The Go-Between

This sounds really interesting to me. I have always wanted to see Michael Crawford on stage, so that is one reason to book. I have also read that the score mixes classical and operetta styles, which is right up my street.

Do we know of any dates Michael will definitely not be performing?

Do you think Michele Dotrice could be in this, hence the recent rumours that Some Mothers do 'Ave 'Em could be coming back because they might be working together?

I know!!! I mean, God forbid someone should get excited about a new musical and - EVEN WORSE - buy a TICKET and support new musical theatre writing!! People have different tastes in musicals?!?! SCANDAL!!! OUTRAGE!!!!! 


I say let's close every show in the West End bar Charlie & the Chocolate Factory!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I do love ya MrB 

Yes, it did get good reviews. I'm not usually
one for musicals based on classic literature but I think this sounds like it might be really beautiful. I am looking forward to it.

He was insufferably 30 year ago; god knows what he'll be like now

How much of a draw is Michael Crawford these days? It's bold and I admire the producers for doing it!

Not much buzz about this considering it opens next week. On the website it claims

Now starring Michael Crawford in his first leading role in a musical for 20 years (having created the title roles in The Phantom of the Opera, and Barnum).

Is this actually true? I know Woman in White could be argued to be a supporting role but wasn't he a lead in Dance of the Vampires, or was that over 20 years ago?

You'd better sit down for this, ali...

There are quite a few of us who are over fifty who go to the theatre regularly...

When I first started going to shows in my teens, I'd look about and see all these old people too. I mostly saw them outside the theatre or in the lobby because they were usually sitting in much better seats than me. And I thought to myself, I wonder if I'll be lucky enough to be coming to the theatre in my 30s. (That's how old they looked.) I might even be able to sit downstairs. My dream came true. I upgraded myself from balcony to upper circle. And then I thought, I hope I'll still be seeing shows in my 40s. I was! I even took myself to the dress circle slips or the back of the stalls. And then.... this is the Big One... I wondered, Will I still be able to go when I'm in my fifties? I'm still here, as some really old person belts out in Follies. And I sit where I like now, but mainly in the front stalls, looking at all the youngsters flocking in, and hoping that they are thinking exactly the same as I was all those years ago. And I say, Good for you, because you'll keep our theatres going.

The other day I went to Show Boat. In that audience I was actually a youngster! And I was sitting next to a Very Old Man and his wife who looked at each other and held hands when Rebecca Trehearn sang Bill. And I think they had tears in their eyes. And then I did too.

Theatre is for everyone, not just the young. I don't always approve of some of the new stuff coming in; I don't like some of the old stuff that gets revived. But there's got to be something for everyone, hasn't there?

Love that post caiaphas - you could have been talking about me!

I went to see Showboat (again) yesterday and I too was almost one of the youngest in the audience and I too had tears in my eyes. How time passes so quickly.......

I haven't noticed really old people in musical theatre yet, but last time we saw an opera at "our" opera in Liege (Belgium) we had the two back seats of a box. The two front seats were occupied by a couple that looked positively ancient (in their 80s at least), complete with walking stick and hearing aid. It totally warmed my heart to see that these two kept their interest in musical theatre alive, kept going out to the opera together (I assume they had a subscription that's why they had the good seats) and I thought to myself "I dearly hope I'll still be sitting in theatres around Europe at that age too".

As for The Go-Between. It had passed me by completely as well until now. The poster and focus on Michael Crawford made it look rather dull to me (so shoot me). However, as I really need to find something to fill my last matinee with in July, I took an interest and read a synopsis, realizing that it's actually pretty much a Lady Chatterley story of forbidden love, snobby class distinctions and whatnot. So I watched the recent BBC adaptation. It was a bit slow-going but I realized that there's plenty of potential for good songs. Unlike with so many movie adaptations where the songs seem artificially and unnecessarily crammed in.

So... in short, I'm planning to see it in July and I'm quite glad about the lack of buzz because I hope this will mean easy Dayseats or discounts (yea, I'm a cheapskate). Perhaps they should focus less on Michael Crawford, which gives off a vibe of "Old man droning on about his past for two hours" and work more with the Lady Chatterley angle of forbidden passion and tragic romance?

And tomorrow night's performance is already on TKTS... Can't say this show is filling me with confidence.

And tonight's was there too before the performance was cancelled. Had been considering nipping down after work.

In their defence, it is in their interest to discount now and make sure these early shows are as full as possible, to try and spread word of mouth.Tomorrow's performance does look relatively well-sold on londontheatredirect, with the exception of the premium seats, which aren't being discounted as far as I can see.