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Post by alece10 on Jun 29, 2019 14:17:04 GMT
I'm seeing it tomorrow and couldn't care less if Dove Cameron is on or not. I'm afraid I've never heard of her. Probably I'm too old.
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1,088 posts
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Post by andrew on Jun 29, 2019 14:25:52 GMT
Anyone going tonight? I've taken a restricted view stalls seat as per recommendations, interested to see what I make of it. I've listened to not 1 second of the music so going in very cold on this very hot day.
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Post by edi on Jun 29, 2019 14:46:16 GMT
[ i dont understand your post. It is exactly the opposit. They are offering exchange of dates not a refund quote author=" danb" source="/post/297758/thread" timestamp="1561805482"]“ The pedestrian way it is worded encourages people not to see the understudy but to get a refund. It doesn’t even particularly sell the possibility of squeezing you into another date (despite tickets being massively ‘available’ for the rest of the run). [/quote] |
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Post by robertb213 on Jun 29, 2019 14:47:15 GMT
Dove is on this afternoon and is expected to be on tonight.
And it's nice and cool. Musically it's not my cup of tea at all but Rob Houchen is absolute heaven.
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Post by danb on Jun 29, 2019 15:31:10 GMT
[ i dont understand your post. It is exactly the opposit. They are offering exchange of dates not a refund quote author=" danb" source="/post/297758/thread" timestamp="1561805482"]“ The pedestrian way it is worded encourages people not to see the understudy but to get a refund. It doesn’t even particularly sell the possibility of squeezing you into another date (despite tickets being massively ‘available’ for the rest of the run). [/quote] Well then accept my humblest apologies. I misunderstood it to be the opposite. |
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Post by princeton on Jun 29, 2019 15:45:58 GMT
she has historically instructed her own fans to change dates rather than see her understudy But she didn't do that - did she? |
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Post by robertb213 on Jun 29, 2019 16:04:43 GMT
she has historically instructed her own fans to change dates rather than see her understudy But she didn't do that - did she? Exactly what I thought, I assumed she was purely letting the people who were wanting refunds or exchanges know who to contact. She didn't say 'I'm not performing tonight so make sure you go and get a refund or a new date sorted', did she? |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2019 16:30:26 GMT
Now, a quick soapbox moment - the southbank centre tweeted to say that Dove was indisposed and that Lynch would be on and gave contact details should people wish to exchange. And oh my God - the Twitter aggression towards them and fury that they were "dissing understudies" "behaving disgracefully to Molly" "insulting the work of understudies etc etc." Now, I really don't think they were dissing anyone. It really was an innocuous Tweet giving people the option to exchange. Personally I know understudies are wonderful and I was very happy to see Molly. We also all know that you pay for the show, not the person. But, if you happened to be a massive Dove fan and had your heart set on seeing her - then if the producer afford you that option - that is good customer service. It just seems to me sometimes that certain actors on Twitter are sat there just desperate to be offended. And it really feels like faux outrage. And it is ALWAYS-the-same-people! You know, the ones that were FURIOUS for Laura Baldwin - vast majority of whom have probably never met her! As someone that was there on Wednesday, Molly really doesn't need their faux concern - she gave a sensational performance and got a rapturous reception and I am sure had a wonderful night. Oh yes..... Haha, yes, CHF joining the #Shocked&Appalled set is literally the least surprising part of this saga. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2019 16:32:08 GMT
But she didn't do that - did she? Exactly what I thought, I assumed she was purely letting the people who were wanting refunds or exchanges know who to contact. She didn't say 'I'm not performing tonight so make sure you go and get a refund or a new date sorted', did she? Indeed. Exactly what the Southbank Centre did. It really was an innocuous text from the latter. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2019 16:39:42 GMT
I'm seeing it tomorrow and couldn't care less if Dove Cameron is on or not. I'm afraid I've never heard of her. Probably I'm too old. I'm in my 20s and have never heard of her! |
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Post by robertb213 on Jun 29, 2019 16:49:27 GMT
Exactly what I thought, I assumed she was purely letting the people who were wanting refunds or exchanges know who to contact. She didn't say 'I'm not performing tonight so make sure you go and get a refund or a new date sorted', did she? Indeed. Exactly what the Southbank Centre did. It really was an innocuous text from the latter. Oh, absolutely. Badly worded, as the SC themselves have admitted, but in no way mean-spirited. As always, a load of fuss over nothing! Back to the show itself, I didn't get much out of it really. Rob Houchen shines and Dove Cameron was better than I'd expected but I can't say I enjoyed anything about the score or the story. Comfy seating though and only £15 through TodayTix so I can't complain. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2019 17:01:09 GMT
Indeed. Exactly what the Southbank Centre did. It really was an innocuous text from the latter. Oh, absolutely. Badly worded, as the SC themselves have admitted, but in no way mean-spirited. As always, a load of fuss over nothing! Back to the show itself, I didn't get much out of it really. Rob Houchen shines and Dove Cameron was better than I'd expected but I can't say I enjoyed anything about the score or the story. Comfy seating though and only £15 through TodayTix so I can't complain. Agree - am sure Rob Houchen will be a big star, his voice is so pure. Delighted he's returning to Les Mis for the concert. |
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Post by tmesis on Jun 29, 2019 17:06:12 GMT
I mainly booked for this because of Renee Fleming whose performances I have very much enjoyed in the past at ROH and also Alex Jennings who is one of my favourite actors. I'd never heard of Dove Cameron but I thought she acted a difficult part well - I was less enamoured by her singing which I thought was over-stretched by the part and had a thin, reedy and enervating quality. Renee was very good; as others have said the part is a little low for her but most musicals, even operatic ones like this will be low for a singer whose regular gig has been performing Richard Strauss and Mozart.
As to the piece itself, I knew I would either love it or hate it. I expected the latter as I am no fan of Phantom, Les Mis et al and all the other immensely popular musicals that channel the emotive elements in opera and just make a tawdry, indigestible mess of it. This was way more subtle musically. Guettel delineated the musical essence of each scene with great finesse; the orchestra was used with much subtlety with some lovely dialogue between harp and woodwind. The vocal line was often quite angular and melismatic which avoided the sub-Puccini-like soaring melody that Lloyd Weber usually falls back on. In fact the main influence on the composer was not Italian but the French world of the turn of the twentieth century and specifically Ravel.
The final 10 - 15 minutes was musically very astute and brought the whole opera (because that's what it really is) to a touching close.
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Post by princeton on Jun 29, 2019 17:33:22 GMT
I think the Southbank Centre tweet was clumsily worded and would have been better separated into two but I also think there was a massive over reaction on twitter - very few of them actually looking at it from the point of view of audiences who are, after all, financing the production. And the less said about those who @ molly lynch in their response the better.
The Southbank Centre, as a mainly concert venue, actually has a different policy re programme alteration to most theatres. It has a specific policy of letting bookers know if there is a major change to a programme or event - and this includes (in concerts) change of pieces or of soloists. By this token, the absence of an above the title stat, and one who has more the 20 million followers on social media, could be considered a major change. And I imagine they had had to deal with an awful lot of people arriving with their children and getting very emotional about Dove Cameron not appearing - so this was largely seen as a preventative measure to allow early warning - albeit a bit cack-handed.
Over the last 30 years I've seen understudies for Elaine Paige, Patti LuPone, Daniel Day-Lewis, David Tennant, Hugh Jackman and many, many more - and have never requested a refund or to book for an alternative performance. But I can understand that people who are not regular theatregoers and have booked for a particular performer, and spent a large among of money, would want to see that performer - no matter how good an understudy or cover is. In truth - I'd rather like to see Lucy Schaufer and Molly Lynch as Margaret and Clara but I didn't book because of either Renee Fleming or Dove Cameron.
My only intention in responding to the CHF element of this thread was to question the accusation that she had "instructed her own fans to change dates rather than see her understudy"
Hopefully the final week of performances will go without any more off-stage dramas (though if there's a tweet about Lucy Schaufer going on - please someone repost quickly!)
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 29, 2019 18:36:32 GMT
My only intention in responding to the CHF element of this thread was to question the accusation that she had "instructed her own fans to change dates rather than see her understudy" Well that’s me paraphrasing. It was pulled from the person who tweeted in response to her tweet and CHF didn’t deny it so I’d say ‘accusation’, is a bit strong. Carrie was pretty fast to accuse the Southbank Centre of bad motives though wasn’t she. And she’s got a lot more influence than I have. |
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Post by xanady on Jun 29, 2019 18:40:40 GMT
Yet another storm in a teacup,sadly.
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Post by alece10 on Jul 1, 2019 7:50:40 GMT
Went to yesterdays matinee of the show and overall enjoyed it, but now I have seen it, not something I would go an see again.
I really liked the simple staging, and as others have said, the costumes were beautiful. Orchestra sounded wonderful.
Musically it really is a cross between opera and musical with some nice melodies, but again not something that I would listen to over and over.
As for the cast, this was my first time seeing Renee Fleming and she really does have a great voice. Not sure what to make of Dove Cameron but I didn't really like her voice, it was very screechy (very Disney like) and the rest of the cast were great. But Rob Houchen! why has he not come to my attention before? The star of the show and a sensational voice. It was a joy to listen to.
I felt the first act dragged a bit and the 2nd act was much tighter and enjoyed it more. Partly due to the fact I moved seats because the man in front of me for the first act did not stop moving and fidgeting the whole time which was getting on my nerves.
Lots of young girls there who, I presume, were there to see Dove. They must have been quite bored as its not really something a 6-8 year old would like.
Interesting thing during the bows at the end was the fact that Rob Houchen got the biggest ovation, even bigger than Renee and Dove and was well deserved.
Glad I saw it though and one more to tick off my list.
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Post by Being Alive on Jul 1, 2019 10:46:31 GMT
Having been a fan of the score for a long time, I was pleased to finally see it on Saturday afternoon.
Thank GOD the RFH had air-con otherwise we would have all melted...
It's a wonderful romantic score, and to hear that many strings is always a thrill - and I loved that there was a female conductor (shouldn't be a rarity, but it was nice to see.)
Thought the cast were universally very good, some better than others.
Renee was a lot better than I thought she might be. Of course she has vocals for days, but I thought she also acted it incredibly well, really capturing Margaret's situation, and her dilemma.
Thought Dove was fine - a little thin vocally, but otherwise perfectly fine.
Alex Jennings and Celinde Schoenmaker were both their delightful selves and it was great to see them in this cast.
But the show belongs to Rob Houchen, who is nothing short of a revelation, and it very much felt like 'a star is born' to me - he just nailed every single element of Fabrizzio, and I just thought he was wonderful.
I'm glad I saw it, it was better than I thought it might have been, but I'll probably just listen to the Victoria Clark/Kelli O'Hara recording when I want to go back to this score.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2019 12:05:18 GMT
Fleming did really impress with her acting ability but only in the moving/emotional scenes. She totally missed the humour of the role, something that the magnificent Victoria Clark (who originated it) captured perfectly, even some funny moments that caught you by surprise. But Clark was used to clowning around having done so many different types of roles in her career. She managed to marry that acting with perfect vocals in a way that truly makes her unbeatable in the role.
Also re the female conductor, she was the original MD for the Broadway production in 2005 I believe, and so she has grown with the piece ever since. Great to see her involved with this incarnation.
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Post by Rukaya on Jul 1, 2019 12:12:53 GMT
Also re the female conductor, she was the original MD for the Broadway production in 2005 I believe, and so she has grown with the piece ever since. Great to see her involved with this incarnation. This is so great, thanks for sharing! 😀 |
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Post by daisy24601 on Jul 1, 2019 12:23:10 GMT
I got rush tickets for this on Saturday, middle of stalls row H which was a perfect view. Very pleased with the seats.
A little different to what I normally see, which was nice, and while not my favourite show I've ever seen I did enjoy it. Rob Houchen is a bit amazing, isn't he?
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Post by xanady on Jul 1, 2019 16:17:47 GMT
Rob Houchen for Prime Minister!
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Post by Dr Tom on Jul 4, 2019 12:52:30 GMT
I know this is closing soon, but I managed to see this last night. My first time in Royal Festival Hall in many years.
It is a cavern of a venue. I was towards the back of the Stalls (thank to a cheap ticket deal) and felt as remote as I have at a show in a long time. The seat staggering and rake are both poor as well, so it was a real struggle to see around a combination of tall people. Fairly full.
As for the show itself, the score itself is decent, but rather samey. The orchestra sounded good and it was great to be able to see them. To me, there isn't a great deal to this piece, but I'm glad I was able to see it.
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Post by craig on Jul 4, 2019 13:22:02 GMT
I'm going tonight and very much looking forward to it.
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Post by BoOverall on Jul 4, 2019 20:33:44 GMT
Looking forward to seeing it tomorrow night. A great way to end a hectic week.
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