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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 21, 2024 17:39:21 GMT
This forum can get a bit heated. It's also a challenge of the written word. It's so easy to write things thinking they will be interpreted one way, then people read them differently, or consider them as personal slights. Hopefully we're all here because we love theatre and want to support everyone involved.
Personally, I'm always very happy to see covers on. They're getting an opportunity. We're getting a different performance. Yes, there are times I prefer the main performer (and times I prefer the cover), but that's a personal preference, which we all have. It's not intended as a slight against anyone. Yes, I'm lucky in that I can see most shows more than once.
I quite understand the economic reasons for not offering refunds, although there are plenty of times when I wish that an audience member with a terrible cough etc had been offered the opportunity to see the show when they were less under the weather.
The single change I would like would be accurate cast boards/screens shown in parts of the theatre which aren't blocking everyone else.
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 21, 2024 16:00:42 GMT
Why was it half empty during the last central London run too then? A lot of people who wanted to see it would've seen it last summer, and it's not really worth a repeat viewing... The performance I was at was packed. I didn't get the impression it sold that badly. The producers will have done the calculations that a four week run will be profitable. This is an ALW show in an ALW theatre. There are also good reasons to not leave a theatre empty. This isn't a show I rush to see either, but let's not pretend there isn't a market. A lot of London theatres now are filling gaps with limited runs of touring shows. They do give us a bit of variety and keep people employed. I will almost certainly see this while it's at the GL, but it's not a show I'd view repeatedly.
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 21, 2024 15:07:45 GMT
Central London for a family show, during the school holidays, will sell without a problem.
A lot of shows struggle to sell in Wimbledon. People just won't travel to outer London. Central London, where people can easily travel, and there are tourists around, is a completely different proposition.
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 21, 2024 14:04:43 GMT
Seen a few social media posts about Sunday in the Park going on sale at Mountview tomorrow. Thanks, Mountview booking now open for Sunday (and some plays).
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 20, 2024 13:36:07 GMT
Just won the TodayTix lottery for next week, so will get to see this. No seat allocated yet, all this says is Dress Circle.
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 19, 2024 14:47:39 GMT
Opened 11 years ago this week (after a month of previews). Can’t believe it’s still running. Surely it’s time for something new at the PoW? I think this has a few years of life left yet. It's still selling well. With that said, it has started to appear on TKTS occasionally.
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 19, 2024 14:18:05 GMT
Does anyone know how hard it is to get rush tickets for this? I was hoping to get a single ticket for the Saturday matinee. They have been selling out in seconds, and there is a lot of luck in the process. For the final matinee, I would expect demand to be high.
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 19, 2024 11:07:41 GMT
I finally managed to see Sam Glen on as Elder Cunningham last week and I thought he brought freshness to the show. Lots of differences to the norm with his performance and such a sweet voice. This show is in a great place right now, with all the current cast well established in their roles.
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 19, 2024 11:03:00 GMT
Having not seen this since previews, I made a return visit last night. An excellent front row view through the Rush tickets. I always enjoy everything more from the front, but this came across as so much tighter than during previews. You are very close to the stage, so much that you can see the performers scanning who is in the audience. Lots of eye contact too.
There was also a helpful lady behind who wanted to make sure that everyone knew the words to the songs, although unfortunately she didn't know as many as I did. She also helped keep us amused during the boring bits (like when they were talking about the famine) by having a chat with her friend. I do know it was her birthday treat.
Without that, this would have been a perfect performance. I'll certainly see this in the inevitable transfer.
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 18, 2024 12:46:22 GMT
They used to have an extended pre-show announcement at Frozen, asking people to please refrain from talking or singing during the performance. No idea why they would stop doing this as it's more important than ever! The announcement is still there, but goes over the head of a lot of people, especially the ones who arrive after the announcement.
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 18, 2024 12:45:12 GMT
Frozen was something else, sat in a decent rush seat in row G stalls but the constant talking and rustling of food packaging added to the whole theme park vibe. Their pre-show announcement welcoming first time theatregoers was lovely, but again see my comment above. Add to that the box office selling tickets after the show has started for seats that people had to push past others to reach (I know because I got my rush seat just before curtain and this was 15-20 mins in) and it was not a fun theatre going experience, although the renovation of Drury Lane is gorgeous. Were you at the Sunday matinee, as that sounds exactly like my experience (Row F Side Stalls through TodayTix rush), a family had to get through to the end seats on two separate rows? The children were quite well behaved, but the family (grandparents I think) seemed determined to check they were enjoying themselves and would eat the healthy snacks prepared. By contrast, there was a family with two male parents and two young girls at the other side who were perfectly angelic. To be fair, this was very good for a Frozen audience in my section. There was a lot of noise coming from the rear Stalls that I largely managed to filter out, but outdoor voice level of talking.
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 17, 2024 14:22:46 GMT
Sooo the most important question is…what are the most coveted stationary items? 😂 That all depends on the complexity of the set and how much movement is required!
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 17, 2024 14:17:35 GMT
Read the previews, look at the track record of the producers, consider the pricing, think about what style of shows I like etc. But it’s way easier (and cheaper) to do this as a single person.
I don’t usually trust theatre trailers as being a good representation of the show. But there again, movie trailers are always carefully put together as well.
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 17, 2024 12:07:19 GMT
The theatre school shows often have other students in the audience who are very enthusiastic. Yes, I do find it annoying as well.
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 17, 2024 12:05:31 GMT
I me be able to see the final matinee of this (which is the last London date) but want to see the same cast I saw before - not because the covers won't be good, but I don't want to overlay the memory of what I enjoyed. I don't see anything popping up on X/Twitter West End Covers/Understudies site. Does anyone know a way to find out who's on that same day - other than turning up at the theatre? Essentially I'd like to see Ivano again. My experience is that the main leads are usually scheduled for final performances. However, I have no insider knowledge related to holidays/other commitments etc.
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 17, 2024 0:27:17 GMT
Also noticed lots of filming at Italia Conti’s Legally Blonde this morning every time Emmet was on stage. Come on, you’ve got to tell your mum not to whip her phone out every time you enter the stage… I was at Conti where a woman filmed the whole show, with her phone part-shielded by her programme. No one said anything, but she was on the front row, so the whole cast must have been able to see. It can be tricky in that type of environment.
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 16, 2024 22:53:33 GMT
I did get to sit in the row behind Lulu at The Little Big Things a few weeks ago. She either attracted very little attention (or it was a polite and respectful audience).
The second time I saw The Little Big Things, there was a female singer (I'd say in her 20s) getting attention from her fans (and being very pleasant with them). Unfortunately, although she looked familiar, I didn't manage to work out who she was. But it seemed like a show people were trying to get tickets for in the closing fortnight (I got excellent Stalls rush tickets both times).
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 16, 2024 22:34:23 GMT
I completely agree that all venues should have cast boards visible, ideally more than one. Some venues have them on screens, but they are in such awkward places that you feel like you're blocking other people coming in while you wait for them to rotate.
Even then, there have been plenty of cases where the cast board is wrong, or they've left up posters of cast change details from previous shows.
Some venues don't have cast boards at all, or only announce changes to main roles. The smaller roles, ensemble and swings don't seem to matter.
I've been sat in audiences during the interval with people behind me discussing the programme and saying things like "are you sure that's him?", knowing full well that someone else is on in the role (but I would never turn around and say that).
Now, of course last minute changes and role swaps during the show are inevitable, but I do feel that these should be announced (out of respect for both the audience and the performers. I was at Frozen recently when Ben Irish took over as Hans during the show and that was announced (but they didn't ever announce who had taken over Ben's role as Pabbie).
Ultimately, I feel for anyone who is misidentified, but the theatre has to take a huge amount of responsibility here. There are a lot of theatre goers who just want to say thank you to the people who they think they saw on social media, and not everyone has access to sources like TheatreBoard.
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 16, 2024 22:30:26 GMT
I've seen many 'sprayers' in my time and I think the most respectful thing in this situation is to ignore and remain immersed in the performance. I know it isn't deliberate and I would ignore it, but I can understand why people react so much now in the post Covid world. There again, I still try and leave space before the person in front of me when I'm queueing in the supermarket.
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 16, 2024 18:24:07 GMT
Ivano was on this afternoon. In fact, I think it's the first time I've seen all of the current cast on without any covers. If he's recovering from an injury, it doesn't show in his performance.
I'd still change some of the audience. Making a crisp sandwich on stage should not be a signal to open your bag of crisps! Jamie's revelation to his mum in Act 2 shouldn't lead to a big chorus of laughs in the rear Stalls. Not should anyone set a phone alarm to go off during He's My Boy (not the only phone incident). I was sat with the Giovanna Fletcher fan club (Giovanna has grown on me) and they were keen to exchange notes during the show. Still, I wouldn't change the cast!
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 15, 2024 16:25:09 GMT
With moving flats (don't get me started on the ethical practices of letting agents) and work travel, I'm rather behind with reviews, but somehow I did manage to check out some College Productions.
She Loves Me - Mountview
I got to see both casts in the Backstage Theatre. To me, this is the best Mountview production of the year. I'd heard it wasn't very traditional, but for Mountview standards, this was quite traditional. They are still doing the practice I don't like of blocking off most of the good seats for the favoured few, so although there are only three rows of seats, you feel like you're pushed out of the way as a paying customer. On the plus side, I did manage to avoid the pre-show interaction, but the Mountview cast mainly chose to interact with other students. This is always a charming musical, performed and sung very well, and sounding excellent in the small space of the Backstage Theatre.
Merrily We Roll Along (RCSSD)
I saw the first performance of this, from the front row. Nice venue and easy to travel to. I've seen a few students productions of Merrily. It's a tough show to sing. I thought the cast did well, but there's a mix of experience levels. Great set design for a student show. One oddity is they had a caption screen, but it was obscured behind the set for a lot of the show. This did, unfortunately, make it obvious when the cast were improvising a few of the lines. One thing I liked is they brought on the second year students as ensemble for a few songs, giving them the chance to get some stage experience. Not Mountview standards, but I'd happily go to RCSSD performances again.
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 15, 2024 16:12:55 GMT
I know that some theatres will offer a discounted upgrade on the day, but I don't have a list of which ones. That would be useful information.
I wouldn't do this regularly, but when there's obviously a big block of seats free at the same level, I would consider moving. You often get a feel for certain theatres. Moving a few seats along the row to be more central/avoid a head in front etc I'd consider acceptable (although I wouldn't do this to then block the view of someone behind) - you can then easily move back if someone does appear. The only time I've ever really had a problem is when a theatre upgraded a load of people around 15 minutes into a show and moved them all forward. I was one of several people who had moved across, but others had also moved and so blocked the area in between my original and claimed seat. I did go back to my original seat but had to go the long way around. I'm not sure the poor usher ever understood what was happening, or if the people they were moving all ended up with seats in the new area or not.
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 15, 2024 0:48:39 GMT
Was at RCSSD this eve for Merrily We Roll Along The woman beside me fell asleep on her husbands shoulder during act 1. They left at the interval Seriously, why bother going to a show? The poor cast, we were 2nd row Funnily enough, I saw this on the Monday, and someone further along the front row also fell asleep. He also left at the interval. Someone else near me said “I didn’t know it was a Sondheim”. He, at least, stayed for the show, but I could have done without the rustling and chair movements (as, I suspect, could have the cast). I did pay for my ticket, but the theatre was not all that full, and there may be a link there.
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 14, 2024 21:08:43 GMT
Imperial College Musical Theatre Society is presenting Big Fish on 21 and 22 March. Tickets are very cheap (£8 for non-students). I’m putting this in Amateur as it’s not part of a College course. www.imperialcollegeunion.org/shop/student-groups/112I have no idea what the quality will be like, but a very cheap night out for South Kensington!
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 14, 2024 21:05:45 GMT
Have they pulled the remaining Sunday shows?
Finton is tonight, excellent as usual. The row behind me has two different sets of annoying people who can’t stop talking.
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 14, 2024 21:03:43 GMT
Discounting on TodayTix. I’m still holding out until nearer the time.
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 5, 2024 12:13:14 GMT
I have one ticket available for the first preview tomorrow. Free to a good home. Unfortunately, I have a work commitment. Details are on the Noticeboard. Thanks to everyone who messaged me. My PMs have never been so busy. The ticket is now claimed (mods - please delete the ad).
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 3, 2024 17:48:04 GMT
Well, they had added some posters regarding Georgina being on ready for people exiting, so that’s something.
Otherwise, I did get hit in the head on the way in with enough force to send my classes flying forward two rows, so that may explain any errors on my part. The joking remark from the man who hit me, that he was trying to remove a tight jumper, wasn’t really appreciated. No harm done, but it just shows how oblivious some people can be.
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 3, 2024 15:35:19 GMT
Georgina Hagen is on as Margaret this afternoon. She’s always excellent, perfect singer and such an emotional performance.
No signs about this and no announcement, so I can tell how easy it is to get confused. I’ve seen Georgina enough times in Heathers that I’m certain it is her (and I’m on the third row, so the view is clear). I do hope to see her Ray and Miss Hedge at some point.
A bigger mystery is who is on as Tray Sophisticay. I may be wrong as there’s a lot of make up involved, but it just doesn’t look like David McNair to me. Corrections are welcome. Everyone is very good, as always.
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Post by Dr Tom on Feb 20, 2024 12:30:30 GMT
I was glad they've worked in some opportunities to stand up and stretch. This a long 2 hour play without an interval (although adding one would not make sense).
I got a Rush ticket yesterday for Dress Circle Row C, which is a perfect view for this (even though I hated the Dress Circle for Jersey Boys). It would have been a premium ticket otherwise. The stage is extended from Jersey Boys, so you're close to the action. I'm not sure how they've done this without losing a few rows of seating, so perhaps the other Stalls seats have reduced legroom?
My feeling here is there's an interesting premise, several levels, a very good final few minutes, lots to analyse. Lots of people near me clearly had no clue what to expect, or thought they were going to see a comedy. A tight 90 minute version would suit me better. Glad I've seen this, but would no doubt have appreciated this more at a matinee rather than after a busy day at work.
I think it's worth seeing at Rush pricing. No desire here to see this again.
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