4,631 posts
|
Post by Phantom of London on May 31, 2022 21:11:25 GMT
I adore Shakespeare, but Henry VIII is flat out obscure, no great monologues from the play, it is no Henry V or Richard III. Doesn’t the musical Six do it a lot better?
Now think I need to go to confession, Henry wouldn’t approve.
|
|
4,631 posts
|
Post by Phantom of London on May 27, 2022 17:16:05 GMT
I have been using all week for my commute and is a game changer and it will benefit many other people too, whether commuter, tourist or theatre enthusiasts, it will make a big difference to people's lives. It will take a big strain off the Central, Jubilee, Piccadilly and Met/Circle/H&C, it will make people who travel on those lines more bearable. So will have indirect benefits too.
The stations are something else and unlike the Underground there is a sense of space, there is no dot matrix displays on the stations, these are instead built into the platform doors.
This will improve when all the dots are linked in October and Bond Street finally opens.
It is clear London now needs Crossrail 2 to take the strain off the Northern, Bakerloo & Victoria Lines, as well to cater for the extra passengers at Euston when HS2 opens.
|
|
4,631 posts
|
Post by Phantom of London on May 26, 2022 14:26:29 GMT
When the buses in Manchester were de-regulated, all the companies wanted a slice of the most lucrative routes. One of them was the Oxford Road corridor to the University/Fallowfield student residences. It ended up with so many companies running 6 buses an hour on weekdays that you could hardly see any other vehicles along the road. There was a memorable morning when Piccadilly Gardens and the streets leading off to Oxford Rd and St Peter's Square got totally gridlocked. If the buses are under TFGM control, it will ensure that this doesn't happen again and all bus routes get a decent number of services running. Just out of interest and I am, as it is my line of work. TFGM is extremely well run, especially Metrolink which is very well managed, their project management team are great and have delivered. You mention Oxford Road and it is quite a wide road, so I am surprised at St Peter Square that the Metrolink hasn't been extended down there, towards the hospital and university, as you say it is busy with buses, so will raise revenue, to operate a tram, it will be quite environmental, than gas guzzling buses.
|
|
4,631 posts
|
Post by Phantom of London on May 24, 2022 19:50:18 GMT
I was on it today, as it is my new commute to work from Abbey Wood to Farringdon. It has cut my journey time for 1/3 and is free for me, so save money on National Rail.
The station at Farringdon is deep and has a massive escalator, to access the Underground Station I have to exit the Lizzie Line Station cross the road and enter the Underground Station, so it is quite iconic that I am exiting the newest metro in the world, but then going on the oldest metro in the world!
The trains are reasonable comfortable, but on a hot day the air conditioning will come into itself, which Southeastern Trains don't have.
Going home soon, I will cycle to Liverpool Street.
This line is excellent for the new theatre in Woolwich.
|
|
4,631 posts
|
Post by Phantom of London on May 24, 2022 13:57:08 GMT
Silly me and I always thought "Tap Dance" was a song from the show.
|
|
4,631 posts
|
Post by Phantom of London on May 23, 2022 22:59:38 GMT
Is Judy Cranmer attached to this?
|
|
4,631 posts
|
Post by Phantom of London on May 23, 2022 18:07:20 GMT
That would make the show 2 hours 15 including interval, I’m sure it’s longer than that. At the first preview they were citing times as Act 1: 65 mins 20 min interval Act 2: 55 mins and with a 7.45 start, we were out just after 10pm, even with a slight delay on that 7.45 start time. Thanks for that. I don't know why they start at 19:45, last year it was 19:30. Given the geographic location of Regent's Park and being a 15 minute walk to Baker Street Station and then a tube to get to a National Rail Station, it makes it all very late getting home, especially on a weeknight.
|
|
4,631 posts
|
Post by Phantom of London on May 22, 2022 1:45:40 GMT
I've had a browse of Nicholas Hytner's credits - am I wrong to say this will be his first musical since Carousel? Will definitely be going regardless of who's doing this Probably is true, he also done the original Miss Saigon, which he named his house after as it basically payed the mortgage. As you say he also did Carousel which Frank Rich of the New York Times dubbed ‘the best ever revival of a Rogers and Hammerstein musical’ so basically after those 2 success Nicholas gave up on musicals, figuring he couldn’t go any better. Guys and Dolls is one of the best ever musicals, with the greatest eleven o’clock number written for theatre ‘Sit down you’re rockin the bird.’ And no I didn’t see the much heralded National production, nor did I see the Donmar production with the late Patrick Swayze, only if I could turn back time twice!
|
|
4,631 posts
|
Post by Phantom of London on May 20, 2022 10:13:41 GMT
No doubt it is for touring, however that shouldn’t prevent a reasonable decent set from being built. The problem I found is that a set was designed for the smallest stage on the tour, the London Coliseum is a massive stage. Here is the rub for me and what should be the main jaw dropping part of the set being Professor Henry Higgin’s study was parred back so much on a stage that already had masking, which made the staging very narrow already, for the study it had additional masking coming in from the side, which made it look minuscule and anaemic. it was like wearing a size 8 shoe size, but made to wear a size 7. It was all very uncomfortable to look at. The study was pushed on by a truck from the back, so why cannot the staging have a truck that can be enlarged for the bigger stages, with 2 additional panels, one for each side to make the study bigger, instead of having additional masking? If they tried to do this in New York, it wouldn’t last, the British seem more forgiving, which isn’t necessarily a good thing. They did the same for Hairspray. We do seem to get a lot of touring productions with touring sets landing in the West End - it doesn't happen on Broadway so much does it? You would just expect that for a venue like the Coliseum they'd pull all the stops out! Ah well. My issues weren't so much about the set tbh. I had other issues with production and only commented on the set design as it was brought up already. My Fair Lady is one of the greatest musicals written, however most of the great songs are in the first half and falls flatter more in the second half. But still it is a great musical of a rotten production. But saying that Amara Okereke was fantastic, this production was better on Broadway much better, however I wasn’t convinced by Harry Hadden-Paton then and I wasn’t again last night. I was lucky to see the much better Cameron Mackintosh production 20 odd years again, but was luckier still to see a marvellous Sheffield theatres’ Christmas production 10 years ago, with Dominic West and Carly Bowden that production was superb, however this production was none of that. 2 Stars
|
|
4,631 posts
|
Post by Phantom of London on May 19, 2022 21:54:03 GMT
Presumably they’ll be touring this same set so maybe compromises have had to be made. Presumably they’ll be touring this same set so maybe compromises have had to be made. It was obvious we wouldn't get the original Broadway set as that was designed for a thrust stage. I'm surprised there is still sound issues, does the Coliseum usually have these issues with the ENO? No doubt it is for touring, however that shouldn’t prevent a reasonable decent set from being built. The problem I found is that a set was designed for the smallest stage on the tour, the London Coliseum is a massive stage. Here is the rub for me and what should be the main jaw dropping part of the set being Professor Henry Higgin’s study was parred back so much on a stage that already had masking, which made the staging very narrow already, for the study it had additional masking coming in from the side, which made it look minuscule and anaemic. it was like wearing a size 8 shoe size, but made to wear a size 7. It was all very uncomfortable to look at. The study was pushed on by a truck from the back, so why cannot the staging have a truck that can be enlarged for the bigger stages, with 2 additional panels, one for each side to make the study bigger, instead of having additional masking? If they tried to do this in New York, it wouldn’t last, the British seem more forgiving, which isn’t necessarily a good thing. They did the same for Hairspray.
|
|
4,631 posts
|
Post by Phantom of London on May 15, 2022 22:11:09 GMT
There is no shame coming second to Ukraine.
|
|
4,631 posts
|
Post by Phantom of London on May 15, 2022 20:51:22 GMT
London should have an active archive like the New York Public Library of the Performing Arts, that would be a start.
|
|
4,631 posts
|
Post by Phantom of London on May 15, 2022 19:26:39 GMT
This was one of the first plays I ever saw.
First time round it left me stunned especially Mark Rylance’s mesmerising performance, second time round and seen many plays since, but has this diminished my interest in Jerusalem after seeing this again? Not at all it left me stunned especially Mark Rylance mesmerising performance. It is one of the finest plays ever written. This is what makes theatre special, as this wouldn’t work on the cinema, Netflix or a book, it is a special one of a kind theatrical experience and will only work on stage. I am still reeling from walking out of the Apollo as I was 12 years ago with Mark Rylance……………….. at the end.
What did have me stunned was that it didn’t win the Olivier Awards 12 years ago, but was nominated with Enron, Red and The Mountaintop, the later one winning, it was by far the worst of the four plays. It also lost the Tony Award against War Horse, that one I do understand though.
5 stars but I could easily revise that upwards.
|
|
4,631 posts
|
Post by Phantom of London on May 13, 2022 22:23:38 GMT
The Broadway production last night announced its closing in 2 weeks. The Manchester run is still confirmed, but it doesn't forecast much hope if the Broadway version hasn't survived. I don’t think the producers are too worried. There’s been many a show that hasn’t done well on Broadway but has been successful over here and vice versa. One of those shows is beginning tonight in Regent’s Park that being Legally Blonde.
|
|
4,631 posts
|
Post by Phantom of London on May 10, 2022 13:48:29 GMT
Theatre by its nature is not environmentally friendly, how many skips theatres, fill up during the year must be eye watering, then to boot all that power theatres must consume?
|
|
4,631 posts
|
Post by Phantom of London on May 10, 2022 10:42:21 GMT
To get to this point where tickets are highly sought, was because people stumped up the money to see someone who is no longer in the cast.
If the current cast was the original cast, I doubt tickets would be anywhere near this price and more than likely would be an easy ticket. Especially as the reviews weren’t that good.
|
|
4,631 posts
|
Post by Phantom of London on May 9, 2022 21:04:35 GMT
This is just appalling. It's not even as if this is completely sold out that they feel like they can get away with charging 400 for returns. So is Tarom Egerton back in the show, with his sidekick Eddie Redmayne?
|
|
4,631 posts
|
Post by Phantom of London on May 8, 2022 19:22:06 GMT
He was (sad to use past tense) a great actor. He too saw him in MFL he was great and so natural for the role.
He was great in the Sweeney.
Excellent in Minder, a perfect foil for the brilliant George Cole.
Superb in New Tricks a brilliant cast show with Alun stellar cast of Armstrong, Amanda Redmond & James Bolan
|
|
4,631 posts
|
Post by Phantom of London on May 8, 2022 19:00:57 GMT
How ironic is that? We have just had the first performance of the first revival in 21 years, that last revival starred Dennis Waterman who it has just announced he has died. Also he died in Spain, so it doesn’t just rain in Spain in sometimes pours!
|
|
4,631 posts
|
Post by Phantom of London on May 8, 2022 18:03:35 GMT
I wouldn’t be keen on vintage fur, nor ivory, that’s just me.
A former poster on here that claimed they were a producer of 42nd Street at Drury Lane, who was also all over fashion as a hobby, claimed they used real fur in that show, this poster was also inconsistent in some of the things he claimed.
I would’ve thought if a show used real fur and it got out, it would really harm the box office. Also could you force backstage staff to deal with fur?
|
|
4,631 posts
|
Post by Phantom of London on May 7, 2022 15:53:26 GMT
I am not really a concert guy. But do love both Chess and Kinky Boots.
For the life of me I cannot understand why an actor would spend weeks learning a score for one night only?
|
|
4,631 posts
|
Post by Phantom of London on May 7, 2022 15:36:22 GMT
So Samantha Barks is a lady after my own heart, as she is vegetarian like I am.
So seeing Hedwig in Manchester this afternoon and Hedwig made a reference to which I didn’t cheer that the fur brigade protesting outside that he couldn’t care about them and they can go and screw themselves, he had on what looked to be a very convincing fur, I am sure that fake furs look very convincing. I hope any consume designer, worth their salt would never consider using real fur?
Many years ago I was at a show, which involved a turkey fight, people basically throwing bits of turkey at each other, a bit however landed on me, after the show I went ape, at the duty manager.
|
|
4,631 posts
|
Post by Phantom of London on May 5, 2022 11:31:19 GMT
|
|
4,631 posts
|
Post by Phantom of London on May 4, 2022 22:29:47 GMT
On I think I need to give this board’s moderators and admin a gentle and loving nudge to start a poll?
|
|
4,631 posts
|
Post by Phantom of London on May 3, 2022 0:15:57 GMT
A lot of Bedknobs relies on the traditiona set up for the magic to work, so i think the curve of the Gillian Lynne could be a challenge for it to successfully work The Gillian Lynne can be altered into a traditional proscenium arch theatre.
|
|
4,631 posts
|
Post by Phantom of London on May 2, 2022 15:04:05 GMT
There is no good way to announce a closure of a show.
I am generally a fan of Andrew Lloyd Webber's work, but didn't like Cinderella.
Andrew Lloyd Webber must've written the handbook on how NOT to produce a show, he is the world's worst producer. It is telling how is shows have faired after breaking away from Cameron Mackintosh after The Phantom of the Opera.
|
|
4,631 posts
|
Post by Phantom of London on May 2, 2022 0:22:43 GMT
Bookings in the next few months are terrible. I’ve heard rumours of a Broadway transfer into the PE and I’m not surprised I just had this cold shudder come across me, that it could be MJ, please NO. The only worthy shows that are open now and could come across the pond is The Music Man and Beetlejuice.
|
|
4,631 posts
|
Post by Phantom of London on May 1, 2022 20:56:50 GMT
Mean Girls was rumoured to go into the Savoy, but Pretty Woman got there first (don’t know how Pretty Woman is doing though?) The Boy in the Dress/The Magician’s Elephant both from the RSC could be looking for a West End theatre. I wonder if Anastasia will come over?
But my money would be on as I said up thread Bednobs and Broomsticks as it is a well known title, has had considerable money spent on it, has a big producer and is ready to go.
|
|
4,631 posts
|
Post by Phantom of London on May 1, 2022 18:13:32 GMT
I am a massive Webber fan, but this is his worst musical. I did enjoy the use of the revolve though.
The non-Olivier winning (nominated once though) that the critics tried to tell us how great it was.
|
|
4,631 posts
|
Post by Phantom of London on Apr 30, 2022 21:13:33 GMT
That is terrible
Jukebox musicals tend to bring out the worst out in the worst people, by which I mean, people seem to find it necessary to get out of their tree before the performance.
|
|