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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2020 17:03:44 GMT
The Shaftesbury is a bit of a tricky theatre as it's in a bit of a weird area in relation to the other theatres, e.g. closer to Tottenham Court Road and Holborn than the main Covent Garden/Leicester Square/Piccadilly theatre hub, so I doubt many tourists will be passing by.
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Post by intoanewlife on Feb 13, 2020 17:07:09 GMT
I feel like they could do a Six - put some of the songs on TikTok followed by a series of prime-time TV appearances e.g. BGT, and sales will pick up. I think the problem is that Six could perform Ex-Wives/Six and you got the whole concept of what the show was gonna be like and who the characters are. &Juliet would just look like a group of drama school kids singing a cover version of a big hit and I don't think it'd have the same impact. I'm sure the Six audience are well aware of it because of the Grace connection and hell even the creators of Six called &Juliet 'the best musical ever written' at BroadwayCon. The main problem is it's a jukebox musical featuring music by a songwriter who the general public has never even heard of despite knowing probably every one of his hits. |
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Post by intoanewlife on Feb 13, 2020 17:08:30 GMT
The Shaftesbury is a bit of a tricky theatre as it's in a bit of a weird area in relation to the other theatres, e.g. closer to Tottenham Court Road and Holborn than the main Covent Garden/Leicester Square/Piccadilly theatre hub, so I doubt many tourists will be passing by. I had no idea it even existed before seeing this there lol |
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Post by NorthernAlien on Feb 13, 2020 18:14:13 GMT
So.
I think this is a 'marmite' show, and you'll either love it or hate it. I loved it, but then I reckon I'm one of the target demographics - namely, people who recognise at least a good % of the songs from their 'formative years'. I suspect another target to be 'kids being forced to study Romeo & Juliet as part of the curriculum, and the teacher really, really wants to take them to a theatre "version" that won't bore the pants off them'. One such, very large, group was in the rows in front of me this afternoon.
I thought the script was sharp - someone has obviously had a whale of a time with their puns and Shakespeare quotes. I thought the plot was fine - and greatly admire some of the twisting that was done to slot in certain songs.
Technically I thought it was superb - and just when I thought I'd seen the set do everything it could - they did it again, surprising me with another trick! The sound mix was good - I could hear all the dialogue and singing, which you'd think would be a given, but isn't always.
In summary, if you liked Mamma Mia, you'll probably like this. If you didn't, this probably isn't for you!
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 13, 2020 18:21:32 GMT
I hate Mamma Mia but love &J.
Going next week. Haven’t seen it since November in manc. I’m excited!
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Post by undeuxtrois on Feb 13, 2020 18:50:12 GMT
Absolutely loved the matinee with Grace Mouat - she was stunning!!! Initially I was a bit disappointed that i wouldnt be seeing Miriam, but Grace smashed it out the park. She was incredible in every song I just loved her.
The whole show is energetic and empowering. 100% wish I could've seen it in Manchester, but I'm glad I manage get down to London.
Thankful for the lovely fella in the box office who charged my sister 8 quid for a seat row V stalls who got a last min ticket. He was lovely and my sis loved it (at last a show she likes!!)
But it's such a fun show I couldn't stop grinning throughout
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Post by showtoones on Feb 13, 2020 19:02:44 GMT
I do imagine this will extend through the festive period as they are already booking into October. Unless there's another show that wants the theater in time to cash in on the Christmas season.
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Post by MrBraithwaite on Feb 14, 2020 8:32:13 GMT
I suspect another target to be 'kids being forced to study Romeo & Juliet as part of the curriculum, and the teacher really, really wants to take them to a theatre "version" that won't bore the pants off them'. One such, very large, group was in the rows in front of me this afternoon. I wonder though what you can get from this show re: Romeo & Juliet in school...probably best going after the subject is absolutely done and over with. Otherwise someone will mix up the stories...  That's what I find so amazing about SIX, it's a fun show and plays with the source material, but still contains a core of facts and basically consolidates what you already know, so very useful for pupils. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2020 8:45:43 GMT
I hate Mamma Mia but love &J. Going next week. Haven’t seen it since November in manc. I’m excited! haha and conversely I love Mamma Mia and thought this was a bit average even though the music is more my generation so not sure how the two shows really link |
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Post by jaqs on Feb 14, 2020 9:24:26 GMT
Yes it's not selling amazingly, but it's selling pretty well, esp at weekends if you look at the seating plans. I am sure it will re-coup and make profit. Midweek matinee audiences tend to be older and I don't think are really the target demographic for this show. They'd be better doing a 5pm and 8:30pm double show day on Fridays instead. My dad's pensioners group went to a midweek matinee and they all loved it because it was funny. |
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Post by irisjeregenboog on Feb 14, 2020 15:41:30 GMT
Okay, I chickened out of going for day seats tomorrow, because I quite fancy sleeping in  Instead I have now bagged a £40 ticket in the royal circle on the second row, just off from the middle. I've been eyeing the website like a hawk for the past couple of days and then the prices for the single seats suddenly dropped. Hooray for dynamic pricing! So now I'm really looking forward to tomorrow!! I will have a very Shakespearean day with Upstart Crow in the afternoon and &Juliet in the evening. Let's see how the interpretation of Shakespeare differs between David Mitchell and Oliver Tompsett!  |
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Post by Raven on Feb 16, 2020 19:12:52 GMT
Grace Mouat is doing a three-part vlog backstage at &Juliet for Bryony Rose - this is the first one!
The part about her leggings made me laugh!
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Post by ptwest on Feb 17, 2020 22:53:16 GMT
First time back after the Manchester run tonight - the show is just as much fun and in great shape. Understudies on for Shakespeare and Anne. Arun Blair Mangat was stronger than before I felt, but frankly Jordan Luke Gage steals every scene he’s in. All levels open, theatre pretty much full.
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Post by robertb213 on Feb 17, 2020 23:12:21 GMT
Cassidy injured herself on Saturday so presumably she'll be out for a few performances until she's given the all-clear. She's on crutches according to her Instagram.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 18, 2020 14:15:25 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2020 15:07:33 GMT
Billy Eichner called and wants his idea back....
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 21, 2020 0:22:35 GMT
Saw this last night. Understudies on for Miriam, Cassidy and Ivan De Freitas. It’s still a fabulous show but my oh my you appreciate the absolute star quality of those leads when you see the understudy. And don’t @ me with your understudy love, yes I know they’re great and di an amazing job and will one day he leads BUT the biggest moments for Juliet “Roar” and Anne “That’s The Way It Is” didn’t reach the heights that they could have. A couple of other changes since manc, costumes etc. Arun has really come into his own with his Not A Girl solo and with Tim on Whataya Want From Me. Very confident. I had the end seat on row M stalls. Fabulously nothing in front thanks to his nibbles 🐒 🍌 🥜 website. Missed projections on one side that’s all. The angle also allowed me to look around at the audience without seeming like a weirdo. Smiles all round. |
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Post by xanady on Feb 22, 2020 23:32:26 GMT
My daughter and her friend did their first ever theatre trip sans parents today and at the stage door must have got a dozen or more pics and autographs...great atmosphere when I arrived to pick them up with a lot of cast members hanging around for ages to speak to the very respectful stage-doorers.Both girls said that Grace did a great job in the lead,but my daughter preferred Miriam when she saw her at the start of the London run.
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Post by spinliquid on Feb 26, 2020 17:01:26 GMT
It was just announced that &Juliet will be making its North American Premiere in Toronto in February/March 2021. Not much is currently publicly known about the new North American production, whether it will tour North America or transfer to Broadway.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2020 14:24:33 GMT
Good to see this is selling so well (lol) that when someone comes in for two Day Seats and there’s only one left, very little is done to be helpful. Which was a marked difference to the lovely lady I spoke to who told me (with no guarantees, obviously) that there were six tickets left a couple of hours ago.
I know I am being grumpy, I know I should have realised they have a matinee and timed my arrival better, but there are hundreds of unsold tickets and offering me not very discounted row w stalls was a bit insulting.
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Post by intoanewlife on Feb 27, 2020 15:17:04 GMT
Good to see this is selling so well (lol) that when someone comes in for two Day Seats and there’s only one left, very little is done to be helpful. Which was a marked difference to the lovely lady I spoke to who told me (with no guarantees, obviously) that there were six tickets left a couple of hours ago. I know I am being grumpy, I know I should have realised they have a matinee and timed my arrival better, but there are hundreds of unsold tickets and offering me not very discounted row w stalls was a bit insulting. Bit of a joke considering how many tickets are still available. |
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Post by chadexx on Feb 27, 2020 15:25:50 GMT
I have always felt that the box office staff at the Shaftesbury one of the most helpful and accommodating in the West End ~~
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Post by Jonnyboy on Feb 27, 2020 16:06:30 GMT
There’s no obligation to offer discounted seats, though, right?
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Post by intoanewlife on Feb 27, 2020 16:18:56 GMT
There’s no obligation to offer discounted seats, though, right? Of course not, but there's 100's of seats that'll be sitting there empty if they don't. |
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Post by Jon on Feb 27, 2020 16:47:08 GMT
There’s no obligation to offer discounted seats, though, right? Of course not, but there's 100's of seats that'll be sitting there empty if they don't. Box office probably can’t offer discounts if the producers of the show doesn’t let them. |
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Instead I have now bagged a £40 ticket in the royal circle on the second row, just off from the middle. I've been eyeing the website like a hawk for the past couple of days and then the prices for the single seats suddenly dropped. Hooray for dynamic pricing!
