1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Nov 24, 2017 15:46:45 GMT
They are putting Debbie in a black dress. They must think it is time for her to go. Dark dresses don’t do well. Now the competition is getting "serious," costumes, music, dances, running order are all vital tools to manipulate the vote. Incidentally, despite the "show business bon-homie" that abounds, I thought the expression on Debbie's face when she was revealed to be in the dance off was priceless. It is filmed as "live" and she was clearly completely shocked and did not expect to be in the dance off at all. She was rendered speechless until she managed to recover her composure!
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Nov 24, 2017 15:39:43 GMT
We should launch The World Capital of Culture. We may or may not let Europe bid for it, but if they give us 40 billion we may think about it!
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Nov 22, 2017 17:25:25 GMT
I could think of alternative words to "shallow" and " show off"!!
I have come across this sort of thing before though - especially at star led vehicles. I remember some friends going to see Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart in No Mans Land who would NEVER go and see a play in a million years! Of course the theatre was PACKED with people like them - just to say they have seen McKellen!
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Nov 22, 2017 15:58:18 GMT
Slightly off topic, but I was astonished the other day when chatting casually to an acquaintance who to my knowledge NEVER goes to the theatre, he is just not that interested. However, he said that he was looking forward to seeing Hamilton and had got two £90 stalls tickets for February!
Incredulously I said that he must have been on his computer the moment the tickets went on sale and he replied in the affirmative. I did ask him why as he admitted to not really being a theatre goer and he replied with something like "oh, it's a hot ticket isn't it and I just want to brag and say I've seen it, not sure what it's about!"
So... does the hype surrounding the success of this show breed a type of person who just has to go to say they have seen it, even though they have no interest?
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Nov 21, 2017 10:59:59 GMT
The theatre is owned by Andrew Lloyd Webber and the official theatre box office site is
reallyusefultheatres.co.uk
No deals on there though, but you don't pay agency fee mark ups.
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Nov 20, 2017 17:43:21 GMT
It is a regular occurrence in my experience to see a talented cast struggling with the material.
It IS clear in rehearsals if the play/show will work or not, the issue is at that stage the production is already scheduled into the theatre and tickets sold. So cancellation is not an option. The running time can be trimmed and lots of alterations to the material made but ultimately, I suppose, you run out of time and are into the theatre for technical rehearsals.
The plays have to be selected from the scripts - and clearly some should never be considered for production.
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Nov 20, 2017 0:55:59 GMT
Glad Debbie survived that awful routine!
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Nov 20, 2017 0:51:35 GMT
Well just caught up with all this on catch up!
They really threw the kitchen sink at it this week didn't they! I know it is a big space to "fill" but it really should be directed as a TV show and not a live spectacular for the lucky few hundred in the audience!
So we had fire, pyros and confetti guns galore! Nearly everyone seemed to fly in! Huge props and HUGE musical routines with those "extra" dancers who are always just distracting. All the contestants very badly served by the routines. Poor Debbie in that dreadful Spice girls number - not her finest hour and Jonnie under lit in a truly misconceived routine.
When you could focus on the actual contestants (which was difficult) I discovered very little actual relevant dance content to judge. Goodness knows what the judges saw through the lights and confetti! The lack of actual dance content is a real problem in this series generally - this seems to be being sacrificed for "storytelling"!
As mentioned above - some of the costumes are abysmal - have they cut the budget or spent it on pyros instead?
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Nov 19, 2017 15:35:17 GMT
Lily has clearly had way too much free time, she said on Instagram has written a full legnth play in the time she was at Dreamgirls. Hopefully it is a "fictional" backstage drama about bitter rivalry between a star, a standby, a cover, an alternate and understudy coveting a star role in a musical production. A high drama intervention by the high powered producer with a bottle of vodka in one hand a knife in the other brings Act One to a dramatic close.. setting up Act Two for scenes of kidnapping, hostage negotiations between the producer and the alternate, violence, sexual harassment, catfights and technical difficulties!
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Nov 18, 2017 0:47:59 GMT
This is hardly a sell out even with Kelsey Grammar in a small theatre. I would have thought, perhaps, that he would have sold it on his appearance alone - seemingly not.
I gave it a 3 star review from a preview performance before the press reviews came out, but generally I was in agreement with them for once. However, to be fair the audience around me LOVED it and it did receive a full spontaneous standing ovation the night I went. Clearly though word of mouth has not sold it either. There is LOTS of availability.
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Nov 17, 2017 23:14:00 GMT
Gosh - I thought this was dull, dull, dull.
Kenneth Branagh never shut up! His portrayal of Poirot was not his finest hour. I could not get over the moustache! The film was clearly very studio bound - like an old Hollywood movie circa 1948 - perhaps this was deliberate but we expect more realism from film now surely.
The film was VERY wordy but despite this the "plot" took some following. Perhaps me nodding off at various points perhaps did not help though to be fair!
Fine for Christmas Day afternoon telly after the roast!
If you haven't seen this film yet - don't bother!
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Nov 17, 2017 13:32:34 GMT
Anyone know who will be doing the Wednesday Matinee next week? Welcome to the board karenmavdreamgirls but you might as well ask what the lottery numbers are going to be next week!
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Nov 17, 2017 9:39:03 GMT
A VERY short run....is an extension planned if it sells well?
I don't think it will appeal to the general public at these crazy prices. I will await deals nearer the time. No-one knows who Kelli O'Hara is here, just like they didn't know who Audra McDonald is.
This premium pricing lark is getting ridiculous too. Gone are the days when it was just several rows of the front centre stalls. Here a top price ticket (£75) only gets you side and back stalls, when once upon a time it would have bought you the best seats in the house! The entire front centre section of the stalls and dress circle are £95!
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Nov 14, 2017 16:00:36 GMT
Debbie isn't appearing in her panto until 17th December, she has got her start date pushed back a bit but would be very busy fitting in Strictly and Panto rehearsals especially as she is a more "mature" contestant. On the ATG website (the official tickets for the York Opera House) the panto still commences on Fri 15th Dec with 2 performances and 2 on Sat 16th. No mention that Debbie may not appear.
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Nov 13, 2017 22:58:39 GMT
I was offered row J of the stalls for £15 this week on Today Tix
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Nov 13, 2017 22:56:15 GMT
So we all know that Brian Conley has a very lucrative panto contract in Milton Keynes starting on Dec 9th 2017.
However, Debbie McGee has also got a panto contract at the York Opera House starting on Friday 15th Dec 2017. The final of Strictly is on Sat 16th Dec so IF she makes the final even with her magic insights, I doubt she can appear in two places at once!. She would also have to rehearse the Strictly final AND the panto that week!! So what's the betting she doesn't make the final??
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Big Fish
Nov 9, 2017 13:28:35 GMT
via mobile
Post by wickedgrin on Nov 9, 2017 13:28:35 GMT
I felt he was very average and an extremely lucky actor
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Nov 8, 2017 22:38:21 GMT
I saw him very recently. An absolute legend. Yes, his act is a little slower these days and he had to be "reminded" where he was a couple of times but still very funny. Lots of gags about tax and how long we were going to be in the theatre!
He did the most amazing vent act with the cutest diddyman which was very funny, very accomplished and surprising very moving.
The fact that he is still touring is remarkable.
Happy Birthday Sir Ken!
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Nov 8, 2017 17:23:23 GMT
This seems to be selling very well - despite the high prices!
According to the website originally it was playing until 3rd December but now extended from 4th December to 13th January with cast, times and prices subject to change. So are there cast changes from 4th December - who is leaving? I thought the present cast were very good.
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Nov 8, 2017 17:11:56 GMT
I think you'll find that The Girls act closer was a restaging of the Big Fish act closer. Ah OK, so the other way round. As I said, I had no prior knowledge of the show at all.
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Nov 8, 2017 12:39:36 GMT
What happened to the original Toxie? I don't know who I saw but he was fabulous.....
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Nov 8, 2017 12:25:30 GMT
It is amazing how this production varies in quality depending on the cast/current direction.
I saw this production originally in London with Anna Maxwell Martin (Sally) James Dreyfus (Emcee) and Sheila Hancock - fabulous (Frau Schneider). The production was stunning and I really enjoyed it.
I went back when it was re-cast with Kim Medcalf, Julian Clary and Honor Blackman and although good was not a patch on the original casting.
I then saw the same production later on tour - and I have blotted it from my memory as it was absolutely dreadful - I think it "starred" Wayne Sleep! Just appalling.
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Nov 8, 2017 12:00:36 GMT
I saw this show having no previous knowledge of the musical or the film.
I thought it was very well (if economically) staged and performed with special mentions to Matthew Seaton-Young - a glorious voice, Jamie Muscato - a very engaging performance as the Young Edward Bloom and a completely show stealing performance from Clare Burt who had the best moment in the show with a beautiful ballad "I don't need a roof" in the second act, beautifully played. Incidentally she reminded me of a young Millicent Martin - for those old enough to remember!
However, I did not "connect" with the material or the story at all. It was far too sweet and sentimental for me. It felt like a real "Christmas" show somehow and I felt like Scrooge muttering "Humbug"! Parts of the show felt very derivative of others - Wicked, The Wizard of Oz - journeys and stories, with the company all dressed in green at various points. Plus the ending of Act One was a complete restaging of the ending end of Act Two of The Girls just substituting daffodils for sunflowers.
I felt that the fantasy story elements, although well staged, needed more budget to really work.
I have to report though that the packed audience around me LOVED it. Two guys in front of me openly weeping at the end and the whole audience spontaneously rose to their feet at the end.
3* for me - a solid production of a schmaltzy show!
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Corrie
Nov 7, 2017 13:14:40 GMT
Post by wickedgrin on Nov 7, 2017 13:14:40 GMT
I think Emily's departure from the show epitomises how shoddy the show has become. A long serving, much loved character written out to go to Peru of all places. I suppose at some point a cast member will have the task of getting a phone call to say that she has fallen off a mountain or eaten by cannibals or something equally ridiculous!
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Nov 7, 2017 13:09:52 GMT
Yes, plus her album is no 4 in the chart!
|
|