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Post by distantcousin on Dec 15, 2020 10:41:39 GMT
Much as watching the chandelier rise up is hugely thrilling, it doesn't half give the plot away, but i guess when you have invested so much into a prop you best make the most of it and not worry too much about the mechanics of the plot. Same with the blessed helicopter on Miss saigon. In the time line we are suddenly in a flashback, which confuses some of the audience who are not listening to every word, We've not had flashbacks before, but traditionally there's usually a big moment after the start of act two The flashback confused me the first time I saw Saigon as a 16 year old!! And so every time I've seen it since, I've taken the liberty of warning the people I'm seeing it with, during the interval!
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Post by scarpia on Dec 15, 2020 15:06:54 GMT
Does this mean they've now kept the original stage machinery? Interesting to see the proscenium without the sculptures. / Yes. All the original Victorian machinery (seen 1.17 onwards) is listed won't be removed without reasoning, alot of kerfuffle and planning application. They will just install the new production around it, which is what leads me to believe it wont be utilized and therefore the candelabras won't be rising up from the stage. That is one of my all-time favourite moments in the show so I really hope it stays. A stagehand told me that the Victorian machinery wasn't actually used to create that effect, even though this was sometimes claimed back in the 80s. I don't know if maybe it was used and then discontinued, or whether it was never used for that effect. I did have a backstage tour a couple of times but never quite understood the technicalities of it all. From what I was told recently by someone who worked on the show just before lockdown, the candelabra were operated by what is called "perch" at HMT, but is normally named an "auto". A button is pushed, one for each set of candelabras, for them to rise to their first position, then another button (again one per set of per candelabra) is pushed for them to emerge fully and then the same again for them to move in. It is fully motorised. There is a rumour circulating that they will use back projection for candelabra too...is anyone able to rule this out? Because that would seem bizarre given that projections really go against the whole 19th-century aesthetic that Hal and Maria were trying to create... |
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1,062 posts
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Post by David J on Dec 15, 2020 17:52:50 GMT
Much as watching the chandelier rise up is hugely thrilling, it doesn't half give the plot away, but i guess when you have invested so much into a prop you best make the most of it and not worry too much about the mechanics of the plot. Same with the blessed helicopter on Miss saigon. In the time line we are suddenly in a flashback, which confuses some of the audience who are not listening to every word, We've not had flashbacks before, but traditionally there's usually a big moment after the start of act two The flashback confused me the first time I saw Saigon as a 16 year old!! And so every time I've seen it since, I've taken the liberty of warning the people I'm seeing it with, during the interval!
That’s why I find leaps in time jarring if not done well. Have a finality to the previous time period so it then feels natural Les mis is an example where the three time periods feel like three act stories in themselves When I first saw miss saigon I was completely confused by the time leap in the first act. We’d just got to the high point of what was to me a great love story, boom went the fireworks and I was playing catch-up working out when, where, what and why. And I know the point is to leave you in suspense, and the pay off is brilliant with the helicopter. Wondering what happened to the pair. Did he betray her? (even though it’s not hard to guess they got separated by unfortunate events)) |
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1,062 posts
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Post by David J on Dec 15, 2020 17:57:23 GMT
Di Viv and Rose is another great example of time leaps done wrong. The first act had some great writing only jumping 3 months or so.
Second act suddenly jumps 5-10 years which is confusing if you don’t pay attention. And then one of the characters die off out of nowhere with no lead up. Complete let down that was
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42ndBlvd
Swing
I'll be back where I was born to be
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Post by 42ndBlvd on Jan 26, 2021 0:44:54 GMT
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1,483 posts
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Post by steve10086 on Jan 26, 2021 8:12:07 GMT
What on earth! That is ridiculously good. Hard pressed to tell that’s just a model at first glance. |
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Post by danb on Jan 26, 2021 9:28:49 GMT
Fantastic! Fell down a wormhole there. Are the nymphs and gargoyles really that explicit at Her Majesty’s?
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5,161 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Jan 29, 2021 9:36:58 GMT
This morning, ALW exclusively revealed to me, and millions of Radio 2 listeners, that he and CamMack were at Her Majesty's yesterday...at the same time.
We should probably expect two contradictory statements to be released any day now!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2021 9:58:12 GMT
Well this will be mental in a few months, when Phantom reopens and a miniature replica is more true to the original than the 'Brilliant Original' that reopens.
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Post by danb on Jan 29, 2021 10:33:17 GMT
Predicted strapline...”a bit like it used to be...same songs ‘n’ stuff”.
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2,264 posts
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Post by richey on Jan 29, 2021 15:13:13 GMT
From WOS:
Lloyd Webber said that the show, when it returns this year (the current opening date is early June), will be "even better than ever" and that he had been in the venue with co-producer Cameron Mackintosh yesterday to discuss plans, with "a lot of things" in the theatre being done to make it "more Phantom-like".
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Post by westendboy on Jan 29, 2021 15:54:51 GMT
From WOS: Lloyd Webber said that the show, when it returns this year (the current opening date is early June), will be "even better than ever" and that he had been in the venue with co-producer Cameron Mackintosh yesterday to discuss plans, with "a lot of things" in the theatre being done to make it "more Phantom-like". Interesting when he mentions the theatre being "more Phantom-like". Wonder if this means the interior of HMT will resemble the Paris Opera House setting, reminiscent of the original set design. Kind of similar to the set for 'Starlight Express' at the Apollo Victoria, although not that excessive! That's just what I'm imagining, but knowing Cameron Mackintosh, this may not be the case. ALW does seem enthusiastic about it. |
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Post by barrowside on Jan 29, 2021 17:48:37 GMT
As LW own the theatre I presume they would pay for refurbishments. It sounds to me as if the gilding and colourschemes from the production would be extended to the auditorium. Possibly black and gold on the plasterwork and Maria Bjornson's fabric designs on drapes etc. Still no reassurance that they're not dumbing down her design.
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Post by westendboy on Jan 29, 2021 18:18:46 GMT
As LW own the theatre I presume they would pay for refurbishments. It sounds to me as if the gilding and colourschemes from the production would be extended to the auditorium. Possibly black and gold on the plasterwork and Maria Bjornson's fabric designs on drapes etc. Still no reassurance that they're not dumbing down her design. That's what I had in mind as well, just didn't explain it well in my previous comment. ALW still hasn't made it clear if they're dumbing down Bjornson's designs or not, so I'm still weary. |
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Post by richey on Feb 3, 2021 21:08:24 GMT
Call me cynical but if this is going to be a series of posts preparing us for Phantom's return, then I don't think we're getting the original chandelier back. Unless I'm mistaken the photo of the chandelier here is not the original design / |
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2,264 posts
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Post by richey on Feb 3, 2021 21:09:57 GMT
Call me cynical but if this is going to be a series of posts preparing us for Phantom's return, then I don't think we're getting the original chandelier back. Unless I'm mistaken the photo of the chandelier here is not the original design / |
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Post by wardrobemistress76 on Feb 3, 2021 21:45:38 GMT
I wouldn’t read into this too much. The music box has ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ written on it, and resembles a design of music box they released years ago for public sale as part of their merchandise. The chandelier also resembles the original chandelier that hangs in the actual Paris Opera House today: i.pinimg.com/originals/0b/4c/65/0b4c65f65131805d105c4c0001f8ed51.jpgHowever, like so many others, I share your concern! |
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Post by TallPaul on Feb 4, 2021 13:27:00 GMT
Well, the very fact that both images have now disappeared clearly proves something! 😉
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2021 15:37:00 GMT
If its the same stuff that went up on Instagram, they took it down because they got the dates wrong
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5,161 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Feb 4, 2021 16:07:23 GMT
If its the same stuff that went up on Instagram, they took it down because they got the dates wrong A sensible explanation like that has no place on TheatreBoard. You must withdraw it immediately. 🙂 |
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Post by richey on Feb 4, 2021 16:41:26 GMT
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Post by westendboy on Feb 8, 2021 19:02:05 GMT
ALW seems very confident we'll be getting 'The Brilliant Original' back, but who knows?
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Post by wardrobemistress76 on Feb 8, 2021 23:53:53 GMT
I was watching BBC’s ‘Imagine’ with ALW. He spoke SO fondly of the chandelier rising during the overture, and that it is one of his favourite theatrical moments ever. I mean - it is. It sends shivers down my spine. One question we haven’t asked is — why *can’t* it happen? Why do so many people on here think it’s going to be scrapped when Phantom reopens in town? It has been going since Phantom opened, and its now 2021 ... why would they get rid of it? Surely things have advanced since 1986, so why do so many people think it’s no longer viable/practical/possible? I look forward to thoughts and opinions.
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Post by danb on Feb 9, 2021 6:04:00 GMT
I think he’s been trolling us all this whole time to keep ‘Phantom’ alive whilst it is resting. I’m quite sure the chandelier will be back in some form, but it might have been purchased in a Homebase end of line sale rather than magnificently crafted by an art department. Plus it’ll have those long-life bulbs in it that don’t really illuminate anything. Probably.
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Post by wardrobemistress76 on Feb 9, 2021 8:01:29 GMT
This made me guffaw!! I think he’s been trolling us all this whole time to keep ‘Phantom’ alive whilst it is resting. I’m quite sure the chandelier will be back in some form, but it might have been purchased in a Homebase end of line sale rather than magnificently crafted by an art department. Plus it’ll have those long-life bulbs in it that don’t really illuminate anything. Probably. |
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