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Post by ali973 on Mar 31, 2016 13:01:54 GMT
The only one who is on seating duties is Mr. Theatremoney whose site is an invaluable resource. The rest of yous put on your turbans, load your guns, and strike a silent movie pose.
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Post by couldileaveyou on Mar 31, 2016 14:48:06 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2016 14:59:07 GMT
Please don't ever put "Michael Xavier" and "enormous" in the same sentence again. It sets my man-o-pause off! |
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Post by Phantom of London on Mar 31, 2016 15:12:16 GMT
Just asked them about "day seats." Not confirmed yet, but the plan is simply to sell a few tickets at full price, if available. So, no discount for waiting in line early, it looks like. Underlining that, row A of the stalls is now on sale at £105 at all performances, online. Well that's me out then. No matter how much I like Sunset, I can't afford full whack, and I am not sitting miles away for the cost of a ticket to something else. Unless this changes in the next week then my Thursday morning dayseat will be spent outside the Wyndhams for People, Places and Things Who cares? After all, the lady is paying! |
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Post by yam on Mar 31, 2016 19:16:42 GMT
By Monday evening I will have seen the show from from the all of the first three levels, so if you do want to talk about seating and sight lines lol - But I'm seriously looking forward to hearing the score will a full Orchestra.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2016 19:49:00 GMT
Exciting times. This time tomorrow, hopefully we will get the first interval reports.
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Post by welsh_tenor on Mar 31, 2016 20:08:11 GMT
Can someone also report back if Ms Close does any stage door appearances please?! Going next weekend and want to be a total fan-boy for a photo opp if possible!?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2016 20:16:09 GMT
According to Michael xaviers instagram the first performance in front of an audience is tonight so I assume there is an invited dress. There's also a photo with a slight glance of the set and i think orchestra
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Post by mrbarnaby on Mar 31, 2016 21:05:38 GMT
I had a number of friends watching it tonight and my Facebook is awash with gushing about how wonderful it is... Let's hope it's not just Invited Dress fever/smugness!!
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Post by rightplayer on Mar 31, 2016 23:34:38 GMT
I was there tonight also. It was an invited dress rehearsal so there were lots of friends and family in watching. Firstly the orchestra is stunning and it sounds beautiful. Such a luscious score and it's played to perfection. I also liked Michael Xavier, he sang it brilliantly and for those who were a fan of the finale in The Pajama Game...well you get more of the same here with the title song being performed mostly topless.
The set is completely static, with the orchestra onstage and lots of staircases and platforms to give the sense of a move studio backstage. To me it looked cheap and some of the awkward staging only heightened this. If I was paying £80 I would be peeved there isn't more to look at. Some of the props also looked really cheap and were awkwardly dragged on and off by cast members.
And then there is Ms Close... I hate to be the first to say it but she's simply too old. Her first wig was a disaster and will no doubt be cut by opening night. She was clearly very nervous in Act 1 but the endless amount of climbing up and down the stairs would scare and tire anybody. She definitely warmed up throughout the evening and both her big numbers were fun - if a little underpowered. I wish she'd have had new costumes as the Anthony Powell's only served as a reminder of the opulance from the original production that is sadly missing here. It's a new interpretation of the role, much more subdued and less campy than on the cast recording.
I'm not quite sure what the creative team were going for here but no doubt it will tighten as the run progresses and Ms Close will improve once she settled in - but for me a bit of a disappointment.
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Post by danb on Apr 1, 2016 6:36:51 GMT
The only one who is on seating duties is Mr. Theatremoney whose site is an invaluable resource. The rest of yous put on your turbans, load your guns, and strike a silent movie pose. Au contraire! I plan to start a rival website "Theatre Donkey" where I assess the suitability of theatres to house Medium to Large livestock & working farm animals. Obviously the Shaftesbury is up first as there always seems to be so much room available, and the regular turnarounds mean that the straw/bedding will always be nice and fresh. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2016 8:02:39 GMT
She seemed perfectly chipper on Good Morning Britain this week discussing the show, even telling a story about her once in the 90's stopping the show to tell someone to stop taking pictures... her and Patti have more in common than we think!  |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 1, 2016 8:32:55 GMT
I was there tonight also. It was an invited dress rehearsal so there were lots of friends and family in watching. Firstly the orchestra is stunning and it sounds beautiful. Such a luscious score and it's played to perfection. I also liked Michael Xavier, he sang it brilliantly and for those who were a fan of the finale in The Pajama Game...well you get more of the same here with the title song being performed mostly topless. The set is completely static, with the orchestra onstage and lots of staircases and platforms to give the sense of a move studio backstage. To me it looked cheap and some of the awkward staging only heightened this. If I was paying £80 I would be peeved there isn't more to look at. Some of the props also looked really cheap and were awkwardly dragged on and off by cast members. And then there is Ms Close... I hate to be the first to say it but she's simply too old. Her first wig was a disaster and will no doubt be cut by opening night. She was clearly very nervous in Act 1 but the endless amount of climbing up and down the stairs would scare and tire anybody. She definitely warmed up throughout the evening and both her big numbers were fun - if a little underpowered. I wish she'd have had new costumes as the Anthony Powell's only served as a reminder of the opulance from the original production that is sadly missing here. It's a new interpretation of the role, much more subdued and less campy than on the cast recording. I'm not quite sure what the creative team were going for here but no doubt it will tighten as the run progresses and Ms Close will improve once she settled in - but for me a bit of a disappointment. Wig?  What wig? We want turbans! |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2016 8:42:45 GMT
I'm assuming they mean the red wig in Act I?
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Post by mrbarnaby on Apr 1, 2016 8:50:57 GMT
Wigs must be by Richard Mawbey then..
I'm cancelling my tickets if Xavier is getting his moobs out again.
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Post by ali973 on Apr 1, 2016 8:58:16 GMT
There's been a call... Wig vs Turban
Actually for this particular costume, there have been Normas who wore it with a red turban while others wore it with the wig and a bandana. |
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Post by couldileaveyou on Apr 1, 2016 11:41:42 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2016 11:49:00 GMT
Well... the upside is she doesn't look half as bad as I thought she would! In the turbans and the headdresses she looks great!
The same cannot be said for that red wig, she looks weird being the age she is with that kind of hair look! But other than that she looks fine.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2016 12:03:57 GMT
Where are the photos of Michael X in his trunks? I thought we were promised trunks?
Boo Broadway World!!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2016 12:38:32 GMT
I think the red wig looks fine, ive seen plenty of women in real life with that colour hair at that age. Glenn also looks good. Not sure on Michaels blue jack though. Photos look promising
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Post by anniel on Apr 1, 2016 14:46:17 GMT
Where are the photos of Michael X in his trunks? I thought we were promised trunks? Boo Broadway World!! In a very happy accident on Tuesday, I sat opposite Mr Xavier in a cafe. I did pluck up the courage to speak to him and in a typically inept attempt to say something witty and flirtatious in the face of such handsomeness, I did utter the words, "are there any pyjamas in Sunset Boulevard?" (My success with the opposite sex is very errr, hopeless). Anyway, his response was that he was wearing less than pyjamas. I tried not not to sound too pleased/lecherous. |
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Post by dlevi on Apr 1, 2016 14:58:33 GMT
I was there last night as well and it was pretty terrific. Her voice is tentative at times ( it always has been) but in the range where she is comfortable the lady delivers big time. The set such as it is, is clever - especially the grand staircase. Mr Xavier is easy onthe yes and ears, if his perofrmance isn't as gruff as it could be, it's a small price to pay. I had a great time. Wish I could afford to see it again.
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Post by ali973 on Apr 1, 2016 15:45:15 GMT
The wig is not right. It was much better in the original. And I wonder why they opt for a wig in the With One Look/Chinese silk pajama rather than the turban. It looks a bit frumpy. The Paramount costume is gorgeous as ever.
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Post by steve10086 on Apr 1, 2016 16:09:39 GMT
The wig is not right. It was much better in the original. And I wonder why they opt for a wig in the With One Look/Chinese silk pajama rather than the turban. It looks a bit frumpy. The Paramount costume is gorgeous as ever. Do we think the original costumes have literally come out of Glenn's wardrobe? Perhaps the moths got at the turban! |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2016 16:20:00 GMT
Going tomorrow and really looking forward to it, but that photo looks like Denis Quilley's the alternate Norma.
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