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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2016 23:18:19 GMT
The photographer is fine.
The show is fine.
Emma Williams makes the most of a nothing part.
It's Charlie Stemp's show.
I'm looking forward to seeing it again, but only for 'Pick Out A Simple Tune' and 'Flash Bang Whallop'.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2016 0:41:35 GMT
The reviews I read weren't "decent". They were damning.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2016 7:21:44 GMT
Nothing wrong with a gay photographer in theory, but if in practise the character is a mass of cringey stereotypes, then that's a problem. (I'm just guessing, I've not seen it, but it's not like theatre's never played up a stereotype for cheap laughs before.) Just wondered if it's a problem for you or for all of us... Interested, especially as you admit you haven't seen it. Will you be seeing it to reassess? NB in practiceAs someone who has seen it, and as a member of the community in question, I feel the issue is that a largely straight (Chichester) audience is invited to laugh at this character for no other reason than his sexuality which is obvious from his Mr Humphries-type effeminacy. On the night I attended it actually didn't get much of a reaction! More importantly for me, the other characters do not react to his mannerisms at all... (I suppose a lot if this can depend on whether you are an effeminate type yourself, or if you're a bit more... I'm genuinely not sure what the word is... but you know exactly what I mean!) In London it will probably pass completey unnoticed. I certainly wouldn't let two minutes of something potentially offensive keep you away from this. It's a great piece of entertainment, and Charlie Stemp's performance is worth the ticket price alone. (Gawd, I hate that line!) |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2016 8:12:03 GMT
I must admit I find this type of thing quite upsetting. It's slightly different I know, but everything I've seen Priscilla there has always been an instant LOL throughout the audience when the boys have been partying and they come back to see the homophobic graffiti all over the bus. I know that it's not the intention that it's funny but the audience reaction always worries me somewhat. That discrimination is hilarious.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2016 8:26:02 GMT
Even if the people being lampooned by a stereotype aren't offended, that doesn't mean it's not an issue. A quick google of "is stereotyping a problem" will provide hours of reading, very little of which appears to be "nah mate, it's just you that's bothered". I just feel very uncomfortable when creatives decide to put a stereotype - ANY stereotype - on stage and invite the audience to laugh at it - it's lazy writing (if you want me to laugh, write a decent joke for heaven's sake), and it's sort of suggesting it's okay to laugh at people who may be different from "the norm" purely because of who they are and not because of anything humorous they might have said or done. Thank you for your grammar correction, I have made a mental note not to make that mistake again and look forward to following your continued efforts to correct posters when they make tiny errors that don't really affect the comprehensibility of the point being made. And yes, I will be booking for the transfer, because London is significantly easier for me to get to than Chichester.  |
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Post by zak97 on Sept 1, 2016 8:54:22 GMT
Definitely won't be booking for this straight away, but will have a look at DMT to see seat pricing layout myself. The lottery sounds interesting. I would've thought the show would be most popular with the elderly, or at least the general demographic who don't won't to look up how the lottery works and go without the guarantee of a ticket. If that presumption is correct I can't see this being the busiest lottery...which could be a good thing.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2016 9:09:23 GMT
Okay, that's all pretty expensive. I'm going to wait for potential discounts.
By the way, is it just me or does "a limited number of £20 lottery seats will be released each day from 29 October at 10am in person at the box office" (from the WOS article) sound very confused? Surely if you can buy them from 10am at the box office, they're dayseats, rather than a lottery?
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Post by viserys on Sept 1, 2016 9:14:19 GMT
Maybe the writer got confused? I'd be appalled if British shows start with the lottery nonsense as well now, leaving you in the unclear whether you can get in or not until so late, that it's hard to find an alternative.
With Dayseats you KNOW you will be getting a seat if you turn up early enough. Or, if you see a queue snaking around the block at 9am, have all day to find something else to see.
Besides, I think lotteries only make sense when a show is very much in demand, like Book of Mormon. I can't see this selling out at all, nor can I envision a hundred people entering the lottery for 20 seats. So I'm hoping these will be dayseats after all.
The price structure boggles the mind for a show like this.
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Post by jgblunners on Sept 1, 2016 9:20:35 GMT
You're right, it does sound rather confused. I guess we'll have to wait for an official announcement. And yeah, the pricing seems rather harsh, but maybe that just means that they're confident that the views are actually worth that much. From memory, the Noel Coward doesn't have much to cause restricted view. I'll be going for day seats/lottery, though. The warning about double safety bars on the balcony is enough to make me nervous about going for the dirt cheap slip seats up there.
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Post by mallardo on Sept 1, 2016 9:20:50 GMT
The price structure boggles the mind for a show like this.
But not to charge prices equivalent to other West End musicals would be to admit that your show isn't on that level. Can't do that.
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Post by viserys on Sept 1, 2016 9:47:31 GMT
The price structure boggles the mind for a show like this.
But not to charge prices equivalent to other West End musicals would be to admit that your show isn't on that level. Can't do that.
Oh I know, I've had this argument before (and should probably give it a rest, sorry!). I do understand the reasoning on some rational level. It's just that it's usually one juggernaut that rises the prices, since THEY can afford it. But then other shows follow suit and people just aren't willing to pay the same for a revival of a fairly unknown show from the provines or a brand-new untried and untested show as they do for the latest Broadway-hype rolling into town. But it's more than that, really. Used to be that most of the stalls were regular top price with a few rows of premium seats that were easily avoided. But when I see this: Monday to Thursday £125, £97.50 premiums, then £72.50, £47.50, £25, £12.50 We now have premium and super super premium or what? Top price is basically relegated to third-tier-price  |
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Post by wickedgrin on Sept 1, 2016 9:52:47 GMT
Why is a gay photographer an issue? The photographer in Flash Bang Whallop is portrayes in a very stereotypical 80's way like John Inman in Are You Being Served. This gets cheap laughs of course but is totally out of context with the period of the piece which is lovingly depicted in the rest of the show. |
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Post by wickedgrin on Sept 1, 2016 10:01:47 GMT
Regarding the prices - they are simply ridiculous. I am sure the producers factor in "deals" now so that they can advertise "half price tickets" and the like and still get £50 a ticket! I enjoyed the show at Chichester - my thoughts are somewhere back on this thread but I only paid £30 for a preview ticket! It will make a lovely show for the matinee crowd of a certain age!
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Post by lolli on Sept 1, 2016 10:08:26 GMT
Is £79 weekends a new high?
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Post by wickedgrin on Sept 1, 2016 10:15:26 GMT
I honsestly would not know - I suspect Book of Mormon holds the record for prices! I simply have not paid "full price" for a WE show for years and years - I simply could not afford to go as often as I do if I did. Thank goodness for all the deals, day seats, lotteries and discounts etc. Sometimes they do take some time to seek out but the savings are huge! My latest bargain was for Groundhog Day which discounted unsold preview seats to £30 a few hours before the show. The seat I sat in was £90 a few days later!!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2016 11:34:36 GMT
Even if the people being lampooned by a stereotype aren't offended, that doesn't mean it's not an issue. A quick google of "is stereotyping a problem" will provide hours of reading, very little of which appears to be "nah mate, it's just you that's bothered". I just feel very uncomfortable when creatives decide to put a stereotype - ANY stereotype - on stage and invite the audience to laugh at it - it's lazy writing (if you want me to laugh, write a decent joke for heaven's sake), and it's sort of suggesting it's okay to laugh at people who may be different from "the norm" purely because of who they are and not because of anything humorous they might have said or done. Thank you for your grammar correction, I have made a mental note not to make that mistake again and look forward to following your continued efforts to correct posters when they make tiny errors that don't really affect the comprehensibility of the point being made. And yes, I will be booking for the transfer, because London is significantly easier for me to get to than Chichester. So I take it you didn't enjoy Jerry Springer:The Opera then?  I didn't think you'd mind the correction. I know you like to be right. Glad to hear you'll be seeing the show in London. |
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Post by mallardo on Sept 1, 2016 12:00:15 GMT
Re the photographer, how was he played in the original production? I mean, is he written as camp or is it a directorial decision? Does anyone know?
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Post by wickedgrin on Sept 1, 2016 12:07:10 GMT
The photographer is not written as camp in the original show and is a purely directorial decision for this productin.
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Post by jgblunners on Sept 1, 2016 16:13:25 GMT
no discount just for having a cute rear. Damn, there goes my plan for a cheap seat 😛 |
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Post by viserys on Sept 1, 2016 17:32:48 GMT
We now have premium and super super premium or what Les Miz and Mormon do indeed have several grades of "premium" seats, from "super" to "regular" depending how close to the "super" your seat is. Meaning location of physical object for sitting in - no discount just for having a cute rear. I was surprised at the prices for this one too. Guess they are either trying to say this is going to be one classy show - or factoring in discount. On the other hand, the Chichester G&D when at the Savoy sold very well indeed, so maybe they are hoping that brand will add the magic to help the price? For super super premium I'd expect a plush armchair and the dashing male lead serving me champagne to my seat. Personally I think a show throwing out "50% off" discounts here and there sounds more desperate to put pums on seats than a show selling lower priced regular tickets and being able to put the "house full" signs out regularly. |
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Post by wickedgrin on Sept 1, 2016 17:40:43 GMT
Absolutely viserys, I agree. The prices must put off the regular potential punter who checks out the theatre website thinking "oh I fancy seeing that" then seeing the prices and immediately logs off thinking "but not at those prices". The members of this board are more clued into discounts and offers but I am sure the general public are not so savvy. They just think "it's too expensive".
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Post by easilypleased on Sept 1, 2016 20:57:37 GMT
£125 or even £97 is barking for a show with no one the average punter has ever heard of. Having said that the people who set these prices must have data regarding previous shows coming out of their ears and I doubt they just put a finger in the air and say "I know, lets charge...". Time will tell.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2016 21:21:09 GMT
The producers know it won't run past Christmas
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2016 21:49:27 GMT
Safest to book to see it before Hallowe'en.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2016 1:29:23 GMT
Funny how this seems to have it's own "Christmas holiday" from 18th Dec - 1st Jan. Is this the period when most West End shows usually go quiet?
As for the ticket prices...I wasn't even able to get over the £75 top price for School of Rock! And now I can only repeat what I said for School of Rock...I hate the West End -_-
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