1,502 posts
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Post by foxa on Aug 26, 2023 19:02:33 GMT
We were there for today's matinee, so alas missed out. The problem reportedly was the sound system - that's a first for me in terms of cancelling a show.
While we were waiting, the Donmar offered everyone either a free soft drink or snack,which was appreciated as it was very hot and we'd been standing a long time. It was after 3 before they finally said it was cancelled. On the way out we saw a few people in tears.
Wonder if there is any chance they will be able to fit us in later in the run - I booked these tickets so long ago, it feels weird to miss out. However, it wasn't a long journey for us, so easier than those dealing with trains/accommodation, etc. We had an ice cream at Udderlicious then wandered down to the (very busy) National Portrait Gallery and National Gallery (staying longer than we planned because of the deluge.)
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Post by Mr Wallacio on Aug 26, 2023 20:13:04 GMT
After the cancellation this afternoon I rushed down to Choir of Man as did a few others based on the Next to Normal programmes. It was good having a show which started a bit later who were able to accommodate us so my afternoon wasn't completely wasted.
Will have to see what the Donmar say when they contact for refunds.
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Post by intoanewlife on Aug 26, 2023 20:25:37 GMT
How exactly is me preferring to hear a big female belt divisive nonsense? Why so aggressive over someone else's opinion? Oh I dunno, I could listen to George Michael or Josh Groban sing the phone book, whereas I would struggle greatly listening to Patti Lupone sing a business card... |
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Post by Steve on Aug 26, 2023 20:39:50 GMT
You both love the polarising A Strange Loop so your tastes can’t be that far apart! By the end of the first song in ASL, we know how Usher is feeling because of the style of the music and lyrics and the chaotic manner in which it is delivered. We know his situation while played out rather humorously, is complex and unpleasant. It is a sensory overload and therefore we know what is going on in his mind. It is twee, but informative. By the end of the first song in Preludes we know exactly how the lead character is feeling, what his minutely, hourly, daily existence is. That he is dead inside and feels absolutely nothing. It literally lulls the audience into his headspace. By the end of first song in NTN, we know the lead character likes to make sandwiches? I also like internal monologues, and they have their place, but I prefer learning through action. For this reason, I massively prefer this show and "Fun Home" (different strokes for different folks lol) to "A Strange Loop" and "Preludes." Sure, if we get an internal monologue, we can learn a LOT about a person's headspace, but how is that dramatic? A spoiler follows. . . But when you say that in the first scene of this show, all you learn is that "the lead character likes to make sandwiches," I assume you are being humorously disingenuous. The character has dived onto the floor, instead of the table top, and is frantically and manically failing to make a humongously irrational number of sandwiches all at once. It is a shocking and dramatic scene of action, showing rather than telling us that she is mentally ill, and this allows Jamie Parker's husband character to show by his own reactions and actions to the sandwich making both how worried he is for her, and how much he loves her. No amount of (boring) internal monologuing can match the multifaceted drama of that. In my opinion lol. |
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Post by curiouskc on Aug 26, 2023 22:33:10 GMT
I was also a victim of the cancelled matinee today (gutted, I had a brilliant front row seat for it). The good news is I'd managed to snag a late return to see it on Wednesday night, so I am blessed with having at least seen it once. I had desperately wanted to see it again, but can't moan when some people may've missed out altogether (I still hope the Donmar will magic us some extra seats somehow). I'd been saving my review for when I'd seen N2N a second time but (as that may no longer be happening) I'll post my thoughts now. First let me rave about the cast. Caisse is as absolutely glorious as Diana as you'd hope, a voice like pure gold and her 'I Miss the Mountains' was a really breathtaking solo to witness. And (sorry to go back to the Time Out review but...) her Diana wasn't the slightest bit 'kooky'. She's a woman yearning to have a simple 'normal' life with her family but she's absolutely thwarted and crippled by the disease that's preventing her from having that. Caisse's easy relatability in the role actually brings home that mental illness is something that can hit anyone, not matter their personality type. And while I'm sure Caissie will be a cert for an Olivier nom/win next year...is there also hope that Jack Wolfe and Ellie Worthington-Cox will join her in the supporting catagories? I would love to see it. They were both standouts. Jack is definitely my favorite Gabe, very childlike and impish, which has a way of making him both more vulnerable and more dangerous. Gabe is such a complicated role because he manifests differently to every member of his family. To Diana, he's this sweet angelic son who she can't let go of, to Dan he's a demonic terrorist holding his wife hostage in her illness, to Nat he's the cocky conceited sibling revelling in being their mother's favorite. Jack manages to shift between all these Gabe's, often within the same scene/song. It makes him so compelling to watch. Ellie's Natalie is heartbreaking. From the first time we see her, she's so vividly stressed and over-acheiving, a girl who's spent her whole life painfully aware that she's the replacement child and who has always been left feeling she's never enough to make up for her mother's loss. I found her relationship with Henry refreshingly sweat and funny, but also saddening as you can tell Nat struggles to believe that someone really loves her for who she is. Ellie just makes all Nat's turmoil and insecurity shine out of her eyes. And her voice is sublime. Jamie was also my favorite Dan. No, his solos don't blow the roof off like Levy's and Wolfe's but I don't feel like Dan's songs are meant to be showstoppers. He has such a weariness to his character that belting wouldn't suit him. But Jamie still has a strong voice and the emotion he puts into numbers like 'I've Been', 'How Could I Ever Forget?' and especially 'I Am the One (Reprise)' had me in tears. I've watched a LOT of different youtube clips of that last number with Dan & Gabe and I think the version in the Donmar is by far the most moving and dynamic way I've seen it done. So this is a full five star production for me. It stays pretty faithful to the script/Broadway original but I think the few changes they have made (some to suit the venue/others just powerful new creative ideas) are improvements. The way the family kitchen set repeatedly (and seamlessly) transforms into doctor's rooms or Diana's delusions is brilliant. The way they did 'My Psychopharmacologist and I' number had one very fun entrance, which added to its darkly comic tone. And the staging of 'I Dreamed a Dance/There's a World' was SO much more effective than what's in the script - {Spoiler - click to view}
Gabe showing up in a white tux looking like Diana's dream prom date had always felt weirdly incestous to me. Instead they have Gabe carrying bags and seeming like a badly behaved teenager being kicked out by his parents. But then Diana can't go through with evicting him, pulls him into a very mother/son-ish dance that turns into Gabe clinging to her like a needy child. And nothing could have prepared me for the moment when they turned the kitchen counter around to reveal the blood spilling over the floor at the end of 'There's a World'. Absolutely chilling. |
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Post by bobbievanhusen on Aug 27, 2023 0:06:43 GMT
How exactly is me preferring to hear a big female belt divisive nonsense? Why so aggressive over someone else's opinion? In fairness you stated it as fact and finished with 'end of', so I'd agree it's quite a divisive statement to put two demographics up against eachother and declare one superior. I didn't state it as fact at all.
Maybe you're new to the internet, but everything written should be considered IMO, and my post was no different.
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Post by Mr Wallacio on Aug 27, 2023 7:11:40 GMT
Nice to see Donmar didn't cancel the automated post show email I just received hoping I enjoyed the show yesterday afternoon which I assume was sent to everyone.
Too soon Donmar, the emotions are too raw for your trickery 😄.
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Post by apubleed on Aug 27, 2023 7:56:37 GMT
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Post by David J on Aug 27, 2023 8:28:53 GMT
I liked this but had problems with it. I'm not down on this as intoanewlife but there were times, particularly in the first half, where I was wanting the musical to settle down and let the characters express their situation without belting a ballad every 5 minutes.
And maybe that helps portray bipolar disorder. But there comes a point when Gabe is belting "I'm alive" whilst Diana is telling Dr Madden her situation, and I just wanted him to shut up and let Diana sing a number where I can get to more about her. But everyone else lapped it up.
And the way the first act moves along doesn't help. At times I liked the overlapping stories and there were other times where I wondered how far in time we've jumped. No sooner had Diana got rid of the pills and Gabe tells her she should not tell Dan then she comes on with the cake and Dan finds out she hasn't taken the pills. I didn't feel unnecessary but again I wished the musical could settle down and explore Diana getting some semblance of a life back with her family off the pills, instead of summing it up in that happy, clappy "It's Gonna be Good" number.
For me, the character that stood out was Natalie. Played brilliantly by Eleanor Worthington Cox by the way. Because it was her scenes where I felt I got to know her situation and how Diane is having an affect on her. The musical just settles down in her scenes.
I get what they were going for with Gabe being Diane's psyche, though at this point its an predictable old trope for me nowadays. You only got to see Diana being the only one talking to him to work it out quickly.
So the first act flitted between 4 and 3 stars. However, the second act was 4 star worthy for me.
The musical finally slowed down and give characters breathing space. Though near the end where the musical cuts to Diana telling Dan she's leaving I thought we've skipped some conversation here I would have liked to have seen.
Jamie Parker came into his own here. Seeing what he goes through is heart-breaking. I didn't have a problem with his singing but his acting is definitely what sells his character.
Cassie Levy was great but I wanted to see more of her character if the musical had allowed it. I felt if we had less Gabe there would have been more time to hear from herself.
The doctor felt like a something and nothing role for Trevor Dion Nicholas. I would have loved to see his own perspective when Diane has gone away. He only stood out with his rock star belting moments - though all I felt was 'okay?'
I'm giving this a 3.5
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2023 11:00:58 GMT
Nice to see Donmar didn't cancel the automated post show email I just received hoping I enjoyed the show yesterday afternoon which I assume was sent to everyone. Too soon Donmar, the emotions are too raw for your trickery 😄.
Grr. As an organizational development consultant, this kind of faux pas irritates me. A system should be in place (if not a line of code) that IF a show is canceled THEN the traditional post-show follow-up communication is not sent.
It isn't difficult to manage. Someone just have to care enough to do so.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2023 13:36:21 GMT
Sorry to hear yesterday's matinee was cancelled but at least it was technical and not personal issues. Very tough on people who may have had to spend extra time and resources travelling in with train strike on.
As regards the performers having travelling issues if they come in by train I'd assume the company would lay on some transport for them or at least cover extra costs for them. It is only a small cast so its not like trying to get the Les Mis ensemble all to the theatre.
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4,176 posts
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Post by anthony40 on Aug 27, 2023 14:38:17 GMT
It's interesting that the matinee was cancelled as I was actually at the theatre yesterday asking a question at the box office at about 1:15pm and I heard no discussion amongst the staff about the performance being cancelled.
The security was all set up, ready to go.
On the way to theatre Jack Wolfe and a female walked right past me and there was a lady outside the theatre getting an signed autograph from Carolyn Maitland who was arriving.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2023 17:39:03 GMT
Sounds like it was a technical issue which probably only came to light during warm ups or when they tried to get all the equipment working.
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Post by intoanewlife on Aug 27, 2023 20:21:59 GMT
By the end of the first song in ASL, we know how Usher is feeling because of the style of the music and lyrics and the chaotic manner in which it is delivered. We know his situation while played out rather humorously, is complex and unpleasant. It is a sensory overload and therefore we know what is going on in his mind. It is twee, but informative. By the end of the first song in Preludes we know exactly how the lead character is feeling, what his minutely, hourly, daily existence is. That he is dead inside and feels absolutely nothing. It literally lulls the audience into his headspace. By the end of first song in NTN, we know the lead character likes to make sandwiches? I also like internal monologues, and they have their place, but I prefer learning through action. For this reason, I massively prefer this show and "Fun Home" (different strokes for different folks lol) to "A Strange Loop" and "Preludes." Sure, if we get an internal monologue, we can learn a LOT about a person's headspace, but how is that dramatic? A spoiler follows. . . But when you say that in the first scene of this show, all you learn is that "the lead character likes to make sandwiches," I assume you are being humorously disingenuous. The character has dived onto the floor, instead of the table top, and is frantically and manically failing to make a humongously irrational number of sandwiches all at once. It is a shocking and dramatic scene of action, showing rather than telling us that she is mentally ill, and this allows Jamie Parker's husband character to show by his own reactions and actions to the sandwich making both how worried he is for her, and how much he loves her. No amount of (boring) internal monologuing can match the multifaceted drama of that. In my opinion lol. Of course it was sarcasm...but, you have literally just described my main complaint about the show. Diana does something, but the only insight we have into what/why she has done it, is in the reactions of those around her. I get nothing from her other than 'the act'. So I am left feeling for the obviously upset spectators, as I know how they are feeling, whereas I have absolutely no idea what she is going through. Now, shortly after I found she is bipolar...great...my answer...but what is bipolar...an overwhelming desire to make sandwiches at great speed on the kitchen floor? The only thing I know about 'bipolar' is that Kanye West has it and that one of my partners best friends who I can't stand to be around for more than 8 seconds has it (I actually think he's a narcissist who fakes bipolar...but that's another far more interesting conversation to be had another day), therefore (once again) my empathy levels are still on zero. Does the fact that she obviously has some kind of mental illness mean that I should automatically feel sorry for her? Surely this is very out of date thinking, no matter how 'woke' it is? What if 10 minutes later I find out that she had slaughtered 87 kindergarteners with a sandwich knife? I doubt most people with mental illness want my sympathy, I think they would much rather have my understanding. That is very hard to do when the character as written on the page or the actress playing the role refuses to engage. Evan Hanson 'only' had anxiety, but I felt the horror he lived through, because he actually showed/told me how he was feeling. The main 'problem' here, is that in a world of emotional thinkers, I am a logical thinker. IE I witness something, but I need to know what the problem is before I decide how to act on what I have just seen. Sounds weird, but that is how 'logical thinkers' brains work. Our brains go straight to how we can fix a problem, instead of throwing a massive emotional tanty about it. Therefore, I am never going to just react to something emotionally unless I know what the full story is first. And instead of having an emotional reaction to it, my first port of call is always going to be how I can fix the problem, so there is no more problem to be emotional about. But to fix the problem, I need all the information available so I can so do. Diana gave me nothing, therefore she became unsolvable, so my brain no longer has any interest in her plight and the only empathy I feel is for those who have to deal with someone like that. I didn't need a 40 minute inner dialogue, but I need SOMETHING other than the reactions of those around her. Now, I am also quite happy to believe that in fact because of her illness or the drugs she is on, that she may actually feel absolutely nothing and everything she does is just completely normal to her and therefore she isn't actually feeling any sort of way about anything, other than of course missing the odd mountain or 2... But clearly based on her actions there is a hell of a lot of inner turmoil going on, but the show gives us none of that in favour of just trying to shock us with her actions, while never letting us in on what is going on inside her head. |
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Post by sam22 on Aug 28, 2023 6:12:32 GMT
I'm in the loved it camp and was totally blown away. I thought the Donmar was the perfect venue for it and I'm gutted I haven't booked to see it again.
I'd been excited to see it after loving the Tony performance years ago with Alice Ripley and Aaron Tveit albeit I wasn't a diehard fan before going in and only knew about five of the songs.
It was pretty much perfection for me. The cast were mesmerising with exceptional vocals. I knew all the adult leads but didn't know the three young leads, they've surely all got wonderful careers ahead of them.
I can see why this style of show/music won't be too everyone's taste but it gave me chills.
There was a small mishap with the set which meant a few minutes delay whilst it was resolved but gutted for those booked for the matinee that was cancelled.
I presume it may be unlikely this has a life elsewhere so I'll have to keep it in my memory. An easy 5 stars for me and up there as one of the most powerful shows I've ever seen 🙌
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Post by c4ndyc4ne on Aug 28, 2023 8:20:33 GMT
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Post by colelarson on Aug 28, 2023 11:23:51 GMT
Just got an email from The Donmar regarding Saturday sounds like a rebook may be difficult:
We apologise for not being able to stage Saturday afternoon’s performance of NEXT TO NORMAL and understand the disappointment this will have caused. This was due to a failure of the sound system which is vital to the production.
We will be in touch over the next few days to explore whether we can offer tickets on an alternative date. These will be limited and we may not be able to meet all requests. Otherwise you can receive a refund or credit to use to book for another Donmar show. Please wait for us to contact you. Thank you for your patience.
With best wishes from all at the Donmar.
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Post by foxa on Aug 28, 2023 11:26:28 GMT
Yes, just got the same.
Bleh.
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Post by curiouskc on Aug 28, 2023 12:00:23 GMT
Yeah, that doesn't sound hopeful at all. I'm guessing a lot of people who booked the Saturday matinee will be people like me who aren't local to London and could only come to another Saturday show if able to return. And I doubt they'll have enough Saturday tickets left to offer to all people who'll want to rebook. When I've seen Dailys go up, it looks like they are only holding back about 6 extra seats per show.
It's a shame they can't offer a Digital Theatre Screening for those who are missing out. Not only the people at the cancelled matinee and original first preview, but all those people who really want to see it and can't get tickets.
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Post by Rory on Aug 28, 2023 12:39:20 GMT
They really should make every effort to put on an extra matinee show for those people affected. I can see no reason why they couldn't do this between now and 7th October.
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Post by curiouskc on Aug 28, 2023 13:26:25 GMT
I have just been on the phone to the Donmar and it doesn't sound like they have very many tickets left at all. They are not offering any of the Donmar Dailys as replacements (as I thought they might), only a very small handful of returns. When I asked, they said they had no returns for any remaining Saturday shows.
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Post by mjh on Aug 28, 2023 14:56:59 GMT
I've just listed a ticket for tomorrow night on the noticeboard if anyone's looking for one.
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Post by mkb on Aug 28, 2023 15:02:34 GMT
I have just been on the phone to the Donmar and it doesn't sound like they have very many tickets left at all. They are not offering any of the Donmar Dailys as replacements (as I thought they might), only a very small handful of returns. When I asked, they said they had no returns for any remaining Saturday shows. If the Donmar have tickets held back for Dailies, surely their prime obligation is to people whose booking contracts they have breached rather than to people who have not yet bought a ticket? |
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Post by toomasj on Aug 28, 2023 15:45:02 GMT
I have just been on the phone to the Donmar and it doesn't sound like they have very many tickets left at all. They are not offering any of the Donmar Dailys as replacements (as I thought they might), only a very small handful of returns. When I asked, they said they had no returns for any remaining Saturday shows. If the Donmar have tickets held back for Dailies, surely their prime obligation is to people whose booking contracts they have breached rather than to people who have not yet bought a ticket? I can answer this. The daily tickets come out of a budget where the majority cost of the ticket is subsidised by sponsors. They aren’t part of the ticket pool but pre-paid by patrons specifically for a purpose to contribute towards accessibility criteria which allows them funding. The solution here, given high demand, a small house and the two cancelled shows is to add a matinee, which I’m astonished they haven’t done as there is quite literally nothing stopping them. Also, I’ve heard they’re opening the cover run for invited audience (and not charging) including the public. No idea how to get invited to this, though. This is also transferring anyway, I’ve now heard from a second source it’s done. Sorry, Mr. Barnaby, but I’d put my house on it. Finally, and this isn’t a rebuke or criticism of those who were unfortunate enough to have tickets to one or both cancelled shows (I had tickets for opening night myself, and rebooked for this Saturday evening coming). But this show was always going to sell out, the high demand wasn’t unexpected and pretty much everyone knew it would sell out before it opened. I think the Donmar have a duty to make this right for those affected on Saturday and put on an additional matinee performance with ticket holders from matinee even free exchanges. They’ll sell the remaining tickets within 10 minutes anyway, and it would be a gesture of goodwill in these greedy, penny pinching times. |
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Post by curiouskc on Aug 28, 2023 17:09:28 GMT
This is also transferring anyway, I’ve now heard from a second source it’s done. Sorry, Mr. Barnaby, but I’d put my house on it. That's good to hear. As much as I love the Donmar space and think it was wonderful to stage N2N so intimately, I think I'd prefer to wait and see it again in a bigger theatre (hopefully with the same cast) next year. All this battling for tickets/returns and cancelled shows has made Donmar bookings too stressful. |
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