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Post by craig on Jul 18, 2022 13:48:28 GMT
Booked this as a birthday present for my partner who is a Ghibli fan. I know nothing about it but have heard of the film and was aware of its reputation as a classic.
It's exciting to hear about the calibre of creatives involved. Will be watching the film soon and can't wait for this trip to the Barbican. Anything Goes was our first big, full show after lockdown and I'll always have a soft spot for the Barbican thinking of that glorious memory.
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Post by TallPaul on Aug 19, 2022 10:15:26 GMT
Its a big, puppeteer heavy, company! The tree, which is even bigger than the cast, is uncredited, sadly. (Cast list and photo courtesy of the RSC.)
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Post by Jon on Sept 30, 2022 18:40:33 GMT
This is opening next week and sales seem to be strong. And to think we had certain people proclaiming it would do badly.
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Post by inthenose on Oct 1, 2022 6:45:48 GMT
I’m going to opening night
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Post by Jan on Oct 1, 2022 12:37:11 GMT
This is opening next week and sales seem to be strong. And to think we had certain people proclaiming it would do badly. Ticket sales seem to be weak except for Friday/Saturday and they already have TodayTix lined up to shift unsold seats. And to think we had certain people here saying it would sell out !
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Post by Jon on Oct 1, 2022 12:49:03 GMT
This is opening next week and sales seem to be strong. And to think we had certain people proclaiming it would do badly. Ticket sales seem to be weak except for Friday/Saturday and they already have TodayTix lined up to shift unsold seats. And to think we had certain people here saying it would sell out !
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Post by samuelwhiskers on Oct 1, 2022 12:52:00 GMT
Since when is being on TodayTix a sign of anything? Practically everything (except very small shows or productions in smaller venues) is on TodayTix. Prima Facie was on Today Tix and that was like hen’s teeth.
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Post by Jon on Oct 1, 2022 12:53:50 GMT
Since when is being on TodayTix a sign of anything? Practically everything (except very small shows or productions in smaller venues) is on TodayTix. Prima Facie was on Today Tix and that was like hen’s teeth. I hope there is Rush Tickets for Totoro.
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Post by QueerTheatre on Oct 1, 2022 14:59:31 GMT
Since when is being on TodayTix a sign of anything? Practically everything (except very small shows or productions in smaller venues) is on TodayTix. Prima Facie was on Today Tix and that was like hen’s teeth. I hope there is Rush Tickets for Totoro. There is - £25 each morning available in person & online.
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Post by Jan on Oct 1, 2022 17:47:45 GMT
Since when is being on TodayTix a sign of anything? Practically everything (except very small shows or productions in smaller venues) is on TodayTix. Prima Facie was on Today Tix and that was like hen’s teeth. I’m suggesting TodayTix will shift those swathes of unsold stalls seats as part of their Rush promotion. Plenty of December dates are significantly less than 50% capacity in the stalls. At this point Jon will jump in with his “Wait till it opens ….” excuse.
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Post by hadeswasking on Oct 1, 2022 18:06:09 GMT
It's crazy how some of you forget that the majority of shows in the West end currently are like this. Most tickets for most shows don't sell out months in advance any more. The fact that they've sold so much during the first few weeks is quite impressive at the moment.
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Post by Jon on Oct 1, 2022 18:22:28 GMT
It's crazy how some of you forget that the majority of shows in the West end currently are like this. Most tickets for most shows don't sell out months in advance any more. The fact that they've sold so much during the first few weeks is quite impressive at the moment. I agree. It has sold very well and not the so called 'box office death' that was proclaimed earlier in the thread.
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Post by catcat100 on Oct 8, 2022 21:47:14 GMT
Just got back from this and there is a lot of good to be said about it.
Puppets are excellent, getting rounds of applause. First appearance of totoro is particularly good.
Acting also very good, particularly by the two girls in the lead roles.
Very much a Japanese feel to it and there's a definite studio ghibli feel as well, often dreamy which can make it feel a little bit slow at a couple of points, but certainly doesn't affect enjoyment and could be easily improved in preview and the 2hr 45 did fly by.
Set is also great, moving and changing as the story progresses. It's also feels big.
You also get a badge.
5 stars and will definitely go for another viewing later in the run.
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Post by marob on Oct 8, 2022 22:25:55 GMT
Sounds good. Have they changed or added much to the story? The film is quite slow and this sounds a good hour longer.
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Post by Jon on Oct 8, 2022 23:31:55 GMT
Does it use the Barbican stage fully or has it been designed for a transfer down the line?
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Post by catcat100 on Oct 8, 2022 23:33:40 GMT
Sorry, should have said, it's not one of the ghibli films that i can remember seeing so couldn't say how close the storyline was.
Its not the paciest of plays I've seen but that's part of the fun.
Its a full use of the stage, goes back a long way and uses the sides.
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Post by inthenose on Oct 8, 2022 23:45:22 GMT
So excited. Tell me about the catbus! This is selling out so fast, tempted to book a second visit before I even see it, as I think I’m going to adore it. And how do they depict the soot sprites?
So many questions!
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Post by inthenose on Oct 8, 2022 23:46:32 GMT
Also, is the music live?
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Post by Jon on Oct 8, 2022 23:50:43 GMT
Will be interesting to see if any of the theatre owners are interested in taking Totoro to the West End should the run sell out completely. It's quite tricky as the Barbican is fairly big stage wise but I could envision this at either the Gillian Lynne or the Shaftesbury.
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Post by FJ on Oct 9, 2022 9:39:56 GMT
Saw this last night having never seen the film.
Really enjoyed it.
The only thing I’ve seen at the Barbican before is Anything Goes and so this was really nice to see something utilising the whole stage. The set and staging was incredible, I don’t think as it is it would currently fit on many other stages, so would have to be scaled back quite a bit for a transfer I’d imagine.
The singer was brilliant, and the way they staged the musicians at the back and the puppetry were amazing.
All the actors were also great, but as the poster said above it can feel a little slow in places. I think the first half was better with more of the ‘wow moments’ and was also a lot longer than the second half, so act 2 seemed to end quite abruptly to me, not knowing the story. Also, considering the amount of technical puppetry aspects, this seemed to be absolutely flawless for a first preview.
A definite 4 stars. But I think i preferred The Ocean at the end of the lane, but this definitely had a much bigger spectacle.
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Post by squidward on Oct 10, 2022 2:01:18 GMT
I’m a massive fan of the movie and I really wanted to love the stage adaptation, but came away feeling really disappointed. To my mind, it’s not really an adaptation for the theatre, but more of an attempt to replicate the film on stage.
It has some nice moments, but it’s way too long (2.5 hrs at the first preview) and is painfully slow at times. Where the film has the luxury of a relaxed pace because there’s always something beautiful on the screen to look at, this principle doesn’t apply to dead air in the theatre, especially when the reason for it are actors pushing unwieldy props on and off from the sides of the stage.
Speaking of the cast, the standard was a bit variable ( first preview nerves perhaps?) but the two actresses playing the sisters at the centre of the story were excellent, as was the actor playing their neighbour’s son.
The puppetry wasn’t as inventive as I’d hoped, but I think I may be in the minority with this opinion as the rest of the audience broke into applause every time a new character appeared.
I hope the Director will make some judicious cuts across the board because I didn’t expect to be looking at my watch throughput most of the second half and wishing it would end.
The only comparison I can think of a successful TV animation to a stage adaptation is Tina Landau’s Broadway production of The SpongeBob Musical ( as opposed to the tour). Landau totally got the spirit of SB and the other residents of Bikini Bottom, tore up the rule book from the original cartoon rule and re-invented the world in a really genius way without losing all that was great about in the original TV show. The theatre had also been decorated with found objects from the bottom of the sea which really set the scene perfectly the minute you stepped into the auditorium.
Something like that could have been placed around the auditorium to have the feel of the Sisters new world/ Totoro’s home. I think it would have been a great start to the show with something less static than the cartoon/puppetry flat with the title of the show on it with moving letters.
I feel MNT could have benefitted with a fresh, innovative take on the original but perhaps Studio Ghibli wouldn’t have countenanced that
In my opinion, it just didn’t have the magic that the film has, nor did I feel moved by it at all, whereas the film has some very poignant moments.
I think it could be very well received by the critics given it’s good thing to see the RSC collaboration with a company as majestic as Studio Ghibli and maybe audiences less invested in the movie will love it. It’s definitely a well intentioned try, but a wasted opportunity to my mind.
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Post by Dave B on Oct 10, 2022 15:18:11 GMT
Just in case anyone else gets nearly caught out ...I'm glad I just checked. This starts at 19:00!!I have just texted herself to suggest we don't meet there just after seven after all and that I'm going to get an earlier train
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Post by Mark on Oct 10, 2022 15:24:39 GMT
Had a peek this morning and seems the online rush through Barbican is front row for £25. If anyone is going and can assess the stage height would be appreciated!
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Post by inthenose on Oct 10, 2022 15:33:56 GMT
There is one seat for the 27th, one seat for the 29th, five seats for Mon 31st, otherwise it’s sold out until November 1st, which is the next show with reasonable availability.
Where do I find the day seats?
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Post by Mark on Oct 10, 2022 15:37:07 GMT
There is one seat for the 27th, one seat for the 29th, five seats for Mon 31st, otherwise it’s sold out until November 1st, which is the next show with reasonable availability. Where do I find the day seats? Well I checked on the Barbican website this morning at around 10:15 and there was a lonely seat in row A of the stalls available. They are released 10am
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Post by FJ on Oct 10, 2022 16:38:17 GMT
Had a peek this morning and seems the online rush through Barbican is front row for £25. If anyone is going and can assess the stage height would be appreciated! I sat front row on Saturday and the view was great. Stage about eye level, so you just miss seeing the actually stagefloor (though i'm quite tall) but for me the view was perfect. Loads of legroom, stage is about 4ft in front. I was A12, so a bit off to the side but though the view was fantastic and would definitely sit there again, and really amazing value for £25!
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Post by inthenose on Oct 10, 2022 17:02:51 GMT
Do they just show up then on the regular seating plan at 10am?
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Post by mrbarnaby on Oct 10, 2022 21:03:21 GMT
Will be interesting to see if any of the theatre owners are interested in taking Totoro to the West End should the run sell out completely. It's quite tricky as the Barbican is fairly big stage wise but I could envision this at either the Gillian Lynne or the Shaftesbury. The Shaftesbury is not a big stage at all 🤦🏼♂️
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Post by Dave B on Oct 11, 2022 8:35:58 GMT
Couple of technical issues last night lead to a slightly late start and then another during the interval meant we didn't get out until 21.58. As per my close shave above, a notable number of late entries allowed just after 19.30 so again let me stress a 19.00 start!
I enjoyed this, my partner loved it - we are both Ghibli and Totoro fans so knew the story etc going in. For me, it feels like the heart of the story has taken a backseat to the spectacle. I came away full of admiration, the puppetry, set and staging are all great but it hasn't managed to bring the story along quite so well. I'm way more interested in Totoro and friends in this production than I was in their impact and meaning on the girls as I was in the original. The pacing is also all over the place and it feels like it comes to a sudden stop, the ending 100% needs a little work just to even it out. It still felt like previews which is fair enough, a lot of cues just off the mark, give it another couple of weeks and I assume it will be really slick.
Having said that, there are some really great moments, the first appearance of Totoro is fab, the bus stop scene is fab, the first bus and indeed the second bus (you know what I mean) is brilliant and so well done.
£6 programme and plenty of merch available. Very full house, no badge
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Post by joem on Oct 11, 2022 21:52:23 GMT
Big fan of the Ghibli moves (though disappointed they now under control of one of the evil empires) so was looking forward to this having only seen on stage the adaptation of "Kiki's Delivery Service" at the Southwark Theatre (very good).
Beautifully done, plenty of visual and aural action going on to keep the audience entertained and a very committed and happy-looking cast act the story out with gusto. The puppetry is top-notch and unselfconscious and the effects are enthralling. Totoro and his minions/sidekicks is a treat. The music blends in perfectly as well. Don't see why this couldn't transfer successfully to the West End for a good spell and nice to see the Barbican hosting a hit.
Full house, very enthusiastic audience. No programme despite have a voucher and definitely no badge 😡
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