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Post by ceebee on May 15, 2021 20:19:13 GMT
Anybody going along to this next month? I've just taken a look at the cast and there some very strong performers taking part. Tim Howar, Tim Rogers, Madalena Alberto...
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Post by robertb213 on May 15, 2021 20:58:46 GMT
I was tempted as I'm only 50 mins from there, I was holding out for casting news. Some good names but I don't think I can cope with Ria Jones murdering Sunset Boulevard and Cats. I'm sure it'll be a good night though for those attending.
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Post by CG on the loose on May 16, 2021 10:46:47 GMT
I've booked while my bubble buddy is staying with me for a couple of days - the cast is a bit of a mixed blessing for me, but hey - it's live music, in an actual theatre!
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Post by ceebee on May 16, 2021 12:42:41 GMT
I've booked while my bubble buddy is staying with me for a couple of days - the cast is a bit of a mixed blessing for me, but hey - it's live music, in an actual theatre! I feel the same about the cast but am just glad to be getting back to live music with an orchestra in a theatre! Plus I really thought Tim Howar was excellent in Chess, so am looking forward to seeing him tackled "Til I hear You Sing". |
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jun 9, 2021 15:54:18 GMT
Just back from this and I guess it's not getting much attention but this was a real experience. If you think it's just them on stage singing songs in front of a mic that ALW introduces you are wrong. The scale of this is epic. It's fully directed, there is choreography, there are props, there are bits of set, there's special effects and illusions, there is automation and the lighting rig and lighting in general is SPECTACULAR and a honestly a show in itself. All the performers were fantastic (special shout out to Jessica Daley), with many great arrangements, special versions of songs or medleys and the inserts from ALW were entertaining and extremely interesting.
You can easily get tickets for £20 or even just £10 and the box office were very willing to get me a single seat even though no more were available on the map.
I'd defo recommend.
Just a note that Karen Mav hurt her foot and so wasn't in the show today, I'm not sure if she is returning or completely just out now.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jun 9, 2021 19:59:13 GMT
Ria Jones is in this?
It’s a HELL NOOOOOO from me.
A cruise ship is missing a singer.
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Post by ceebee on Jun 9, 2021 21:37:01 GMT
Just back from this and I guess it's not getting much attention but this was a real experience. If you think it's just them on stage singing songs in front of a mic that ALW introduces you are wrong. The scale of this is epic. It's fully directed, there is choreography, there are props, there are bits of set, there's special effects and illusions, there is automation and the lighting rig and lighting in general is SPECTACULAR and a honestly a show in itself. All the performers were fantastic (special shout out to Jessica Daley), with many great arrangements, special versions of songs or medleys and the inserts from ALW were entertaining and extremely interesting. You can easily get tickets for £20 or even just £10 and the box office were very willing to get me a single seat even though no more were available on the map. I'd defo recommend. Just a note that Karen Mav hurt her foot and so wasn't in the show today, I'm not sure if she is returning or completely just out now. Thanks for the review. I now can't wait until Saturday! |
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jun 10, 2021 5:06:49 GMT
Ria Jones is in this? It’s a HELL NOOOOOO from me. A cruise ship is missing a singer. Was there any need? And BTW she was very good. |
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Post by FrontrowverPaul on Jun 10, 2021 9:52:08 GMT
Having read HearForTheatre's review I just managed to get a top price single seat for the final Saturday matinee. May try to exchange it on the day to be nearer the stage as there are loads of two seat bubbles left.
The cost of travel had previously put me off (lack of low price advance rail tickets) but thanks to Flixbus I got a day return by coach from London to Leicester at ideal times for a fiver !
{ Flixbus is the leading European coach operator. They recently entered the UK domestic market and are currently offering very cheap fares from 99p }
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Post by robertb213 on Jun 10, 2021 10:19:48 GMT
I was initially underwhelmed by the casting for this but based on the above review I may decide to give in as well!
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jun 10, 2021 10:21:30 GMT
Having read HearForTheatre's review I just managed to get a top price single seat for the final Saturday matinee. May try to exchange it on the day to be nearer the stage as there are loads of two seat bubbles left. The cost of travel had previously put me off (lack of low price advance rail tickets) but thanks to Flixbus I got a day return by coach from London to Leicester at ideal times for a fiver ! { Flixbus is the leading European coach operator. They recently entered the UK domestic market and are currently offering very cheap fares from 99p } Oh blimey! I hope you do actually enjoy it then if you've just based it on my review haha! Thanks for the info on the coach company btw, I had been looking at ways of getting to London cheaper than the train and I'd not seen anything about them. Looking at the website it seems they offer both cheaper and quicker than NE and so I think I'll try it. |
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Post by robertb213 on Jun 10, 2021 12:01:53 GMT
OK I've given in. Saturday night booked. The box office happily split an existing bubble of two up for me, sitting on the studio side for £20. First show back in 65 weeks. I am so gonna cry when those lights go down 😭😁
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Post by ceebee on Jun 10, 2021 13:00:56 GMT
OK I've given in. Saturday night booked. The box office happily split an existing bubble of two up for me, sitting on the studio side for £20. First show back in 65 weeks. I am so gonna cry when those lights go down 😭😁 Enjoy - will be there myself! |
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Post by FrontrowverPaul on Jun 10, 2021 13:02:59 GMT
Having read HearForTheatre's review I just managed to get a top price single seat for the final Saturday matinee. May try to exchange it on the day to be nearer the stage as there are loads of two seat bubbles left. The cost of travel had previously put me off (lack of low price advance rail tickets) but thanks to Flixbus I got a day return by coach from London to Leicester at ideal times for a fiver ! { Flixbus is the leading European coach operator. They recently entered the UK domestic market and are currently offering very cheap fares from 99p } Oh blimey! I hope you do actually enjoy it then if you've just based it on my review haha! Thanks for the info on the coach company btw, I had been looking at ways of getting to London cheaper than the train and I'd not seen anything about them. Looking at the website it seems they offer both cheaper and quicker than NE and so I think I'll try it. I know I'll enjoy it, love the venue, love ALW's work, concerts like this are my guilty pleasure, loads of the "best bits" in one neat package ! I've been using Flixbus for my regular trips to South Wales, very low prices, not too many passengers as not yet well known in the UK, spotlessly clean coaches and friendly drivers. No complaints from me so far. |
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Post by justsaying113 on Jun 11, 2021 18:18:17 GMT
I really don't understand why someone has to be so repeatedly nasty (and the stereotypical/boring bitchy queen) when it comes to a performer they happen to dislike. By all means, state your preferences but to keep doing so with the same clapped-out old cliche is neither big nor clever. It's actually pretty pathetic.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 11, 2021 18:25:01 GMT
Positivity about Ria in the Performers thread here |
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Post by richey on Jun 12, 2021 8:59:08 GMT
Ria Jones is in this? It’s a HELL NOOOOOO from me. A cruise ship is missing a singer. whatever happened to "If you haven't got anything nice to say, don't say anything"? Really no need for that. Just scroll past. |
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jun 12, 2021 9:05:24 GMT
Have a nice time those of you going today, i think it was a couple of you? Look forward to hearing your thoughts over the next few days  |
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Post by richey on Jun 12, 2021 9:08:09 GMT
Am I wrong in thinking this was also going to be streamed. Feel sure I read it somewhere but can't find anything now. Really fancy seeing this but don't fancy the trek to Leicester
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jun 12, 2021 9:11:01 GMT
Am I wrong in thinking this was also going to be streamed. Feel sure I read it somewhere but can't find anything now. Really fancy seeing this but don't fancy the trek to Leicester No there weren't any plans to stream it, which is a shame. I know it's a trek for you but you can get tickets for £10 for this at some performances and it's an enjoyable show and a spectacle so it's worth seeing if you can. |
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Post by justsaying113 on Jun 12, 2021 10:54:34 GMT
Nice one Richey! And indeed, some people on here just need to shut it!
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Post by ceebee on Jun 12, 2021 11:53:46 GMT
I trekked 140 miles to Leicester. Nice enough city, needs a bit of love. Good cultural vibe about the place and lots of Latter Day preachers. Book of Mormon surely must be due a run at the Curve...
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Post by ceebee on Jun 12, 2021 14:00:11 GMT
To the doubters, Ria Jones just did a great rendition of Memory and not a cruise ship in sight.
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Post by justsaying113 on Jun 12, 2021 15:14:18 GMT
Thanks for the report ceebee. She is most definitely not a cruise ship singer! Enjoy the rest of the afternoon. Would love to hear how Madelena is - another great talent.
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Post by ceebee on Jun 12, 2021 16:12:11 GMT
Well, where to start? Some cracking talent on that stage. Some really excellent performances and an energetic band. Now I know what Phantom will sound like on the Keys! I can't fault anybody as they were all really good. The Starlight intro to the second half took the roof off and made full use of the Curve's insane lighting rig. Some beautiful nuanced singing with a couple of funny ALW anecdotes (though his interjections started to irritate me and elongated the show unnecessarily). Only downside is that the sound gets swallowed with all four sides open, both across the theatre and upward. End result is that sometimes performers felt 25m away from me when in reality they were 25 feet.
Magdalena Alberto is as beautiful in voice as she is in looks and was flawless; Shem Omari James has a lovely reed-like quality to his voice and I would love to see him play Raoul as I think he'd be perfect in the role; Ria Jones got some flack in an earlier post but I thought she was great - I liked her "Memory" as it was subtle and controlled, and her Sunset sections got well-deserved applause. Tim Rogers performs with gravitas and accomplishment, and his "Til I Hear You Sing" was an excellent rendition of a song that isn't easy. I hadn't realised he'd workshopped the original LND. Karen Mavundukure has the most beautiful soul voice I've heard. Her takes on "I don't know how to love him" and "light at the end of the tunnel" were effortless and brilliant. A highlight for me. Tim Howar is the kind of bloke you'd probably go for a drink with - he constantly looks like he's loving it up on stage, charismatic but giving to other performers, he nailed everything. I liked his range and versatility and there was a tangible cadence in his performances. Jessica Daley - damn she's good. Phenomenal vocal range and dexterity, a ready made replacement for Carrie Hope Fletcher in pretty much anything. Certainly equal to, if not better. Grab a ticket if you can - well worth the money. It's not perfect, and could do with some directorial polish, but it's pretty damn close to perfect if you like ALW!
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