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Post by ThereWillBeSun on Jan 1, 2023 23:48:58 GMT
This has come around quickly - first preview 7th January (next week!) Has anyone booked?
Was meant to be here for FHTE but cancelled performance and busy social life; meant I couldn't fit a visit in.
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42ndBlvd
Ensemble
come and meet those dancing feet!
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Post by 42ndBlvd on Jan 2, 2023 0:02:47 GMT
This has come around quickly - first preview 7th January (next week!) Has anyone booked? Was meant to be here for FHTE but cancelled performance and busy social life; meant I couldn't fit a visit in. Got my tickets
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Jan 2, 2023 22:12:36 GMT
I'm hoping/assuming they'll do the same Day Seats arrangement with tkts that they did for From Here to Eternity, so waiting until they're available before I buy, but I definitely intend to.
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Post by appoul on Jan 2, 2023 22:51:08 GMT
This has come around quickly - first preview 7th January (next week!) Has anyone booked? Was meant to be here for FHTE but cancelled performance and busy social life; meant I couldn't fit a visit in. I'm seeing the first preview--actually it's will be the first time I will have attended a first preview!!
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Post by ThereWillBeSun on Jan 2, 2023 23:05:49 GMT
This has come around quickly - first preview 7th January (next week!) Has anyone booked? Was meant to be here for FHTE but cancelled performance and busy social life; meant I couldn't fit a visit in. I'm seeing the first preview--actually it's will be the first time I will have attended a first preview!! How exciting! Sold out as well - please do report back to us all :-)
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Post by G on Jan 6, 2023 14:30:08 GMT
I'm seeing the first preview--actually it's will be the first time I will have attended a first preview!! How exciting! Sold out as well - please do report back to us all :-) Not too fortunate that the first preview coincides with the last day of the current strikes! Had to put up my two tickets for it on the Noticeboard for this reason.
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Jan 6, 2023 14:41:15 GMT
I watched the proshot over Christmas and was a little meh about it. Looking forward to reports back for this version (it's done in the round right?)
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Post by ThereWillBeSun on Jan 6, 2023 18:59:05 GMT
How exciting! Sold out as well - please do report back to us all :-) Not too fortunate that the first preview coincides with the last day of the current strikes! Had to put up my two tickets for it on the Noticeboard for this reason. forgot about that
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Post by ThereWillBeSun on Jan 7, 2023 19:58:45 GMT
Doors yet to be opened. Just saw an actress run into the auditorium half dressed. Hope it goes well. How, very...
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Post by appoul on Jan 7, 2023 23:13:01 GMT
I believe it went very well. I thinks it's worth seeing it. I'm very much interested in WWII history, so I enjoyed this very much. And it is certainly a chapter of WWII history I knew nothing about. These people have a story to tell and it's worth listening to it. A strong cast, and it was moving to see George Takei himself on the stage. I didn't notice many flaws during this first preview (perhaps they need to work on light design a bit), I'm sure they will have everything sorted out by the time it opens. A standing ovation from almost everyone at the end. My seat was N1, which is in the fourth row. The view was slightly restricted as I could not see what was happening on one of the two walls (the one that had the American flags on it)--and I couldn't see what was happening on the balcony above this wall. Other than that, a great view (paid 33 pounds for it). The show is on TodayTix, I think, so I suggest you grab a ticket!
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Post by Sotongal on Jan 8, 2023 15:41:24 GMT
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Post by max on Jan 8, 2023 17:15:53 GMT
This is quite joyful to see, and at 85 must be a delight to Mr Takei. I do hope they find a way of managing this though, because there's going to be a regular flow of people wanting autographs and selfies at every performance. As someone says in the Twitter thread, it could be a health risk to the company for all the obvious reasons.
He's also doing a lot of media for this still - and quite rightly. Really is one of those shows where a lot of people will go along and find they learn a bit about history, and perhaps theatre, as an entire biproduct of their interest in the star. Not a bad thing at all.
Looking at the website I couldn't see anyone who's an obvious understudy for George Takei's role. Is there an understudy? Does he have a major level of stage time?
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Post by theatrescribe on Jan 8, 2023 19:33:08 GMT
First preview went great, Telly Leung had a fabulous voice! Sat next to an American woman who kept commenting on the show to her husband throughout but oh well. However this visit has made me unsure if I’ll ever want to return to the Charing Cross, it’s an appalling venue. I saw ripped fabric on the seats, dust was everywhere, some seat numbers were scratched off and for some reason there was a weird smell where I was sitting… 😬 Wait til you see the toilets!
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42ndBlvd
Ensemble
come and meet those dancing feet!
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Post by 42ndBlvd on Jan 9, 2023 0:56:12 GMT
First preview went great, Telly Leung had a fabulous voice! Sat next to an American woman who kept commenting on the show to her husband throughout but oh well. However this visit has made me unsure if I’ll ever want to return to the Charing Cross, it’s an appalling venue. I saw ripped fabric on the seats, dust was everywhere, some seat numbers were scratched off and for some reason there was a weird smell where I was sitting… 😬 Wait til you see the toilets! Surprisingly, I thought the toilets were the cleanest and most modern part of the theatre!
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Post by austink on Jan 9, 2023 4:42:59 GMT
They must have invested in some plumbing repair. Generally the floor of the gents is a lake worthy of Phantom. I won’t comment further on the other issues of the toilets. Wait til you see the toilets! Surprisingly, I thought the toilets were the cleanest and most modern part of the theatre!
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Jan 9, 2023 9:48:25 GMT
is there any side that's better to sit on?
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Post by jampot on Jan 9, 2023 10:09:44 GMT
What time did it finish?
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Post by theatrescribe on Jan 9, 2023 22:59:41 GMT
They must have invested in some plumbing repair. Generally the floor of the gents is a lake worthy of Phantom. I won’t comment further on the other issues of the toilets. Surprisingly, I thought the toilets were the cleanest and most modern part of the theatre! Indeed, last time I used the toilets there I had to wade through a lake of water (I hope it was water anyway!). I sincerely hope they have fixed it
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Post by appoul on Jan 9, 2023 23:29:57 GMT
It lasts 2 hours 20 minutes including the interval.
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Post by appoul on Jan 9, 2023 23:38:05 GMT
is there any side that's better to sit on? Plenty of things happen on Balcony 1 and the wall under it, so definitely choose seats that are numbered 3-12. Takei sits nearer row A for much of the show. I saw it from row N and the view was very good.
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Post by max on Jan 9, 2023 23:40:55 GMT
Always found the seats comfortable and toilets fine at this venue, but that's just one experience - key thing:
George Takei is doing tons of publicity. He was really interesting on Loose Women, but they stupidly only gave him a short slot at the end having yacked on about stuff amongst themselves for most of the hour. But - this Venue will not get a chance like this very often to put its best foot forward, and make people want to return there because they were treated well from the moment they arrived.
This is it guys - it's showtime from the moment people step through the door.
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 10, 2023 10:07:04 GMT
A very good performance last night. I only booked the day before, seeing that a lot of shows in the first week are already sold out. Completely fluid throughout.
I booked Stalls A1, which turned out to be in the centre of the front row. There was a bit of confusion about seating as the front row seats are in a random order. Anyway, everyone seemed quite happy for me to sit there. There were a few empty seats about despite being sold out, but all I can think is they were held back for VIPs. A lot of Americans in.
The front row is very close, even compared to most front rows. Reach out and touch George Takei (who gives a masterful performance) close. Many people would prefer being further back. I'm always very happy at the front, even if it makes it impossible to hide the tears.
Staging is a little difficult due to the audience being on two sides. You have a side view a lot of the time. Having been there, I do feel that the centre of the block is much better than the sides, especially near the front.
The casting choices for this one are interesting. Telly Leung is incredibly handsome up close (and incredibly talented too). He very much made the role of Sam Kimura and he's been playing it for a long time. Aynrand Ferrer has a beautiful voice. Patrick Munday has really started to show his talents with comedy. With the ensemble, it's almost like a reunion of The King and I. And I was very impressed that the totally charming Iroy Abesamis made it through the show without a massive grin on his face.
Sound quality where I was sat was excellent.
I think this is an excellent and powerful musical. Clearly very personal to George Takei. When I saw this on Broadway, I remember talking to the Japanese-American man sat next to me and he told me that this was also the story of his family. I got the impression that the history was not well known in the US and it would be even less known in the UK. The show seems so much more intimate and magical in the confines of Charing Cross Theatre than it did to me on Broadway.
I didn't join the massive queue outside to meet George Takei afterwards (The Arches was rather crowded with half of one side blocked off with a security entrance to Heaven, the other side with the theatre queue). But I rather get the impression that he is taking time to meet everyone who would like to talk to him, which is admirable. I will certainly go back and I hope the show and the story gets the recognition it deserves.
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Post by Dave B on Jan 10, 2023 10:32:46 GMT
Thanks Dr Tom, I'm getting really excited to see this now!
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Post by juicy_but_terribly_drab on Jan 10, 2023 14:48:43 GMT
For those who have seen it on Broadway and here, have there been any changes made to the show? I'm not familiar with it but I know that it had a pretty tepid response originally so I'm surprised to see almost entirely positive reactions so far.
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 10, 2023 20:41:10 GMT
I don't have a really clear memory (this was 7 or so years ago), but I think it's the same. The main change is staging for an audience at either side. I remember being glad I'd seen it on Broadway, but I can understand people expecting a different style of show. I expect there's also a bit of a self-selection bias here with those of us who have made an effort to go to early performances (although there are plenty of shows I go to an early performance of and don't take to).
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Post by anita on Jan 11, 2023 10:13:19 GMT
I was going to order the DVD but the postage price put me off.
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Post by TallPaul on Jan 11, 2023 11:47:26 GMT
Poll added. Does Allegiance belong in a galaxy far, far away? Did you want to be beamed up? Please vote.
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Post by max on Jan 12, 2023 22:20:59 GMT
It's on TodayTix I notice, from people tweeting that they unlocked Rush tickets.
A breakthrough for The Charing Cross Theatre? I think we've said here that lack of visibility on TodayTix was one of the things holding the venue back.
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