31 posts
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Post by Maz on Aug 1, 2017 15:49:21 GMT
We went last night. Really great! Didn't know much about this play at all, which makes a nice change from the norm. There were a few little things which didn't quite work for me, but thinking about it more today, I think some of them could be 'preview' issues which will work themselves out. It's been a while since I went to a show at the start of the run so might try and catch it near the end to see if much has changed.
Will give a few more thoughts about the play and cast (overall all were brill) when I get a chance but mainly came on now to say the view from row AA is most definitely restricted at times. I don't know about official or legal definitions, but I basically couldn't see an awful lot. I didn't mind the looking up at all, but it wasn't a case of as long as you look up you can see all the action. You couldn't. Course, it might differ where along the row you are (and maybe how tall you are?) but imo they should absolutely be advertised as partially restricted. I know they are cheap seats and therefore could be said they are good value for money but it should be made known to the buyer about the view.
Having said all that, what a great play! It gave me A LOT to think about. Think I'll be buying this one to read too. Enjoy it if you're going and I'd be interested to know other thoughts about row AA!
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1,186 posts
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Post by theatrelover123 on Aug 1, 2017 21:26:24 GMT
Going to see this in about 2 weeks and was moved back from row AA to row A by the Box Office who emailed me to tell me of the change. I would be interested to hear what the view is like from Row A (specifically seat A4). Is Row A now the third row behind rows AA and BB?
This is what the BO email said: Since your booking was made, the production team has informed us that there will no longer be a 5-seat row AA. As you originally booked a seat in this row, we have moved you to seat A4
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31 posts
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Post by Maz on Aug 1, 2017 22:54:40 GMT
Going to see this in about 2 weeks and was moved back from row AA to row A by the Box Office who emailed me to tell me of the change. I would be interested to hear what the view is like from Row A (specifically seat A4). Is Row A now the third row behind rows AA and BB? This is what the BO email said: Since your booking was made, the production team has informed us that there will no longer be a 5-seat row AA. As you originally booked a seat in this row, we have moved you to seat A4 You'll probably get better opinions from others (like some who've actually sat in row A ) But my impression from seeing the layout last night is that row A is a MUCH better seat than AA. It is technically the 3rd row but set far enough behind AA and BB to be a sort of front row itself. I've been thinking this over and really can't think of a good reason why they added the 2 rows. Extra revenue doesn't seem like a good reason when it's not sold out. They are soo close that I almost felt like I was putting SC off by looking at her. (Possibly just my impression but I thought she seemed nervous, esp at the start).
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2017 8:01:25 GMT
Well. What a lovely kitchen. Very homely. People who love a set of chairs to match the table should probably look away though.
I do wonder if Stockard Channing is in the middle of suing her surgeon. If she isn't, she jolly well should be. Ouch.
Stockard is wonderful though (a touch on the hammy side occasionally but she's so glorious you forgive her) and I was surprised how good Laura Carmichael was. Often the earnest American Christian is a bit of a joke but she ends up as the most sympathetic character and Laura plays her with a real genuineness. You get two Joseph Millsons for the price of one if that's your thing although sadly not at the same time which would have been marvellous.
But the big plus point is that you get possibly one of the worst performances of the year courtesy of Freema Agyeman. She veers between seeming like she read the script for the first time that afternoon and making every line sound like a question? Sometimes both at the same time. Which I suppose is a gift in itself.
The play is entertaining enough, rather funny in some parts (enjoy Thursday!) and zips along nicely. Go see it for La Channing because (I've used it before but I'm not going to miss the opportunity to drag it out again) there are worse things you could do.
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2,302 posts
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Post by Tibidabo on Aug 2, 2017 8:25:29 GMT
Well. What a lovely kitchen. Very homely. People who love a set of chairs to match the table should probably look away though.My heart is actually palpitating at the very thought. I do wonder if Stockard Channing is in the middle of suing her surgeon. If she isn't, she jolly well should be. Sounds like she may use the same one as Felicity, as observed from the front row of the Chocolate Factory recently. I honestly don't know what possesses people who need to contort their faces into all sorts of nuances for a living to even consider plasticising them into such weird, rigid sculptures. Give me the visages of Dames Maggie, Judi and Julie any day. Glad to hear nice things about Laura C and Joseph M.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2017 10:08:49 GMT
Going to see this in about 2 weeks and was moved back from row AA to row A by the Box Office who emailed me to tell me of the change. I would be interested to hear what the view is like from Row A (specifically seat A4). Is Row A now the third row behind rows AA and BB? I'm sure it's fine. The front two rows are very close to the front of the stage (which looks rather high) then there's a gap (walkway sized) before you get to the next row which I think is Row A. So you're floor level (no rake) but probably far back enough to see over the heads in front without straining your neck as much as those in the first two rows. I'd say you're effectively the equivalent to being 4 rows from the front of the stage if that makes sense.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2017 11:23:43 GMT
Ooooh I am also in row A4 when I go!!
not sure what to expect with this as I know the very basic storyline but that is about it, as a general rule I never book a show to go and see a star, but this one I had to make an exception to see Stockard!
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4,950 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Aug 2, 2017 12:34:54 GMT
Who knew that Ryan can also do serious. Who knew.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2017 12:50:16 GMT
Who knew that Ryan can also do serious. Who knew. Cheeky. Well don't get too used to it, I won't be making that mistake too often.
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3,470 posts
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Post by showgirl on Aug 2, 2017 13:29:24 GMT
You're such a tease, @ryan - I'm still waiting for a report on your predicted misbehaviour at Jermyn Street recently. Or can someone else enlighten us?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2017 8:39:49 GMT
Well Samantha Bond loved it!
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4,950 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Aug 4, 2017 8:45:34 GMT
No mention of your pal Freema?
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133 posts
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Post by japhun on Aug 4, 2017 9:33:07 GMT
Watching tonight in Row AA... luckily I'm 6'2"! Lucky for who? No offence, but I'd be really annoyed if I were behind you! Do post a review please! PS. I do like the virtual you though. Sorry that my height (which obviously i had COMPLETE control over) would be really annoying to you. I am assuming you book front row for every show you see to avoid the possibility of having something as offensive as a tall person in front of you. Personally, someone's height is near the bottom of the list of things that really annoy me in theatres...but again that's just me!
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Post by d'James on Aug 4, 2017 9:34:58 GMT
Lucky for who? No offence, but I'd be really annoyed if I were behind you! Do post a review please! PS. I do like the virtual you though. Sorry that my height (which obviously i had COMPLETE control over) would be really annoying to you. I am assuming you book front row for every show you see to avoid the possibility of having something as offensive as a tall person in front of you. Personally, someone's height is near the bottom of the list of things that really annoy me in theatres...but again that's just me! I'm a similar height to you and am considering sitting in those front rows. Did you have to strain your neck much??!
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133 posts
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Post by japhun on Aug 4, 2017 9:39:17 GMT
Sorry that my height (which obviously i had COMPLETE control over) would be really annoying to you. I am assuming you book front row for every show you see to avoid the possibility of having something as offensive as a tall person in front of you. Personally, someone's height is near the bottom of the list of things that really annoy me in theatres...but again that's just me! I'm a similar height to you and am considering sitting in those front rows. Did you have to strain your neck much??! The stage is quite high, but it also isn't very deep. The only time I couldn't see clearly was when Stockard has her first long soliloquy seated at the table stage right. I still see though, but with a bit of strain For 15 quid, it's a great ticket.
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Post by d'James on Aug 4, 2017 10:19:41 GMT
I'm a similar height to you and am considering sitting in those front rows. Did you have to strain your neck much??! The stage is quite high, but it also isn't very deep. The only time I couldn't see clearly was when Stockard has her first long soliloquy seated at the table stage right. I still see though, but with a bit of strain For 15 quid, it's a great ticket. Thanks. Sounds good! :-)
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4,631 posts
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Post by Phantom of London on Aug 4, 2017 21:19:29 GMT
Saw this tonight and got a last minute ticket, as a social occasion got cancelled. So got a ticket in the back for £35 in row P, could of got a better ticket but the seats were together and I know ATG don't leave a seat unsold.
I thought nothing could get worse that Jamie Lloyd's 'The Maids' this came almighty close, plays on a family gathering that turns caustic has been done to death, with mixed results, this wasn't one of the better ones!!! Desmond Barrit made a telling remark that "he would rather have his leg amputated", so did I with the agony of the Trafalgar seating and I am rather tall and have arthritis in my knee, so had to apply a pain killing gel, to get through the first half, in the second half I moved down to the loge, which was unsold.
Second grumble is the appalling decision by Jamie Lloyd not to have his cast mic'd, from row P it sounded that they were mumbling and with people fidgeting the cast were inaudible, even when I moved down to the loge things didn't improve, Joseph Millson has a virtual monologue in the second half, Which I struggled to hear.
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716 posts
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Post by theatre-turtle on Aug 4, 2017 21:37:08 GMT
I was in row P as well tonight (£35). Which seats were you in?
I thought this was really good actually. Too tired now but I will post a review tomorrow. I agree with you about fidgeting too. It's a very quiet play, and a theatre that doesn't carry sound well. We were near a lot of people with ice in their glasses and ruffling coats etc. (why?!?!?)
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371 posts
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Post by popcultureboy on Aug 5, 2017 8:13:57 GMT
Saw this tonight and got a last minute ticket, as a social occasion got cancelled. So got a ticket in the back for £35 in row P, could of got a better ticket but the seats were together and I know ATG don't leave a seat unsold. To paraphrase from Game of Thrones, you know nothing Phantom of London. The ATG site had a tweak a while back now which allows internet buyers to leave single seats. Second grumble is the appalling decision by Jamie Lloyd not to have his cast mic'd, from row P it sounded that they were mumbling and with people fidgeting the cast were inaudible, even when I moved down to the loge things didn't improve, Joseph Millson has a virtual monologue in the second half, Which I struggled to hear. I think the decision not to get them to actually project is surely worse? I saw it from row C the other night and there were points when I was thinking "blimey this is a little quiet isn't it?" and it's not like Millson and Channing don't have a stage career behind them, is it? Freema Agyeman and Laura Carmichael both have less stage experience I think and they both boomed it out perfectly. And really, only Freema's character can really get away with being loud enough for that to be an excuse. Lloyd needs to spend some time sitting in Row P shouting "sing out, Louise". That aside, I actually really enjoyed it. Once I grew accustomed to Channing's face, that is. For the first 5 minutes, I found it quite distracting. It's not the most groundbreaking of plays, but it was mostly smartly written and neatly acted. Some really killer lines in there. Stockard Channing is of course delightful and revelling in the role but for me, the revelation of the night was Laura Carmichael. Having seen her twice before and been, to put it mildly, underwhelmed both times, she isn't someone I flock to see. But she was properly wonderful here, delivering the rare performance of a character who is clearly super annoying to the other people in the play, but doesn't have the same effect on the audience (unlike Freema's performance, for example). I always think it's a difficult line to tread and she did it superbly. Who would have thought?
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1,186 posts
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Post by theatrelover123 on Aug 5, 2017 17:11:52 GMT
Hello I was lucky enough to see this show today as my friend had a spare. Loved the show. Great show. Top cast. Interesting and thought provoking play. This now frees up the ticket I have for the 2.30pm matinee on Saturday 19th August. It's in seat A4 which looks like a perfect view from my vantage point earlier. Centre of the third row. Seats on that row now appear to be sold for £45 but I paid £15 for it and that's all I am looking to get for it. There don't appear to be any more £15 seats available across the run. Message me if interested. Grab yourself a bargain to a great show. Also posted on the Noticeboard Thanks
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2017 16:30:11 GMT
Surely actors should be taught to project I've never really seen plays where performers are mic'd up but I haven't been to the Trafalgar for a few years so don't know if the layout has changed so it makes projecting harder.
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3,470 posts
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Post by showgirl on Aug 6, 2017 17:14:03 GMT
The few people here who recently saw The Gabriel Trilogy (or any of the 3 plays) may recall that audibility was an issue as the cast had apparently been told NOT o project. Luckily for me I was sitting close to the stage, but I gather some people struggled to hear.
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923 posts
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Post by Snciole on Aug 8, 2017 8:54:43 GMT
I liked this, the strength is the dialogue. I completely got Channing's character of Kristen. A woman who came to Europe to get away from people like Laura Carmichael's character but ultimately is the only one who gets her. I struggled with Channing's face, in many ways it suited the character but it did not suit her. It is a real shame to see these beautiful and talented actresses resort to such shoddy face lifts. Joseph Millson as Peter and Simon, both affected by their mother's absence but coping in different ways was a fantastic and subtle dual performance. Channing was probably at her finest during that late night kitchen scene. I love Desmond Barritt's Hugh; kind and humorous but ultimately his biggest contribution feels like a letdown. Why are they all so reluctant to discuss how toxic the marriage she had was. It was never explained why, despite the sons' hostility, they were even in touch with her?
Freema is just not a good actress. I saw her post press night so maybe she will warm into the part. I found her character believable and well written but her acting very one note, which is a shame because had Channing had an actress that was her equal those scenes could have been glorious. It also didn't make sense why she was with Simon in the first place, he seemed to be bring nothing or very little to the relationship.
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515 posts
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Post by callum on Aug 9, 2017 1:19:51 GMT
For all of the Stockard lovers here, she does a great guest spot in Difficult People, which just released a few new episodes this week. The cocaine-addicted aunt!
Hoping to see the play eventually but her surgery doesn't seem bad to me. Everybody does it, it's just I suppose how well it turns out. Sally Field and Jessica Lange IMO have had some very high quality nips and tucks. Probably Mirren too. And definitely Jane Fonda. I would not judge these actresses at all, it's just the demands of the business they're in. Stockard at least isn't Meg Ryan / Melanie Griffith level bad.
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Post by floorshow on Aug 9, 2017 22:10:38 GMT
Q&A after tonights performance, cast & writer. An enjoyable half hour of anecdotes to finish off the night
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213 posts
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Post by frosty on Aug 10, 2017 13:58:15 GMT
Saw it last night too, but did not stay for the Q&A as was too worried about not getting a train home, what with the chaos at Waterloo. Turns out it was fine anyway. As for the play...well it was interesting, but it didn't really make me care about the characters or feel a lot of sympathy for any of them. I didn't have any issues hearing the dialogue in row F though, so maybe they are speaking up a bit. I thought Laura Carmichael was very good, Stockard's acting is fantastic, but it's so difficult to not want to stare at that face, and for the wrong reasons. Perhaps we're not used to seeing people with that much work done to them in this country, if we lived in LA, maybe it would be the norm! Loved the kitchen, loved Freema's hideous 2k dress. Hated the incredibly uncomfortable and narrow seats in the theatre, you certainly get very well acquainted with your neighbour, let's hope they don't consider a 'clothing optional' show there.
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Xanderl
Member
Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on Aug 21, 2017 14:42:40 GMT
Just had a look at rush tickets for this on TodayTix. There are still rush tix available for tonight and they are not just in the front two rows - I was offered row M for £15. So looks like they are putting more unsold seats out this way. If so possibly you'll get a better deal by waiting till later in the day before trying for a rush ticket
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Xanderl
Member
Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on Aug 22, 2017 10:14:08 GMT
Update on this - had a nosy at TodayTix again today.
First looked at 10:20, at that point all rush tickets were in other users' baskets, one in AA then got released. That then went too. Had a look just now, and rush tickets were available again, this time in row N.
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330 posts
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Post by RedRose on Aug 22, 2017 12:53:47 GMT
Update on this - had a nosy at TodayTix again today. First looked at 10:20, at that point all rush tickets were in other users' baskets, one in AA then got released. That then went too. Had a look just now, and rush tickets were available again, this time in row N. I have seen similar before with other plays that had to fill seats
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515 posts
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Post by callum on Aug 22, 2017 13:47:03 GMT
Thanks for keeping us informed. It's a shame that for Stockard Channing to sell seats she has to change her name by deedpoll to first name Rizzo, middle name From, surname Grease.
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