700 posts
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Post by cheesy116 on Aug 10, 2018 22:24:49 GMT
I would have to agree with theatreian, I had no intention to ever see the show and didn't think much of it until it played a 2 week run at my work and I was won over. I can see it touring forever.
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545 posts
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Post by drowseychap on Aug 11, 2018 0:40:40 GMT
It does need a new production as much as I’ve loved it over theclastc20 odd years .... I’d love to see a new set and staging .... the show deserves it been bk money cow for too long
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Post by danb on Aug 11, 2018 4:30:53 GMT
It has a curates egg quality to it now, and changing it might turn people off from it. Yes the set is tatty & the twins are too old, but you know what you’re getting and that tends to be what people go back for. The absolute nadir was the Pellow years but best we don’t mention them. I went from thinking his jaw was wired shut to hoping it would be in the space of two minutes!
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Post by hannechalk on Aug 11, 2018 18:07:37 GMT
The absolute nadir was the Pellow years but best we don’t mention them. I went from thinking his jaw was wired shut to hoping it would be in the space of two minutes! Sssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhh..... It hurts thinking about it. I was looked at quite oddly at stagedoors as I was the only woman there who wasn't waiting for him. As for other points of view, I see what you are saying, but the fact just is that it sells, and it sells fast, even before Linzi was announced, in its current setting. I wouldn't be opposed to a new direction, but I guess I'm just feeling protective. I have known several of the cast for years. As for the twins - Sean has been playing Mickey since 1999, Mark has been playing Eddie since 1990 (I think). |
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Post by hannechalk on Aug 12, 2018 14:15:39 GMT
I will be going to the show on my own on the following evenings:
Saturday 29th September 2018 - Swansea
Saturday 27th October 2018 - Stoke-on-trent
Saturday 1st December 2018 - Oxford
If you fancy going, but are nervous about going on your own, please do reach out and I'm happy to meet up. My partner may be with me before the show.
I can provide character-references if needed. 😉
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529 posts
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Post by ruby on Aug 13, 2018 11:15:47 GMT
I can provide character-references if needed. 😉 I can vouch for her - sat next to her at the theatre several times and am still alive to tell the tale! |
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65 posts
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Post by dazzlair on Sept 8, 2018 23:23:06 GMT
Guys, please. Go see Linzi Hateley in this. She is *astonishing* - for me the definitive Mrs J. I think I barely breathed during the last 5 minutes. What an amazing, multi-layered and complex performance. This really was a masterclass in inhabiting a character and I don't think I've ever seen grief this authentic on stage. Floods of tears everywhere!
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679 posts
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Post by westendcub on Sept 9, 2018 8:11:20 GMT
Agreed, she was excellent, went to Bromley in the week!
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Post by danb on Sept 9, 2018 10:23:23 GMT
I’ve looked on the Kenwright website for tour dates but they only go up to the next couple of stops. Can anyone point me in the direction of a more comprehensive list?
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Post by hannechalk on Sept 9, 2018 10:43:53 GMT
I’ve looked on the Kenwright website for tour dates but they only go up to the next couple of stops. Can anyone point me in the direction of a more comprehensive list? I am administrator of a fan page on Facebook. Click on the link and then events, and that's all the dates I know of so far. Hope that helps! www.facebook.com/groups/393979660775027/ |
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Post by hannechalk on Sept 12, 2018 9:47:19 GMT
A well-placed birdie has told me Linzi may well be on track to the best Mrs Johnstone ever.
Am looking forward to seeing her in Swansea.
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1,210 posts
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Post by musicalmarge on Sept 12, 2018 10:24:57 GMT
Wow so excited to see her!!! Kenwright finally made a superb casting decision!
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3,320 posts
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Post by david on Sept 12, 2018 11:40:16 GMT
Managed to get a ticket for Sat night at my local theatre in St Helens. It’s been nearly 20 yrs since I’ve last seen the show so really looking forward to seeing it with Linzi. It should be a great night.
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Post by hannechalk on Sept 12, 2018 11:48:30 GMT
Managed to get a ticket for Sat night at my local theatre in St Helens. It’s been nearly 20 yrs since I’ve last seen the show so really looking forward to seeing it with Linzi. It should be a great night. Other than Linzi and some ensemble the cast hasn't changed much. 🤣 |
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3,320 posts
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Post by david on Sept 12, 2018 11:49:43 GMT
Managed to get a ticket for Sat night at my local theatre in St Helens. It’s been nearly 20 yrs since I’ve last seen the show so really looking forward to seeing it with Linzi. It should be a great night. Other than Linzi and some ensemble the cast hasn't changed much. 🤣 I take it the cast are using Zimmer frames then?! |
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Post by hannechalk on Sept 12, 2018 17:19:35 GMT
Other than Linzi and some ensemble the cast hasn't changed much. 🤣 I take it the cast are using Zimmer frames then?! There's a great Zimmer frame-dance number in it now. |
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449 posts
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Post by SageStageMgr on Sept 12, 2018 22:20:11 GMT
I take it the cast are using Zimmer frames then?! There's a great Zimmer frame-dance number in it now. Joking aside, there may need to be if this carries on. I first saw Mark Hutchinson play an 8 year old boy over 23 years ago. |
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235 posts
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Post by Jane Parfitt on Sept 13, 2018 7:53:31 GMT
A well-placed birdie has told me Linzi may well be on track to the best Mrs Johnstone ever. Am looking forward to seeing her in Swansea. Hmm, pretty sure I've heard that said about every new Mrs Johnstone over the years |
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2,778 posts
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Post by daniel on Sept 13, 2018 8:37:32 GMT
I think what excites me the most about Linzi's casting is the fact that finally BKL have cast the role properly. By this I mean someone of the right age, a trained actress and singer. I know traditionally Mrs Js have been singers who can also act, and this is fine, but I have witnessed some dodgy acting in recent years, so for me someone who can get the acting and all the emotion and nail the singing is perfect casting. Roll on Wimbledon.
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65 posts
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Post by dazzlair on Sept 13, 2018 9:57:33 GMT
I think what excites me the most about Linzi's casting is the fact that finally BKL have cast the role properly. By this I mean someone of the right age, a trained actress and singer. I know traditionally Mrs Js have been singers who can also act, and this is fine, but I have witnessed some dodgy acting in recent years, so for me someone who can get the acting and all the emotion and nail the singing is perfect casting. Roll on Wimbledon. Linzi really is remarkable in the role. I too have seen numerous Mrs Js and while my favourite was Lyn Paul for a long time, Linzi is on another level altogether. For me, one of the most memorable and remarkable performances in my 30 years of theatre going. |
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Post by hannechalk on Sept 13, 2018 11:58:20 GMT
A well-placed birdie has told me Linzi may well be on track to the best Mrs Johnstone ever. Am looking forward to seeing her in Swansea. Hmm, pretty sure I've heard that said about every new Mrs Johnstone over the years Nah, not by this birdie. Definitely not by this birdie. |
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3,320 posts
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Post by david on Sept 15, 2018 22:23:48 GMT
Just watched the last nights performance at my local theatre in St Helens and to sum up in a word what I watched - WOW. It’s been around 18 yrs since I last watched it and it absolutely blew me away then, so did it do the same tonight? Categorically YES. Some actors are born to play a particular role, and in this case Linzi Hateley is Mrs J and I mean that with absolutely no disrespect to all the ladies who have proceeded her in this iconic role. Sometimes, BK has had a few dodgy castings over recent shows, but with BB, he has hit the jackpot with Linzi.
What she brings to the role was real raw emotion. You can see throughout the 2hrs the journey she takes with the character both with the acting but ultimately it’s the singing of those iconic songs that tugs at your heartstrings. I honestly couldn’t tell you how the ladies who have played Mrs J find the emotional energy to do these songs night after night. It must be draining for them to have to find that sadness inside of you which you need to do it. This was typified in the songs Light Romance, but ultimately it is Tell Me It’s Not True. By the end, I was drained just watching it, and definitely shed more than a few tears by the end.
The rest of the cast were absolutely fantastic with not a weak link amongst them. They brought a a lot of humour and tradegdy to their respect roles. But I have to say for me Sean Jones’s as Mickey as fantastic. I know him as well as Mark Hutchinson have been associated on and off with the show for a very, very long time, but it’s Sean’s transformation from Mickey the child to Mickey the adult is mesmerising. Though I have to say Mark as Eddy, although giving a quiet and understated version of Eddy, definitely looks out of place as Eddy in my opinion and maybe it may of been better to have somebody slightly younger than him in this role.
The band were also great. Thankfully they weren’t overpowering so you could hear the lyrics.
An absolutely fantastic production and definitely worthy of the standing ovation at the end. If you’ve got tickets for any of the stops on the tour you will not be disappointed. If you haven’t, get one. I can say you won’t be disappointed.
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Post by hannechalk on Sept 17, 2018 17:55:57 GMT
If you've been or you're going this leg, and you're wondering who is responsible for the great music:
Tim Whiting M.D./Keys 1
Michael Lovelock AMD/ Keys 2
Andy Hunter Saxophones
Glenn Musgrove Bass
Simon Pembery Drums
Sound op is Bo Collier
It really is a bugbear of mine that the band is not mentioned in the programme and on the site.
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Post by hannechalk on Sept 21, 2018 15:52:11 GMT
New production-pics.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2018 15:58:20 GMT
Oh good old Linzi. A little heavy handed with the apostrophe but she was probably slightly alarmed that her sons look more like her husband and brother-in-law.
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