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Post by nash16 on May 13, 2024 21:28:35 GMT
And what of the drones? The balcony scene?
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Post by nash16 on May 13, 2024 19:53:34 GMT
Started v v shakey but warming up. Lots of jump scares. Lots of whispered dialogue which I’m not too keen on. Leads have chemistry galore. Freema is hilarious. Vibe is “rival London estate gangs”. Not estate gangs... #edgy
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Post by nash16 on May 10, 2024 22:40:32 GMT
First preview tomorrow night has just been cancelled "due to the technical aspects of the production needing further preparation". Considering they just fired a member of the creative team yesterday and Tom is extremely unhappy, I’m not surprised. Just heard about this too. Sounds tense in there. They still seemed to be loading set in this afternoon, so they can’t have even started technical rehearsals fully yet either. Oh well. We’ve got the drone to look forward to for the gimmick this time.
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Post by nash16 on May 9, 2024 15:08:00 GMT
From the seating plans, I don’t think anyone has booked for it yet.
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Post by nash16 on May 9, 2024 6:59:25 GMT
Saw this tonight. What a sweet, beautiful play this is, supported by wonderful acting from the small cast. It could do with some tightening up and probably runs about 15 minutes too long. Nevertheless, a strong recommend, and the audience was visibly moved by the end. We, along with some others, were visibly moved at the interval, back to Kilburn tube. It seemed pointless to stay as the play seemed to be repeating itself in every scene, and the big bust-up seemed to come v early in the first half, making it pointless to stick around to see what had gone wrong with their friendship as we’d already been told it. Bizarre play, but endearing performances from Sophie and Charles. Not enough to stay though, sadly. And why did the wonderful pianist look so peeved every time she came on to play the piano?
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Post by nash16 on May 9, 2024 6:54:57 GMT
A magnet is £2!? That must be the cheapest piece of merchandise in the West End! That’s the Magnet Half Price Sale!
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Post by nash16 on May 3, 2024 9:33:23 GMT
I mean, classic Theatre Royal Bath going for names, but seriously?!
Dunster going downhill as fast as Herrin.
And then it’s coming to the West End? Eurgh…enough.
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Post by nash16 on May 1, 2024 10:09:08 GMT
Another concert instead of a production. Cripes.
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Post by nash16 on May 1, 2024 10:06:40 GMT
I think they’re confirming Stacey as the third Cruella at midday. Not Stacey Solomon?! No! Lol. Can you imagine? No, it’s Dooley being announced.
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Post by nash16 on May 1, 2024 9:18:24 GMT
I think they’re confirming Stacey as the third Cruella at midday.
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Post by nash16 on Apr 27, 2024 15:48:55 GMT
Feel I've completed NYE bingo as caught both Michael and Lee in the title role, but to allay fears, the play was still mediocre. You can't escape that writing, especially the repetition throughout.
The only advantage of seeing Sheen was getting that Sheen-sheen, but Lee was just as good, and looked slightly less uncomfortable singing the Get Happy number (poor Michael).
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Post by nash16 on Apr 26, 2024 21:09:54 GMT
Just posting support for the protesters here. They are trying to save the world. Whatever you think, they aren’t doing this for personal gain and I’m constantly amazed at how little empathy people have for these protests. It’s hard to protest effectively when it affects no-one as it gets NO publicity and people do feel quite powerless these days. I know, I know, it’s annoying and inconvenient and not necessarily effective. They probably said the same about the suffragettes (who smashed windows and broke laws in their campaign) Ok, I’ll go now. Absolutely with you Latecomer. When this thread started I was slightly shocked, actually very shocked, with how right wing/Daily Fail the Theatreboard suddenly seemed to lean via this thread. The (inate? & depressing) selfishness of humanity sadly glows in moments like this. Reminds me of the pasta/loo roll grabs at the start of the pandemic.
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Post by nash16 on Apr 26, 2024 2:10:16 GMT
Angela Lansbury did a cracking job of it in Blithe Spirit 🤷🏻♂️ She really did. When we mooted earpieces at the interval, Angela and her Princess Leia wig buns (perfect for hiding any hint of earpieces she could have got a full set of headphones under there tbh) were mentioned. No stumbling on lines for her. Whereas it seems Cox & Clarkson were both being thrown by the voices in their ears. Such a shame.
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Post by nash16 on Apr 23, 2024 22:38:59 GMT
We were all there tonight it seems.
Had a pre booked stalls seat, so was nice and up close. It did drag at times, but I felt, as others have said, that Patricia Clarkson really delivered.
One potentially controversial question though: are Clarkson and Cox wearing ear pieces?
Cox especially at times seemed unnecessarily stilted, and from Row B they both, at times, gave the appearance of having lines fed to them.
Anyone else suspected this?
It is a long play and Cox especially had a lot of lines.
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Post by nash16 on Apr 22, 2024 11:12:17 GMT
With the low pay and conditions for the actors at the Menier, I’m not surprised she’s bailed.
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Post by nash16 on Apr 22, 2024 11:08:59 GMT
Is the company known for poor shows? Almost universally applauded for them!
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Post by nash16 on Apr 15, 2024 22:03:49 GMT
The Guardian saying Guardian things >>>
Unclear how more Hytner and less Jamie Lloyd would help Ms Akbar's perceived imbalance. Ditto Marisha Wallace instead of Nicole S.
Imo, there is a case for other productions to be in the revival catagory (rather than The Effect), and the Almedia's King Lear would be among my contenders. Though that would mean tossing out a living woman for a very dead white bloke.
She also seems to be clueless as to how the Oliviers/SOLT machine works. Was this her first year watching/reviewing it?
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Post by nash16 on Apr 15, 2024 2:33:41 GMT
People forget Oliviers are given mainly to shows heading to Broadway. Hello, Sunset Boulevard. SOLT wanted both Dear England and Stranger Things to head over with Oliviers, thus them putting ST in that category. Likewise why Operation Mincemeat won over TBLT. The former is going to New York, the latter is not. Olivier Award wins are mainly help for marketing/making money when they cross the pond. In that case, they should have awarded Old Friends, which is definitely heading to both LA and Broadway. (Not sure Dear England is going to make it, I'm afraid, much as I loved it.) They really should have. It deserved it, and more nominations IMO. But SOLT also daren’t let Sonia Friedman leave empty handed after they gave nothing to THOC. Else there’d be trouble.
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Post by nash16 on Apr 15, 2024 1:02:58 GMT
I doubt they'll be asking Summer Strallen, given her recent tweet. What’s the little madam said now? She’s blown the whistle on the treatment of the original GHD cast during their first run, which was, tbh, pretty appalling by all accounts. I think the second cast had an easier ride, thank goodness. Not that that makes it better.
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Post by nash16 on Apr 15, 2024 0:59:58 GMT
“It’s two weeks before I’m due to make my Broadway debut. I’m midway through packing my suitcase, putting my passport in its cute little holder from Dunelm (maybe after New York I’ll be able to afford a John Lewis one) and I receive a phone call. “Hey Mr Producer!” I sing in the style of Andrea McArdle. I then see my agent is also on the line. I know what it is. They want Jinkx Monsoon to play me on matinees to get a few more bums on seats but I have told them, she can’t do a Brummie accent. “Rob”, I hear, “We are going to have to postpone”. White noise. Like that sound effect when someone gets diagnosed with an illness on Coronation Street. My legs give way and I fall onto the bed (cos I’m dramatic like that). I look at the open suitcase, resigning myself to the fact I will never get my John Lewis passport holder. Four in a Bed’s on the telly. In the space of one phone call, I’ve gone from potential Broadway star and Tony Award winner to unassuming armchair critic of Seaside Shores B&B.” When Rob was 12 they used to put on shows in the living room. When Rob was 26 their show about putting on shows in the living room was meant to transfer to Broadway. When Rob was 27 this Broadway transfer got postponed. Join Rob as they return to their family home in the Midlands and experience the greatest humbling of their life. “They’ve come home at last” Nicole Scherzinger, 2023 Sunday 26th May at 2:30pm and 7:30pm Or, when life hands you a lemon… Poor Rob.
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Post by nash16 on Apr 15, 2024 0:53:48 GMT
SOLT definitely choose which shows go where and advise the producers as such. Both of those shows had to win, so they had to split them.
I've been explicitly told otherwise and had the system explained to me by SOLT as an aside to the panel meeting this year so I'm going to respectfully disagree!
We shall, of course, agree to disagree.
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Post by nash16 on Apr 15, 2024 0:46:39 GMT
SOLT wanted both Dear England and Stranger Things to head over with Olivers, thus them putting ST in that category. SOLT don't pick the categories - the show producers do as long as it fits within the eligibility which goes to an SOLT committee as necessary. SOLT definitely choose which shows go where and advise the producers as such. Both of those shows had to win, so they had to split them.
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Post by nash16 on Apr 15, 2024 0:40:46 GMT
Why was stranger things not in best play? The question everyone is asking! People forget Oliviers are given mainly to shows heading to Broadway. Hello, Sunset Boulevard. SOLT wanted both Dear England and Stranger Things to head over with Oliviers, thus them putting ST in that category. Likewise why Operation Mincemeat won over TBLT. The former is going to New York, the latter is not. Olivier Award wins are mainly help for marketing/making money when they cross the pond.
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Post by nash16 on Apr 12, 2024 23:08:53 GMT
Seem to remember seeing Julie Yammanee playing all the female roles in Spamilton at the Menier a few years ago. Pretty incredible talent. Looking forward to seeing Cassidy.
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Post by nash16 on Apr 12, 2024 23:04:24 GMT
Back from Press. Not great, unfortunately. And as Parsley said not a patch on Octoroon. In fact this felt lazy, sadly.
The cast do want they can, but they’re dealing with a script that keeps promising a big pay off/event that never actually happens.
It’s set in a post-Covid world, which is referenced but without any insights. The characters constantly talk about themselves or Do you not remember in college when…? ad nauseum.
Our actions in life have consequences. Great. But maybe show them? And make them dramatic?
The monologues sadly become tiring, so by the time the last few characters get their moment we’ve tuned out. And again, we anticipate a pay off from them. Guess what? Doesn’t happen.
If they’d had an interval we would have left. Maybe every American play shouldn’t be transported to us.
We’ll see what the reviews say.
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Post by nash16 on Apr 11, 2024 12:32:48 GMT
Cherry Jones playing Ma Joad. Great to see her back in London.
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Post by nash16 on Apr 7, 2024 23:34:52 GMT
Stop supporting this kind of cash-grab concert.
They do no one any favours.
And the amount of time that sound team will have had to get everything right will have been ridiculously small.
Stop feeding the beast.
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Post by nash16 on Apr 5, 2024 12:03:18 GMT
So about £27.5k a year. A decent starting salary outside of London for somebody at the beginning of their career. Is that the very base before cover/understudy payments? 🤦🏻♂️
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Post by nash16 on Apr 5, 2024 12:01:41 GMT
The worst it can be for ensemble is equity minimum of £880 per week for 8 shows, plus the additional add ons for understudies, performances on etc. A basic of £3520 p/m isnt bad for your first professional job straight after college. It’s sadly a lot worse than that.
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Post by nash16 on Apr 5, 2024 0:31:48 GMT
A long shot, but {Spoiler - click to view} Does anyone know the name of the song the jukebox plays in act 3? Stones. Gimme Shelter.
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