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Post by Mr Snow on Mar 26, 2019 9:03:04 GMT
I'm taking my soon to be nonagenarian mother to a last visit to Company on the final day. She would normally prefer an afternoon show but
Muck About Matinee's (or what ever they are called) need to be cried down ASAP. Giving less than 100% to a performance in any other context is decried on here, yet this self indulgent, nay selfish, act is somehow given a pass when it delivers a sub standard experience for the vast majority, who are not 'in the know'. Getting a musical cast to gell and create something special is hard enough without all the actors waiting to see what happens next. All so that a very few addicts can say how hilarious it was for years and years afterwards. HMMMMM.
This Forum should campaign to expose it for what it is. Unacceptable.
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Post by Mr Snow on Mar 22, 2019 13:26:40 GMT
So life's always fair?
If you don't want the window seat, then you wont mind me heading for it.
I did it on Tuesday. Front row of the bus and I was on for 45 mins. The lady was still in the outside seat when I got off.
I'm afraid I'm unrepentant on this one. Same goes for those who put a small bag on the seat next to them, "Excuse me..."
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Post by Mr Snow on Mar 22, 2019 13:03:49 GMT
The Making of Follies NT Tuesday. I was one of 3(?) TB attendees and I hop others will chirp in. ( Sorry if I missed you, I wasn't in my original seat as they put me next to my Daughter.)
The Olivier was about 1/4 full. More males and there was a distinct gap in age between students and the rest. Most sessions were compered by Kate Mosse who was likeable and knowledgeable but a bit fond of her own voice and on a couple of occasions had clearly not listened to an earlier answer.
Started at 10am with an interview with Dominic Cooke. Missed the start due to traffic jams but it seems the he started with two hurdles. To get Sondheim's permission and Imelda Staunton on board.
He said Sondheim attended the first two previews and changed his mind about requesting the two guys in drag in Buddy's Blues.
They stuck pretty faithfully to the original script except finding Sally's line (From memory) "I should have died the first time..." in a later iteration.
He also said he tried to make it as much as possible about the younger versions seeing their older selves and what they’d become and how the older actors should be taking cues from them. Throughout the day there was much talk of ghosts and how the two actors interacted and 'mirrored' behaviour. He said the four main characters were all having a breakdown. One song was dropped because in the first previews it didn’t work (Sorry memory failure about which one). Although he's quietly charming he didn't give away that much apart from everyone on the team being simply marvellous.... My Daughter was very impressed with the team’s knowledge and love for the project, so brush my cynicism aside…
15 min break and then Set and Costume design with Vicky Mortimer and two back of house staff Iona Kendrick and Sarah Mercer.
As with all the following sessions this was valuable to a non professional like me, showing how many people are involved and what their roles are.
ON stage were various costumes and I loved seeing how similar elements were used in the two versions of Sally’s party dress. Colour, bows, pockets - similar but 30 years fashion apart. With the 1970’s version noticeably shorter.
Vicky did demonstrate all the 'ghost's' colour palate was muted.
The detail was fantastic.
There were Q&A chances at the end of each session, and I missed the chance to get my Question heard. Isn't the mature Phyllis's outfit a variation on the traditional Vietnamese Costume, Ao Dia? Quite the statement costume for an American politicians’ wife in 1971? There then followed half and hour with the “running Wardrobe team” who are quite separate from the original “Production Wardrobe team”. Julie Burns McKenzie and Amanda Tyrell. The art of sleight of hand and stage magic. Velcro was possible for this show; but because its noisy, only for costumes going on, not coming off. Lunch
then from 1.45 to 3pm a Rehearsal demonstration with associate director Josh Seymour, MD Nigel Lilley, Claire Moore, (the quite lovely!) Lisa Ritchie (who was Claire's 'ghost' also dance Captain) and Vanessa Fisher (ghost to Stella) Although the meat of this session was the deconstructing of the performing ‘Broadway Baby’ by Josh and Claire the others contributed a lot as well. Throughout the day the revelation detial one wouldn’t nictce was incredible. All the Ghost spend a long time – upto and hour and Quarter – just standing on stqge. Depending on which Folly they appeared in their stance subtly altered.
Josh explained how they spent along time trying to find a way to present Broadway Baby as part of the show and not a stand alone number – as most of the audience would know it. Hattie starts seated seated looking around her old dressing table. She’s back in a world she’s left far behind. She starts off not sure she wants to perform her old no, but a pivotal moment comes as she sets down her handbag and stands up and starts to move. We see her ghost echo this (slightly contradictory to Dominic’s earlier Comment) and there’s a brief moment of recognition when they see each other. Hattie like many of the Characters are reconciled with their past and leave the stage. Those with issues, stay behind. Claire Moore was also lovely.
Finally David Marsland and his team demonstrated how such a complex production worked including transforming to a Proscenium Auditorium for Loveland.
A final Q&A had a brave man admit he really didn’t get what Phyllis was challenged about in her Loveland no? Josh explained she was confused as to which was the real Phyllis and who did she want to be, the dancer who started out or the person who she’d become. So was it worthwhile? Definitely. VFM? Mmmm £60 was steep, £15 Students tickets good. Only for nut jobs like me (an anyone reading this)? Probably, there was a lot of talk about how much they talked everything over, but I’m really glad I went.
This is all from memory so I’d be happy to be corrected if anyone else feels I’ve misrepresented things.
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Post by Mr Snow on Mar 22, 2019 11:58:07 GMT
People who sit on the outside seat on the Bus, I will make a bee line for you.
I have giraffe like legs and in such circumstances I'm much less careful about keeping them straight.
Now you can't say you haven't been warned.
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Post by Mr Snow on Mar 13, 2019 19:27:59 GMT
This thread reminds me that I’ve always been curious how “creative” types like actors can perform in long runs?
Happy to add that the shows I’ve seen the most are On your toes and 42nd st. Each one 5 or 6 times and nearly 40 years between First and last shows
Opera. Rigoletto and La Traviata at least a dozen productions of each. The ENO mafia version of the former and the Richard Eyre ROH Traviata have each been seen more than any show. This thread does show how individual we are despite all qualifying as “slightly obsessive “. I have seen over 100 operas but never Ariadne that makes Dawnstars list.
Apologies for the spelling but half way through OH ‘borrowed” the “communal” gasses.
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Company
Mar 1, 2019 7:14:18 GMT
via mobile
Post by Mr Snow on Mar 1, 2019 7:14:18 GMT
Book, booze and Bobbie ![](https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190228/469d9686dfc4c1ab8ba570882ba68a8b.jpg) Can I ask what that offers that isn’t in Finishing the Hat?
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Post by Mr Snow on Feb 21, 2019 12:10:22 GMT
Number 560 in the queue- very surprised! Have a special thx. Being in a queue isn’t so bad when you’re doing a 6 hr wait in that most ‘foreign’ of country’s, an airport terminal. Was in a double queue as I was worried about power running out just when I really needed it, and sockets are fiercely guarded From no 2346 in line to 3 tickets to the last matinee took 2hrs. Will finally get to see this - cheered me up a lot!
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Follies
Feb 14, 2019 22:17:35 GMT
via mobile
Post by Mr Snow on Feb 14, 2019 22:17:35 GMT
Beautiful evening in London, very warm for February. But inside the Olivier the audience is chilled at least until Mirror and quite a large section never get into it
It does seem to be a slow start and the orchestra is mixed down. At least A dozen walkouts from our section of the Circle
Riding works for me but Hanson much less so
Right now I’m not sure I’ll bother to see this production again.
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Post by Mr Snow on Feb 14, 2019 11:33:32 GMT
Seeing the show tonight.
Anyone else going to The Making of Follies, All day 19th March?
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Post by Mr Snow on Feb 6, 2019 7:17:25 GMT
I think this is the remarkable thing about the show Company - especially with the gender switch that is raises all these issues that are simply not talked about. I am happily single and have been most of my life and there was (and still is) huge social pressure to be with someone ("want SOMETHING") not necessarily married but have " a partner". Advertising is still full of model happy family units and heaven help us Valentines Day is round the corner with M&S flogging their hideous Valentine meals for 2!! Pressure is everywhere to conform. If you are in a settled relationship you probably don't notice! What I love about the show is the cynical nature expressed about relationships. Happily divorced, married 3 or 4 times etc!! Yes and yet it also leaves begging...so whats the attraction? So why do people still want....Company? It's not just societal pressure. Mrs Snow and I are currently planning a party to celebrate 30 years of happy marriage, yet this is still the Sondheim show that speaks most strongly and interestingly to me. Clearly it has something you and I can relate to. Odd that he says when he wrote it he'd never been in a (long) relationship and he researched it by inviting his friend Mary Rogers over for the evening! If I had to predict which Sondheim show would last in the public eye, this has to be the one. (PS The new arrangements are a big help in showing it can be moved out of the 70's. I don't know if its been said before but for my 3rd visit we sat in the middle of the circle. For the first time you could (relatively) clearly see the band and I really noticed how fine the band sounded.)
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Post by Mr Snow on Jan 31, 2019 15:35:41 GMT
You mentioned film
There’s an exhibition of the costumes from The Favourite at Hampton Court Palace. My daughter enjoyed it and loved the palace About 40mins on the train from Waterloo station
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Post by Mr Snow on Jan 28, 2019 15:04:58 GMT
I recall it was trully terrible, but luckily 9 days later we saw the Traviata revival with the wonderful Emmonela Jaho and my winter has been rescued.
I think this was a co production with Amsterdam? Is it harder for anyone to pull the plug when its clear a disaster is coming, when:
Your company has shared responsibility, and thus committee's are involved Some of the guilty administrators have moved on It will cost a fortune to cancel?
David Mellor said that the recent Hansel & Gretel was originally to have been a ROH premier of an obscure Humperdinck work but that was cancelled. However the singers had been contracted and so they were shoe horned into the safer choice. Miraculous that it worked pretty well. However the Witch did seem terribly miscast.
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Post by Mr Snow on Jan 28, 2019 9:22:26 GMT
I always think it must be worse to look out at a half-empty theatre. ...one justificatin for papering.
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Post by Mr Snow on Jan 21, 2019 13:49:33 GMT
Progress so far... Underestimated no of books. 20 bags is only between 1/4 and a 1/3rd - although 'some' will stay. Its a lot easier taking them up to the loft in two and threes, than down agian in big bags. 2 full bags of clothes and one of 'rags' is nearer 1/4 total. mmmmmm BHF tomorrow collecting 2 beds and the turntable I kept - and that's the most emotional, even though it hasn't 'connected' with an amplifier in 25 years! Tried Netflix for first time (realy) yesterday. Interesting Feeling smug after a good start. Meanwhile a 'friend' asked when am I collecting my old bike!
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Post by Mr Snow on Jan 21, 2019 13:24:31 GMT
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Post by Mr Snow on Jan 18, 2019 13:32:50 GMT
I have had the horrible experience of clearing out an aunt and uncle's house after they died and then my mother's home and it's very sobering as you see all the stuff that meant so much to others which can be virtually meaningless to you. And of course you probably don't have the same tastes so don't really want that shire horse picture. It's made me very aware of what I keep as someone will have to do it for me one day. |Yes this has provided us with motivation. Have helped clear two houses last year, don't want to leave THAT for our daughter.
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Post by Mr Snow on Jan 18, 2019 11:29:04 GMT
So the time has come to reconfigure the house after 25 years of living here.
We are not tidy. We have a loft AND a basement full ...
1000+ books (minded to keep the factual but use Kindle for re reads) 1000+ CD's (these get the most use) 700+ Programmes ( I still buy a programme on nearly every visit) DVD's Pictures Photographs
50% of my clothes will be at a Charity Shop this weekend.
I haven't really engaged with iTunes or Spotify. Mrs Snow uses Netflix!
At some point in next 10 years we will downsize, but right now we're converting space for an office/man cave, and possibly a "library". In the short term this means putting everything in boxes to make space.
But really whats the point?
Who has enjoyed the benefit of a similar cull of all the other ....clutter/memories?
Any regrets?
Interested in others experiences.
(PS this is a stream of consciousness post! so apologies if if makes no sense to others. I do realise there are worse problems to have.)
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Post by Mr Snow on Jan 16, 2019 11:01:27 GMT
Oh, I definitely noticed them when I went! ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) Yes when she raises her arms....I have no idea why I looked at her feet!
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Post by Mr Snow on Jan 16, 2019 9:02:50 GMT
I'd have bought more if they'd paid any attention to people they weren't already on best name terms with. I can recall trying to pay for a CD and giving up and leaving!
Shame but I've spend countless hours in Music Shops and I never felt comfortable in either venue. I don’t want a favour, I just want service.
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Post by Mr Snow on Jan 16, 2019 8:55:51 GMT
Saw Frank Skinner and Nina Conti at Company last night.
No Ryan, different rows.
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Post by Mr Snow on Jan 16, 2019 8:41:13 GMT
A proper joy to go back again tonight. It’s literally been 3 weeks since I last went but this show just keeps delivering. Rosalie is just fantastic, and I love almost everything about it - Another Hundred People for me doesn’t work well enough, and I don’t think George is a good enough actor. But holy cow, I am more blown away by Patti LuPone every single time I see her perform. She is just unbelievable. The Ladies who Lunch scene, and the moments that follow, are utterly genius. She really does bring something so incredibly special to it and I can’t get enough. GO AND SEE THIS SHOW BEFORE IT LEAVES US. We returned last night and you sum it up beautifully. Glad it’s not just me who finds the only disappointing thing about this performance is Another Hundred People - normally one of the high points. It has tightened up since previews and Bobbie is now less ... cool/detached/frigid. I really appreciated Miss LuPone the actress last night, first time I think I was overwhelmed by seeing The Star. But this time I noticed her overall contribution and on a Tuesday night in February she gave it everything. It was a good audience and yes a little less hyped up than the preview. The preshow announcement re mobiles may be a litmus test. First time half the audience went wild for this, last night there were a few laughs. I thought the audience had a stronger female bias than normal. And a high percentage of red heads too! I will take your advice and plan another return. PS I commented last time on the visual references, but I'm surprised no one is mentioning the huge Alice in Wonderland homages. Is it all a dream? Saw many new things, including that the door numbers on the street are all the same. Doors are another huge reference point. Is she living in Aldous Huxley's brave new world?
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Post by Mr Snow on Jan 7, 2019 12:00:14 GMT
Agree it was a marvellous night, memories to cherish.
Did anyone hear the bell being rung 3X? Couldn't hear it from wide out in the stalls?
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Post by Mr Snow on Dec 25, 2018 9:59:35 GMT
Nele Needs a Holiday. Oval house.
So badly predictable, it was life diminishing!
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Post by Mr Snow on Dec 19, 2018 9:03:57 GMT
Love a Pre-Rhaphaelite, but was a little surprised to find that LS Lowry did. There's a small but interesting exhibition currently at the Lowry featuring some that he owned.
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Post by Mr Snow on Dec 11, 2018 13:13:42 GMT
24 hrs late a couple of times.
OH and 7 days early.
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