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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2018 11:36:50 GMT
Saw this in Manchester and loved it so just been on to see what's available tomorrow in Liverpool. I wasn't expecting it to be full but I'm really surprised just how empty it is! Such a shame.
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Post by danb on Feb 19, 2018 12:47:59 GMT
Has anyone seen any offers for Cardiff anywhere? Might like to see it with Danny Mac.
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Post by TallPaul on Feb 19, 2018 13:29:41 GMT
Might like to see it with Danny Mac. It's always nice to go to the theatre with friends, but won't he be otherwise engaged, on stage?  |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 19, 2018 16:10:19 GMT
He’s off on 26th Feb, no doubt because of his date with danb 🙂 |
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Post by danb on Feb 19, 2018 16:14:03 GMT
We are absolutely not going to Zizzi for dinner then to the cinema to see ‘something light’, so don’t come looking for us!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2018 17:38:57 GMT
Despite having tickets for tomorrow evening, I'm so torn about going tonight also.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 19, 2018 23:51:29 GMT
I was at The Empire tonight. Stalls full apart from extreme sides. I couldn’t see the circle. Blimey that place is big isn’t it. All went well, it’s not looking in the slightest bit tired. Appreciative audience. And welcome to Liverpool. That’s not a mistake, £2.29 a pint. A fine selection of ales, I decided money was no object and had a pint of Ship Yard Pale Ale for £3.05. This was in the pub attached to Lime Street station. Food looked good too.  |
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Post by greeny11 on Feb 20, 2018 12:39:25 GMT
I too was there last night, and I really enjoyed it. I was very impressed with Danny Mac as Gillis, and Ria Jones was great as Norma (particularly in the second act when things get darker). Also, having not enjoyed him in Les Mis, I really liked Adam Pearce's Max - his voice is perfect for this part.
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Post by theatreian on Feb 20, 2018 15:49:32 GMT
Glad you enjoyed the Empire in my home city. Its a massive theatre, in fact the largest 2 tier auditorium in the country seating 2348!Used to go regularly when I was at home. My parents are at Sunset tonight but I think it is almost empty so will be interesting to hear their feedback. Glad to hear such good feedback on the show though. The pub Burly mentions has had a great job done on it. It hasn't been open that long and is a great conversion from what was there before.
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Post by theatreian on Feb 20, 2018 16:07:08 GMT
Not sure if it meant largest by size or number of seats. I bow to your knowledge though theatremonkey!
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Post by stevej678 on Feb 20, 2018 16:27:44 GMT
My parents are at Sunset tonight but I think it is almost empty so will be interesting to hear their feedback. Looks to have filled up a bit in the past 24 hours. Centre block in the front stalls now almost full and plenty of seats taken in the rear stalls too. Not many in the Circle or side stalls but a lot better than it was overall. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 20, 2018 17:54:52 GMT
the largest 2 tier auditorium in the country seating 2348 Hammersmith Apollo is 3341, though. I think you’ll find that’s the Eventim Apollo these days monkey! 🤓 |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 20, 2018 18:25:44 GMT
Ooh!
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Post by distantcousin on Feb 20, 2018 18:44:25 GMT
WHY is it selling so poorly to regional audiences?!?!?
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Post by LaLuPone on Feb 20, 2018 18:59:51 GMT
WHY is it selling so poorly to regional audiences?!?!? It's just the weeks when Danny Mac isn't starring that have struggled I thought? |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2018 19:23:43 GMT
WHY is it selling so poorly to regional audiences?!?!? It's just the weeks when Danny Mac isn't starring that have struggled I thought? I get the feeling this tour has been haemorrhaging money due to lower than anticipated sales. PA has been halved from what it was in Manchester Palace. Granted thats a 3 tier vs 2 in Liverpool and The Palce is deeper, The Empire is wider, it’ll be interesting to see if it suffered as a result, curtain up in 7. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 20, 2018 19:26:15 GMT
WHY is it selling so poorly to regional audiences?!?!? Interesting this. I was there with a party of 6 last night. 4 gays, two straight women. At the interval the women weren’t that keen although I think there was a bit of a recovery in Act 2. I think some people struggle with it being largely sung through which maybe affects word of mouth. I don’t think enough people are into Danny Mac enough to book for him and Ria has no recognition factor at all. As a title, maybe it’s been a bit too long and people under a certain age don’t recognise or identify it any more. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2018 20:58:22 GMT
I bloody love this show. It’s a tragedy it’s playing to a house half full tonight.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2018 22:35:13 GMT
Just on my home after seeing this tonight.
I have to say for my first viewing of the show (I knew some of the music) I greatly enjoyed it, as did my partner who isn’t that big of theatre fan at all I just keep dragging him along.
It is so sad seeing such an empty theatre though, it was almost a little poetically tragic seeing Ria receive a full standing ovation from a half empty house.
A little more advertisement wouldn’t hurt though, the city is plastered with flyers for Wicked, one or two for sunset might make some difference. Although I can’t imagine there budgets are anywhere near similar.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2018 23:41:53 GMT
WHY is it selling so poorly to regional audiences?!?!? I think some people struggle with it being largely sung through which maybe affects word of mouth. I don’t think enough people are into Danny Mac enough to book for him and Ria has no recognition factor at all. As a title, maybe it’s been a bit too long and people under a certain age don’t recognise or identify it any more. By that logic Les Mis, Phantom, Saigon etc all shouldn't sell well either. Sunset, I believe, has just always been a bit niche and it only seems to attract the more hardcore and musical-savvy types. I think the audiences are getting a bit Sunset-out, having done a strong run in London 2 years ago and hitting the end of a long, comprehensive UK tour attraction is tailing off. I personally feel that such a regional-heavy tour was a bit too ambitious and it would have benefitted from a slightly shorter run of longer stop-offs at a few key areas. I think two weeks in Manchester would have seen stronger total sales than a week in both Manchester and Liverpool each. With regard to promotion, I've been seeing press for the show in and around Liverpool for over 6 months, so I don't think thats the issue. One thing I will say is I received a lot less email-shots from ATG in the run up to the Liverpool run, than I did the Manchester run. Irregardless, this show is still stellar and the whole cast and orchestra gave their all. I noticed some new details this evening and some changes.... One detail I loved in Manchester has been cut - the moment when Betty gets into the car to drive to Norma's house, previously she held the address written on paper up to show the person controlling the car where they were going, who responded to this. This has gone now as Betty just gets in and mimes driving off. Shame as I loved this detail. Also, absolutely loved the funny little chat as Joe goes to ring Max at the New years party from the bar: Girl sat on bar: (to joe) Hey, you never called be about that thing!.. Joe: What thing? Girl: Oh you know that thing.. Joe: Oh that thing! Not noticed that before, dont know if its an improv thing that changes, but had me howling. Edit: Additionally, Got to mention some lovely jazz piano improv in the incidental music in the lead up to 'Too much in Love to Care'! |
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Post by stevej678 on Feb 21, 2018 8:32:48 GMT
I think two weeks in Manchester would have seen stronger total sales than a week in both Manchester and Liverpool each. The tour did have a two week run in Manchester but didn't sell well there either. I saw it on the second Friday night of its time there and the audience was sadly very thin on the ground and the ushers were saying it had been like that on several nights. One of the reasons I try to avoid the Liverpool Empire is that unless it's a tour like Wicked or The Bodyguard which really captures the public's imagination, the theatre often feels empty and struggles for atmosphere. Ironically, when the Empire is full, I also find it frequently has a badly behaved audience! |
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Post by greeny11 on Feb 21, 2018 9:17:40 GMT
Funnily enough, I find the Liverpool Empire audiences to be much better behaved than London audiences. Jersey Boys virtually sold out their 2 weeks there, and every time I saw it, the audience were very enthusiastic, but also behaved well.
That said, I have been at the Empire for shows where there have only been 100-200 people in, and it felt so awkward as there were so many more empty seats than occupied - felt awful for the cast.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 21, 2018 9:28:20 GMT
I think some people struggle with it being largely sung through which maybe affects word of mouth. I don’t think enough people are into Danny Mac enough to book for him and Ria has no recognition factor at all. As a title, maybe it’s been a bit too long and people under a certain age don’t recognise or identify it any more. By that logic Les Mis, Phantom, Saigon etc all shouldn't sell well either. Les Mis and Phantom have been in the public eye continually for 3 decades. Saigon has a recent lengthy London run behind it too. SB had the short ENO run. I just don’t think it’s in joe public’s consciousness in the same way. That detail with the address on Betty’s drive, I saw it in Manchester 3 times and didn’t see that done despite looking for it specifically on the latter two visits. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2018 11:00:48 GMT
I think two weeks in Manchester would have seen stronger total sales than a week in both Manchester and Liverpool each. The tour did have a two week run in Manchester but didn't sell well there either. Ah but, without an additional week 45mins down the road, would MCR have sold better overall? By that logic Les Mis, Phantom, Saigon etc all shouldn't sell well either. That detail with the address on Betty’s drive, I saw it in Manchester 3 times and didn’t see that done despite looking for it specifically on the latter two visits. Thats crazy. I remember it so vividly. Perhaps it was an actor improve thing, Resident Director stalks the board and saw I'd noticed it and cut it. |
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Post by distantcousin on Feb 21, 2018 17:31:01 GMT
WHY is it selling so poorly to regional audiences?!?!? Interesting this. I was there with a party of 6 last night. 4 gays, two straight women. At the interval the women weren’t that keen although I think there was a bit of a recovery in Act 2. I think some people struggle with it being largely sung through which maybe affects word of mouth. I don’t think enough people are into Danny Mac enough to book for him and Ria has no recognition factor at all. As a title, maybe it’s been a bit too long and people under a certain age don’t recognise or identify it any more. You're definitely right about the title. I don't think many of the general public, except real cinephiles will be that aware of the original film or the premise. Too much time has passed. I don't get why people are put off by sung-through musicals though? Is that seriously off-putting to people? |
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