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Post by bimse on Sept 18, 2017 13:16:59 GMT
The Capitol is such a gorgeous venue. I was looking around at the architecture during the interval and it's truly unique. Always fun to catch a show on my infrequent nights in Sydney (and elsewhere!) The Capitol is such a gorgeous venue. I was looking around at the architecture during the interval and it's truly unique. Always fun to catch a show on my infrequent nights in Sydney (and elsewhere!) Mark is right about the Capitol. In the 1960s, Sydney lost many of its best theatres and cinemas which were torn down in the name of commercial redevelopment and most of them were not replaced. However a few did survive, the best two being the Capitol and the State. The Capitol was superbly refurbished by Cameron Mackintosh when 'Miss Saigon' first played in Sydney and the State has managed to keep going mainly for films but the occasional live show like Barbara Cook's 'It's Better With a Band' at a Sydney Festival some years ago. If anybody is interested, just go to Google Images and put in 'Capitol Theatre Sydney' and 'State Theatre Sydney' for some spectacular pictures. I googled Capitol Theatre, Sydney, and it does indeed look beautiful . I love theatres like this , although there are a few modern theatres I like too (I don't intend to divert the thread though) such as the beautiful Wales Millenium Centre, Cardiff, and the Royal Exchange in Manchester.
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Follies
Sept 17, 2017 21:49:11 GMT
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Post by bimse on Sept 17, 2017 21:49:11 GMT
I didn't see it as a cheap laughs move at all. Buddy's Folly, "The God-Why-Don't-You-Love-Me Blues", was presented here as a Vaudeville act, with proscenium curtain, footlights etc so the two female impersonators seemed appropriate. That was my take anyway. I saw it as cheap and tacky and offensive as I did with the 'camp' photographer. Even now I know it was included in the original production, i can't see the need for the introduction of the drag aspect, I didn't think it added anything and for me it wasn't well performed, and wasn't funny. Apparently it was was dropped by the time the show opened on broadway, so no need to include it here. It spoiled an otherwise superb show .
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Post by bimse on Sept 17, 2017 17:31:48 GMT
Is it the same as the Heritage Open Days? These were last weekend too, often there are some very interesting buildings to look round , including theatres. Last year in the north west where I live, the Blackpool Opera House was open , which I missed due to being away on holiday, this year the beautiful Grand Theatre in Blackpool. I chose to visit the Plaza Theatre in Stockport , nearer to where I live. It's a beautiful Art Deco cinema/ theatre , and you could see the backstage, dressing rooms, projection room, and I was allowed to try my hand at operating a follow spot . The open day was run by a delightful team of knowledgable and friendly volunteers .
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Post by bimse on Sept 17, 2017 10:14:19 GMT
For those asking about Ria, i thought she was very good. It was played slightly campy and cheesy but this is the first time i've seen the show other than some clips of some of the famous songs being performed so i don't really know if that's the norm(a). I'll get my coat. Funny you said this. I thought the same. It was almost too tongue in cheek at moments but I'm biased, I like my Norma to be quite dark and gothic. Second act was far stronger, agreed. Oh and that car..... I practically sunk down in my seat with disappointment - they had better paint the wood around it as it just looks like a bad wacky races joke. And set clunk. It sounded like a kwik fit garage at times and it was really jarring to me, took me right out of the show and really spoilt it for me. Overall room for improvement - hope it settles and improves before manchester, otherwise I'm selling my tickets. Been looking forward to this show , it's the only ALW I really like. I'm not sure how you'd play Norma camp and cheesy though? I hope I'm not going to be disappointed , Ria Jones got terrific reviews for her Norma at the Coliseum , does anyone know if she's giving basically the same performance ?
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Post by bimse on Sept 16, 2017 17:36:16 GMT
I remember watching TV as a child and into my teenage years, seeing people like Bruce Forsyth, Anita Harris, Brian Rix, David Nixon and the like, and at the end of the programme, while the credits were still rolling, and usually while the applause was still going on, the volume would be taken down while an announcer told us that Bruce Forsyth (or whoever) was now appearing at the Strand/Whitehall/Adelphi Theatre, London in Whatever the show was. The Victoria Palace also seemed to feature quite a lot, as did the Prince of Wales, I think. I used to be really impressed, thinking that being in something in a theatre up in the West End was really posh. Then those announcements got phased out for some reason. Well remembered! Yes .... up here in the far north on Saturday evenings after watching The Clitheroe Kid , the announcer would say Jimmy Clitheroe is now appearing in Tom Thumb at the Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool . I think they used to have a written announcement later on , with the credits?
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Post by bimse on Sept 16, 2017 16:46:37 GMT
...........Must be the most touching post we've had on Theatreboard. Brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much, from seeing Jack Tripp, in my youth (with my late brother) with Jimmy Clitheroe and the amazing Anita Harris as principal boy, in Jack and the Beanstalk at the Manchester Palace, to the anecdote I posted , I have wonderful memories of Jack .
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Post by bimse on Sept 16, 2017 16:29:40 GMT
My earliest theatrical memory dates from when I was about 3 or 4. My first ever trip to the Royal Theatre in Northampton to see The Wizard of Oz. As soon as the lights went down for the overture, I started to panic and we had to leave! At least I was still allowed to eat the Meltis Fruit Jellies when we got home. Amazing that I managed to overcome that panic to come to love theatre! My little nephew, 4 years old, had a major panic attack/strop type episode at Stig of The Dump, and had to be removed. Pity because I was so looking forward to it , having always enjoyed the stories on Jackanory as a child. I'm hoping he hasn't been traumatised for life , oxfordsimon your anecdote gives me hope .
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Post by bimse on Sept 16, 2017 16:23:43 GMT
I saw Les Dawson twice in panto, but alas never with Roy Barraclough. He was with John Nettles and to this day, I'm not sure how much of the ad-lib and anarchy was "rehearsed" because John Nettles always looked as if he didn't know what day of the week it was, but something tells me he was always in control! Love the Jack Tripp/Sunset Boulevard line. When I was a naïve youngster I did comment to my panto going pal,Isn't it funny how Allen Christie is always in the same panto as Jack Tripp...... I never saw John Nettles with Les Dawson in panto, but my late brother did, and he told me they were brilliant. They often did panto together , John nettles was apparently a wonderful "baddie". Ah! The innocence of youth ! Allen Christie was the perfect stooge for Jack Tripp , and I'm told they were devoted to each other . My late brother was a very keen theatre fan and loved pantomime . He corresponded with Jack Tripp for several years while he (my brother) was compiling details of all Jack's pantomime appearances. My brother died suddenly , and I informed Jack . He sent me a lovely letter saying how much he appreciated corresponding and reminiscing with my brother , although they never met, and Jack later sent a last Christmas card for my brother , asking me to place it in his room so he would know Jack was thinking of him. So unexpectedly thoughtful, a delightful man and one of the finest performers this country has produced .
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Post by bimse on Sept 16, 2017 15:16:47 GMT
Forgot to add, no animals , these were earlier productions , I think most of her later presentations have introduced an animal or two .
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Post by bimse on Sept 16, 2017 15:15:16 GMT
I saw a few of Ellen Kent's opera presentations in Manchester a few years back and hated the productions , they were so cheap and very amateurish , despite some good singers, including Aida which had a procession of a large number of locally recruited blacked-up slaves in chains, sack cloth outfits and Phyllis Diller wigs . Ludicrous. The barber of Seville was just a cheap production and boring , Rigoletto was better but I think the courtiers had provided their own shoes, lots of tatty trainers on view. The storm scene was an off stage fan with someone throwing on screwed up pages from the Manchester evening news. Norma was surprisingly well sung, for one night only , stand and deliver , Druid outfits and some stone henge type boulders .
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Post by bimse on Sept 16, 2017 14:55:42 GMT
Oh gosh I'm enjoying this thread! I think a future "theatreboard" get together should feature tonyloco's memoir's. Great stuff! Mention earlier of Jack Tripp, who was for me the best pantomime dame ever. Sometimes raucous and sometimes subtle. One of my earliest theatre memories was a production of "Aladdin" at the Royalty Theatre, Chester. It started Mikki and Griff and started my life long panto love of led in lines for songs. Theirs was " Aladdin, you look so sad you are usually such a clown", which lead to their then hit "Little bitty tear"! (another favourite was from "Babes in the wood" - Little John - "I will carry Robin Hood out of the forest, because He ain't heavy, he's my brother"!) Those lead in lines are so funny, especially given that they're perfectly acceptable in panto ! Not a lead in line as such, but I remember seeing Les Dawson playing Dame Ada in Babes in the Wood at the Bradford Alhambra on the 70s. The late Roy Barraclough was the Bad Robber , until he came on as the Bad Robber's sister , Cissie. Cue a wonderfully funny Cissie and Ada routine ! Yes I mentioned Jack Tripp earlier , a delightful Dame, and a brilliant comic performer. I remember his "Busy Bee" routine at Sadlers wells , which was hilarious, with much water being spat out all over, and becoming progressively more and more manic . I had been to see the newly opened and much anticipated Sunset Boulevard with Patti LuPone the evening before , and Jack got a huge laugh during his water spitting routine when he exhaustedly declared "it was never like this in sunset boulevard! "
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Post by bimse on Sept 16, 2017 14:38:33 GMT
Saw Follies on Monday, Matilda Wednesday, Mosquitos last night, and Oslo tonight. All in total for only £27.50 How on earth did you manage all those for £27.50? I'm very impressed!
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Post by bimse on Sept 14, 2017 15:11:08 GMT
My earliest theatre going memories are of pantomimes, from my childhood I vividly remember the incredibly funny Jack Tripp as Dame , an immaculate and very subtle dame , with the most fantastic repertoire of routines. I later saw him at Sadlers Wells in Babes in The Wood with Roy Hudd, they convulsed a largely adult audience at the performance I saw ...... the Busy Bee routine was a classic of comic timing. Jack Tripp was a real gentleman off stage .
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Post by bimse on Sept 14, 2017 15:05:08 GMT
Twang! Tried out at the Palace Theatre in Manchester I believe. I have a poster for it , Barbara Windsor and Ronnie Corbett were in it. Did they both go with the show to London ? Where did it play there ?
Thanks for the info on Rogers and Starr tonyloco, I'm mixing them up with Burdon and Moran .
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Post by bimse on Sept 14, 2017 14:11:45 GMT
I meant to use the above quote to refer to, sorry I'm not up to speed with using the site, it'll get better , promise.... I just wanted to ask tonyloco if Rogers and Starr were the drag act who did magic? I'm told they were wonderful . I love reading your reminiscences! Maybe an encore thread is in order !
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Post by bimse on Sept 14, 2017 14:08:48 GMT
It was either the Vauxhall Tavern or the Black Cap! Late 70s/early 80s? Am I right? Or the Two Brewers Well, caiaphas and alece10, you are warm but not hot. Yes, I was participating in shows, but not in pubs and not all drag acts by any means. Other performers included Long John Baldry, Diane Langton, Elaine Paige, Brian Protheroe, Gaye Brown, Rita Webb as well as the ones previously mentioned. The time was 1973 and the shows were at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East, directed by Joan Littlewood. They started as a series of variety nights called NUTS. It was Joan's idea to mix traditional variety material – songs, sketches, spesh acts, etc – with people from the local community like journalists, care workers, councillors, etc., who would interact with the audience on matters of local concern. Was this a crazy idea? You betcha! But Joan did have some crazy ideas. I was playing the piano as part of the bar entertainment and also accompanying some of the acts on stage. I shared the stage work with Long John Baldry's regular pianist, Ian Armit, who played for LJB, Diane Langton and Elaine Paige while I played for the point numbers for Rogers and Starr, Rita Webb, etc. Hinge and Bracket did not need a pianist but I did have the honour to play for Dame Hilda Bracket some years later in a music hall bill at the Lyric Hammersmith. So now you know. I'm too old to do any playing these days, and besides nobody does the kind of shows that I used to play for anyway. All together now: AAhhh!
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Follies
Sept 12, 2017 22:09:18 GMT
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Post by bimse on Sept 12, 2017 22:09:18 GMT
Saw Follies this evening. It's a stunning production , much darker than the last London production , and the "Follies" of the characters come across much better . The only part I didn't understand was the introduction of two drag characters during Buddy's folly , to me it wasn't done well, served no purpose except for cheap laughs, and didn't fit well at all. But a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable production all the same .
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Post by bimse on Sept 11, 2017 13:38:56 GMT
Follies on Tuesday, maybe 42nd St on Wednesday
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Post by bimse on Sept 10, 2017 20:19:17 GMT
That's two empty theatres on the outskirts of Manchester then. The Hulme Hippodrome, Tameside Theatre/Hippodrome, plus the Theatre Royal on Peter St, directly inbetween the Palace Theatre and the Opera House . Apparently the latter is owned by the Edwardian Group who own the hotel constructed within the old Free Trade Hall, directly next door to the Theatre Royal. Its use as a nightclub etc have not damaged the interior , the actual theatre fittings have just been covered up to accommodate changes of use. Mant years ago my late brother did some referencing on the building on behalf of the inland revenue, and he assured me this was the case.
I love old theatres!
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Post by bimse on Sept 8, 2017 12:11:12 GMT
I'm spending the day at the meditation centre on Portland St in Manchester , highly recommended for helping with a positive and peaceful mind . It's just round the corner from the Palace Theatre.
Afterwards I'm going to the Royal Northern College of Music to hear the students perform some of their own original short opera scenes .
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Follies
Sept 7, 2017 7:03:52 GMT
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Post by bimse on Sept 7, 2017 7:03:52 GMT
Sorry for sending the above quote, I was trying to refer to it in a post. This article states that the European premier of Follies was in 1985 at the Wythenshawe Forum, Manchester , with Mary Millar as Sally, Paul Kerryson as choreographer . I wanted to ask if they also did this in Leicester ? www.folliesbroadway.com/wythenshawe.htm
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Follies
Sept 7, 2017 6:58:22 GMT
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Post by bimse on Sept 7, 2017 6:58:22 GMT
Having seen the 1987 version twelve (yes 12) times as a callow youth with the same obsessions as others now posting on this board, it was flawed but fabulous. Diana Rigg did indeed dance in "Who's That Woman?" but a back injury put her out of the number later in the run. Her costume and wig were also softened. Special mention for Julia McKenzie's Sally who broke my heart on every occasion; she was amazingly consistent and vocally stunning live. Kathryn Evans deserved a better production but she comes a very close second and gave a nuanced performance (and is a great dancer too!) and Mary Millar in Kerryson's Leicester production was also superb. (Liz Izen played young Sally and is now in the RNT version - perhaps she is covering Imelda?) The Landor version was a wonder and extremely well cast; there was a "pro-am" version in Northampton (with the late Louise Plowright and Alex Giannini) and I even went to Madrid to see it done in Spanish! I am nervous about my forthcoming visit and cannot help take my baggage and casting doubts with me. We shall see.
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Post by bimse on Sept 6, 2017 22:39:52 GMT
Could of... Would of... Should of... There's a chap on here who does it constantly. I can only agree with the above. Also putting apostrophes where they don't belong .
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Post by bimse on Sept 6, 2017 22:33:25 GMT
Starting every sentence with "So...." Where has that come from ?
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Post by bimse on Sept 1, 2017 17:01:56 GMT
Jared Christmas sounds appalling , wonder if he's done any more pantos ?
Paul Zerdin is very talented indeed and always gets good reviews from his pantomime appearances . I guess it's difficult to ring the changes once you have a winning act .
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Post by bimse on Sept 1, 2017 15:41:23 GMT
But sadly out of place in Cinderella last year. I'm surprised the direction wasn't better...... one of the Counts funniest routines is his attempt at ventriloquism. I doubt that could be included , not with lengthy routines by Paul Zerdin .
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Post by bimse on Sept 1, 2017 15:00:06 GMT
I had never even heard of the Count going into it. What is his style? Because I didn't get it at all from his performance and I'm genuinely intrigued? Is it an age thing? I don't mean to imply that everyone who likes him is old, but I'm curious as I am younger so maybe its a generational thing? It could well be a generational thing, the Count has a popular radio show in which he's an old thespian with delusions of grandeur , and radio comedy is possibly more popular with older people. His tv series also would be popular with devotees of the radio show, plus hopefully new admirers too.
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Post by bimse on Sept 1, 2017 14:56:25 GMT
I take panto exceptionally seriously. No, I really do. I have massively high standards and yes, I did like the Count - and that's bearing in mind I'd never seen him on TV. Now, if we are talking failures, one Jarred Christmas (or however he spells his name). Wimbledon, 2015. That man must never be allowed near a panto stage ever again. Ever. Interesting comments about Mr Christmas theatremonkey.com, I haven't been to a panto for years (the last I saw was Cillas in Liverpool) , I wouldn't go alone, but I take it seriously . There are not many Jack Tripps about these days , that's for sure. What did Jarred Christmas do , or not , as the case may be , to spoil the show? I'm told several American performers haven't been great in panto ... Steve Gutenberg didn't get it , for one .
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Post by bimse on Sept 1, 2017 14:44:18 GMT
I wouldn't agree a cruise is (for the most part) a good way of seeing places tbh, it's a good way of going PAST places very quickly. In my experience it's a frustrating experience, because you don't get the opportunity to experience a destination , a visit to Rome was incredibly frustrating for me , no chance whatsoever of taking your time to enjoy those beautiful buildings. No chance to go inside anywhere.
They are best (just my opinion) for scenic destinations or smaller ports where the town itself is the sight , such as the Greek islands .
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Post by bimse on Sept 1, 2017 14:36:18 GMT
That should have been "slayed" not "slated"
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