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Post by callum on Mar 9, 2019 22:37:40 GMT
Just saw this evening's performance. I must say I enjoyed it far more this time round compared to a couple years ago. It was phenomenal. Jo is a great casting choice and far more convincing than Imelda. Still not convinced on the lack of interval, especially with the front Olivier stalls seats being so uncomfortable. Faultless production apart from one change in Live Laugh Love. I think the staging of the breakdown was more effective in the older version. Previously the ensemble were more bewildered, at a loss for words, whilst trying to make the song go on. Yep - 18 months ago I felt the whole atmosphere in the audience change thinking that Quast had genuinely forgotten the routine. Not so much this time so not as effective, but AH is doing his own thing.
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Post by callum on Mar 7, 2019 19:55:07 GMT
As shown in the doc, Jackson's trips to the Reagan White House made his story seem like an archetypal 'American Dream'. Perhaps US audiences aren't as keen to see him exposed like this.
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Post by callum on Mar 7, 2019 0:12:23 GMT
I have to agree that whilst the accusations are awful, another feeling I had was one of anger and fustration toward those parents who, in my opinion, were not protecting their children like any parent would and shouls. They continued to practically abandon their children with a stranger or agree to let them even stay in the same bed as a stranger. Famous or not, no matter how close, you don't do that to your own child. A lot of Part 2 is dealing with their response - Michael seduced them like he seduced the children. The Safechucks did not need to pick up Michael, he made them feel as if they were responsible for him like they were Jimmy and inserted himself into every part of their lives. Firstly, he wasn't a stranger to them and secondly just by being MICHAEL JACKSON they felt like they knew him. Neverland is literally designed to keep the parents away from the children. The reckoning that the parents have with themselves is just as compelling IMO as the reckoning that the children have. Wade said that even though he didn't meet Michael until he was 7, he felt like he was being groomed from the age of 5 just by idolising him. Fame is completely crucial
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Post by callum on Mar 6, 2019 23:02:36 GMT
Listened to an interview with the director where the interviewer posited that the Jackson machine and the MJ Innocent brigade have a massive bot/troll farm operation going on social media, and he didn't deny that it was the case.
The side that undoubtedly has the biggest financial motivation in any of this are the people that want to preserve an $825 million annual income for the Michael Jackson estate. No one was paid for participating in the doc, and hard to imagine that any financial gains that they might get down the line will be worth the criticism/abuse they'll receive - Wade said in the Oprah interview that he gets almost daily death threats.
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Post by callum on Feb 26, 2019 23:33:25 GMT
BBC2 has distribution deal with FX so probably on there at some point.
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Post by callum on Feb 20, 2019 23:39:52 GMT
Caught this on Saturday and thought it was a hoot - thought Cate and the whole team did an excellent job! Just don't ask me to explain it!
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Post by callum on Feb 18, 2019 23:22:24 GMT
Very much enjoyed it - though the Van Hove wizardry is not as seamless as it was in Network. But Anderson & James are superb. I was Row E of the gallery (literally the back of the theatre) and did feel quite disconnected, which was exacerbateed by the nutters around me and an old lady thrashing around and leaning forward so vigorously I thought she was going to launch herself off the edge. I would love to go again and try for day seats on Row B.
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Post by callum on Feb 14, 2019 10:24:53 GMT
I'm tempted to fly from the US to see this. If I do make the trip, what other productions in London would be worth seeing in April? Follies, Gillian Anderson & Lily James in All About Eve, Penelope Wilton at the Menier Chocolate Factory, Sally Field & Bill Pullman in All My Sons, Hiddleston in Betrayal... that would seem to be a good half dozen to fill a trip!
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Post by callum on Feb 13, 2019 21:40:32 GMT
Show stopped at the moment for technical difficulties. Not sure how long it’s gonna be but all the lights are back on Curtain lifts to show Patti stood alone on the stage talking to the props and the furniture on the sets: 'who do you think you ARE?! This is the THEATRE! We are a COMM-U-NIT-Y! Show some RESPECT!'
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Post by callum on Feb 13, 2019 18:06:47 GMT
Also managed to get Entry Pass for a Row B circle seat for a performance next week so definitely think they're opening things up
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Post by callum on Feb 13, 2019 12:34:01 GMT
Is Young Bridge booking open already?
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Post by callum on Feb 11, 2019 23:08:23 GMT
Makes my skin crawl! Just about tolerable in Into the Woods but my God that smug face of his really does wind me up! His only talent is being a gobsh*te
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Post by callum on Feb 11, 2019 23:03:18 GMT
Also loved the faint implication about her being told about 'people online' and 'messageboards/forums' etc slagging her off... ignore them we love you Tracie!
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Post by callum on Feb 10, 2019 20:57:25 GMT
Did they actually say it's been re-choreographed? Tracie was hilarious pointing out that she is singing I'm Still Here as written by Sondheim, not taking liberties as some have done in past productions or in concert. And anyone who doesn't like it can piss right off. (Not her actual turn of phrase, but what was implied. Do you think she might have read this thread!) Oh god, I meant Who's That Woman - not I'm Still Here! Totally my mistake! Tracie was talking about having to do I'm Still Here immediately following Who's That Woman IIRC - and said that she's now even more exhausted after the Who's That Woman as it's been re-choreographed with more tap, making I'm Still Here even harder!
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Post by callum on Feb 10, 2019 13:35:30 GMT
According to Graham Norton radio interview with the cast, I'm Still Here has been re-choreographed
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Post by callum on Feb 7, 2019 21:12:12 GMT
1. Widows 2. A Star is Born 3. Can You Ever Forgive Me? 4. The Tale 5. Wildlife
Biggest turkey to 2017's The Greatest Showman - I saw it in early 2018 but the trauma stayed with me for the rest of the year!
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Post by callum on Feb 7, 2019 18:30:45 GMT
Checked the website just after 2pm today and there were seats in Row K stalls going for £25 for the matinee that was starting in 30 mins - alas I was at work but dynamic pricing is in full flow it seems!
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Post by callum on Feb 4, 2019 18:55:06 GMT
Nobody died at Follies and hopefully no one will die here. If you think you can't sit through it, don't go or wait for NT Live. Nobody is owed an interval!
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Post by callum on Feb 3, 2019 20:35:41 GMT
Finally got round to booking this, found a cheap balcony ticket for the date I wanted so booked it. Was originally going to dayseat for it but this works out cheaper and the view from the balcony doesn't seem to be that bad. Exactly what I did. But now I’m concerned the balcony might miss out on a fair amount of screen-on-the-back-wall-of-the-stage action a la Network?
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Post by callum on Feb 2, 2019 17:18:27 GMT
Booked one of those gallery seats - good value at 25? Took it rather than risk day seat-ing. And a post from GA’s Instagram about stage door... http://instagram.com/p/BtYxxw2Ft6b
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Post by callum on Jan 28, 2019 17:26:48 GMT
Any day seat info?
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Post by callum on Jan 24, 2019 22:47:35 GMT
Martha Plimpton was a dragon on Tuesday night - amazing! Thought it was superb and definitely deserving of a transfer. I agree, though, that the final two minutes were too on the nose.
I was also shocked at curtain call to find out the counsellor in the bookend scenes and the Bruce character WEREN’T played by the same actor!
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Follies
Jan 18, 2019 10:27:30 GMT
via mobile
Post by callum on Jan 18, 2019 10:27:30 GMT
A little disappointed about all the cuts from instrumental bits of songs especially Who's That Woman just because it's a little jarring when I've listened to other forms of the songs so many times but I'm glad to have a recording with this cast in any form at least. Absolutely! The crescendo of the song is ruined because it doesn’t have the lead-up
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Post by callum on Jan 6, 2019 11:42:08 GMT
Doesn’t contradict Mr Barnaby’s scoop, but Baz tweeted this a couple of days ago:
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Post by callum on Jan 2, 2019 3:11:05 GMT
Think Jack & the Beanstalk would be before Peter Pan... especially since there was a nautically themed Dick sequence last time! Though when was repeating themselves ever an issue?!
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Post by callum on Dec 28, 2018 2:21:11 GMT
Currently sold out for the rest of the run on Royal Court website - seems a dead cert for a transfer in the New Year?
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Post by callum on Dec 16, 2018 1:04:32 GMT
Wow I can't believe they were brave enough to do it! Are there barriers? Is the 'surprise guest' still in the audience?
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Post by callum on Dec 15, 2018 0:12:39 GMT
Yep - I agree. I always remember Julie Walters being great as the fairy in the classic Jack and the Beanstalk ITV panto - Dawn could have waited until next year and still done all the same jokes about being too old/ugly and finding Jack attractive. Although Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders are punchlines this year, I think either of them would definitely have been a lot more nasty than Dawn - she still did well though!
I think the overall feeling is... it's still good, but they're pushing it now!
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Post by callum on Dec 14, 2018 23:25:07 GMT
Ok... so - definitely seems like a step down from last year (this is four stars compared to 5 for Dick)... but is STILL an absolutely hilarious and spectacular pantomime that I would strongly suggest everyone considering booking to go for it!
Although it is the same cast, the material isn’t particularly that similar. I was expecting the full 12 Days of Christmas, Zerdin’s ‘Tracey’ mask and the child from the audience saying ‘I can see your lips move’ again - but actually the majority of it is fairly fresh! Or, at least done in a different way like Wilmot’s song and a dragon instead of a rat!
Assuming it’s Jack and the Beanstalk, can see Clary, Zerdin and Wilmot staying for next year (as long as they keep it relatively fresh) - with a decent part for the fairy; come on Jane, we know you want to do it! Would be nice to see a different dame as Jack’s mother as it’s a more significant part than Mrs Crumble (though when did plot ever matter to them!)
Ditch Havers though as it’s gettinng *really* thin now!
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Post by callum on Dec 9, 2018 20:52:58 GMT
Highlights probably Julius Caesar & Company - but 2018 definitely lacklustre compared to last year. Haven't seen anything as good this year as 2017's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, The Goat or Who is Sylvia, Angels in America, Hello Dolly!, Follies, Hamilton or Network.
Nonetheless, onwards to 2019, which seems like a bumper Spring that's right up my street with the return of Follies plus Pinter 7, Betrayal, When We Have Sufficiently Tortured Each Other, All My Sons, All About Eve & Death of a Salesman.
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