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Post by callum on Aug 29, 2017 1:08:17 GMT
Was watching Helen Mirren's Theater Talk interview and when Michael Riedel asked if she'd ever wanted to play Mary Tyrone she said it's a boring part because she wanders in and out always on heroin! I was shocked, I love this part!
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Post by callum on Aug 28, 2017 13:53:26 GMT
So far it seems like negative reviews on here are negative reviews of the book/music rather than the production itself. It seems that that is as good as it gets for Follies, for better or worse.
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Post by callum on Aug 27, 2017 23:17:01 GMT
Yes, I'd be much happier to tweet that I enjoyed or really liked something than the opposite. Whether it's a film, play, article etc someone has worked really hard on it and it's just a shame to spread negativity publicly. Here, thought I think it's different as it's a discussion devoted to the topic in question.
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Post by callum on Aug 27, 2017 17:14:21 GMT
Saw the Phoenix cast but not Rebel Wilson (think it was Sam Spiro). Thought it was quite low-rent. Yep I suppose I can't complain at £15 - anyone know how long I've got to see Sheena?
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Post by callum on Aug 27, 2017 16:34:37 GMT
In two minds about this - I'm a sucker for camp but didn't take it all to Guys and Dolls last year. Should I book?
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Post by callum on Aug 27, 2017 14:30:33 GMT
Re-listening to the score on Spotify - anyone else find How Could I Leave You quite similar to Last Midnight from Into the Woods?
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Post by callum on Aug 26, 2017 18:18:29 GMT
I suppose Follies isn't for everyone, but surely by going to the NT in the first place, people will know that they're going to see something slightly subversive or out of the mainstream i.e. not a bog standard musical. Short walk over Waterloo Bridge if they want to see 42nd Street or Lion King.
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Post by callum on Aug 25, 2017 0:01:24 GMT
My rule of thumb is anything over 100 mins needs an interval. Will reserve judgement as this seems a special case but maybe they might try one preview with an interval then gauge how it works? Even if they don't, I can't imagine they'll have taken the decision lightly.
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Follies
Aug 24, 2017 22:09:56 GMT
via mobile
Post by callum on Aug 24, 2017 22:09:56 GMT
Well let's just hope that Tracie's costumes aren't being put on wire hangers.
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Post by callum on Aug 24, 2017 17:49:06 GMT
I would have much preferred Dame Julie, Barbra, Joan Cusack, Lindsay Duncan, Cher.......hell, even Dame Barbara - at least she'd have tottered around...... nope, I really didn't think she did a good job. Walters or Andrews?
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Follies
Aug 23, 2017 23:46:22 GMT
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Post by callum on Aug 23, 2017 23:46:22 GMT
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Post by callum on Aug 23, 2017 23:13:28 GMT
Interesting - lots of people mentioning Who's That Woman? (Mirror Mirror) as the highlight so far.
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Post by callum on Aug 23, 2017 19:58:59 GMT
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Follies
Aug 23, 2017 0:11:22 GMT
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Post by callum on Aug 23, 2017 0:11:22 GMT
Perhaps premature but has there been any talk of a cast recording being on the cards?
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Post by callum on Aug 22, 2017 21:43:55 GMT
Another pic but of the cast - might be a bit of a spoiler this for people that don't want to see costumes, so will tag it as such.
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Post by callum on Aug 22, 2017 13:47:03 GMT
Thanks for keeping us informed. It's a shame that for Stockard Channing to sell seats she has to change her name by deedpoll to first name Rizzo, middle name From, surname Grease.
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Follies
Aug 22, 2017 10:42:37 GMT
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Post by callum on Aug 22, 2017 10:42:37 GMT
Even a 100 minute movie becomes 2h10 with the length of trailers and ads nowadays. The artistic integrity of the piece is more important.
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Post by callum on Aug 21, 2017 23:58:58 GMT
I assume the no returning to seats if you leave midway will be enforced? If Imelda can't handle ice clattering, she'll be LOSING HER MIND if people start getting up and coming back in as they please!
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Follies
Aug 21, 2017 19:57:40 GMT
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Post by callum on Aug 21, 2017 19:57:40 GMT
Act I of Glenda's Lear last year was around 2h10 last year I believe - don't think it will be that bad. I imagine none of the people that can hold their bladders ever go to the cinema?! Personally I would prefer an interval, just because it feels more of an occasion and nice to discuss the show halfway through. Also to have a wander through the National.
But I trust all the people that have said an interval is detrimental to the show so I guess I don't mind too much.
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Post by callum on Aug 21, 2017 13:03:06 GMT
Cheers Monkey - bought a regular ticket for September through gritted teeth.
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Post by callum on Aug 20, 2017 22:29:17 GMT
I know Maz - very annoying. Much prefer day seat system. If you know you want to see a show on a certain day, you make the effort to get there and queue early and guarantee yourself a seat. Lottery system unfair for people that have been trying a lot of times.
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Post by callum on Aug 19, 2017 22:14:12 GMT
Always been unlucky with lottery monkey - do you know if they do day seats at the BO?
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Post by callum on Aug 18, 2017 12:15:31 GMT
That's true. When I was over there for a few months this summer, I was struck by how few 'stalwarts' there were - just Phantom, Wicked, Lion King and Chicago (whereas we have Les Mis, Thriller, Mamma Mia too). I suppose Book of Mormon, Aladdin and Kinky Boots have been going for a few years now so you can add them as well.
But I don't know if this is just down to theatre space, but Broadway has so many more new musicals - whether they turn out successful or not is a different matter. The Great Comet, Waitress, Bandstand, War Paint, A Bronx Tale, Anastasia, On Your Feet, Dear Evan Hansen, Come From Away and of course Hello Dolly - just imagine a West End with all of these at the same time. Sure, it means a trade-off between fewer plays and more musicals, but the musical 'scene' over there is extremely different. Far more competitive and not a race to the bottom, each show is trying to be distinctive.
So I'm really not at all shocked that GHD didn't find its audience. For some, a musical based on a film might be seen as tacky, and others might be turned off by not even being familiar with a 20+ year old movie. I can't imagine tourist families leaping at it, nor millennial women. The Tonys performance was also a wasted opportunity, too.
I'm not trying to disparage the show in any way, just offering some thoughts after my experience in NYC of how things are different over there, and what explanations there might be for its being a 'flop'.
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Post by callum on Aug 17, 2017 19:59:51 GMT
Seems only restricted view seats are in my price range for this production - so is it better to miss far left or the stage or far right for anyone that's seen it? Is there a better option? Thanks!
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Post by callum on Aug 16, 2017 23:48:14 GMT
If Nancy recedes back in to the background and doesn't get given any more attention in the rest of the play, then what was the point of the song in the first place? So she's just being treated like she was before? It felt off to me. The film worked just as well without a backstory given to Ned or any other minor character.
RE the score - I couldn't remember a single tune a couple of hours after I saw the show. I enjoyed it while I saw it but would definitely say it's a *** version of a ***** movie. Perhaps I enjoyed it more for its technical marvels than anything else, which I suppose isn't the greatest of endorsements.
However I'm still glad so many other people loved it. Fabulous to have seen so many West End theatregoers embrace a musical with an original score (albeit an unoriginal book) and give a show the push it needs to get to Broadway without it being the other way around for once. If it does eventually come back I'd wish it well wholeheartedly (what will the shelf-life of Dreamgirls at the Savoy?).
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Post by callum on Aug 16, 2017 11:32:55 GMT
I saw it, bizarrely, in NYC but missed it af Old Vic. I wouldn't mind if it didn't come over. It was fine, that's all - (wtf was the Nancy song all about?!) I don't regret seeing it but there are a lot more transfers I'd like to come over first. The audience I saw it with however was fairly muted and unresponsive (strange for Broadway), so perhaps that affected my experience of seeing the show.
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Post by callum on Aug 9, 2017 1:19:51 GMT
For all of the Stockard lovers here, she does a great guest spot in Difficult People, which just released a few new episodes this week. The cocaine-addicted aunt!
Hoping to see the play eventually but her surgery doesn't seem bad to me. Everybody does it, it's just I suppose how well it turns out. Sally Field and Jessica Lange IMO have had some very high quality nips and tucks. Probably Mirren too. And definitely Jane Fonda. I would not judge these actresses at all, it's just the demands of the business they're in. Stockard at least isn't Meg Ryan / Melanie Griffith level bad.
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Post by callum on Jul 28, 2017 2:06:07 GMT
Danny Webb in this production - he was in Glenda at the Old Vic last year too. Is he playing the same role as last year? Easy work for him if he is I suppose.
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Post by callum on Jul 28, 2017 1:56:17 GMT
What are people's senses about how this is selling? Seems a decent amount of availability for the random dates I picked to have a look at in December. For the talent involved should it have sold more? Or will it do better once it starts previewing and gets 'buzz'? Would love to know your thoughts.
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Post by callum on Jul 27, 2017 0:03:13 GMT
Don't think I'll be able to handle the poor comfort of a monkey nest for how long this play is. Will wait to try and grab front row day seats.
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