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Post by ptwest on Nov 5, 2017 21:36:37 GMT
I remember my first visit, the pairing was Ruthie Henshall and Nicola Hughes - they were sensational, as was the rest of the cast. If there were to be a revival the casting needs to hit the level of competence this show had when it (re)opened.
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Chess
Nov 3, 2017 10:32:59 GMT
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Post by ptwest on Nov 3, 2017 10:32:59 GMT
That’s precisely why I’ve booked - one of my favourite scores, never had the chance to hear it live with a full orchestra and choir before. So it should sound incredible. Just so long as they don’t cut “Merano” - have seen three different productions and every time it has not been included.
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Chess
Nov 3, 2017 10:05:50 GMT
Post by ptwest on Nov 3, 2017 10:05:50 GMT
Have booked a rear stalls ticket. A comparative bargain I suppose!
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Post by ptwest on Nov 2, 2017 17:09:59 GMT
I think for £150 I would like Agnetha as Florence, Frieda as Svetlana, with Benny and Bjorn as Walter and Molokov.
Cant quite see it happening mind....
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Chess
Nov 1, 2017 19:08:34 GMT
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richey likes this
Post by ptwest on Nov 1, 2017 19:08:34 GMT
Disgusting really isn’t it? I dont have the option of sitting in the cheap seats either. It’s tantamount to discrimination against bears! 😡🐻 The cheap seats are out for me too - to be honest the expensive seats were a bit of a squeeze for my last two visits. Love Chess but not sure if I can justify over £100.
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649 posts
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Chess
Oct 27, 2017 4:36:41 GMT
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Post by ptwest on Oct 27, 2017 4:36:41 GMT
Taking my mother in law to see Chess and then getting that bizarre s and m version was one of my more uncomfortable theatre experiences! Will definitely be booking for this though, one of my favourite scores which should sound magnificent.
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Post by ptwest on Oct 22, 2017 12:29:44 GMT
The opera house has long since gone, it was knocked down and replaced by a casino. I remember cinema nights there, in winter it was so cold you could see your breath!
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Post by ptwest on Oct 21, 2017 18:23:06 GMT
The Futurist in Scarborough has a special place in my heart - I lived in Scarborough for a few years in the early 90s and it was definitely on the touring circuit, saw Victoria Wood there, as well as Elaine Paige, Beautiful South, among many others. It served as a cinema when not being used as a live venue. But even back then it was in a poor state of repair and steadily declined ever since. It's very sad to see it go rather than restored.
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Post by ptwest on Oct 21, 2017 18:16:47 GMT
Craig being Bruno is possibly my favourite strictly moment ever!
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Post by ptwest on Oct 16, 2017 13:28:02 GMT
That's a good call - you could well be right there.
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Post by ptwest on Oct 15, 2017 15:27:33 GMT
Badly photoshopped? It's an overlay of another photo on top, not a cartoon. Why they've done it I don't know but I would have thought they would have also changed it on the website if it was deemed innapropriate I actually think that having Jamie wear his school uniform makes it a clearer image as to what the show is about. If that image is all you know about the show then it instantly gives a context as to Jamie's age, and the kind of world this show inhabits.
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Post by ptwest on Oct 15, 2017 14:33:27 GMT
And that person was right to call out the sexism in it. I' m coming at this from the point of view that I loved the show, but I can totally see how sexist it is. However, given that a) the show is typical of Mel Brooks humour, and b) it is an adaptation of a parody of a 1930s film where the women didn't have much to do other than be hopeless and scream, you can see where it comes from. I think that where this show gets it right is that it is so over the top in as much as everything is a ludicrous parody and stereotype, to me it(almost) becomes a non issue. Personally, had it been presented in any other way I might have had a problem but to be honest the show delivered what I expected.
I said it was almost a non issue - I did genuinely feel uncomfortable with the scene where the monster meets Elizabeth - granted I saw the Newcastle run so I don't know if anything has changed, but I think getting from the start to the end point of that scene could have been handled very differently.
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Post by ptwest on Oct 11, 2017 14:43:49 GMT
Can I make it absolutely clear, for the record, that the man mountain 'sitting' in front of ptwest was not me. Good to know - I won't knock you off my Christmas card list then. Have to say though, the legroom in the Lyceum stalls was very good compared to most, actual space between my knees and the back of the next seat. That almost never happens in London.
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Post by ptwest on Oct 10, 2017 22:15:07 GMT
Have taken the time to think about that in the drive home. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either. 2nd act was better than the first, although the Shine was a highlight of act one. I loved the way they did Back For Good as well. Thought the 5 to 5 boys did really well, except for the act one concert sequence which sounded in a completely different key to the band all the way through- maybe it was the sound balance but it sounded horrible. My wife liked it a lot more than I did, and the whole cast received a tremendous ovation at the end. I can see why those who like Take That will love this, butfor me it just missed the mark. If you are a huge fan you will have a blast!
As an aside, I got a taste of my own Medicine when a man mountain sat in the seat in front of me. Not often my view is blocked!!
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Post by ptwest on Oct 10, 2017 18:27:56 GMT
Have arrived at Sheffield for tonight's performance. Given that the male: female ratio is about 1:300 I suspect I am not the target audience! Fingers crossed for a fun night!
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Post by ptwest on Oct 8, 2017 11:44:42 GMT
I'll remember that one!
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Post by ptwest on Oct 8, 2017 10:16:18 GMT
I get driven mad with the use of "like" as a space filler. Last week one of my pupils asked if they "could have, like, a football." I sent them out with a plastic airflow with the logic that it's like a football, but just smaller and with holes in it.
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Post by ptwest on Oct 7, 2017 21:38:56 GMT
My absolute favourite Abba Track - so subtle yet so intricate.
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Post by ptwest on Oct 1, 2017 18:49:17 GMT
Hadley was great in Newcastle - as was the whole cast! Hope this finds its audience, was great to go and see something that was just pure fun and silliness.
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Post by ptwest on Oct 1, 2017 18:09:30 GMT
Finding any pair of decent seats in the Sheffield run was tricky. Wasn't going to see this, in fact was going to avoid it like the plague but after seeing it in the news last week my wife announced she wanted to go. So, managed to get two mid stall seats for midweek. Not much else left - no point considering the balcony as there is no chance of fitting in those seats. Worth bearing in mind that the Lyceum has almost 900 fewer seats than the Manchester opera house so selling it out is much easier.
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Post by ptwest on Sept 19, 2017 17:30:01 GMT
The entire front row and from what I can tell front block is still available for Sheffield! Wonder if they've actually sold any tickets?
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Post by ptwest on Sept 15, 2017 19:56:38 GMT
Fartin' Guerre
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Post by ptwest on Sept 15, 2017 6:20:10 GMT
Adverts claiming that their prices are "up to half price". I was once feeling particularly pedantic and had a debate in one shop as to why everything wasn't half price or less.
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Post by ptwest on Sept 9, 2017 21:28:38 GMT
This really was very silly indeed and extremely entertaining! Injury has forced me out of the Great North Run tomorrow so I needed a pick up and this did it perfectly. Completely over the top and played to the hilt by a very talented cast. Loved it!
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Post by ptwest on Sept 9, 2017 16:15:01 GMT
Really looking forward to this tonight!
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