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Post by stagey19 on Feb 7, 2018 16:19:55 GMT
Saw this yesterday and was very underwhelmed. I really wanted to like it, but just didn't and couldn't.
I also HATE the audience participation. This nearly made me get up and walk out. Star of the show was Little Moe for me.
The tent looks nice, but was absolutely freezing! We were sat close to one of the emergency exists and had to keep our thick coats on during the show because it was so cold. This also did not add to any enjoyment.
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Post by stagey19 on Jan 12, 2018 11:11:43 GMT
While I generally agree about nudity on stage, I think for this production it makes sense. The opening scene presents the debauchery of the Duke and his court and the more obvious this is, the better as far as I can see as this is the starting point of the story. Further, the main nudity was Monterone's daughter and a man who was being forced to lie on her. Again, this adds to the depiction of the debasement of the daughter and, therefore, the disgust of Monterone is enhanced as is all that follows from this. So, while nudity is sometimes a side show and sometimes totally inexplicable, in this case it did seem to fit the story rather well. I do understand what you mean about the scene being a relevant setting to have this nudity on stage. However, for me the same effect would be reached by allowing members of the chorus to keep their clothes on. I guess I am just a bit of a prude...
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Post by stagey19 on Jan 10, 2018 10:39:31 GMT
Chicago cast better be good given ticket prices too. Yes, this exactly!!! I am not very hopeful the cast will be great and I am not buying tickets until I know who the cast is. Ticket prices are ridiculous.
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Post by stagey19 on Jan 10, 2018 9:52:45 GMT
Sofia Fomina impressed me when I heard her singing Naiad in Ariadne Auf Naxos in 2014, but of course that's a much smaller role than Gilda. This production is somewhat notorious for the orgy scene. It's the main reason I've never seen it, being someone who does not want to see lots of nudity on stage. Haha, I am wiser after the event! I am with you regarding nudity on stage; it is not my thing. I saw Salome on Monday and that also had plenty of nudity in it again. I just don't necessarily see what it adds to a production. At least I don't think it added anything to Rigoletto or Salome {SPOILER - Salome}In Salome, when the executioner descends into the cellar to retrieve Jokanaan's head, he throws off his jacket just before he descends. I do not understand what the significance is of his nudity in this instance?! When he returns with the severed head, he is then covered in blood and sits on stage in the nude for the rest of the opera. I really did not understand the nudity, which in my opinion did not add anything to the opera.
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Post by stagey19 on Jan 9, 2018 18:22:07 GMT
Guys, I have a very random question here. Has anyone seen the show on the Dec 23? My friend was at one of the previews, where he clearly heard “3 little tweaks” in the text (I presume you know what I’m talking about). And when he returned on the eve of 23rd, he insidts that everything was sung “as on OBC”. I don’t believe this so I’m looking for someone who can prove him wrong I also saw the matinee on 23 December, but am unaware of any changes. Although I must confess I have never listened to the OBC. Feel free to PM me to say what these changes supposedly were, as I may be able to recall them (or not!). I should also add that I saw previews on 9 December (Matinee, Ash’s first show) and on 15 December.
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Post by stagey19 on Jan 9, 2018 17:33:31 GMT
I saw Rigoletto on 23 December, sadly not with Lucy Crowe but with Sofia Fomina. As I went on a student lastminute, I bought the ticket without checking the cast list first. I wish I'd paid to have seen Lucy Crowe instead! She was spectacular as Ismene in Mitridate, earlier this season, and I have become a fan since then. Sofia was an average Gilda, she did not pull me in and I did not care much for the character. It was definitely Dimitri Platanias that stole the show as Rigoletto. This production of Rigoletto was the 3rd production I have seen (the other two being the Jonathan Miller production at the ENO and Damiano Michieletto's at the Dutch National Opera), but it did not appeal to me. I must also admit that the nudity and sexual references came as a bit of a shock to me! I was not expecting this to be staged so explicitly... I really should have read up on the production beforehand
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7 posts
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Post by stagey19 on Jan 9, 2018 17:10:12 GMT
Has anyone sat in what they're calling the restricted view seats? What are they like? I sat in the restricted seats! I booked seats B43 and B44, which at the time of booking came with a warning stating "This seat comes with a restricted view at certain points during the show." Well... I wasn't impressed when I sat down and there was a HUGE pillar in front of me, blocking at least half of the stage! Not exactly what you call 'certain points during the show'... I complained to the theatre after the show that the warning provided had been misleading, after which they adjusted the warning to clearly state the seats are behind a pillar and they gave me gift voucher. I would not recommend these seats at all. They are not worth £25 each. I do think the staging for Barnum makes it very difficult to find any seats that offer an unrestricted view during the entire performance. As it is staged in the round, there will be cast members blocking your view at certain times during the performance. And there are a few pillars to be aware of too. All in all, I did not like this production enough to come back to it in an 'unrestriced' seat.
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