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Post by sf on Dec 16, 2017 17:22:08 GMT
On the positive side, the production itself was gorgeous to look at and nicely put together. Nice to have a full orchestra. I liked the production too, but it doesn't have a full orchestra. It has 16 musicians - around half a dozen fewer than the original production at the Adelphi used (and one-third of the number we got at the Coliseum, though that was a special case) - and the lack of more strings, in particular, seriously short-changes parts of the score. |
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Post by HereForTheatre on Dec 16, 2017 21:09:37 GMT
Well i thought it sounded wonderful and the best i personally have experienced.
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Post by zsazsa on Dec 17, 2017 10:51:52 GMT
Has the tour been cut short? I notice the Glasgow dates have been pulled. Glad I saw it in Edinburgh now but wanted to revisit it and also to see Danny Mac as the understudy was on (his first performance) the night I saw it.
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Post by chernjam on Dec 17, 2017 17:25:31 GMT
zsazsa I thought they had pulled those dates earlier and then were rescheduling them, particularly since Danny now committed to returning with Sunset after his commitments in January/February
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Post by danb on Jan 14, 2018 8:51:22 GMT
I mostly enjoyed this last night. Sad to see the upper closed but it was done by Bristols formost amateur company last year which I think has affected sales, plus knowing that it’s tv name was off this week have all conspired to make it look less than the success it was. Ria Jones was on the whole very good. She cheated lots of notes with a sort of mannered ‘crackle’ which made me worry for the big finish, but I needn’t have worried. There was power there when needed. Dougie Carter gave a great but perhaps too youthful Joe. It was great that you didn’t always warm to him; made the character more believable. The set is great for a tour, the orchestra noisy when required and it all added up to an above average reading of my favourite ALW.
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Post by ensembleswings on Jan 15, 2018 12:59:21 GMT
Saw this earlier in the week and have to say I didn't enjoy it all that much. The cast were great, as was the set but something just didn't click with me and I left feeling rather meh and having not fully understood the whole thing. It was the first time I've ever seen a production of this show and can't say I'll ever be rushing to see another.
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Post by giovanni on Jan 17, 2018 10:34:50 GMT
Last night I went to the opening night at the Mayflower in Southampton. As soon as the orchestra started I knew that I was in for something special - and the opening scene exceeded my expectation. I'm not going to give anything away - just in case people reading this haven't seen this production yet. Even so, the set, performances and orchestra are impressive. The inclusion of film elements isn't intrusive - they give the production its own special character. All through the performance I wondered how the final scene would be done. Would it be as stunningly dramatic as it was performed in the 2001 tour? It wasn't the same, but that doesn't take away from the power of the scene - or the entire production. It got, and fully deserved, a standing ovation from all of the (probable) 2300 people truly lucky to be there last night. As you can see, I liked it. A lot!  |
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Post by stageyqueen on Jan 20, 2018 1:29:08 GMT
Last night I went to the opening night at the Mayflower in Southampton. As soon as the orchestra started I knew that I was in for something special - and the opening scene exceeded my expectation. I'm not going to give anything away - just in case people reading this haven't seen this production yet. Even so, the set, performances and orchestra are impressive. The inclusion of film elements isn't intrusive - they give the production its own special character. All through the performance I wondered how the final scene would be done. Would it be as stunningly dramatic as it was performed in the 2001 tour? It wasn't the same, but that doesn't take away from the power of the scene - or the entire production. It got, and fully deserved, a standing ovation from all of the (probable) 2300 people truly lucky to be there last night. As you can see, I liked it. A lot! I am going to be brave and venture down to Southend to see this on 3rd Feb which I believe is its last night at The Cliffs Pavillion. Despite the mixed reviews on here, I am looking forward to seeing it and of course Ria Jones. I will reserve judgement and go with an open mind. I know it will not be a patch on last years fantastic run at The Coliseum with Glenn Close which I was fortunate enough to see twice, but never the less I am sure it will be good. |
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Post by musicalfloozie on Jan 25, 2018 20:13:11 GMT
Just had an email from Bradford with 241 offer on opening night if you quote 'email' shame I've already booked for Sheffield but hopefully someone else might find it useful.
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Post by Phantom of London on Jan 26, 2018 11:54:58 GMT
Saw this last night in Woking (lovely theatre).
Full confessions I love Sunset Boulevard, which has one sublime score
Firstly great to see a large orchestra hit the road. However this was let down by the designer going way OTT with the projections, also a couple of weak links in the casting, I wasn’t really blown away by Ria, perhaps I have been spoilt in the past by some truly great Normas, but I also qualify that, the final scene where after murdering Joe Gillis, coming down the staircase she gave a certain vulnerability. Also with Danny Mac off, the understudy sung decent and acted decent, but also looked totally wrong for the part.
The set looked decent and a bit of money was spent for a tour, but as I said earlier the projections were mad, I like mine done with subtle, like the ENO where Glenn Close transcends the mansion and sings the show out in front of a massive cinema screen, with the words ‘The End’, which had a double meaning and will remain with me because of the excellence.
All in all a mixed bag, that hovered, but ultimately didn’t sore.
3 Stars
3 Stars
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2018 14:35:32 GMT
Saw this last night in Woking (lovely theatre). Full confessions I love Sunset Boulevard, which has one sublime score Firstly great to see a large orchestra hit the road. However this was let down by the designer going way OTT with the projections, also a couple of weak links in the casting, I wasn’t really blown away by Ria, perhaps I have been spoilt in the past by some truly great Normas, but I also qualify that, the final scene where after murdering Joe Gillis, coming down the staircase she gave a certain vulnerability. Also with Danny Mac off, the understudy sung decent and acted decent, but also looked totally wrong for the part. The set looked decent and a bit of money was spent for a tour, but as I said earlier the projections were mad, I like mine done with subtle, like the ENO where Glenn Close transcends the mansion and sings the show out in front of a massive cinema screen, with the words ‘The End’, which had a double meaning and will remain with me because of the excellence. All in all a mixed bag, that hovered, but ultimately didn’t sore. 3 Stars 3 Stars Glad I'm not alone in feeling that the projections were a bit distracting and OTT. Up close the intensity of them isn't too obvious, but half way up the stalls and further back they're quick full on and overwhelm some of the material. |
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Post by stuartww on Feb 5, 2018 13:48:49 GMT
Last friday evening's performance at The Cliff's in Southend - absolutely love this new staging and was pleasantly surprised with Danny Mack's vocals. Overall quite a nice piece of theatre (I have seen all incarnations of Sunset and while you cannot compare the set to the original, and the stage presence of Glenn Close this was quite intimate on a large scale, i thought). The only drawback to the whole production was Betty Schaeffer. She just seem to be played as wishy washy and there for comedy effect - almost geeky and nerdy. Well played if that's the angle the director was going for, but it just did nothing for me.
And, a theatre first for me - the sound cut out halfway through Salome...first Danny's mic went (just before Salome) and then Ria and Orchestra went halfway through Salome. As the announcement saying there would be a pause in the show came over the tannoy, the cast almost just wafted offstage as the house lights came up. 15 minutes later and the lights went down and the cast took up where they had left off and it was as though nothing had happened. Very professionally done.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2018 14:52:53 GMT
15 minutes later and the lights went down and the cast took up where they had left off and it was as though nothing had happened. Very professionally done. So, as if they had never said goodbye then? |
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Post by Rozzi Rainbow on Feb 11, 2018 20:20:06 GMT
I saw this yesterday having never seen the show or the film before. I wasn't sure if it would really be my sort of thing, but I like ALW musicals and the draw of Danny Mac made me decide to go. I'd read up on the storyline beforehand in case I found it hard to follow - which in the end I didn't, although it might have helped that I'd already read it. Overall I thought it was ok, not really my sort of thing as I'd expected but certainly not a bad show and I thought the music was lovely. I was very impressed by Danny, especially as he's on stage so much, I thought he was great. I (along with most of the ladies in the audience) enjoyed the start of act 2! I'm glad I've seen it, but I probably won't rush to go again.
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Post by japhun on Feb 11, 2018 20:24:54 GMT
Can't wait to see this one at the Carre in Amsterdam on 7 April. Saw Glenn three times at the ENO (and once in NYC!) and was at the ENO when Ria was on for Glenn one night during the run here last year.
I love love love the Carre and think this will be brilliantly done there!
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Post by hulmeman on Feb 11, 2018 20:42:58 GMT
Can't wait to see this one at the Carre in Amsterdam on 7 April. Saw Glenn three times at the ENO (and once in NYC!) and was at the ENO when Ria was on for Glenn one night during the run here last year. I love love love the Carre and think this will be brilliantly done there! It sounds strangely exciting to see this in mainland Europe. Hope it is a great success in Amsterdam. |
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Post by couldileaveyou on Feb 11, 2018 20:43:47 GMT
Can't wait to see this one at the Carre in Amsterdam on 7 April. Saw Glenn three times at the ENO (and once in NYC!) and was at the ENO when Ria was on for Glenn one night during the run here last year. I love love love the Carre and think this will be brilliantly done there! It sounds strangely exciting to see this in mainland Europe. Hope it is a great success in Amsterdam. It's also going to Trieste |
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Post by chernjam on Feb 11, 2018 20:45:24 GMT
Does the tour end in April?
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Post by tom on Feb 12, 2018 10:18:36 GMT
I’m seeing this in Ipswich in about 3 weeks and I am shocked at how poorly it is selling. The night I’m going, 24 tickets have been sold in the circle and not many more in the stalls. Is this the case throughout the tour or is it just Ipswich?
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 12, 2018 14:39:07 GMT
Next week in Liverpool, opening night looks ok in the stalls although the sides haven’t sold, but Tuesday night looks pretty dire.
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Post by ensembleswings on Feb 12, 2018 15:12:45 GMT
It didn’t sell all that well in Bristol. Believe they closed the upper circle and upgraded people every night the show was there (possibly barring Saturday) Stalls were half empty on the Wednesday evening I went.
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Post by danb on Feb 12, 2018 17:54:35 GMT
It didn’t sell all that well in Bristol. Believe they closed the upper circle and upgraded people every night the show was there (possibly barring Saturday) Stalls were half empty on the Wednesday evening I went. We were there on a bogof on the Saturday night...I assumed it was because Danny Mac wasn’t in it. |
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Post by theatreian on Feb 12, 2018 18:20:58 GMT
Next week in Liverpool, opening night looks ok in the stalls although the sides haven’t sold, but Tuesday night looks pretty dire. My parents are there on Tuesday night, so will be interesting to get their feedback. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 16, 2018 21:58:20 GMT
£20 tickets for this in Liverpool with the code PERFECT - absolute steal! Last day to use code.
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Post by LaLuPone on Feb 18, 2018 18:08:49 GMT
Going in Cardiff next week so have been listening to the London cast recording in preperation. Okay I now fully see what all the fuss is about with Patti. I died a little listening to As If We Never Said Goodbye. WOW😍 I really hope she does some solo concerts while she's here for Company.
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