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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2016 14:02:03 GMT
Off to see this tonight. Looking forward to it even more following the good reports on here. I am also going tonight!! First time since rehearsals |
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Post by Ade on Jun 4, 2016 14:06:38 GMT
Off to see this tonight. Looking forward to it even more following the good reports on here. I am also going tonight!! First time since rehearsals Oh I say! In the same room as Parsley. I am honoured! |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2016 14:11:55 GMT
I am also going tonight!! First time since rehearsals Oh I say! In the same room as Parsley. I am honoured! "Beams radiantly" As cannot manage to show emoticons on the forum I will be with a large group of people in sarees |
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jun 4, 2016 14:21:57 GMT
Aren't you always? Oh I say! In the same room as Parsley. I am honoured! "Beams radiantly" As cannot manage to show emoticons on the forum I will be with a large group of people in sarees |
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Post by steve10086 on Jun 4, 2016 14:58:58 GMT
Loge 6 you miss a bit of the action (not enough to stop me loving those seats). Anyone in Loge 1 or 6 be advised to go to the loo in the interval. Sitting in Loge 1 right now (interval) and think I've just spotted the reason why. And if I'm right, I'm glad I've spotted it! |
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jun 4, 2016 16:44:05 GMT
How intriguing.
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Post by jaqs on Jun 4, 2016 16:44:38 GMT
I was in lodge 10 and for £50 I thought it was marvellous, no one behind me do I could lean when the man infront did without guilt.
What marvellous costumes and lighting. They really spent some money. Great cast, so many amazing bodies on display. Jade was marvellous and it's a shame the part is a bit pants.
Couple of bits in the first act dragged for me but overall I loved it. I'm a big fan of big dance numbers and loved having an elevated view of these.
Set creaked a little with the rising buildings but the cave and carpet were magical. This should be a hot ticket for families but not at 149 quid.
Imagine every restaurant, bar and cafe in soho is going to be bursting for the foreseeable with this and potter playing.
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Post by Ade on Jun 4, 2016 21:41:45 GMT
So... I have to admit I was slightly disappointed with this. While it was all very panto (and seems to be very aware that it has a panto element to it) it left me rather unimpressed. Enjoyable enough for an evening but I certainly wouldn't rush back to see it again. Also seemed to be quite a large number of wardrobe malfunctions this evening, and you could see how the carpet was done from my spot in Loge 2. I don't think they could have hidden it anymore than they did but you could clearly see how it works. Unless the five minute technical delay before the carpet scene also meant it was malfunctioning in some way that it was more obvious?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2016 22:24:06 GMT
Stand up
Stand up
And
Sing
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Post by Lemansky on Jun 4, 2016 22:46:17 GMT
I was there tonight & came on to mention the wardrobe malfunctions! I've never seen so many in one show, but maybe that's more just luck than anything else. The hat being dropped, kicked off, hitting a pillar & ending up under someone's feet was slightly stressful, as was the curtain thing dropping off the guy's back for the Prince Ali costume change. Very glad they got the carpet working though & luckily it wasn't a long wait.
We did enjoy it a lot, although Friend Like Me was the best part & completely joyous. As has been mentioned before, parts of it are very panto & aspects of the set looked very cheap. It's great fun and I'm glad we got to see it.
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Post by steve10086 on Jun 4, 2016 22:59:37 GMT
My thoughts on the show, that I posted on my Facebook account - some of which will be obvious to people on here  ------------------------- Aladdin has never been one of my favourite Disney movies. It's Beauty & the Beast for me (followed by The Little Mermaid, from that era), so I wasn't initially that excited about a stage version. It also meant that I wouldn't be anticipating any particular special moments, or upset by any changes. And there are changes - no parrot, no monkey - but they are all for the better. Something I think the film lacked was a few more big numbers, and it turns out it had them... but they were cut. The original movie concept had Aladdin with three sidekicks, Babkak, Omar and Kassim. Along with them came some brilliant Ashman/Menken songs and they now all appear in the stage show. It's so cool to see (what are to me) brand new, really top quality, songs by the people behind Disney's catchiest tunes. The Genie is played by the original Broadway understudy for the role, proving yet again that understudies can be bloody brilliant! His biggest moment, Friend Like Me, is one of the most exhilarating scenes I've ever seen on stage. Would have happily applauded it far longer than the conductor allowed. So a great Genie, also a very handsome likeable Aladdin, and a beautiful Jasmine (Jade Ewen really surprised me), who can all sing wonderfully. Add to that a very energetic supporting cast with, as the Genie says, zero body fat! What I knew most about Aladdin was A Whole New World (another great lyricist, this time Tim Rice), and I'd heard the flying carpet was spectacular. And yes it is! Like no flying effect I've ever seen in the theatre. Turning this way and that, rising and falling, as it seamlessly flies around the stage. No visible wires, no hydraulic arms holding it up from behind. Just Aladdin and Jasmine sitting on a carpet floating in mid-air. And I would have expected this to be one of the big songs, but they actually really play it down and it becomes much more emotional because of it. Spectacular staging, and yet a very moving moment. If anything, the second half of Act II loses some energy, but that's only in comparison to the other outstanding three quarters of the show. Once it opens (currently previewing) the tickets are not cheap - in fact I think some of the prices are outrageous. But you can see where the money goes! It's all there in front of you on stage. The Cave of Wonders is dazzling. No expense has been spared, and it has that Disney quality hallmark you would expect. I think the West End has been lacking a huge, quality, fun family musical recently, and now it has one again. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2016 23:04:29 GMT
It is quite evident how the carpet is flying
The wires are visible from the front few rows of the stalls st least as far back as row G
I think the proper critics are going to hate this
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Post by steve10086 on Jun 4, 2016 23:14:07 GMT
I think the proper critics are going to hate this If they did their reviews would have as much effect on the success of the show as certain positive reviews had on a certain (crappy) show. |
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Post by andrew on Jun 4, 2016 23:26:14 GMT
I completely missed my opportunity to book tickets early for this and had been struggling to find something reasonable, with most of the preview period being sold out. Noticed tonight though that seemingly the seats behind the conductor have been released for £48. Still pretty steep but have now booked for July, hopefully I can wait that long...
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Post by theatremadhatter on Jun 5, 2016 2:47:49 GMT
It is quite evident how the carpet is flying The wires are visible from the front few rows of the stalls st least as far back as row G I think the proper critics are going to hate this I honestly think it's about what you want to see. If you have gone there to spot it and figure it out and how far back you can see it from you will figure it out and see it. It's theatre not CGI and it is still in my opinion spectacular. Be that a feat of engineering or me just willing to be caught up in a show and suspend my disbelief. We've all seen some clunky moments over the years where things 'fly' including Charlie's cherry picker Glass Elevator. It's what we choose not to see that makes it. That bit of our imagination and why we love theatre right? Otherwise we'd stay at home watching TV. For me it really was a must see moment in theatre. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2016 5:35:51 GMT
It is quite evident how the carpet is flying The wires are visible from the front few rows of the stalls st least as far back as row G I think the proper critics are going to hate this I was in row f centre and couldn't see them until the very end, and even then I couldn't be 100% sure it was wires or trick of the light. No where near as obvious as the arm for the elevator in Charlie which it looked like they made no attempt to cover |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2016 5:52:23 GMT
It is quite evident how the carpet is flying The wires are visible from the front few rows of the stalls st least as far back as row G I was in row f centre and couldn't see them until the very end, and even then I couldn't be 100% sure it was wires or trick of the light. No where near as obvious as the arm for the elevator in Charlie which it looked like they made no attempt to cover I found the arm in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang obvious, but who cares? We all know that magic isn't real and that cars and carpets don't really fly. We watch stories to enjoy the stories, not to point and shout "Ha! I knew it was fake!" |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2016 6:29:18 GMT
Because something like that can be hidden a lot better, just look at chitty (personally never saw the arm). For a high budget show luke charlie I was surprised so little effort had gone in to disguise it
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jun 5, 2016 8:09:09 GMT
Are you judging the original glass elevator or the current one? I sat in the front stalls (amongst other places) and never saw the arm on the original version Sometimes I saw the arm on Chitty- sometimes not.. It didn't matter really as it's still impressive. It often depends where you sit doesn't it . Because something like that can be hidden a lot better, just look at chitty (personally never saw the arm). For a high budget show luke charlie I was surprised so little effort had gone in to disguise it |
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jun 5, 2016 8:10:05 GMT
Shouldn't you be more professional and not say things like that about a show you work on? Last week you were saying it was all the second coming It is quite evident how the carpet is flying The wires are visible from the front few rows of the stalls st least as far back as row G I think the proper critics are going to hate this |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2016 8:33:26 GMT
I think the proper critics are going to hate this If they did their reviews would have as much effect on the success of the show as certain positive reviews had on a certain (crappy) show. As I said before People love McDonalds Doesn't mean I go there |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2016 8:40:11 GMT
Shouldn't you be more professional and not say things like that about a show you work on? Last week you were saying it was all the second coming It is quite evident how the carpet is flying The wires are visible from the front few rows of the stalls st least as far back as row G I think the proper critics are going to hate this The fact remains that the whole group of people I went with And the entire row around me Commented on it I heard several people say during the course of the carpet flight "Oh look- there are the wires, you can see them" Which detracts from the moment to be quite honest Given it is an alleged highlight of the show It ruins the purpose Given how much they darken the stage to try to disguise the wires It's a shame you can still see them That was my point The effort is a bit all in vain Also I don't know why they pretend in interviews and features past and present that it's such a mystery how the carpet is done Even to the extent of denying that wires are used An 80 year old lady in my group could see them! |
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jun 5, 2016 8:43:49 GMT
Well I think the fact is that the vast majority of people seeing it CANT see the wires- I'm judging this by reactions on Twitter etc.,, so it's obviously magical for some people watching it. And I certainly wasn't aware of them during A whole new world and found that moment suitable magical. (I was front of the dress circle)
Bend it
Bend it
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2016 8:47:26 GMT
Well I think the fact is that the vast majority of people seeing it CANT see the wires- I'm judging this by reactions on Twitter etc.,, so it's obviously magical for some people watching it. And I certainly wasn't aware of them during A whole new world and found that moment suitable magical. (I was front of the dress circle) Bend it Bend it People choose to ignore a lot of reality in life That's why society is in the current state it is in |
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jun 5, 2016 8:51:58 GMT
You're right. Those who can see the wires should really start screaming "I CAN SEE HOW YOURE DOING THIS" until the shows stopped. And then close it down until they have found a way to not fly it on wires or an arm...
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