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Post by Dr Tom on Feb 10, 2023 20:07:21 GMT
To add as well, I've seen both casts of A Chorus Line this week and this is an excellent production. Once from the end of the front row, the other time from the centre. On a ticket sales note, anyone who turned up on the day would have been able to get in and have a decent seat.
This is a very traditional staging and all the better for it. I'd say this is much better than the Leicester Curve version. There's a group of people here who really deserve West End roles.
Standouts for me? Morgan Phillips for making me cry. Marley Fenton for having a real presence, great comedy timing and a beautiful voice. Really, I could list a whole load of people.
My only wish would be able to watch the full stage close of One without having to break it up to clap. Just awesome to see everyone dancing in unison in their gold costumes. I'd be surprised if this didn't win student production of the year (even though it's only February).
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Feb 10, 2023 23:35:34 GMT
My only wish would be able to watch the full stage close of One without having to break it up to clap. Yes me too. student production of the year I didn't know this was a thing! |
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Post by Dr Tom on Feb 11, 2023 0:37:34 GMT
I didn't know this was a thing! I suspect I invented it, but it should be a thing! |
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Post by FrontrowverPaul on Feb 11, 2023 2:52:26 GMT
London Road is at the Regis Centre Bognor Regis from 9 - 11 March including Saturday matinee. University of Chichester production.
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Post by Steve on Feb 11, 2023 18:40:22 GMT
Standouts for me? Morgan Phillips for making me cry. Marley Fenton for having a real presence, great comedy timing and a beautiful voice. . . . .I'd be surprised if this didn't win student production of the year (even though it's only February). I completely concur about Morgan Phillips (what a lucky coincidence that his cast played today's matinee of "A Chorus Line" - I didn't even realise there were two casts). He gave a phenomenal performance as Paul, flitting between heartbeats, from fury at his horrific past, to resignation, to hopefulness, to breakdown, always so determined to dance, yet open and vulnerable, as fragile and tough as glass. Like you, I found myself unable to contain the tears. What an actor! Reminded me of Olly Alexander in "Mercury Fur" at the Old Red Lion, who embodied all the same contradictory qualities, simultaneously fragile and tough, absolutely heartbreaking. I'll be watching for Morgan Phillips's professional debut, for sure. This production would go down a storm at the Southwark Playhouse Borough Main House, there is so much dazzling energy in the acting and choreography. This musical lends itself to a College production cos College graduates are so hungry, the kind of hunger you actually need to get into a chorus line lol! There were other performances I loved, especially the funniest ones: Marley Fenton's Richie made me laugh, from some precision-executed slapstick clumsy dance moves at the beginning to some fantastic comic reacting to everything going on around him later on; Alex McGetrick's Sheila made me laugh, her world-weary sardonic humour hitting the mark so successfully I never questioned her age appropriateness lol; and Polina Kapona's Kristine made me laugh most of all, her klutzy one-step-behind comic timing completely embodying her fish-out-of-water character. I also loved Madeleine Hargrave's fanatically ambitious Val, powering through her problematic song (which promotes empowerment at the surgeon's knife) with an eleven o'clock number belting enthusiasm that blazingly summoned the full Lea Michelle hunger-for-success mania emblematic of the show. All in all, this transcended it's college show nature, for me, and I'd rate it a full 4 and a half stars of dazzling entertainment! Definitely a contender for "Student Production of the Year" (Dr Tom being the sole arbiter lol)  |
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Feb 11, 2023 23:12:13 GMT
I didn't even realise there were two casts) Only 3 of the roles were double cast! Morgan would have been on regardless of which cast was on |
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Post by theatrefan77 on Feb 13, 2023 1:31:40 GMT
This was really great. Saw it on Thursday and would have gone again on Saturday if it hadn't been sold out.
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Post by FrontrowverPaul on Feb 22, 2023 15:49:15 GMT
Little Shop Of Horrors : City of London Academy Southwark - tonight and tomorrow, 6pm start time.
Pippin : Goldsmiths University Of London Musical Theatre Society - tonight until Saturday 25 February at Lewisham Way site, including midday matinees on Friday and Saturday.
Only discovered these while randomly google searching for amateur and college musicals yesterday. Can't now make either unfortunately.
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 3, 2023 8:56:31 GMT
I managed to catch Bare at Mountview which was performed very well, but somehow I never feel much of a connection with this musical, despite it hitting so many areas I care about. They staged this in the Backstage Theatre with the audience on three sides, making the most of the space and the intimate feel. Some excellent potential in this cast, as always.
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Mar 3, 2023 9:16:56 GMT
Oh I loved Bare at Mountview. It's a musical I had wanted to see live for some time and had never managed to catch before now so I was quite excited.
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Post by fiyerorocher on Mar 3, 2023 13:28:49 GMT
I also loved Mountview's Bare. They did throw me a little with the lyric changes to Plain Jane! I suppose it makes sense to change it if you can't cast the right actress for the regular version, but when you know how it's supposed to do, it does sound off. The Nadia I saw was absolutely excellent, regardless.
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 21, 2023 13:27:28 GMT
The next batch of Mountview productions are on sale.
Gas Station Angel
The Little Mermaid (Disney)
Oh What A Lovely War
Once
The booking system is struggling under the strain, but I would book now if you want seats to the more popular choices.
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Mar 21, 2023 20:08:36 GMT
Oh no! Once has already sold out  (for the evening performances, only weekday matinees left) |
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Post by FrontrowverPaul on Mar 21, 2023 23:58:29 GMT
Oh no! Once has already sold out (for the evening performances, only weekday matinees left) It's in the smaller Backstage Theatre at Mountview, possibly because of the planned staging being similar to Bare. I was lucky because I wanted a matinee and that's all that was left by 4.30 this afternoon. The concert version filled 90% of the Palladium for two performances earlier this month so clearly has a substantial following. |
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Mar 22, 2023 8:18:05 GMT
I was lucky because I wanted a matinee and that's all that was left by 4.30 this afternoon. I'll just have to keep checking back for returns. It's a show I've always wanted to see live, but not had the chance to. |
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Post by FrontrowverPaul on Apr 19, 2023 14:20:51 GMT
Two musicals now on sale at the Royal Academy Of Music, Susie Sainsbury Theatre in the Marylebone Road, London.
Jane Eyre from Thursday 15 to Sunday 18 June (UK premiere ?)
Carousel from Thursday 6 to Sunday 9 July.
I've booked front row stalls seats for both which only cost £10. Says Restriced View but was fine when I was last there and the show was superb.
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Apr 19, 2023 22:28:52 GMT
Carousel from Thursday 6 to Sunday 9 July. ooh thank you for this! Will be booking this |
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Post by cartoonman on Apr 20, 2023 9:19:24 GMT
Thanks for the tip off. I have booked for Carousel. I don't know the Susie Sainsbury Theatre but from images on the internet it looks great.
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Post by jek on Apr 20, 2023 12:41:48 GMT
Thank you FrontrowverPaul I have just booked for Carousel. I haven't been to the Susie Sainsbury Theatre but I see that it won RIBA London Building of the Year in 2018. I remember that while it was being built the RAM staged their 2016 production of Sweeney Todd at Theatre Royal Stratford East and it was terrific. So I am hopeful of good things. |
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Post by Dr Tom on Apr 22, 2023 10:09:11 GMT
Gas Station Angel - Mountview
An excellent production of a play from the musical theatre students (with a fair amount of dancing - although I don't recommend careers as professional skateboarders).
Josh Butler was adorable in the lead role of Ace, perfect Welsh accent too (who would have guessed?)
This isn't a play I know at all, but it's engrossing with several linked threads, all of which come together (the timelines are a little confusing, but that's probably by design - not helped by using those coloured disposable vapes that are so popular now, but weren't sold at the time the play is meant to be set in).
This is played in the Backstage Theatre, with the audience on two sides. No issues with hearing any of the lines. There are loud noise warnings, but unless I missed something (and I don't normally like loud noises), this was just music and thunder, with relatively quiet sound effects. There's also a gunshot warning, which always puts me on edge, but again this is just background sound (and light effects), so nothing to worry about.
Final two performances today and there are still tickets left. Run time is 2 hours 15 minutes, including an interval. The plays at Mountview never seem to sell out, so there were lots of other Mountview students and staff in last night (plus some students I think I recognised from other theatre schools). Still, this shows there's more to this group than just signing and dancing.
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Post by notmymuse on Apr 23, 2023 15:59:39 GMT
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Post by notmymuse on Apr 23, 2023 16:14:26 GMT
And also:
Trinity Laban has Amour (19-20 May), Our House (26-27 May) and Loserville (20-24 June), all at The Albany I think.
RAM are doing Jane Eyre 15-18 June
25 April - 3 May LSMT are doing SOMA (a new musical)
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Apr 23, 2023 16:47:45 GMT
Thanks for this! Just booked |
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Post by FrontrowverPaul on Apr 23, 2023 17:14:08 GMT
Some good tips there thank you.
I've booked Company at RADA and Trinity Laban's Amour at the Albany Theatre Lewisham. I tried to book Loserville too - which is at Blackheath Halls - but it's either sold out or not yet on sale as there's no Book Now button against any of the dates.
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Post by Dr Tom on Apr 23, 2023 17:27:13 GMT
Trinity Laban has Amour (19-20 May), Our House (26-27 May) and Loserville (20-24 June), all at The Albany I think. Loserville is at Blackheath Halls, but booking doesn't seem to be open yet (unless it's already shared out). Thanks, I've booked Company (and had already booked Jane Eyre), may well book some others. Mostly now just waiting for ArtsEd to announce, as there next productions are meant to be in May, and they normally go in the blink of an eye. |
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(for the evening performances, only weekday matinees left)
