Rain Man - Tour 2019

Don’t rain on my parade.

I saw this a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it, I don't watch many plays but I like the film and was curious.

I've booked to see it at The Lowry mainly because Elizabeth Carter, who led the recent tours of Dreamboats and Petticoats, Dreamboats and Miniskirts, and sister show Save The Last Dance for Me, is playing the female lead Susan. Looking forward to seeing Mairi Barclay from the Hope Mill/Southwark Playhouse production of Pippin again too.

I believe that this cast is only contracted for the first part of the tour - up to Christmas. They haven't yet confirmed the cast for the 2019 dates - though some theatres may be using the wrong graphics and photos in their listings - and without acknowledging that they are of the 2018 cast.

Very good deal on Travelzoo for Leeds next week, for those of us in or near. £15 for seats in the stalls, including fees and restoration levy.

So, based on showgirl's positive review, and loving a good deal, I went to see this yesterday in Leeds.

Of the £15 I paid, the theatre retained £3 in fees, leaving £12 for Bill Kenwright, which is precisely £2 more than he has spent on the entire production. I felt so embarrassed on the cast's behalf!

Even though it includes a cringeworthingly bad sex scene that seems to last for ever, Act 1 is over almost before it has begun, and although not great for bar and ice cream sales, this could easily be a one act play.

Don't get me wrong, it was an enjoyable enough way to spend a couple of hours, and I'm pleased it keeps actors in work, but I did find myself wondering what the point was of transferring it from the big screen. I must have been very much in the minority, though, as it received an almost full standing ovation, for which Ed Speleers and Mathew Horne both seemed genuinely touched. (Can actors 'fake' that type of reaction, or are they always genuine?)

And if nothing else, it gave me an excuse to be away from home as gangs of feral youths roamed the streets with their sense of entitlement.

Seeing this on Monday @ Richmond. Liked the film.

I've never seen "Downton Abbey" or "Gavin & Stacey" but I found the show very enjoyable & pleased I went. There were signs up warning of "strong language" - which there was & "male nudity" - which there wasn't. I strongly suspect if Ryan had been there he'd have been demanding his money back.

Just seen that this will continue next year with Paul Nicholls & Chris Fountain taking over the roles.

I saw this in Darlington a week ago and thought it was absolutely brilliant! I hadn't seen the film, so didn't really know what to expect, but knew the film had won awards and thought it sounded intriguing.

Paul Nicholls was off all week due to illness - from what I can gather from Google he seems to have missed a few venues, I don't know if he actually started his run - but his understudy was excellent in what looked like a very challenging role. The show had me gripped from the beginning - and it's not often I can say a play has done that. Chris Fountain was also very good, and showed great character development in the second half. Both guys were on stage pretty much all the time. There were some slightly uncomfortable moments with Charlie's treatment of Ray and the way he spoke to him, but it was good they didn't gloss over how people like Ray were treated back then, and nice to see how Charlie changed towards him.

There were also some really touching moments - the scene in the hotel where we learn why the show is called "Rain Man" and the final scene, which a fair few of us found quite emotional. I was surprised at how badly this had sold for a Saturday matinee - I think only half the seats had been taken if that, and the upper circle was closed. But it was their loss in my opinion, as I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Doesn't seem to be selling well at The Lowry either, sadly. A week on Friday, for example, the Stalls in the Lyric Theatre are maybe a fifth full, the Circle at 10% of capacity, while 11 tickets seems to have been sold for the Upper Circle.