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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2016 11:13:17 GMT
As we reach the end of the year, just curious, how has your theatrical year been? What have you enjoyed and what have you not? How many shows have you seen and what have you returned too this year? What have been your highlights from performers? Just a general look back at your theatrical life in 2016, would be lovely for us to all look back not only on ours but also eachothers.  |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2016 11:28:24 GMT
As usual, my London theatregoing has been disappointing, with the highlight being the gorgeous production of Titanic at Charing Cross Theatre. Victoria Serra's 'Lady's Maid' is still etched into my brain. Also enjoyed Show Boat, particularly Gina Beck.
My trip to New York fared better. Repeat trip to Fun Home was well worth it and so glad I got to see that staging again, and that incomparable performance from Michael Cerveris again before it closed. Also nice to see Judy Kuhn, whose understudy I saw the first time.
Saw The Color Purple for the first time, which is really like being taken to church. Cynthia Erivo and Heather Headley both stunning.
And of course, I got to see Hamilton again. This time from the second row on the first show after the Tonys which was an incredible experience and atmosphere. So great to be able to come back to that cast in that show after becoming so familiar with the music (first time was in August 2015). A cast filled with iconic performances, my favourite of which were (in order): Phillipa Soo, Leslie Odom Jr., Daveed Diggs and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Have to give a shout out to Andy Karl too who gave a truly incredible performance in Groundhog Day, despite the show itself not impressing me too much.
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Post by synchrony on Dec 5, 2016 13:34:41 GMT
Ooh, good question!
I've seen 23 musicals and 7 plays, plus another 36 if you count the Edinburgh Fringe.
My top 3 shows, in terms of enjoyment, according to my spreadsheet were:
1. Allegro at the Southwark Playhouse
Joint 2/3. Side Show at the Southwark Playhouse and Showboat at the Sheffield Crucible.
Bottom 3 were:
1. Sunny Afternoon at the Harold Pinter. Easily the worst thing I've seen in the West End for ages.
Joint 2/3. Bar Mitzvah Boy at Upstairs at the Gatehouse and The Go-Between at the Apollo (in the case of The Go-Between, I found the story pretty dull but also Michael Crawford and Gemma Sutton were both off so my disappointment may have biased me against it).
Having said that, although I did not love Lazarus, Sophia's rendition of 'Life on Mars' wins the prize for the song I've most enjoyed experiencing all year.
Equally, although I didn't love Grey Gardens as a musical, I thought the production was incredible, particularly Jenna Russell. When I watched the documentary afterwards I couldn't believe the attention to detail.
From Edinburgh, the stand-outs were:
1. Undermined.
2. Ada/Ava
3. Us/Them
4. All Quiet on the Western Front
5. Care Takers.
Us/Them is coming to the National Theatre in January, and Undermined is being performed at Wilton's Music Hall in March; I highly recommend both.
It's been a good year :-)
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Post by ptwest on Dec 5, 2016 13:36:23 GMT
I haven’t been to as much as I would like this year but I have to say I have found something to enjoy in everything I have been to. My theatrical year started with Showboat at Sheffield, and although I wasn’t blown away by the musical, the staging and performances were excellent – Rebecca Trehearn stole the show for me. Other than that, my regional theatregoing has consisted of seeing the Mary Poppins tour three times, twice in Manchester, although once was with a group of 70 children and then again in Newcastle just before the Great North Run. I cannot praise this tour too highly, a fabulous production where it would appear no corner has been cut. Also in Sheffield we saw the very wonderful “Flowers For Mrs Harris”, which certainly deserves a wider audience.
London has been good to me this year, particular highlights including Harry Potter, School Of Rock, and Sunset Boulevard. I have to say that although Glenn Close wasn’t the strongest vocally, I found it impossible to take my eyes off her, something particularly mesmerising about her performance. Going to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child felt like an event and was very special, particularly as I had managed to avoid all spoilers.
The year isn’t yet done, with Strictly Ballroom at Leeds and Dreamgirls still to come. Hopefully with both those two 2016 will end on a high.
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Post by bellboard27 on Dec 5, 2016 14:43:11 GMT
Always interesting to look back. So, over 160 shows so far. Highlights for me:
Plays: Yerma, The Flick, The Dresser, Cuttin It
Musicals: Groundhog Day, Half a Sixpence
Opera: Magic Flute (Berlin), 4.48 Psychosis, Ring Cycle (Opera North)
Ballet: The Invitation, La Bayadere (Amsterdam)
Bottom of the pile: How the Other Half Loves, Into the Woods (Menier), Marco Polo the musical, Travels with my Aunt (Chichester), War of the Worlds
However, those productions which most moved me (happy, sad, disturbed, etc): The Invitation (ROH), Bull (Y. Vic), Iphegenia in Splott, Cuttin It, The Makropulos Affair (Flanders Opera)
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2016 15:11:18 GMT
Just 16 shows for me this year. That's what happens when you've just started a mortgage. I dream of the days when that drops and I can increase my theatre trips again.
My highlights of the year were Sunset Boulevard and The Red Shoes and I expect Dreamgirls may join this group when I see it on Saturday.
My low of the year was Aladdin. I desperately wanted to enjoy this but was really disappointed.
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Post by andrew on Dec 5, 2016 15:17:46 GMT
2016 for Andrew brought along 42 shows, with the mean ticket price equating to around £25.
LOW POINTS would definitely be Matthew Perry's "The End Of Longing" (or rather "How I Longed For This To End"), "The Maids" which I just hated from start to finish and searching for a distant third probably the Plough And The Stars at the national which was just rather boring.
HIGH POINTS I'd have to echo Harry Potter and the Cursed Child for the sheer sense of the big theatrical event. Settling down to a Saturday preview, nobody knowing the plot, what would happen, how it would happen and being shocked, surprised and delighted all the way through. It's soured on reflection after the countless times people have pointed out it's flaws but on the day, in the moment, it was just brilliant. Groundhog Day was a real favourite of mine from this year as well, perhaps not the groundbreaking musical everyone had hoped for but I thought it was solidly good from start to finish and I will gladly pay up for another go if it comes back to the West End. I didn't get to see People Places and Things until April and that's stood out as something I keep coming back to when I see other shows that deal with mental illness as such a fine example of script, direction, design and acting all coming together to produce something fantastic. And a final tip of the hat to The Last Five Years which I'm still listening to the OBC recording of since seeing it a couple of months ago at the St James's Theatre, another great show.
I still have She Loves Me, Art and The Red Barn booked in for this year as well as hoping to catch Dreamgirls as soon as possible, here's to 2017.
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Post by viserys on Dec 5, 2016 15:29:21 GMT
My low point in London was probably missing Groundhog Day due to scheduling problems, my overall low point the godawful trashy nonsense that was Wildhorn's "King Arthur" here in Germany.
High points - I'd agree on Harry Potter, seeing Glenn Close as Norma, the sheer fun of School of Rock and the pleasant surprise of Half a Sixpence.
Another personal high point for me was discovering the Opèra Royal de Wallonie in Liege, Belgium, that does wonderful productions at decent prices, so we've got a subscription there now.
I'd also add my Paris trip this weekend to the high points, as it was so wonderful to see Notre Dame de Paris "at home" and I generally like the French stuff.
On the low points side though, I think I'm done with German theatre for good. I've long stopped bothering with the big commercial productions because of their extortionate prices combined with hardly ever seen the first casts, but I've twice tried the local state-subsidized theatres and both times left slightly underwhelmed as well. Maybe we just can't do entertainment here and it's time I just stopped trying.
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Post by bellboard27 on Dec 5, 2016 15:42:45 GMT
Another personal high point for me was discovering the Opèra Royal de Wallonie in Liege, Belgium, that does wonderful productions at decent prices, so we've got a subscription there now. This place was a discovery for me also this year! Saw a good production of Nabucco and will go back if productions and trips to Belgium coincide. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2016 16:20:06 GMT
I've seen some good stuff so far this year, but I still have a dozen or so shows to go so forgive me if I'm not ready to round up yet.  |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2016 16:29:44 GMT
I have seen many shows this year I have loved like Groundhog Day, a midsummer nights dream at the globe, our ladies of perpetual succour and Ragtime and are all wonderful in there different ways and I all equally adore them. I have not seen a lot of the other shows people love like sunset of Harry Potter but I am sure they were great.
2016 also marked the time I went to new York for the first and definalty not last time. I only caught one show when I was there which was An American in Paris and I loved that as well as it felt like a very traditional classical Broadway show.
2016 has also been the year I have properly got into going to the theatre and becoming obsessed so even though generally it has been a sh*t year I think the theatre has been wonderful
2017 is looking like an even more promising year for theatre so can't wait!!
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Post by Michael on Dec 5, 2016 16:58:43 GMT
I've seen some good stuff so far this year, but I still have a dozen or so shows to go so forgive me if I'm not ready to round up yet. This. My theatre year ends on New Year's Eve at 8.30pm and the next starts on New Year's Day at 3pm |
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Post by londonmzfitz on Dec 5, 2016 17:20:08 GMT
Highs - in order - Groundhog Day, Sunset Boulevard, Funny Girl at the Savoy. Special mention for Harry Potter, Comedy About A Bank Robbery.
Lows - The Entertainer, Dr Faustus, Guys & Dolls both Savoy and Phoenix (won the Phoenix tickets), the Spoils.
Next year I plan to travel a little more so am going to be way more selective in what I see. In fact I haven't got one musical lined up as yet; 2017 = Kite Runner, Don Juan of Soho, Rosencrantz and The Ferryman - all plays, which is very unlike me. And a second viewing of Harry Potter from a much better seat!
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Post by lynette on Dec 5, 2016 18:14:21 GMT
I'm not into the musicals so much as you know but I really enjoyed Groundhog Day. And for the 'serious' stuff, loved Travesties.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2016 19:59:34 GMT
One word.....BRILLIANT.
Been such a good year in terms of theatre as a whole. I think this is the year I've seen the most shows and they've all been brilliant in their own ways (apart from Bend it which remains my least favourite)
Shows I've seen: Kinky Boots x2, Mrs H Presents, Bend it, Miss Saigon, Hairspray, Guys & Dolls, Chitty, Sister Act, Funny Girl x2, Motown and still got Cinderella to go!!
Also got to meet my favourite actress Sheridan Smith TWICE!! Also got to meet one of my favourite singers, Beverley Knight too. First experiences Stage dooring were great!!
Also have had some great experiences meeting two fantastic theatre producers this year!! Both are best and given me loads of experience and got some amazing experience coming up at the end of the month with a new WE musical!!
Over all, this year has been FAB!!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2016 20:58:13 GMT
My highs have been pretty high to be honest. With 29 musicals and 19 plays it's been a bumper year.
Highs:
- Harry Potter is one of the most breathtaking things I've seen on a stage.
- Into the Woods @ MCF was simple yet perfect.
- Midsummer at the Globe as a Groundling.
- Beverley Knight at the last performance of Cats on 2nd January will forever be with me.
I'm also certain that Dreamgirls & The Color Purple are going to exceed expectations this month too, here's hoping, at least.
Lows:
- Doctor Faustus with Kit Harrington. Oh yuck. The one and only time I had to refrain from "doing a Parsley" and leaving mid interval.
- Chitty tour, which was plagued with problems.
- Mrs Henderson Presents. Yawn.
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Post by bengal73 on Dec 5, 2016 22:29:05 GMT
Awful year theatrically on the whole. Only seen Groundhog Day,Funny Girl,Cursed Child and Murder Ballad. Enjoyed all of them immensely as I did the assortment of shows in Brighton and Blackpool.
The years been bookended by family deaths which massively curtailed my theatre going. Heres to 2017 being more theatre filled
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2016 9:37:37 GMT
The Hits
Cyprus Avenue (was in a rotten mood then this just blew me away!)
Harry Potter (not a HP fan but this was theatrical bliss)
Boys in the Band (so funny and so well acted)
Pretty Much Everything Upstairs @ Royal Court (they just know how to turn me on up there)
The sh*ts
Groundhog Day (I know but I hated it)
End of Longing (steaming pile of roadkill)
Threepenny Opera (BF was in the worst mood ever, left in interval)
Got Amadeus and Lazarus coming up before Xmas so they may make either list. Next year gotta hold back on the theatre a bit so hoping there won't be anything too spectacular
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2016 11:28:06 GMT
Les Blancs the highlight of my year so far. I've got the SRB Tempest this weekend, mind you...
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Post by Anniek on Dec 6, 2016 12:40:15 GMT
I liked 2015 better as this year I only had a limited budget so couldn't see as much as I wanted to. But, 2016 was the year of Titanic at the Charing Cross which pretty much made my whole year. I still deeply miss that show. And furthermore I saw quite a bit of interesting shows and luckily Celinde is still present in the West End. |
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Post by Mark on Dec 6, 2016 15:36:54 GMT
An amazing year.
Highlights for me: Dear Evan Hansen, Hamilton, and Color Purple in New York
Harry Potter, Groundhog Day, Dreamgirls, Titanic & IHO in London
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Post by loureviews on Dec 6, 2016 16:40:59 GMT
It's been a good year.
Highlights include Show Boat, Guys and Dolls, The Father, No Man's Land, Aladdin, two King Lears, Threepenny Opera, Platonov/Young Chekhov, Opera North Ring Cycle, The Go Between, Northern Ballet Jane Eyre, War of the Worlds, The Magic Flute, a gender bending Shrew, Shakespeare 400, Glenn in Sunset Boulevard, Beautiful, Kathryn Hunter Cyrano and more.
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Post by schuttep on Dec 7, 2016 9:14:16 GMT
Will have seen 86 shows by the end of the year plus a few cabarets.
Highlights are (In chronological order):
Grey Gardens - Southwark Playhouse
Wit - Manchester Royal Exchange
Long Day's Journey Into Night - Bristol Old Vic
Cyprus Avenue - Royal Court
Flowers for Mrs Harris - Sheffield Crucible
Beautiful - the Carole King Story - Aldwych
Yerma - Young Vic
The Roundabout - Park 200
Kenny Morgan - Arcola
Side Show - Southwark Playhouse
Blue Heart - Richmond Orange Tree.
M'eh:
Hand to God - Vaudeville
If You Kiss Me, Kiss Me - Young Vic
The End of Longing - Playhouse
Allegro - Southwark Playhouse
No's Knife - Old Vic
Bits of Me are Falling Apart - Soho
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Post by ali973 on Dec 7, 2016 14:54:47 GMT
Haven't counted how many shows I saw this year, but I think I could if pressed to. I'm currently undergoing a massive theatre binge in New York and Chicago, so it'll be hard to discern what is my high/low for 2016 until the 28th!
So far, highest must have been Sunset Boulevard and Dreamgirls. Both favorite shows of mine. I suspect that Hamilton will be a very big deal once I see it on Friday.
Personal shortcomings were inability to see Ria Jones in Sunset Boulevard. Totally bugged me.
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Post by Marwood on Dec 7, 2016 16:44:00 GMT
Seen approximately 25 shows so far this year, will probably have seen nearly 30 by the end of the year, this is the first year that I will have seen more plays/musicals than been to concerts (mainly because I've got to the age where most of the bands/artists I want to see, I've already seen or they only tour once in a blue moon, but also because I've got to the stage where the excitement of standing to watch something for a couple of hours, only to have idiots filming the whole thing, talking/shouting as and when they feel like it, or just trying to shove/barge their way in front is wearing off)
My Top 3:
Cyprus Avenue at the Abbey in Dublin (easily the show of the year for me)
No Man's Land at the Theatre Royal in Brighton (bargain pricing compared to London)
The Dresser at the Duke of York's Theatre (Reece Shearsmith, possibly performance of the year for me)
Honourable mentions to: The Caretaker at the Old Vic, If You Kiss Me, Kiss Me at the Young Vic, Nell Gwynn at the Apollo, The Maids at Trafalgar Studios, and Once In A Lifetime at the Young Vic.
and the stinkers:
Waste at the NT (terribly dull)
The Master Builder at the Old Vic (not helped by not the best of seats and an idiot sat next to me, but the subject matter held no interest for me)
The Painkiller at the Garrick - made me think there is possibly nothing worse than bad farce.
Honourable mention to Buried Child, the most laughable moment of 'drama' I've seen at the end of a play in many a year, I just can't believe it's had generally good to great ratings in the reviews I've read.
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