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Post by callum on May 25, 2022 22:26:42 GMT
Setlist spoilers below based on some twitter discussion I’ve seen - please only read if you’ve been to a rehearsal performance. On Monday night’s rehearsal the biggest song omitted from the setlist was Super Trouper, alongside Take a Chance On Me and Money Money Money. Instead we had the less-famous and unexpected Summer Night City and When All Is Said and Done, for example.
I’ve read that these were done to test audience reaction, and there may be some switching around of the setlist with the band recording mo-cap for more songs.
Did those who attended another performance to Monday have a different setlist? Wondering how this will affect the final setlist for opening on Friday.
Additionally, I didn’t think The Winner Takes it All was necessarily the obvious choice for the encore (though didn’t mind it personally) - are different songs being tested as the final song too?
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Post by callum on May 25, 2022 19:52:29 GMT
Bottle was £4.50… very reasonable and wish I got one tbh!
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New York
May 24, 2022 23:30:40 GMT
via mobile
Post by callum on May 24, 2022 23:30:40 GMT
For theatre May/June is always the best time since most of the season’s biggest shows (musicals and plays) will all be playing before some start closing into mid-Summer and through the Autumn. Though of course plenty of next season’s shows haven’t been announced yet!
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Post by callum on May 23, 2022 23:02:41 GMT
I was lucky enough to be there tonight and absolutely unbelievable.
The nub of what makes this show astounding is that it feels like you’re 40 years in the past and 40 years in the future and exactly the same time.
I could go on and describe what the experience is like, but you truly have to be there to convey what it actually feels like. An absolutely shattering concert! It feels like when people saw dinosaurs for the first time in CGI in Jurassic Park.
The dance floor tonight was full of 20/30+ year olds and felt like any club on a Saturday at 2am… I hope it stays that way!
In terms of setlist, everything is there apart from one (maybe two) B-tier song that were omitted. The two penultimate songs are what you would guess, with a quasi-surprise for the encore. Will provide in spoiler tags if anyone wants to know!
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Post by callum on May 23, 2022 11:09:52 GMT
Have a rush ticket that I can no longer use up in the Noticeboard
Thanks
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Post by callum on May 22, 2022 13:02:14 GMT
Enjoyed this a lot on Friday. Firstly the deconstruction of Curly - not seen any film or production of Oklahoma before but presumes he’s normally depicted as the traditional hero. Here, he comes across as an arrogant bully who feels entitled to claim Laurey as his own, with the blackout forcing the audience to listen to his tormenting of Judd.
Equally Judd comes across as a disturbing incel - and the second blackout perhaps alluding to Judd raping Laurey. Then, Curly uses this to take advantage of Laurey and propose to her when she’s most vulnerable.
These are Laurey’s two choices - a pigheaded bully or creepy weirdo. The only time when she can escape either of them is at the end when it’s possible for Curly to be imprisoned for Jude’s murder.
However - for me - Aunt Eller comes across as the ultimate villain of the piece when the trial results as a sham at her insistence. She condemns her niece to a life in a loveless marriage… why? Perhaps because it’s the life she never had as a spinster, or she uses her position as a woman to reinforce the gender structures that always result in a woman ending worse off. Either way, Laurey begins her married life literally covered in the bloodshed of male violence.
Lots of things didn’t work but so what? Two years ago we thought we’d never be back when we were locked indoors, so very happy to spend 15 mins watching interpretative dance - simply because it’s batsh*t crazy performance!
This production shows theatre is still alive!
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Post by callum on May 9, 2022 17:02:04 GMT
I saw this yesterday afternoon. A great view from the front row (£15 online bargain). There a tyre in front of me for the first act, but that was moved for the rest of the show. Plus, it was the side of the stage where the audience didn't get covered with a variety of liquids, which is always a bonus! This is a fantastic production. Fresh and original and really draws you in. I presume this has been updated a bit since the original (they talk about technology that wasn't around a decade around), but nothing else seems dated at all. Plus, it has a satisfying ending, unlike so many plays which just leave you with more questions than answers. Recommended. The 3 hours and 10 minutes will fly by. Great to hear! Which side was this may I ask? Will keep it in mind when I try this week
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Post by callum on May 3, 2022 23:32:28 GMT
Completely superb… MULTIPLE standing ovations up in the Grand Circle.
Strongest performer was Bernadette… wow what a complete legend this woman is. Hard to think of two more different Sondheims than You Gotta Get a Gimmick and Losing My Mind - she brought the house down and got standing ovations for both.
Dench incredibly moving doing Send in the Clowns; as was Petula Clark singing I’m Still Here, the number rang so true for her considering the longevity of her career but never achieving mega-stardom.
It’s hard to think of a more stunning triple whammy than the Act I closer of A Little Priest (Friedman bliss), The Ladies Who Lunch (Haydn Gwynne going full pelt) and Sunday (completely breathtaking).
Minor quibbles in that I would have preferred Imelda to do Rose’s Turn over Everything’s Coming Up Roses though everyone will have their preferences… (and at least we were spared Ball doing Somewhere from WSS).
The biggest cheer was Julia McKenzie, Bernadette, HBC, Gwynne, Friedman, Bonnie and Jenna Russell all doing a kick line to Broadway Baby… yes, THAT camp!!!
I was half expecting Cameron to do some mega surprise at the curtain call such as ‘ladies and gentlemen… Angela Lansbury’ but no big surprise names!
Overall an absolutely exhilarating evening and one I wouldn’t have missed for the world.
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Post by callum on May 2, 2022 17:22:41 GMT
Children Will Listen isn’t often in the upper echelons of Sondheim but I love the message and one that’s resolutely Sondheim.
A reprise of A Little Priest from Staunton & Ball will bring the house down - as will You Gotta Get a Gimmick which looks like it’s definitely happening…
Keeping with Sweeney, I presume Helena Bonham Carter may be doing By the Sea or Worst Pies in London as that’s her only Sondheim connection? Good on her for doing this as she’s not a natural singer.
Side By Side is one of my favourite ensemble numbers.
I hope we see something from West Side Story included - the recent film showed the simple beauty of the lyric ‘I have a love and it’s all that I have’.
Aside from that I have no doubt that the heavy hitters - Being Alive, I’m Still Here, Send in the Clowns - will all be there!
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Post by callum on May 2, 2022 9:36:25 GMT
Tickets arrived!
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Post by callum on May 1, 2022 23:17:19 GMT
Watched the brilliant Six By Sondheim tonight and now completely in the mood for Tuesday! Bring it on…
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Post by callum on Apr 27, 2022 23:04:32 GMT
Had a fabulous time - so many interesting themes brought up (preservation of communities = preservation of power structures etc etc) and Fiennes top-rate. Loved the scene with Danny Webb as Gov Al Smith which even got a round of applause mid-act!
Can’t imagine there’d be a much of a bad view for this one so grab a bargain.
Direct in my sight view was a person that was asleep for the majority - why do these people want to go in the first place and then secondly not leave at the interval if they can’t be bothered to stay awake?! Perplexing!
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Post by callum on Apr 27, 2022 17:21:59 GMT
4x unclaimed Day Seats appeared on the website about 10:15 this morning.
Although still good value for front row, they are now £35 compared to I think £15 a week ago? Dynamic in full flow…
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Post by callum on Mar 26, 2022 23:31:03 GMT
Had middling expectations but even these weren’t met… overall disappointed.
Two fundamental issues - firstly that Scout, Jem & Dill being played by 30yo+ adults just does not work, and secondly that the way that the script is written (by removing Scout as narrator) makes them generally disconnected from the trial. Found the tension between Atticus and the maid far more interesting.
Also with Scout and Dill in particular their American accents were truly appalling. With a two year delay to opening I was expecting a lot more!
On the plus side, I liked the production design (although slightly repetitive) and Ann Roth’s costumes, and the audience generally well behaved with minimal inappropriate laughter!
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Post by callum on Mar 16, 2022 14:45:09 GMT
Looking at the website RAH is already booked on 3rd May… there will have been lots of considerations for staging this including the venue - not least the availability of the performers!
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Post by callum on Mar 15, 2022 20:43:44 GMT
I think…
Adrian Lester - Being Alive Michael Ball & Imelda Staunton - A Little Priest Elaine Paige - I’m Still Here Judi Dench - Send in the Clowns Bernadette - Children Will Listen
Leaving plum numbers like Rose’s Turn, The Ladies Who Lunch, anything from WSS for more unannounced divas? (Baranski, Audra, Patinkin…?)
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Post by callum on Mar 2, 2022 21:09:56 GMT
Ralph Fiennes and Francesca Annis two at the Forest this evening. Felt very starstruck! Are they back together? Or an awkward accidental reunion?!
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Post by callum on Feb 26, 2022 13:07:32 GMT
In Baz’s article he writes that Michael Harrison is throwing the kitchen sink at the special effects with an animatronic giant, and that the main villain will be the giant’s wife, who was yet to be cast.
This screams out Jennifer Saunders? Or is Elaine coming back too?
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Post by callum on Feb 23, 2022 18:37:01 GMT
What are the logistics for them performing on Ant & Dec on Saturday considering both shows are still going ahead and Ant & Dec is live? A pre-rec for their performance in between matinee and evening show?
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Post by callum on Feb 17, 2022 16:22:36 GMT
People like to see famous people on stage... breaking news!
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Post by callum on Jan 11, 2022 18:45:42 GMT
Any predictions for next year?
Every year I think surely Wilmot/Zerdin/Havers can’t come back another year… but sure as hell they do!
In an ideal world, the effects that they could do with Jack and the Beanstalk would be great!
Charlie Stemp as Jack, Julian as (obviously) The Fairy and a big-ish name for Dame Trott?
Or a revival of Cinderella with Paul O’Grady back as the stepmother and Bradley Walsh as Buttons?
Has enough time passed since the Disney musical closed to try Aladdin?
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Post by callum on Dec 21, 2021 15:11:22 GMT
Easier said than done but they should go bigger on a star name; David Tennant, Hugh Laurie, Martin Freeman, Jude Law, Damian Lewis etc.
Probably a case of diminishing returns at this point though
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Post by callum on Dec 15, 2021 21:38:38 GMT
Received an email inviting me to book - don’t think I’ve ever had one before in what you’d think would be peak season?
I went in 2017, 18 & 19 but would be reluctant to book again until a bit of a refresh in the cast. Keep Julian (and maybe a Nigel cameo) but probably time for a total overhaul for Jack and the Beanstalk next year with a high profile Dame?
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Post by callum on Nov 20, 2021 0:21:32 GMT
Three stars from me… cleverly staged and brilliantly performed but can’t overcome an extremely thin story and trite dialogue. The plot is described rather than acted (‘they’re suing you for the name of The Drifters, Faye!’, ‘you’re leaving me to go to England, Momma?’) and songs completely crowbarred in to the story even for a jukebox musical
Beverley was superb but really only gets two big solo numbers (I could be wrong)?
It will have a long life touring
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Post by callum on Nov 15, 2021 23:04:14 GMT
Daisy Edgar-Jones and Linda Marlowe at Macbeth tonight (not together!)
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Post by callum on Nov 5, 2021 11:11:02 GMT
Great review Nick -
Any opinions on seating options? Looking at restricted view house left seats in a few weeks. Will these be okay do you think?
The horseshoe shape and pillars in the Garrick can be a pain sometimes…
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Post by callum on Oct 13, 2021 21:07:38 GMT
The reason that they’re at Royal Festival Hall is because since Odeon Leicester Square had its ‘Luxe’ refurbishment replacing standard seats with colossal recliners, the capacity inside has been massively reduced. So in 2019, they held simultaneous galas at OLS and their pop-up Embankment Garden Cinema.
Alternative commercial venues that would have had a suitable capacity as the original OLS (such as Cineworld Leicester Square which hosted galas in 2018, or BFI IMAX) likely wouldn’t have been willing to surrender 10 nights so soon after the release of No Time To Die. So, they settled on RFH.
Personally I have found the sound to be not an issue at all, and I’ve loved seeing each of the films with a huge audience. However I have been mainly sitting in Rear Stalls which definitely seem to have the best acoustics with the overhang of the balcony perhaps contributing to this.
The pop-up Embankment had far worse sound IMO being able to hear every passing siren, as well as a lot more uncomfortable to sit in for 2+hrs with whole rows of seats of thinly padded seats rocking backwards and forwards as soon as someone on the same row fidgeted.
I find RFH great as it keeps the festival centred in the Southbank too.
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Post by callum on Sept 26, 2021 22:53:31 GMT
I was trying to think of someone closer to who could play Blanche. Natalie Dormer? She might be a tad young, but I’d be very keen to see Jodie Comer as Blanche. Winslet!
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Post by callum on Sept 20, 2021 14:13:59 GMT
Yes it’s odd that Amy Adams chose Amanda as her Williams grand dame rather than Blanche, considering she’s only got a few more years to realistically do Blanche whereas Amanda can be done by actresses up to they’re in their 70s…
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Post by callum on Sept 28, 2020 21:52:17 GMT
I'm fed up with the depressing tone and lack of optimism on this board. There is no point in even asking the question as four months is an eternity in the present circumstances where everything is changing by the day. Life is depressing enough as it is, can't we just hope for the best rather than focusing on the worst case scenario? I can't agree I'm afraid. This is a discussion board and talking about the very real possibility of this not going ahead is part and parcel of it. That said I do wonder if they'll go ahead with a socially distanced, masked up audience instead of postponing again? I would have thought this was the obvious solution, however weren’t all the seats already sold as a non socially distanced audience? Meaning that some ticket-holders will be told that their seat has been removed from the auditorium. Perhaps there is an easier solution though.
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