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Post by marob on Aug 23, 2021 23:25:40 GMT
david I saw it today myself, but in London. What’s the reaction like on the tour? I would have seen it in Liverpool if I wasn’t down here, but I’m tempted to revisit it next year in Manchester. I’m assuming this production is still new enough that you don’t get any of the constant cheering from hardcore fans yet outside London?
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Post by david on Aug 23, 2021 23:42:43 GMT
marob it was a really positive audience tonight, though there was plenty of cheering and whistling when the guys took off their shirts, particularly for the two guys playing the jocks and the opening number in Act 2 - My Dead Gay Son Got the biggest cheer of the night. There was definitely a larger younger audience in the Empire tonight (teens to mid 20s) than I normally see. Though frustratingly, several auduence members decided to contribute their own unscripted additions to the show by shouting out stuff.
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Post by hannechalk on Aug 24, 2021 9:46:16 GMT
I thoroughly enjoyed Heathers last night at the Liverpool Empire, for the £17 I spent for a seat in row E in stalls it was definitely worth the money!
I can understand why the show has such devoted fans. The songs are catchy, and the whole cast had fantastic vocals, plus great comedic timing.
Some of the audience members did not, however, and laughed during the dark serious parts. After the interval there were also increased attempts by some people in the audience to try and get attention from the cast by shouting out things.
I loved it!
However, I disagree with David regarding the Empire's crowd management. It was rubbish. My ticket said I had to be there at 6pm so they could manage the flow of visitors effectively. I have no interest in the bar or merchandise, nor did others, and thought we'd be allowed to our seats immediately. I even brought a book to entertain myself till the show started. Staff attempted to send people upstairs, as there would be more space, and not to forget the more expensive bar. It was evident from people sitting on the stairs, and people walking up the stairs and coming straight back down again, this was not the case. The merchandise stall was also in the entrance foyer, and I've never seen such an enormous queue for merchandise. So a lot of people were crammed in little space, and at one point they weren't allowing any more people in the building - but the auditorium doors stayed shut till about 650pm. I just cannot understand the reason for this. They should have said on the ticket 'If you wish to use the bar or buy merchandise, please arrive at 6pm. If you wish to go straight to your seat upon arrival, please arrive at 645pm'. I was also not scanned regarding vaccinations, they just scanned my ticket.
So long story short - if you've booked to see it this week, and you just want to go straight to your seat upon arriving, just get there for 645pm.
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Post by hannechalk on Aug 28, 2021 14:20:20 GMT
I am offended however, that Kenwright seems to have built a carbon copy for the tour and not extended it at all - i saw a photo on Twitter the other day of it in Liverpool Empire, looking like a postage stamp in the middle of the stage. Really REALLY disappointed by this latest production. I saw it at the Liverpool Empire, and if you mean the set seemed too small for that kind of stage, I did not have that idea at all. The opening 'wall' pretty much filled all of centre stage. Throughout the set filled all of the stage adequately without it looking too small or inadequate. The stand up-bit was in the tour as well - JD 'shines a light' on a bloke in front row, pretending he's Ms Fleming's ex, and she improvises on that.
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Post by drfootlights on Aug 28, 2021 15:21:47 GMT
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 28, 2021 15:30:09 GMT
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Post by LaLuPone on Aug 28, 2021 16:35:07 GMT
God that’s embarrassing 😳
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Post by david on Aug 28, 2021 21:31:51 GMT
2nd viewing at the last night in Liverpool and I still think it’s a great show. The audience tonight were fantastic to be part of. There was definitely more fans of the show in tonight (a definitely younger audience) with some even coming dressed as their favorite Heather. With my first watch a few days ago, there was plenty of idiots in the audience shouting out stuff but tonight the audience was impecciably behaved and apart from a few cheers with the jocks in just their underwear, it was nice to watch the show in peace. Thanks to marob for the discount code. I managed to bag an end of aisle seat 4 rows from the front for £25. A great view. No issues tonight getting into the Empire having arrived earlier based on my experience earlier on in the week, giving me chance to get to the box office and spend some theatre vouchers I found hidden away at home on upcoming shows at the Empire. The cast and band still sounded great delivering those great numbers. The size of the set filled the large Empire stage just fine. For a show I hadn’t intended to watch, I have had a great time watching this touring production.
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Post by marob on Aug 28, 2021 22:06:11 GMT
david You should really be thanking @tallpaul because if he hadn’t have mentioned manchestertheatres.com then I wouldn’t have looked at the Liverpool equivalent.
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Post by david on Aug 28, 2021 22:24:07 GMT
david You should really be thanking @tallpaul because if he hadn’t have mentioned manchestertheatres.com then I wouldn’t have looked at the Liverpool equivalent. Thanks also to TallPaul for the initial idea for the discount code!
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Post by TallPaul on Aug 29, 2021 8:04:04 GMT
Stop it already you two. You'll make me blush. 😊
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Post by properjob on Sept 2, 2021 18:40:37 GMT
I saw it in Nottingham where it fitted fine and filled the stage. I assume like all touring productions it has to fit on the smallest stage and so will look small if it plays a much much bigger stage on the tour. This isn't unique to Heathers.
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Post by danb on Sept 2, 2021 21:58:51 GMT
The set reminds me of a T.I.E. Piece we did at uni…
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Post by shady23 on Sept 10, 2021 22:45:32 GMT
Very interesting to read about the different organisation for different theatres.
I went to the show tonight in Newcastle and walked past the City Hall on the way, an all seated theatre-sized concert venue (Billy Ocean was on tonight), security clearly telling everyone in the queue to get their Covid passes ready for inspection. At the Theatre Royal there were no such checks, just being advised to wear face masks when not eating or drinking. The majority of people were not wearing masks in the auditorium at all despite announcements etc to wear them. If this was an ATG venue they would ask for a covid pass to come in so seems little consistency between theatres. No entry times but we were told not to consume any food or drink in the bar areas, you were to bring them to your seats.
As for the show I did enjoy it and thought the cast was great. Rebecca Wickes especially wonderful as Veronica. She could have been auditioning for Elphaba with that performance. Really talented lady.
Mhairi Angus as Martha was fantastic as well, the crowd (very full but it is Friday night in Newcastle) especially loved the two jocks.
I had no idea of the subject matter. Had I have done I am not sure I would have chosen to watch it today on world suicide prevention day. There was no reference to that at the end which was a missed opportunity really as it was a very emotional show tonight.
Not sure I would go and see it again unless someone I liked was cast in it but it was a thoroughly enjoyable evening.
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Post by shady23 on Sept 19, 2021 6:44:15 GMT
The matinee in Sheffield was cancelled as five were sick. The evening performance went ahead as, I presume, one or some of the London cast got on a train up there.
Some people were complaining on Twitter about it but shows aren't cancelled at a whim and we have no idea all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes to keep these shows going.
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Post by biffo on Sept 20, 2021 21:46:14 GMT
...And it was an amazing show! The work the talented cast did to make the show work was nothing short of astounding!
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Post by undeuxtrois on Oct 7, 2021 21:37:22 GMT
Caught this last night for the first time and it was a decent night out. The cast were really good but I didn’t realise just how cringy the show actually is? Still had a good time but I’m not sure I’d go again
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Post by steg on Oct 8, 2021 8:03:05 GMT
I saw this Thursday night in Manchester, after an aborted attempt in Liverpool a few weeks ago. I went in fairly blind, having heard a few of the songs but not knowing the plot. Overall I thought it was fine but I wouldn't make a special effort to see it again. The cast were all very good, we had understudy May Tether on as Veronica. The mostly younger audience were lively and engaged with the performance but also pretty well behaved. It was good to be back in a theatre for the first time in 21 months.
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Post by emeraldbaudelaire on Oct 13, 2021 9:27:58 GMT
Heather's have hit Belfast, last night was also the debut of Benjamin Karran as JD and my friend who was there told me he was great in the role.
I'm hoping to catch an understudy on Saturday when I'm there for the matinee. I'd love to get the chance to see May Tether as Veronica because the recordings of her sound great!
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Post by jj9692 on Oct 13, 2021 11:26:36 GMT
Heather's have hit Belfast, last night was also the debut of Benjamin Karran as JD and my friend who was there told me he was great in the role. I'm hoping to catch an understudy on Saturday when I'm there for the matinee. I'd love to get the chance to see May Tether as Veronica because the recordings of her sound great! Benjamin Karran was really good. Actually ended up being the stand out of the show for me. Also I was “Steve” last night. Never wanted the ground to swallow me up as much in my life. Felt a bit odd about the programmes being presented around the foyer as QR codes for your phone. I really missed actually having a programme in my hands. Just glad I had my phone with me because I forgot it last week at Six.
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Post by danb on Oct 16, 2021 5:12:48 GMT
Whilst most ‘companies’ have been accommodating and generous regarding tickets and date shifting during the pandemic I’m not really enjoying how ‘Heathers’ or ATG won’t honour the location of my price promise tickets having rescheduled the show many many times (well 3 or 4). I had purchased £13 front row seats but on discovering I’m busy on the latest rescheduled date I’ve asked to be moved to mid-week. I have been rewarded with tickets in row H of the hideous bench seating upper circle instead which are now the best available £13 seats. None of this would bother me at all if it was a massive sell out soaraway success. But it has sold maybe 10% of the house that night and the cast will be performing to the front ten central rows unless they have some huge media campaign planned between now and November to shift the other 1800 seats. Maybe they need to pay for a new cardboard slushie machine? Or maybe I’ll just end up not bother going and it’ll be two less pairs of hands to applaud the production, buy drinks, programmes, ice cream and snacks etc.
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Post by emeraldbaudelaire on Oct 16, 2021 23:55:17 GMT
Attended todays matinee at the Grand Opera House. A great reception from the audience, it drew a mostly teenage crowd but they were all behaved and the whole house had a great time. Full cast on for the performance and strong voices from every single lead role. The actress playing Heather Duke was a stand out for me I like the new song they wrote for her and she definitely had the most convincing accent. Rebecca Wickes is amazing too I was surprised that her Veronica was a much more comedic take than I've seen her timing is impeccable and her physical comedy is spot on, there aren't really any weak links in the cast. They're all very young and energetic with big voices! One gripe I do have is that the souvenir Brochure they have for sale doesn't feature photography of the current touring cast, instead it has pictures of Carrie Hope Fletcher and the latest London cast also it was priced at £10 which I thought was a little steep compared to other brochures I've collected considering the circumstances.
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Post by Paul on Oct 17, 2021 10:36:42 GMT
I was at last night's performance and I have to disagree with you about Rebecca Wickes, the girl cannot act. Yes the role of Veronica is open to interpretation but that character did not, in any way, resemble a real person. She acts like Sheridan Smith after drinking about 50 energy drinks. Her singing was lovely but her acting was irritating. Not sure who was playing Heather Chandler but I feel her idea of being a bitch is to shout all the time. That portrayal just didn't work for me either.
I really enjoyed Martha, Heather Duke, Heather McNamara and Ms. Fleming. I felt they were the strongest actors of the evening.
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Post by emeraldbaudelaire on Oct 17, 2021 12:08:18 GMT
We may have to agree to disagree on Rebecca I really liked her interpretation but to each their own, I guess it's a matter of preference. I am glad to see the love for Merryl Ansah she really stood out for me not only was she beautiful but her vocals and dancing during her solo were fantastic.
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Post by fiyerorocher on Oct 17, 2021 13:10:43 GMT
I was at last night's performance and I have to disagree with you about Rebecca Wickes, the girl cannot act. Yes the role of Veronica is open to interpretation but that character did not, in any way, resemble a real person. She acts like Sheridan Smith after drinking about 50 energy drinks. Her singing was lovely but her acting was irritating. Not sure who was playing Heather Chandler but I feel her idea of being a bitch is to shout all the time. That portrayal just didn't work for me either. I really enjoyed Martha, Heather Duke, Heather McNamara and Ms. Fleming. I felt they were the strongest actors of the evening. Ahh sounds like the horrific direction from the latter half of the recent London run has made it to the tour. I still have no idea why they're doing it - it is truly abysmal. Veronica becomes more of a caricature than a human. It's probably not the actress' fault, though. Christina Bennington was directed in the same way. What a shame to see they won't let it die, as it's put me off ever seeing the show again. I spent the entire time cringing for the poor actors forced to over-act beyond belief.
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Post by Dr Tom on Nov 3, 2021 10:23:05 GMT
I saw the first night of the week in Wimbledon last night. Fairly full, but not a sell out. Very happy with my second row aisle seat as a price promise purchase.
Really enjoyed this. I preferred this cast to the recent West End cast (even though I have a soft spot for Jordan Luke Gage). And no one could ever complain about Liam Doyle and Rory Phelan not keeping their bodies in top condition for the audience to appreciate.
Rebecca Wickes is a great Veronica. I didn't find her over the top. Simon Gordon had a different take on J.D. More comedy, but I think it worked. Both are excellent singers.
It's amazing how much younger the (male student) cast look when they're clean shaved as well, unlike their publicity photos.
There is availability for the rest of the week for anyone who wants to attend, especially for the Friday matinee. Not too many obvious deals about though, unless you are under 25. Still, if you are okay with the subject matter, this is a good night out.
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Post by jacob on Nov 11, 2021 12:25:58 GMT
Seeing the show tonight, quite surprised as to why there’s a matinee performance showing when the majority of the Hippodrome seats are still unsold ..
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Post by shady23 on Nov 11, 2021 12:57:48 GMT
The matinee has been cancelled due to cast illness so I assume someone has got on a train to make tonight's show go ahead.
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Post by jacob on Nov 11, 2021 14:12:58 GMT
The matinee has been cancelled due to cast illness so I assume someone has got on a train to make tonight's show go ahead. Will update with the cast board later, part of me still thinks it’s due to poor sales !!
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Post by danb on Nov 11, 2021 16:00:33 GMT
Totally! There were about a hundred seats sold. Covid has been the perfect excuse for cancelling poorly sold shows. I noticed that Englebert Humperdink (ask yer Nan) has just cancelled his tour due to ill health, yet it was on both papering sites I use and had sold virtually nothing. Great time to get a chest infection eh?
Going tonight too Jacob.
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