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Post by Dr Tom on Aug 12, 2018 13:13:54 GMT
I think "The Small House of Uncle Thomas" grows on you. It essentially repeats so many elements, ideas and themes from the wider show, but I didn't pick up on them all the first time I saw the show.
But I know from my own experience that an incident in a show does sour your whole enjoyment of it.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2018 13:54:19 GMT
Oh actually thank you Tom, you reminded me, I should clarify, this was my first experience of this show. I've seen clips of the Shall We Dance scene from award shows etc, as well as the medley from the Tonys in 2015, but I didn't know the story or the music really bar three songs. |
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Post by Stephen on Aug 12, 2018 14:04:53 GMT
Sorry to hear about what happened danieljohnson14 ! The box office and staff at the Palladium are really helpful and if you had said I'm such they'd have given you a ticket for another night. Just one of those things though and if you were bored during the first act you may not want to return! |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2018 14:28:10 GMT
Sorry to hear about what happened danieljohnson14 ! The box office and staff at the Palladium are really helpful and if you had said I'm such they'd have given you a ticket for another night. Just one of those things though and if you were bored during the first act you may not want to return! I'm sure they are lovely, but my the end of my shambles of Act II, I was over it and just wanted to leave, not helped at all by the assholes in front of me who wouldn't shut up. Like I say, the woman passing out couldn't be helped, but there was no attempt at even being quiet about it, a family member full on sprinting down the aisle. There were many arojnd me who by the end were saying what happened, so clearly there was more concern over what happened than the actual show. The woman a few seats down nodded off and a man benind me audiably yawned loudly, so clearly the whole thing was lost on some near me. I'd go again, but only if Kelli and Ruthie were on. Kelli alone would be worth it. |
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Post by showtoones on Aug 12, 2018 22:17:46 GMT
Sorry to hear about what happened danieljohnson14 ! The box office and staff at the Palladium are really helpful and if you had said I'm such they'd have given you a ticket for another night. Just one of those things though and if you were bored during the first act you may not want to return! I'm sure they are lovely, but my the end of my shambles of Act II, I was over it and just wanted to leave, not helped at all by the assholes in front of me who wouldn't shut up. Like I say, the woman passing out couldn't be helped, but there was no attempt at even being quiet about it, a family member full on sprinting down the aisle. There were many arojnd me who by the end were saying what happened, so clearly there was more concern over what happened than the actual show. The woman a few seats down nodded off and a man benind me audiably yawned loudly, so clearly the whole thing was lost on some near me. I'd go again, but only if Kelli and Ruthie were on. Kelli alone would be worth it. I am sorry that happened to you Daniel but know that I felt similarly and that this production is somewhat lackluster. Yes - Kelli is great and the costumes are gorgeous but Ken is miscast and hard to understand and the stage is very empty. Much prefer the 1996 production with Donna Murphy that transferred with Elaine Paige. |
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Post by viserys on Aug 13, 2018 5:12:35 GMT
I saw the show on Saturday afternoon and thought it was fine - but just that, fine. The Uncle Tom's sequence went on far too long and tried my patience enormously. I didn't think the stage was too empty, but I question some bits like the ugly bare wall in the background that looked like most of the action was taking place in some remote corner of the palace grounds.
The cast was great all around. But while Kelli was indeed a fine performer, I don't think she was THAT special, I'm sure Annalene Beechey is just as fine. For me it was more the pleasure to finally hear a leading lady singing in classical soprano again, as you don't get that kind of music anymore these days, it's all belt-to-the-max pop music.
It's a good production worth seeing to be sure, but for me it can't justify the insane prices compared to regular West End shows. I paid £82.50 for a side view in the stalls and would get terrific seats in many other shows.
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Post by Stephen on Aug 13, 2018 10:12:57 GMT
Read this one...
{Spoiler - click to view}
On the less busy performances you can upgrade a cheaper seat at the box office to a much more expensive stalls or royal circle seat at the box office for £10 per ticket. A great deal if you have paid £30 as you most often end up in a much higher value seat. Otherwise the stalls would be half empty on some dates.
I hope this helps some of you here to see the show.
This isn't secret information just something that I know the Palladium isn't advertising. I no longer work for the company. |
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Post by TallPaul on Aug 13, 2018 11:57:58 GMT
I think we need more information on your last sentence. It was only a fortnight ago you were saying how much you liked the new uniforms!
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Post by Stephen on Aug 13, 2018 12:34:33 GMT
I think we need more information on your last sentence. It was only a fortnight ago you were saying how much you liked the new uniforms! Yes, they just really weren't my colour in the end! No, seriously, London and rent are much more expensive than my bank account could finally take. Due to my current contract I couldn't just work a few shifts and have another job to make more money. Hopefully I'll return in the future. As we all know it's a wonderful theatre! |
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Post by Stephen on Aug 13, 2018 13:08:36 GMT
In other news, if you fancy a last minute trip, the understudy (Annalene Beechey) is on for Anna tonight and tomorrow.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2018 15:03:32 GMT
TodayTix rush seats seem to be available throughout the day for this - presumably they are adding more during the day. £25 for stalls or royal circle whenever I’ve looked
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2018 15:16:18 GMT
If I do go back, I'll be sure to do a two show day and make this the matinee so that if I am dissapointed again, at least I can put a show like Kinky Boots or 42nd Street in the eve, that I know I'll enjoy!  ... I'm still angry. 😂😂 |
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Post by Dawnstar on Aug 13, 2018 16:42:52 GMT
In other news, if you fancy a last minute trip, the understudy (Annalene Beechey) is on for Anna tonight and tomorrow. I'm en route to London to see her. Though it's not a last minute trip. I booked as soon as Kelli O'Hara tweeted her dates off. ETA Oh lord, I'm sat right in front of the percussion. Not looking forward to the sound levels. |
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Post by gra on Aug 13, 2018 22:52:19 GMT
In other news, if you fancy a last minute trip, the understudy (Annalene Beechey) is on for Anna tonight and tomorrow. I'm en route to London to see her. Though it's not a last minute trip. I booked as soon as Kelli O'Hara tweeted her dates off. ETA Oh lord, I'm sat right in front of the percussion. Not looking forward to the sound levels. Annalene was wonderful tonight. No obvious sign of first night nerves. First West End performance for ten years. Great to see her back! |
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Post by wickedgrin on Aug 13, 2018 23:14:44 GMT
Yes, do give the show another go danieljohnson14 - it is rather fabulous although I know that bad audience behaviour or commotion can completely ruin the experience by taking you out of the show altogether. I have seen the show twice both with 25 pound rush seats from Today Tix - one row B of the Dress Circle and the second time from the front row of the stalls. I found seats were released throughout the day, sometimes the better seats later. You have to really plunge when you get the chance. I always feel disgustingly smug when I know those around me have paid (a lot) more. 150 in the case of the Dress Circle seats! |
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Post by tlyon4784 on Aug 14, 2018 19:27:01 GMT
Hi Everyone! I have seen this production twice and it was amazing both times! I'm hoping to go back a third time. Im hoping to see Ruthie, does anyone know if both ladies have a schedule? Thanks!
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Post by Dawnstar on Aug 14, 2018 19:39:25 GMT
ETA Oh lord, I'm sat right in front of the percussion. Not looking forward to the sound levels. Fortunately the percussion was not as bad as I feared & was only noticeably loud at a few moments.
It was wonderful to see Annalene Beechey back on stage this evening. Fabulous performance (no sign it was her first show) & so good to hear that beautiful voice again (& perfect RP!). It was worth waiting for 6 years! Among the rest of the cast I thought Naoko Mori as Lady Thiang and Jon Chew as Prince Chulalongkorn (yes, I had to check the spelling of that!) were both particularly good.
It's actually the first time I've seen a professional production of The King And I so I've only got the film to compare it to. By in large I thought it was a very good production, though I wish R&H had written a shorter "ballet", The Small House Of Uncle Thomas felt interminable. I did cry at the end. I didn't feel short-changed on the sets front, unlike some previous comments on here, although I'm not someone who is massively bothered by sets as long as they're not deliberately wrong. The costumes were fabulous. I want all of Anna's gowns, especially the ballgown!
Vaguely relating to the Diversity thread, it seemed that the audience had a larger proportion of Asian people than is usual for West End shows, even tourist-trap Phantom. I'm not sure if they would be attracted by the show being set in Asia or by the mostly Asian actors in the cast but as I noticed at the stage door afterwards that almost all the people waiting to speak to Ken Watanabe & Takao Osawa were Asian (by contrast, those of us waiting to speak to Annalene Beechey were almost all white) perhaps the latter is more likely.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2018 20:08:21 GMT
I'm surprised there is so much hate for Uncle Tom's Cabin. it's one of my favourite parts of the show and film, and about the only 'ballet' I like in these older shows
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Post by Dawnstar on Aug 14, 2018 20:36:09 GMT
I'm surprised there is so much hate for Uncle Tom's Cabin. it's one of my favourite parts of the show and film, and about the only 'ballet' I like in these older shows I think the concept is good but it could have been put over more concisely. |
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Post by princeton on Aug 14, 2018 20:49:27 GMT
I'm very fond of 'The Small House of Uncle Thomas' and it's well done in this production. However it is quite difficult to watch it now without thinking of 'Joseph Smith American Moses' from Book of Mormon.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2018 21:18:44 GMT
I'm surprised there is so much hate for Uncle Tom's Cabin. it's one of my favourite parts of the show and film, and about the only 'ballet' I like in these older shows I think it's far too long. A lot of the people sitting around me were getting restless during it. |
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Post by Dr Tom on Aug 14, 2018 22:27:49 GMT
Among the rest of the cast I thought Naoko Mori as Lady Thiang and Jon Chew as Prince Chulalongkorn (yes, I had to check the spelling of that!) were both particularly good. Yes, Jon is tricky to spell! Seriously though, was there tonight and really enjoyed Annalene Beechey’s performance. Very polished, only one obvious line fluff and she corrected it well. She’d be great for the UK tour. Ran a few minutes longer than normal so she may have taken things slightly slower. Fairly full, but scatterings of empty seats around, including near the front. TodayTix came through with a great Row A seat for me too. Naoko Mori was on and brilliant as always. Slightly disappointed not to see Ruthie (doesn’t look like she’s been on for a few days - has anyone worked out the schedule?) but you can’t complain at Naoko. You pick up lots of her nuances on a repeated viewing. Next visit will likely be to try and see Ken’s understudy. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 15, 2018 11:01:44 GMT
I can’t remember a thing about that bit in BoM. Although I hated it so much that by Act 2 I was arms folded and in full burlyface mode. Liberace could have come on and it wouldn’t have registered.
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Post by distantcousin on Aug 15, 2018 11:25:55 GMT
I'm surprised there is so much hate for Uncle Tom's Cabin. it's one of my favourite parts of the show and film, and about the only 'ballet' I like in these older shows I think it's far too long. A lot of the people sitting around me were getting restless during it.
A bolder, less reverential director would have edited it down or cut completely. It's a throwback to mid 20th century musical theatre convention (ballet sequences etc) that look dreadfully jarring and dated in the 21st century.
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Post by indis on Aug 15, 2018 11:32:17 GMT
i thought it was nod bad but a bit too long
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