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Post by thistimetomorrow on Jun 15, 2022 8:58:43 GMT
Cannot wait to see Joe Boyle as JD!
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Post by Dr Tom on Jun 16, 2022 6:11:14 GMT
In case anyone missed the news, Ben is becoming full time JD from 28 June. That explains the cast change mystery.
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Post by Dr Tom on Jun 25, 2022 20:06:37 GMT
Anyone know if Simon Gordon has left the show early, or if he he still scheduled to be on tomorrow for his original final date?
Every time I've been recently, (the excellent) Ben has been on as JD.
As an aside, just seen that Tom Scanlon has made his return as an emergency cover for Ram tonight.
Tomorrow will be an interesting test. Heathers at West End Live at 12 noon, then performing at The Other Palace at 1pm.
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Post by anthony on Jun 26, 2022 17:03:58 GMT
Wow, Heathers is giving Legally Blonde a run for their money in terms of worst vocal performance...
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Post by Dr Tom on Jun 26, 2022 18:13:02 GMT
That sound at West End Live wasn't too good. was it? Some odd mixing as well.
The sound was better at the 1pm performance. Everyone made it back in time and Simon Gordon was on as JD.
The really odd thing is that there was no cast cover sheet pinned up and all the leads were up. Not a full cast though as Jacob Young was missing.
Great to have seen Benjamin Karran as Beleaguered Geek one more time, as well as a final look at Simon Gordon's measured performance as JD (which is captured for all time in the movie). I don't think most of the audience had a clue it was Simon's final matinee.
A few more slips than usual, but I'm sure that's what comes with a full weekend and an extra WEL performance slotted in. I see that Ailsa is out tonight, so that the final performance with Ailsa and Simon together.
So, the era of the maniacal JD truly starts on Tuesday (and perhaps Joe Boyle will finally join the cast as well).
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Post by keekio2 on Jul 19, 2022 13:28:25 GMT
There is a singalong on the 18th of February 2023 that’s showing on todaytix when will this show end
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Post by Being Alive on Jul 19, 2022 13:35:12 GMT
There is a singalong on the 18th of February 2023 that’s showing on todaytix when will this show end When people stop buying tickets.... |
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Post by Dr Tom on Jul 19, 2022 13:37:52 GMT
There is a singalong on the 18th of February 2023 that’s showing on todaytix when will this show end Great. At least five more cast changes to look forward to then! |
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Post by cezbear on Jul 19, 2022 13:42:27 GMT
There is a singalong on the 18th of February 2023 that’s showing on todaytix when will this show end Great. At least five more cast changes to look forward to then! And every single one of them full of returning cast members!
Kidding aside, good for them if it's doing well enough that they keep going and going, in the current climate I wouldn't begrudge them that.
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Post by anthony40 on Jul 19, 2022 13:46:40 GMT
I was in the foyer area on Sunday just before the 1pm matinee for a completely unrelated reason (I wasn't seeing the show) and there were still heards of giggling teenage girls.
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Post by westendfan2 on Jul 19, 2022 14:01:37 GMT
There is a singalong on the 18th of February 2023 that’s showing on todaytix when will this show end Where abouts on todaytix did you see this because I can’t see anything about it anywhere? |
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Post by danb on Jul 19, 2022 15:21:35 GMT
On sale til Sept 4 only.
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Post by Dr Tom on Jul 19, 2022 19:52:07 GMT
Made it for Joe Boyle’s JD debut (maybe the promoters will even be willing to put his name on the website cast list now). Joe is doing well and he’ll be settled in perfectly by the end of the week.
A second release rush ticket in row K, so a new experience as I’ve never sat further back than row C before). Interesting to see the whole stage, but it feels a long way back. The sound balance is better here than at the front.
It’s an all female ensemble, which is a little odd.
Jacob Young is on as Ram too, which is an extra treat (and he wears his red underwear perfectly).
Plus, the air conditioning works!
All ready for the second half.
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Post by Dr Tom on Jul 19, 2022 21:33:24 GMT
A really cute touch at the end where Joe got to run the victory lap, then was left on the stage to smile and wave.
Looks like a few of his friends got tickets, including Steve, who was sat in a very different place to normal and, I think, ex-Mountview, although I only had a back view.
I suspect Joe got very little chance to rehearse, so I’d like to see him again when he’s more settled in. He played JD in the more subtle and nerdier style than most. Fantastic achievement for Joe tonight!
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Post by musicbox on Jul 21, 2022 22:44:04 GMT
I decided to get a rush seat to this tonight and was given a seat in row A. I was really looking forward to it, but to be honest I was disappointed with the seat and would never chose to sit there now that I've experienced it.
The show and cast were great as always with Ailsa and Vicki Lee being the highlights for me again, but the trouble is that TOP is obviously very small, so the front row is close to an awkward level. I'm 6ft 2, so my knees were touching the stage and the cast were so close to me that it made me feel really awkward at times as I was scared to distract or disturb them in any way - I was even scared to take a sip of my drink! Ram and Kurt's dancing and flipping in the air was also a close call, maybe it felt closer than it actually was, but at one point it was as if their legs were a hair away from my face.
Everyone around me were on their own, so I assume that they must reserve a certain part of row A for rush tickets, or at least they did tonight.
I still enjoyed the evening and the staff at TOP were so lovely as always (Especially compared to what I experienced at the Hammersmith Apollo last night), but the middle of the room is the sweet spot in TOP for me personally.
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Post by Dr Tom on Jul 22, 2022 11:45:00 GMT
decided to get a rush seat to this tonight and was given a seat in row A. I was really looking forward to it, but to be honest I was disappointed with the seat and would never chose to sit there now that I've experienced it. I'm in one of those seats tonight and I admit I've never found the legroom a real problem, but I am only 5ft 8. But you do have to be okay with people being very close to you, Ben Karran used to have a perfectly timed baseball slide with his feet ending inches from your face, as well as people getting their face very close to yours and yelling "homo" (I have overheard other front row audience members being very disappointed when they weren't selected for that honour). The front row seats are very much restricted views in parts too, but (knowing the show), I would prefer seeing the details up close rather than being sat further back. Rush Row A is pretty much the same 6 or so seats (around the corners of the stage where the speakers are) every show. They do seem to be adding rush seats a few rows back now, plus sometimes reopening later in the day, so it's relatively safe to turn down row A if it's offered to you and try again. This is still selling well and not really discounting, but it's not quite as hot a ticket as it was. Still think there's a good chance of a further block of dates going on sale. And I agree completely that the front of house staff at TOP are lovely. |
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Post by musicbox on Jul 22, 2022 23:03:37 GMT
decided to get a rush seat to this tonight and was given a seat in row A. I was really looking forward to it, but to be honest I was disappointed with the seat and would never chose to sit there now that I've experienced it. I'm in one of those seats tonight and I admit I've never found the legroom a real problem, but I am only 5ft 8. But you do have to be okay with people being very close to you, Ben Karran used to have a perfectly timed baseball slide with his feet ending inches from your face, as well as people getting their face very close to yours and yelling "homo" (I have overheard other front row audience members being very disappointed when they weren't selected for that honour). The front row seats are very much restricted views in parts too, but (knowing the show), I would prefer seeing the details up close rather than being sat further back. Rush Row A is pretty much the same 6 or so seats (around the corners of the stage where the speakers are) every show. They do seem to be adding rush seats a few rows back now, plus sometimes reopening later in the day, so it's relatively safe to turn down row A if it's offered to you and try again. This is still selling well and not really discounting, but it's not quite as hot a ticket as it was. Still think there's a good chance of a further block of dates going on sale. And I agree completely that the front of house staff at TOP are lovely. I think row A is a great seat for a super fan of the show, but I'm really just a casual fan so I probably wasn't suited to them to be fair. There were a few Heathers cos players next to me and a girl who collected a few of the 'pills' that fell onto the floor when Heather Mac attempts you know what (I know they're tic tacs from watching a Carrie Fletcher backstage vlog from her run years ago, but I still found it a bit weird to be honest). I was also the lucky recipient of the 'homo' part last night and found it a bit uncomfortable tbh. It wasn't what was being sang, but just the fact that the ensemble member came right up to my face and stared into my eyes as she did it, it was all a bit too close and intrusive for me. Again, I'm sure a bigger fan would've relished that moment though. |
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Post by Dr Tom on Jul 23, 2022 7:53:21 GMT
I think row A is a great seat for a super fan of the show, but I'm really just a casual fan so I probably wasn't suited to them to be fair. There were a few Heathers cos players next to me and a girl who collected a few of the 'pills' that fell onto the floor when Heather Mac attempts you know what (I know they're tic tacs from watching a Carrie Fletcher backstage vlog from her run years ago, but I still found it a bit weird to be honest). That sounds like a pretty typical Heathers' audience! There was a pill collector there last night as well and I remember previously seeing someone think they'd scored the holy grail when a page of Veronica's diary left the stage. Lewis Asquith was on as Kurt's Dad, Principal Gowan and Veronica's Dad, which was interesting as normally he covers Big Bud Dean and Coach. I also thought Joe brought out much more of JD as a vulnerable teenager with an angelic voice. The kind of person who (in their 21st century version), you could really imagine as a US high school shooter. That's the benefit of having a few shows under his belt. Hopefully he'll have the chance to go on as JD again, as he has a very different portrayal to Ben. Also, a nice touch with Jacob Young adding a limp to his police officer role (either that, or he'd banged his leg trying to get onto stage). And a very enthusiastic Steve who got around four long rounds of applause (I noticed his group stayed behind at the end as well, so either a known person again, or they were avoiding the girl interviewing for a "I Faked It!" podcast *. (* not a real podcast, but having seen Steve get a lot of attention from selected fans in the past, I really wouldn't be surprised!) |
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Post by Being Alive on Jul 25, 2022 15:40:22 GMT
Extended again...we're really never getting TOP back huh
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 25, 2022 15:47:02 GMT
It’s being “clogged up” by Heathers!
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Post by djdan14 on Jul 25, 2022 15:57:27 GMT
Glad I didn’t renew my memebership now there would be no benefit
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Post by h86 on Jul 25, 2022 16:09:52 GMT
I thought the whole point of TOP was to try out new shows……
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Post by LaLuPone on Jul 25, 2022 17:31:53 GMT
I’m happy that the show keeps extending to be honest, it’s one I really enjoy but not enough that I’d go more often than say once every 6 months, so the longer it stays the more likely I’ll keep returning. I think there are much worse shows that could “clog up” the West End, it has an original score and some real humour and heart to it. It’s also got plenty of roles for grads and young performers so it’s a great opportunity for them. The issue really is as people have said, The Other Palace is meant for developing new work.
Obviously the Haymarket was a bit big for an extended run but it could play somewhere like the Ambassadors possibly? I guess the issue is that once it’s in a proper West End theatre the cast have to be paid more and Paul Taylor Mills is a bit of a cheap skate (as is evident from the lack of swings for the past year)? Also you shouldn’t be able to get away with top west end prices with a set such as this!
To be honest it could do well in the Arts, the young Six and Bonnie & Clyde fans didn’t seem to care that the theatre’s a sh*thole.
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Post by danb on Jul 25, 2022 17:38:07 GMT
Fantastic news! It works so much better there than it did in the Haymarket or in any of the barns they put it into on tour.
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Post by jenboo27 on Jul 25, 2022 18:09:12 GMT
With the extension announcement I can finally see this show 🙌 My husband would however HATE to be picked on - what seats would you recommend with a good view but no chance of being singled out? Oh and he's 6'5 so leg room/an aisle seat would be preferable
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