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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2018 11:34:58 GMT
For anyone who contributes to this forum. There is not enough joy here, Nowhere near enough and nowhere near the enjoyment that regular audiences get out of theatre. Too much cynicism, too much negativity, too much ‘look at how superior I am to these writers/performers’ I don't really pick that up, and it's sad you feel that way @cardinalpirelli . Sure, there are a few on here who hate everything (adding to the fun, mostly), but for most of us the board is a way to be totally honest with fellow theatregoers who know and understand what we mean. "Normal" audiences either just "love" a show (because they have nothing to judge against) or don't like it - not their taste in the end. On here, we tend to dissect using a lot of previous experience. We can seem negative if you don't allow for that, when in fact it is just regulars comparing and sharing informed reactions. For example, with this show, I thought it was fun but under-developed. I actually had a good time and would see it again if my schedule allowed, but my reaction had negatives in it because I felt I had the experience to see how the show could be improved yet further. Speaking because I care and think they deserve to improve, is what I aim for. There are a few major issues I think. People go to too many things, therefore a sort of jaded cynicism takes over. Firstly, if you see too much your choices start to be less considered, ending with you seeing things that you were not really wanting to and not interested in engaging with. A cursory understanding of audience reception tells you that people who are unable or unwilling to switch between watching modes have issues that multiply the above. People make theatre for all sorts of tastes and if you are stuck in watching one way then most of what you see will not engage you. It is obvious when people’s tastes get stuck in music, for example, keeping with the comfort of what you know. You see the same happening with theatre but it can be more veiled. In the end, I think it’s a real shame to see people making poor choices and not being able or willing to change the way they watch. They could be having a much better time and not feeling as though they are wasting time and/or money. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2018 14:32:17 GMT
One of the benefits of teaching the subject is that I have to watch widely but from different perspectives, not just my own; there being a need to see things through the eyes of others and take on their position. Yes, there are some things that are relatively assessible in an objective manner but things like meaning, believability, engagement and so on are always on such shifting sands.
I now almost consciously switch modes when watching. For this show, for example, even before it started I was in a much different place with changed expectations and perceptions than I had been for Fun Home the evening before. Reacting against a production or seeing it as ‘not my thing’ is just a waste of time to me. It can be my thing if I shift my perception. If a number of people like something then I will try and look at it in the way they did. Not to do so seems to be self defeating to me.
We are never really taught about how to be a good audience member. I’m not talking about how to behave as an audience (although that is clearly a pressing issue) but how to watch and I wish that people would take more responsibility for that.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2018 15:16:15 GMT
Just as an addendum, audience studies are predicated on the subjectivity of an audience’s response. This is a necessity and takes the place of the older ‘tablets of stone’ belief, that things are being passed on to those who watch. However, if we rely on such ‘subject positions’ then aren’t we creating common cause with the idea that ‘we have no need of experts’? I think the difference is clear. Such a postmodern approach, with its denial of objective truth, is about an artistic construct and a fictionalised world. There are no real life impacts. Denying expertise in other areas, however, from economics to climate to medicine are ones with immediate tangible effects to life as it is lived. There’s a whole new area of neuroesthetic response (wiring people’s brains up to see how they watch and respond), which I’m interested in seeing develop. Audiences are fascinating, sometimes we need to stop watching the stage and face the other way! Next up, ‘Has postmodernism killed the labour movement? Discuss.’  |
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Post by nick on Aug 9, 2018 15:41:39 GMT
Cardinal, I suspect there are many people on here who "switch modes" and go to a diverse set of shows. There are also those who want to see Wicked every time the cast changes. Sometimes they may even be the same people.
In the last 12 months I've watched Joe Orton, Shakespeare, The Who, The Unthanks, Greenwich panto, Brief Encounter, Pippin, and Hair as well as watching missing TV at the NFT and a number of films. Enjoyed them all for different reasons. Walked out of a Globe Shakespeare because I was tired and it wasn't grabbing me.
In my opinion many people know how to be a "good audience".
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2018 18:22:06 GMT
Is tickets.trh.co.uk the official site for tickets? There's no sign of the STAR logo and for some reason it doesn't look "official", it's so old-fashioned. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2018 18:33:35 GMT
Cardinal, I suspect there are many people on here who "switch modes" and go to a diverse set of shows. There are also those who want to see Wicked every time the cast changes. Sometimes they may even be the same people. In the last 12 months I've watched Joe Orton, Shakespeare, The Who, The Unthanks, Greenwich panto, Brief Encounter, Pippin, and Hair as well as watching missing TV at the NFT and a number of films. Enjoyed them all for different reasons. Walked out of a Globe Shakespeare because I was tired and it wasn't grabbing me. In my opinion many people know how to be a "good audience". The Unthanks, great band. Was that the Molly Drake show (I saw it at the Barbican)? |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2018 18:34:14 GMT
@eldermillan Yes, it is the official site.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2018 18:35:50 GMT
@eldermillan Yes, it is the official site. Thanks! |
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Post by ellie1981 on Aug 9, 2018 20:51:39 GMT
Just went to one of the Q&A screenings of the film (it absolutely holds up and is as wonderful as I remember). Michael Lehmann says he will be at the West End opening night for the musical.
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Post by partytentdown on Aug 9, 2018 21:57:10 GMT
The FOH features portraits of all the leads (inc all 3 Heathers)... I suppose it's not 100% but would suggest they are all transferring
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Post by Dawnstar on Aug 9, 2018 22:06:58 GMT
Cardinal, I suspect there are many people on here who "switch modes" and go to a diverse set of shows. There are also those who want to see Wicked every time the cast changes. Sometimes they may even be the same people. I find myself "switching modes" when seeing opera compared to musicals or plays. I think it's partly because of the pacing: an opera taking that much longer to get through text than a play. I also have to switch how I listen when seeing an amplified musical & an opera in the same day. I approach, for instance, Mamma Mia & Meistersinger with different expectations and enjoy both of them in different ways. I am also somebody who very much repeat-views shows I enjoy (writing this on the train home from London after seeing The Comedy About A Bank Robbery for the 50-somethingth time). |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2018 22:11:55 GMT
Poor Sophie getting the hidden away, smaller poster compared to the other four leads having the larger posters between the doors.
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Post by sophie92 on Aug 15, 2018 13:18:46 GMT
Hugh Maynard replaces Edward Baruwa for the Haymarket run, with John Lumsden and Merryl Ansah joining in new ensemble roles
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Post by cheesy116 on Aug 15, 2018 14:45:05 GMT
Is Hugh's role a big role ? I've yet to see the show so know little about it, and I loved him in Miss Saigon.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2018 14:58:49 GMT
Confession time. I was racking my brains at what part 'Heartbeat' star Hugh Maynard would have played in 'Miss Saigon' and had convinced myself that I thought he'd died. And then I realised my mistake. Clearly not the same person. I confirm that 'Heartbeat' Bill Maynard was never in 'Miss Saigon'. At all. Hugh Maynard  Bill Maynard  |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2018 14:59:59 GMT
Is Hugh's role a big role ? I've yet to see the show so know little about it, and I loved him in Miss Saigon. He will play multiple characters I believe. His most prominent is that of Kurt/Ram’s dad, it’s not a very big part though. |
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Post by longinthetooth on Aug 15, 2018 16:49:54 GMT
I love Hugh Maynard. Actually tempted to go now.
A thought occurs (apologies if it's been mentioned before). Have any of you been to the Stage Door of the Theatre Royal, Haymarket? I have - it's in the very select, des res Sussex Street, behind the Haymarket. I'm just wondering how the locals will take to the hoards of squealing Hopefuls who will descend on the area each night! The time I went, Bradley Cooper was starring in Elephant Man, and a special area was cordoned off for fans. Security guards were present, and woe betide anyone who stood outside the barriers and, however fleetingly, blocked the pavement (not that I'm suggesting for one moment that CHF is in the same league as Mr C!).
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Post by LaLuPone on Aug 30, 2018 9:08:59 GMT
For anyone interested, Rows T of the stalls and H of the circle have been lowered in price from £65 to £45 for the first weekend of the run and perhaps other performances. Any opinions on which of those is the best deal?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2018 18:11:18 GMT
From social media posts the Haymarket run has extra set and a pre show curtain kinda thing. The pictures are on the official social media accounts of the show but I won’t post links Incase not allowed. It looks really good for anyone who wants to take a look.
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Post by sophie92 on Aug 31, 2018 20:56:51 GMT
Front row day seats and a TodayTix lottery - both £25
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Post by LaLuPone on Sept 3, 2018 22:38:02 GMT
First performance tonight, was anyone there? Or anyone there in the next few days? I’m going on Saturday night, pretty excited!
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Post by stuartmcd on Sept 3, 2018 22:47:46 GMT
I was there tonight. Saw it twice at the Other Palace and whilst I don’t know the script or lyrics off by heart I could tell that there had been a number of changes which really worked well for the show. It was a fantastic performance! Had the whole creative team sat right in front of me as well!
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Post by jampot on Sept 4, 2018 1:00:04 GMT
Lots of twitter mentions of people being asked to leave prior to music finishing? Odd...
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Post by No. on Sept 4, 2018 5:09:34 GMT
From what I’ve seen they were only selling £10 souvenir brochures and they all sold out
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Post by Rukaya on Sept 4, 2018 6:38:41 GMT
From what I’ve seen they were only selling £10 souvenir brochures and they all sold out Correct, I asked someone who looked like a FOH manager for one of the cast slips he was holding, he said they were only for people who had purchased programmes and I said I was about to, and he informed me they'd sold out. He then reluctantly gave me one of the cast slips - really great considering that they don't have a cast board! *eye roll* |
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