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Post by danb on Oct 2, 2019 19:30:40 GMT
Somebody call Uncle Bill and fire up the Transit! 😱
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2019 19:47:20 GMT
it could tour with minimal if any modification Eh? There’s a double spinning revolve and a lift! Nooooooo! Ha - OK, it could tour with modification - I mean, it wouldn't be impossible!
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Post by theatre241 on Oct 3, 2019 12:18:39 GMT
Do you think it better to sit in the circle for this or row F stalls?
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Post by david on Oct 3, 2019 12:36:31 GMT
Do you think it better to sit in the circle for this or row F stalls? If it’s of any help, when I went to watch it, I was sat in stalls Row F and didn’t miss anything.
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Post by showtoones on Oct 3, 2019 15:07:25 GMT
Do you think it better to sit in the circle for this or row F stalls? If it’s of any help, when I went to watch it, I was sat in stalls Row F and didn’t miss anything. Ideally, what is the best place to sit to get the best view? Stalls H, J, K?
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Post by david on Oct 3, 2019 15:21:18 GMT
If it’s of any help, when I went to watch it, I was sat in stalls Row F and didn’t miss anything. Ideally, what is the best place to sit to get the best view? Stalls H, J, K? Stalls H shouldn't be an issue. I was mid stalls row F and felt this was a great seat for the view so Row H should be just as good showtoones.
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Post by bramble on Oct 3, 2019 15:25:28 GMT
really in two minds about this .Couldn't ask for a better cast or set.But something was missing for me..I never got involved with the characters. But the audience on the first night were certainly having a ball.Considering all the talent on stage I hope this finds an audience
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Post by theatre241 on Oct 3, 2019 16:12:29 GMT
Has anyone sat front row for this?
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 3, 2019 16:18:42 GMT
Yes. It’s a bit high and you don’t get the maximum effect from the projections but it’s fine. Acres of legroom too.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2019 18:43:48 GMT
Do you think it better to sit in the circle for this or row F stalls? Don’t think it matters; but I think being central is (relatively) important. There are two pillars (part of set) either side of the stage which have the effect of making the (big) proscenium seem smaller and means that there is quite a lot of view cut off from the side seats. You don’t miss any action. But the lighting, projections and overall feel were much better from a central position. Also Circle is pretty steep so if you decide on that I’d go as far fwd as possible.
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Post by Daytripper on Oct 3, 2019 19:01:17 GMT
I was at the matinee today, stalls row K and had a great view. Only cost me £12 with the theatre card offer. I loved the show! The vocals were stunning and it was so funny. Most of the stalls seemed to be full and there was a great atmosphere. I only booked to see the show after reading the comments on here and I’m so glad I did. The staging and costumes are fantastic, and the whole cast have so much talent and energy. It really is a must see show in my opinion and I hope it does well in London.
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Post by Jonnyboy on Oct 3, 2019 21:10:53 GMT
Argh so tempted to see this for a third time before it finishes but I really can’t find the time to fit it in.
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Post by notmymuse on Oct 3, 2019 21:55:04 GMT
I saw this at the matinee today - the stalls looked full but the circle was perhaps 1/6th full with the upper circle closed. Hardly surprising for a new show in Manchester on a weekday afternoon, perhaps.
I'd just echo what someone else said, that they have constructed two pretty big pillars on the inside of the proscenium which play havoc with sightlines for anyone sitting not in the centre. It really cuts off huge amounts of stage and I really hope they re-think this for London. I wasn't even sitting at the extreme edges and found the pillars getting in the way repeatedly. They are basically there as scenery to make it seem set in unspecified-old-times, but they could slim them down or just cover the existing pillars of the arch, surely.
In terms of the show, it starts like a runaway train and I thought I was going to love it and would be returning for another visit, but for me it lost pace after the first 15 minutes or so and settled into being a solid 3.5/5. The songs generally sounded amazing and were often very cleverly inserted, but I found the handling of the issues around gender really clunky and a bit toe curling. I respect them for choosing to portray these characters as they were (a few line re-writes later and they could basically remove this element) but for me it wasn't done in an amazingly authentic way and seemed too cartoonish. I'm not saying they all should have sat round staring at their navels for ages, but it just didn't seem truthful and seemed cardboard and inauthentic. It's looking at a different issue, but Everybody's Talking About Jamie manages to someone be real and heartfelt, and this seemed anything but. I also think a fair few people just had no idea what was going on...
I also think it focuses on 1 set of characters too many and would benefit from a bit of cutting and paring it back to try and do a bit less. There are some very funny lines, and the singing was great from every lead. However, I think Oliver Thompsett could be given more to do - he has as lovely voice and it (and he) was a bit wasted.
The choreography reminded me a bit of Bat Out of Hell, with lots of people standing on the spot dancing without a great deal of overall movement.
Worth seeing, and to be fair the audience seemed in the main to love it. It'll be interesting to see what changes they make before London (please, remove the pillars!) and what the critics make of it. I think they'll need to sell it off Max Martin's songs very heavily to last.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 4, 2019 0:09:17 GMT
I’m taking some friends later this week. I usually punt out suggestions for shows on my Facebook and people say either yay or nay to coming along. This one got zero interest from the get-go and it’s only after seeing it the first time did I persuade a pal to come along for my second visit. He LOVED it. Now I’ve actually pushed it a bit with the rest of the crowd and said I think they should see it for the £20 offer. I never usually do this because it I feel (wrongly) that it puts the weight of responsibility onto me for them enjoying it. I’m confident with this one but when I try to explain what it’s about I just get “eh?” looks! 😆 I had no need to worry. They all loved it and are booking again for next week.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Oct 4, 2019 0:48:46 GMT
Not long home from my train/coach day trip Kent to Manchester with a £35 central front row seat. Great view with a slight look up; you only miss seeing feet at times.
Worth every minute and mile. Don't think I've been so blown away by a jukebox musical since the first time I saw Jersey Boys back in 2008.
Really hope it does well in London and plan to see again with the family in the New Year (GILT time hopefully!)
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Post by marob on Oct 4, 2019 16:08:57 GMT
Yet another one here who was at the matinee yesterday. It's a little bit clunky in parts maybe, and I didn't know some of the more recent songs, but that doesn't matter because I really enjoyed it. Its such a wonderfully bonkers show. One that's surprisingly funny too.
I was intrigued by the idea of it anyway, despite some of the early negativity towards it on here, but the main reason I wanted to see it was Melanie La Barrie. She was brilliant a couple of years ago in the Everyman rep company in Liverpool (which included playing the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet Julius) and I'm so happy to see her steal the show a couple of times in this too. David Bedella seemed a bit subdued to what I was expecting, but considering the other times I've seen him he was playing Roger de Bris in The Producers tour and Frank N Furter in The Rocky Horror gala on TV, thats probably not so surprising. I'd just expected a more outrageous character given the ridiculously large codpiece he wears.
It's the first time I'd seen the rest of the leads despite them having starred in some huge West End shows between them. All the vocals were obviously spot on. Cassidy Janson actually manged to move me, which is rare. Miriam-Teak Lee had great comedic skills too, her finding Francois was a real highlight for me (though a lot of the audience took a while to get the joke.) I wish Jordan Luke Gage was in it a bit more, though it's understandable why he isn't. (I also won't disagree with whoever it was who said he's gorgeous.)
I was quite surprised when they brought the band out at the end, as I hadn't realised there was any live music in it.
I really enjoyed it, and will have to get streaming the album when it hits Spotify.
Hope it finds an audience in the West End.
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Post by xanady on Oct 4, 2019 17:14:13 GMT
Any audience participation?...apart from walk-outs?...only joking! On my way to see this tomorrow...looking forward to it.
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Post by richey on Oct 5, 2019 16:43:18 GMT
Well that was just as good, if not better,seeing it for the second time this afternoon. Got to notice little things that I'd not seen the first time, like Juliet's superfast costume change before Roar, and the little love locks on the balcony when it rose up. Stalls were about two thirds full, gallery closed. Anne and Juliet both hit the jukebox together
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Post by theatre241 on Oct 5, 2019 17:07:10 GMT
I was there as well today for the second time and it’s almost created a new genre of musicals. Some bits were like a concert and then some were very MT and it seems to be pleasing crowds! But if you take away the big sound system and fancy lights and set what have you got but I suppose it’s not to be taken to seriously
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 5, 2019 19:01:58 GMT
I was there as well today for the second time and it’s almost created a new genre of musicals. Some bits were like a concert and then some were very MT and it seems to be pleasing crowds! But if you take away the big sound system and fancy lights and set what have you got but I suppose it’s not to be taken to seriously And other bits were very 90’s MTV music video I thought. It’s very “pop”. If you took the lights and sounds away from 80% of west end musicals what would be left? Most of them are spectacle over substance.
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Post by theatre241 on Oct 5, 2019 19:21:43 GMT
I was there as well today for the second time and it’s almost created a new genre of musicals. Some bits were like a concert and then some were very MT and it seems to be pleasing crowds! But if you take away the big sound system and fancy lights and set what have you got but I suppose it’s not to be taken to seriously And other bits were very 90’s MTV music video I thought. It’s very “pop”. If you took the lights and sounds away from 80% of west end musicals what would be left? Most of them are spectacle over substance. Yeh, very true but some I think could survive on its own because of the story
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Post by sf on Oct 6, 2019 12:34:11 GMT
Saw it Friday night, I have to say with relatively low expectations (I went mostly because of the cast, the Max Miller oeuvre really isn't my kind of music), and absolutely loved it. Miriam-Teak Lee and Cassidy Janson are wonderful, the singing from everyone is superb, and the show as a whole is enormous fun and very funny. I'd had a really lousy day, I wasn't in the mood to go out, and the show sent me out of the theatre with a great big grin on my face. I know they've an uphill battle to sell it in London, but it deserves to be a great big hit.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2019 15:22:09 GMT
I was seriously impressed by this show! The cast were exceptional! A star is born in Tim Mahendran! And Cassidy Janson and Oli Tompsett were a super duo! David Bedella is great although criminally underused. Not enough people are talking about Melanie La Barrie in this either. She is an absolute dream! A phenomenal performance - exceptional comic timing whilst her rendition of P!nk's Perfect is so heartfelt! It's a big glitzy production that doesn't rely on projections which makes a change. It deserves to do very well in London. I think the critics may well hate it but the crowds will love it and it's very accessible for tourists I think.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2019 19:35:15 GMT
Great to see so many positive vibes for this show on here.
I said to my friend Viserys earlier that one of the great things about this is it's honesty and it's not pretending to be anything it's not. Great fun and totally non pretentious with a heartwarming story, a wonderful cast and some great production values.
Agree that it should be very accessible for tourists, which for better or worse, is key to longevity in London. I just hope they have some creative marketing up their sleeves. I also passionately believe they should discount as much as they need to to get bums on sets as word of mouth will be fantastic.
It's the perfect antidote to the hideous depressing state of Brexit month.
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Post by properjob on Oct 6, 2019 20:21:56 GMT
Can anyone tell me the running time for this? I can't find it on the website.
Thanks
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Post by sf on Oct 6, 2019 20:24:00 GMT
the Max Miller oeuvre really isn't my kind of music Max MARTIN Max MARTIN Max MARTIN Max MARTIN Max MARTIN Max MARTIN Max MARTIN Max MARTIN Max MARTIN Max MARTIN It's been a long week. It's been a LONG year. Brain go bye bye. Bye bye, brain.
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Post by danb on Oct 6, 2019 20:28:08 GMT
I was wondering who was strutting around like a chicken in tight pants to a back drop of identikit pop hits? I hadn’t heard about that aspect.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2019 20:35:04 GMT
the Max Miller oeuvre really isn't my kind of music Max MARTIN Max MARTIN Max MARTIN Max MARTIN Max MARTIN Max MARTIN Max MARTIN Max MARTIN Max MARTIN Max MARTIN It's been a long week. It's been a LONG year. Brain go bye bye. Bye bye, brain. LOL. I think you could have got away with it. Certainly, I was so delighted by the use of the word 'oeuvre' that I failed to notice you'd Miller'd Martin.
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Post by richey on Oct 6, 2019 20:51:09 GMT
Can anyone tell me the running time for this? I can't find it on the website. Thanks we were out at 5:10 yesterday after a 2:30pm start
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 7, 2019 10:24:39 GMT
Anyone going for a final time this week before we lose it to London?
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