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Post by wickedgrin on Oct 30, 2018 12:25:13 GMT
Well like others I thought this was FAB-U-LOUS last night.
No point in repeating what other have said but I thought the direction and design were stunning.
As an elderly male I have to admit I had my reservations about the gender swap with the role of Bobby/Bobbie but any doubts were blown away last night. I felt the show actually worked better with a female lead. I think this will become the definitive version quite honestly and no male actor will ever get their hands on the role of Bobby ever again!
This production is the funniest I have seen (previous versions rather dark and angsty). Some scene sequences were sublime. The entire cast are marvellous. The show is very cynical about marriage though and there was plenty of knowing laughter from the audience especially I suspect from the singles! How would the show resonate with married couples?
Patti LuPone gives a masterclass nightly on how to deliver a musical number.
Johanthan Bailey was not only delightful to look at but nearly stole the show with "I'm not getting married".
Richard Fleeshman was gorgeous.
I had a wonderful evening and I will have to go back again (and again).
5 HUGE stars!
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Post by wickedgrin on Oct 24, 2018 3:39:40 GMT
It shows the brilliance of Sondheim's lyrics that they can resonate with so many people of different ages/sexes in varying ways. I have found as I have grown older his lyrics cut deeper and can be deeply affecting. I spent much of the time at Follies with tears in my eyes.
I haven't seen this production (yet) but have always been affected by it being a singleton for most of my life.
I have recently experienced being ghosted (is that the current word?) by a long standing friend of 20 years who got married (late in life for the first time) to someone they have only known for about 12-18 months. I have not heard from them since I attended the wedding 8 months ago!
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Post by wickedgrin on Oct 23, 2018 17:00:25 GMT
You raise a lot of really interesting points- actually the being 'left out' of social gatherings is something I feel very strongly, and I think it's in my one remaining unpublished piece on Company. My utterly bone-chilling-fear for Bobbie was looking at her and thinking 'they're going to leave you' and not about the men. I've actually just welled up reading that. Because the harsh truth (and one that couples don't want to hear) is that they dump their single friends. Not always intentionally, but sometimes. But its interesting you say isolated from their 'company' as well- as if being on the outside while still there? I just want to double like that paragraph!
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Post by wickedgrin on Oct 23, 2018 11:35:16 GMT
£17.25 at my local Odeon. Not sure whether to go...the last time I went to see one of these the sound was really muffled and I didn't enjoy it, but I would like to see this show one more time! Decisions, decisions!
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Post by wickedgrin on Oct 22, 2018 14:22:24 GMT
True funny story - although it does not involve a refund.
I was at a touring play in Eastbourne (not starring Gillian Taylforth but another well known female "star"). My companion and I went outside in the interval for a cigarette and I started telling my friend EXACTLY what I thought of the play which involved me saying how well the cast were dealing with such poor material and how the play could have been SO much better. A guy was near us, also smoking, who got involved in the conversation and he asked if we thought the play would make the West End - I responded by saying that it didn't have a chance in hell! Of course he turned out to be the author!!!
The play (as yet) has not made the West End despite I think a re-write and a change of "star"!
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Post by wickedgrin on Oct 22, 2018 10:37:39 GMT
I am a long time fan of this show but I just cannot get into this series at all! Difficult to say why but here are a few random thoughts.
1. Like the X Factor and other long running series the format is tired. 2. The usual format of tick box"celebs" - news reader, sports person, soap star, ex band member, old person. It's just boring. 3. Far too much story telling and "faffing about". Almost like the producers don't trust the actual dance content to hold the viewers interest, so the props, sets and costumes take over. 4. The judges seem tired - same remarks - Craig seemed "off" this week. Alfonso was breath of fresh air - his impersonation of Bruno was very funny! Perhaps the judges should be replaced with fresh faces. The scoring is all over the place! 5. Talking of replacements - Tess just gets worse and worse. She was really only the straight foil for Bruce and is no presenter in her own right. 6. The dance styles are completely unrecognisable - Vicks dance this week was just prancing about! 7. Halloween next week will be another excuse to pile on the make up, costumes, dry ice and props to disguise the actual dancing.
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Post by wickedgrin on Oct 22, 2018 10:19:04 GMT
Yes I have requested a refund! Only once and got a credit note from the ATG theatre for the ticket price. I have wiped it from my memory it was so bad but it was a touring "thriller" which was anything but thrilling with the cast not knowing their lines. The "star" Gillian Taylforth was dreadful. When I complained I got the impression I was not the first!
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Post by wickedgrin on Oct 21, 2018 19:43:49 GMT
Both dances were iffy - I suppose a close call, but I think Vick had more potential. Graziano was definitely to blame with the choreography for her exit.
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Post by wickedgrin on Oct 15, 2018 15:49:52 GMT
Moving on...what do we think of the new category for next week, people? It is I think a choice between contemporary, theatre style and street? Or maybe someone caught the categories better.. I don’t mind opening out to get more people interested and I like a good contemporary dance but it does knock another nail into ballroom doesn’t it? Yes, another nail in the ballroom coffin - but actually looking forward to it. At least it will be different. So much of this series so far has seemed like a repeat. Plus, after all, they are recognised dance styles. I cannot wait to hear Dame Darcey's critique on urban street dancing!! No doubt there will be an even split between the three styles. So I suspect some couples will be forced to do a style they are not comfortable with, despite the false smiles and the jollity!
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Post by wickedgrin on Oct 15, 2018 15:44:20 GMT
Oh yes the props and the "story telling" have completely taken over the dancing. I am amazed none of the judges (especially Shirley) has picked up on this. Len would have called it "faffing about"!
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Post by wickedgrin on Oct 14, 2018 22:40:46 GMT
Charles clearly not liked by the public for some reason....don't know what. He is a far better dancer than some of them, and I suspect there is only a limited time the judges can save him before they bow to public pressure!
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Post by wickedgrin on Oct 14, 2018 15:55:42 GMT
Caught this on catch up this afternoon.
Very poor show. All the dances are suffering from unsuitable music and a lack of the correct choreography - some of them are unrecognisable as a cha cha's or charleston etc. Graham's lack of dance ability is completely masked by the gimmicky routines. I am amazed the judges have not picked up on this lack of proper dance content and completely taken in by the showmanship. Let the public vote on the likeability but they should be focusing on the dancing.
Over and undermarking all over the place - Seann's routine was a shambles and completely overmarked.
The costumes are hideous! One girls outfit - I forget who - looked like the bottom half had been caught in a shredder!!
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Post by wickedgrin on Oct 14, 2018 15:35:25 GMT
Yes, I want to sneak back and see this at least one more time before it closes. It's a show that I really enjoy - it does exactly what it says on the tin! It isn't the same show as it was at the start of the run though.
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Post by wickedgrin on Oct 14, 2018 10:34:55 GMT
He was very brave saying that in front of her though! Mr Sondheim should be very grateful for still being alive! Taxi?
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Post by wickedgrin on Oct 13, 2018 14:16:13 GMT
There are several front Stalls rows at non-premium prices, although at a shade under £80 they are still slightly over your price bracket. Yes, just a shade. Tried to edit my post above but too late - to say that producers are actually worse off with me as I would happily pay top price for a front stalls or dress circle seat but not premium prices. So I am forced to seek out bargains (usually in the front stalls and sometimes unsold premium seats) with day seats, rush tickets etc. which are an absolute steal for £20 or so, when I would happily pay more than double that! I am sure there must be a tipping point with this premium seating - producers cant have swathes of unsold premium seats in the front stalls! I personally don't like sitting at the back (almost at any price) as I never feel engaged with the production and my enjoyment of a show always seems better the closer I am!
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Post by wickedgrin on Oct 13, 2018 11:53:27 GMT
if you read this board for anything other than actual theatre stuff, then you'll love panto. Oh no he wont!
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Post by wickedgrin on Oct 13, 2018 11:50:57 GMT
Well. Someone call the police and arrest Rosalie Craig. She commits the most heinous crime of making 'Being Alive' seem like a filler and worse still, underwhelming. I don't know if she's bored singing it but I was bored hearing it. I've seen more feeling from a deep fried calamari. She's very attractive and has a nice voice and even has a few nice moments but she's just so bland that Bobbie fades into the background for me and I just didn't care about her at all. I would agree with this. I have not seen this production yet but the things I have seen her in have left me cold - The Light Princess and something else I have wiped from my memory. To be absolutely fair though the writing is somewhat to blame for Bobby/Bobbie being bland. I have always been very indifferent to the character of Bobby - never really caring or making him out. Perhaps that is deliberate on Sondheim's part. He is always overshadowed by the surrounding characters in his life. I had hoped/hope that the new gender switch might have addressed these issues. You do know that there tickets other than those priced at £125 don’t you? Yes, of course. I would happily pay more than £25 for a good seat. I would happily pay £50-£75 for a front stalls or circle seat. What I object to is paying these prices to sit at the back - I simply wont do it. Neither will I pay £100 - £125 for a good seat. It is the premium pricing which I object to which is no longer a couple of rows in the central stalls but ALL of the front sections of both the stalls and the circle. So I have to hunt out the bargains. The issue I have though is that the casual theatre goer (not us on this board) will simply have a look at the prices and not make a purchase. Although I do appreciate the producers pushing the prices as far as the market will stand and then discounting later if they need to - it does maximise the revenue on a fixed number of seats for a fixed run.
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Post by wickedgrin on Oct 12, 2018 23:35:05 GMT
I can't wait to see this. Very excited by the many positive comments on here.
However, we are in a very small theatrical bubble on here, I think, as checking out availability on the Delfont website - there is TONS of availability for this, which surprises me given the very limited run. However, the prices are very steep front stalls and circle all premium prices at 125 and 100 pounds - top prices (80 and 53) getting you rear stalls and dress. This partly may explain the lack of sales together with the fact that Sondheim has never been "box office" and continues to be niche. Plus (I know I will get shot down in flames for this but) Patti LuPone and Rosalie Craig are not big names outside the musical theatre clique! I can see it selling better on Broadway.
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Post by wickedgrin on Oct 12, 2018 12:48:22 GMT
I want to write a little letter to Patti just to tell her what a massive fan I am of her and what an honour it is to get to see her here on the London stage etc. but I’m wondering is this an okay thing to do? I’m not one to make sock puppets or bake muffins and buy microwaves for actors like many fans we know of but I’m just wondering is even a letter written to a celebrity a bit personal and/or weird? Oh absolutely write a letter to Patti at the theatre. I'd like to bet in these days of Twitter and social media when it is really easy to tweet etc. that actors get relatively few old fashioned letters! There is lots of hanging around in dressing rooms in theatres too - especially when the run has opened and running, and actors have time to catch up on emails/letters etc. and so she is almost guaranteed to read it. I would also enclose a stamped self addressed envelope and ask for an autograph! What have you got to lose - the price of a stamp!
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Post by wickedgrin on Oct 11, 2018 9:49:44 GMT
I have met Zoe Ball on several social occasions and can confirm she is lovely - very tall - but lovely!
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Post by wickedgrin on Oct 10, 2018 22:46:41 GMT
I don't usually follow gossip and this "celebrity" culture malarkey.
In this instance I am completely AMAZED at the furore! Why? Is it simply because they are involved in a "family" Saturday night entertainment show on the BBC with a large audience? Who are people to judge their behaviour off screen? If no-one has ever had a drunken snog in their lives I feel very sorry for them!! Why the massive outrage?
Seann is NOT actually married and his relationship was apparently not the best anyway. As for Katya and Neil - how can I put this - their marriage is not - how shall I say - completely conventional.
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Post by wickedgrin on Oct 10, 2018 14:05:15 GMT
Very well acted - but it takes a long time to get to the rather predictable conclusion.
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Post by wickedgrin on Oct 9, 2018 23:38:20 GMT
The whole issue will be ignored on Saturday evening.
Shaun(n) is not the strongest dancer anyway and was totally carried by Katya in that last routine. So it will not be a stretch for him to be in the bottom two with the judges and the public and the judges will vote him off as his opposition will have "more potential" or have "more dance content" etc. etc. Issue resolved!
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Post by wickedgrin on Oct 9, 2018 19:13:44 GMT
ride it out for one or two weeks Yes, they will definitely do that!!! Keeeeep kissing!!!!
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Post by wickedgrin on Oct 9, 2018 16:38:27 GMT
Heavens! All this fuss over a drunken snog! I wonder what the real Strictly judges would make of it after watching the footage!
CRAIG: FAB-UL-OUS darling! DAME DARCEY: Loved the drama. Great story telling. I loved your top line, your head placement was perfect. Can't wait to see what you do next week!! SHIRLEY: I would have liked to have seen more hip action and movement through the lower body, Sean you were a bit stiff at times, but great tongue work - you could go all the way! BRUNO: (Falls off chair with excitement). It was a FULL ON RUSSIAN ROMP! SIZZLINGLY SEXY! A LICENCE TO THRILL!
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