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Post by rockinrobin on Mar 19, 2024 14:23:05 GMT
Sooo... My card was charged but then instead of receiving order confirmation I somehow landed on the help page that says the following: "We have been unable to take you to the requested page. To avoid any unwanted issues with your payment, we restrict the user from visiting any other page until the response is received from payment gateway". Has anyone of you experienced the same? Aarrrghh...
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Post by rockinrobin on Aug 12, 2022 10:04:56 GMT
But the thing which does intrigue with Callum playing the emcee is that I don't think I have ever seen such a young actor playing the role and will be interesting to see if that does bring a new angle to a role normally played as a character who has seen it all and done pretty much of it as well which a more youthful emcee may not work so it's open for a fresher interpretation. It may actually work. The best Emcee I've seen on stage (and I've seen a few) was played by an actor who was only 25 back then. It somehow made this character more tragic - that Emcee was young, cheerful, energetic and hunky, and then you could see him slowly descend into sadness and fear. Behind the smile, the glitter and heavy make-up, there was a young, scared man who knew that all the fun (and probably also his life) would end very soon, even though it had only just begun. Looking forward to seeing Callum.
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Post by rockinrobin on Feb 1, 2022 17:00:34 GMT
I'd watch Bertie Carvel peel potatoes so I'm super excited.
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Post by rockinrobin on Mar 1, 2020 13:37:50 GMT
I think Alan Cumming is brilliant in it - but being trapped in a chair like this for over an hour must feel a bit uncomfortable!
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Post by rockinrobin on Mar 1, 2020 1:18:18 GMT
I'll add something positive for a change...
A lady next to me at Endgame last night (we were sitting in the dress circle): "Hello, sorry, I may lean forward a bit because I love Daniel Radcliffe but please tell me or nudge me if I block your view".
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Post by rockinrobin on Feb 29, 2020 18:20:17 GMT
I'd go for it, altamont. You'll probably see Roger Allam's back a lot but both actors are very, very close to you.
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Post by rockinrobin on Feb 29, 2020 17:18:26 GMT
I saw it this afternoon (also in A56 - I can confirm the view is very good). It's a very intense hour. Two-handers are a tricky thing to do - to make it work, you need a "magic ingredient". I think we've all seen horrible two-handers but this one is truly powerful and gripping. There is almost palpable chemistry between Roger Allam and Colin Morgan (or rather Colins Morgans) - they're mesmerising.
(That said, a gentleman in the front row fell asleep. Oh well.)
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Post by rockinrobin on Jan 31, 2020 20:40:17 GMT
I don’t think she ever used to do arena gigs on consecutive nights, understandably given the physical nature of her shows, so why was it done for this tour? What’s gone wrong here is the extortionate pricing, the gruelling schedule and the unwillingness to just back out and reduced the number of shows well in advance. Her management does her no favours. Indeed. I think it's a "bit" cruel of whoever has decided to go on with this tour in its current form. Probably they think she's not getting younger so it might be her last big tour and money must be earned before Madonna decides to stop it. We all know stories of stars who were basically forced to perform even when unwell. Or seriously ill. On the other hand though, I think she's also under massive pressure, a self-inflicted one. Madonna is a huge name for everyone in my generation but I'm turning 40 this year - she is not as famous anymore as she used to be in the '80s and '90s, which is an absolutely natural course of things; every generation has their own idols. Back then she had little competition; now we have dozens and dozens of pop stars with dozens of millions of followers. I guess this tour is also a statement (OK, was supposed to be). I think she may have wanted to prove something. But I also think majority of her fans, including myself, would quite enjoy watching her sit on a bar stool and sing songs - even though Madonna is not the best singer in the universe - and wouldn't complain that they haven't seen 20 complex sexy dance routines in a show. I guess there comes a time in your life when - to quote - you actually can go for second best, for your own good.
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Post by rockinrobin on Jan 6, 2020 14:17:59 GMT
I wasn't too excited about it (not a big fan of American high school culture...) but to my surprise, I really enjoyed it. Daniel Monks is oustanding; his Richard is truly an awful, awful, evil person. He's, well, a d*ck. We tend to feel sort of automatically sorry for people with disabilities - and our compassion is not always genuine while at the same time it often blinds us. Richard in this Play easily manipulates people because he knows they'll feel sympathy for him anyway. After all, he's the crippled one, the bullied one, the victim... who doesn't care about anyone or anything except himself and his ambition.
The show is a bit uneven, I agree, but Monks' stunning, intense performance makes it a must-see.
PS And that ball scene...
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Post by rockinrobin on Jan 5, 2020 22:46:04 GMT
I liked it but not loved it. It's a very enjoyable, beautifully staged and heartwarming show but the magic was just not there for me. Of course, Sally Cookson is a fantastic director and I'm a big fan of her concoctions of drama, physical theatre, circus and puppetry, and I bawled my eyes out watching "A Monster Calls" but... I don't know. Something was missing. Maybe I'm too old.
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Post by rockinrobin on Jan 4, 2020 16:24:16 GMT
Saw it for the second time this afternoon - it was a penultimate show so of course it was both a little bit sad and incredibly energetic. I think everyone loved it. It truly is a marvellous, magical little piece of theatre and I hope it comes back one day.
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Post by rockinrobin on Jan 3, 2020 10:32:43 GMT
I'm pretty certain Tom Ellis was at Cyrano last night. Or someone looking just like him.
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Post by rockinrobin on Jan 3, 2020 0:20:22 GMT
I have to say I found it really enjoyable (and I'm not the biggest fan of the book). I think it's a bit more dark and nostalgic than the novel - also quite scary at times (on the other hand, two very young girls seated next to me seemed completely unperturbed while I - not very young anymore, I'm afraid - was jumping in my seat). Without spoiling, I don't think I'm going to have a bath tonight...
It's very cleverly staged, the effects with a touch of magic and the lighting are quite impressive. Oh, and I loved the opening scene. Very simple and yet very moving.
It's not a life-changing show but I think it's worth seeing. It can bring back some childhood memories (or fantasies, rather.)
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Post by rockinrobin on Dec 20, 2019 20:11:48 GMT
Queues in the loos. Phones out. People who ask me if I could swap seats with them because I'm on my own and they want to sit with their friends (ironically, they usually leave in the interval). People who are drunk. Price of wine (on the other hand, this probably prevents me from becoming one of the people who are drunk). Not a problem in London but where I live theatregoing is still considered a posh thing to do so sometimes people look at my jeans as if they wanted to say "really? we're in a temple of art and you're wearing THIS?".
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Post by rockinrobin on Dec 12, 2019 14:15:49 GMT
There's a big theatre festival in my town and of course, plenty of theatre critics in the audience. They literally are the worst. Phones on for the entire show (taking photos, taking notes, sending messages, everything), chatting with colleagues from "the industry", changing seats, arriving late, leaving before the curtain call, basically ruining the show for mere mortals who paid a lot for the tickets. Urgh.
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Post by rockinrobin on Dec 10, 2019 10:52:40 GMT
Oedipus. A Doll's House. A Number. Sunday in the Park with George.
But I'm also looking forward greatly to the return of Romantics Anonymous (here's hoping it will come back to London as well).
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Post by rockinrobin on Dec 7, 2019 11:25:00 GMT
Urgh, difficult but let's give it a try... In no particular order:
Equus Present Laughter Downstate A Midsummer Night's Dream (Bridge) Death of a Salesman
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Post by rockinrobin on Dec 3, 2019 8:51:59 GMT
The goose in The Ferryman. Dogs in Downstate and Shakespeare in Love (I "met" the latter at stage door, super proud).
And Wee Thomas, of course.
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Post by rockinrobin on Dec 2, 2019 14:29:20 GMT
I booked and am going in early January but I have to say I'm not a big fan of the book (although yes, a big fan of Neil Gaiman). I agree it is a bit bland. We'll see.
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Post by rockinrobin on Nov 30, 2019 23:58:31 GMT
Sprouts in A Christmas Carol. And snow, too. The final scene of Unreachable at Royal Court, a few years back. The "it is the most human wish of all" moment in A Monster Calls. I burst into tears. Sea Wall. The final scene of Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake.
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Post by rockinrobin on Nov 22, 2019 7:22:58 GMT
I would love to comment on this cast but I'm too busy breathing into a bag.
I'm going to be so poor next year...
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Post by rockinrobin on Nov 20, 2019 11:30:27 GMT
Oh God. Now I'm a bit excited. At my age, I should really start saving money and not spend everything on trips to London...
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Post by rockinrobin on Nov 8, 2019 11:01:20 GMT
I saw it last night and was truly moved. It's one of these plays where nothing is happening and yet, so much is happening. It is a play about loss - in a very wide sense. Not just losing those we love but also our places, our language, our identity. I found it very moving but it doesn't make you cry buckets, it just stays with you.
The cast is brilliant, that's all I can say. They're all marvellous. (And Rhys Ifans gave me a hug at the Royal Court bar. Not to brag but.)
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Post by rockinrobin on Nov 8, 2019 7:36:42 GMT
I loved it (and I got whisky - ha!). A very charming little show, very intimate. Wonderful performances; all performers are of course insanely talented but Maimuna Memon is oustanding, her voice is not of this world. I'm definitely going again. PS Loved the ending...
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Post by rockinrobin on Nov 6, 2019 13:59:27 GMT
Uh oh, audience participation... I'm going tomorrow and am a bit concerned now. I'm in the front row, will I have to stare at my shoes and hope I'm invisible?...
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Post by rockinrobin on Nov 5, 2019 15:26:50 GMT
Lungs tomorrow, Ghost Quartet and Ghost Stories on Thursday. &Juliet on Friday. I'm having horrible back ache (disc herniation is SO much fun) so it will be a bit of a challenge... Wish me luck.
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Post by rockinrobin on Sept 18, 2019 16:31:39 GMT
I used to avoid shows that were "too close for comfort" but as I get older, I learn to face painful stories. I no longer want theatre to be joyous and glittery. I want it to make me confront myself, even if it's not always pleasant. There was a time in my life when I watched a lot of plays and films about cancer, and found them quite cathartic. They helped me understand I was not the only one struggling with grief and anger, and that my feelings were perfectly normal. So by causing me pain these shows actually made me feel better.
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Post by rockinrobin on Sept 16, 2019 15:40:09 GMT
Managed to get my stalls row D ticket for £72. Bit painful but James McAvoy is great on stage so let's hope it's money well spent...
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Post by rockinrobin on Sept 9, 2019 15:31:45 GMT
Ooooh, Zubin Varla! I must see this.
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Post by rockinrobin on Sept 4, 2019 14:21:58 GMT
Ewwwww. I hope I wasn't sitting in the same seat when I saw it! This is even more disturbing than the play itself. Speaking of bad behaviour - not at a show, but I went to a gig in the park last weekend. Nice sunny afternoon, lots of families with kids et cetera. The crowd was pretty big. And all of a sudden I felt that something strange was happening to the back of my skirt. Apparently one guy felt a bit bored so he actually tried to lift my skirt and thought I wouldn't notice! Bleeeuuurgh!! (Lesson learned: always wear dungarees to gigs.)
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