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Post by londonpostie on May 26, 2019 10:15:46 GMT
For anyone with Lucky Dip tickets, the seats are given out on a first-come-first-served basis, from any latecomers or unsold seats. Therefore, its worth joining the queue as soon as you arrive to get the best seats, especially if you’re in a group. We arrived ~45 mins before the performance started and were first in line. We ended up with fantastic seats next to each other. ah, this is interesting. I have LD1, I presume from what you say that doesn't mean very much in terms of other lucky dippers (seat allocation is based on who is there earliest)?
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Post by jadnoop on May 26, 2019 10:43:53 GMT
For anyone with Lucky Dip tickets, the seats are given out on a first-come-first-served basis, from any latecomers or unsold seats. Therefore, its worth joining the queue as soon as you arrive to get the best seats, especially if you’re in a group. We arrived ~45 mins before the performance started and were first in line. We ended up with fantastic seats next to each other. ah, this is interesting. I have LD1, I presume from what you say that doesn't mean very much in terms of other lucky dippers (seat allocation is based on who is there earliest)? Yes, seat allocation goes in order of the queue at the stalls doors when they open (30 mins before play starts when we went). The LD number on the tickets didn't matter. When the doors open, you walk through to the auditorium itself, and at the last minute the ushers check for any empty seats and then assigns them to people with lucky dip tickets in queue order. Once all the empty stalls seats are taken you move up floors, and then end with standing if necessary. The usher said that the number of seats available varies a lot from performance to performance, but is typically at least 5 (this was about what we saw in the stalls). For our performance, there were 5 people in the queue for lucky dips seats about 5 minutes before the doors opened (i.e. 35 mins before the performance). One note: Because some of the lucky dip seats will be from latecomers, you will be asked to move after the interval if those people arrive for the second act.
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Post by juicy_but_terribly_drab on May 26, 2019 10:45:12 GMT
For anyone with Lucky Dip tickets, the seats are given out on a first-come-first-served basis, from any latecomers or unsold seats. Therefore, its worth joining the queue as soon as you arrive to get the best seats, especially if you’re in a group. We arrived ~45 mins before the performance started and were first in line. We ended up with fantastic seats next to each other. ah, this is interesting. I have LD1, I presume from what you say that doesn't mean very much in terms of other lucky dippers (seat allocation is based on who is there earliest)? I've done the lucky dip once before for Jesus Hopped the A Train and the way it works is once they open the doors, you tell them you've got lucky dip tickets and they'll direct you to a place to stand. You stand in a line in the order that you arrived and wait for everyone else to be seated and then once they are you are allocated seats in the order that you are standing. I think they offer to explain what will happen when you collect your tickets if you've never had lucky dip tickets before anyway.
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Post by londonpostie on May 26, 2019 10:51:25 GMT
I have seen the LD group and usher at a matinee, helpful to understand their methodology. Thanks.
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Post by latefortheoverture on May 28, 2019 23:42:23 GMT
Is there much more to say? My first encounter with Death of a Salesman was beautifully piercing and I don't really know how it could be beaten. Rang at 3:30 and on the off chance, I managed to get a lucky dip seat. I drove in and managed to park pretty much facing the theatre which was ideal! I was first in the LD queue and managed to get seated in row N upstairs just off centre, a perfect seat to absorb everything properly. I haven't read, nor seen anything to do with DOAS prior so I went in blind and was well and truly blown away. It starts slow but by the start of act 2 the pace was unstoppable and the last shattering 20 minutes had me in tears. Many things struck a chord with me in this; a son trying to make his father proud, whilst the father still trying to uphold and keep the family together. The set worked well- but can see how this could be done with a few chairs and a table. Any more objects floating it would've been too much, I think, there was just enough. The lighting also struck me, very fitting and served it's purpose well. The whole cast was superb, all hit the mark. Arinzé Kene knocked it out the park in the final kitchen confrontation, he did take a while to grow on me, but once he hit that mark I was onboard. The obvious standouts in this were, of course, Wendell and Sharon. Both are highly deserving of their praise as they both give shattering performances. I hope they win all the awards as they both work hard in this play. Wendell Pierce carried this through and through. I haven't watched loads of his TV work, but my god he shone in this. Sharon D Clarke yet again proved why she is getting booked in every role. A stunning actress, she had real nuance and I felt every word she said. She stole the show for me in that final monologue. I'm glad they added some music, it definitely worked. They could've easily got carried away and made this seem like a musical, but thankfully, it was done graciously and really hit home. Does anyone know the song they sing at the end of each act? No surprise that Marianne Elliot has done it again. Proved that she knows what to do, and how to execute it beautifully and gracefully. Just wish she'd announce what she's doing next. 100% this will go into the west end. It's a perfect production, of a very popular play. Added bonus that it seems it's currently on the A-Level syllabus so I imagine schools will flock to see this. One of the best things I've seen this year so far, but I'm yet to see Small Island so it could change! {Spoiler - click to view} The final monologue finally cracked me, I was crying. But when Sharon started singing the gospel song; oh my word. The 'house' was coming down and finally, we see the 'roof'. The 'roof' that Willy had worked so hard to get, and one week before it was all his, it became too much. The pressure of 'The American dream' so to speak, pushed him over the edge. He couldn't take it. That was the scene that cracked me, it was genius in my opinion.
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Post by Dr Tom on May 29, 2019 8:52:17 GMT
This is very good. Saw this last night from the front Stalls and could really take in the powerful performances. It's not actually a play I'm familiar with but I heard other people who have seen multiple versions saying this was the best (apparently much better than the Antony Sher version). It is a slow start, but it builds well. Even at more than three hours, it doesn't outstay its welcome.
From my vantage point, I also got to watch the Lucky Dip queue. Definitely get there early! There weren't all that many empty seats and few were in prime positions. Couples ended up split up and people further back in the queue ended up standing. Lucky Dip relies on people not turning up (particularly, I'm told, those holding the free/discounted tickets given to the local community). For this play, most people are turning up.
There certainly are tickets becoming available; it's just a case of watching the website. 5 stars.
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Post by wickedgrin on May 31, 2019 22:26:13 GMT
This was absolutely stunning tonight. Completely riveting. The best production and version of this play I have seen and I’ve seen a few!
A solid 5 stars.
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Post by poster J on Jun 1, 2019 9:47:31 GMT
Agree with all the raves, this is simply stunning. Not a weak link in the cast, the set design is wonderful (especially in the last scene, it just took my breath away despite the simplicity), the staging makes great use of the theatre and the bits of music add an extra dimension that really works well. Completely brilliant and definitely deserves 5 stars.
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Post by Latecomer on Jun 1, 2019 10:02:58 GMT
Thought this was excellent...Sharon D Clarke was the standout for me and I was in tears at the end of the first half....and what lovely singing. All the rest also excellent and good clear production. It really is a cracker of a play isn’t it.
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Post by david on Jun 6, 2019 22:11:53 GMT
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Post by zahidf on Jun 6, 2019 22:29:11 GMT
Not surprising and well deserved.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jun 6, 2019 22:40:08 GMT
Let's hope it's the entire cast!
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Post by Jon on Jun 6, 2019 23:08:30 GMT
The Piccadilly seems to be a new home for plays in the West End.
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Post by nash16 on Jun 7, 2019 1:13:20 GMT
Let's hope it's the entire cast! It is! They're having to lose a few for Broadway run in March 2020, but great for all the originals to get to be in the West End run.
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Post by jadnoop on Jun 7, 2019 5:49:41 GMT
What's everyone's thoughts on west end transfers versus original runs?
I have seen this once already but was blown away and am really hoping to go again. But now wondering whether to keeping looking out for returns/rush seats for the remaining performances at the Old Vic, or just go for the Picadilly theatre instead.
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Post by poster J on Jun 7, 2019 6:26:55 GMT
Let's hope it's the entire cast! It is! They're having to lose a few for Broadway run in March 2020, but great for all the originals to get to be in the West End run. Who is/isn't going to Broadway with it?
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Post by oldstager on Jun 7, 2019 10:29:14 GMT
The Piccadilly seems to be a new home for plays in the West End. It always used to be - Robert Bolt's VIVAT VIVAT REGINA, the first revival of Stoppard's ROSENCRANTZ & G, Willy Russell's EDUCATING RITA (transfer from RSC), Peter Nichols PRIVATES ON PARADE, RSC's ONCE IN A LIFETIME etc.etc. In the last century straight plays outnumbered musicals in this venue. From the 1970's onwards it was almost a 50/50 split. It is a perfect house acoustically and none of those straight plays were ever "miked" - also perfect sightlines. But its relatively large capacity has made it a useful space for musicals with box office potential. The Phoenix and Savoy are also venues that housed straight plays and musicals in equal proportion.
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Post by Being Alive on Jun 7, 2019 10:52:41 GMT
My turn tonight - I've never seen the show before, and don't actually know the plot. So I'm looking forward to going in blind after all the positive comments!
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Post by wickedgrin on Jun 7, 2019 11:07:48 GMT
My turn tonight - I've never seen the show before, and don't actually know the plot. So I'm looking forward to going in blind after all the positive comments! I’m envious that you do not know the play. To see this production without prior knowledge will be awesome. If if you have tears prepare to shed them now. Enjoy and don’t forget to come back here with your thoughts.
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Post by juicy_but_terribly_drab on Jun 7, 2019 12:31:06 GMT
What's everyone's thoughts on west end transfers versus original runs? I have seen this once already but was blown away and am really hoping to go again. But now wondering whether to keeping looking out for returns/rush seats for the remaining performances at the Old Vic, or just go for the Picadilly theatre instead. It always depends on whether the theatre is a lot bigger and therefore whether the production is too intimate a piece to transfer to a bigger venue and remain as impactful. The Piccadilly Theatre seems relatively large in comparison to the Young Vic and though I haven't seen it yet this production seems quite small-scale and intimate so maybe it won't be as good once it transfers, however, Marianne Elliot is one of the best directors working (if not the best) so I would be a little more inclined to trust that it wouldn't lose anything in its transfer.
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Post by nash16 on Jun 7, 2019 13:02:19 GMT
It is! They're having to lose a few for Broadway run in March 2020, but great for all the originals to get to be in the West End run. Who is/isn't going to Broadway with it? Unfortunately due to Equity agreement, like The Inheritance, usually only the leads can go, with the supporting roles being taken by local actors. It will be the same set up as with The Inheritance B'way cast, with those smaller supporting roles being filled by American Equity actors.
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Post by poster J on Jun 7, 2019 14:45:54 GMT
Who is/isn't going to Broadway with it? Unfortunately due to Equity agreement, like The Inheritance, usually only the leads can go, with the supporting roles being taken by local actors. It will be the same set up as with The Inheritance B'way cast, with those smaller supporting roles being filled by American Equity actors. That isn't always the case though - didn't The Ferryman take pretty much the entire original cast? My question was really aimed at ascertaining whether Sharon D Clarke would be going to Broadway or not though, so I presume the answer to that is likely to be yes?
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Post by nash16 on Jun 7, 2019 15:29:15 GMT
Unfortunately due to Equity agreement, like The Inheritance, usually only the leads can go, with the supporting roles being taken by local actors. It will be the same set up as with The Inheritance B'way cast, with those smaller supporting roles being filled by American Equity actors. That isn't always the case though - didn't The Ferryman take pretty much the entire original cast? My question was really aimed at ascertaining whether Sharon D Clarke would be going to Broadway or not though, so I presume the answer to that is likely to be yes? That's why I said "usually", you're right. Sharon is definitely going.
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Post by Being Alive on Jun 8, 2019 12:29:25 GMT
Flippin heck. Cried for most of Act 2. Thought Sharon and Arinze were astonishing. Wendell took a little while to warm up but then stormed it Beautiful design. Stunningly directed. I loved it (But I don’t know as I could ever watch it again).
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Post by latefortheoverture on Jun 8, 2019 20:04:14 GMT
I don't think I want to go see this at the Piccadilly.
I think it'll lose the magic created in that small space. No doubt it will be as great, but being thrown into this for the first time in the YV will be hard to beat!
Does anyone have the song list? Or more specifically the final song.
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Post by sparky5000 on Jun 10, 2019 8:41:22 GMT
Saw this Friday night, and just this! Sharon really is something else as a performer 😭😍
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Post by Rory on Jun 10, 2019 17:33:00 GMT
Was amazed at the prices at the Piccadilly. Most of the front and centre stalls and dress circle are premium at £126.75 or £96.75. Rest are £76.75, with two back rows of stalls at £15. Upper circle £51.25 gets you A to F, then £36.75 G and H, J to M are £15. That holds for every single performance. If you can get in at the Young Vic, do. Yikes, my central third row seat at the final YV preview was a positive steal at £25. Those prices are, well, pricey.
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Post by latefortheoverture on Jun 10, 2019 17:49:02 GMT
Looks like I scored lucky with a £10 lucky dip!
I imagine this will be heaving with A-Level groups if it's in the syllabus like previous years!
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Post by popcultureboy on Jun 10, 2019 21:35:30 GMT
Looks like I scored lucky with a £10 lucky dip! I imagine this will be heaving with A-Level groups if it's in the syllabus like previous years! It isn't on the syllabus. No Miller is, since only Brits are allowed on the syllabus now or something equally as ludicrous that rules him out.
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Post by poster J on Jun 10, 2019 22:24:59 GMT
Was amazed at the prices at the Piccadilly. Most of the front and centre stalls and dress circle are premium at £126.75 or £96.75. Rest are £76.75, with two back rows of stalls at £15. Upper circle £51.25 gets you A to F, then £36.75 G and H, J to M are £15. That holds for every single performance. If you can get in at the Young Vic, do. Well that rules out a return visit then! Shame, I would have liked to see it again to view it through a different lens than partly inevitably trying to see how much of it I remembered from A Level English!
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