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Post by sam22 on Oct 31, 2023 16:14:46 GMT
I can’t give this all those stars , Steve. It just wasn’t that good for me. I liked the pace, the stark setting was interesting with its turning wheel references, the costumes just too dreary for me. I mean this is a kingdom we are fighting for here, lads. No sign of it. The young actors didn’t cut it for me. They were not grounded enough, they need to dig in, breathe, connect with the audience more. Edmund had a good go at this and I’d see him again. Gloucester being older, managed this. Kenny was workmanlike, not great. With luck, I might see his second go in a few years’ time. The trouble is, these days with our longevity we expect ‘old’ to mean 80s and seeing Kenny’s nice - he’s been to the gym- body didn’t cut it for me. ( in another way, it provided a pleasant distraction ) No great insights. Nothing thrilling. They all spoke clearly but I’m not sure they all understood what they were saying. 3* for me. Largely how I felt. It was fine but not great. I love Lear but my mind wandered quite a few times
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Post by sam22 on Oct 18, 2023 11:26:37 GMT
Weirdly on Twitter they keep responding to ask people to DM them, not to say it wasn't being sent at 10. I've DMd ATG and the play's account as requested but no reply from either Both have now responded with the link so any issues just DM them!
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Post by sam22 on Oct 18, 2023 11:13:15 GMT
Weirdly on Twitter they keep responding to ask people to DM them, not to say it wasn't being sent at 10. I've DMd ATG and the play's account as requested but no reply from either
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Post by sam22 on Oct 18, 2023 11:01:38 GMT
Still waiting for it zzzz
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Post by sam22 on Oct 18, 2023 9:08:31 GMT
Looks like it’s for members only at the mo?.. Seems that way, annoying when yesterday's email said 10am!
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Post by sam22 on Oct 18, 2023 9:02:36 GMT
Eurgh, no. Waiting patiently!
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Post by sam22 on Oct 8, 2023 5:16:33 GMT
I thought I was going mad when couldn't find a thread for Hamilton but turns out there have been no posts for six months so it is really far down the list!
Saw it for the first time since 2018 last night. Really enjoyed it and sat in good stalls seats for the first time.
I wonder if there is some cast illness, it turned out nearly all the lead roles had understudies on: Hamilton, Burr, Mulligan/Maddison, Laurents/Philip, Angelica, Peggy & Eliza.
So only leads on were for King George, Lafayette/Jefferson & George Washington.
Is this a record?! Anyway, it mattered not as they were largely excellent and really enjoyed the show again. I'm sure most the audience wouldn't have known understudies were on and a great reminder of how good they are!
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Post by sam22 on Sept 25, 2023 15:36:00 GMT
Wasn’t a new production hinted at in Manchester? Yes, there is a thread from July about this!
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Post by sam22 on Sept 9, 2023 10:29:48 GMT
I really want to see this. Any news on whether any other stops might be added?
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Post by sam22 on Sept 5, 2023 10:54:50 GMT
Took ages to get through to book but got seats. Agree about prices. Gone for Upper circle which is still £77 each but hopefully view not too bad.
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Post by sam22 on Aug 30, 2023 16:57:22 GMT
Is Next to Normal really a must-see? YES
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Post by sam22 on Aug 28, 2023 10:10:22 GMT
So selfish. If you want to get drunk, just go to a pub. [br Yep! It's such a shame there seems to be more frequent issues happening. It's at the point now where I will just avoid certain shows as can't tolerate the audience
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Post by sam22 on Aug 28, 2023 8:12:44 GMT
*confirmed on Instagram it was Danielle Rose
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Post by sam22 on Aug 28, 2023 6:25:59 GMT
Can't believe there's not a poll for this!
We went last night to top off our weekend in London. I wasn't desperate to go again as have been once to the Arts and then fairly recently to the tour but my other half had never been so we booked and so glad we did. I loved the show, perhaps more than ever before.
I thought that it is in great shape in the Vaudeville. The cast were absolutely fantastic and the vocals were faultless. I didn't know until afterwards that we had two understudies on. Leah Vassell was on for Parr - wonderful.
Does anyone know who was on for Howard? I didn't see a cast board. Looking at the programme it was presumably either alternate Howard Danielle Rose or super swing Rachel Rawlinson?
I know some people aren't keen on the concept and it is certainly different to traditional shows but for me the show totally deserves its West End slot, killer vocals and an overall good time!
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Post by sam22 on Aug 28, 2023 6:18:04 GMT
I was pretty excited for this but sadly very disappointed. I was at yesterday's matinee. The cast are working exceptionally hard and there were some great vocal moments and some tight dancing but I just found the show quite boring.
The costumes worked I thought but the set looked quite flimsy, particularly the mountain and even SpongeBob's pineapple.
I've never seen the TV show so perhaps I missed some of the in jokes, but despite the fairly short run time I found my mind wandering. I liked the first song and a few of the others but wouldn't listen to the album as found the rest of the song unmemorable.
First time to the venue and seemed to be reasonably good views from all seats. A fairly bad audience, my worst for a while. I know there were a lot of kids in but I've never seen a show where so many people have needed bathroom breaks!
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Post by sam22 on Aug 28, 2023 6:12:32 GMT
I'm in the loved it camp and was totally blown away. I thought the Donmar was the perfect venue for it and I'm gutted I haven't booked to see it again.
I'd been excited to see it after loving the Tony performance years ago with Alice Ripley and Aaron Tveit albeit I wasn't a diehard fan before going in and only knew about five of the songs.
It was pretty much perfection for me. The cast were mesmerising with exceptional vocals. I knew all the adult leads but didn't know the three young leads, they've surely all got wonderful careers ahead of them.
I can see why this style of show/music won't be too everyone's taste but it gave me chills.
There was a small mishap with the set which meant a few minutes delay whilst it was resolved but gutted for those booked for the matinee that was cancelled.
I presume it may be unlikely this has a life elsewhere so I'll have to keep it in my memory. An easy 5 stars for me and up there as one of the most powerful shows I've ever seen 🙌
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Post by sam22 on Aug 28, 2023 6:03:34 GMT
I saw the matinee on Saturday. It's been a long time coming as we were booked for June last year at the Old Vic and the show was cancelled shortly before.
I'm not particularly into the classic musicials but was excited to see this given the reviews I'd read and as I've never seen it before, though I didn't know too much about it but knew the famous songs.
I'm on the fence about it. I did think the cast were all wonderful, particularly Patrick Vaill (Jud) and Sally Ann Triplett (Aunt Eller). It was Paige Peddie as Ado Annie though who stole the show for me. I think the show is worth seeing for the cast alone. I also appreciated the band and liked the bluegrass twang.
I'm afraid however in parts I was a little bored. I thought the first half in particular was quite static with everything based around the table, although testament to how good the cast are as so much was conveyed in their faces even when sat down.
I wonder if, for me, I found the story a little dated and didn't connect with it too much. I wasn't into the blackouts, despite having read why they were used.
As I left the theatre I would have given it 3 stars but having now thought about it and also read the programme and online about what the intentions were and into the story I think it is a 4 star show, I wish I'd read about the production before going in.
There were sadly quite a few empty seats in the stalls and circle which surprised me with it closing next week. We sat in a box for the first time which meant some parts were missed but did feel particularly close to the stage so felt quite intimate. Shout out to the lovely ushers in the circle.
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Post by sam22 on Aug 7, 2023 23:04:53 GMT
I would like to see: A Chorus Line Nunsense Copacabana Finian's Rainbow Buddy Jolson Time La Cava Mama, I Want To Sing Buddy as in the Buddy Holly musical? If so it is currently touring 😁
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Post by sam22 on Aug 7, 2023 10:14:38 GMT
I'd really love to see a revival of Parade. Considering its surprising success on broadway, I'd love them to transfer the recent broadway revival here. And The Bridges of Madison County- in fact, anything by Jason Robert Brown Did you see it at the Menier? It wasn't that long ago, maybe 2019? I went to it but for some reason can remember only that Jenna Russell was in it but not much else!
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Post by sam22 on Aug 6, 2023 8:35:43 GMT
I somehow missed all the hype about this when it was on in London, albeit I vaguely recall the poster.
I didn't therefore have any plans to see it in Manchester. I only ended up booking as we were in Manchester for the Kusama exhibition and thought I'd see if anything was on.
So so pleased I did. I thought it was brilliant and echo all the positive comments on here. Very rarely there seems to be few if any negative things said about it on here!
I don't know how Jack Holden does it straight through for 1 hour 40 mins without hardly taking a breath. A fantastic performance and he will no doubt go on to other great things.
Definitely recommend catching it if you can!
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Post by sam22 on Aug 1, 2023 22:00:27 GMT
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Post by sam22 on Aug 1, 2023 20:23:18 GMT
Enjoyed Frozen but not enough to go again, but…. I love Jenna Lee James! Incredible voice and easily for me the second best Joseph Narrator of all time after Linzi (she did the Adelphi Pimlott version). Just insane vocalist. So may now need to go again. Reckon her Let It Go would be worth the ticket price alone! Such a blast from the past. Not seen her in something for years but used to love her in WWRY!
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Post by sam22 on Aug 1, 2023 20:22:27 GMT
I've been to most of their summer musicals for the last 12 years or so and have never experienced a power cut, what a shame it should happen on your first visit. I was meant to be there on Wednesday but COVID has struck again. Happily, they've managed find me a ticket for one of the final shows (assuming I'm clear by then), so hope to catch it before it closes. Ah glad you should be able to catch it!
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Post by sam22 on Jul 30, 2023 8:07:18 GMT
No posts about this since it was announced, has anyone else seen it?
I went to the matinee yesterday. It was my first time there and it's a nice venue with lovely grounds.
Unfortunately I didn't get to see the whole show. About 2/3 of the way through Act 1 (after the dodgeball game) there was a power cut. We remained in our seats and it took about 10 to 15 mins and the show was then able to resume. There was then a further power cut towards the end of 'Big, Blonde and Beautiful'. Given that was nearly the interval the show stopped then, about 4pm, and we were told it would resume after the interval and they seemed confident it would.
At 4.30pm we were told it would instead not start until 5.15pm. We waited but at 5.15pm it was the cancelled.
Another friend went to Cats last year and the same thing happened so don't know if that's just coincidence or an ongoing issue they have.
A real shame but just one of those things. They were obviously able to sort it out though as my friend went last night and it went ahead without any issues so that's reassuring!
I wasn't that excited about seeing the show having seen it a few times but I enjoyed the first half and thought the performances were generally strong. It was much better IMO than the last tour which I thought looked cheap and tired. That may be the venue too as in the space they have not expecting much scenery etc whereas when I saw the tour the set looked lost on such a big stage.
It is only on for another week and I think sold out so I won't get back but it has made me think I'll catch their next musical.
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Post by sam22 on Jul 25, 2023 12:23:19 GMT
Next stop - Olivier Awards? Might get to see it again then, depending on the prices. I did love it, so would be happy to go back. Is it really the best reviewed show in West End history?!
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