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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 22, 2022 10:11:29 GMT
I managed to see both casts for LJ (mostly due to this being a local venue to me and also because I expect this will rarely ever be produced).
The production was excellent as is usually the case with ArtsEd and this could easily transfer straight into a professional venue. The musical itself has all the hallmarks of one of those sleeper hit teen musicals (Heathers etc) but it doesn't quite work for me. I think the problem is how it presents all high school girls as being desperate for sex, which rather goes against the whole female empowerment vibe.
I also thought they very cleverly avoided showing any basketball being played. The very athletic cast were not demonstrating the greatest ball skills (although that could be part of the plot).
There are some catchy songs and this is a snappy 2 hours 15 minutes in one of the nicest theatre spaces in London. There are a lot of jokes and topical references, many of them which must have been added since the Broadway production, but they don't hit home for the UK audience.
One of the most interesting parts to me was seeing how both sets of leads were so different. Typically, a professional production has covers who look like the leads and perform things in a similar way. In this case, the two casts were very different, different ethnicities in many cases, different looks and vocal styles and there some staging changes. I don't want to pick out one cast over the other as both were excellent, just different. I did enjoy the show more the second time I saw it, but that may also be due to familiarity.
Funny note on the overheard conversations was that one of the cast had warned her mum that the show was terrible (it wasn't terrible and the mum didn't think so either - but I'm not sure it's the kind of show I'd want to invite my family to). I also had who I assume was Djavan's van de Fliert's boyfriend sat a few seats away one night, who got very loud and excited every time Djavan was on (most noticeable as he was the only person in the audience to do this, although I thought Djavan played the fun geek role well and would an excellent Jamie). I must also mention that Charis Alexandra's voice was sublime.
I wouldn't be surprised if we see more productions of this from student groups as it's very much age appropriate. I look forward to seeing GPB in a few weeks time.
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 21, 2022 12:02:21 GMT
Bird College are putting on: - The Hunchback of Notre Dame 2-5 Feb - Crazy For ou 23-26 Feb - Pippin 16-19 March - Follies 27-30 April - Bare the Musical 11-14 May I'm sure it's somewhere very obvious, but I cannot for the life of me find any information on when booking opens for any of these shows or if public booking is even possible? Do let me know if you spot anything. Several of the Bird College productions there that I'd like to see.
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 21, 2022 12:01:49 GMT
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes at ArtsEd has just gone on sale. Runs 8 to 12 February.
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 17, 2022 23:31:19 GMT
Wildhorn, Black and Menchell were all in the audience, as were Tim Rice and Sam Tutty. Glad you enjoyed it, although I spent the evening in the second row of the stalls at DEH and, even without a cast board, I'm pretty sure I was watching Sam Tutty!
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 14, 2022 23:41:06 GMT
Italia Conti musicals for March/April are Footloose, Carrie and Cry Baby. They also have three plays coming up in February/March - A Small Family Business (Ayckbourn), Banana Boys (looks like this one is a gay coming of age story) and Innovation (drawing a blank with searches for this one). The first two plays are on sale here: www.gigantic.com/spring-season-italia-conti-tickets
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 12, 2022 9:41:59 GMT
You will - everyone did in New York irregardless of where they sat ![;)](//storage2.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/wink.png) Not everyone. There were massive queues when I went and, as there was no advertising anywhere what was in the chilli, I didn't risk it. With all the legal requirements in the UK surrounding labelling of food, allergies etc, plus Covid-19, I'd be very surprised if they served it here.
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 11, 2022 13:00:16 GMT
I've also gone for a £10 seat. I did see this in NYC and liked what they've done with the music but I don't react well to some of the "surprises" (even knowing exactly when they're coming).
Interesting that they're filming the end of the run.
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 9, 2022 2:27:25 GMT
Glad to see the appreciation for the musicians.
Surprised they are being so silent about who is in the cast. I still remember Niki Evans from the X Factor (showing my age) and I'm sure she will be brilliant.
I have had the ticket offers email from the venue and would love to attend if time/transport permits, but it looks like this tour is in safe hands.
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 9, 2022 2:21:07 GMT
The set for this looks really ugly. Having seem two London and one NYC productions of this, this version has the highest production values by far. (now, I am sure there are plenty of people who realise this has a Christmas theme, only requires a small core cast and needs only a simple set design - but if I have any complaints about the Sheffield production, the set design isn't one of them)
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 9, 2022 2:13:28 GMT
I enjoyed the first episode. It must be very difficult to have modified the format to work on closed sets. Yes, it is a personality show, but Lord Sugar is smart enough to know the value of TV advertising for any business he put £250K (in return for 50%) into.
I must admit to some bias having contact with several previous contestants, but they have all done well from this.
Lord Sugar's biggest reality TV success story was getting the go-ahead to go and film a celebrity series in Australia whilst most of us were barely able to leave where we lived.
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 7, 2022 12:00:11 GMT
And the Arts Ed musicals for January and February are now advertised as well. Lysistrata Jones and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Tickets aren't yet on sale, but I'm sure it will be usual scramble for tickets sometime in January when they do get released. Lysistrata Jones tickets are on sale as of 12 noon today.
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 7, 2022 11:38:54 GMT
Is this a definite fixed run or is there a chance of it extending? I thought someone else announced that Be More Chill was going back in after the current run of Heathers. But I wouldn't be surprised if Heathers went back again. It draws an audience and works perfectly in the space available at The Other Palace.
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 7, 2022 11:21:13 GMT
I hope there isn't already a thread for this somewhere, but I saw David Suchet: Poirot and More at the Harold Pinter yesterday. The show has been touring the country and it's in the West End for three weeks.
Yesterday was press night and I ended up with a heavily discounted ticket in the centre of the Dress Circle. An absolutely perfect view in the small theatre.
This is really a two person show (David, plus interviewer), which runs about 2 hours and 40 minutes. It's mostly an interview with lots of anecdotes, although it does come across as rather rehearsed. Very interesting though and the single biggest focus is on David's Shakespearian work, with a few small touches for Poirot fans.
In the second half, there's a long presentation where David talks about how he analyses the language patterns in scripts to find out more about the characters he's playing. I found this interesting, although it is aimed more at the actors in the audience. The only qualm I have, as someone who has studied some linguistics, is how David's approach rather assumes that everything we think of as being by Shakespeare actually was written by the same person. But as I say, interesting, and there's also discussion of how all of this was applied to develop his own interpretation of Poirot.
Unlike many shows of this type there's no audience interaction or spontaneous Q&A. But everything works well.
I don't think the London run is selling as well as it could, but I do notice they've put the front row Stalls on sale for £25, which may interest those of you who like to get close to the action.
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 7, 2022 11:07:54 GMT
I attended the matinee yesterday and got a bargain £20 seat in the middle of the Upper Circle. Just looked again to try and book this for future weeks and it looks like they've taken the Upper Circle off sale for future weekday matinees (it definitely wasn't sold out).
You are a fair way back, but there's an excellent view of the stage.
There is no cast board at the Upper Circle and my ability to recognise faces at a distance isn't what it used to be so I'm not certain who was on. But it was definitely Giles Terera in his second performance back and he was in fine form. I hope to get the chance to see him again during his very short run.
I think it was Aaron Lee Lambert on as Hercules Mulligan/James Madison and Lydia Fraser as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds. All good.
A nice pleasant audience too, with very little whooping. A perfect way to spend a relaxed Thursday afternoon. Do catch Giles while he's back - and maybe they'll even open the Upper Circle back up at a discount nearer next Thursday.
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 1, 2022 15:20:11 GMT
I had a booking for the Thursday matinee at Oxford plus, unfortunately now, non-refundable rail travel tickets between Paddington and Oxford. Hold fire for now. They have had an easement on the advance conditions allowing a fee free exchange up to 6pm the day before travel. Officially speaking, this ended yesterday but I think there's a good chance of this being extended. Alternatively, a lot of trains are being cancelled due to staff shortages. If your journey is cancelled, you'll be entitled to a refund.
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Post by Dr Tom on Dec 31, 2021 22:50:31 GMT
Along with & Juliet, the matinee for the Book of Mormon was my other end of 2021 show. One of the front row £20 tickets on sale on the day, which are an absolute bargain (especially as this show continues toot quietly sell out - or get very close).
I have Anything Goes playing in the background and I'm reminder how odd it is how odd it is to have Haydn Oakley in such a small role here (even though he is fantastic in everything he does).
Pleasantly surprised to have all the leads on in these Covid times, including the perfect pairing of Tom Xander and Dom Simpson.
I overheard a conversation near me about how the Mormon boys were perfectly cast as they looked autistic and the person speaking worked with a Mormon who was autistic. The bizarre way some people think (no offence intended to the cast, I just find myself distracted by how they manage to find so many good looking people to fill the roles).
And that is almost it for 2021. Roll on 2022!
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Post by Dr Tom on Dec 31, 2021 19:59:32 GMT
Here tonight for my final 2021 show. Interval time. All the leads are on. When did they get rid of Romeo being lowered in for his entrance? Now he just runs on, which is much less impressive.
Not too full unfortunately, but I presume they’re continuing with a replacement cast.
Having to hold my tongue with the girls near me telling their friends how great Alex Thomas-Smith was as the lead in Jamie!
Very good so far and just what’s needed to end the year.
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Post by Dr Tom on Dec 30, 2021 22:56:20 GMT
Nipped back this evening to catch this again and enjoyed this very much again. The theatre was much fuller than last time too.
I sat at the end of the front row, which is a far superior view (and angle) to the centre of the row, which I had last time. Two empty seats next to me too, so I had plenty of room.
Several covers on. Marina Tavolieri was on as Val Clarke (there were signs, but not too obviously placed). Eamonn Cox was on as Richie Walters (no evidence of this in the theatre or on social media, but it certainly wasn’t Andre Fabien Francis). Everyone was on form again.
On the train back to London now. I do have a ticket for the closing performance at 2:15pm tomorrow, but with all the train cancellations and the strike I can’t risk staying over. So if it’s of use to anyone, let me know and I’ll send you the e-ticket (free to a good home). Front row aisle seat, but the opposite side to where I sat tonight.
A great run of this musical and well done to everyone concerned.
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Post by Dr Tom on Dec 30, 2021 9:11:57 GMT
That was the same image from the poster ? In that case, I didn't look at the poster closely enough, but it's a pity they couldn't have included photos of different members of the cast, rather than using so many of the same faces twice. I watched (and enjoyed) the first half last night. This is definitely better as a live show. It is just that the spectacle and size of the production doesn't come across. Without the pauses for laughs and applause, it also came across as sped up. Still glad this was captured.
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Post by Dr Tom on Dec 29, 2021 23:27:53 GMT
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Post by Dr Tom on Dec 29, 2021 15:30:34 GMT
Then which role is Les Dennis taking? Standby for Mrs Higgins for Michael Ball's scheduled days off.
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Post by Dr Tom on Dec 23, 2021 22:26:48 GMT
Enjoyed this tonight from the cheap side seats (didn’t feel like I missed anything with staging). Alex Young continues to combine fantastic comedy timing with perfect vocals and was made for the lead role.
They have a simple and effective set for the shop, which folds out. Lots of nice period touches.
The theatre was only about one third full, which is a shame, but people did move seats and fill the space out. I stayed in my second row seat and had a perfect view.
The sound quality was appalling for the first 15 minutes or so. First we had an echo, then it seemed like all the side speakers were turned off, so you could only hear the lines near you. This did sort itself out, but they really should have restarted the show for people who don’t know the book.
I’ve seen a few productions of She Loves Me and this rates somewhere in the middle, but full of charm and performed by a much larger cast than usual. Can’t fault any of the acting, but it’s just hard to make this style of musical come alive in such a big space. Do go see it and don’t hesitate to book the cheap seats!
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Post by Dr Tom on Dec 22, 2021 22:54:12 GMT
Just out of interest what time did you get out of the theatre? I am in Stratford in the afternoon, so might go in the evening, all depends if I can get home though? All done by 9:15pm. I’m staying over in Birmingham, on to Sheffield tomorrow, then onwards to see family.
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Post by Dr Tom on Dec 22, 2021 21:47:44 GMT
Enjoyed this tonight, having not seen the original run.
A very witty script and a much more diverse audience than you see in London (although the house was not as full as it could have been). This is particularly strong on the visual gags.
Still Open All Hours star Sue Holderness was the special guest. Very ready to get involved and they had perfect gags for her (although I get the impression she’s been the guest turn a lot during the run so this is quite polished by now).
Surprised how short this is. The first half is only about 30 minutes, the second half 40 minutes, with a long interval.
The audience lapped it up, with several people near me keen to offer punch lines to their friends before they were announced (not normally with the same punchline). The refurbished Rep looks great too.
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Post by Dr Tom on Dec 22, 2021 20:15:17 GMT
Perhaps they could go ahead with the planned second cast, then bring the originals back for a further run (schedules permitting)?
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