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Post by Dawnstar on Nov 7, 2018 19:17:45 GMT
Sean Carey will be on every night show? I’m going Saturday matinee so fingers crossed! Good luck! However if you so end up seeing Sean he is very good and, having seen both of them, I felt that Sean did (perhaps unsuprisingly) fit in better with the rest of the tour cast. Dave was almost too good in the role, if that makes any sense: he has so much confidence & stage presence as Sam that it slightly unbalanced the show. It probably didn't help that the understudy Mitch, Eddy Westbury, was on when I saw the tour in Norwich & both he and Julia Frith are recent graduates & came over as younger than Dave who, while very boyish-looking, must be nearly 30 by now, so the bits when Mitch is supposed to be dominating Sam didn't always quite work.
One more point for the tour casting record: Ashley Tucker is now officially playing Ruth permanently. The originally-cast Ruth, Yolande Ovide, apparently won't be returning to the role & she never did any public performances. (Yes, I am aware that probably no-one other than me cares about this sort of thing!)
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Post by stevejohnson678 on Nov 7, 2018 19:35:28 GMT
One more point for the tour casting record: Ashley Tucker is now officially playing Ruth permanently. The originally-cast Ruth, Yolande Ovide, apparently won't be returning to the role & she never did any public performances. (Yes, I am aware that probably no-one other than me cares about this sort of thing!) Please keep the updates coming Dawnstar, they're always an interesting read and much appreciated! That's a shame for Yolande that she never got to join the tour but a well deserved promotion for Ashley. She was my favourite Ruth so I'm excited to see her again when the tour comes to Chester at the end of January.
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Post by Dawnstar on Nov 7, 2018 20:35:22 GMT
Please keep the updates coming Dawnstar , they're always an interesting read and much appreciated! That's a shame for Yolande that she never got to join the tour but a well deserved promotion for Ashley. She was my favourite Ruth so I'm excited to see her again when the tour comes to Chester at the end of January. I'm glad that someone other than me is interested! Yes, I was pleased to find that out when I saw the show in Norwich - though ironically Ashley wasn't actually on for that performance so I got to see Charlotte Duffy's Ruth debut, who was also very good especially considering she's the 2nd cover. I'm eyeing up Milton Keynes at the end of this month but I'm not sure I can justify it when it'll take me nearly twice as long to get there as to the West End production.
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Post by stuart on Nov 10, 2018 23:24:22 GMT
No Dave Hearn at the Glasgow matinee today but still thoroughly enjoyed it! It was my second time seeing the show and the touring cast are just as strong as the ones I saw in the West End about a year ago.
We did have three show stops though owing to sound and power issues. One 5min one straight after the interval, another 10min one right before the wall scene and a third immediately after the second when it was clear that there was still no sound for FoH (apparently the side of stage’s sound was fixed so they assumed the whole theatre was). The irony of a Mischief Theatre production going wrong was not lost on us. It meant it was well past 5:30pm before the curtain went down on the 2:30pm matinee!
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Post by Dawnstar on Nov 11, 2018 19:23:31 GMT
stuart I'm sorry for you that you missed seeing Dave but it least it evidently means that Sean is fully recovered. That is a lot of show stops but at least it sounds like you did get the whole show eventually.
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Post by Stephen on Nov 11, 2018 21:09:32 GMT
Enjoyed the matinee of this today. Another success from Mischief Theatre.
This cast are exceptional and the comic timing is impeccable. Although I didn't find it all as hilarious as some of the audience it is very fun. Not sure it's the sort of thing that would merit a return visit but maybe that's just me.
All of the business with the bed was wonderful.
Five very loud gunshots in the second half (not recorded ones)
Also my first visit to the Criterion. Found it lovely and the perfect size of theatre for this farce!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2018 3:07:03 GMT
Whoah! 5 gunshots? Have they changed the ending? I know they have changed things several times. I don't remember so many, but of course I could be wrong.
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Post by Dawnstar on Nov 12, 2018 10:14:02 GMT
Whoah! 5 gunshots? Have they changed the ending? I know they have changed things several times. I don't remember so many, but of course I could be wrong. I'm pretty sure that the number of shots has stayed the same since the show started. The identity of one of the victims did change then change back, when all the 2nd cast re-writes were done then mostly undone, but that didn't alter the number of shots. Freeboys shoots Roger Mitch shoots Freeboys Mitch shoots Prince Ludwig Mitch shoots Sam non-fatally (Caprice during the 2nd cast re-writes) Shuck shoots Mitch
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2018 0:53:16 GMT
I personally wouldn't have said the gunshots were VERY loud in this, and I usually can't stand them. Or at least not compared to War Horse, which prevents me from wanting to see that again, but I definately wouldn't stop myself from seeing TCAABR again because of them.
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Post by Dawnstar on Nov 13, 2018 22:59:07 GMT
I think the gun shots are done well in this. When I saw the Royal Ballet's Mayerling last month I found the gun shots, which seemed to be done as sound effects, to be very unrealiatic by comparison.
Jack Whittle made his debut as Shuck tonight. I took advantage of the rare luxery of actually having advanced notice for a 2nd cover debut & went. I thought he did an excellent job. I don't believe that anyone watching with no prior knowledge would have known that a) it was his first show & b) he's "only" 2nd cover. Also the TCAABR make-up team did a great job in making him look 3 decades older than he is! He's on until Saturday if anyone else is interested in seeing him.
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Post by TallPaul on Nov 14, 2018 9:53:00 GMT
I look almost three decades older than I actually am, without any make-up. I had a long paper round. 🙂
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Post by Dawnstar on Nov 16, 2018 17:10:43 GMT
This is now booking until November 2019 on the Criterion website (previously to April). I know that booking periods are not always a guarantee of run length but I'm hoping that it's a good sign. (As if I hadn't see the show enough times already!)
ETA: Tonight's show was crazy but brilliant! 3 understudies on plus Niall Ransome returning at a few hours' notice to play Everyone Else, which must be a heck of a role to have to do emergency cover for, or should I say a heck of a lot of roles! The understudies and those of the leads who were there all gave great performances.
It's the first time in a while that I've left the show with my muscles aching from laughing. I enjoy it every time I see it but it is usually less achingly funny when watching it for the 50-somethingth time. However tonight was properly achingly funny! Freeboys' death scene was definitely inappropriately funny. The audience were laughing so much that Chris Leask & Peter McGovern lost it, so the audience laughed ever more, etc.
And, amidst the craziness, I've finally managed to complete seeing all the first covers for this cast. Jean-Luke Worrell as Cooper was the last. So I've now seen every 1st cover since the WE show opened. (I know I'm probably the only person who cares about this but it gives me satisfaction.)
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Post by Dawnstar on Nov 26, 2018 11:45:28 GMT
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Post by ellie1981 on Nov 26, 2018 13:08:29 GMT
Going for my 4th time in January and taking my Dad this time for his birthday treat. Really expecting him to love this.
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Post by greeny11 on Feb 2, 2019 18:45:27 GMT
Saw the touring production of this today - really enjoyed it. I love Mischief Theatre and love everything they do, but this is my favourite of their 3 plays. The changes they've made for the touring production are generally good (not sure about one of the changes towards the end of the show but I won't spoil it).
I sat next to Sean Carey when I saw this in London when Dave Hearn was on - he was very excited to get started, and for me, he is a perfect fit as Sam. The scene with Caprice and Mitch was very funny.
Dave Coomber as Cooper was a VERY different interpretation to the Coopers I have seen before. He was good all round, but his Robin Freeboys (as Cooper) was absolutely hilarious - definitely my favourite Cooper/Freeboys I've seen.
I really enjoyed George Hannigan's Everybody Else - lots of very funny moments from him.
Everybody else was really good (Eddy Westbury was on as Mitch) - some great voices in this cast which meant the songs were very well performed. Am seeing the London production in 2 weeks time, so it'll be good to compare that cast to the touring cast.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Mar 27, 2019 20:27:23 GMT
I caught the touring production at Curve today. On the whole i have to say i much preferred the west end cast i saw a couple of years ago to this one, with maybe the exception of Dave Coomber who was brilliant as Cooper. I think there was an issue with sound because sometimes it was a bit low and you lost some of the funny lines. I generally don't think it was as funny as the time i saw it in London but still a good show.
A piece of wood from the set came off into Sean Careys hand which he didn't mange to keep a straight face about so that was funny.
I have some reservations about the ending. I think i would prefer it to build up to a final bit of hilarity. The ending feels just a little underwhelming and flat.
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Post by ampersand on Mar 27, 2019 21:11:14 GMT
For those who've seen both the touring and London productions - what was changed about the ending? I've only seen the touring version so am intrigued at what was different.
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Post by stevejohnson678 on Apr 2, 2019 9:31:57 GMT
Booking extended at the Criterion until May 2020.
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Post by crabtree on Jul 2, 2019 18:51:33 GMT
I can't remember the exact plot, but i'm assuming they don't get away with it. I think that's the unwritten rule of heist pieces. Or is there any heist film or play where they do actually get away with. Usually, they think they're free, and then something minor trips them up, like the little bird in Topkapi.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2019 7:24:07 GMT
They got away with it in Ocean's 8 for sure, it was a major victory all round.
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Post by xanady on Jul 5, 2019 22:12:10 GMT
From memory,the resolution at the end of the CAABR is ridiculously contrived and meant to be...I for one couldn’t follow it,but it didn’t matter...
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Post by Dawnstar on Jul 7, 2019 11:17:46 GMT
I saw the former-tour-now-WE cast yesterday. They seem to have settled into the Criterion well. They're doing the WE version, not the changes that were made for the tour. So after surviving for nearly a year Jon Trenchard's Warren is now dying 8 times a week! I know probably I shouldn't reallly single people out in an ensemble piece like this, when all the cast are doing a great job, but for me it's Sean Carey's Sam, Julia Frith's Caprice & David Coomber's Cooper that stand out in this cast. Sean & Ashley Tucker's Ruth are still doing the most moving final scene of any cast I've seen.
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Post by pianowithsam on Jul 26, 2019 22:13:23 GMT
Saw this for the first time this evening going in with high expectations. Pleased to say was not disappointed whatsoever.
Played to an almost full audience with two understudies on. Julie Cullen made her West End debut as Ruth Monaghan.
Don’t want to give any spoilers but the set design and the exploitation of it was EXCEPTIONAL. Also, there were five rather loud moments that made me jump out of my skin each and every time.
Sitting in the front row of the first circle definitely helped too. Would highly recommend the show, and these seats, to anyone pondering the thought.
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Post by Dawnstar on Jul 26, 2019 22:15:54 GMT
Played to an almost full audience with two understudies on. Julie Cullen made her West End debut as Ruth Monaghan. I thought her debut was last week, unless I misread social media. (I know, I doubt anyone else cares!)
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Post by pianowithsam on Jul 26, 2019 22:27:32 GMT
Played to an almost full audience with two understudies on. Julie Cullen made her West End debut as Ruth Monaghan. I thought her debut was last week, unless I misread social media. (I know, I doubt anyone else cares!) Could be right, but I’m going by the talk of the town. There was a guy outside the toilets telling a friend that he was with a relative of Julie. He told the friend that this was her West End debut. Also, she did get her own bow at the end. Eddy Westbury (playing Mitch) didn’t get his own bow, so assumed it wasn’t a regular occasion.
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Post by andrew on Jul 27, 2019 1:03:48 GMT
I thought her debut was last week, unless I misread social media. (I know, I doubt anyone else cares!) Could be right, but I’m going by the talk of the town. There was a guy outside the toilets telling a friend that he was with a relative of Julie. He told the friend that this was her West End debut. Also, she did get her own bow at the end. Eddy Westbury (playing Mitch) didn’t get his own bow, so assumed it wasn’t a regular occasion. You are usually making your West End debut the first time you are involved in a WE show, either as a cover or as a principal, so they might've meant that the whole show is her West End debut and not that specific night.
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Post by pianowithsam on Jul 27, 2019 8:01:37 GMT
Could be right, but I’m going by the talk of the town. There was a guy outside the toilets telling a friend that he was with a relative of Julie. He told the friend that this was her West End debut. Also, she did get her own bow at the end. Eddy Westbury (playing Mitch) didn’t get his own bow, so assumed it wasn’t a regular occasion. You are usually making your West End debut the first time you are involved in a WE show, either as a cover or as a principal, so they might've meant that the whole show is her West End debut and not that specific night. Sure, could have misunderstood what the guy said. He said something along the lines of “She performed the role in the tour, and this is her West End debut in the role as she’s an understudy”.
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Post by Dawnstar on Jul 27, 2019 11:54:32 GMT
I thought her debut was last week, unless I misread social media. (I know, I doubt anyone else cares!) Could be right, but I’m going by the talk of the town. There was a guy outside the toilets telling a friend that he was with a relative of Julie. He told the friend that this was her West End debut. Also, she did get her own bow at the end. Eddy Westbury (playing Mitch) didn’t get his own bow, so assumed it wasn’t a regular occasion. You're right that getting a solo bow usually does denote an understudy's debut at TCAABR (I've seen a few). I'm now thoroughly confused as Sean Carey posted on Instagram on 18th July wishing Julie a good WE debut that evening http://instagram.com/p/B0DD8J1n_OY
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Post by Dawnstar on Sept 30, 2019 18:20:08 GMT
No-one other than me is likely to care about this so everyone else feel free to ignore but I was very pleased to find on Saturday that one of the inconsistencies that has been bugging me for 3 years has finally been removed. Previously, in Act 2 Warren says to Mitch "I was kidnapped by you" but as he'd been chloroformed by Cooper then knocked himself out with his briefcase before seeing any of his kidnappers when he burst out of the cupboard there was no way he could have recognised Mitch. Now after Warren burst out of the cupboard Mitch punches him to knock him out, so he does actually see Mitch & can plausibly recognise him later. (Now if they could just sort out Cooper's inconsistent characterisation...)
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Post by Dawnstar on Dec 3, 2019 23:07:37 GMT
Tonight's show was worth seeing just for the curtain call! They're running short on cast members so Jack Whittle was back covering Shuck tonight, a role he only played a handful of times as he was 2nd cover for it. In case anyone hasn't seen the show or has forgotten, at the end the character is left handcuffed to the handle of the bed. Tonight Jack couldn't get the handcuff released! He ended up having to do the first set of bows still attached to the bed, with the cast & audience killing themselves laughing, before Liam Jeavons managed to free him!
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