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Post by ctas on Nov 21, 2023 23:50:51 GMT
Went this evening after missing the last run, absolutely charming night and I adored the design. Two show stops though, because of a curtain not falling correctly! In a show with so many technical features it was foiled by a curtain. Very enthusiastic audience and a lot of children.
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Post by ctas on Nov 21, 2023 9:45:12 GMT
Saw last night’s performance and had a great time - I really enjoyed the visual flourishes and distinct colour palettes in different sets. Katherine Kingsley was wonderful and I really enjoyed her villain solo, and was definitely singing the soup song in my head all the way home. It got the right balance of light and dark for me and was very funny and charming.
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Post by ctas on Jul 17, 2023 19:36:30 GMT
This is going to be a fun one.
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Post by ctas on Jun 4, 2023 8:06:24 GMT
Hmm, that bit stood out to me too. I'm hoping it's some kind of pre show setup but I was sure she said "during" which made me do a double take. Caught a bit of Danny Mac on Sunday Brunch this past week. My main takeaway was him mentioning it being a big production that they're putting a lot of money into and joking about how he doesn't know how they're going to make their money back with such a short run in Chichester. Really, really excited for this one. Maybe less so the idea of food and pints being sold inside the theatre? But we'll see how that part plays out! There is a food stand outside the theatre that’s basically just adding to the usual cafe fare with some hot food. Inside (foyer) you can buy popcorn. I noticed tubs of popcorn sold pre-show inside (and lots of signs encouraging people to get an ice cream even though there is no interval) but it being a Chichester audience I didn’t hear anyone eating popcorn throughout on the side I was on! This is very well cast, very well sung. I was not enthusiastic about the staging when I walked in but the show won me back. (If someone could let me know the spoiler text code please I’ll say more!) I don’t think three balladeers worked too well, I’d much rather have seen just Liam Tamne sing it as his voice is glorious and as much as I love Lizzy Connolly her diction wasn’t clear enough with such quick lines a few times and she got lost in the mix.
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Post by ctas on Jun 3, 2023 23:13:45 GMT
Liking the photos on Instagram The set reminds me of a presidential rally That is exactly what it’s supposed to be. Ushers and theatre staff in red baseball caps with white writing on.
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Post by ctas on Jun 3, 2023 18:21:43 GMT
Well, the set and decor is not subtle. Will report back after the performance!
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Post by ctas on May 28, 2023 20:10:08 GMT
The performers who duetted with her (three big names in their respective fields) haven’t put anything on social media as far as I’ve seen! There were a lot of West End people in the audience that she kept trying to say hi to off-camera though which was funny. As it was Apple TV the cast of her show were a bit of a given so I’m not including those in the duets.
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Post by ctas on May 28, 2023 11:19:04 GMT
It was only eight (shortish) songs total so don’t know if it’d be that long! Incredible performances though. I felt for her every time she was asked to redo!
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Post by ctas on May 28, 2023 10:46:59 GMT
We’ve been asked not to reveal the guests but there were expected and unexpected ones!
It was actually pretty smooth - I turned up around 12:30 and got my allocated ticket without any wait. Then went to the cinema for a couple of films until returning at 7pm, then there was a bit of a queue to get in while they took your phone and locked it in a pouch. Got seated about 7:30, it kicked off at 8. They had to redo most of the eight songs as well as some of the talking bits so it was very stop-start, such is the nature of TV recording! Left around 10:35 after getting my phone freed from the pouch on the way out!
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Post by ctas on May 28, 2023 6:09:04 GMT
The Christmas concert was amazing.
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Post by ctas on Apr 7, 2023 6:24:28 GMT
Had the absolute pleasure of seeing this yesterday — I caught the Riverside Studios incarnation but wow it’s incredible what they’ve done with a budget. Row B stalls was wonderful, great view of everything, and the show is just as funny and clever as I remembered! Took an American friend who’s visiting and she adored it too but said a couple of language jokes were lost on her. I’m going to book again as soon as I can.
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Post by ctas on Mar 7, 2023 22:48:09 GMT
Have very vivid memories of Ewan McGregor but also loved Jamie Parker. A very high bar — I saw that it was this production’s Sky’s stage debut on Friday and thought he did very well.
Very amused to see fond memories of Rebel Wilson - I thought she was average at best but the true highlight of the time I saw that cast was seeing the exasperated conductor getting visibly frustrated at every ad lib the entire cast did - Simon Lipkin was a repeat offender. Saw him even tap his watch angrily once as the show was going off tracks. Absolute car crash of a performance.
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Post by ctas on Mar 4, 2023 12:06:45 GMT
Anyone else in the standing/promenade area last night: the stall with the hats and sunglasses on it, are the audience supposed to help themselves and wear them as I couldn’t see anyone manning it and the only price that was visible was $1.20 for the sunglasses which is obviously the period setting. While there were people in full costume who were obviously extras, there were a few people wearing trilbys that looked like they were audience members and seemed to be watching it rather than taking part (I wasn’t tempted to try a hat on myself as I didn’t want to get mistaken for Micky Pearce from OFAH) No, they are props. I think some people had brought their own but did witness someone try to help themselves to props and their subsequent reprimand. Same also to the person who was passed a newspaper and then immediately asked to give it back in the Fugue. Some Mission pamphlets were handed out but that was it.
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Post by ctas on Mar 4, 2023 0:37:16 GMT
Had an amazing time tonight. Pit was fairly relaxed, amazing atmosphere and people mostly moving sensibly and lots of space if you wanted to get around. Somehow found myself next to the tallest person there because I am cursed but it was so good that didn’t dent my enthusiasm! I thought there were some great acting choices from all of the leads, very good use of the space especially for dance moments and loved the design of it. Hats off to that incredible stage management team and I’m so glad they get their own applause at the finale, they really deserve it.
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Post by ctas on Feb 11, 2023 17:44:15 GMT
Just saw the matinee at Canterbury and Helen George really surprised me! Quite good vocally, which I definitely didn’t expect. Turns out I must have seen her in The Woman in White during that show’s Palace run, which was quite the throwback! I’ve actually never seen The King and I before but it’s got some lovely songs.
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Post by ctas on Feb 7, 2023 19:23:11 GMT
Well… & on the subject of the prop papers, I would’ve had one except a woman literally lunged to snatch it from where it landed on my feet the moment the act ended. The fans acting like that are a bit intense. At least they waited until the end of the act - when I went people were getting up out of their seats and going to different rows/across aisles to get them immediately, whilst the show was still going on. I saw that too- not sure waiting for a minute left in a song is enough to give them credit for though!
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Post by ctas on Feb 7, 2023 7:00:46 GMT
Well…
& on the subject of the prop papers, I would’ve had one except a woman literally lunged to snatch it from where it landed on my feet the moment the act ended. The fans acting like that are a bit intense.
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Post by ctas on Jan 20, 2023 14:32:32 GMT
Hoping that you've booked for the 8 March matinee...... Just to say.. the Playhouse box office staff were very helpful about a ticket swap for a similar table, and I retain my title of Best Older Sister 😂 (I have explained this does not account for unscheduled days off, but I’ve done the best I can!)
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Post by ctas on Jan 10, 2023 16:15:44 GMT
Crossing fingers Aimee does Wednesday matinees - I’ve bought table seats for my sister’s birthday and gambled on early March for post-cast change and now looking like the best big sister ever for that gift haha. I saw her in Uncle Vanya and thought she was wonderful.
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Post by ctas on Jan 1, 2023 11:17:05 GMT
I found it very cold in the venue both times I’ve been, and one of those was while it was snowing outside. At least I was prepared the second time!
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Post by ctas on Dec 1, 2022 7:50:33 GMT
I’m seeing the show next week and I’m concerned that once I get out of the underground, I won’t know where to go. Are there signs or is there a map that tells you which direction to go to get to the theater? Many thanks If you’re going from Wembley Park tube you can see the Wembley Park Theatre sign in big lights as you go down the stairs. It’s on the right as you go out the tube station, past a McDonald’s and a few shops then a bit further down the road. I was worried but found it alright!
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Post by ctas on Dec 1, 2022 7:45:20 GMT
To contradict the above post, I’ve just listened to an interview with Tim Minchin where he said Trunchball as a man on stage is somewhat of a necessity of needing a six foot tall actor to throw children around eight shows a week as well as a nod to pantomime. He said they said that’s not as needed on film, they opened the conversation out re: casting and were told Emma Thompson was very keen to play the role and that was the deal done.
On the Empire film podcast for anyone interested as he does talk a lot about song cuts and how he feels about it. They also talk Groundhog Day for anyone curious!
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Post by ctas on Nov 30, 2022 23:23:14 GMT
Still very much sound issues right at the front corner of the Bronx tonight, very echoey mics. I do wish people wouldn’t start screaming mid song, and there was a weird moment where the woman next to me practically leapt across me to snatch up the paper that had fallen in front of me during Seize the Day. Very odd.
Weird things aside, really enjoyed this. Lots of high energy dancing with considerable skill, very decently sung and acted and thoroughly charmed by the leads. A joy to finally see this after having grown up on the original film!
The music arrangements had a few differences I noticed (bearing in mind I’ve not seen the Broadway version live, just the recorded version) and I’m intrigued to hear them again.
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Post by ctas on Nov 19, 2022 11:08:10 GMT
I have a question regarding the film: How does the final showdown between Matilda and Miss Trunchbull play out? I know in the book and the 1996 film, it's just Matilda using chalk and pretending to be Magnus which scares off Miss Trunchbull but it seems they've expanded it with the chain monster which I assume is meant to be Magnus as conjured up by Matilda's telekineses The focal point is still the blackboard - as it’s the whole theme of reading. The chains and set moving are just additional spooky effects.
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Post by ctas on Oct 10, 2022 5:34:07 GMT
The new setting makes sense in that it’s no longer an orientalist mess. It does, however, render the leading man completely unlikeable because he’s sided with a military dictatorship.
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Post by ctas on Oct 9, 2022 18:51:03 GMT
There was a blink and you’ll miss it photo of Mrs Wormwood and a dance partner in the background of the house set but didn’t even get enough time to see if it was Aljaž, the rest of his role has hit the cutting room floor.
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Post by ctas on Oct 8, 2022 14:24:26 GMT
Yes - and it’s a beautiful performance of it.
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Post by ctas on Oct 5, 2022 21:55:09 GMT
Just back from the Gala at London Film Festival. This was such a treat, lovely to see so many enthralled kids in the audience. The cuts to the book have left the non-Trunchbull adults underserved (especially when you have such incredible cast as Andrea Riseborough and Stephen Graham) but the children are very very good and Lashana Lynch was excellent as Miss Honey. Loved the inventive staging of some of the show’s stand out numbers - don’t want to spoil but there’s some fun surprises and cast in minor roles I hadn’t realised I’d see. Really enjoyed this and can’t wait to see it again!
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Post by ctas on Sept 20, 2022 12:42:42 GMT
I thought I’d drag up this older thread as the Quiz that used to run at The Other Palace is doing Disney theme this Friday at the Theatre Cafe! Anyone interested?
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Post by ctas on Sept 12, 2022 11:24:35 GMT
See How They Sing? Count me in.
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