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Post by wickedgrin on Jan 12, 2019 11:06:35 GMT
We must give thanks to the theatre gods that this was filmed!!
Actually, this is just a blatant attempt to keep this thread high on the musicals page!
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Post by wickedgrin on Jan 12, 2019 3:39:09 GMT
Yes, I too have binged watched the entire series in the last few days. I really enjoyed it. It wasn't quite as predictable as I thought it was going to be.
The use of social media and mobile phones was quite alarming.
I found the convoluted nature of the central relationship fascinating.
A second series has already been made and is premiering in the US now.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jan 12, 2019 0:44:15 GMT
Dear Lord .. the prices for this!!!! £150/£125 for centre front stalls and circle and then £85 to sit at the back! This premium pricing is getting completely out of control! Of course plenty of availability at the moment but that will completely change when casting is announced!!!
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Post by wickedgrin on Jan 12, 2019 0:33:55 GMT
This, I am afraid is purely about cost and profit. The "original" production at the Palace Theatre (after the show had been dramatically cut/edited after the Barbican run) was epic! The reveal of the barricade on that stage was awesome and a theatrical moment I will never forget.
The move to the Queens Theatre marked a reduction in production values with orchestra, smaller cast and set. Now, we have the prospect of basically the touring production - cheaper again (projections and the sometimes temperamental revolve does not have to be maintained) plus of course the disgraceful situation where the original creatives are not paid their royalty payments - which would be all very well if the "new" production was completely re-imagined - it isn't). Frankly I don't know how Cam Mack has not been sued by the original creatives for the copying of their original copywrite work. I suppose it must be "sufficiently different" to get away with it.
Although Les Mis is a brilliant musical sometimes the producers forget the role the creatives play in its success with the staging. I always say that Starlight Express would not have played the Apollo Victoria for 17 YEARS had it not been for the original brilliant direction and staging - oh Trevor Nunn again!!!
So, although I totally applause Cam Mack for his theatre refurbishment - at huge cost, I think he is using the refurbishment of the Queens to downsize the Les Mis production again - although I doubt the seat prices will be downsized. He will save a large percentage in royalty payments to the original creatives.
I don't know what the legal position is about advertising "the worlds longest running musical" etc. is. I suppose the show is the same - music, lyrics book etc, but surely how many days/weeks can it be dark before it becomes a revival rather than a continuous run? Plus if it is a "brand new production" then it is brand new production and not a continuous run? So perhaps it may be eligible for "Best New Musical"? It is all a very grey area quite frankly.
On a lighter note - I assume no trucks will be needed to move the set next door. I do expect to see Cam Mack leading by example and hand balling all the barricade next door with the tech crew!
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Post by wickedgrin on Jan 12, 2019 0:01:41 GMT
Julian looked bored as hell when I saw it. His performance was definitely phoned in so maybe they themselves are bored of it Yes, he certainly looked tired when I saw it. It must be an exhausting marathon twice daily with all those costume changes when he is not on. They looked fabulous but extremely heavy and cumbersome - it looked like he could hardly move in some of them.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jan 11, 2019 23:31:38 GMT
Next year needs a seriously shake up and completely new cast. I agree but I wouldn't hold your breath! House full signs outside the Palladium for almost the entire run!
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Post by wickedgrin on Jan 11, 2019 23:28:52 GMT
Very sad news for the cast and crew. From the trailer it looks like a quality production.
However, it is a little known show really although should have appealed to a family audience.
I know we moan about "stunt" casting a lot on this board but I do feel it needed a "name" in the title role. I remember Philip Schofield touring in it long before he hit the TV presenting jackpot! Surely the producers could have found "someone off the telly"? That might have made the difference and kept a lot of actors and crew in work for a year.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jan 11, 2019 18:39:44 GMT
Obvious riposte: (to his companion) You: Are you here with him? Them: Yes You: Oh, that's sad Oh, that's brilliant but I would only have thought of it about half way into Act One!
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Post by wickedgrin on Jan 11, 2019 18:28:59 GMT
Yes of course - Danny La Rue famously did a London run as Dolly at the Prince of Wales Theatre in the early 80's. Famously??? Well yes. I am afraid I am old enough to remember the production. He was a MASSIVE star at the time. His show Danny La Rue at the Palace (Palace Theatre) ran for 2 years, and the first man to play the role of Dolly in a major production - it was huge news! I don't think it's been played by a man since - although I may be wrong. Gender fluidity in roles may be commonplace now but back in 1982 it was unheard of!
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Post by wickedgrin on Jan 11, 2019 15:53:37 GMT
Extra matinee this afternoon (Friday) with Nicole then Karen this evening, Moya tomorrow matinee and finally Marisha Sat eve. So they all get a final performance.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jan 11, 2019 9:14:18 GMT
Allegedly he did not get on with his co-star Robert Lindsay.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jan 11, 2019 0:00:25 GMT
Yes, I thought the poster was rather misleading at a casual glance, that Dolly was starring, on an escalator in a tube station!
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Post by wickedgrin on Jan 10, 2019 23:52:59 GMT
.and for the subsequent tour the role will be shared by Paul O'Grady, Craig Revel Horwood, and Michael Ball. Yes of course - Danny La Rue famously did a London run as Dolly at the Prince of Wales Theatre in the early 80's.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jan 10, 2019 21:58:01 GMT
So.… here is the actual schedule (before Baz announces later tonight).
Bette Midler will do Tues, Thurs and Sat evening performances. Bernadette Peters will do Wed and Fri evening performances. Elaine Paige will do Monday evening and Sat matinee. Patti Lupone will do Wed matinee. Jane McDonald will be the alternate/understudy.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jan 10, 2019 21:50:43 GMT
So.….I just have visions of Bette and Bernadette both backstage before a show playing rock, paper, scissors to determine who goes on that evening!
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Post by wickedgrin on Jan 10, 2019 18:15:19 GMT
Yes, Bernadette Peters is little known over here. She couldn't sell Hello Dolly. I'm with mrbarnaby
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Post by wickedgrin on Jan 10, 2019 10:07:38 GMT
I will be gutted to even see this thread fall further and further down the page and eventually end up on page 2 3 etc. So in order to delay the inevitable I have bumped the thread to the top!
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Post by wickedgrin on Jan 10, 2019 10:00:16 GMT
Completely agree with squidward post above. The prices at Brighton Theatre Royal are ridiculous and as Brighton resident I rarely go. I refuse to pay top prices for some tatty tour. I did not see this particular production (because of the prices) but friends told me it was dreadful. Next Christmas season they have Pricilla to overprice and under deliver. Panto days are long over - why? Brighton just gets a 3 week residency now of a touring musical - most of them not even festive! Yes, despite paying a "restoration levy" on tickets for YEARS there has been no investment or even maintenance of the building.It is VERY shabby. It needs a closing and a complete refurbishment! Shame on ATG!
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Post by wickedgrin on Jan 10, 2019 0:49:17 GMT
West End Producer has just tweeted that Moulin Rouge is due to go into the Piccadilly Theatre at the end of the year! "may be going" Thanks for clearing that up. I did put a question mark in the title of the thread. I'm afraid I'm not clever enough to copy and paste the original twitter tweet. WEP is usually pretty well informed in the past I have found however. Hopefully true so very excited. Much better than Strictly Ballroom at the same theatre.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jan 9, 2019 22:22:15 GMT
West End Producer has just tweeted that Moulin Rouge is due to go into the Piccadilly Theatre at the end of the year!
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Post by wickedgrin on Jan 9, 2019 15:03:50 GMT
So I concurred last night with most of the audience around me (who like me it seemed had seen both Cinderella and Dick Whittington) that although they enjoyed the show it wasn't as good as previous years.
The production values for this are simply stunning great sets and FABULOUS costumes. The winter wonderland theme worked very well (although forgotten about in the second act) producing some stunning ensemble numbers in white and blue in the first act and a gorgeous opening to Act 2 "At the Palace" in fuchsia and gold. Some of the ensemble numbers resembled a Las Vegas show - including a full production number for Nigel Havers.
Julian Clary's costumes are worth the price of admission alone - just unbelievable. Paul Zerdin is a class act as is Gary Wilmot and Nigel Havers (hugely popular) worked his socks off with many costume changes and entrances and exits throughout the show. Charlie Stemp was excellent as was Danielle Hope - although she had little to do.
So of course an enjoyable evening at a very special theatre but...….
Although it was a pleasure to see the delightful Dawn French in the flesh - she was badly miscast as the Wicked Queen and not as much fun as Elaine Paige last year.
Vincent and Flavia were totally unnecessary ( as non speaking ghosts with only about 6 minutes stage time) with a tepid waltz in the first half but a rather stunning tango in the second.
The acrobats should have also been cut and more time given to the dwarfs who the audience loved.
Julian Clary seemed tired - those costumes must be heavy! Plus I did feel that the double entendre/innuendo was taken a little too far at times - I don't mind a double meaning - so when asked by Stemp where he could recommend for a date to take Snow White - Clary replied "Well I've been taken up the Shard" and asked where Stemp had gone at one point replied "He's just shot off up a dark passage". However, there were certain remarks which were just crude and not especially funny. Example - Nigel Havers is (in the plot) Julian's understudy and Julian remarks that he is going to be "off" tomorrow as he has a sore throat and said " I blame the third chorus boy from the left". I know humour is subjective but I found this just to be crude as there is no "clean" meaning.
I do think it needs a bit of a shake up for next year, but the box office suggests otherwise! When Dawn castigated Julian at one point saying the audience hadn't paid £8000 a ticket for this filth Julian replied "It's what they save up for all year isn't it?" A huge roar went up in the theatre!!
I did have a good evening but 4 stars this year rather than 5!
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Company
Jan 8, 2019 11:30:16 GMT
via mobile
Post by wickedgrin on Jan 8, 2019 11:30:16 GMT
Ah thanks for that. I should follow them on Twitter!
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Company
Jan 8, 2019 11:09:00 GMT
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Post by wickedgrin on Jan 8, 2019 11:09:00 GMT
Not today it seems?
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Company
Jan 8, 2019 11:00:49 GMT
via mobile
Post by wickedgrin on Jan 8, 2019 11:00:49 GMT
So have Today Tix stopped doing rush seats for this and other shows?
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Post by wickedgrin on Jan 6, 2019 0:07:24 GMT
This is FABULOUS news and our Mr Barnaby is seldom ill informed!
Yes, I know tickets will be expensive but over the past 2 years I have payed a fortune in return visits to 42nd St, Kinky Boots and Dreamgirls all of which are closing. New musicals announced so far have not exactly excited me - so I think I may be able to afford at least one decent seat for one Hello Dolly performance!
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