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Post by vabbian on May 30, 2017 10:52:35 GMT
i think what can be learned from this thread is
don carlo is cursed!!! stay home and watch the dvd
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Post by vabbian on May 29, 2017 19:49:01 GMT
Saw both Kaufmann and Netrebko at ROH together in La Traviata a few years back and it was sensational. Definitely in my top 5 performances at ROH (would gestimate I've been there around 400 times over the years.) EDIT Just realised this sounds a bit show offy. I'm really trying to put in context how good it was. show off im not jealous
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Post by vabbian on May 29, 2017 18:41:49 GMT
It's just a shame I couldn't see the whole opera. I was really looking forward to it as well. I'll just have to watch my DVD with Kaufmann I suppose. (Speaking of Kaufmann, apparently he was seen drinking coffee somewhere nearby. This bodes well for his ROH OTELLO, to which I have tickets - though he could still cancel!) you have tickets?! can i fight u for them i wonder if tickets for Otello will come up on friday rush i desperately want to see him kaufmann and netrebko are the only opera stars i really love
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Post by vabbian on May 28, 2017 20:14:44 GMT
AND because the audience cant really see the stage can save money on props
e.g. bald Christine (no wig budget)
ikea bunk bed instead of the elephant in scene 2
ipod speaker instead of monkey music box
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Post by vabbian on May 28, 2017 19:50:47 GMT
ooh what a nice small intimate venue
i would open with phantom and have a huge f***ing chandelier that took up like 85% of that middle space
all seats would become restricted view people in the stalls would have to bend their necks for the whole show so that their head doesnt touch the chandelier
people on upper levels have no view of the stage just a huge f***ing chandelier seats sold as 'listening seats' like at ROH
and then at the end of the first act BAM drop that huge f***ing chandelier like its hot it falls about 1 metre to the floor stalls people are SHOOK
immersive theatre yall phantom of the bingo hall
aww yes
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Post by vabbian on May 27, 2017 13:24:31 GMT
It wasn't a success because it does not appeal to those who most attend London theatre, families, rich OAP or the gays.
I thought it was good, but not worth a repeat viewing.
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Post by vabbian on May 27, 2017 13:14:38 GMT
Shade: The Rusical
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Post by vabbian on May 27, 2017 13:11:48 GMT
Trinity to win
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Post by vabbian on May 26, 2017 22:11:53 GMT
maybe bellatrix really wanted the basilisk in her chamber of secrets instead
maybe slyther-in is altogether something quite different..
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Post by vabbian on May 26, 2017 20:02:01 GMT
I guess I'm the only one who likes it lol
Although as ALW said himself, a good plot can save a bad score But a good score can't save a bad plot!
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Post by vabbian on May 26, 2017 7:04:10 GMT
I really hope it comes back to the UK
The score is one of my favourites "Beneath a moonless sky" "Till I hear you sing" "Once upon another time" "Look with your heart"
With Sierra and Ramin the music is chilling and just fantastic
I think people would've liked it more if the original staging had been more true to the original Phantom. Style wise it was just too modern and different
I remember going to see it four times in one month when it was in London 😅
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Post by vabbian on May 25, 2017 18:41:54 GMT
I remember at Dreamgirls one night I was sitting next to a pair of couples that had come down from the North somewhere, for the weekend or whatever. They were the chav-y type who clearly never had been to a theatre in their life...
Kept passing around a canister with some alcohol in it, and laughing/talking throughout not even looking at the stage!! Luckily one of the guys got kicked out during the show by the staff, and the others left at the interval.
Another time at Phantom a woman kept checking her emails on her phone so I called over a member of staff and they had a word with her. Don't care what kind of high flying exec job you have, in the theatre you should behave appropriately!!!
The worst was at An American in Paris. A woman kept complaining that the guy in front of her was too tall, kept asking him to go lower etc she said things like "i paid a lot of money for this ticket" blah blah big argument before the show had even started! Ruined the atmosphere for everyone in the vicinity I think...
Theatre staff should have one of those long sticks like the one they used in Friends to poke the naked guy, for all those who cant behave!
Before, I used to be a very good non-confrontational, polite Brit, these days I say if you act like an idiot in the theatre you should expect to be treated as one.
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Post by vabbian on May 25, 2017 18:09:21 GMT
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Post by vabbian on May 25, 2017 18:06:39 GMT
The Prince of Egypt film!!
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Post by vabbian on May 24, 2017 20:09:13 GMT
Got an email that automatic refunds have been issued for Ariana's concerts in the next few days
In case anyone else was meant to go, you don't need to worry about contacting them to refund your tickets
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Post by vabbian on May 24, 2017 17:32:45 GMT
when I went the stalls were almost full!
I will have to make another trip soon and support!!
TodayTix are not even selling balcony tickets anymore Cheapest ticket is £38 (except for rush tickets)
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Post by vabbian on May 24, 2017 15:13:23 GMT
I am part of the Access All Arias program, but never can get tickets for anything. I'm not sure if it is something to do with my account or their website
I give up
I am intrigued by secret seats too, but they say the ticket value is guaranteed £30+ however a lot of the £30+ seats have no view of subtitles so you could get stuck with that....
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Post by vabbian on May 22, 2017 21:51:47 GMT
Saw again tonight. Fabulous! Seat N7
Sad that the stalls were around 40% empty There were only 2 other people on my row eek!
They need to do better promos Like buy 1 Judy! ticket get 7 free
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Post by vabbian on May 21, 2017 23:37:27 GMT
if ramin ran me over with his car i would say thank you
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Post by vabbian on May 21, 2017 23:14:57 GMT
Just to show she CAN lipsync. For her LIFE! I am so distraught she went out She was my number one Now one of the backstage staff could win for all I care
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Post by vabbian on May 21, 2017 23:11:51 GMT
i remember when the dementors came out and i was so SHOOK
Best Actress in a Supporting Role : dementors Best New Musical : dementors Outstanding Achievement in Opera : dementors Special Award : dementors Best Entertainment and Family : dementors Audience Award : dementors Cured my Acne: dementors Fixed my Dating Life : dementors Saved my Grades : dementors
SHOOK.
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Post by vabbian on May 21, 2017 21:46:31 GMT
Monday - Judy! Tuesday - Angels in America pt1 Wednesday - RSC Antony & Cleopatra
Exam on Friday grrrr
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Post by vabbian on May 18, 2017 20:18:36 GMT
Saw Ben in The Crucible with Saoirse Ronan on Broadway
Didn't think he was very memorable
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Post by vabbian on May 18, 2017 20:10:22 GMT
Russell Tovey (with dog) outside our flat again yesterday. I think he might be stalking me. Let me rent your flat
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Post by vabbian on May 17, 2017 17:52:01 GMT
she had a very joan collins feel to her but she wasnt joan collins haha
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Post by vabbian on May 17, 2017 17:37:43 GMT
I think ROH knows their demographic is not young people OR those without money to burn and they price accordingly. Have you looked into the special offers if you join ROH Students for free? Maybe not applicable to Don Carlo because it's so popular with the core audience of The Royal Opera. Yes I have been part of the student program for a few years. To be honest I find the program badly managed, because they release student tickets rather erratically. Also they almost never have student tickets for big productions (as expected) and only for less well known productions which havent sold well. I suspect the student program is not really curated but instead to fill empty seats. Off the top of my head, I have only managed to get student tickets for two of the big productions since I joined. La Boheme around two years ago and Il Trovatore last year (even that was a new production). They do do a good cinema offer (2 tickets for £10) for students which happens quite frequently. Also priority booking online, but rarely a discount. Usually I book normal tickets at the centre back of the amphitheatre if I really want to see something.
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Post by vabbian on May 17, 2017 17:13:23 GMT
I find your review to be quite accurate of most of the ROH output. Unfortunately. I generally find it's not worth the worth money for sitting in the nose bleed seats Yes, I believe ROH can never go wrong with the quality of the singing or the music. Some of the seating is truly abysmal. The slips and sides of the amphitheatre are very bad value as you can see squat. For this production I got a Friday rush ticket, but even that was £40 and 3 rows from the very back of the amphitheatre... I think they should price rush tickets more appropriately... I think ROH knows their demographic is not young people OR those without money to burn and they price accordingly. I still dont understand those box seats which are over £200 a seat, and you have to purchase the whole box (4 x £200+) AND they are restricted view!!! daylight robbery
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Post by vabbian on May 17, 2017 15:02:57 GMT
Robert Fairchild - A true triple threat. Good singer, fabulous dancer, and huge stage charisma. I could not take my eyes off him! Worth the price of admission alone. The negatives - I should not compare it to 42nd St but it is difficult not to having opened at the same time but this really did look "thin" in comparison. The big number "Stairway to Paradise" looked very underpopulated with just 6 show girls and NO staircase! It made me smile that 42nd St has been criticised on this board for its lack of plot but this made it look like House of Cards. Three men fall in love with one girl ....and the obvious guy gets the girl in the last moments of the show - somewhat inexplicably from what I gathered. That is it! No wonder it did seem like a long evening. AGREE and AGREE Robert Fairchild is the star in this, I think they should swap his role and Leanne Cope's. Then have the other two guys and her fall in love with him and and that is a better and much more likely story.... yeah... I really don't like the marketing for this, 999 5-star reviews blah blah like come on! the show is really going to fall flat on its face with the audience because its hard to live up to that kind of marketing. I think An American in Paris would be nice in a small intimate theatre, with more fleshed out characters, more camp and better romance. Having it on such a big stage like the Dominion isn't great cause the set pieces are a bit sh*t. The big show tune in the second half with the top hats and dancing girls is total FAIL. Tries to be epic but Haydn Oakley cant sing it.
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Post by vabbian on May 17, 2017 14:39:31 GMT
Seen Monday 15th May. 2.5/5 would not recommend.
Especially for those unaccustomed to opera, as this runs over 4 hours.
There wasn't any noticeable chemistry between Hymel and Lewis, although the singing was beautiful, as expected from ROH. The performance just felt lacking in emotion, and everything was under-directed.
The scenes didn't tie together as nicely as they could have, some of the set pieces, e.g. the mausoleum were quite spectacular, and others rather basic e.g. the opening forest scene. There was meant to be a fire at end of scene 3 which was cut...
Highlight was Semenchuk's solo as Princess Eboli. you will get more out of watching the DVD of Kaufmann's Don Carlo.
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Post by vabbian on May 17, 2017 13:29:13 GMT
it definitely wasn't Theresa May or Liza
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