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Post by sukhavati on Jan 24, 2023 2:28:05 GMT
Bradley Jaden is joining Eastenders at the end of January which is an amazing opportunity for him. I was not a viewer of the show previously but I am now The last time I watched Eastenders (on purpose) was when Ben Lewis did an ep. I was hoping they'd keep his character on as a continuing love interest for Kath, but nothing. Hope Bradley has better luck.
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Post by shady23 on Jan 24, 2023 3:03:36 GMT
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Post by alece10 on Jan 24, 2023 10:10:46 GMT
Even though I love Bradders,he has one of the best voices in the West End plus very nice on the eye, I won't be tuning in to Eastenders. Gave up on it many years ago as its all doom and gloom and shouting.
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Post by longinthetooth on Jan 24, 2023 15:33:03 GMT
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Post by A.Ham on Jan 24, 2023 17:32:44 GMT
I used to watch EastEnders religiously through the 90s but I’ve not seen it for about 20 years now. Bradley might just be enough to convince me to tune in though!
Does anyone know if he’s a new regular character or just making a cameo appearance for a few episodes?
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Post by theatremiss on Jan 24, 2023 17:50:42 GMT
I will be very sad not to see Bradley on the West End, but this must be a great opportunity for him
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Post by alece10 on Jan 24, 2023 19:26:30 GMT
Could he not do both? 'Enders during the day and west end at night.
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Post by theatreian on Jan 26, 2023 9:01:46 GMT
Saw Les Mis last night and thankfully Jon and David were on. The show was in great shape although some elements don't get the response they used to .
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Post by PhantomLesmisSaigon on Jan 27, 2023 9:41:33 GMT
I don't know who the JVJ was yesterday but he didn't sing the proper note at the end of Who Am I! I couldn't believe it. Felt ripped off!
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Jan 27, 2023 9:53:29 GMT
I don't know who the JVJ was yesterday if evening that was Jon, if matinee it was Brad Barnley the 2nd cover
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Post by mrnutz on Jan 27, 2023 10:26:30 GMT
Does anyone know if Christopher Jacobsen is back after his injury?
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Post by cezbear on Jan 27, 2023 10:34:25 GMT
I don't know about Brad but every time I've seen Jon he doesn't manage that note. I didn't see him early in his run so I don't know if that's akways been the case or he's just struggling vocally now? I'll admit it doesn't fill me with confidence for his Phantom.
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Post by PhantomLesmisSaigon on Jan 27, 2023 10:40:49 GMT
I don't know who the JVJ was yesterday if evening that was Jon, if matinee it was Brad Barnley the 2nd cover It was Brad Barnley then. I don't understand why they cast people who can't sing it. Surely that is the minimum requirement!
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Jan 27, 2023 11:00:36 GMT
I don't know about Brad but every time I've seen Jon he doesn't manage that note. I didn't see him early in his run so I don't know if that's akways been the case or he's just struggling vocally now? I'll admit it doesn't fill me with confidence for his Phantom. Yeah unfortunately Jon's voice seems to have really gone down hill. Early on in his run he was sounding beautiful, but I think he just really needs a long vocal rest. I've heard that he's been let out of his Les Mis contract early so he won't be doubling up on Phantom rehearsals and performing in Les Mis. Hopefully it also means he has some time off to rest his voice!
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Post by theatreian on Jan 27, 2023 11:39:37 GMT
On Wednesday night at the end of A heart Full of Love Cosette's voice really cracked on the high note at the end and she didn't get it all all. Jon though was great as was David. One of the best 'Stars'I have ever heard.
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Post by carmella1 on Jan 27, 2023 15:56:33 GMT
Love Thaxton.
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Post by theatreian on Jan 27, 2023 16:12:42 GMT
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Post by talkstageytome on Feb 3, 2023 10:44:42 GMT
I'm looking at tickets for next weekend (trying to catch this with a friend while I'm in London) but even the cheapest seat up at the back is almost £60. I don't suppose any discounts ever pop up, do they?
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Feb 3, 2023 10:46:43 GMT
I don't suppose any discounts ever pop up, do they? I'd buy via TKTS on the day. They reduce seats to around £35 or £49.50
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Feb 3, 2023 10:47:10 GMT
Also, looks like Jon's last performance will be February 25th.
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Post by talkstageytome on Feb 3, 2023 11:10:58 GMT
I don't suppose any discounts ever pop up, do they? I'd buy via TKTS on the day. They reduce seats to around £35 or £49.50 Ahh perfect, we'll try that. Thanks for your help. We really wanted to catch Jon before he leaves!
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Post by jm25 on Feb 4, 2023 23:11:46 GMT
Watched this yesterday for the first time in what must be 12+ years. Believe it or not, I hated it the first time I saw it - I was (obviously) much younger and had gone in totally blind, with no idea it was fully sung through. Thought the first song was going on for absolutely ages until I twigged it was just going to keep on going! I was also sat right up at the back of the gods and felt like I missed half of it.
Anyway, wanted to give it a fairer go and went in this time knowing what to expect and with much better seats (front row, half price!)... and I'm pleased to say that I really enjoyed it! The vocal talent on display was just incredible and I felt so much more invested in the story than I did the first time round or indeed in any of the TV/film adaptations I've seen since. The set felt a bit smaller but I'm not sure if that's just my memory playing tricks. I was admittedly a little disappointed when I realised that the understudies for both JVJ and Javert were on. But that lasted for all of about 10 seconds when I realised how great they both were, Javert especially. I did notice that this JVJ struggled with a note at the end of one of the songs, as I think others on this thread have alluded to, but he more than made up for it with the rest of his performance. If anything, it was perhaps one or two of the other 'regular' cast members I was slightly less impressed by, but Fantine in particular I thought was excellent.
Given its status in West End history, I'm really pleased this return visit changed my mind about the show. Would happily see it again at some point because those ~3 hours were a real delight and just flew by. But I'll need to wait for another OLT sale because those non-discounted prices are insane!
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Post by talkstageytome on Feb 12, 2023 13:50:06 GMT
Thanks again thistimetomorrow for the tip - I managed to grab two stalls seats for £50 each, down from £110 on tkts website the morning on the show (still way more than I usually like to spend, but we were determined to see it, and were actually really impressed with the view, and legroom, from our seats in Row R). As for the show itself, I REALLY enjoyed it. I'd seen Les Mis a few years ago and then caught the concert-staged version last summer (also with Jon Robyns as JVJ) but this is definitely the most enjoyable experience I've had seeing Les Mis live. My friend and I had both seen Jon Robyns in several productions before, and he really shone here. A fantastic acting performance which really carried the show (as you would expect from the role of JVJ). I liked how the anger and trauma of JVJ's time in the chain-gang mellowed throughout the show, but was still perceivable until his end - not something I've noticed in other interpretations of the role. The confrontation with Javert was a lot more violent than I remember from the older production (in general there were a lot of enjoyable aspects of the new staging which I think improved upon the previous version). Vocal highlights were Valjean's Soliloquy and, surprisingly for me since it's not a song I usually particularly enjoy, Bring Him Home. Overall, a fantastic performance. I'll definitely be booking to see him as the Phantom in PotO. Other standout performances were Nathania Ong as Eponine, and Robert Tripolino as Marius was much more lovesick and childish than I've previously seen, which really suited the way in which the other student characters regard him. I loved the lighting and sound design for the barricade moments, and the sewers scenes, and didn't miss the turntable at all throughout. Les Mis wasn't a show I was desperate to return to, but I actually really enjoyed it. Goes to show it's worth revisiting the long runners every now and then...
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Post by llevy453 on Feb 16, 2023 11:15:38 GMT
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Post by danb on Feb 16, 2023 11:26:24 GMT
I love that Sarah Lark is still with the show. I’m surprised that CM would let anyone stay so long in one of his productions these days. It just goes to show what an asset she is.
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Post by digne on Feb 16, 2023 12:24:58 GMT
Interesting - I remember when I saw Stewart Clarke in Be More Chill a while ago, he was the highlight of the show for me and I kept thinking back then he'd make a good Javert.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Feb 16, 2023 14:06:23 GMT
Wow. Hot Javert and Hot Jean Valjean alert.
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Post by matilda1 on Feb 16, 2023 17:56:22 GMT
Any thoughts on Lucie Jones returning? Hopefully she will appear more regularly?
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Post by benny20 on Feb 16, 2023 17:59:51 GMT
Lucie probably fed up with the crazy Wicked fans
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Post by robertb213 on Feb 16, 2023 18:02:18 GMT
She should be fairly reliable this time. It's only 20 minutes' work and then a 90 minute lie-down 😉
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