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Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2018 6:35:17 GMT
remember when Leeds didn't even bother to put it in the theatre 😂 The foyer at Leeds is tiny, I think it was just a case of them not having anywhere practical to put it rather than not bothering to put it in a better location. |
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Post by ensembleswings on Aug 30, 2018 8:38:37 GMT
Definitly not heard about any Wizard/Dillamond debuts yet either for this cast... Howard went on in Bristol, I don’t know when his debut was but he’s definitely had a few shows at least. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2018 11:17:28 GMT
Was at yesterdays matinee.
Nikki Bentley -Elphaba
Charli Bapti -Glinda
Hannah Cadec -Nessarose
All 3 of them were amazing.
Slight incident during One Short Day...Nikki and Charli were singing off stage and didnt come back on stage until "oh the night life, the hustle and bustle"
Very well recovered.
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Post by daniel on Aug 30, 2018 11:34:46 GMT
Was at yesterdays matinee. Nikki Bentley -Elphaba Charli Bapti -Glinda Hannah Cadec -Nessarose All 3 of them were amazing. Slight incident during One Short Day...Nikki and Charli were singing off stage and didnt come back on stage until "oh the night life, the hustle and bustle" Very well recovered. that is normal protocol when the quick change at the start of One Short Day isn't quite quick enough  |
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Post by welsh_tenor on Aug 31, 2018 8:31:34 GMT
Looking to book closing weekend in Manchester.... wow those prices are high! £84 or £66 for anything with remotely like a decent view....
Although that’s still cheaper than when it’s in Cardiff!
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Post by musicalmarge on Sept 2, 2018 0:14:26 GMT
RIP Carole Shelley the original Madame Morrible in the OBC.
One of my friends in NYC just messaged me.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 2, 2018 10:03:19 GMT
Wicked is such a machine; it feels a bit futile to even bother reviewing it. I’ve seen it three times now- twice on its current stint in Dublin (one ticket was a gift) and once when it stopped by here a few years back. I don’t think I’d sit through it again any time soon. There’s lots to enjoy- the story, humour, visual effects and set pieces especially, and there are some superb musical moments. Amy Ross as Elphaba was really incredible, and Helen Woolf as Glinda was very good. However, it is flawed in a number of respects. The supporting characters are very poorly written so as to make it almost impossible to care what happens to them. Fiyero is such an insipid character (maybe that’s the point). I couldn’t warm to Nessarose either. Basically, a lot of it felt like inconsequential padding and I actually nodded off at one point in the second half. I know it’s not a long show (or not longer than any other show I’ve seen) but I did feel it drags in parts. There’s nothing in the second half to match Defying Gravity (which is, admittedly iconic), though For Good is a beautiful song. So, whilst it is a decent show, it doesn’t click with me the way it does with others. Still, it is wildly popular and my opinion of it won’t change that! I think a lot of people get really into it then start to drop away after a bit. Not necessarily an age thing (though that plays a part), more an experience thing because when you hold it up against many other shows you realise it’s flaws. It’s all a bit style over substance really. I used to play the cast recording endlessly but after seeing it 3 times the cracks were showing The fourth time was closing night at Salford on the last tour which was when the last of the scales fell from my eyes. I left thinking “never gonna see THAT again”. However I’ll go have a look at The Palace in December because it’s been a while now and it’s literally a few yards from my home, but if it had meant getting the tram to Salford I probably wouldn’t have bothered getting a ticket. |
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Post by distantcousin on Sept 3, 2018 10:14:25 GMT
Wicked is such a machine; it feels a bit futile to even bother reviewing it. I’ve seen it three times now- twice on its current stint in Dublin (one ticket was a gift) and once when it stopped by here a few years back. I don’t think I’d sit through it again any time soon. There’s lots to enjoy- the story, humour, visual effects and set pieces especially, and there are some superb musical moments. Amy Ross as Elphaba was really incredible, and Helen Woolf as Glinda was very good. However, it is flawed in a number of respects. The supporting characters are very poorly written so as to make it almost impossible to care what happens to them. Fiyero is such an insipid character (maybe that’s the point). I couldn’t warm to Nessarose either. Basically, a lot of it felt like inconsequential padding and I actually nodded off at one point in the second half. I know it’s not a long show (or not longer than any other show I’ve seen) but I did feel it drags in parts. There’s nothing in the second half to match Defying Gravity (which is, admittedly iconic), though For Good is a beautiful song. So, whilst it is a decent show, it doesn’t click with me the way it does with others. Still, it is wildly popular and my opinion of it won’t change that!
It is a very average musical that somehow captured a certain zeitgeist and practically invented the fangirling and theatre-geek culture that is now embedded in (almost) mainstream culture.
We have that "thank" it for....
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Post by distantcousin on Sept 3, 2018 10:17:01 GMT
The show I’m going to in Sunderland has literally 16 seats left out of a 2,200 seat theatre. Their strategy of “exclusive and final x engagement” seems to be working. That said, Sunderland does look to be the worst selling venue too. People just don't have that sort of money in the North East (and I'm not being a bitch, it's fact - and I know a lot of people that live there)
People won't pay West End prices for a trip to the theatre. And why should they? It's a totally different market and price-point.
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Post by shady23 on Sept 3, 2018 17:36:22 GMT
Eighty odd quid top price is an absolute scandal.
I'm sure the last time the tour was here you could get half decent seats in the twenty quid range. Now even the balcony starts at thirty quid. Hardly accessible.
If you are sat miles away from the stage, as the balcony is, the prices should reflect this.
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Post by sophizoey on Sept 3, 2018 17:49:31 GMT
Eighty odd quid top price is an absolute scandal. I'm sure the last time the tour was here you could get half decent seats in the twenty quid range. Now even the balcony starts at thirty quid. Hardly accessible. If you are sat miles away from the stage, as the balcony is, the prices should reflect this. On the most expensive shows the cheapest seat in the stalls is £35. (The very ends of the first few rows) Luckily for all you students and u25s out there, £15 tickets will be available after midday on that day of the performance. I found this out from messaging ATG on twitter. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2018 15:31:07 GMT
I’ve just checked the ATG website and they’ve dropped the price of some seats in the stalls at Sunderland this Saturday. The seats which were £60 are now £45. Hardly a difference but if it means those seats will be ciphened off, go for it.
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Post by sophizoey on Sept 7, 2018 10:46:53 GMT
I saw opening in Sunderland last night and oh wow! It was incredible, I've shared my thoughts on Amy and Helen before but last night was a show and a half. Helen and Amy had that crowd in the palm of their hands. While Amy is not the Elphaba for me, what she does she does with such nuance and perfection it's impossible to fault. Helen is Glinda, I could watch her Popular forever and her vocals in Thank Goodness were particularly incredible. However Aaron is still drowned out by everyone else on stage (I spent DtL watching the Fiyero Understudy because he had more stage presence), his vocals were actually quite enjoyable during ALAYM. Also another observation is I found Iddon's Boq bareable last night? He was just giving some sort of emotion and not looking too bored with it.
Now I'll be going to many a show in Sunderland so I'll wait until the end of the run to share more thoughts, but opening was so amazing I had to share now 😂
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Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2018 20:47:02 GMT
Thanks to me taking a photo the cast board, sophizoey finally saw Ben as Fiyero, and with Nikki as Elphaba because Amy felt too ill to do both shows. |
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Post by haz23 on Sept 14, 2018 22:42:55 GMT
Caught the tour in Sunderland tonight and it was excellent (even worth the eye-watering ticket price I begrudgingly paid for the upper circle!)
The last couple of times I’d seen it (both on tour and in London) the show had felt a little stale, but this was fresh, tight and remarkably good. The West End show has a habit of recycling Elphabas and I hadn’t realised until now that it was Nikki Bentley in the role tonight - what a belt! Helen Woolf was excellent too, stunning vocals and very funny!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2018 22:56:57 GMT
That’s exactly what I was saying - the tour cast are consistently “better” than London - more energetic and seem more interested in their craft. It may be that due to touring, all they have is each other so they end up getting closer as a company?
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Post by shady23 on Sept 14, 2018 22:58:42 GMT
I think you may be right.
It's more than just that though, this cast are very special and I would probably go as far to say they are my favourite cast ever.
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Post by shady23 on Sept 14, 2018 22:59:42 GMT
Caught the tour in Sunderland tonight and it was excellent (even worth the eye-watering ticket price I begrudgingly paid for the upper circle!) The last couple of times I’d seen it (both on tour and in London) the show had felt a little stale, but this was fresh, tight and remarkably good. The West End show has a habit of recycling Elphabas and I hadn’t realised until now that it was Nikki Bentley in the role tonight - what a belt! Helen Woolf was excellent too, stunning vocals and very funny! You also had Benjamin Yates, Fiyero cover and Grace Chapman the Nessa cover. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2018 23:05:37 GMT
In this cast we have Helen Woolf who is one of the funniest Glindas ever, and her soprano is gorgeous, Amy Ross, whose portrayal of Elphaba is a total reinvention of the role and exactly what we've needed for ages, Nikki Bentley with her insane belting skills, Kim who is a fabulous actress - her resting bitchface while she's onstage with Glinda is hilarious! - and Steven who is still going strong after nearly 4 years with the show, and also Benjamin who is one of the best understudies I've ever seen. The ensemble too are amazing - their movements and vocals are so crisp and slick with nobody really half-arseing anything.
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Post by shady23 on Sept 20, 2018 18:29:52 GMT
Amy Webb is on as Elphaba tonight
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Post by welsh_tenor on Sept 22, 2018 8:12:49 GMT
Hearing bad things about the Sunderland stage door... sounds like the fan crazy behaviour from London has made its way north!
When when of the actors turns to you and says “oh here again?!” it’s probably a hint that you’ve been too much and are starting to annoy them... add in that half the actors bolted from stage door without even stopping to say hi to anyone (when they’re usually people who stop!), I’m going with a safe bet that it’s in part to avoid having the same conversation for the god-knows-how-many-times that week with the same people....
It’s a shame as the tour cast are so friendly and accommodating but when actors are rushing off, other fans who only went last night seem to have missed out.
Note - I wasn’t there but a very good friend was and I’ve no reason to disbelieve what happened!
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Post by sophizoey on Sept 22, 2018 9:43:50 GMT
Hearing bad things about the Sunderland stage door... sounds like the fan crazy behaviour from London has made its way north! When when of the actors turns to you and says “oh here again?!” it’s probably a hint that you’ve been too much and are starting to annoy them... add in that half the actors bolted from stage door without even stopping to say hi to anyone (when they’re usually people who stop!), I’m going with a safe bet that it’s in part to avoid having the same conversation for the god-knows-how-many-times that week with the same people.... It’s a shame as the tour cast are so friendly and accommodating but when actors are rushing off, other fans who only went last night seem to have missed out. Note - I wasn’t there but a very good friend was and I’ve no reason to disbelieve what happened! I think you'll find you're talking about me 🤗🤗 My two friends and I had no intention of talking to anyone but Amy Webb last night, because she was phenomenal. (Not out of rudeness and disrespect for the rest of the cast, but because we have met them before and we want the other people at stage door to have the chance). I do not expect people to stop for me or recognise me and I am well aware of my stage door presence in Sunderland. Know that my behaviour is a lot more respectful than that of those at the London stage door. |
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Post by freddielee on Sept 22, 2018 9:45:32 GMT
I saw Amy Webb as Elphaba for the first time last night and she was phenomenal! I would absolutely recommend seeing her if you get the chance. She felt like a mix of Alice Fearn and Amy Ross to me and that really made me love her Elphaba!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2018 9:47:54 GMT
I saw Amy Webb as Elphaba for the first time last night and she was phenomenal! I would absolutely recommend seeing her if you get the chance. She felt like a mix of Alice Fearn and Amy Ross to me and that really made me love her Elphaba! Welcome! |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2018 11:22:12 GMT
I am well aware of my stage door presence in Sunderland. I don't usually like to call individuals out on stage door behaviour, but this goes too far. If you are aware then why don't you stop? It sounds as if the cast are clearly trying to make you aware that you've crossed a line, so you should respect their feelings - they have no obligation to be at the stage door. Even if you don't interpret their actions that way, common sense would err on the side of caution and not go again in case you are making them feel uncomfortable. I'd be mortified if any actor said anything like "oh it's you again" to me and I would be beating a very hasty retreat and not going there again! People can be blind to the effect their actions are actually having and think what they're doing is fine when it's really not. |
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