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Post by stagey on Oct 24, 2019 15:00:08 GMT
Brenda is doing all Thursday matinee shows
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Post by Phantom of London on Oct 24, 2019 15:25:05 GMT
On Broadway World I was all over the original London Palladium production, saying how terrible it sounded, then I saw it and quite frankly the show blew me away, the score by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater and the Tony award winning star Patina Miller was superb. I might see this revival, not really looking forward to this one, this is not as exciting as the Hairspray announcement.
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Post by sam22 on Oct 24, 2019 15:36:46 GMT
Phew - one good thing; at least the ticket prices are very reasonable. £266 for best seats in the stalls...LOL |
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Post by Phantom of London on Oct 24, 2019 15:39:03 GMT
Looking at the heat map, it shows that tickets are selling well (is it really selling that well, in that aircraft hangar) and some tickets being priced at £300.
I won't be paying £300, nowhere close.
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Post by anthem on Oct 24, 2019 16:54:42 GMT
I have really mixed feelings about this.
Whoopi is obviously an icon but why "specially adapt" the show at this point, when it's already proven itself in its original form? Whoopi is not going to be able to sing the score (Patina Miller/Cynthia Erivo set a high bar) as it was written and surely the book will need to be changed somewhat.
The way the marketing is being done, people who know little about the stage show will buy tickets thinking they are going to hear the songs from the movie. They won't. Those of us who love Alan Menken's score won't hear it sung as it should be. I am indifferent to Jennifer Saunders.
Some of the tickets are ludicrously expensive, though it seems to be selling well already. I guess seeing Whoopi onstage in the iconic role may be novelty enough to address my misgivings.
Or I could just book to see Brenda Edwards!
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Post by apubleed on Oct 24, 2019 17:36:06 GMT
I have really mixed feelings about this. Whoopi is obviously an icon but why "specially adapt" the show at this point, when it's already proven itself in its original form? Whoopi is not going to be able to sing the score (Patina Miller/Cynthia Erivo set a high bar) as it was written and surely the book will need to be changed somewhat. The way the marketing is being done, people who know little about the stage show will buy tickets thinking they are going to hear the songs from the movie. They won't. Those of us who love Alan Menken's score won't hear it sung as it should be. I am indifferent to Jennifer Saunders. Some of the tickets are ludicrously expensive, though it seems to be selling well already. I guess seeing Whoopi onstage in the iconic role may be novelty enough to address my misgivings. Or I could just book to see Brenda Edwards! I have all the same thoughts as you, but even so - I think I just have to go. It's Whoopi on stage playing the lead role! This only happens once in a lifetime. |
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Post by MrBraithwaite on Oct 25, 2019 7:29:21 GMT
Had already decided before I read all those comments here about the terrible venue and the ticket prices...I'll give it a pass, easy. I loved Sister Act when I saw it in London and loved Patina Miller singing the songs, don't need them murdered by Whoopi (as much as I like her). Also I don't think Mother Superior needs comedy casting as it is a role best played serious. Will see Jennifer Saunders in Blithe Spirit insted.
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Post by Mark on Oct 25, 2019 9:49:01 GMT
All very interesting, this. Sold fast enough that one ticket agency had to take it off sale as demand crashed their system. I saw the live seating map right at the start. Most of the front side block stalls looked like they were held off sale, as seemed to be the front row, presumably as they don't know sightlines, so I'd guess there may be some relatively cheaper front corner seats to be had much nearer the time. It wasn't so much the high ticket price I objected to, as the whacking booking fee plus delivery fee. Still, casting was irresistible and I did book. For “Nativity” at the same venue, those side view seats ended up being a bargain! |
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Post by fiyero on Oct 25, 2019 11:14:10 GMT
All very interesting, this. Sold fast enough that one ticket agency had to take it off sale as demand crashed their system. I saw the live seating map right at the start. Most of the front side block stalls looked like they were held off sale, as seemed to be the front row, presumably as they don't know sightlines, so I'd guess there may be some relatively cheaper front corner seats to be had much nearer the time. It wasn't so much the high ticket price I objected to, as the whacking booking fee plus delivery fee. Still, casting was irresistible and I did book. If everything else is sold out when they add those front corners I can’t see them being the bargains they were for nativity. Against me better judgement I’ve booked, row x or thereabouts in the circle. I couldn’t justify paying more didn’t like the delivery fee - even applicable in print at home! Though it did imply we get special show specific tickets. |
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Post by somnorific on Oct 25, 2019 11:39:56 GMT
Anyone know a site that has full availability? I can only see Eventim - which has a very limited allocation.. and then every other site (ticketmaster, fromtheboxoffice, etc.) has a different but shared and also very limited allocation.
It seems to me only 15% of the seats have ever been on sale. It was like this from the very moment I looked online when it was announced yesterday.
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Post by steve10086 on Oct 25, 2019 21:12:37 GMT
I just don’t understand this. Whoopi surely can’t sing the role. What are they going to do? I love the Sister Act songs, but what is the point without someone like Patina Miller to do them justice?
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Post by xanady on Oct 25, 2019 21:44:05 GMT
Perhaps have Whoopi as an older Deloris looking back on her life in flashback and have her as a kind of observer or over-seer narrator figure with a younger established singer actually performing the Deloris role?
Am sure they have thought it all through.Whoopi will sell tickets by the shed-load.
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Post by sjbr1988 on Oct 26, 2019 6:50:39 GMT
I think like many I have a special place for the Palladium production and was lucky enough to also see Whoopi as Mother Superior. That was a night at the theatre I’ll always remember as the audience were on form and it just seemed to oddly work.
I’ve had mixed reservations about this as it’s still one of my favourite soundtracks and I take any chance to hear Patina sing the score but I took the plunge and booked to see it. I’ll be going with a pretty open mind in the hope they’ve got something up their sleeve and I won’t be disappointed.
Think in the meantime I’ll book Mary and Evan and see how casting should be done!
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Post by marob on Oct 26, 2019 11:39:22 GMT
Whoopi will sell tickets by the shed-load. Correction, Whoopi HAS SOLD tickets by the shed-load. I've not seen anything like this for years. Out of curiosity, what are the shows you're comparing it to? |
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Post by mrbarnaby on Oct 26, 2019 11:58:59 GMT
Can’t wait to hear these big songs murdered by Whoopi!
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Post by gmoneyoutlaw on Oct 26, 2019 12:44:16 GMT
Can’t wait to hear these big songs murdered by Whoopi! Let's see how they rework the show. Whoopi is not a singer so I would suspect that the singing will be left to the co-stars. Is Jennifer Saunders a singer? Her role changed when it was on Broadway for so Mother Superior had a glorious voice. Sheila Hancock in London; not a great singer. Victoria Clark in NY; a brilliant singer and a new song for Mother Superior. What may be a failure in this new production is Whoopi Goldberg being Whoopi and not convincing as Delores Van Cartier and that may happen if she can not physically do the run of 39 performances. I've got my tickets for her final bow as it may not come to New York for a full run and I have "FOMO". I could see Whoopi be Whoopi any day on television, this is going to be epic whether it's successful or misguided and solely produced for the sake of greediness. |
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Post by robertb213 on Oct 26, 2019 13:10:08 GMT
Jennifer Saunders did a song as the Fairy Godmother in Shrek 2. Not a great credential for a stage musical, I grant you, but she might be ok.
I'm still going to opt for Brenda Edwards at Curve though!
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Post by d'James on Oct 26, 2019 13:20:19 GMT
Jennifer Saunders did a song as the Fairy Godmother in Shrek 2. Not a great credential for a stage musical, I grant you, but she might be ok. I'm still going to opt for Brenda Edwards at Curve though! They also always did a song live on every French and Saunders tour. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 26, 2019 13:26:40 GMT
This is stunt casting at its very worst isn’t it? I’m surprised it’s getting such a positive response here. She’s a woman in her mid sixties who can’t sing, playing a woman at least half her age who can. And there’s talk of them changing the show to accommodate her because, well, it’s Whoopi. it’s like Julie Andrews reprising Maria Von Trapp.
And charging £250 to see it?
Wow.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Oct 26, 2019 13:31:00 GMT
Can’t wait to hear these big songs murdered by Whoopi! Let's see how they rework the show. Whoopi is not a singer so I would suspect that the singing will be left to the co-stars. Is Jennifer Saunders a singer? Her role changed when it was on Broadway for so Mother Superior had a glorious voice. Sheila Hancock in London; not a great singer. Victoria Clark in NY; a brilliant singer and a new song for Mother Superior. What may be a failure in this new production is Whoopi Goldberg being Whoopi and not convincing as Delores Van Cartier and that may happen if she can not physically do the run of 39 performances. I've got my tickets for her final bow as it may not come to New York for a full run and I have "FOMO". I could see Whoopi be Whoopi any day on television, this is going to be epic whether it's successful or misguided and solely produced for the sake of greediness. I hardly think being a convincing Deloris is going to be a problem for the person who literally played Deloris in the films the show is based on. My problem with the show has been I didn't find Deloris similar enough to the films version, so this is going to rectify that no end given its the Abe actress! |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 26, 2019 13:40:27 GMT
How can she be convincing as Delores when she’s old enough to be her granny?
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Post by shady23 on Oct 26, 2019 15:00:52 GMT
Will be great to see this guy again, anyway! One of the highlights at 42nd Street.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Oct 26, 2019 15:20:00 GMT
It doesn’t matter if the Mother Superior doesn’t have a good voice .. but it does for Delores. Well it has until now.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Oct 26, 2019 15:55:19 GMT
How can she be convincing as Delores when she’s old enough to be her granny? Because the role has been aged up. And the original film role was not as young as the musical Deloris anyway. And Whoopi doesn't really look her age. I don't think it will be a problem. |
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Post by shady23 on Oct 26, 2019 15:57:52 GMT
I think it will be great and, yes, there are ridiculous expensive tickets, but if people buying those meant there were also some £29 tickets available (the price range I went for), then I am OK with that.
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