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Post by robertb213 on Jul 29, 2023 10:29:25 GMT
I reviewed this on Monday in Crawley for Zoe Birkett's first night, she was on fire and really showed Melody Thornton how it should be done. She's the strongest she's ever been, highly recommended if you can get to Crawley tonight or the next 4 venues.
From September, Zoe will be replaced by Emily Williams for the rest of the tour.
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 23, 2023 13:09:12 GMT
He's very good but does read a bit too young for Joe. But then I guess they have to cast younger so that it looks right against Nicole's youthful Norma.
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 22, 2023 22:07:36 GMT
My understanding is that male celebs learn to lead their pro, and female celebs learn to be led by their pro, so they'd adopt whichever positioning applies. Could be wrong though.
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 20, 2023 18:12:30 GMT
My initial comments were perhaps overly harsh and freshly fuelled by disliking the material (a lot!) but I didn't mean to rub anyone up the wrong way. I'm glad others enjoyed the show.
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 19, 2023 23:12:26 GMT
I'll take a self indulgent ghey over the usual twee 'will they/won't they end up together' (spoiler - they will) hetero borefests that infest musical theatre like the plague and then run for 100 years x Great, have fun! But you couldn't pay me to sit through this whining pity party again. As a gay man I'd rather spend the evening with the "predictable" straights, sorry! 🤣
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 19, 2023 8:20:59 GMT
Oh no, you really didn't like it? Not at all. Self-indulgent garbage. But each to their own! 😁
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 18, 2023 21:23:48 GMT
Rushed for this tonight and only paid £19.50 for central stalls thanks to the £10 TodayTix offer this week.
The cast were good.
That's the only positive thing I can really say. I've never wanted an interval more.
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 12, 2023 15:34:25 GMT
They've asked press not to attend until 27th July now so perhaps they're realising it's not working and need some time to re-work it.
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Wonka
Jul 11, 2023 21:57:32 GMT
via mobile
Post by robertb213 on Jul 11, 2023 21:57:32 GMT
Looks great but it's a musical isn't it? Why aren't they featuring any of the singing, just two quick glimpses of dancing? Almost as if they don't want to tell people it's a musical and scare them off. It's Sweeney Todd all over again. I'll never forget the bunch of lads behind me who swore like sailors when they thought they were coming to a horror film and then Johnny Depp started singing 🤣
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 11, 2023 21:53:53 GMT
The ending of the Australian version is brutal! I've never wanted to reach into the TV and hug someone as much as in that finale. Overall not as good as our series, but worth it for the finale. Absolutely savage 🤣
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 11, 2023 21:41:19 GMT
Another obscure one for the collectors and fans of the 80s.... The Gallery Players in Ipswich are doing Xanadu, 24th to 29th July 😁
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 8, 2023 14:15:22 GMT
Yeah it's confusing isn't it! I think Sam is doing pretty much the same run as Kevin though 😁
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 7, 2023 13:46:39 GMT
Loads of times. Life is too short to sit through something you're not enjoying. And if it means getting an earlier train home then all the more reason!
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 6, 2023 13:55:49 GMT
If anyone is trying to tick off the classics and can get to Lichfield before Saturday, the Garrick has Seven Brides For Seven Brothers. I saw it last night, obviously very dated but I thought they did a fantastic job. The two leads in particular have stunning voices.
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 6, 2023 13:09:58 GMT
Is Ore Aduba now considered to be a bona fide MT performer? He's in our panto in Northampton this year as well, so unquestionably yes 😉🤣🤣
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 6, 2023 11:22:12 GMT
Yeah my heart kinda sinks when I see Amber's name, and then I remember I've seen her twice and thought she was great both times! 🤣
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Post by robertb213 on Jun 30, 2023 11:55:50 GMT
Life is just too expensive now and luxuries like theatre will be the first thing that people cut back on when they need to. People need to pay their bills, they don't need to see a show. I don't spend my money on anything else and don't have a family to support so I'm very lucky, but cost will be governing most people's decisions to cut back on theatre trips rather than the selection of shows on offer.
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Post by robertb213 on Jun 28, 2023 10:43:35 GMT
Do you think audiences are more likely to enjoy this if they haven't seen the film to compare it to? I have a show slot and need to fill it with something and I've never seen this film, so wondered if there's potential to enjoy it more if you're going in blind?
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Post by robertb213 on Jun 26, 2023 11:34:40 GMT
I saw the second performance on Saturday afternoon. 3 stars with potential for 4 in my view. The men fare better than the women for the songs, and although Alice is incredible she never gets a chance to properly let go and belt. The songs also don't signal to the audience when it's ok to applaud, that could be tightened up. But some good humour and an engaging plot (with jumping timelines so pay attention). Definitely worth a watch I'd say.
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Post by robertb213 on Jun 17, 2023 11:40:16 GMT
I sat in B7 of the Dress Circle, sold as restricted view from a hand rail in front, but it blocks maybe 10% of the very front of the stage and you miss literally nothing. It helps that I'm tall but I think anyone would be fine there.
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Post by robertb213 on May 31, 2023 13:41:41 GMT
Yeah she was fabulous, she's come on such a long way and her voice is so strong now. Really glad I went.
Could've done without The Overtones turning part of the second half into a naff 70s wedding reception though, it completely shattered the "musical theatre haven" she'd spent 90 minutes creating.
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Post by robertb213 on May 30, 2023 9:58:31 GMT
For anyone attending the Drury Lane concert tonight and needs to plan transport, the show will be two 1-hour acts and should finish around 9.50.
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Post by robertb213 on May 26, 2023 13:56:17 GMT
I agree with FrontroverPaul, I reviewed it at Curve on Tuesday and thought it was great. It was never going to top the scale and spectacle of Drury Lane but it's still really well done and the dance sequences are fabulous. The staircase still looks good, not as jaw-dropping but still a great moment. It was lovely to see Ruthie in a show again. The voice has lessened, it's definitely not what it was, but echoes of it remain and she's still good. She plays Dorothy more like Norma Desmond and if she could hit the big notes of Sunset Boulevard I'd love to see her in that. And Nicole is really good too, she more than makes up for the vanilla turn she gave in Anything Goes.
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Post by robertb213 on May 26, 2023 10:26:33 GMT
Does anyone have a list of the orchestra in this production? I do - 4 reeds, 3 trumpets, 2 trombones, 1 French horn, 1 double bass, and drums.
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Post by robertb213 on May 24, 2023 10:45:31 GMT
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Post by robertb213 on May 22, 2023 11:51:10 GMT
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Post by robertb213 on May 19, 2023 10:30:32 GMT
I'm still not sold on Nicole, she's too "obviously powerful" with no fragility, but always happy to be proven wrong. It'll be interesting to see who the understudy is, I suspect Nicole maybe won't do the matinées.
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Post by robertb213 on May 17, 2023 11:27:12 GMT
She has a great voice but reads very young for Eva.
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Post by robertb213 on May 16, 2023 14:53:29 GMT
Sounds fairly credible, but hopefully the talk of Nicole is just speculation. There are like a thousand better choices than her for this. She's great but she's not Norma. Satine in Moulin Rouge, absolutely.
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Post by robertb213 on Apr 27, 2023 9:06:36 GMT
If there's a third season around 80s musicals, I would like to warmly invite you....Schmanadu 🤣🤣 Schmarlight Express Les Schmiserables Schmats Little Schmop of Horrors Schmonday in the Park with George The Schmantom of the Opera Schmiss Schmaigon Much as I like the last one, i think you win. Some excellent choices! It's annoying that it has to be named after a place rather than just a show! 🤣
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