19,696 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 9, 2019 18:04:35 GMT
Take a packet of Angel Delight and a bottle of water, make your own “pie”.
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Post by danb on Feb 9, 2019 18:23:55 GMT
On the way back from todays matinee and I was ready to hate it until ten minutes before the end of act 1. Then it suddenly showed its heart with ‘Bad Idea’ and I was sold. Laura Baldwin is a cute Dawn but has very little to bounce off without a singing Ogie. He was basically a Jack off of ‘Will & Grace’ lookielikie and just mugged his way through it. Other leads all great; such a shame that the screamerati have discovered it already; you could get a cheer for farting.
KMP in really great voice, looked like either her wig was on too tight or had visited the special face doctor.
This deserves to be a huge successful hug of a show and I hope it is huge.
But please lose the stench in the foyer. Those poor ushers. br]yours Oscar the Grouch x
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2019 18:31:39 GMT
Other leads all great; such a shame that the screamerati have discovered it already; you could get a cheer for farting. KMP looked like either her wig was on too tight or had visited the special face doctor! LOL re the screamerati (LOLing only from the safety of my flat). Double LOL re the special face doctor. Brilliant! Hmmmm, I almost never don't enjoy a musical once I am actually there (despite occasional online sarcasm I do always make the effort to enjoy and see the positives once I've forked out). So although I'll still wait for a deal, maybe I will check this out at some point.... PS - did you have a 'pie' and how was it for you? |
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Post by danb on Feb 9, 2019 18:44:16 GMT
Other leads all great; such a shame that the screamerati have discovered it already; you could get a cheer for farting. KMP looked like either her wig was on too tight or had visited the special face doctor! LOL re the screamerati (LOLing only from the safety of my flat). Double LOL re the special face doctor. Brilliant! Hmmmm, I almost never don't enjoy a musical once I am actually there (despite occasional online sarcasm I do always make the effort to enjoy and see the positives once I've forked out). So although I'll still wait for a deal, maybe I will check this out at some point.... PS - did you have a 'pie' and how was it for you? I did not have a pie, no. When there are teenage girls and boys fawning over jars of baby food in the tiny foyer you go to your seats asap. View wise there is nothing to see, so really no need for being upclose & personal. (We were second row dress) Had we been closer I might have seen that KMP was actually stretchy faced Olivia Newton John. I really was bristling at the simplicity and predictability of it all at first but so happy with how it got to where it was going. SUTBM was sublime, despite all the coughing from the great unwashed. Did they not know? This ones got legs kids. The (eventual) female empowerment of it all is just right for today, without seeming too ‘message’. Edit: just remembered the gaggle of teen girls pushing past us to get to that alleyway for Maiden Lane. “It’s just down here Ellie! We’ll get her first!” Please let this be the show where the star just says no, and goes home. A line needs drawing!!! |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2019 19:02:23 GMT
LOL - post of the day I reckon :-)
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8,112 posts
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Post by alece10 on Feb 9, 2019 19:09:53 GMT
There has been more talk about pies than the actual show which says a lot.
Can you take the jar home and do you get a spoon?
Greggs could make a killing if they set up a van outside selling proper pies.
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Post by partytentdown on Feb 9, 2019 19:14:33 GMT
When I saw it in NY the pies were basically those little Gu pudding things you get in glass jars
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2019 19:22:38 GMT
There has been more talk about pies than the actual show which says a lot. I was thinking the exact same thing. |
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630 posts
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Post by andrew on Feb 9, 2019 20:22:00 GMT
Since people are complaining again, let me talk about the show and not the pies  I was at the first preview yesterday and I am still wowed. Even though I've loved the show since I first heard the cast recording, after all this negativity in this topic about every single aspect of its West End transfer I actually thought that there would be something wrong with it (and that is absolutely my fault, of course). I am happy to say that it was amazing. For a first preview, it felt impressively ready and the chemistry was already there. I think that it is one of these shows that can be great or meh depending on the cast and that is what made it so good in this case. Having seen/heard every major cast (and the majority of the understudies as well) from Broadway and US tour I can say that this is my favorite cast along with the OBC one. The show fits the Adelphi stage really well and everything looks much bigger and more impressive than on Broadway. Katharine McPhee has improved a lot, it's safe to say that the vocal rest was a good decision. She sang the score beautifully, keeping her signature riffs & adding some extra ones, and her voice sounded a lot less strained than before. I also think that she was really good acting-wise especially at the more dramatic scenes. I loved David Hunter's Pomatter. Ι was thinking that someone like Gavin or Oliver Tompsett would be a better choice but he is now my favorite Dr along with Drew. Great chemistry with KMP as well. Laura & Marisha were both great, Marisha was hilarious in every single line (I like that she acted I didn't plan it, instead of trying to oversing it) and Laura's When he sees me was one of the best moments of the show. Disclaimer, since I have no idea who Jack McBrayer is, I have to objectively judge him as a musical theatre performer and say that he was horrible. However the audience loved him and started laughing at the moment he appeared on stage, before even starting to speak. He couldn't hit a single note at his songs and I really hope that he improves, especially if there's going to be a cast recording. Ogie is my least favorite thing about Waitress and this guy made him even more unbearable. I understand that I'm probably in the minority though. Peter Hannah as Earl was one of the best performances, in a role that doesn't necessarily stand out. His vocals were the best and most polished I've heard from an Earl and his acting was really convincing (and he actually made his character a little likeable (?) at some point). Maybe the standout, and totally unexpected, moment -apart from the standing ovation after SUTBM- was Kelly Agbowu's performance as Nurse Norma. She literally stopped the show just with her facial expression while eating the pie. I think she's going to be the underrated legend of this show. The on-stage band was fantastic and I actually loved the sound, I didn't hear a single flaw. Really good ensemble even though this is not a show that lets them stand out much. The audience reaction was insane. It was like the Heathers, Hadestown & Come From Away audiences combined (I'm mentioning these three because they were the shows that I saw this year that had the most loud audience reaction). While it was really nice to see such a positive reaction, it felt a little annoying after applauses were interrupting the show quite a few times during spoken lines. If it goes on like that, I think KMP will be glad to extend her run, if it doesn't coincide with her wedding plans  . I am not an expert at this kind of stuff, but I do think it's going to sell really well for the first few months, and if they are smart enough to keep the cast as good as this (unlike Broadway) it can successfully keep running for a few years. Great atmosphere overall, apart from the really crowded foyer and the insane stage door crowd (if it goes on like that it's going to be one of the most unbearable SDs at the West End). My seat was stalls C14 and I really recommend it, possibly one of the best seats I ever had. If anyone has any questions I'd be happy to answer and I apologise for my English mistakes -tried my best. |
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837 posts
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Post by stuartmcd on Feb 9, 2019 20:28:00 GMT
was at the first preview yesterday and I am still wowed. Even though I've loved the show since I first heard the cast recording, after all this negativity in this topic about every single aspect of its West End transfer I actually thought that there would be something wrong with it (and that is absolutely my fault, of course). I am happy to say that it was amazing. I felt exactly the same. Due to the amount of negativity there has been I actually thought this would be a show I would see once and have no interest in returning. However I fully intend to go back at some point this year if I can. |
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Post by danb on Feb 9, 2019 20:54:43 GMT
I would happily see it again, especially if Lucie Jones does take over. Another shout here for Peter Hannah’s Earl. He was great at playing a manipulative man child, and I really didn’t know if it was all an act or if Earl was genuinely ‘upset’.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2019 22:32:43 GMT
Samantha Barks has posted on her Instagram story a photo of the Waitress billboard, with Lucie Jones, in Times Square. She has tagged Lucie and also Waitress London (as opposed to Broadway), suggesting it will be the London production Lucie is joining.
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Post by waybeyondblue on Feb 9, 2019 22:38:17 GMT
We left at half time tonight. Nothing in it worked - the songs are bland, the book shallow and the characters caricatures. There was no chemistry or comic timing but then the material was so thin. It was like watching an American sitcom which was staggering towards its inevitable cancellation as the writers had lost any spark of originality.
And as for “sugar”.....then give me Tori Amos any day.
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4,177 posts
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Post by HereForTheatre on Feb 9, 2019 22:41:58 GMT
The interval.
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4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on Feb 9, 2019 23:11:09 GMT
Just cause you can get a "half time" pie doesn't mean you're at the football.
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4,790 posts
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Post by Mark on Feb 9, 2019 23:11:38 GMT
Tonight was my fourth “Waitress” experience, previously seen in NYC with Mueller, Bareilles and KMP.
It was good. It’s always been a good show and I enjoyed it tonight but it didn’t seem to click for me as well as it did in New York. I still think the Adelphi is completely the wrong venue for it.
David Hunter - Perfect casting here!!! Also loved Laura Baldwin and Marisha Wallace in their roles. KMP I loved in New York, she seemed to be holding back tonight but I couldn’t quite place it.
Jack McBrayer was great - until he sang..... when Christopher Fitzgerald did that number on Broadway it brought the house down. Unfortunately McBrayer just doesn’t have the vocal chops to make it work.
Front row- stage is fairly high but fine, unlimited legroom even if you’re 8 ft tall. My seat number AA27 was the furthest to house left despite what some seating plans show, there are no seats further. Could see everything from the shin up.
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4,993 posts
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Post by Phantom of London on Feb 9, 2019 23:46:24 GMT
Tonight was my fourth “Waitress” experience, previously seen in NYC with Mueller, Bareilles and KMP. It was good. It’s always been a good show and I enjoyed it tonight but it didn’t seem to click for me as well as it did in New York. I still think the Adelphi is completely the wrong venue for it. David Hunter - Perfect casting here!!! Also loved Laura Baldwin and Marisha Wallace in their roles. KMP I loved in New York, she seemed to be holding back tonight but I couldn’t quite place it. Jack McBrayer was great - until he sang..... when Christopher Fitzgerald did that number on Broadway it brought the house down. Unfortunately McBrayer just doesn’t have the vocal chops to make it work. Front row- stage is fairly high but fine, unlimited legroom even if you’re 8 ft tall. My seat number AA27 was the furthest to house left despite what some seating plans show, there are no seats further. Could see everything from the shin up. I agree Mark, I saw it a couple of times in New York and it blew me away and was expecting the same in London, didn’t happen though, albeit I was in a dreadful seat right at the back of the dress circle and felt very remote from the show and always uncomfortable in the dress circle, as cannot stretch my legs, this coupled with fans of Sara Baralleis screaming, lack of chemistry and it rather felt the cast were more focused on getting through their first show, than entertaining. However it was first preview and the show is still in the creative arc, so all not lost. Hope to see it again in a better seat in the stalls, hopefully via rush or lottery. Saying that I thought KMP was very good and loved Marisha and the other waitresses, not so sure about David Hunter, but his was more of a comedic role, than a performing one and as I say I felt remote from the action. |
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Post by sophie92 on Feb 9, 2019 23:57:01 GMT
I have to say that it doesn’t come as a massive surprise to read that people are feeling there’s a lack of chemistry. No-one has specified who they felt lacked chemistry, but given that KMP was absent for about half of the rehearsal period, I did wonder what the chemistry would be like between her and the company.
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84 posts
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Post by theatremadhatter on Feb 10, 2019 1:26:45 GMT
Samantha Barks has posted on her Instagram story a photo of the Waitress billboard, with Lucie Jones, in Times Square. She has tagged Lucie and also Waitress London (as opposed to Broadway), suggesting it will be the London production Lucie is joining. I said the same thing the other day. Great for her to be on Broadway. I’m guessing she will learn it there and then eventually take over from Katherine. |
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Post by latefortheoverture on Feb 10, 2019 3:04:48 GMT
Front row- stage is fairly high but fine, unlimited legroom even if you’re 8 ft tall. My seat number AA27 was the furthest to house left despite what some seating plans show, there are no seats further. Could see everything from the shin up. So the stage height is bearable? |
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781 posts
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Post by latefortheoverture on Feb 10, 2019 3:05:34 GMT
Also, I booked in the presale and have heard/received no mention what so ever of a free pie!!!! Anyone else?!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2019 4:21:53 GMT
I think I will say to this show
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2019 4:25:17 GMT
Jack McBrayer did 30 ROCK. I just looked it up. I had no idea who he was either. It is is really good stunt casting |
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Post by sparky5000 on Feb 10, 2019 4:30:14 GMT
I have to say that it doesn’t come as a massive surprise to read that people are feeling there’s a lack of chemistry. No-one has specified who they felt lacked chemistry, but given that KMP was absent for about half of the rehearsal period, I did wonder what the chemistry would be like between her and the company. Well as with everything I guess it’s always in the eye of the beholder but the overwhelming response from people having seen the show already on social media seems to be that the chemistry is great between the leads. These are also early early preview shows and other than Kat McPhee the cast will still be finding their feet performing the show live, which is actually quite tricky with such a prop heavy show, when in early shows you’re probably concentrating a lot of time trying not to drop stuff so it takes a while for it to all be totally natural! Looking forward to seeing the show next week. I’ve seen it a few times on broadway and each time I’ve loved it. |
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Post by sparky5000 on Feb 10, 2019 4:37:07 GMT
As for everyone commenting on Jack McBrayer’s singing as Ogie, I feel like the creators don’t really care as much about singing ability for the role as long as they have the whole comic Ogie thing down, but it was still surprising they went with someone who has never previously sung, at all! Ogie’s still gotta get through 2 songs so some singing ability would be nice lol!
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. I am not an expert at this kind of stuff, but I do think it's going to sell really well for the first few months, and if they are smart enough to keep the cast as good as this (unlike Broadway) it can successfully keep running for a few years. 
