Mame in Manchester, Northampton & Salisbury

I’m just talking about previews in general. I’ve not heard about hope mills previews. Fingers crossed we will be ok for next weekend

Do we think this might reach London?

Fingers, toes and trotters crossed for this to happen

^😬😬😬😬

 Ticket has been sold. I'm unsure how to edit or cancel the noticeboard post. Thanks, really pleased it's going to be used.

For a 1st preview this really was a slick production with notechnical issues or stoppages tonight. The run time tonight was around 2hrs 40 minutes including interval. The seating set up is the traditional set up, gone are the slip seats, with the stage filling the entire width of the auditorium. We had a band of 8 playing at the back of the stage.
The band consisted of piano, reeds, trumpet, trombone, cello, double bass and drums. The sound mixing was spot on for the 1st night and for me, I didn’t have any issues hearing the lyrics.

Staging wise, this is quite a deep set (it’s certainly a vast improvement on the Springer Opera set) with moving panels and a staircase as well (it’s not as grand as the Sunset Boulevard staircase!).

The choreography really was top notch and you get plenty of it.

Casting wise, Tracie Bennett totally owns the stage and is hardly ever off it for the entire nigh. Her performance as MAME is simply stunning. Her comic timing as the character is spot on and as a double act with Harriet Thorpe is a joy to watch (their drunken antics really are good fun to watch, and there is a real chemistry there between the two ladies. Though it’s Tracie’s singing the score which is the highlight of the night. During the interval I was wondering if we would get to hear really belt a number out, and oh boy that happened during “If he walked into my life”. It’s her and the band on stage and she certainly delivered here to give me that WOW moment.

With the other cast members, there really wasn’t a weak link. It’s a shame that Tim Flavin didn’t really have that much to do in Act 1, though I was hoping for maybe a bit more song and dance from the guy as I never got the chance to see him on the WE stage.

Whilst a great night out with plenty of laughs, if there is any criticism to be made, it’s more to do with the book by Robert E. Lee than with this production. I was hoping for a bit of angst or have someone put through the emotional ringer. Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen and everything is rather very nice through the entire proceedings. Though each to their own, I suppose in this respect.

Anyway, it’s an excellent production with a lot of heart (and drink). It’s definitely worth a trip up to Manchester or catching it on tour next year in Northampton or Salisbury.

Sounds like MT heaven...trying to get back ‘home’ to my old stamping ground to see this...or if not will catch it in Northampton...Ms Bennett is a living legend in my book!

congratulations all round to the team at this smashing little theatre . There is certainly nothing"little" about this show. A really excellent production of a good old fashioned book musical. Superbly acted, sung and danced by a talented company led by Tracie Bennett and accompanied by a wonderful band with Alex Parker leading from the piano.

Tempted to see this, but unusual for me going to swerve on this, as would mean over nighting in Manchester, which can be very expensive if the Manchester clubs are at home, so will catch this in the New Year in Salisbury when theatre is hard to come by, also no hotel involved.

Definitely be up in the big M for Gypsy, may go to see Dr Seuss at the Lowry. And cross the penines to see Guys and Dolls in Sheffield.

lol we’ve been trying to work that one out for ages! 

Can you get to Northampton instead?

I can get to Northampton and is doable for a matinee, I have to cross London to get to Euston, which is a bit of a bind, however think the train is faster to Northampton in just under an hour, opposed to 90 minutes to Salisbury. Definitely will go to one of those.