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Post by ptwest on Jan 16, 2017 12:37:18 GMT
Gave up on select your own seats after losing seats three times and got them to choose for me. Got row b in the stalls somewhere near middle so its further forward than I ideally wanted but I think that could have been a lot worse. Almost cant resist asking how high the stage is!
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Post by ptwest on Jan 15, 2017 13:45:38 GMT
Have they announced tickets for the actual 'show' or is it going to be the case that they will never actually go on sale....??!!? Nothing as yet. How long was it back in the day of the ALW shows between the show finishing and tickets going on sale for the actual show? I don't know if this was true for all of them but the tickets for the Sound Of Music went on sale well before the end of the series - I remember thinking that I would book before the frenzy once we knew who had won.
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Post by ptwest on Jan 15, 2017 10:25:30 GMT
Sometimes I think seat numbers should be entirely disregarded, and only row numbers used when taking your seat. Say I'm the first one in the auditorium and have ticket C19, I should ignore seat 19 and go for the central-most seat in row C, then everyone else in row C who comes in after just fills in the gaps. Mind you, I also sometimes think it would be quite nice to sell rows by audience member heights, so all the 6'6" bunch would be at the back and none of the 4'10" types would have to worry about not being able to see anything other than heads. But, y'know, if squeezing past people to get to your seat is a problem for you and you know that, then take the initiative and arrive early. People may then have to squeeze past you, but the implication does seem to be that it is the act of squeezing by rather than the acting of being squeezed by that isn't massively comfortable so an early arrival would make sense. Especially if you're in the middle of a row. ![;)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/wink.png) But for those of us who are part of the 6'6" bunch, the circle overhang will be more pronounced than if we were 4'2". Maybe then taller people should sit further forward and smaller people at the back so everyone has as little impact as possible and we all get to see the top of the stage? :-)
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Post by ptwest on Jan 12, 2017 18:09:41 GMT
Email has just come through.
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Post by ptwest on Jan 11, 2017 6:14:07 GMT
It was a person, that was in the first cast of the bodyguard tour leg. A very reliable source. I would be interesting to see,if they work together in the future. I have seen some of her lovely fans get picked on, on social media and she's not commented. I guess it's the saying if your face fits. She is a talented singer. She sells seats and puts on a great show. 😊 It's the last sentence that is important here. 99% of the audience don't go to the stage door, follow performers online or think they are friends so won't care if the performer is a nice person or not, or if they interact well on social media. It's if they can deliver a performance night after night which makes paying out the high ticket prices worthwhile.
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Post by ptwest on Jan 10, 2017 20:11:19 GMT
This would be superb if this happens. Such a fabulous show.
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Post by ptwest on Jan 7, 2017 16:03:19 GMT
I'm not going to disagree that singing a song well deserves acclaim, but my issue with the instant standing ovation for AITYING is that in the night I went, people stood and hollered as soon as she hit the big note at the end meaning a) lots were determined to do it anyway as if the whole half was leading up to that moment. Marisha was excellent but I think there was a core number in the audience who would have stood whatever had happened. B) those screaming and whooping wouldn't have heard the finish anyway and c) the way the score is written there isn't time for an applause breaks before the dreams come on, meaning an awkward moment where half those who were stood didn't seem to know what to do. I suspect that Dreamgirls May become like Wicked where the hard core "fans" will try to outdo each other or maybe look for that special moment when the actress playing Effie adds one extra note etc etc.
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Post by ptwest on Jan 7, 2017 15:37:12 GMT
It all sounds like a superb subject for a musical in its own right!
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Post by ptwest on Jan 6, 2017 18:18:52 GMT
First theatre visit: the Wombles at Swindons Wyvern Theatre. I would have been about four.
First musical: Annie at the Bristol Hippodrome and although I hate the show now, I credit it with igniting the love in theatre that I still have to this day.
First west end show: Adrian Mole at the Wyndhams
First West end show which wasn't a school trip: Phantom in 1988
First Solo theatre trip: Miss Saigon in early 1990.
First returns Queue: Joseph at the palladium soon after opening night.
First Role: the giant in Jack and The Beanstalk. I was the only one taller than Jack.
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Post by ptwest on Jan 5, 2017 18:56:36 GMT
It all makes sense from a business point of view - it could have been a big PR disaster that the leading lady whom all the marketing has been based on was out so early in the show. And let's be honest, the initial reactions to Karen weren't great, although I understand she's been getting better and better (I should add that I haven't seen Karen, but I know her from X factor and there is no doubt she is a stunning singer). But if you had the opportunity to bring in someone who is sensational to fill the gap, then you would. I was really disapointed not to see Amber but this lasted seconds once I could see how good Marisha was going to be. So whereas I do feel that Karen and especially Ruth have been treated roughly here, from a customer satisfaction level which can equate to repeat bookings and word of mouth it is a no brainer.
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Post by ptwest on Jan 2, 2017 15:34:13 GMT
I normally go to Premier Inn at either Waterloo or County hall, but my back up as mentioned above is always the St Giles Hotel on Tottenham Court road. The rooms are too small to swing a cat, but the location is fantastic and the price is usually good compared with other central locations.
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Post by ptwest on Jan 1, 2017 16:34:54 GMT
Going to add to those that are praising Jocasta as Lorell - she was superb on Friday night. She felt a really strong presence on stage around the rather underpowered dreams around her (not including Marisha here!)
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Post by ptwest on Dec 30, 2016 22:37:48 GMT
So all three dreams off tonight which meant understudies / alternates were on, four if you don't the fact that Lily Frazer performing as Deena meant that her cover needed to be Michelle. Another great response to Marisha, standing ovation for I am telling you, nearly another one for I am Changing. She is phenomenal. Superb cast overall.
Biggest gripe? The theatre was so cold. Unbelievably so.. I know it's freezing outside but it's a full house. Surely they could afford a few coins in the meter.
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Post by ptwest on Dec 30, 2016 19:06:58 GMT
Marisha is on again tonight.
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Post by ptwest on Dec 30, 2016 7:49:36 GMT
This is good news - I booked all those months ago especially to try and see Amber, but in the lucky lottery of who gets to play Effie tonight, it sounds like Marisha would be a great result! I wonder who we will get?!
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Post by ptwest on Dec 28, 2016 20:29:15 GMT
As I've said before if you get a cheap lottery seat and live locally and have the opportunity to see the show again, it's no big deal if Amber is not on! However, if you have travelled and paid top dollar for a special occasion and not likely to be able to see the show again it is a different matter...... Which is exactly the situation I find myself in! Fingers crossed for Friday night!
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Post by ptwest on Dec 22, 2016 23:25:03 GMT
Just been tonight and really enjoyed it - a fantastic cast and loads of fun. I only booked a couple of weeks ago and the seating plan showed huge amounts unsold, but tonight was virtually full. Glad that booking is picking up as this show really deserves an audience.
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Post by ptwest on Dec 11, 2016 15:42:19 GMT
I dont have an upper limit as such, although I will only pay premium prices in the most exceptional circumstances, and that is under duress. But what the prices have done is make me much more picky about where I sit in terms of view and comfort.
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Post by ptwest on Dec 5, 2016 20:06:52 GMT
Well then I think I shall take my egg mayo sandwiches next time.
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Post by ptwest on Dec 5, 2016 13:36:23 GMT
I haven’t been to as much as I would like this year but I have to say I have found something to enjoy in everything I have been to. My theatrical year started with Showboat at Sheffield, and although I wasn’t blown away by the musical, the staging and performances were excellent – Rebecca Trehearn stole the show for me. Other than that, my regional theatregoing has consisted of seeing the Mary Poppins tour three times, twice in Manchester, although once was with a group of 70 children and then again in Newcastle just before the Great North Run. I cannot praise this tour too highly, a fabulous production where it would appear no corner has been cut. Also in Sheffield we saw the very wonderful “Flowers For Mrs Harris”, which certainly deserves a wider audience. London has been good to me this year, particular highlights including Harry Potter, School Of Rock, and Sunset Boulevard. I have to say that although Glenn Close wasn’t the strongest vocally, I found it impossible to take my eyes off her, something particularly mesmerising about her performance. Going to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child felt like an event and was very special, particularly as I had managed to avoid all spoilers. The year isn’t yet done, with Strictly Ballroom at Leeds and Dreamgirls still to come. Hopefully with both those two 2016 will end on a high.
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Post by ptwest on Dec 4, 2016 9:04:11 GMT
Looking forward to this one! Haven't been back to the Playhouse since Martin Guerre in 1999 so long overdue.
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Post by ptwest on Dec 1, 2016 19:47:18 GMT
Happy birthday! The site is absolutely invaluable - wont book a London seat without checking first. Thank you for all your hard work to make theatre going more enjoyable for the rest of us.
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Post by ptwest on Nov 22, 2016 6:41:00 GMT
Out of all the recordings I have heard by far my favourite is the 1996 recording. The orchestra sounds fantastic and you get Steve Balsamo and Joanna Ampil. Would highly recommend it.
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Post by ptwest on Nov 21, 2016 20:05:39 GMT
Saw this and was blown away by Maria Friedman and the rest of the cast apart from sadly Michael Crawford who I felt was coasting. It's not my favourite ALW score although it does have its moments, but it was just so well sung.
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Post by ptwest on Nov 15, 2016 19:24:36 GMT
Painkillers are an essential for the Palace -I always have some ready just in case!
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