1,869 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Jan 22, 2020 9:18:51 GMT
don’t jinx it- they’ve still yet to announce Killian’s replacement in Edinburgh! lol I quite would have loved to see Lee Mead. I have been to his concerts and he is wonderful and doesa heck of a Music of the Night. He has grown into a wonderful performer. I am tired to seeing Killian in all the time. That is why I stopped seeing him lol.
He's a bit of an "everyman" isn't he? And I imagine doesn't command the star billing/pay packet that other "turns" might....
|
|
18,777 posts
|
Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 22, 2020 9:27:08 GMT
No gravitas with Lee though is there. It’s all light light light.
|
|
6,310 posts
|
Post by danb on Jan 22, 2020 10:13:00 GMT
No gravitas with Lee though is there. It’s all light light light. . He did get ‘a bit cross’ in Holby once.
|
|
|
Post by scarpia on Jan 22, 2020 11:56:44 GMT
But "lighter on its feet". Even replica productions are usually scaled down to tour, and given there is as little as five days between some of the venues, I suspect we will see changes similar to those used in the recent International tour.
Even the 1998 replica UK tour, which played 16-week runs and took two weeks to set up at each venue, was simplified. Glyn Cook, Cameron Mackintosh's technical co-ordinator, said at the time: "We have made a lot of things simpler. There used to be trapdoors in the floors and all sorts but it's not feasible to do that any more for this length of run." Certainly looks like the current International Tour staging, with the 25th Anniversary tour chandelier. Which isn’t exactly the replica of the London/New York productions promised in the press release. Excuse the rant, but I've had it with Cameron Mackintosh. This is piss poor and unacceptable. If it’s no longer economically viable to tour the actual “Brilliant Original” Phantom, then fine – but be honest about it! Don’t bill it as the “Brilliant Original” in all the publicity and advertising! And for heaven’s sake, don’t insult our intelligence with ridiculously PR-managed comments in that publicity video which makes spurious claims that this is any kind of improvement on what Hal Prince, Maria Björnson and Andrew Bridge achieved in 1986. The set looks even worse than the current World Tour. Not only is the Angel missing (it’ll be replaced by a tacky statue, à la Laurence Connor crap we got in 2012), but what on earth is going on with the proscenium sculptures? They’ve also replaced the chandelier with that very odd- (and IMHO cheap-) looking Regency one, rather than the original which is based on the actual chandelier in the Paris Opera House. I had a horrible feeling when Hal Prince passed away that Cameron Mackintosh was going to capitalise on that by taking an axe to his beautiful production and making it as cheap as possible to line his already well-lined pockets. I hope the audience who comes to see it react in the same way as audiences did in 2012 to that awful restaged ‘SPECTACULAR’ production; when I went to see that, many people in the audience remembered the previous full-scale tours of the original production and didn’t have much nice to say about what they were seeing in its place. I’ve got my tickets, anyway, but I suspect I will need to see the show again in London to remind myself of the beauty of the true ‘Brilliant Original’. I used to have massive respect for Sir Cameron in the 1990s when he insisted that tour audiences should not get a lower-quality product that West End and Broadway ones. He’s now chucked that philosophy out the window and is going into full Kenwright mode, destroying his legacy in the process and simultaneously disrespecting a Broadway legend who’s barely cold in his grave.
|
|
1,001 posts
|
Post by David J on Jan 22, 2020 12:37:15 GMT
I’ve got my tickets, anyway, but I suspect I will need to see the show again in London to remind myself of the beauty of the true ‘Brilliant Original’. Here's hoping that will still be around in 10 years time. I joke but nothing seems sacred in this day and age
|
|
59 posts
|
Post by thenightowl on Jan 22, 2020 17:02:19 GMT
For anyone seeing this at Curve and currently have seats in row D, please be aware they have now put row C on sale.
Although they do normally let customers know about this sort of change, for this production they are not getting in touch with ticket holders presumably due to the popularity and length of the run (sadly), so I suggest getting in touch ASAP to negotiate moving your seats a row forward.
|
|
|
Post by Theatrefan48 on Jan 23, 2020 22:14:43 GMT
I quite would have loved to see Lee Mead. I have been to his concerts and he is wonderful and doesa heck of a Music of the Night. He has grown into a wonderful performer. I am tired to seeing Killian in all the time. That is why I stopped seeing him lol. Don't get me wrong ha I wouldn't mind seeing Lee at all! As a fan of the show in general I like to hear as many people giving their interpretation of the iconic role as I can. I've only heard Lee sing Raoul songs though so in my mind he's still a Raoul for now. Killian gave me the same impression- and now he's Phantom lol. Killian's done quite a lot hasn't he, almost every role in Les Mis... Just wish they'd announce who'll be taking over already so we can stop speculating! I have heard from my same source that told me Lee Mead was doing it (so clearly not all that reliable!), that John Partridge is lined up for it. If this is the case, I'll just have to hope he gets scheduled days off as I'm not sure he will have the voice for it!
|
|
520 posts
|
Post by danielwhit on Jan 24, 2020 0:03:45 GMT
What are the differences between the current International Tour and the original London staging?
|
|
|
Post by dollybm on Jan 24, 2020 3:53:35 GMT
What are the differences between the current International Tour and the original London staging? It has been a few months since I watched the International Tour but from memory there’s quite a few differences. The biggest differences I found were the staging of the rooftop scene in that the Angel is on the stage rather than you having the Angel suspended above the first few rows of the stalls (this also changes the blocking of the chandelier at end of Act 1 which I actually thought was quite effective) and there’s no trapdoor for Masquerade (or stairs for Christine and Raoul to descend in the aforementioned rooftop scene). Raoul does still however do the trapdoor jump in the Final Lair. The only other major difference I can really recall is the Graveyard scene doesn’t have anything remotely resembling flames. At the end of this scene (and forgive me for not knowing the technical term) they just light up some puffs of air / smoke red. There’s probably a few other minor differences to London but the biggest difference I found was not in the staging but the tempo and lyrics. The International Tour the tempo is quite slow for some numbers and Masquerade towards the end almost seemed like it was about to start going backwards it was so slow. They also use what I think are the Broadway lyrics for Masquerade and Wandering Child.
|
|
214 posts
|
Post by paulbrownsey on Jan 24, 2020 10:55:35 GMT
Will she fall; will she fall?!? Judging by the model design (no casters/non collapsing version without a flat base) and that it appears to start the show hanging I’d say it’s doubtful. If what is toured turns out NOT to be the original, I wonder whether a 'Trades Descriptions Act' type action would lie. I once got a refund for a production of Verdi's Aida that was promised to be a traditional production and wasn't; and for Piaf when my ticket said 'Paige is Piaf' and an understudy performed.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2020 12:19:10 GMT
Judging by the model design (no casters/non collapsing version without a flat base) and that it appears to start the show hanging I’d say it’s doubtful. If what is toured turns out NOT to be the original, I wonder whether a 'Trades Descriptions Act' type action would lie. I once got a refund for a production of Verdi's Aida that was promised to be a traditional production and wasn't; and for Piaf when my ticket said 'Paige is Piaf' and an understudy performed. Yes. In black and white terms this is Fraudulent Misrepresentation (they knowingly misrepresented the product allowing people to enter into a contract [buying tickets]). As far as I'm concerned, if this opens in Leicester and turns out to be substantially different from the "Beautiful Original" production in London then I will be returning my tickets for numerous dates with the intention of a full refund.
|
|
|
Post by FrontroverPaul on Jan 24, 2020 23:16:04 GMT
For anyone seeing this at Curve and currently have seats in row D, please be aware they have now put row C on sale. Although they do normally let customers know about this sort of change, for this production they are not getting in touch with ticket holders presumably due to the popularity and length of the run (sadly), so I suggest getting in touch ASAP to negotiate moving your seats a row forward. Disappointing, I've twice been contacted previously in similar circumstances. I'll phone Curve tomorrow to arrange a swap. Hopefully C will definitely be the front row
|
|
2,379 posts
|
Post by robertb213 on Jan 24, 2020 23:54:33 GMT
Booked for a Monday evening performance at Curve. Haven't seen it since London in 2011 so I'm looking forward to revisiting it with Killian!
|
|
|
Post by FrontroverPaul on Jan 25, 2020 15:45:26 GMT
For anyone seeing this at Curve and currently have seats in row D, please be aware they have now put row C on sale. Although they do normally let customers know about this sort of change, for this production they are not getting in touch with ticket holders presumably due to the popularity and length of the run (sadly), so I suggest getting in touch ASAP to negotiate moving your seats a row forward. Disappointing, I've twice been contacted previously in similar circumstances. I'll phone Curve tomorrow to arrange a swap. Hopefully C will definitely be the front row No problem and no cost exchanging my seat in row D for C at The Curve. The box office assistant said C will definitely be the front row. She did not know why row D seat bookers haven't been contacted. I think there will be some disappointed people in row D, I would certainly have been, so thanks thenightowl for the tip off. For anyone who hasn't booked, seats in front row C are currently widely available, including some dates otherwise almost sold out.
|
|
59 posts
|
Post by thenightowl on Jan 25, 2020 16:57:11 GMT
Disappointing, I've twice been contacted previously in similar circumstances. I'll phone Curve tomorrow to arrange a swap. Hopefully C will definitely be the front row No problem and no cost exchanging my seat in row D for C at The Curve. The box office assistant said C will definitely be the front row. She did not know why row D seat bookers haven't been contacted. I think there will be some disappointed people in row D, I would certainly have been, so thanks thenightowl for the tip off. For anyone who hasn't booked, seats in front row C are currently widely available, including some dates otherwise almost sold out. This is interesting. I had to pay to exchange my tickets (and I’m a member), granted it was only £2, but I was near on arguing with them because the box office person I spoke with insisted that it was made very clear that row D might not be the front row and that further tickets would go on sale. The note on my ticket order wasn’t that specific and only said to be advised that Row C may go on sale at a later date, at which point Row D will no longer be the front row. I think I’ll have to call them when I get back to the UK.
|
|
|
Post by FrontroverPaul on Jan 25, 2020 18:51:07 GMT
I was told that I didn't have to pay because it was the same performance, for a different performance there would have been a charge.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2020 16:33:16 GMT
Certainly looks like the current International Tour staging, with the 25th Anniversary tour chandelier. Which isn’t exactly the replica of the London/New York productions promised in the press release. Excuse the rant, but I've had it with Cameron Mackintosh. This is piss poor and unacceptable. If it’s no longer economically viable to tour the actual “Brilliant Original” Phantom, then fine – but be honest about it! Don’t bill it as the “Brilliant Original” in all the publicity and advertising! And for heaven’s sake, don’t insult our intelligence with ridiculously PR-managed comments in that publicity video which makes spurious claims that this is any kind of improvement on what Hal Prince, Maria Björnson and Andrew Bridge achieved in 1986. The set looks even worse than the current World Tour. Not only is the Angel missing (it’ll be replaced by a tacky statue, à la Laurence Connor crap we got in 2012), but what on earth is going on with the proscenium sculptures? They’ve also replaced the chandelier with that very odd- (and IMHO cheap-) looking Regency one, rather than the original which is based on the actual chandelier in the Paris Opera House. I had a horrible feeling when Hal Prince passed away that Cameron Mackintosh was going to capitalise on that by taking an axe to his beautiful production and making it as cheap as possible to line his already well-lined pockets. I hope the audience who comes to see it react in the same way as audiences did in 2012 to that awful restaged ‘SPECTACULAR’ production; when I went to see that, many people in the audience remembered the previous full-scale tours of the original production and didn’t have much nice to say about what they were seeing in its place. I’ve got my tickets, anyway, but I suspect I will need to see the show again in London to remind myself of the beauty of the true ‘Brilliant Original’. I used to have massive respect for Sir Cameron in the 1990s when he insisted that tour audiences should not get a lower-quality product that West End and Broadway ones. He’s now chucked that philosophy out the window and is going into full Kenwright mode, destroying his legacy in the process and simultaneously disrespecting a Broadway legend who’s barely cold in his grave. Hmmmm, this is a bit harsh. Especially as we haven't even seen the set yet! To compare Dame Cameron to Kenwright is just mad - they are still chasms apart. And he really has remained one of the few to bring West End quality to the regions. Miss Saigon (very recently) and Les Mis (now) are the same! And Mary Poppins in the West End now is the same as the recent tour. We will have to wait and see how Phantom turns out. But I feel sure the quality will be good.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2020 9:33:03 GMT
Excuse the rant, but I've had it with Cameron Mackintosh. This is piss poor and unacceptable. If it’s no longer economically viable to tour the actual “Brilliant Original” Phantom, then fine – but be honest about it! Don’t bill it as the “Brilliant Original” in all the publicity and advertising! And for heaven’s sake, don’t insult our intelligence with ridiculously PR-managed comments in that publicity video which makes spurious claims that this is any kind of improvement on what Hal Prince, Maria Björnson and Andrew Bridge achieved in 1986. The set looks even worse than the current World Tour. Not only is the Angel missing (it’ll be replaced by a tacky statue, à la Laurence Connor crap we got in 2012), but what on earth is going on with the proscenium sculptures? They’ve also replaced the chandelier with that very odd- (and IMHO cheap-) looking Regency one, rather than the original which is based on the actual chandelier in the Paris Opera House. I had a horrible feeling when Hal Prince passed away that Cameron Mackintosh was going to capitalise on that by taking an axe to his beautiful production and making it as cheap as possible to line his already well-lined pockets. I hope the audience who comes to see it react in the same way as audiences did in 2012 to that awful restaged ‘SPECTACULAR’ production; when I went to see that, many people in the audience remembered the previous full-scale tours of the original production and didn’t have much nice to say about what they were seeing in its place. I’ve got my tickets, anyway, but I suspect I will need to see the show again in London to remind myself of the beauty of the true ‘Brilliant Original’. I used to have massive respect for Sir Cameron in the 1990s when he insisted that tour audiences should not get a lower-quality product that West End and Broadway ones. He’s now chucked that philosophy out the window and is going into full Kenwright mode, destroying his legacy in the process and simultaneously disrespecting a Broadway legend who’s barely cold in his grave. Hmmmm, this is a bit harsh. Especially as we haven't even seen the set yet! To compare Dame Cameron to Kenwright is just mad - they are still chasms apart. And he really has remained one of the few to bring West End quality to the regions. Miss Saigon (very recently) and Les Mis (now) are the same! And Mary Poppins in the West End now is the same as the recent tour. We will have to wait and see how Phantom turns out. But I feel sure the quality will be good. From Nikolai Foster's twitter. Phantom fit up at Curve. View this full size and you will see a circular chandelier with vertical rigging. Image LinkThis is a vertical drop show and anyone sat in the front 5 rows will completely miss it, in it's entirety. I paid good money on the belief this was "the Brilliant Original". I selected specific seats for a group of people who havn't seen the show and sat them specifically where I believed they'd get the best impression of the show. I feel like I've wasted my money. To know now some of the pivotal action from the production has been restaged and will be happening behind us, feels like my trust has been abused. I'm so angry, first world problems and all, but this is so insulting to people who paid honest money to see this show.
|
|
18,777 posts
|
Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 29, 2020 10:23:42 GMT
That’s annoying. I’ve put my group on the 3rd and 4th rows.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2020 10:28:58 GMT
Hmmm, perhaps I am being slow - but I can't even see the chandelier in this picture. And surely you can't tell exactly how the chandelier will work from this pic?
I see why there is concern about it being called "The Brilliant Original." But advertising has never exactly been an 100% honest industry and so long as it's close enough, I'd say they can get away with it.
And anyone on here will know that there are constraints in touring musicals that mean it's never gonna be EXACTLY the same as a sit down production from the 80s.
I am sure it will be spectacular enough! Whatever the chandelier does/doesn't do. The musical is also more than just the chandelier....
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2020 10:35:15 GMT
And even if you CAN see the chandelier in that pic, there's no way you can hypothesise which rows will/won't be able to see it!
|
|
1,244 posts
|
Post by londonmzfitz on Jan 29, 2020 10:51:26 GMT
I didn't book for this until late November and my ticket says - Message for Stalls D Please be advised that Row C may go on sale at a later date, as so Row D will no longer be the front row
|
|
|
Post by FrontroverPaul on Jan 29, 2020 11:42:43 GMT
I didn't book for this until late November and my ticket says - Message for Stalls D Please be advised that Row C may go on sale at a later date, as so Row D will no longer be the front row They changed my row D for row C with no hassle or charge.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2020 12:13:15 GMT
And even if you CAN see the chandelier in that pic, there's no way you can hypothesise which rows will/won't be able to see it! To me, I can see a big gold circle almost in the middle of the picture, which appears to have 4/5 rows in front of it (in the context of the picture) and 4 very straight steel drops to it. That looks, to my eyes, like vertical rigging in the middle of the auditorium. Whilst 2 + 2 + 2 could = 5, to me it looks very much like this chandelier only moves in one direction and anyone sat in the front stalls is going to have to turn round to see it, should they know when to. However, I may be able to provide some light (pun intended) on the situation later.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2020 12:21:58 GMT
And even if you CAN see the chandelier in that pic, there's no way you can hypothesise which rows will/won't be able to see it! To me, I can see a big gold circle almost in the middle of the picture, which appears to have 4/5 rows in front of it (in the context of the picture) and 4 very straight steel drops to it. That looks, to my eyes, like vertical rigging in the middle of the auditorium. Whilst 2 + 2 + 2 could = 5, to me it looks very much like this chandelier only moves in one direction and anyone sat in the front stalls is going to have to turn round to see it, should they know when to. However, I may be able to provide some light (pun intended) on the situation later. Haha, please do :-) Agree it may be a straight drop - but to land on the stage it would therefore need to be kinda at top of proscenium; where the angel/statue thing is that comes down for the All I Ask Of You reprise at end Act 1 with Phantom on top of it. So everyone will see it. OR, if it was 4/5 rows back, and a straight drop, it couldn't then land on the stage so would need to stop mid air. Which I agree would be a bit meh. Though not on it's own a reason to be demanding refunds that it's not the brilliant original! Can anyone with a better memory than me recall if the chandelier in the 25th tour moved at all? I can't remember. Does make me think more broadly how much a single 'set piece' defines the mega musical. How much do the audience expect/need it? Cats = flying tyre Starlight = rotating flying bridge Les Mis = revolve Phantom = chandelier Miss Saigon = helicopter Sunset Boulevard = flown in house.... I'd argue within reason, that though these things are indeed fabulous, it is the music that is the true star.
|
|
18,777 posts
|
Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 29, 2020 12:39:49 GMT
To me, I can see a big gold circle almost in the middle of the picture, which appears to have 4/5 rows in front of it (in the context of the picture) and 4 very straight steel drops to it. That looks, to my eyes, like vertical rigging in the middle of the auditorium. Whilst 2 + 2 + 2 could = 5, to me it looks very much like this chandelier only moves in one direction and anyone sat in the front stalls is going to have to turn round to see it, should they know when to. However, I may be able to provide some light (pun intended) on the situation later. Haha, please do :-) Agree it may be a straight drop - but to land on the stage it would therefore need to be kinda at top of proscenium; where the angel/statue thing is that comes down for the All I Ask Of You reprise at end Act 1 with Phantom on top of it. So everyone will see it. OR, if it was 4/5 rows back, and a straight drop, it couldn't then land on the stage so would need to stop mid air. Which I agree would be a bit meh. Though not on it's own a reason to be demanding refunds that it's not the brilliant original! Can anyone with a better memory than me recall if the chandelier in the 25th tour moved at all? I can't remember. Does make me think more broadly how much a single 'set piece' defines the mega musical. How much do the audience expect/need it? Cats = flying tyre Starlight = rotating flying bridge Les Mis = revolve Phantom = chandelier Miss Saigon = helicopter Sunset Boulevard = flown in house.... I'd argue within reason, that though these things are indeed fabulous, it is the music that is the true star. I think it wobbled a bit and some bits of shiny paper fell down accompanied by the sound of glass smashing. I don’t think most people even realised, maybe if you were in the upper levels you would. it was a damp squib either way!
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2020 12:58:23 GMT
I think it wobbled a bit and some bits of shiny paper fell down accompanied by the sound of glass smashing. That's not a special effect, that's New Year's Eve round our way... Brilliant 😂🤣!
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2020 12:59:41 GMT
Haha, please do :-) Agree it may be a straight drop - but to land on the stage it would therefore need to be kinda at top of proscenium; where the angel/statue thing is that comes down for the All I Ask Of You reprise at end Act 1 with Phantom on top of it. So everyone will see it. OR, if it was 4/5 rows back, and a straight drop, it couldn't then land on the stage so would need to stop mid air. Which I agree would be a bit meh. Though not on it's own a reason to be demanding refunds that it's not the brilliant original! Can anyone with a better memory than me recall if the chandelier in the 25th tour moved at all? I can't remember. Does make me think more broadly how much a single 'set piece' defines the mega musical. How much do the audience expect/need it? Cats = flying tyre Starlight = rotating flying bridge Les Mis = revolve Phantom = chandelier Miss Saigon = helicopter Sunset Boulevard = flown in house.... I'd argue within reason, that though these things are indeed fabulous, it is the music that is the true star. I think it wobbled a bit and some bits of shiny paper fell down accompanied by the sound of glass smashing. I don’t think most people even realised, maybe if you were in the upper levels you would. it was a damp squib either way! Yeah that’s kind of what I remember. I think it might have descended a bit and stopped quite a long way above the stalls, but I couldn’t swear on it.
|
|
|
Post by xanady on Jan 29, 2020 18:30:30 GMT
mm,thanks for posting the fascinating photo.Looking forward to this version of the immortal POTO. I do love the fact that the Curve has such an open-door policy where you can often see the set,scenery and costumes on show through the backstage areas which are surrounded by the winding circular public walkways.The huge photo and artefact displays that are often displayed are great photo opps.A very welcoming and user-friendly venue.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2020 21:33:56 GMT
However, I may be able to provide some light (pun intended) on the situation later. Haha, please do :-) May have to eat my words...
|
|