Stephen Sondheim Old Friends - Sondheim / TV / Gielgud

Devil's advocate mode activated (am not a particular Sondheim fan) - why do people keep saying this is selling terribly?

It's selling fine. Not amazingly. Not selling out. Not terrible. Not empty.

Fine. Average. If you pick a random week in October (not half term) and compare it to any musical, they're all much the same. Ticket buying behaviour has changed and is less in advance since the coronavirus.

I hear the same thing on the Sunset thread - I think it's selling pretty well. Anything I buy a couple of months in advance has plans that look like these two shows.

Do I think either will sell out? No.
Do I think most performances will be 80%+ sold by curtain up? Yes.

Might be a few modest offers in due course but think anyone holding out for large scale discounting may be disappointed.

(Another example of the hyperbole we are all driven towards. What's wrong with saying it's selling averagely and in line with most things and shrugging your shoulders lol)

It's selling terribly. For a show that has been hyped and plugged for ages, with some of the big theatre names in it, it's not good. The public either don't know enough about the show/cast or their not interested.

I already googled it myself, which is where the confusion/question came from. There are 'Stars' quoted, then if they can't appear their material may be covered by their 'co-Stars'.  That makes sense, I'm sure Bonnie Langford could brilliantly cover for Bernadette Peters and vice versa.  But after that, it appears they may be covered by what I'd call 'members of the company' not 'stars', otherwise it appears there may be some unannounced back-ups drafted in who are star names.  We've all seen great alternates and understudies, and sometimes I've been relieved 'the main star' wasn't on and keenly watched that 'stand-in's' career - but the word 'star' isn't helpful here.

Good article. The writing is the star, better to push that really as much as (or more than) the 'names'.

The show's promo video takes a very long time to put up a caption mentioning 'Tonight' and 'Send In The Clowns'. Marketing could be better - 'from the writer of West Side Story, Sweeney Todd, the iconic song 'Send In The Clowns' etc. However, perhaps the story of why it's a compilation show worth seeing is starting to get into gear.

The article says "Emmey award winning work on Broadway' surely that should be Tony?

Just your typical Guardian error. They mean Tony. Assuming this is more accurate en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_awards_and_nominations_received_by_Bernadette_Peters
then she’s been nominated for several Emmys (including one for The Muppet Show 🐸🐷) but hasn’t won one.

Bonnie Langford just hinted on Sunday Brunch she’ll be doing I’m Still Here!

Bernie definitely still in it

This hasn’t been hyped at all. I bet no one outside of this board or showbizzy people are even aware of it happening.

It’s a musicals show. My point stands.

I wonder if she was in the running to play Carlotta at The National. I know Tracie Bennett said she beat some big name competition to get the role.

Matthew Bourne posted this a few hours ago…

http://instagram.com/p/CxA6IzXotpQ

From yesterday. BP very much present.

(Julia Mackenzie’s involved creatively so don’t get too excited about her appearance there.)


edit: Do Instagram posts not embed anymore? Or am I just doing it wrong?