571 posts
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Post by westendwendy on Oct 25, 2016 11:15:22 GMT
My friend sat on the left hand side (stage right) in the worst seats and adored it. A lot of the action is played either straight on or to stage right because the entrance is used a lot.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2016 12:05:59 GMT
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240 posts
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Post by Anniek on Oct 25, 2016 12:17:17 GMT
anyone interested in a ticket for tonight? I feel slightly ill but can't exchange it for another date/get a refund.  Would love to get £10 for it, but open for offers. |
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2,848 posts
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Post by couldileaveyou on Oct 25, 2016 16:29:10 GMT
these are some of the worst wigs I have ever seen
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2,041 posts
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Post by 49thand8th on Oct 25, 2016 16:39:35 GMT
Wow. This would make me think they cut Jake out of the show. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2016 17:03:24 GMT
these are some of the worst wigs I have ever seen I thought so. The wardrobe department really need lining up for this one. |
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225 posts
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Post by madsonmelo on Oct 25, 2016 17:04:00 GMT
The comments are making me want to try something else instead of this. I love the original score, but....
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2016 18:10:50 GMT
The comments are making me want to try something else instead of this. I love the original score, but.... The show is definitely worth a trip! Just try for central seats, and keep an open mind about potentially sloppy aesthetics |
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158 posts
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Post by broadwaylover99 on Oct 25, 2016 18:12:54 GMT
When I go, I might close my eyes for that first section with those god-awful wigs and just listen - that first wig (and that dress) are just horrendous (SARCASM WARNING).
In all seriousness, I think this production could just benefit with far more money behind it
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364 posts
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Post by dazzerlump on Oct 25, 2016 19:43:37 GMT
well I go next week and actually after all the horror stories about costumes and wigs they don't look that bad on the photos.. the hilton twins themselves wore quote ill fitting clothes en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daisy_and_Violet_Hilton |
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Oct 25, 2016 22:25:21 GMT
That's strange about the seating as I am sure it was reserved seating from the day tickets went on sale which is when I bought mine. Unless there was some sort of priority booking scheme. What is this about the seats? I booked specific seats for this one in the front centre section, does this mean they could put someone in my seat I booked the week tickets went on sale? I'm pretty sure that they've re-arranged the layout since the tickets went on sale. Our seats tonight were on the right hand side (far wall from the entrance), though close to the centre-block. However, I booked the day tickets went on sale, and I am *sure* I booked to be face-on - in fact, I remember thinking I was booking basically the same seats where I happened to sit for Grey Gardens, as they were good then. The whole theatre is the other way round to the last two things I saw here (Grey Gardens and Toxic Avenger) and feels bigger, with a deeper floor area. I could believe the face-on seating is shorter than originally planned, and the sides longer. Therefore I think the seats that were on the ends of the face-on seating have become the ends of the sides. That said, I was mostly happy with the seats. There were a couple of times, particularly in the second half, where the blocking prevented me seeing a character's face, but for the most part they do a good job of playing to the whole auditorium, and staging different scenes in different directions. Also, don't sit front row if you don't want to be touched... |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2016 22:32:08 GMT
According to their Wikipedia page, Daisy died first, but violet didnt die for a few days after. Her last few days must have been horrendous!!!
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1,502 posts
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Post by foxa on Oct 26, 2016 8:44:29 GMT
My daughter's gone off with the programme, so forgive me if I don't get all the names right!
Like SamB I booked my seat on what I remembered the Grey Gardens seating plan to be like (and booked it AGES ago) but ended up on the aisle on the far side. Not worse seat in the house (think that would have to be the seat in the front row crammed in the corner opposite us) but we did have a lot of profile stuff and only rarely saw the twins actually standing side by side. Their joining must be one of the most flexible ever - they could stand back to back even - at one point they are only loosely joined by the lower part of their dresses - surely an operation would have been successful.
That said, there were some strong performances, Dearman and Pitt-Pulford,of course, but also the actor who played Jake who really came into his own in the second act and sang beautifully and with feeling. The second act was generally stronger than the first, though the roles of the young love interest men seemed a bit undeveloped.
The staging was a mixed bag. My daughter complained that almost every song in the first act ended with the ensemble lifting those bloody crate boxes skyward and looking sad. But there was some entertaining choreography in the vaudeville scenes and the reporter scene. As someone above mentioned, do not know what was going on with the Texas scene - lassos, vaguely Australian-looking hats and macs? They were still one ensemble member down, so one performer was both Lizard Man and Human Pin Cushion - and just about every other part going. Kinda had to love him. Also there was a fantastic Bob Fosse-esqe dancer in the ensemble playing the illustrated woman - watch her - always giving it all and fun,sassy.
I'd give it 4 out of 5 stars and, at preview prices of £14, a bargain.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2016 10:41:54 GMT
Fox - yes they were definitely Australian looking! That whole scene was a bit of a mess.
Unfortunately they are not replacing the actor who hurt his leg, so the actor playing the Lizard Man had now stepped into all the parts he played.
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Oct 26, 2016 11:15:20 GMT
Fox - yes they were definitely Australian looking! That whole scene was a bit of a mess. Unfortunately they are not replacing the actor who hurt his leg, so the actor playing the Lizard Man had now stepped into all the parts he played. I did think that led to a bit of confusion (putting in spoiler tags because I'm referring to the ending here) {Spoiler - click to view}
Towards the end, when the wedding between Violet and Buddy is called off, Terry challenges Buddy on his homosexuality and his different priorities, and at that point, the film director walks in.
The actor playing the director is the same guy who played the dancer Buddy was (possibly) involved with earlier on - at that point, I assumed it was that character coming back to confront Buddy, or possibly to walk off into the sunset with him. I assume those characters would normally be different actors.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2016 13:06:12 GMT
Yes the Pin Cushion Man originally played the film director. On friday he came on with a cane, helping him walk. I presumed it was a character choice, but obviously not.
Unfortunately the other 2 male ensemble members are way too small for the director role, but seeing as they used a female for the the male prosecutor, they could have done it again, as it is confusing using the same actor.
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5,795 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Oct 26, 2016 21:49:21 GMT
Saw this tonight and thoroughly enjoyed it. Infinitely better than the recent Broadway revival- this works wonderfully well in the intimate space of Southwark.
Fabulous committed performances by Dearman and Pitt Pulford really elevate the show. They would dazzle even in a full blown west end production of this. Vocally they have all it takes to deliver the sensational songs.
Neat staging and choreography keep things moving alone nicely and I don't understand the person who said the director had no 'take' on it. It seemed a well directed evening to be with some nice touches here and there. (Except that dreadful Texans with ropes moment at the end..-CUT.
The Band sounded good- though the general sound was a bit muffled at times. The ensemble all worked very hard, -particularly Nuno Quiemado (sp?) who always maintained character in the background (not in a distracting way) when his fellow ensemble members just stood idle.
Costumes less good- the sisters dresses straining/ripping at the join was very distracting.
In fact the only weak performance was Jay Marsh playing Jake. Weak voice and absolutely zero acting ability. I don't think I've ever seen acting that bad in a professional production before .Couldn't wait for his moments to end. The other two male leads weren't particularly well cast as Wendy said but at least could sing well enough.
As I said before I just don't think the musical revisions improve upon the original version.
All in all a very enjoyable evening in the theatre and a joy to see and hear 2 of our finest musical stars dazzle.
My boyf was much less impressed.. he found the score "samey and forgettable".
I'm packing his bags right now.
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5,139 posts
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Post by Being Alive on Oct 26, 2016 21:56:13 GMT
Saw this tonight and thoroughly enjoyed it. Infinitely better than the recent Broadway revival- this works wonderfully well in the intimate space of Southwark. Fabulous committed performances by Dearman and Pitt Pulford really elevate the show. They would dazzle even in a full blown west end production of this. Vocally they have all it takes to deliver the sensational songs. Neat staging and choreography keep things moving alone nicely and I don't understand the person who said the director had no 'take' on it. It seemed a well directed evening to be with some nice touches here and there. (Except that dreadful Texans with ropes moment at the end..-CUT. The Band sounded good- though the general sound was a bit muffled at times. The ensemble all worked very hard, -particularly Nuno Quiemado (sp?) who always maintained character in the background (not in a distracting way) when his fellow ensemble members just stood idle. Costumes less good- the sisters dresses straining/ripping at the join was very distracting. In fact the only weak performance was Jay Marsh playing Jake. Weak voice and absolutely zero acting ability. I don't think I've ever seen acting that bad in a professional production before .Couldn't wait for his moments to end. The other two male leads weren't particularly well cast as Wendy said but at least could sing well enough. As I said before I just don't think the musical revisions improve upon the original version. All in all a very enjoyable evening in the theatre and a joy to see and hear 2 of our finest musical stars dazzle. My boyf was much less impressed.. he found the score "samey and forgettable". I'm packing his bags right now. I'm really pleased you enjoyed it MrBarnaby - especially knowing your view on the Broadway revival! |
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Post by raiseitup on Oct 27, 2016 9:46:26 GMT
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571 posts
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Post by westendwendy on Oct 27, 2016 13:11:16 GMT
Saw this tonight and thoroughly enjoyed it. Infinitely better than the recent Broadway revival- this works wonderfully well in the intimate space of Southwark. Fabulous committed performances by Dearman and Pitt Pulford really elevate the show. They would dazzle even in a full blown west end production of this. Vocally they have all it takes to deliver the sensational songs. Neat staging and choreography keep things moving alone nicely and I don't understand the person who said the director had no 'take' on it. It seemed a well directed evening to be with some nice touches here and there. (Except that dreadful Texans with ropes moment at the end..-CUT. The Band sounded good- though the general sound was a bit muffled at times. The ensemble all worked very hard, -particularly Nuno Quiemado (sp?) who always maintained character in the background (not in a distracting way) when his fellow ensemble members just stood idle. Costumes less good- the sisters dresses straining/ripping at the join was very distracting. In fact the only weak performance was Jay Marsh playing Jake. Weak voice and absolutely zero acting ability. I don't think I've ever seen acting that bad in a professional production before .Couldn't wait for his moments to end. The other two male leads weren't particularly well cast as Wendy said but at least could sing well enough. As I said before I just don't think the musical revisions improve upon the original version. All in all a very enjoyable evening in the theatre and a joy to see and hear 2 of our finest musical stars dazzle. My boyf was much less impressed.. he found the score "samey and forgettable". I'm packing his bags right now. How can the guy playing Jake have a muscular body of steel, have a gorgeous rich golden voice but the WORST stage presence and acting I have ever seen in any professional production? Staggering... The other three male leads weren't much better. Stage in a proscenium arch design and some recasting and this could have got some five stars. |
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5,795 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Oct 27, 2016 17:50:50 GMT
I don't think he had a great voice at all. Not bad but nothing special.
I want to see him in a show with Sarah Harding.. a wonderful acting match.
You reminded me.. it was so glaringly obvious this might as well have been in a proscenium arch theatre- the poor people on the sides. The whole is played out front to the centre block.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2016 20:34:34 GMT
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116 posts
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Post by tcodd1 on Oct 28, 2016 17:48:06 GMT
Just snapped up the last 2 tickets in the central section for the performance on Wednesday 30th Nov. So excited to see the show after reading the reviews...I love Louise Dearman's voice! 😁
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4,955 posts
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Post by Someone in a tree on Oct 29, 2016 7:16:55 GMT
The book is terrible - slow, plodding with some great themes that are barely touched upon.
I also really struggled with the production - let's pretend we are in John Caird's production of Candide or Hamlet and shove some storage boxes around the stage
Also are the twins medically conjoined with a safety pin that is sometimes above the hip and other times below
Shame as the two woman are excellent and so are the rest of cast but meh that book
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2016 7:23:54 GMT
Thought this was pretty good.
Pin cushion man is back on, and not using a stick, so good to see he's recovered!
Like others I booked early and I'm sure I booked in the central block (but clearly have no way of checking!) and found myself in the right hand side block. Odd.
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