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Post by longinthetooth on Feb 27, 2017 15:56:14 GMT
I think I can safely say my 'likes' aren't cliquey because I don't know anyone! I still feel like a relative newbie because of this, and I did wonder, in fact, whether those who got together at the recent meet-up will become cliquey now that they know one another personally. However, none of my posts have been shot down in flames (yet!), so I'm quite happy!
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Evita
Feb 23, 2017 21:33:51 GMT
Post by longinthetooth on Feb 23, 2017 21:33:51 GMT
Ah, as usual, the matinees. A pet gripe of mine. Nuff said.
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Evita
Feb 23, 2017 18:28:34 GMT
Post by longinthetooth on Feb 23, 2017 18:28:34 GMT
I was there for yesterday's matinee. Sadly I didn't get to see Emma Hatton, as apparently Eva is played by Natalie Langston (what is it with all these understudies called Natalie!) "at certain performances" according to the programme. Now I'm not averse to seeing understudies/covers, don't get me wrong, but unless I missed something somewhere I didn't know that Ms Hatton wasn't going to be doing all the performances (barring illness and scheduled holidays, obviously), so I was a bit miffed as I wanted to see her.
The first couple of times I saw Evita I was completely blown away. This time, I liked it but didn't love it. Natalie Langston was overall good. At times her voice was great, other times rather shrill. I wasn't all that keen on Peron or Che either - but maybe I was in a bad mood!
However, I thought Sarah O'Connor's Mistress was superb. One to watch, I feel.
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Post by longinthetooth on Feb 14, 2017 19:34:09 GMT
They were giving away cupcakes for Valentines Day at my local station. Unfortunately, by the time I got there, they had all gone. Just about set the tone for my day.
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Post by longinthetooth on Feb 5, 2017 17:09:45 GMT
Definitely Callum. I saw him in She Loves Me at the Menier yesterday. He was brilliant, and has a CV as long as your arm, singing, serious acting, dancing, having been performing since he was a child (I've just been reading the programme).
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Post by longinthetooth on Feb 5, 2017 16:55:26 GMT
I should have said something, but I think the poor girl doing the seating was out of her depth, and when I was offered the spare seat I grabbed it with both hands, so to speak. In any case, there were still two other 'displaced persons' to sort out. Their seats were definitely missing! You should ask for a refund. You didn't get the seat you paid for. Actually, the one I ended up with was probably better! I get what you're saying, though, it's the principle of the thing.
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Post by longinthetooth on Feb 5, 2017 15:03:37 GMT
I should have said something, but I think the poor girl doing the seating was out of her depth, and when I was offered the spare seat I grabbed it with both hands, so to speak. In any case, there were still two other 'displaced persons' to sort out. Their seats were definitely missing!
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Post by longinthetooth on Feb 5, 2017 0:56:00 GMT
Not so much bad behaviour by the audience, but by the theatre. At the Menier Chocolate Factory, the Manager in his wisdom had decided to remove part of the front row seating nearest the door, presumably to accommodate a wheelchair. Unfortunately, those seats had already been sold and the purchasers not informed. I and two others were therefore standing around helplessly while the girl went off to seek help.
Now, when I counted along the bench, my actual seat was still there, but someone was in it. At no point was I or this person asked to show our tickets to stake our claim. I'm guessing they came in before me, realised their seats were non-existent, so moved quickly into the first ones that were free and hoped for the best! The girl trying to organise things offered me a seat in the corner right at the back (instead of the front row I had booked), which I declined. Fortunately, a very kind lady in the 2nd row had a spare seat, so she offered me that, for which I was very grateful.
They then produced a wooden chair, which they tagged on to the side of the wheelchair spaces, which they offered to one lady, while the second lady was relocated elsewhere. At the interval wooden chair lady disappeared (as did the chair), so I presume they managed to seat them somewhere together.
I can understand making wheelchair provision, don't get me wrong, but surely not AFTER you have already sold the tickets?
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Post by longinthetooth on Feb 5, 2017 0:43:56 GMT
I loved this! The attention to detail, the costumes, the sets, the glorious cast, everything. Well, OK, maybe the score wasn't that memorable, but it made up with shed loads of charm for what Death Takes A Holiday was lacking. I know, that doesn't sound right, but you get the gist. The accents didn't worry me in the slightest. I loved Scarlett Strallen (but that wig did make her look the spitting image of a young Auntie Bonnie!) and Katherine Kingsley - in fact, Katherine's applause was far louder than Scarlett's when they took their bows.
I hadn't realised until tonight that Callum Howells was taking part in Let It Shine, but then left the programme as he'd been offered the part of Arpad in She Loves Me.
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Post by longinthetooth on Feb 4, 2017 23:20:00 GMT
I agree with most people here. It looked lovely, the costumes were gorgeous, the lead performers good (I knew Chris could sing, and was so glad to hear Zoe's lovely voice) - but I can't remember a single note of what was sung. I wanted to love it, but sadly was left indifferent. I'd adored Titanic and was looking forward to this, given its pedigree.
I was slightly concerned about the chairs - in fact, being in the front row, I was hoping and praying that no one lost their grip (for anyone who hasn't seen it, the cast 'dance' with the chairs in one scene and fling them around overhead). I had visions of one of them (a chair, that is) soaring over the stalls! If that is my clearest memory of the show, then that must prove something is not quite right!
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Post by longinthetooth on Feb 2, 2017 18:57:01 GMT
I hated Blood Brothers.
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Post by longinthetooth on Feb 2, 2017 18:54:41 GMT
My local paper is advertising four coach trips between March and June.
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Post by longinthetooth on Jan 31, 2017 19:07:35 GMT
This may not be the right thread to write about this (so please move if need be), but my TV listings magazine has announced a new series starting on the 5Star Channel (no, I'd never heard of it either) on Wednesday 8th February, entitled "Emerald City." I quote:
"Yes, there's a Dorothy, a Toto and a yellow brick road, but this dark imagining of The Wizard of Oz is a little different to the famous film.
"Dorothy is a Hispanic nurse, Toto a fierce Alsation and the road gets its hue from poppy pollen. Plus, this drama covers all 14 of author Frank L Baum's Oz books, not just the first.
"You might have to set aside the hammy dialogue and chunky plot devices but the scenery is spectacular and the cast mighty.
"Adria Arjona ('True Detectives') plays Dorothy, while Joely Richardson stars as Glinda the Good Witch and Vincent D'Onofrio is the Wizard.
"The complex fantasy world also looks like it might hold just enough adventure (with a good smattering of sex and violence) to hook you in."
Twas never like this at the Apollo Victoria! And by the sound of things not a riff will be heard!
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Post by longinthetooth on Jan 30, 2017 16:18:45 GMT
I had several windows open in IE, all with the blue ticket, plus just one in Chrome. Yes, it was the single Chrome one that came up trumps for me. Whole transaction done and dusted in 15 minutes, while the IE ones carried on and on and on refilling. I opted for April, as I guessed everyone would want to see it as soon as possible.
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Post by longinthetooth on Jan 28, 2017 22:26:54 GMT
If only those going to tonight's meet-up had known about these. Co-ordinated leggings! Just imagine the scene in the pub behind the Apollo Victoria. At least there would have been no problem with identifying one another!
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Post by longinthetooth on Jan 28, 2017 22:21:06 GMT
We could submit a song/artist that had been No.1 for 10 weeks in the UK and Europe, and it still wouldn't get anywhere in Eurovision. Politics, all politics, and everyone hates us.
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Post by longinthetooth on Jan 28, 2017 22:14:25 GMT
Marti Pellow (I'll get my coat ....)
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Post by longinthetooth on Jan 25, 2017 21:52:46 GMT
Caught up with this today. Les Mis is one of my all time favourites (I dread to think how many times I have seen it) and I was keen to see the new cast, knowing nothing about them. During Peter Lockyer's tenure (I'm afraid I'd had enough of him) I wanted to see Adam Bayjou - but, however hard I tried, I couldn't get my matinee visits to coincide with him playing JVJ. However, today, when I was all set to watch Simon Gleeson, who should be on but Adam Bayjou! Marius and Cosette were also played by understudies - I was underwhelmed by both performances.
I'm usually a serial blubber and have been known to be a total wreck by the end, but not this time. While not leaving me totally stone cold, I'm afraid the magic has gone for me. It was good, yes, but not a single person stood out for me. Not keen on the new Thenardier or Eponine. Fantine, Enjolras and Javert were good in parts but not all, likewise AB's JVJ. It won't be my last visit, I'm sure, that music will keep drawing me back, but I may leave it for a while now.
However, the audience seemed to love it, as there was a virtually full standing ovation at the end.
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Post by longinthetooth on Jan 22, 2017 14:24:42 GMT
Well, I'm thoroughly enjoying it - but then I am easily pleased. No you're not, I'M easilypleased :-) I liked it, it was interesting for someone like me who's come late to this subject, and of course there's a limit to what you can put in a 1 hour programme. Maybe if you're already an expert it's not deep enough. Ha ha!
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Post by longinthetooth on Jan 21, 2017 23:33:26 GMT
Well, I'm thoroughly enjoying it - but then I am easily pleased.
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Post by longinthetooth on Jan 16, 2017 18:15:08 GMT
Well, I wouldn't worry if you didn't get tickets. Viagogo et al are selling tickets at over £2,000! So much for the best efforts of the powers-that-be to stamp out this kind of thing. Interesting to see what happens when someone buying a ticket this way turns up at the Box Office.
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Post by longinthetooth on Jan 1, 2017 22:27:56 GMT
I actually feel sorry for Count Arthur Strong, in the way he dies the death as it were. But going back to Dick Whittington, I have a feeling it may be Barrowman (in which case count me out). I would think they would want experienced panto hands for the Palladium, enticing though some fresh names might be. Anyone fancy Marty Pellow as King Rat? (runs for cover ....)
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Post by longinthetooth on Dec 22, 2016 22:20:40 GMT
Had to laugh at EastEnders tonight. The worthy citizens of Walford have been putting on a play, a version of A Christmas Carol. Danny Dyer's character, Mick Carter, was going apoplectic at members of the audience stuffing their faces with food during the play. I fear his outburst will fall on stony ground, however.
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Post by longinthetooth on Dec 22, 2016 21:02:29 GMT
I'm sure if I stop and think there will be many contenders, but the one that jumps instantly into my mind is TITANIC. I loved that show.
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Post by longinthetooth on Dec 21, 2016 18:52:30 GMT
They sthcweamed and sthcweamed until they were sick - Violet Elizabeth Bott obviously paid them a visit!
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