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Post by stuart on Mar 26, 2024 7:22:12 GMT
This really does need a reboot. Agreed. The current tour has been on the go for about a decade now - and Kristian Lavercombe has done almost every date as Riff Raff. My issue with the production is that all of the character takes are essentially impressions of the people who played them in the movie. It looks tired, it looks cheap. It’s time to retire it. I’d love a new interpretation of it with different takes on the characters. Give us a Frank which isn’t just a pale imitation of Tim Curry.
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Post by stuart on Mar 22, 2024 14:18:01 GMT
This has really struggled with ticket sales so it doesn’t surprise me that they’ve added Alfie. His fanbase will show up to anything.
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Post by stuart on Mar 22, 2024 10:04:37 GMT
Bradley had to do some singing as part of a task in Big Brother.
Best of luck to him…
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Post by stuart on Mar 19, 2024 12:29:37 GMT
Could this be going into the Trafalgar Theatre in the Autumn? Simple staging and band on stage could lend itself to here.
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Post by stuart on Mar 19, 2024 10:32:51 GMT
I really think they should just change the name to Live Aid for the West End transfer.
When I think of Live Aid, Heroes wouldn’t even come up in the top 10 songs I’d first go to that were performed that day. Even ‘Rockin All Over the World’ would be a more descriptive title, especially since the story also covers Band Aid and therefore, not just one day.
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Post by stuart on Mar 15, 2024 18:33:59 GMT
Cara’s LA home has burnt down, causing $7m worth of damage.
I wonder if she’ll continue with her run.
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Post by stuart on Feb 9, 2024 0:15:58 GMT
The poll has to start with 1 for Sorrow 1 For Sorrow Deeper Shade of 2 You’ll 3 Sorry Better Best 4gotten 5,6,7,8
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Post by stuart on Feb 8, 2024 19:14:15 GMT
They’re teeing this up for Broadway, apparently. Palace Theatre.
But then I also heard they were looking for a non-traditional space so who knows…?!
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Post by stuart on Feb 8, 2024 17:00:09 GMT
This got an easy 5 stars from me last night.
I was worried going in after reading some of the posts on here that I wouldn’t enjoy it but I was fully hooked once I got into the swing of it.
I think it did a very good job of telling the story to both a nostalgic audience but also a new modern audience - and acknowledged the issues that the Live Aid story had (white saviour complex, mainly) in a knowing but humorous way. I’m in my 30s and it never once felt preachy or cringe to me. In fact, I took the final scene to mean “1 person (Bob) made all this change in 1985. Look at all of the characters who were impacted by that 1 person. Just 1 person can make a difference - you need to make that first step.”. You could apply that logic to any situation. I think it’s a really inspiring way to link the story to a new generation - especially in a time where the Tories have been in power for over a decade, LGBTQ+ rights are under threat and climate change is about to kill our planet. Sound familiar?
Speaking of which, the only issue I had with the show is the use of Margaret Thatcher as comic relief. Thatcher’s policies are still having a major impact on people across the country. We all remember her and were impacted by her. To turn her into a posh caricature who sings, raps and dances didn’t sit quite right with me.
The music never felt shoehorned and I loved that it also flowed the natural running order of the concert. The band were super tight and every song was sang amazingly - without it ever feeling like a tribute show.
Craig Els’s portrayal of Bob Geldof was spot on, as was Joel Montague’s Harvey Goldsmith (once they gave him something to do in Act 2).
Overall, an incredible night at the theatre. This show must have a future planned after the Old Vic. I would go and see it again in a heartbeat.
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Post by stuart on Feb 7, 2024 22:54:59 GMT
Was Into the Groove always in this? It’s not listed in the programme but featured very prominently in Act 2 tonight.
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Post by stuart on Jan 27, 2024 11:01:04 GMT
The stage looks quite low - which is a good thing as I’ve got a front row seat.
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Post by stuart on Jan 26, 2024 7:38:16 GMT
Here & Now - opens in Birmingham in November. Tickets on sale February 9th.
It is set in a supermarket called Better Best Bargains. This sounds camp as tits and I’m so ready for it.
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Post by stuart on Jan 25, 2024 18:45:52 GMT
Opening in Birmingham in November, I’ve heard.
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Post by stuart on Jan 24, 2024 18:24:22 GMT
Does this have a life planned after the Old Vic?
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Post by stuart on Jan 23, 2024 12:51:40 GMT
I think this will do well on tour, to be honest. Solid IP and some writing names attached. Stick a stunt cast in it and it’ll be alright.
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Post by stuart on Jan 23, 2024 12:09:48 GMT
The Greatest Showman - being produced by Disney. They were eyeing up Broadway for end of the year. I wonder if their plan has changed and they’re looking to open in London instead?
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Post by stuart on Jan 23, 2024 12:07:38 GMT
I thought eyebrows was a big enough clue to be honest…
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Post by stuart on Jan 23, 2024 5:59:23 GMT
Has anyone heard the rumours for the next leads? My eyebrows raised at who might be playing Sally…
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Post by stuart on Jan 8, 2024 12:12:42 GMT
I have ALW’s Cinderella signed by the Lord himself and Carrie Hope Fletcher.
Surely that’s got be something of a collector’s item given their relationship since?
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Post by stuart on Jan 5, 2024 8:50:35 GMT
I see that they showed the Broadway trailer at yesterday’s matinee. Was anyone there and know how it worked? Did they show it before the show began? At the interval? After curtain call?
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Post by stuart on Oct 30, 2023 11:19:33 GMT
Neil Tennant at Sunset Blvd a few weeks ago. Almost fell off my seat when I saw him walk in.
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Post by stuart on Oct 30, 2023 11:06:23 GMT
Brilliant! I nabbed one. Left mine in my hotel room in London!
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Post by stuart on Oct 19, 2023 8:32:48 GMT
Jamie Lloyd wants to do a revival so perhaps we'll get that instead? A black stage. The barber shop is just a series of chairs on stage. The pies are a metaphor. Mrs Lovett is played by a child.
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Post by stuart on Oct 18, 2023 11:29:27 GMT
What happened to the Manchester production?? There were definitely conversations had about a sit-down Edinburgh production.
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Post by stuart on Oct 13, 2023 12:28:33 GMT
Sorry to detract from the reviews - has anyone sat Row N of the stalls, do you miss much from the overhang? Trying to avoid paying the next price banding up 🤣 I was Row R and only the very top of the screen was cut off from the overhang. Barely noticeable.
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Post by stuart on Oct 11, 2023 6:58:46 GMT
The camera feeds broke up a few times last night - once during the Act 2 opener and a few times later in Act 2 (including a few complete blackouts). Hoping the critics don’t try and say it’s too ambitious because I think it’s a technical masterpiece.
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Post by stuart on Oct 10, 2023 23:06:04 GMT
Lovely touch getting a glass of Prosecco on the way in tonight because it was the Savoy Theatre’s birthday.
Full review to follow - but bloody hell, this is a masterpiece.
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Post by stuart on Oct 7, 2023 11:55:07 GMT
Cancelled my Guys & Dolls ticket for Tuesday (didn’t fancy a standing crowd in the forecasted heat) and plumped for this instead based off the reviews so far.
I saw Jamie Lloyd’s Cyrano twice so I know what to expect. The whole concept and what I’ve heard so far intrigues me though.
Can’t wait!
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Post by stuart on Sept 15, 2023 10:18:20 GMT
The Dominion's issue has always been the capacity, I think they should find a way to reduce its capacity to say 1600-1700 seats, maybe a Drury Lane style renovation is needed. I don’t think they can reduce capacity due to their Sunday leases to Hillsong church. They fill the theatre over multiple times on a Sunday. Any reduction in capacity and Hillsong would probably move elsewhere (and it’s a massive revenue stream).
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Post by stuart on Sept 13, 2023 9:05:31 GMT
The Dominion?!
I would presume the Hannah Waddingham rumours are true and/or they have some other stunt casting going on because the Dominion is a wild choice.
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