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Post by wickedgrin on Aug 20, 2018 16:33:20 GMT
Not that there can be a legitimate reason but do we know the reason for the door policy?
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Post by wickedgrin on Aug 20, 2018 9:41:21 GMT
Can't see it having any commercial value- great for Chichester, zero for West End. I don't think this production will transfer but this version of the show with the revised book by Stephen Fry ran for 8 years in the West End from 1984 and 3 years on Broadway.
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Post by wickedgrin on Aug 18, 2018 7:59:39 GMT
Allegedly she has split from the guy she "coupled" up with too, so she cannot even make some money as a "celebrity couple" with the magazine deals. The gamble she took didn't pay off. The best of luck to her...…...
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Post by wickedgrin on Aug 16, 2018 11:57:53 GMT
Thankfully this show will not tempt me back to the Menier. I hate the bench seating where they try to squeeze too many people on at ridiculous prices. The last time I went I was sat next to a huge guy who encroached massively into my space with man spreading legs. I did think of putting my hand on his thigh to get him to shift but didn't have the nerve! So I was just squashed for hours!
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Post by wickedgrin on Aug 15, 2018 16:57:10 GMT
There's probably someone from TOWIE or the like still to come too Apparently they have said "no" to casting any "reality stars" in the series. That will be good news, so at least the contestants have "proper" jobs. We shall see...….
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Post by wickedgrin on Aug 15, 2018 12:00:39 GMT
Let's hope there are some bigger names announced shortly.
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Post by wickedgrin on Aug 15, 2018 11:35:44 GMT
I for one would love Gary to repeat the Underground song! The hours that must have been put in for a few minutes of stage time!
In fact that is one of the joys of pantomime, seeing seasoned professionals making routines look easy and genuinely chaotic when in fact hours of rehearsal and experience has gone into them. The twelve days of Christmas routine springs to mind.
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Post by wickedgrin on Aug 14, 2018 16:56:30 GMT
"A bit of a rum do" this as they say in Yorkshire. More thoughts later...…….. So …. I know you have all been waiting with baited breath to hear my thoughts on this! No? Well, here they are anyway. A packed (very middle class) audience were full of anticipation before the play at attending a performance of a new Alan Bennett play. The first 15 minutes went very well with an attentive audience laughing in all the right places, although for me I was distinctly uncomfortable laughing at elderly people with incontinence issues (and my sense of humour is far from PC). Northern towns seemed to get big laughs for no apparent reason. I can assure readers that there is nothing remotely funny about Barnsley! The a lot of silence fell on the audience as the play began to meander. I felt this was due to the lack of pace and attack throughout. Old people can be slow, but other members of the cast seem to take a lead from this and a lack of a strong narrative drive. The man next but one to me fell asleep, woke up occasionally during the play, laughed loudly and then promptly nodded off again! A great ending to Act One though which sent the audience out to the interval happy. Act Two descended into lecturing and preaching with characters breaking the fourth wall and speaking directly to the audience which they found distinctly uncomfortable. "I don't need a lecture on immigration" said one lady on the way out! The applause was polite at the end (a few stood) but the mood had sank. Perhaps this was Bennetts intention? An impressive large luxury cast (who must be very grateful for the work) but I found it sad to see such people as Nicola Hughes (Caroline or Change, Porgy and Bess, The Color Purple, Ain't Misbehavin' and Blues in the Night) wasted in this with nothing to do. Amateur Dramatic Societies are going to love this play when it is released, I can see someone selling it to the play selection committee - "there are lots of parts for the elderly ladies of the group". Award winning Bob Crowley wasn't stretched with this set - simply sliding panels which moved rather quicker than the dialogue. Nick Hytner needed to inject some pace into the production and my heart went out to Arlene Phillips who had to get the elderly cast to move in some sort of synchronicity in the (too?) many musical interludes - a long way from her heyday choreographing Hot Gossip! How she must wish she was still on Strictly! But a lovely theatre in a splendid location with a fabulous view of Tower Bridge - very friendly staff and a short hop to London Bridge Station! Plus a centre stalls rush ticket for £20 - a bargain! Does the play get the wickedgrin recommend? No.
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Post by wickedgrin on Aug 14, 2018 14:57:14 GMT
Is it just me .....
that thinks that the introduction of sing along performances is the beginning of the end. Why should theatres dumb down in this way. We will have mobile/tweet/face timing friendly performances next!
Just me then.....
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Post by wickedgrin on Aug 14, 2018 9:33:10 GMT
This You Tubing is a bit of a mystery to me, but hats off to the casting department of Strictly for getting someone that the kids know and potentially broadening the audience for the show! If all 8 million of his subscribers watch - that's the viewing figures for this series sorted!!!
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Post by wickedgrin on Aug 14, 2018 9:29:54 GMT
As these celebs use Strictly as a platform for their talents, I am surprised that last years winner Joe McFadden has not got a lead in a musical out of it (I remember seeing him in She Loves Me at Chichester - so well qualified). Miss Burke (whatever anyone may think of her) has got a part in a high profile production of Chess and a lead in Chicago in the WE and later to lead a tour of the BodyGuard again, all within 12 months!
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Post by wickedgrin on Aug 14, 2018 8:37:38 GMT
Let's hope this casting news sells some tickets as there was a lot of availability for (expensive) tickets last time I looked.
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Post by wickedgrin on Aug 13, 2018 23:29:28 GMT
"A bit of a rum do" this as they say in Yorkshire. More thoughts later...……..
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Post by wickedgrin on Aug 13, 2018 23:17:54 GMT
If it aint broke - don't fix it!
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Post by wickedgrin on Aug 13, 2018 23:14:44 GMT
Yes, do give the show another go danieljohnson14 - it is rather fabulous although I know that bad audience behaviour or commotion can completely ruin the experience by taking you out of the show altogether. I have seen the show twice both with 25 pound rush seats from Today Tix - one row B of the Dress Circle and the second time from the front row of the stalls. I found seats were released throughout the day, sometimes the better seats later. You have to really plunge when you get the chance. I always feel disgustingly smug when I know those around me have paid (a lot) more. 150 in the case of the Dress Circle seats!
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Post by wickedgrin on Aug 13, 2018 8:22:08 GMT
Completely agree with your view viserys I am not too sure about a transfer to be honest. Some musicals at Chichester actually don't! Fiddler, Music Man, 42nd Street. We shall see.....
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Post by wickedgrin on Aug 8, 2018 8:00:21 GMT
Back on the road for Alexandra then. I suspect she will be on more money since her exposure on Strictly with a view to her shifting tickets. It's a job and they are hard to come by.
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Post by wickedgrin on Aug 7, 2018 16:35:52 GMT
The "rehearsal" pics look like they are indeed introducing themselves - "oh darling I love your work". Except for Patti who is saying "and who the f*** are you?" But at least it all looks friendly at the moment - give them a few weeks in rehearsal and in the theatre and they'll soon be loathing one another!
As for the set - a black box then?
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Post by wickedgrin on Aug 5, 2018 8:56:35 GMT
I was at a play recently which was so underwhelming that I found myself thinking "if you are an actress, you must never eat" as all the females in the cast were so stick thin! I know some folk go round to the stage door to meet the cast and felt like going round with fish and chips and burgers for the girls - they looked so desperate for a meal!
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Post by wickedgrin on Aug 5, 2018 8:38:18 GMT
According to the Oxford English Dictionary - Indisposition can mean "lack of enthusiasm or inclination" as well as "mild illness". So the former interpretation could be truer in this instance?
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 29, 2018 13:09:45 GMT
OK folks this is it - the biggest hit musical since Mamma Mia - wait for it -
LOVE ISLAND - THE MUSICAL. Featuring all your favourite Ibiza Anthems!
Plus original songs - "I gotta text", " Crack On" and the hit new ballad "I've been pied".
The audience will be able to vote off stage their least favourite couples during the show and of course for the winners.
Please forward the royalties to my bank account!
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 27, 2018 17:42:08 GMT
I thought this might struggle on tour without some names. I can't see Lesley Joseph touring in it for example. The film on which it is based is very old now (1974) and the humour rather dated as it is in the show. I thought that the production and all the performances were excellent at the Garrick but the material isn't as funny as Mel Brookes Producers.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 26, 2018 22:16:51 GMT
I really don't know how it can be stopped A clear announcement should be made before the show (none of this ineffectual waving of signs no-one notices as they are buried in their phones) stating that the theatre has a zero tolerance policy regarding anyone using a mobile device/iPad during the show and offenders will be tasered by ushers.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 26, 2018 21:30:46 GMT
Just appeared on the "Heathers" page of the londontheatredirect.com ticket agency website: "Please note that the producers cannot guarantee the appearance of a particular cast member at any specific performance, or after a performance for autographs. No refunds or exchanges will be offered as a result of a cast member’s unavailability to perform at any performance." I suppose this refers to she who can't be named?
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 26, 2018 21:28:30 GMT
Well we've had casual dress Fridays - how about a Naked Friday tomorrow? No?
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