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Post by capybara on Jul 24, 2024 16:53:57 GMT
An honour, a privilege and everything in between. I was lucky enough to be there yesterday afternoon for the cover run and the atmosphere was electric.
I genuinely believe the principal cast of Caissie, Jamie, Eleanor, the two Jacks and Trevor are the most talented unit I’ve ever seen on stage. However, this opportunity for the standbys to have their moment had me doubting myself! If nothing else, this performance goes to highlight the colossal strength in depth we are lucky enough to have in the West End right now.
And nobody exemplifies that more than Carolyn Maitland, who gave one of THE best individual performances I’ve ever seen in a theatre. Firstly, I don’t see how anyone could try to compare her Diana to Caissie’s; they both play the role so brilliantly but so differently. It would be like comparing Rachel Tucker’s Norma Desmond to Nicole Scherzinger’s. Pointless.
But Carolyn as Diana was other worldly. She somehow made the character seem even more vulnerable, always looking like she’s suppressing a nervous smile. I can’t remember being as moved by a performance before and it will be a tragedy if a public audience doesn’t get to see it.
Lizzy Parker, who I loved so much in Songs For a New World, was everything I hoped for and more as Natalie. She was somehow even more frenetic and chaotic than Eleanor’s portrayal. And, like Carolyn, she sounded absolutely amazing. So PURE. Go see this girl in whatever she does next. Please!
Ben Heathcote was wonderful as Dan. He seemed even more bemused by the family’s turmoil and got the biggest laugh I’ve seen so far for the short flashback scene. Jake Reynolds sounded excellent too. His Gabe differed a lot from Jack Wolfe’s and what the character lacked in menace and creepiness, it was balanced with him playing the role almost as the ‘dream’ son. His ‘I’m Alive’ didn’t have the same uncomfortable edge to it but it sounded mighty impressive regardless.
Special mentions for Jack and Trevor, who aren’t standbys obviously, but their presence made the company feel as if they’d performed together 100+ times rather than never. Amazing.
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Post by curiouskc on Jul 25, 2024 20:45:42 GMT
Been waiting a very long time (since that painful cancelled matinee at the Donmar) to see 'Next to Normal' for a second time. I absolutely loved it the first time around and almost a year later the show and its cast have found ways to improve on a production that already felt pretty damn perfect for me.
After experiencing the intense in-the-walls intimacy of the Donmar stalls, I will say I felt more comfortable with a nice circle seat. Perfect view of the whole stage and all the actors (the Donmars semi-round does result in a few sightline issues) and the distance from the stage actually made me more at ease, which allowed me to cry more freely. And this show really does open the gates. I first welled up over Caissie's 'I Missed the Mountains' and then was weeping on and off until the end of the show. Felt completely wrung out and dazed by the end.
The cast have all miraculously gotten better than they were last time. Jamie always gave the most tearjerking acting performance but now he really has the pipes to match. Caissie and Eleanor are just divine to listen to and emotion they pour into their songs is wrenching. Jack Wolfe has stage presence for days, so chilling, and his vocals blow the roof off.
So so glad N2N is back. There's nothing quite like it.
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Post by priorwalter on Jul 28, 2024 9:38:08 GMT
Has anyone had any luck with day of discounts at the box office?
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Post by Arcana on Jul 28, 2024 11:18:00 GMT
Has anyone had any luck with day of discounts at the box office? Haven't tried, but you can get Rush tickets via TodayTix. |
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Post by curiouskc on Jul 28, 2024 12:24:10 GMT
Has anyone had any luck with day of discounts at the box office? I tried on Thursday but was just told that the BO price would be the same as the ticket price on the website. RushTix are £25 but I didn't manage to get them even though I tried right on 10am. |
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Post by galinda on Jul 28, 2024 14:18:20 GMT
Has anyone had any luck with day of discounts at the box office? I tried on Thursday but was just told that the BO price would be the same as the ticket price on the website. RushTix are £25 but I didn't manage to get them even though I tried right on 10am. I got offered royal circle (can’t remember the row) and stalls row j I think. This was just after 10am yesterday for the matinee. Ended up with going with Hello Dolly tickets instead as will see this later in the summer. |
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Post by Dr Tom on Jul 28, 2024 18:26:52 GMT
This is a weird one for discounting, as there are loads of unsold seats, but they don't seem to want to offer any serious discounts, or even a second Rush round. I think what people are doing is buying the cheap tickets in the upper level, then relying on it being closed and them being moved downstairs. It's not even a show where I'd expect things to pick up for the school holidays.
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Post by Matt on Jul 29, 2024 13:51:48 GMT
It was on seat filling for £15 a few weeks ago.
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Post by curiouskc on Jul 29, 2024 15:23:22 GMT
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Post by Being Alive on Jul 29, 2024 15:24:14 GMT
Don't read anything into it - the people running their socials are mad 😂 |
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Post by theatrefan77 on Jul 29, 2024 15:43:32 GMT
It's not doing good business. I doubt there will be a pro-shot.
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Post by andrew on Jul 29, 2024 15:56:41 GMT
If it’s meant to go to NYC, then they wouldn’t release a proshot even if they filmed one.
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Post by latefortheoverture on Jul 29, 2024 18:43:07 GMT
Was lucky to see this last week, got a lovely centre row F seat in the stalls for £40 from the box office 5 minutes before curtain.
Can only echo what’s already been said, a complete masterclass in musical theatre. Went in completely blind and was just blown away. Each cast member was on fire, I believed every word and lost myself in the story. Had the understudy on for the Dr, again was brilliant.
Not a great deal I can add, 5 star theatre. Act 2 I spent just frozen at the story, almost numb, but in a good way. Jamie Parker broke my heart.
Caissie Levy, wow! While I’m glad Nicole got her Olivier, after seeing this performance I wouldn’t have been upset if Caissie got it.
Did find it strange the gentleman in front of me kept chuckling at the story….. don’t know if he missed the tone of the piece or what. I understand that there is some comedy in here, but he was laughing at the big dramatic plot points at which others were audibly sobbing at. Weird.
Will say the ending did annoy me a touch, but was able to look past my issues with it as I couldn’t fault it anywhere else.
Go see this if you get a chance!
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Post by CG on the loose on Jul 29, 2024 22:58:10 GMT
I saw this again on Saturday, for the first time since its Donmar run, and can only echo what others have said about it having lost nothing from the move to a less intimate space. I thought this cast were pretty much perfect before, but they were better still - my only slight weak link from the Donmar, Trevor Dion Nicholas, felt far more at home with his characters this time round and I thought Caissie Levy and Jack Wolfe delivered the same stunning, heart-wrenching performances, while Eleanor Worthington-Cox, Jack Ofrecio and especially Jamie Parker all ramped it up another level. I think this might just be my 'show of the year' two years on the trot.
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Post by annette on Jul 30, 2024 10:40:58 GMT
Was lucky to see this last week, got a lovely centre row F seat in the stalls for £40 from the box office 5 minutes before curtain. Can only echo what’s already been said, a complete masterclass in musical theatre. Went in completely blind and was just blown away. Each cast member was on fire, I believed every word and lost myself in the story. Had the understudy on for the Dr, again was brilliant. Not a great deal I can add, 5 star theatre. Act 2 I spent just frozen at the story, almost numb, but in a good way. Jamie Parker broke my heart. Caissie Levy, wow! While I’m glad Nicole got her Olivier, after seeing this performance I wouldn’t have been upset if Caissie got it. Did find it strange the gentleman in front of me kept chuckling at the story….. don’t know if he missed the tone of the piece or what. I understand that there is some comedy in here, but he was laughing at the big dramatic plot points at which others were audibly sobbing at. Weird. Will say the ending did annoy me a touch, but was able to look past my issues with it as I couldn’t fault it anywhere else. Go see this if you get a chance! I’d be really interested to hear what you found annoying about the end of the show. |
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Post by jm25 on Jul 31, 2024 18:05:20 GMT
Just received a rebooker offer from Delfont Mackintosh - £25 seats for performances across August. I was very pleasantly surprised to see front row seats were included in the offer on some dates and have duly booked my return visit. Can't wait!
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Post by Dr Tom on Jul 31, 2024 21:10:47 GMT
Just received a rebooker offer from Delfont Mackintosh - £25 seats for performances across August. I was very pleasantly surprised to see front row seats were included in the offer on some dates and have duly booked my return visit. Can't wait! Lucky you. The offer they sent me was for £45. I am a DMT+ member and have been before, but that was booked through TodayTix. I was going to book too at £45, but now I know we’re being treated as lesser citizens, I’ll hold off. |
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Post by ceebee on Jul 31, 2024 22:01:17 GMT
I got the £25 offer but seat selection is front row or rear dress.
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Post by unseaworthy on Jul 31, 2024 22:26:02 GMT
Confession time... Please don't kick me out... But I really didn't get this. Perhaps it says more about me than the piece but (for me) the songs all sounded the same, it was very shouty and I actually had to ask the person next to me who was still alive at the end... Like I say, almost entirely my fault... Maybe the heat got to me!
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Post by dollybm on Aug 1, 2024 5:08:35 GMT
My offer was £65…
I had actually just the day before re-booked to go in September and got second row for £35 so all good really!
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Post by Nelly on Aug 1, 2024 9:11:33 GMT
Mine was also £65...! But had already re-booked for this coming Tuesday for £45 good dress circle seats, so also happy with that!
Now just have to pray the full cast will be on again, already got the fear.
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Post by craigbowker on Aug 1, 2024 10:29:58 GMT
Mine was also £65...! But had already re-booked for this coming Tuesday for £45 good dress circle seats, so also happy with that! Now just have to pray the full cast will be on again, already got the fear. I saw Henry cover during previews and he was wonderful in the role, if it eases your worries at all |
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Post by tal on Aug 1, 2024 10:35:15 GMT
Mine was also £65...! But had already re-booked for this coming Tuesday for £45 good dress circle seats, so also happy with that! Now just have to pray the full cast will be on again, already got the fear. The full cast was on two days ago, when my friend went. I'm going tonight and actually hoping for covers. I've seen the main cast quite a few times, so would love to see some different interpretations! |
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Post by unseaworthy on Aug 1, 2024 10:49:03 GMT
The full cast was on last night too
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Post by pancakehaus on Aug 1, 2024 11:19:49 GMT
Mine was also £65...! But had already re-booked for this coming Tuesday for £45 good dress circle seats, so also happy with that! Now just have to pray the full cast will be on again, already got the fear. None of the Goodman principals have missed a show yet. Jack O missed a few early in previews and Trevor was out a few days three weekends ago, but that's it. I would be surprised if you didn't have full cast. |
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