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Post by Stephen on Aug 10, 2022 8:16:21 GMT
According to the show's Instagram account, many members of the "post-pandemic cast" have left the company. You would have thought their contracts would be extended till the show's closing date in January. And this was such a STRONG cast!
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Post by Stephen on Jul 30, 2022 22:45:51 GMT
Anyone know when the new cast recording will be released? Single has been out for a while…
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Post by Stephen on Jul 29, 2022 19:06:08 GMT
Cast recording in progress as of today! I'm especially excited for Sutton's dreamy vocals.
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Post by Stephen on Jul 25, 2022 23:01:27 GMT
Went back tonight for the first time since before covid and this show is in AMAZING shape. The energy was crazy from the cast. I found it more powerful, touching, exciting than I had remembered and the audience loved it. Huge standing ovation at the end. 5 STARS FROM ME!
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Post by Stephen on Jul 22, 2022 0:05:33 GMT
Also wondering about the warnings of gunshots and spinning causing dizziness. Did this affect anyone?
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Post by Stephen on Jul 21, 2022 23:23:34 GMT
I will be booking then! Thanks. Interestingly on the seating plans it looks like they have removed quite a lot from the theatre...possibly due to restrictions with the set?
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Post by Stephen on Jul 21, 2022 18:23:25 GMT
What is so good about the play? Why do people find it so boring?
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Post by Stephen on Jul 21, 2022 0:25:38 GMT
I have rated this 3 stars in the poll however I feel that's generous. A few positives: Courtney is excellent as Belle, I really enjoyed her performance. It was also great to see Gavin Lee live and looking like he was having a ball. 'Gaston' and 'Be our Guest' were high energy production numbers. The negatives: My goodness Disney - I am SHOCKED that they are happy with such a scaled back, cheap looking pantomime of a production in the West End. This would feel flimsy, cheap and empty on tour let alone in town. From set to costumes to projections it all looked tacky to me. From my side view in Row N of the Palladium stalls I was often watching the action on a black backdrop on the side stage/wing as there was so little dressing and set. {Spoiler - click to view} I was particularly disappointed in the way the show handled the prologue with the enchantress and beast transformations. Audience blinders, bright flashing lights. It is such a lazy effect and not what I would expect from Disney!
The musical director, bless him, was VERY passionate in his conducting of what sounded like five musicians and a tape recording.
The best part of the evening was probably the air con which worked fairly well for the most part.
Lost a bit of faith in Disney Theatrical with this one.
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Post by Stephen on Jul 10, 2022 17:45:42 GMT
We have booked some slightly cheaper tickets to this in Row N block F right on the side. Has anyone seen this from side blocks? Was the 'illusion' still convincing?
Really looking forward to this. Have heard the whole experience is first class from the venue to the seat comfort to the performance!
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Post by Stephen on Jul 3, 2022 10:17:50 GMT
Will there be more all arise tickets released on Tuesday? *All Rise
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Post by Stephen on Jul 3, 2022 10:17:32 GMT
Will there be more all arise tickets released on Tuesday?
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Post by Stephen on Jun 6, 2022 14:11:11 GMT
Do the National still do entry pass tickets?
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Post by Stephen on May 29, 2022 23:38:08 GMT
Did Sunset Boulevard sound ok? It was the business, honestly. Then I really don't understand how they've gone wrong here. Maybe a board member with some sound design insight can chip in? Would be interesting! To me it felt as though they'd arrived at the theatre and run the show and gone "Christ it's all a bit echoey in here can we have another theatre?" "Nope" "Oh well let's just turn everything down a lot!" Such a shame especially given how beautiful Okereke's vocals are and how full the pit was!
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Post by Stephen on May 29, 2022 17:51:01 GMT
Sadly I do agree with the comments about the sound level and the orchestra - I really enjoyed MFL, but with my only previous trip to a production with a big orchestra being Sunset Boulevard also at the Coliseum, I was hoping/expecting to be swept up in the stirring overture and orchestral moments during the show. Sadly that didn’t happen - either because it was too quiet, or because the score wasn’t as good, or a combination of the two factors. It’s still a good show though and really pleased I had the chance to see it given its a classic musical and one I’d not seen before. Did Sunset Boulevard sound ok?
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Post by Stephen on May 28, 2022 7:39:15 GMT
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Post by Stephen on May 27, 2022 22:38:20 GMT
My visit to the Coliseum tonight reminded me why I love TodayTix and their rush tickets so much. I would have felt stung paying £90 for the stalls seat for this. It was my first visit to the Coliseum and did like it as a venue. The stalls has a lovely rake and even right at the back felt close. The boxes seemed to provide a good view too.
As for the show I agree with most of what has been said already. It's a pity that it's in this venue as the sounds is wobbly (I did get used to it by half way through Act 1 though) The orchestrations are lovely played by the full ENO orchestra however it feels like they arrived at the venue, realised that it sounds awful, and just decided to turn the entire show down. Therefore it never fully soars when it needs to.
The two leads were excellent. Higgins felt like a mash of Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock and Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper!
The touring set would have been fine on tour but in the West End I expect real books on shelves rather than painted backdrops. The house was the best set piece.
3 stars from me. Feels like it could have been 5 with just the problems above being sorted!
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Post by Stephen on May 3, 2022 19:58:51 GMT
I follow the playbill published Broadway grosses each week as I find it interesting to see which shows are performing best. This week all are much lower across the board and wondered what is going on. Even Hamilton is down to 91% capacity. Little Prince at only 25% sold! Just a slow week? Would be really interesting to see West End Grosses published too...
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Post by Stephen on Apr 20, 2022 23:04:51 GMT
Well they've got people talking.
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Post by Stephen on Apr 18, 2022 23:40:42 GMT
Does anyone know what TfL do with the thousands of ads on escalators once their time is up? Wonder if they’d give us some?! Really want a poster from To Kill a Mockingbird but strangely they’re not selling them at the theatre.
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Post by Stephen on Apr 18, 2022 21:55:39 GMT
Well I haven’t cried in a theatre for a long time. Found this very moving. It took a little while for me to get into it (My stalls row D ‘all rise’ seat had a really hard upright back which didn’t help) but once I did I only got more hooked as the evening progressed. The stories of Spall clicking sound convincing, he caught my direct eye a few times which was unnerving.
I was really impressed with Rafe Spall and to be honest the entire cast. Was moved by Jude Owusu’s performance as Robinson. The understudy was on for Scout tonight - she was amazing. I didn’t get a programme so unfortunately can’t name her but maybe someone can!
I agree about the coda being unnecessary but I was in tears but then so it really didn’t matter to me.
The theatre were also selling traditional sweeties in little boxes which I felt were the perfect companion to the play!
All Rise. 5*
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Post by Stephen on Apr 18, 2022 16:54:37 GMT
Of course if you want something a bit more premium, perhaps with a mount (which I generally dislike) then just visit a local framer. This will obviously be at least double the prices above though.
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Post by Stephen on Apr 18, 2022 16:53:41 GMT
Any frame recommendations for a 14x22 inch poster? I bought my first poster from Dear Evan Hansen on Saturday and am wanting to frame it! Thank you I frame all of my theatre posters and other things via 'the frame company' on Amazon. They have plenty of sizes and different styles to choose from. Mine are either in dark brown or their Watson frame which is a nice lighter brown. They're actually making a custom 14x22 inch frame for me Music Man poster at the moment (I just messaged them - they are so helpful) One of my frames from them was broken in transit last week and they immediately replaced it. I think they offer a reasonable price (around £15-25) depending on size and save me money (I have around 15 different items framed) If you have prime around half of their sizes and styles are available for next day delivery. I don't work for em just use em a lot! Hope this helps!
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Post by Stephen on Apr 13, 2022 23:26:50 GMT
{Spoiler - click to view} The one part which felt very out of place was the 'swimming' scene. I recall many raving about this being impressive before. I'm sad to say I found it really stopped the action. In the new version a screen slowly comes down where we watch a not very good projection of some swimming. It feels as though in the original the actors may have been flown in during this part?
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Post by Stephen on Apr 13, 2022 20:23:40 GMT
I'm also really hoping for a cast recording. Is there one in the works?
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Post by Stephen on Apr 13, 2022 20:23:00 GMT
Also thought that I would add a moment which I found particularly stunning: {Spoiler - click to view} When they say we're at Hogwarts and the lights slowly come up on the auditorium of the stunning Lyric Theatre with a beautiful rearranged version of Imogen Heap's 'Hide and Seek' playing in the background. Was one of those spine tingling magic only found in the theatre moments - loved it.
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Post by Stephen on Apr 12, 2022 17:45:28 GMT
I dearly hope I'm wrong, but it sounds to me like he may have reached the point where saying it's coming back next year is just a bitterly ironic running joke. Yes I've just realised that it's five years since I saw it in NYC. Pretty sure we were already having the 'it's coming back' chat then!
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Post by Stephen on Apr 12, 2022 3:56:10 GMT
Yeah we don’t play around with Covid over here. At a show a few days ago they asked the lady behind me to put her mask up and a few minutes later (i guess she pulled it down again) they came over, told her to gather her things and follow them out - she was leaving. Yes I saw a party being escorted out of Harry Potter by security too so I assume this was the same thing.
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Post by Stephen on Apr 12, 2022 3:31:51 GMT
Thank you everyone for the restaurant advice. It really was a terrific trip being able to see amazing shows and be out and about. New York felt buzzing again with people so happy to be around.
This time we didn't hit up the recommendations as our family ended up making other plans for us but will share a few great new things we did/places we visited that might appeal to others.
- Bar Blondau at the Wythe Hotel Brooklyn. A stunning bar on the 6th floor of this cool hotel has incredible views of Manhattan and one of the best Negronis I've ever enjoyed. - Bateaux New York Premier Dinner Cruise (I thought it might be corny but it was stunning with nice food, stunning views and an overwhelming sense of the scale of the city- loved it) - Citybikes hired and cycle round Central Park. I had never been to the North side of the park so the bikes allowed us to cycle all around on a lovely sunny morning!
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Post by Stephen on Apr 12, 2022 3:25:52 GMT
Finally saw this on Broadway on Saturday night. It's still a long show but (and I haven't seen it in two parts) think it works well as one. I found the first 20 minutes of act 2 some of the most stunning theatre I've ever seen. {Spoiler - click to view} The effects were a few times spectacular and sometimes just quite neat. I loved when the entire theatre is lit with the purple neons and there is writing all over. We were sat in a box so this was particularly impressive.
The dementors were amazing however I noticed wires above the auditorium so was expecting them to fly in over the audience - this didn't happen. Is this something which happened in the original version?
As with our visit to the music man mask compliance at 100% being enforced by mask officers on each level. Also interesting to see since my last visit to New York that there is now metal detector security as you enter theatres.
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Post by Stephen on Apr 12, 2022 3:21:00 GMT
It's always so fun seeing a big musical on Broadway for a change and this one didn't disappoint on Friday night! The theatre was full and buzzing. Broadway theatres are employing people just to police face masks and audience compliance was therefore 100%. This makes the incoming a bit stressful but nice to see that they take keeping theatres open so seriously.
The show, although it took the first 15 minutes to get going is everything you'd want from a big revival of a classic musical. It has been directed in such a way that the show almost feels like a parody of itself really playing up the stereotypical small town behaviours of the characters to great comic effect. It zips along at a nice pace. Jackman excellent in the role however Sutton and the supporting cast did steal it a bit with some great comedy. The orchestra sounded wonderful with a lot of nice detail in the playing and not overblown. The barbershop quartet were excellent and vocally stunning - as was the ensemble.
Lovely set design with a particularly well constructed house set which appears several times throughout the evening.
Shipoopi at the start of act 2 has been rewritten as a slightly less sexist number than it was before!
At the end of the performance was the usual auction for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids and Jackman auctioned off a glove to an audience member for $12,000. A great donation for a great cause!
There's always an element on Broadway of 'I've payed hundreds of dollars for a ticket so really want it to be good' but this Music Man really is a very fun show!
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