where I find the cast underwhelming. I’m thinking to myself; “they have access to basically one of the dream roles in musical theatre history. They have the money and resources to cast almost anyone in the world. Is this person really, truly, the absolute best performer for this part?” Oh, this. My train of thought quite often when I'm seeing someone who's fine but... 'really, this was the very best option? Really though?' |
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Post by bobbievanhusen on Oct 25, 2022 8:26:55 GMT
What it's really like to play in the orchestra for Phantom, for 30 years It starts at 33 mins.
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Post by danb on Oct 25, 2022 8:55:46 GMT
It’s always that same problem in my mind when I’m watching shows where I find the cast underwhelming. I’m thinking to myself; “they have access to basically one of the dream roles in musical theatre history. They have the money and resources to cast almost anyone in the world. Is this person really, truly, the absolute best performer for this part?” What’s the process though if somebody ‘isn’t working out’? It isn’t misconduct in any way, and is as much the casting directors fault as the actors, surely? How much energy will a resident director expend before they throw in the towel? |
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520 posts
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Post by anthony on Oct 25, 2022 9:34:07 GMT
It’s always that same problem in my mind when I’m watching shows where I find the cast underwhelming. I’m thinking to myself; “they have access to basically one of the dream roles in musical theatre history. They have the money and resources to cast almost anyone in the world. Is this person really, truly, the absolute best performer for this part?” What’s the process though if somebody ‘isn’t working out’? It isn’t misconduct in any way, and is as much the casting directors fault as the actors, surely? How much energy will a resident director expend before they throw in the towel? To be honest, as a lot of the current cast are still the reopening cast, it's quite hard to know what, for the fans, isn't working. For example, Greg Castiglioni isn't great as Piangi (he is a wonderful actor/singing, though), so it's hard to know what is new direction for the show/a case of it not working out. In terms of the main criticism of the last few posts, though: his contract was extended, so I guess the thoughts of management is that it is working out? |
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Post by danb on Oct 25, 2022 9:35:09 GMT
What’s the process though if somebody ‘isn’t working out’? It isn’t misconduct in any way, and is as much the casting directors fault as the actors, surely? How much energy will a resident director expend before they throw in the towel? To be honest, as a lot of the current cast are still the reopening cast, it's quite hard to know what, for the fans, isn't working. For example, Greg Castiglioni isn't great as Piangi (he is a wonderful actor/singing, though), so it's hard to know what is new direction for the show/a case of it not working out. In terms of the main criticism of the last few posts, though: his contract was extended, so I guess the thoughts of management is that it is working out? I meant generally; in any new cast. |
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Post by cezbear on Oct 25, 2022 9:44:34 GMT
I have no actual clue on this stuff, but my assumption is if someone's reliable, sings the score, does the job competently, causes no trouble backstage, then they're probably perfectly happy to renew them rather than worry about the fact their performance isn't setting anyones heart aflame.
With that said, I'll wait until someone more exciting is cast before I make a return visit.
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Post by inthenose on Oct 25, 2022 10:09:13 GMT
Normally if a casting “mistake” is made, there are three choices.
1. The most common, provided they are punctual, professional and competent enough to be there on a professional stage, they simply see the contract out. Then naturally, they won’t renew them.
2. They are bought out of their contract, sometimes with a non-compete clause so they can’t go into a rival show while they are still being paid their contract period
3. And most controversially, they can be “managed out” or offered voluntary early release. This can happen if the performer is unhappy themselves. Sometimes with a cover story (a personal matter, illness, injury) to save face for the performer.
In this specific case though, the management obviously like Killian Donnelly. A safe pair of hands, who doesn’t cause trouble backstage and is reliable, punctual and professional is worth its weight in gold.
Fair enough, they obviously think he’s doing a good job - and really theirs is the only opinion which matters.
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594 posts
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Post by og on Oct 25, 2022 12:45:20 GMT
Normally if a casting “mistake” is made, there are three choices. 1. The most common, provided they are punctual, professional and competent enough to be there on a professional stage, they simply see the contract out. Then naturally, they won’t renew them. 2. They are bought out of their contract, sometimes with a non-compete clause so they can’t go into a rival show while they are still being paid their contract period 3. And most controversially, they can be “managed out” or offered voluntary early release. This can happen if the performer is unhappy themselves. Sometimes with a cover story (a personal matter, illness, injury) to save face for the performer. In this specific case though, the management obviously like Killian Donnelly. A safe pair of hands, who doesn’t cause trouble backstage and is reliable, punctual and professional is worth its weight in gold.Fair enough, they obviously think he’s doing a good job - and really theirs is the only opinion which matters. Aye, and in comparison to Ben Forster who was almost off more than he was on, a Lead who actually makes it on stage when they should is a dream, as it saves a lot in administrative faff booking standbys etc. |
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Post by welcometodreamland on Oct 31, 2022 23:22:06 GMT
Went and saw this last Tuesday for the first time and had a blast.
I think it was Holly Anne Hull as Christine but either way she was terrific. No one else sadly wasn’t that much of a standout. But still a terrific show throughout.
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Oct 31, 2022 23:40:39 GMT
That would have been the 1st cover Anouk Van Laake with James Gant on as u/s Phantom, Lily De-La-Haye as u/s Carlotta, James Hume and Tim Morgan as u/s the managers (I was also there last Tuesday). |
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Post by PhantomLesmisSaigon on Nov 2, 2022 9:00:12 GMT
I saw Holly on Saturday evening, she was absolutely excellent. James Gant was also on as the Phantom and I found his portrayal heartbreaking. Incredible vocals from both! I wasn't so sure about Connor Carson as Raoul, but he has only had a few shows so I guess he will grow into the role. We all got a Phantom mask as a Halloween gift from Lloyd Webber too which was a nice bonus!
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