2,452 posts
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Post by theatremadness on Jun 25, 2018 23:33:55 GMT
I saw the show on tour and it was great fun. Band sounded amazing and Tommy was giving it his all - really fab to see. This is a passion project for him. I've definitely said this already on another thread about this show, but Tommy begins the show as Tommy Steele, explaining his passion and love of Glenn Miller, and then goes into 'playing' Glenn in the story of his music. Show is being slightly expanded for the Coliseum run than it was on tour, some returning cast members and some new. Even saw an ad in the Evening Standard that said Marti Webb was in it! Anyway, don't knock it 'til you've tried it. I thought it was a great evening.
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1,936 posts
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Post by wickedgrin on Jun 26, 2018 0:44:09 GMT
Gosh ….it's a big theatre to fill though! Lets hope us oldies are not on the streets ( or on the street corner in my case) and in the theatre!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2018 5:59:47 GMT
I think I'd rather see Glenda Jackson as Glenn Miller Or Tommy Steele as King Lear... He could come on as Tommy, announce his passion for Shakespeare, then introduce us to his three daughters, Flash, Bang and Wallop. Kenwright’s probably reading this now...  |
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490 posts
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Post by bimse on Jun 26, 2018 6:50:22 GMT
I think I'd rather see Glenda Jackson as Glenn Miller Or Tommy Steele as King Lear... He could come on as Tommy, announce his passion for Shakespeare, then introduce us to his three daughters, Flash, Bang and Wallop. Kenwright’s probably reading this now... Or Tommy Steele in the Ken Dodd Story . Kenwright will be making phone calls now . |
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1,089 posts
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Post by tonyloco on Jul 22, 2018 18:20:25 GMT
I have just checked the FROM THE BOX OFFICE advert and I see there are very few seats sold for this in the Stalls and Dress Circle, even for the opening night, and of the many seats remaining available, about half of them are being offered at something around 50% discount.
I know that I said some very unkind things about Tommy Steele earlier in this thread, along with some other members, but he is a living legend – as Ryan rightly pointed out – and it would be sad to see him in a show in the West End that nobody turned up to see even on the first night! Where are all his fans? Mostly in care homes, I expect!
I am now feeling rather guilty and wondering whether I need to do penance by going to see it, but I think I will wait until after the opening night. But then again, this is Show Business and it has not been unknown on Broadway at least for Opening Night and Closing Night to co-incide!
Meanwhile, I wish Tommy the very best of luck and I will refrain from saying 'break a leg!' because with people over 80 that can mean more than just bad luck!!
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1,210 posts
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Post by musicalmarge on Jul 22, 2018 18:44:09 GMT
It’s obviously at the wrong theatre and obviously over priced - but I wish everyone well. I hope to catch it at some point.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 22, 2018 18:46:50 GMT
I have just checked the FROM THE BOX OFFICE advert and I see there are very few seats sold for this in the Stalls and Dress Circle, even for the opening night, and of the many seats remaining available, about half of them are being offered at something around 50% discount. I know that I said some very unkind things about Tommy Steele earlier in this thread, along with some other members, but he is a living legend – as Ryan rightly pointed out – and it would be sad to see him in a show in the West End that nobody turned up to see even on the first night! Where are all his fans? Mostly in care homes, I expect! I am now feeling rather guilty and wondering whether I need to do penance by going to see it, but I think I will wait until after the opening night. But then again, this is Show Business and it has not been unknown on Broadway at least for Opening Night and Closing Night to co-incide! Meanwhile, I wish Tommy the very best of luck and I will refrain from saying 'break a leg!' because with people over 80 that can mean more than just bad luck!! You could always purchase a ticket, tonyloco, if it makes you feel better, and borrow @parsley’s audio book of Jaqueline Wilson’s soothing stories to listen to during the performance. That way Tommy wins, you win. And, as they say, The winner takes it all... |
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Post by orchidman on Jul 22, 2018 23:08:50 GMT
If you like the music, this is worth seeing because the band is excellent, but otherwise it's ropey.
Tommy Steele is impressive for his age but it makes very little sense for him to play Glenn Miller and he barely bothers keeping up an American accent. Would think he should compère and someone else play the lead.
The book is particularly weak even for this sort of show.
And yet the band is great and they play Sing, Sing, Sing twice (even though that's a Benny Goodman arrangement?) so there's that.
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1,936 posts
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 23, 2018 8:58:18 GMT
I have followed most of Tommy Steeles stage career since he appeared in Half A Sixpence with Marti Webb - reunited in this! A life comes almost full circle. So I may go and see this on a cheap ticket as it may very well be the last chance to see him on stage. He cannot go on forever! Sad to see it selling so badly but in a far too big theatre at crazy prices, although the matinees are selling better than the evening performances but the Upper Circle and Balcony closed throughout the run! Sad for the theatre!
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4,975 posts
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Post by Phantom of London on Jul 23, 2018 17:02:09 GMT
Wow - was it the same Tommy Steele who played the Christmas musical several years back at the London Palladium A Christmas Carol and would have a glow of enlightenment when ever he remembered his lines, which wasn’t very often.
Both Glenn Miller and Tomy Steele singular wouldn’t make my other emergency list and would even rather sit in and watch back to back soap operas.
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423 posts
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Post by dlevi on Jul 24, 2018 23:27:20 GMT
Parts of this thread had me laughing out loud ( Tommy Steele as King Lear with his daughter Flash, Bang and Wallop) but now that I've actually seen the show I'm not laughing.
1. There is no author listed in the programme. That's never a good sign.
2. Neither Tommy Steele or Marti Webb even attempt American accents.
3. The band is good but not great.
4. Bill Deamer's dance routines are just that: routine.
Now the hard part.
5. He's an old man. There is no denying it . He can't dance anymore he only suggests movement he doesn't really move. He can't sing very well anymore either. What he can do is smile and charm the die hard fans in the audience . However, they are a dwindling lot. it was only at the "encore" where I realized that this show is more about Tommy Steele's need as a performer to keep performing no matter how dire the circumstances ( and these are pretty dire) . And so what I was left with was a feeling of sadness more than anything else. He needs either to stop performing or relegate himself to small cameo in someone else's show.
This was a sad evening and while the stalls were pretty full, the dress circle was three-quarters empty and the upstairs was closed. This is not the way a star should end their career. Bill Kenwright shouldn't keep enabling him. How they are going to get through 7 weeks of performances with empty houses is beyond my comprehension.
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Post by danb on Jul 25, 2018 5:46:07 GMT
Parts of this thread had me laughing out loud ( Tommy Steele as King Lear with his daughter Flash, Bang and Wallop) but now that I've actually seen the show I'm not laughing. 1. There is no author listed in the programme. That's never a good sign. 2. Neither Tommy Steele or Marti Webb even attempt American accents. 3. The band is good but not great. 4. Bill Deamer's dance routines are just that: routine. Now the hard part. 5. He's an old man. There is no denying it . He can't dance anymore he only suggests movement he doesn't really move. He can't sing very well anymore either. What he can do is smile and charm the die hard fans in the audience . However, they are a dwindling lot. it was only at the "encore" where I realized that this show is more about Tommy Steele's need as a performer to keep performing no matter how dire the circumstances ( and these are pretty dire) . And so what I was left with was a feeling of sadness more than anything else. He needs either to stop performing or relegate himself to small cameo in someone else's show. This was a sad evening and while the stalls were pretty full, the dress circle was three-quarters empty and the upstairs was closed. This is not the way a star should end their career. Bill Kenwright shouldn't keep enabling him. How they are going to get through 7 weeks of performances with empty houses is beyond my comprehension. I think we already know how they’ll be filling this, I’ve had offers since opening night! |
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96 posts
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Post by tommy on Aug 2, 2018 13:33:25 GMT
Does anyone know whether they do day seats for this show?
Just checked for this Saturday afternoon, still lots of seats available it seems, but at full price only I think..
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Post by buckybear on Aug 3, 2018 20:52:38 GMT
That big band sound sounded wonderful in the Coliseum. Worth seeing for that alone!.
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421 posts
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Aug 10, 2018 10:03:15 GMT
Stage Dooring question...does Tommy Steele come out the stage door after either the matinee or evening performances? On recent UK tours programmes have been taken in for him to sign and then he has left via a different door. Only asking as it would lovely to have a photo with him.
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