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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2018 18:14:47 GMT
Love Les Mis but I never felt it was the same in the Queen's - not sure why, just something about that theatre I don't warm to. Personally I think Les Mis should go bigger. It's a big production, it regularly sells out and would look great in a big house - I would love to see it in the Prince Edward. Sure will still be the Napier designed Nunn/Caird version - it is iconic now and is the only worldwide version still going, they won't get rid of it.
I completely agree. I've seen Les Mis at the Queen's more times than I saw it at the Palace (last time there was 19 years ago), but the Queen's has always lacked something for me. Maybe it's the size, maybe it's the facade and signage at the front, or maybe it's just nostalgia.
All of these for me! Also I always go for aisle seats so MUCH prefer theatres with centre aisles - otherwise I always have an extreme side on view. |
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Post by Jon on Jul 27, 2018 19:40:07 GMT
in mamma Mias case the Prince of Wales was just the perfect venue for it, it just fitted so perfectly, better than when it was at the Prince Edward Judy Craymer actually wanted the Prince of Wales or the Piccadilly for Mamma Mia! originally but Cameron offered the Prince Edward instead. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2018 12:46:47 GMT
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Post by Steffi on Jul 30, 2018 16:11:12 GMT
Went to the show again on Saturday. First time seeing Bradley and while I absolutely appreciate he is a good performer with an incredible voice I'm afraid for me he simply is no Javert (yet). He looks way too young and the "older Javert" make up looks really unnatural on him. Also in my opinion he isn't intimidating enough - I didn't believe Jean Valjean would ever run from this man.
Having said that this is his first week in the show coming straight our of Wicked. So I'm hoping he will grow into the role a bit more with time. He certainly can belt out "Stars", I do give him that.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2018 22:37:56 GMT
Went to the show again on Saturday. First time seeing Bradley and while I absolutely appreciate he is a good performer with an incredible voice I'm afraid for me he simply is no Javert (yet). He looks way too young and the "older Javert" make up looks really unnatural on him. Also in my opinion he isn't intimidating enough - I didn't believe Jean Valjean would ever run from this man. Having said that this is his first week in the show coming straight our of Wicked. So I'm hoping he will grow into the role a bit more with time. He certainly can belt out "Stars", I do give him that. To be fair, he is just out of the fairytale fantasy world that is Wicked. Once he has settled in, I'm sure he'll become more "menacing" as Javert. |
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Post by zermatt on Jul 31, 2018 23:39:13 GMT
Went to the show again on Saturday. First time seeing Bradley and while I absolutely appreciate he is a good performer with an incredible voice I'm afraid for me he simply is no Javert (yet). He looks way too young and the "older Javert" make up looks really unnatural on him. Also in my opinion he isn't intimidating enough - I didn't believe Jean Valjean would ever run from this man. Having said that this is his first week in the show coming straight our of Wicked. So I'm hoping he will grow into the role a bit more with time. He certainly can belt out "Stars", I do give him that. To be fair, he is just out of the fairytale fantasy world that is Wicked. Once he has settled in, I'm sure he'll become more "menacing" as Javert. To be REALLY fair... There is no actor in The West End or Broadway who is simultaneously a Fiyero and a Javert. It's utterly bizarre casting. That won't change, no matter how he settles into it. Bradley has a great voice, but his Javert is just like his Enjolras - physically beautiful and loud, all the time. To me, he looks like an actor who knows he is wrong for the role, and is overcompensating by being really shouty and really broody, all the time. Chisnall's excellent Valjean eats him alive. Now, of course, none of this is Bradley's fault - he's an actor who has been offered a role and accepted it. But it's a farce that anyone thought someone who was Enjolras 2 years ago, and then Fiyero, and is shorter than Marius, would make a good Javert. The first cover, James Hume, who I saw a few weeks ago, is in a different league. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2018 7:45:13 GMT
Whenever I see him, I’ll probably still have the image of his Fiyero in my head. Whenever I see a performer that I’ve seen in another show, I always somehow just think it’s their old character.
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Post by Steffi on Aug 12, 2018 12:38:10 GMT
I saw the first understudy Javert, James Hume, for the first time last night. Extremely impressive performance! Wonderful voice and great acting. Him and Dean work really well together, too.
Guess I’ll just schedule my visits when Bradley is on holidays from now on.
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Post by richey on Aug 19, 2018 14:33:21 GMT
I know it's been said before, but after hearing the original cast recording of One Day More just now on EP's show, it's performed a lot faster now!
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Post by giuseppe on Aug 29, 2018 20:22:01 GMT
Anyone know where this may be transferring to whilst the queens is closed for refurb?
The Gielgud seems like the most sensible choice but we’ll see I guess?
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Post by SageStageMgr on Aug 30, 2018 1:12:07 GMT
I know it's been said before, but after hearing the original cast recording of One Day More just now on EP's show, it's performed a lot faster now! The whole show is, in comparison. A line or two here, a bits and pieces throughout. But the general tempo of the show has gotten faster and faster even in the last ten years. |
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Post by cheesy116 on Aug 30, 2018 1:54:54 GMT
Anyone know where this may be transferring to whilst the queens is closed for refurb? The Gielgud seems like the most sensible choice but we’ll see I guess? This is the first I've heard of this, I've googled it and can't find any info about it ? |
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Post by Marcus on Aug 30, 2018 6:10:46 GMT
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Post by 49thand8th on Sept 7, 2018 14:32:00 GMT
LOL
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Post by daisy24601 on Sept 8, 2018 21:18:01 GMT
The acapella songs on the official Instagram account have made my day. Disco Bish particularly good.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 28, 2018 12:59:33 GMT
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Post by daisy24601 on Sept 28, 2018 14:11:12 GMT
Doesn't surprise me at all! That's good news.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 28, 2018 16:01:57 GMT
Fun fact (ok, not so fun actually). I will always remember the first time I saw this show... My friend had to go pee every 15-20 minutes cause he got a horrible cystitis. I wanted to kill him. At the interval he decided to move to the standing area at the back of the circle (or balcony, can't remember) cause everyone around him was getting annoyed. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 28, 2018 16:26:51 GMT
Fun fact (ok, not so fun actually). I will always remember the first time I saw this show... My friend had to go pee every 15-20 minutes cause he got a horrible cystitis. I wanted to kill him. At the interval he decided to move to the standing area at the back of the circle (or balcony, can't remember) cause everyone around him was getting annoyed. Oh don't, I can see the Follies fans with their bladder issues coming over as we speak. 😘 |
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Post by kimbahorel on Sept 29, 2018 18:41:30 GMT
As well as removing the cover announcements at the start of the shows they have taken down the cover board that sits on the merch desk. They still have at the moment the one in the box office. So if anyone wanted to go for covers you have to venture into the box office. There is one somewhere in the foyer but not visable from the outside of the theatre.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2018 19:44:46 GMT
What is it with Cam Mac and understudies?
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Post by kimbahorel on Sept 29, 2018 20:05:26 GMT
What is it with Cam Mac and understudies? I don't know, it's getting really annoying. |
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Post by martello736 on Sept 30, 2018 9:07:36 GMT
I also don’t think it helps that the interval of Les Mis is shorter than at a lot of other musicals. Because of the running time being quite long they keep it strictly to 15 minutes every night whereas others often run to 20-22 minutes. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2018 9:35:28 GMT
I dislike 15 minute intervals. It’s not enough time for my thoughts of what I’ve just seen to digest, for me to go the toilet (TMI) and maybe get an ice cream or a drink. I know 20 minutes is only an extra 5 mins but I find I usually don’t rush around as much.
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Post by SageStageMgr on Oct 2, 2018 3:34:20 GMT
I saw this a few weeks ago.
I’ve written extensively about Les Mis throughout this thread, it’s a show very close to my heart and probably my favourite ever.
What I saw was the worst cast since around early 2005, when it was set to close. At that point they brought in an entire new cast and resident creative team to rescue it - and it worked, thanks to the likes of John Owen-Jones and Hans Peter Janssens. Two top quality stage performers with exceptional voices, experience and presence.
It has been going downhill for years now, but this was a new low.
Everyone is SO young. There was no finesse, no pacing - it was just nonstop rushing.
This show has been taking liberties for nearly a decade with younger and younger casts, faster shows with more cuts and everything in fast forward, higher ticket prices and smaller bands.
Frankly, after 100+ visits to Les Mis all around the world, this production really deserves to close, because the producers have lost the creative meaning of the piece and my respect.
I can’t see, short of a full blown 2005 massacre and reboot, any reason to see this production again.
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