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Post by Raven on Jul 30, 2016 18:22:23 GMT
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Post by Raven on Jul 25, 2016 11:55:27 GMT
I thought I might as well add a few of mine on here.
1) I don't personally understand the hype about The Book of Mormon. Sure, some of the songs are catchy and there are parts I found genuinely funny but I wasn't blown away by it and certainly wouldn't give it "The Best London Musical" title. 2) I'm not a fan of Sondheim's work and much prefer ALW. The only Sondheim musical I like is West Side Story but I can't listen to it the same as I do ALW's music. 3) Having given the Hamilton cast recording several tries, I only find myself liking around 5 songs so although I can't comment or pass judgement on the show itself, I'm not going crazy over the cast recording.
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Post by Raven on Jul 24, 2016 18:46:50 GMT
The Savoy was great for air conditioning when I was there to see Funny Girl back in June. Obviously, it wasn't nearly as hot then as what it has been lately, but the air conditioning kept the auditorium pleasantly cool.
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Post by Raven on Jul 23, 2016 21:55:03 GMT
Until I read this, I actually never realised that the vast majority of musicals even had this "I Want" song and it makes so much sense!
What You Want - Legally Blonde When I Climb To The Top of Mount Rock - School of Rock I Want To Break Free - We Will Rock You You and Me (But Mostly Me) - The Book of Mormon (only because I love the Wicked undertones)
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Post by Raven on Jun 30, 2016 19:34:54 GMT
Let's just think.... If Sheridan had one that BAFTA 6 weeks ago, would this of ever of happened or would she of never left? Perhaps the negative press reports that you mention regarding Sheridan's BAFTA loss made a small contribution to the stress she was experiencing, but ultimately this was not what caused Sheridan to take a break from the production. This was all sparked from her dad's cancer diagnosis which I believe she knew about prior to the BAFTA award ceremony and no doubt made worse for her and her family as her brother died from the same disease when she was 8. I think she has felt the pressure and stress and she couldn't continue performing eight shows a week whilst worrying about her dad and understandably wanting to spend as much time as she can with him.
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Post by Raven on Jun 30, 2016 16:24:51 GMT
Add me to the list for The Book of Mormon. I enjoy most of the cast recording but I was underwhelmed when I actually got around to seeing the show. I don't really understand the huge hype about it.
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Post by Raven on Jun 28, 2016 19:45:33 GMT
She's not really famous at all though is she? Couldn't name one single song of hers. This is her biggest hit in the UK, which admittedly is one of my favourite songs since it first came out! It is her only UK hit, in 2007 where it peaked at number 4 in the UK Charts. The album it came from peaked at number 9 in the UK Charts. She has had no other hit albums or singles in the UK. She is a lot bigger in America, even though I personally really like her music!
Gosh, I remember "Love Song" being so overplayed on the radio, but I agree it is one of her best songs. "Brave" got a fair amount of radio air time when it was first released but only charted at number 48 in the UK charts. She is definitely more renowned in the States but she is a really good songwriter. "Hold My Heart", "Breathe Again" and "King of Anything" are also ones I frequently listen to by Sara. I definitely wouldn't say no to seeing Waitress as I have listened to Sara's album of the songs and "She Used To Be Mine" really stood out. I'm agreeing this probably would need a name to grab a good UK audience due to Sara not being such a huge name over here to sell the show, although Mr Barnaby will not be pleased to say I am one of the guilty ones who would like to see Rosalie in the role.
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Post by Raven on Jun 27, 2016 19:00:14 GMT
Just in case anyone is interested and perhaps missed out on the original broadcast back in December, BBC Radio 2 has a Rogers & Hammerstein themed Friday Night Is Music Night at 8pm on Friday.
From the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, Anneka Rice and Michael Praed host a special 'Friday Night Is Music Night' for Christmas - 'Oh What A Beautiful Evening' - featuring the music of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein. A star studded cast including Clare Teal, Tam Mutu, John Owen-Jones, Rosalie Craig, Hadley Fraser, Emma Williams and from Broadway, Ron Raines, together with the seventy piece BBC Concert Orchestra, conductor Larry Blank, Capital Voices and a fifty voice chorus from the Arts Educational school, celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of 'The Sound of Music' and present songs from Rodgers and Hammerstein's greatest musicals, 'The Sound of Music', 'Carousel', 'The King and I', 'Oklahoma' and 'South Pacific'. This glittering evening includes a special message from Dame Julie Andrews and features the songs ' I Have Confidence', 'Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin', 'The Surrey With the Fringe on Top', 'My Favorite Things', 'I Have Dreamed', 'There Is Nothin' Like A Dame', 'Oklahoma', 'If I Loved You', 'Climb Ev'ry Mountain' and many, many more ...
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Post by Raven on Jun 19, 2016 19:00:03 GMT
I'm seeing Funny Girl on Tuesday and Aladdin on Wednesday. Really looking forward to them both.
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Post by Raven on Jun 17, 2016 19:30:35 GMT
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Post by Raven on Jun 17, 2016 19:28:02 GMT
I think the Broadway production was performed in a similar way with the pool table in the centre that the actors acted around and the audience was sat surrounding it.
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Post by Raven on Jun 17, 2016 19:12:18 GMT
When Kerry was initially announced to be heading the cast I was considering booking but with Ramin confirmed I am now desperate to book tickets! I have a feeling this will be really good.
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Post by Raven on Jun 11, 2016 21:36:56 GMT
Speaking of twitter and stage door reminded me of something at guys and dolls tour recently. Louise Dearman had Tweeted saying she was very sorry but she wasn't coming out between shows as she had interviews to do, her lunch to eat etc. What followed was one fan bombarded her with tweets saying how she had travelled an hour to see her, she was so upset and crying and really wanted to see her. To the extent that Louise felt she needed to go out and see her for five minutes as she sounded like she was having some kind of breakdown. She was not in watching the show and had met her two days earlier! That is overstepping the mark of what is acceptable in my opinion. That's awful and definitely overstepping the mark. There seems to have been a surge in this kind of attitude towards actors/actresses in the West End, the vast majority coming from the younger fans. A lot of teenagers and young adults feel they are entitled to a meet and greet with their favourite performer and the need to broadcast all about it on social media in order to get the attention desired and the result they are looking for when things don't go as planned for them. These individuals need to understand that it is not compulsory for a West End actor to come out of the stage door with the intention of meeting fans. It is safe to say the majority of actors will happily take a moment of their time to listen to those who choose to meet them at stage door to let me know they enjoyed the show and their performance and get a photo but it's not right to hound them and make them feel guilty when there are occasions when they can't do a meet and greet. Stage-dooring used to be a calm and enjoyable experience but nowadays it's not nearly as pleasant. A true fan should be happy and grateful to have just seen the actor in the show and not see a meet and greet at stage door to be essential in order to enjoy themselves. It's a privilege not a necessity.
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Post by Raven on Jun 10, 2016 20:10:07 GMT
I agree with George; I think this has all gone in Natasha's favour and it's given her career a boost. She's done a brilliant job at showing what she's capable of and her potential so I'm sure her stepping up and taking the lead role full time for a couple of months will be of some benefit. She's being recognised and no doubt people will now remember her name for her time in Funny Girl.
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Post by Raven on Jun 9, 2016 20:23:55 GMT
What if you paid £60 or even a season ticket, which can cost over £10000, to see your favourite football player and he ruptures a knee ligament - this sides him for over a year and fans have paid Good money to see their favourite player, no different here, it seems a lot of people don't see this as a injury and have a very poor grasp of mental health issues and how long it can actually take to recover, sometimes it can be weeks, sometimes months, can be even years and very sadly for some,bnever - they tormented for the rest of their lifes. My message is still the same, I hope Sheridan makes a speedy recovery and hope she will be back on stage, but in her own time, when she is cured. However I feel we are only on the second chapter and there is a lot more of the story to come out. Well said, Phantom! I must agree with you. Mental health issues are not discussed nearly enough in society so I do think that's where we don't or can't fully comprehend the complexity and impact of mental health issues on an individual unless we've suffered from some form of it personally or know someone who does. I too can only wish Sheridan a quick recovery and hope she is getting the support and help that she needs. I'm sure, when she is ready, she will return to the stage or screen and can only hope that when she does the public can show her support and not continue to dredge up these current issues and demoralise.
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Post by Raven on May 24, 2016 19:42:34 GMT
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Post by Raven on May 22, 2016 19:06:32 GMT
Great idea and makes for a good point of reference for users who don't come on here often enough to keep tabs on every shows opening date and saves them getting lost in amongst other messages in the threads.
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Post by Raven on May 20, 2016 19:31:17 GMT
Would also love to to see Edwin as Burt, unfortunately don't know if Matt has any planned holiday...will see if I can find anything out. Is it possible to find out whether Zizi Strallen has any holiday dates during the Mayflower run? I don't mind seeing her again when I go to the 29th May performance. I'd just like to see what Jennifer Davison is like I saw Jennifer Davison during the Edinburgh run. I was slightly disappointed that Zizi wasn't performing and perhaps that is why I didn't immediately warm to Jennifer as Mary until about 30 minutes in. By the end, I had thoroughly enjoyed her performance but cannot compare her to Zizi, of course. The production overall was quite magical with Rebecca Lock playing a great Mrs Banks and Wendy Ferguson providing some good laughs as the maid, Mrs Brill. Would definitely recommend!
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Post by Raven on May 10, 2016 20:46:47 GMT
Thanks for the link. I saw it on Broadway and this proves how miscast Alfie is. This is not an opera. Ramin cannot play every role though he is perfect for anything. I believe Hadley is doing more drama with only a few musical gigs. Look at what he has been doing, far away from MT. I am fairly sure he will be with Ramin in July at the Palladium even if he is not an announced guest. Ramin confirmed that Hadley was joining him in his engagement in July at the Palladium. www.cuffeandtaylor.com/whats-on/ramin-at-the-palladium
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Post by Raven on May 9, 2016 21:00:39 GMT
Must agree with those who are saying that Alfie Boe just doesn't fit. Really wish it was Hadley Fraser. As soon as I heard about the production coming over to London, he was the first person I thought would make a good J.M Barrie.
I'll still go and see the show regardless. Maybe I'll be surprised.
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Post by Raven on Apr 24, 2016 19:37:05 GMT
Mary Poppins (touring) Funny Girl Aladdin Cats (touring) Billy Elliot (touring)
That's all I have booked up so far but hoping to add a couple more London shows at some point.
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Post by Raven on Mar 3, 2016 14:28:29 GMT
For me it's "A Little Fall of Rain" and the epilogue of Les Mis. I also cried at Ghost when Caissie Levy sang "With You" and the whole final scene.
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Post by Raven on Feb 26, 2016 19:50:17 GMT
Cats was my first real theatre experience back in 2006. It was a regional touring production and I remember being so entranced by the dancing and the costumes! That really sparked my love for musicals and since then I have been going to London consistently every year to see shows as well as seeing regional tours.
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Post by Raven on Feb 23, 2016 22:36:35 GMT
Erm have you been living on Mars of late!? School of Rock was announced for the Palladium weeks ago. I was one of those who was left a little disappointment and underwhelmed after seeing Charlie. The songs just weren't that memorable and due to the first act being pretty much all set in the one place it felt slow and dragged out. As someone else has said on here, I think School of Rock will go into the Theatre Royal next. Just keeping you on your toes Mr B! I must have missed that somehow.
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Post by Raven on Feb 23, 2016 20:20:44 GMT
Were any other cast announced at the event? I notice Ethan Le Phong of Miss Siagon has it on his twitter now he's part of the cast. Wonder who he will play? Understudy Aladdin? Ethan is credited as an ensemble member on the Aladdin website. They aren't specifying who the understudies are, although there are mentions of standbys for Genie, Jafar, Sultan and Babkak.
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Post by Raven on Feb 23, 2016 20:14:37 GMT
When was the "new" elevator roughly introduced?
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Post by Raven on Feb 23, 2016 19:38:10 GMT
I was one of those who was left a little disappointment and underwhelmed after seeing Charlie. The songs just weren't that memorable and due to the first act being pretty much all set in the one place it felt slow and dragged out.
As someone else has said on here, I think School of Rock will go into the Theatre Royal next.
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Post by Raven on Feb 22, 2016 21:23:01 GMT
I'm hoping to tick a couple off next year since Finding Neverland and School of Rock are coming across the pond. I'd also really like to see Whistle Down The Wind, Legally Blonde, The Secret Garden and Aida.
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Post by Raven on Feb 20, 2016 16:43:55 GMT
I sure love a theatre community that will condemn a performer's performance before he's even started rehearsals. We aren't really condemning Alfie Boe, just expressing our own personal opinions on how we think he'll fit in the role if the speculation turned out to be true and he was cast. Most of us have said that although he wasn't the first person who would spring in our heads to fit the role of J.M Barrie we would be happy to give him a shot. There's no harm in sharing a personal opinion about an actor. It's not like we are throwing around abuse on here. This is purely a debate sharing our views on who we'd like to see and if we think Alfie would be right for the role. At the end of the day, that's all down to the producers.
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Post by Raven on Feb 19, 2016 20:10:50 GMT
I bumped into Gloria Hunniford in the ladies' at the Royal Albert Hall when I went to see Phantom's 25th anniversary concert.
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