|
Post by Mr Snow on Jul 18, 2018 15:27:42 GMT
PS I do worry that my frequent contributions to this thread really mean ce n'est pas d'autres personnes qui sont l'enfer.
On further reflection. No, carry on folks…
|
|
|
Post by Mr Snow on Jul 18, 2018 15:21:11 GMT
Mini rant: I was next to a fidgeter at NT tonight. .aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh! I have a friend who takes two Ibuprofen at the start of any perfomance, because it helps him sit still. People must know they are fiddlers? Another pet hate of mine are beard scratchers. Or should I say stubble scratchers. Oh come on! They must hear it? I can never decide if theatres put these people next to me, because if it works it’s cheaper than getting a court order to keep me away; or was I very evil in a previous life and now I’m paying for it?
|
|
|
Post by Mr Snow on Jul 18, 2018 13:26:04 GMT
Call me an old fogey but in “the good old days” songs were written for a spot in a musical. Yes some of them could be generic, but their mood suited the action they were intended to illustrate. They had a verse, which set the scene and then the song itself, normally in Da Capo form including a middle 8 where the stars could shake a leg. The had beautiful melodies with interesting harmonics that set the mood. This allowed often reprised in the second act, where the feelings they carried could quickly be re-established or sometimes undermined. Of course there were some stinkers.
A song written for people to dance to in clubs, or to be listened to at home, on headphones by their nature rarely deliver the levels of sophistication of yesterday. Much modern music is more reliant on the skill of the producer rather than the strength of the song. This is illustrated by ‘classic songbook’ where strong songs allow for many interpretations depending on the particular strengths of the singer. Further in a JBM the plot has to be twisted to fit in a famous song, with the result that they provide an interlude rather than advancing the plot. It becomes an excuse for a concert which has an entirely different vibe. Of course this is my take on it, but its as a result of several unsatisfactory experiences.
I’ll stop now, because I clearly don’t believe in the concept and I should leave the thread to those that do. Enjoy.
|
|
|
Post by Mr Snow on Jul 18, 2018 7:13:36 GMT
An white nanny teaches a brown king how to rule his kingdom. Having said that, I was crying from beginning until end at this imperialist propaganda. The minute Tuptim started My Lord and Master, my memories of listening to the Hollywood Bowl cast recording flooded in, and so did the tears. Forget it by Hello, Young Lovers. I thought it was marvelous, and hated myself for it LOL Happy to put myself through it again if tickets were cheaper, and especially if I can see Annalene Beechey's Anna. I think we see what we want to see. Last week at the Palladium we saw the (based on a) true story of single mother who believed in education and took this to a an extremely patriarchal world. At least you only hated yourself, that’s a good start.
|
|
|
Post by Mr Snow on Jul 15, 2018 10:17:12 GMT
Saw it this afternoon. I STILL maintain that it is the greatest musical written so far. And this is an outstanding production - the standing ovation was spontaneous and unanimous, the audience staying in place until the playout music ended. Today I find it very hard to take issue with what you say. It exceeded my expectations, which were based on the previous production at same venue. In comparison that was a period piece, with a 'star' name draw. Give me a bit more time and I'll argue a bit, as usual
|
|
|
Post by Mr Snow on Jul 14, 2018 21:21:12 GMT
If you've got the programme, surely you've got the headshots and can therefore see which of the two differently-featured women you've been watching on the stage for nearly three hours..... I feel you are being a little harsh. Frankly the made up older wife figure on stage, didn't look a lot like either showreel picture in the program. As I'd read the backstory on here I figured it out during the interval, but it wasn't immediately clear to me.
|
|
|
Post by Mr Snow on Jul 14, 2018 7:22:39 GMT
I have nothing original to add, but I have to say it anyway.
Kelly O'Hara is a God come down to amuse us for a short time. Her performance is a wonder and she's perfect for the part. You're making a big mistake if you pass this sighting up.
My only gripe is that whenever she's on stage, it's clear she's surrounded by mere mortals. Oh well no one's perfect.
|
|
|
Post by Mr Snow on Jul 12, 2018 15:25:07 GMT
^I fear "Lettice and Lovage" all over again... Oh yes, I'd make it all up of course. "And in here is where Elaine Paige ripped out Marti Webb's hair after Ms Webb received a particularly good review for one of her 'Evita' shows causing Ms Webb to have to wear a wig that she still needs to this day . . . . " "And in here is where Dame Judi Dench and Sir Derek Jacobi were caught playing naked Twister in a production of 'Whoops Vicar, There Go My Bloomers!' after eating brownies made by co-star Dame Peggy Ashcroft containing some of her best home grown marijuana. Showing themselves to be total professionals, they managed to finish the matinee and the evening show that day . . . " Where can I book? I've checked TodayTix but you must have Sold Out?
|
|
|
Post by Mr Snow on Jul 12, 2018 7:49:58 GMT
There was a seat hopper at Translations this afternoon. I was in row C and first he sat in what was presumably his seat at the very side of row A. But he was eyeing up the empty seat next to me as the audience was arriving, and then did a dramatic sadface when someone sat there. With a couple of minutes to go til it started he hopped over into the empty seat in front of me and sat there for the first half. Someone arrived late and it was obviously her seat, so she just grabbed his empty seat for the first half. Then at the interval she politely asked him to move, which he did, but not before making more sadfaces and turning round to tell people "I've been evicted!" He then sat in someone else's seat til they came back and made him move, and he stomped off somewhere (not to his own seat). It was all very odd. We’ve noticed this at several recent visits to the Royal Opera House and are wondering if it’s a growing trend. There appear to be rules to follow. Knowing these will help the rest of us spot a real pro. 1 Attend on your own. 2 Dress up really smart – presumably people (including ushers) will assume you wouldn’t stoop to such an action and are therefore less likely to challenge you? 3 Enter the auditorium late, hover and make your move at the last possible moment. If a person who’s seat you’re in arrives even later, they are unlikely to make a fuss and will sit in the nearest vacant one they can see. 4 Do not remove your jacket or put your belongings under your seat until the lights have gone down as you may have to move quickly. (Don’t worry about the disruption you’ll cause as you take them off during the Opera – you’re not worried about anything else.) 5 Remember the aim is to get a seat as close as possible to the front of the balcony, so that you can use the first act to scout for really good vacancies downstairs after the interval. In our experience it’s a non discriminatory activity, open to more than one gender signifying dress code!
|
|
|
Brexit
Jul 10, 2018 15:43:24 GMT
Post by Mr Snow on Jul 10, 2018 15:43:24 GMT
Your patronising assumptions of me are grossly wrong Mr Snow . I'm not going to get into a bickering match over this, however. Suffice to say I have had a huge amount of first-hand experience with the NHS across England and Wales, all of which has influenced my opinion. On the subject of books, I guess you are not aware that Jeremy Hunt co-authored a book over a decade ago detailing ideas and processes for denationalising and 'replacement' of the NHS. The only thing we can agree on he's had six years to do it Fact You say he's been done it (opinion) and I say it's still the largest employer in Europe (fact). Back to Brexit.
|
|
|
Brexit
Jul 10, 2018 14:17:06 GMT
Post by Mr Snow on Jul 10, 2018 14:17:06 GMT
Dear Mr Shusher. I may well get round to reading those books and I should inform you I live with someone who has been in the front line of the NHS for 40+ years. I can put you in touch if you like. Mr Hunt is not popular at all in our house, but then none of his predecessors during that period were either. The problems are apparent to anyone with ears and I’ve heard about them daily.
The NHS is huge – the largest employer in Europe e.g. – and the TWO examples you give are local. I don’t doubt Mr Hunt approved them (he was notoriously hands on) but I do doubt he had the time for them to be on his initiative. In such a large organisation other people get to make decisions as to what is best for their own specialty or geographical area. You apparently though know better than them, what should be done.
My point is you exaggerate to the point of meaninglessness and you’ve even twisted the usual sloganeering to where it can be demonstrated to be nonsense. If a few of your friends challenged you when you do this, you might start to work on solutions.
To help you here’s the definition of dismantle. dismantle dɪsˈmant(ə)l/Submit verb past tense: dismantled; past participle: dismantled take (a machine or structure) to pieces. "the engines were dismantled and the bits piled into a heap" synonyms: take apart, take to pieces, take to bits, pull apart, pull to pieces, deconstruct,
People who talk about the NHS being “in bits” are insulting those doing the hard work that goes on daily allowing us to enjoy e.g. our longest life expectancy ever. It is to ignore the thousands of successful treatments that happen daily, just to make a political point. You are not helping anyone with this negativity. If you still think something that is the largest employer in Europe has been deconstructed, then you might get more sympathy from me if you were to argue he’s obviously inept as he’s failed totally to dismantle it (Insert smiley).
If you want to start a thread about what is wrong with the NHS then there’s one already in existence. I should have known better than to pick on your post to illustrate my point about sloganeering, as its distracted from the Brexit discussion.
|
|
|
Brexit
Jul 10, 2018 12:29:29 GMT
Post by Mr Snow on Jul 10, 2018 12:29:29 GMT
Just announced, Jeremy Hunt as the new Foreign Sec. I’m surprised he’s moved from the Health brief. He didn’t want to move at the last reshuffle and actually got a beefed up dept from it. I suppose it’s a big promotion for him. I wonder if the NHS will be glad he’s gone? Hopefully he will do a better job than BoJo, but that wouldn’t really be that difficult. Well he's certainly well qualified having dismantled the NHS bit by bit for the last 6 years, now he can get to work on the UK as a whole. Could you please give me a few examples? I have somehow have missed the fact that the NHS is no longer intact. The NHS and Brexit have one thing in common. People will keep expressing their opinions of what’s going to happen, as if they were fact. Regarding the NHS the slogan is usually the Tories are GOING to break up the NHS. But apparently, it’s already happened. I despair over political arguments presented by both sides to day. Nobody seems to think through what they say because their supporters just bellow their approval and the other side just spouts its own slogans back. We have a tradition of first past the post. We have often had a narrow majority meaning the electorate have not given a clear mandate and as a result we’ve mostly had moderate governments, afraid to pursue radical ideas. But this time; first we had a Referendum that delivered a winner to one side of an argument effectively writing the agenda for the next term. The fact that vote was close, was further reflected when a narrow majority (once a ‘deal’ was brokered) meant the new government (whoever they might have been), are left trying to muddle through, afraid to take a strong stance on any possible position. It's impossible to negotiate or indeed refuse to accept a counter position, unless you are clear in your own mind what it is you want. The question asked in the referendum did not allow for such nuance. This is producing the worst of possible worlds. At this point it’s hard to see any deal that will be a workable compromise for all parties. I believe it’s because the arguments were not properly hashed out before the referendum and the muddle will take a generation or more to sort out. Very depressing.
|
|
|
Post by Mr Snow on Jul 6, 2018 10:02:29 GMT
...Hell. Or at least watch Don Giovanni go there.
|
|
|
Post by Mr Snow on Jun 28, 2018 8:28:20 GMT
Excellent comprehensive listing except:- “You are not so important that you can’t wait at your seat until the applause has ended. We all have homes to get back to and lead busy lives. The theatre gods extract a terrible revenge on people who push past everyone else and then stand in the aisle clapping. They all die horrible painful deaths the day before the most expensive tickets they’ve ever bought are due. Next time you see two empty stalls seats...”
|
|
|
Post by Mr Snow on Jun 27, 2018 5:38:46 GMT
Been a great week. Turn of the Screw, La Boheme and on Thursday we complete a very unlikely trilogy with Taylor Mac at the Barbican.
|
|
|
Post by Mr Snow on Jun 26, 2018 11:33:58 GMT
and I swear to God you could hear people smiling.
|
|
|
Post by Mr Snow on Jun 25, 2018 8:25:19 GMT
Ah yes mentioning MFP stirs memoires. They also used to do covers of hit singles, sort of Now that's what I call Music before that series existed. I can't remember them ever lisitng the young singers they employed If anyone has the one with "Penny Lane" on it you can earn a pretty price on eBay. The singer was the unknown David Jones who found fame after changing his surname to Bowie. His attempt to give us a Scouse "customer" is as cringeworthy as The Laughing Gnome. Reg Dwight and others were roped in to. I had one based on Jimi Henrix, wander what happend to that! But that YouTube clip says the singer is not Bowie but a session singer called Tony Stevenson. There are obviously some interesting things to be researched in the archives of Music for Pleasure if they have survived, which I rather doubt. Watch this space...! But that YouTube clip says the singer is not Bowie but a session singer called Tony Stevenson. OOOPS, recordcollectormag.com/articles/bowie-the-beatles-no-it-was-me I know a guy who shelled out more than £100 for a copy at the tail end of last century. If I run into him again I wont tell. Checked re Elton. Seems to be more likely. www.eltonography.com/albums/sessions/index.html My bad, as the young folk say.
|
|
|
Post by Mr Snow on Jun 25, 2018 5:40:59 GMT
Those dreadful Music for Pleasure LPs of the show you'd seen being sold on Cambridge Circus. "All the songs from the show!" sing-songed the blokes outside the Palace when Superstar played there. (They were fibbing: song highlights only, in reality...) Ah now, Caiaphas, I have to stick up for my old employers EMI and Music for Pleasure! Those Music for Pleasure show LPs were not so very terrible, although they were indeed just highlights AND they were cheap! But from what I recall, they did contain some interesting artists, like June Bronhill and Inia Te Wiata in "The King and I" (June sang 'Something Wonderful' as well as Anna's numbers), Paul Daneman in "Camelot", Bernard Spear in "Fiddler on the Roof", Charles West in "South Pacific" and Anne Rogers and Patricia Routledge in "The Sound of Music" which included 'I have confidence' and 'Something good'. Also, they were mainly produced by the doyen of EMI's A&R men who was responsible for all of EMI's West End Original Cast albums in the 1960s and 70s, Norman Newell (pace George Martin, Norrie Paramor and Wally Ridley). Actually, I am surprised that you remember those MfP albums so they must have made an impression one way or another! Ah yes mentioning MFP stirs memoires. They also used to do covers of hit singles, sort of Now that's what I call Music before that series existed. I can't remember them ever lisitng the young singers they employed If anyone has the one with "Penny Lane" on it you can earn a pretty price on eBay. The singer was the unknown David Jones who found fame after changing his surname to Bowie. His attempt to give us a Scouse "customer" is as cringeworthy as The Laughing Gnome. Reg Dwight and others were roped in to. I had one based on Jimi Henrix, wander what happend to that!
|
|
|
Post by Mr Snow on Jun 24, 2018 20:22:39 GMT
Time is against me doing a full review but I wanted to alert everyone to a special evening all this week.
Until this I've always been a bit ambivalent about Britten's music and I have to admit that this was my first experience of this Opera, but even on a warm summer's evening this had me chilled throughout and on the edge of my seat.
A fine production - the most traditional I've seen from the ENO ins my 40 years of visiting.
Although the cast were subtly amplified they sang with great clarity (apart perhaps form Mrs Grose) and it was totally beguiling in one of my favourite venues.
The atmosphere was more intimate than is often the case and it made a for a totally engrossing night out.
|
|
|
Post by Mr Snow on Jun 24, 2018 20:09:43 GMT
Agree with all you say. Great night for ROH.
My first Lohengrin and I got lucky.
|
|
|
Post by Mr Snow on Jun 24, 2018 20:07:24 GMT
Oh no, not Cargo Shorts!!!!!
You poor things.
Ryan I trust your steadied your resolve with a stiff one.....in a glass.
tmenis quick put Betty Blackhead on your CD.
There, their, they're....the shock will go away. Time is a great healer.
I can only be thankful I didn't see these atrocities, thank heaven for small mercies.
|
|
|
Post by Mr Snow on Jun 23, 2018 6:51:07 GMT
We do it with house numbers in a street don’t we? Can end up with two consecutive numbers being far apart opposite in the road. I used to love at 55 and 57 was on the other side, over a crossroads about 300 metres away. Don’t know what happened to 56. Prob missed the point of the post but just sharing... No distance at all. if it was true love! EDIT OOOPs already been spotted.
|
|
|
Post by Mr Snow on Jun 21, 2018 11:58:42 GMT
Very good.
Going to a revival of something you have a clear memeory of going to first time round and then not remembering anything that happens is scary.
Agree age has its compensations. We are seeing more than we ever did in the past.
I intend to ensure I stay young and beautiful by not booking my third visit to Les Mis before 2058!
|
|
|
Post by Mr Snow on Jun 19, 2018 20:53:49 GMT
An old Gentleman once said to me that a chap should never wear shorts on a plane. He found the thought of a lady in a dress having a hairy legs brush against hers, quite upsetting.
Call me an old ...git, but as old fashioned and stereotyping as that sounds, in practice it shows consideration for others in a practical way. I have no desire to sit next to acres of sweaty skin in the theatre. Dress up not down.
The last real heatwave in London was a week in July 2013 when The Ring was feature at The Proms and it was hotter than hades in there. At the second night I saw the Daily Telegraph's Opera Critic, Rupert Christiansen wearing shorts with a Guerrilla Suit protruding from the bottom of them. I've never bought a copy since.
|
|
|
Post by Mr Snow on Jun 19, 2018 14:40:14 GMT
If an older person isn't clapping, I just assume they have arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome or any health ailment really that would make it painful to hammer your hands together over and over and over again. Sure, younger people could have such ailments too, but they're much more common in older people, and it's just easier for me to assume people have good reasons to do the things they do rather than wasting my time getting angry about someone not doing a thing that I think they should do but really it's none of my business whether they do or not. Well yes, but now I’ll whinge. I had a recent outing to the ROH for the opening night of Lohengrin, sat next to a pair even older than I am. It is customary to applaud the Conductor to his rostrum, and also at the end of each act. It sets the scene and heightens anticipation and enjoyment (for most). Well they sat on their hands and did I imagine they looked rather smug? This continued until well into the applause at the end when it became clear that the audience wanted to show their particular appreciation for Jenifer Davis who had taken over the lead female role and had something of a triumph. As the roar went out, perhaps to show they were in the know as to what has happened, they suddenly remembered how to clap, smile and be an audience member. I’ll let it rest. As you say none of my business but ….
|
|