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Post by Latecomer on Feb 6, 2023 15:42:26 GMT
{Spoiler - click to view} It was successful as it showed a middle aged woman being a great role model but also not being perfect. I like to think of myself as the Catherine of library services…I’ve been there so long I can see the disasters coming and name the skeletons when they crop up! I particularly liked that the criminals all got nicked off camera, even JLR didn’t get to die on screen, but we got Catherine and Clare hugging with a fab one liner. They gave HER centre stage!
So many women everywhere can relate to this, no matter what they do.
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Post by Latecomer on Feb 5, 2023 8:38:35 GMT
I got to see this at the matinee (thank you so much dannimaria!) and thought it was fab. All 3 leads are 😊 but the way Patsy Ferran just LAUNCHES into those Tennessee Williams speeches is awesome. She constantly moves her hands and her diction is so precise but she delivers with power and speed like a runaway train that is both out of control and yet completely sure of herself. And when she talks about her past her vulnerability just makes you understand that she has lived her life the only way she thinks she can. There were a couple of directional choices that I was not fond of (these are just personal taste and I’m quite a jaded theatre goer so my little head goes “oh really? Now we have x”, so I think that is my problem!) but I swear I would pay 💰 to watch Patsy Ferran in anything.
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Post by Latecomer on Jan 31, 2023 15:58:42 GMT
Managed to nab a Thursday matinee ticket for April. I have a ticket for Saturday's last matinee at The Almeida, stalls F11 (restricted view) but can no longer go. I paid 25 quid for it if anyone wants it. Yes please! Have messaged you dannimaria!
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Post by Latecomer on Jan 31, 2023 15:50:07 GMT
Managed to nab a Thursday matinee ticket for April. I have a ticket for Saturday's last matinee at The Almeida, stalls F11 (restricted view) but can no longer go. I paid 25 quid for it if anyone wants it. Yes please!
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Post by Latecomer on Jan 28, 2023 15:41:09 GMT
Still a bit sad not to be seeing this at the Almeida (much prefer to larger venues). No sign of any tickets on line and can’t really travel from Oxford “just in case” for returns….box office were quite unhelpful (I had tickets but had to return due to train strike). Even the fact that I also missed out on Tammy Faye as had tickets for last day that were cancelled, so missed that, didn’t soften their hearts! I understand, it’s a small venue, but as a regular and loyal customer for over 10 years it’s a shame…..also people who queue on the day do deserve returns, so I’m not really moaning, but oh to be round the corner so I could go and queue up ……will just have to lump it! Perhaps I’ll just read the play again and imagine Patsy Ferran in the part!
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Post by Latecomer on Jan 21, 2023 14:27:32 GMT
Didn't know about this but it doesn't sound encouraging! I waited ages for a reply to my email asking why there was no longer a "matinee" filter for booking tickets and whether they could restore it. Goodness knows they have umpteen other filters, some arguably less useful and surely matinees are the only safe option when booking before a running time is announced and/or for those with concerns about travel back by public transport? To my surprise the reply I eventually received said it was not straightforward to add this filter but they would request it. I did point out that having one would probably reduce the queueing time on busy days (eg when new booking goes live) as identifying suitable performances would be easier and quicker, and that other theatres offered this option. It would be interesting to know why the NT changes things when they do - and helpful if they first sought feedback/suggestions from users, or at least asked for views afterwards so they could tweak settings if necessary - but that seems to be a communication gap. Of course it’s easy to add this filter….it’s hardy rocket science is it!!!!! Of course the new website doesn’t have matinee filter. I have also emailed to ask for this (fully support showgirl on this!) . It’s annoying when people state things are “impossible” or “really hard” when you know full well that what they mean is they can’t be bothered. And they sometimes think you are a lone voice. Whereas they should think “if this person has taken the trouble to email perhaps there are more people being annoyed by this who just haven’t had the time/been bothered to email (because it takes a lot of effort to be bothered and most people won’t), so maybe it would be good to implement it!” ……
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Post by Latecomer on Jan 20, 2023 10:49:50 GMT
So, we've had an entire thread telling us "ignorant" types how terrible the media is and how it misrepresents and lies about Rambo and Mrs Rambo. Now, we have the media reporting on sales by the media of a book ghost written for a media personality - and it turns out the media reported data (on sales) is perfect and unimpeachable.
For us simple folk, it's a little dizzying.
Nielsen aren’t the media. They are an independent market research company who provide audit data. They sell this data. It is facts. More interesting by far is why certain sections of society hate Megan and Harry and other sections don’t.
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Post by Latecomer on Jan 17, 2023 22:24:46 GMT
Print book sales figures are not self-reported, they are collected from retailers by Nielsen BookData. They are an independent company - publishers have to pay them to get access to their data, which they use for market research and sales forecasts. The publishing industry needs that data to be accurate to be able to know what is selling well and what is not, to forecast sales in a way that allows them to manage the supply chain efficiently. Print books are sold to retailers on a sale-or-return basis and Returns are a nightmare for publishers - you’ve ended up paying to produce books and to store them in a warehouse and to transport them to and from retailers, and then you end up having to pay to pulp them when they don’t sell. Nielsen’s entire business model is based on the accuracy and timeliness of their data. So whatever you think of Random Penguin’s report of the ebook and audiobook sales, Neilsen’s Print sales data *is* accurate. www.theguardian.com/books/2023/jan/17/prince-harry-spare-is-fastest-selling-non-fiction-bookOf course Randon Penguin have no need and no incentive to overreport ebook and audiobook sales. Royalties are paid based on reported sales, and closely audited. Inflating sales figures would mean having to pay out more money. Yes, I used to work for Nielsen! Kathryn is right, as usual she has checked her facts! I presented audit data to FMCG companies in the late 80s. In the days when you had graduate training schemes and final salary pensions! Better known, as a brand name, in America, where they are a household name as they also do the TV ratings…there’s even a mention of them in the movie The Rain Man, where they gain entry to someone’s house to watch TV by claiming to work for Nielsen!
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Post by Latecomer on Jan 15, 2023 8:53:17 GMT
I find it interesting that the papers have moved on to “sources say brothers must reconcile before coronation and then Harry needs to move on and keep quiet” They have sort of missed the point….he’s left now. He doesn’t have to keep quiet.
The Monarchy is such a strange thing….too much showing what life is REALLY like inside the actual family just shows how daft the whole concept is! The Queen realised this when she did her famous documentary….that has never seen the light of day again since it was shown. God forbid, they are just “ordinary”people like you and me, only incredibly rich automatically and for no good reason.
The cat is out of the bag. I expect the next generation will just decide the whole shebang isn’t worth it.
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Post by Latecomer on Jan 13, 2023 15:09:09 GMT
I am quite sad to miss this…had tickets first Saturday of the year but couldn’t get to London because of train strikes Not having a lot of luck with the Almeida as had tickets for the last day of Tammy Faye too! If anyone has a spare ticket Sat 28th, Wed 1st or Sat 4th matinees and would like to chat all things theatre then do let me know and will buy! I’m not hopeful, but just in case!
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Post by Latecomer on Jan 10, 2023 19:23:16 GMT
Harry said in his interview that lots of race stuff is “unconscious bias” and that it is only if someone points it out and you don’t do anything about trying to understand what you have done that it moves on to becoming racist. As with all the Harry Megan stuff there’s a lot of nuance that is lost by the headlines (and remember press coverage from papers that Harry is literally suing at the moment).
I always thought when they tried to limit access to the press when Archie was born there would be trouble.
I still don’t really care about any of the Royals, I find it amazing how certain people are of their negative opinions (I’m with Kathryn that the press are quite unrelenting and, as we’ve seen with Brexit, powerful)
Harry iis, however, providing a perfect argument for ending the Monarchy and replacing it with historical buildings, a big of pageantry and an elected president. Plus we should maybe write down the constitution after what Boris tried to do!
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Post by Latecomer on Jan 3, 2023 19:26:11 GMT
The press (and government) would rather we talked about the Royal Family fallout than the real problems of this country. It’s not a co-incidence that when there is no good news there’s always a royal story to fill the void.
No bread? (or Heating/houses/decent wages/education/social care/dentists/nhs/roads that work/trains) Let them fight about the Royals
It doesn’t matter folks. Don’t let them distract you!
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Post by Latecomer on Jan 2, 2023 17:32:40 GMT
Just watched Detectorists. Perfect for that slightly glum “back to work” vide that the New Year’s holiday so often exudes. Have taken down Xmas decorations and front room looks a bit bare, eaten all the nice chocolate etc but still craving 4 extra snacks a day….. Back to Library books tomorrow, so that will be nice!
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Post by Latecomer on Dec 31, 2022 16:21:22 GMT
Didn’t see much this year…only started travelling back to London quite late in the day
1. Patriots 2 .Mary 3. Jerusalem 4. Best of Enemies 5. Othello
I’m pretty sure Tammy Faye would have made it on to the list if I had managed to catch it, but it was cancelled on the last day! Lots more booked for next year…hurrah!
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Post by Latecomer on Dec 31, 2022 0:33:48 GMT
Slow Horses ( on Apple TV) has been glorious over the last few weeks, finishing today. You can’t binge it cos they drop an episode a week so back to old fashioned tv watching. They trailed a third series so all good. I really recommend. On ITVX A Spy Among Friends def one of the best of the year, acting amazing and again nicely timed differently so you can binge it over the holiday. and The Detectorists - a very clever piece of writing referencing the Xmas season, so well acted. Really enjoying Slow Horses Series 1!
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Post by Latecomer on Dec 28, 2022 21:18:37 GMT
Was forced to watch my first ever episode of Ghosts - the most unamusing 29 minutes I've ever spent. Panto acting and a mirth free script, baffled that this has lasted for a couple of series. Just reinforced why I've never paid the licence fee. The thing with Ghosts is that you need to know the characters to become fonder of them…..it doesn’t work if you don’t know all the ins and outs. Then you become proper fond of them and start rooting for them…..and it becomes magic.
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Post by Latecomer on Dec 17, 2022 16:02:22 GMT
Happy Christmas everyone! It’s been a funny old year again hasn’t it! “Back to normal“ but somehow we will never get “back to normal”, particularly at work, where 2 years of alternative reality have meant that our office has gone from 20 people a day to maybe 5 on a good day…..and all the social implications that that involves (it’s nearly always the managers who stay at home to work!). Glad to have got back to some theatre. Amazing how you forget how to do all the travel etc! But it’s all coming back! Might actually have guests this Christmas….daughter is due to come. I may have forgotten how to socialise! And cook…..wish me luck!
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Post by Latecomer on Dec 13, 2022 21:48:20 GMT
Which are the good RV ones to go for? I had a bad one for Tammy Faye. It was Row J in the stalls and had 2 pillars with a slight gap inbetween in front which blocked the centre of the stage. IF12old you which was the best seat I’d have to kill you as it’s a secret……
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Post by Latecomer on Dec 11, 2022 21:41:15 GMT
Saw this with my daughter. We first saw Othello at the Donmar and that started ALL my theatre-going. I thought this was a bit flawed, in that Paul Hilton looked and acted like an unpleasant villain all the time….as my daughter said “you could believe people thinking Ewan McGregor was an honest likeable fellow, but this Iago just seems like a nasty piece of work all the time”. I quite enjoyed all the “choreography” of the people on the steps and the set. And the flaming torches were lovely. But was not moved by the ending so no cigar from me! I didn’t think it was a particularly different reading of the play…in my view Othello is always so quick to believe that D has betrayed him as he is an outsider, both in terms of his heritage and his cultural knowledge. I’m always struck by how modern the play is when it comes to the treatment of women….and essentially the “what’s good for the goose is good for the gander” bit…..and women like sex as much as men do….just women’s lib all on display!
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Post by Latecomer on Dec 8, 2022 17:59:26 GMT
I’m always surprised how certain people seem to be of their positions on this sort of thing and also how they judge the people involved and then refuse to consider any different….we don’t know Harry and Meghan. You can choose not to watch the documentary. I think with what came out after Diana “left” the royal family it’s fair to say there was a lot that we didn’t know in real time (Camilla, Diana’s bulimia, Diana’s affairs etc etc) so it’s probably fair to assume that the “version” we saw of the royals when Meghan was “in the firm” probably wasn’t the true picture either! I never thought the press would take to Meghan…a woman who is successful in her own right (and rich) who actually has opinions…. They much prefer Kate who dressed her kids like they were in the 50s and tows the line like a good wife!
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Post by Latecomer on Dec 8, 2022 17:18:00 GMT
Love Patsy Ferran. I would watch her read a phone book (except we don’t have those anymore!) What a shame for all concerned though…always tough when an actor has to pull out for health reasons.
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Post by Latecomer on Dec 4, 2022 17:48:14 GMT
Latecomer , I've now emailed the NT box office to ask about the lack of filter. Thought I should do something constructive (I hope) about it rather than merely whingeing here. Fabulous! I’ll do the same!
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Post by Latecomer on Dec 4, 2022 17:46:05 GMT
Went to see Newsies yesterday (see report on that thread). I am quite a friendly person and like to have a chat to people sitting next to me at the theatre. Often you can tell they don't want to talk which is fine by me but yesterday I had a couple of really nice experiences. Got there early so was sitting in the foyer and immediately got into a conversation with a really lovely guy who has come from Wales for the weekend to see this and another show. We immediately started talking theatre and discovered that we are booked to see several of the same shows and 2 concerts on the same nights. We both also had a mutual friend of a west end actor. But then it got bizarre as he mentioned something about being a holiday rep. I said to him that I used to be a holiday rep and turns out we both worked for the same company at the same time but in different locations so our paths never crossed. Isn't life strange! Then when I took my seat got chatting to another really nice guy who, again, had seen many of the shows I had seen recently so we got to compare notes. Something like that can really help make the day. I love this! Doesn’t it make the day joyous when you bump into someone else who enjoys theatre as much as you do! Plus they don’t tend to think it strange if you are on your own or have what *most* people would call a large number of shows planned in a short space of time!!!! I engaged the check out woman in Asda in conversation and managed to take her from “suspicious and frankly do I have to bother talking to her” to “have a lovely day and see you again soon *huge genuine smile* My children hate being out with me…..
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Post by Latecomer on Dec 4, 2022 13:14:42 GMT
Thank you both, Steve and mkb for the helpful seating info. Mine is actually one of the side stalls seats, so the view may be worse than you suggest, but of course if you have a long wait in the Friday Rush queue, you have no way of knowing whether you missed out on better seats - or indeed, until your turn comes, whether there are any left at all for your chosen production/date combo. It's frustrating both that the NT website no longer allows you to filter your search to select matinees - yet umpteen other permutations are allowed -nor explains why so many of the Kerry Jackson matinees apparently have availability, yet the system won't allow you even to view the seating plan, let alone book and with no reason given. I can't be the only person who needs a matinee for whatever reason. Yes, I too find it annoying that you can’t filter to just see matinees!
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Post by Latecomer on Dec 3, 2022 10:11:20 GMT
Such a shame for them…..always sad when they have to cancel last day. Let’s hope we see it back again in the west end soon!
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