1,500 posts
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Post by Steve on Jun 30, 2018 9:53:54 GMT
It's amazing to think that the composer of Thoroughly Modern Millie and Shrek is also the composer of Caroline, or Change and Fun Home but Jeanine Tesori proves that craftsmanship and professionalism can walk hand in hand with inspiration and, for want of a better word, genius. I hadn't clicked that the same person composed for both "Caroline, or Change" and "Fun Home!" Astounding!
By far my two favourite musicals of the year, in that they both dig so much deeper into the human condition than most musicals. I imagine she will be the heavy hitters' composer of choice now.
Or maybe Shrek is where the money is. A professional can do both, as you say.  |
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Post by mallardo on Jun 30, 2018 10:57:49 GMT
It's amazing to think that the composer of Thoroughly Modern Millie and Shrek is also the composer of Caroline, or Change and Fun Home but Jeanine Tesori proves that craftsmanship and professionalism can walk hand in hand with inspiration and, for want of a better word, genius. I hadn't clicked that the same person composed for both "Caroline, or Change" and "Fun Home!" Astounding!
By far my two favourite musicals of the year, in that they both dig so much deeper into the human condition than most musicals. I imagine she will be the heavy hitters' composer of choice now.
Or maybe Shrek is where the money is. A professional can do both, as you say.
She's also the composer of Violet, revived on Broadway a couple of seasons back. It's a dark dramatic story of a disfigured girl seeking redemption (of sorts) in the rural south and Tesori provides a beautiful country and r&b flavoured score that's not only entirely appropriate but elevates the material. It's one thing to be versatile but quite another to be versatile with the integrity she demonstrates.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2018 11:36:44 GMT
I'm in central Row N tonight, so hopefully it will be a decent view haha.
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4,156 posts
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Post by kathryn on Jun 30, 2018 16:00:03 GMT
Well, I loved this! Very impressed by the young cast but there truly wasn’t a weak link in it. I wasn’t really familiar with the story beforehand, which probably helped. Might have to check out the cast recording now.
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19,799 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 30, 2018 16:13:24 GMT
Me too, didn’t know what to expect apart from the vaguest outline of the plot but I was totally engaged throughout. I feel inclined to look up the graphic novel, which isn’t something I often find myself saying.
Middle Alison was the stand out, just the right mix of coming out angst and awkwardness. And the father also really good. One thing I was a bit disappointed with was that there were no character traits threading through the three girls. If they hadn’t been in that context you wouldn’t have connected them really.
When you see this sort of thing you realise your own family is actually quite normal, despite its own idiosyncrasies!
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19,799 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 30, 2018 16:22:07 GMT
Just realised the older Alison was played by Kaisa Hammerlund who I last saw starring in Sweet Charity at the REM. What a transformation.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2018 21:02:54 GMT
I can only add to the five-srar reviews. I loved it. Cried three times, the response from the audience was deafening when the moments came to applaud/cheer. Cannot recommend enough. Loved it. Worth the wait! |
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Post by foxa on Jun 30, 2018 21:43:23 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2018 22:14:53 GMT
I also liked that even though it was obviously a musical, it didn't feel like one. It wasn't big numbers and jazz hands, it was practically a play with music. The way it flowed from song to speech really was magical. |
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700 posts
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Post by cheesy116 on Jul 2, 2018 0:28:55 GMT
Just booked for this on 1st August matinee, having seen it on Broadway a couple of years ago. I adored it then but having seen the amazing reviews for it in London, I've booked it after having had a few beers!
Assuming it runs on time, it should finish for 4.10pm. Does anyone know if its good at running on time or if it runs over often ? I'm considering booking a 19:00 flight from Stansted which should be enough time but any advice would be helpful.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2018 0:45:37 GMT
Just booked for this on 1st August matinee, having seen it on Broadway a couple of years ago. I adored it then but having seen the amazing reviews for it in London, I've booked it after having had a few beers! Assuming it runs on time, it should finish for 4.10pm. Does anyone know if its good at running on time or if it runs over often ? I'm considering booking a 19:00 flight from Stansted which should be enough time but any advice would be helpful. I went Saturday night and it finished at 9:15pm, so overran by 5 minutes, but thats nothing too dramatic. |
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Post by showgirl on Jul 2, 2018 3:46:45 GMT
Just booked for this on 1st August matinee, having seen it on Broadway a couple of years ago. I adored it then but having seen the amazing reviews for it in London, I've booked it after having had a few beers! Assuming it runs on time, it should finish for 4.10pm. Does anyone know if its good at running on time or if it runs over often ? I'm considering booking a 19:00 flight from Stansted which should be enough time but any advice would be helpful. Wouldn't 19.00 be too tight, given that you've got to get to Stansted from the Waterloo area and allow the minimum check-in time specified? Check-in times are quite long now due to enhanced security. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2018 7:04:33 GMT
Just booked for this on 1st August matinee, having seen it on Broadway a couple of years ago. I adored it then but having seen the amazing reviews for it in London, I've booked it after having had a few beers! Assuming it runs on time, it should finish for 4.10pm. Does anyone know if its good at running on time or if it runs over often ? I'm considering booking a 19:00 flight from Stansted which should be enough time but any advice would be helpful. Wouldn't 19.00 be too tight, given that you've got to get to Stansted from the Waterloo area and allow the minimum check-in time specified? Check-in times are quite long now due to enhanced security. No-one needs to allow the minimum check in time if you don't have a bag to check, and Stansted security isn't the worst in the world. If the trains are running there's no reason why you couldn't get from Southwark to Stansted by 6pm, which is plenty of time in my book. |
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jul 2, 2018 9:25:33 GMT
Does anyone know where the today tix lottery seats are? Or are they random?
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781 posts
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Post by latefortheoverture on Jul 2, 2018 9:36:00 GMT
I fly from Stansted about twice a month- and it's a breeze. 5-6pm, whenever I've flow, has been like a ghost town in security and departures. The busiest time in the airport is early morning, about 6-10am, whenever I'm flying that early I treat my self to speedy security! You should be fine.
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Post by alforshort on Jul 2, 2018 10:01:01 GMT
Does anyone know where the today tix lottery seats are? Or are they random? They're the row of high seats on the top level, I thought it was a really good view for the price. I think they're always those seats because they don't seem to be available for any performance otherwise, can't say for definite though. |
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372 posts
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Post by sam22 on Jul 2, 2018 17:36:55 GMT
Is anyone looking for tickets for this for this Saturday matinee (7 July)?
I booked two on TodayTix when they first went on sale and then my friend decided to get married so I can't use them and I'm going on 21st instead!
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19,799 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 2, 2018 19:18:31 GMT
I booked mine in the TodayTix presale, chose the top price and was on row H which was a perfect view. I did send a charmingly worded mail to TT in my best handwriting humbly asking if there was any way at all that they could allocate me an aisle seat because of my unmentionable (non existent) medical condition. I got a charming email back saying they’d been in touch with the YV and all would be well.
Polled up at the box office to collect and blank looks all round. “Weeeeell you could ask an usher to re-seat you inside.” She says looking doubtful.
Having then met two” ushers” in pursuit of finding my seat (stranger in a strange land etc) I understood why she seemed doubtful. Two of the most unhelpful FOH I’ve ever come across. Including one who drew an imaginary line underneath the signage on the wall to illustrate her point. Rude.
Anyway, it was fine. Legroom-a-go-go and a reasonable width allocation for my not insubstantial bum. Enhanced by the fact that I had a couple of skinnies either side. I was virtually prostrate.
Anyway, moral of story.. don’t bother trying to influence TT seat allocation.
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2,762 posts
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Post by n1david on Jul 2, 2018 22:36:52 GMT
Put me in the "loved this" camp. Was rather unsure going into this as I wasn't a huge fan of "Caroline or Change" and thought this might be something similar.
As it was I quickly fell in love with this - the child performers tonight were absolutely sensational and really acted like kids and not "stage children". "Welcome to the Fun Home" was superb. The adult performers were also great, although the Mum's part is clearly underwritten and I thought the Dad somewhat obscured (which is, I guess, the point).
Structurally I thought it was very clever - told stories in three timelines remarkably clearly, without the clunking gear changes that one sometimes sees in this sort of structure. And two magical moments of my personal experience perfectly presented in song and performance: that first occasion of losing one's queer virginity, knowing that one has stepped over a line that takes one out of mainstream society and into a different place - and it's exhilarating, and wonderful, and empowering, and frightening. Maybe it's different now, but it wasn't when I took that step. And maybe it's as significant for straight virginity, but I can't imagine there was that feeling of transgression. And the lovely, innocent song with Young Alison being attracted to the butch in the diner - that sense of attraction, not being able to put words to it, but just knowing that there is some connection.
Not distinctly impressed by the music as standalone tunes, but it fitted the tone of the piece. Not sure it has mass market appeal, so worry a bit if it is transferring, but I really thought this was very good indeed.
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Post by jek on Jul 4, 2018 8:39:48 GMT
My teenage daughter insisted we book for this as soon as booking opened (last July) and last night was our night to finally see it. She had loved the cast recording to excess. I'm so glad she did make me book - I really loved this. In fact this morning I am the one playing the cast recording. Lovely engaged audience which looked like London (young, multi ethnic) but I wouldn't say this is a production exclusively for the young. I have to admit that as someone who has stayed at home raising kids for the last twenty years the mother character felt relatable and I'm sure for anyone who has ever had a difficult relationship with a parent there is something to identify with. I like the way that Jeanine Tesori describes it in the programme as 'the story of how we continue to reach for our parents at every age'. Lovely performances all round - I realise from the programme that I previously saw Harriet Turnbull (small Alison) in Young Marx.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2018 13:50:54 GMT
Interesting observation jek. I so often think of how this production appeals to young people that I forget the adult story lines in and of themselves may be compelling to those of us who are older.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2018 17:58:59 GMT
Have booked for a Wednesday matines but something has popped up so was wondering how easy it is to return a ticket or or exchange but am returning one and ideally wanting to buy two more for another date. Thanks
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2018 18:20:05 GMT
The Young Vic are, in my experience, very good about exchanging tickets. There's meant to be a £2 fee but they don't always charge it. I don't know where they stand on refunds, but I'm sure they'd at least allow you to return the tickets for resale. Exchange (and paying the extra for the additional ticket) would be best though, less faff!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2018 18:41:34 GMT
Seconded that the YV are a generally incredibly helpful bunch (hell they even looked me up on the system and posted a programme to me so a friend didn't have to when buying it for me!)
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Post by mustseetheatre on Jul 4, 2018 21:23:41 GMT
Agree with Emicardiff, always had great experiences with the young vic, just a great theatre all round. Really looking forward to seeing this show there in August, I've been waiting for the transfer over from broadway for what feels like ages
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