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Post by Someone in a tree on Sept 21, 2019 10:57:09 GMT
Do we think this might reach London? Fingers, toes and trotters crossed for this to happen
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18,775 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 23, 2019 18:07:07 GMT
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Post by xanady on Sept 23, 2019 18:28:18 GMT
^😬😬😬😬
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Sept 27, 2019 9:51:18 GMT
I’m seeing it on Sunday 29th . I don’t normally go for previews so I really hope there aren’t any issues and it goes ahead as planned Does Hope Mill sometimes cancel previews at short notice then ? I'm travelling all the way from Kent by train and coach to see this as a day trip next Sunday so a wasted journey would be awful. I've decided not to use my ticket for Mame on Sunday and have booked instead for Northampton in January 2020. I was faced with leaving at 6.30am and not getting back until 1.30 am, which was always a bit too long a day even for me but I would have done the journey if Hope Mill had remained the only venue. My e-ticket is for Block A , Blue Block, 3.00pm on Sunday 29 September It cost £18.50 including the booking fee. I'm going to offer it for sale on Noticeboard for £15 by paypal if that's allowable. There's also a National Express return e-ticket from London Victoria Coach Station to Manchester and back on Sunday available at no extra cost if required. Depart London 9.00am, arrive scheduled 2.10pm, return from Manchester 7.15pm arrive London 11.35pm. The coach station is a 20-25 minute walk or a mile long taxi ride from Hope Mill. As with any public transport a delayed arrival at Manchester cannot be ruled out but having done the journey several times it's usually early.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Sept 27, 2019 14:27:09 GMT
Does Hope Mill sometimes cancel previews at short notice then ? I'm travelling all the way from Kent by train and coach to see this as a day trip next Sunday so a wasted journey would be awful. I've decided not to use my ticket for Mame on Sunday and have booked instead for Northampton in January 2020. I was faced with leaving at 6.30am and not getting back until 1.30 am, which was always a bit too long a day even for me but I would have done the journey if Hope Mill had remained the only venue. My e-ticket is for Block A , Blue Block, 3.00pm on Sunday 29 September It cost £18.50 including the booking fee. I'm going to offer it for sale on Noticeboard for £15 by paypal if that's allowable. There's also a National Express return e-ticket from London Victoria Coach Station to Manchester and back on Sunday available at no extra cost if required. Depart London 9.00am, arrive scheduled 2.10pm, return from Manchester 7.15pm arrive London 11.35pm. The coach station is a 20-25 minute walk or a mile long taxi ride from Hope Mill. As with any public transport a delayed arrival at Manchester cannot be ruled out but having done the journey several times it's usually early. Ticket has been sold. I'm unsure how to edit or cancel the noticeboard post. Thanks, really pleased it's going to be used.
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Post by david on Sept 28, 2019 21:26:51 GMT
On my way back to my hotel so I’ll post more thoughts later, but after watching the 1st preview tonight - get yourself a ticket for this. Tracie Bennett was just electric tonight at the Hope Mill theatre. An absolutely fantastic performance in both acting and singing.
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Post by david on Sept 28, 2019 22:37:20 GMT
For a 1st preview this really was a slick production with notechnical issues or stoppages tonight. The run time tonight was around 2hrs 40 minutes including interval. The seating set up is the traditional set up, gone are the slip seats, with the stage filling the entire width of the auditorium. We had a band of 8 playing at the back of the stage. The band consisted of piano, reeds, trumpet, trombone, cello, double bass and drums. The sound mixing was spot on for the 1st night and for me, I didn’t have any issues hearing the lyrics.
Staging wise, this is quite a deep set (it’s certainly a vast improvement on the Springer Opera set) with moving panels and a staircase as well (it’s not as grand as the Sunset Boulevard staircase!).
The choreography really was top notch and you get plenty of it.
Casting wise, Tracie Bennett totally owns the stage and is hardly ever off it for the entire nigh. Her performance as MAME is simply stunning. Her comic timing as the character is spot on and as a double act with Harriet Thorpe is a joy to watch (their drunken antics really are good fun to watch, and there is a real chemistry there between the two ladies. Though it’s Tracie’s singing the score which is the highlight of the night. During the interval I was wondering if we would get to hear really belt a number out, and oh boy that happened during “If he walked into my life”. It’s her and the band on stage and she certainly delivered here to give me that WOW moment.
With the other cast members, there really wasn’t a weak link. It’s a shame that Tim Flavin didn’t really have that much to do in Act 1, though I was hoping for maybe a bit more song and dance from the guy as I never got the chance to see him on the WE stage.
Whilst a great night out with plenty of laughs, if there is any criticism to be made, it’s more to do with the book by Robert E. Lee than with this production. I was hoping for a bit of angst or have someone put through the emotional ringer. Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen and everything is rather very nice through the entire proceedings. Though each to their own, I suppose in this respect.
Anyway, it’s an excellent production with a lot of heart (and drink). It’s definitely worth a trip up to Manchester or catching it on tour next year in Northampton or Salisbury.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 29, 2019 12:24:18 GMT
Good to hear the production values are up. I find myself in Paris so won’t be there for the matinee today, but looking forward to it in a couple of weeks time.
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Post by xanady on Sept 29, 2019 12:59:39 GMT
Sounds like MT heaven...trying to get back ‘home’ to my old stamping ground to see this...or if not will catch it in Northampton...Ms Bennett is a living legend in my book!
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Post by david on Sept 29, 2019 15:59:23 GMT
Sounds like MT heaven...trying to get back ‘home’ to my old stamping ground to see this...or if not will catch it in Northampton...Ms Bennett is a living legend in my book! I thought she was great in Follies at the NT, but to get to see her act and hear her sing in the more intimate environment of the Hope Mill theatre was something special last night.
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Post by bramble on Oct 3, 2019 15:21:10 GMT
congratulations all round to the team at this smashing little theatre . There is certainly nothing"little" about this show. A really excellent production of a good old fashioned book musical. Superbly acted, sung and danced by a talented company led by Tracie Bennett and accompanied by a wonderful band with Alex Parker leading from the piano.
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5,267 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Oct 3, 2019 23:53:44 GMT
congratulations all round to the team at this smashing little theatre . There is certainly nothing"little" about this show. A really excellent production of a good old fashioned book musical. Superbly acted, sung and danced by a talented company led by Tracie Bennett and accompanied by a wonderful band with Alex Parker leading from the piano. Do you work for the theatre?! I’d say this will transfer to that dark hole of a theatre under Charing Cross station..
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4,631 posts
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Post by Phantom of London on Oct 4, 2019 0:13:03 GMT
Tempted to see this, but unusual for me going to swerve on this, as would mean over nighting in Manchester, which can be very expensive if the Manchester clubs are at home, so will catch this in the New Year in Salisbury when theatre is hard to come by, also no hotel involved.
Definitely be up in the big M for Gypsy, may go to see Dr Seuss at the Lowry. And cross the penines to see Guys and Dolls in Sheffield.
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Post by bramble on Oct 4, 2019 11:07:47 GMT
congratulations all round to the team at this smashing little theatre . There is certainly nothing"little" about this show. A really excellent production of a good old fashioned book musical. Superbly acted, sung and danced by a talented company led by Tracie Bennett and accompanied by a wonderful band with Alex Parker leading from the piano. Do you work for the theatre?! I’d say this will transfer to that dark hole of a theatre under Charing Cross station.. No i just enjoy good imaginative work .And found it well worth the journey up from the coast! Whybecause i enjoy something would you think i work for the theatre?Who do you work for?
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 4, 2019 11:55:32 GMT
Do you work for the theatre?! I’d say this will transfer to that dark hole of a theatre under Charing Cross station.. No i just enjoy good imaginative work .And found it well worth the journey up from the coast! Whybecause i enjoy something would you think i work for the theatre? Who do you work for?lol we’ve been trying to work that one out for ages!
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5,267 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Oct 4, 2019 16:16:57 GMT
I only exist when shrouded in mystery...
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2019 17:14:34 GMT
Tempted to see this, but unusual for me going to swerve on this, as would mean over nighting in Manchester, which can be very expensive if the Manchester clubs are at home, so will catch this in the New Year in Salisbury when theatre is hard to come by, also no hotel involved. Definitely be up in the big M for Gypsy, may go to see Dr Seuss at the Lowry. And cross the penines to see Guys and Dolls in Sheffield. Can you get to Northampton instead?
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Post by xanady on Oct 4, 2019 19:19:59 GMT
4 🌟 ‘s from WOS...some questioning of how well certain themes will sit with present day audiences,but still a good notice...
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Post by Phantom of London on Oct 5, 2019 0:23:01 GMT
Tempted to see this, but unusual for me going to swerve on this, as would mean over nighting in Manchester, which can be very expensive if the Manchester clubs are at home, so will catch this in the New Year in Salisbury when theatre is hard to come by, also no hotel involved. Definitely be up in the big M for Gypsy, may go to see Dr Seuss at the Lowry. And cross the penines to see Guys and Dolls in Sheffield. Can you get to Northampton instead? I can get to Northampton and is doable for a matinee, I have to cross London to get to Euston, which is a bit of a bind, however think the train is faster to Northampton in just under an hour, opposed to 90 minutes to Salisbury. Definitely will go to one of those.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2019 7:17:45 GMT
^ Apologies, I misread your original post and didn’t see your points on Salisbury.
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1,001 posts
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Post by David J on Oct 5, 2019 16:31:18 GMT
First time seeing the Hope Mill Theatre and it is certainly a lovely venue
I generally liked this show but it didn’t bowl me over. The strongest parts come from the cast overall giving a classy performance
Tracie Bennett does what Tracie Bennett knows best, giving every ounce of energy into this role. Perhaps the best moment though was her and Harriet Thorpe passing barbs between each other during Bosom Buddies
Otherwise the book itself is cliched and despite brief moments of poignancy and potential drama it skims along on the light hearted side. The story jumps time when it’s convenient and you think the musical is going somewhere with the Bueregard chap played marvellously by Tim Flavin but no soon are we in the second act then he is discarded. And moments like this and the Great Depression barely make an impact on Mame
Lovely direction fitting this musical in the contained set they have but nothing too imaginative
A good show but nothing more to me
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Post by Dr Tom on Oct 5, 2019 17:54:55 GMT
My thoughts on this from last night. A well-staged and performed musical with everyone perfectly cast, combined with lots of delightful songs.
The theatre seemed very busy, with tickets collected in the entrance hall and lots of people collecting press packs (although I don't believe it was press night). You no longer need to get there really early as entrance is determined by colour sections (which correspond to colours on the seats) rather than a numbered ticket.
The set up is traditional, with the stage at one side of the room and tiered seating at the other. At first glance, the stage doesn't look all that big, but there is a section behind that opens up, which also houses the small band. The stage area is at ground level, as is the front row.
I managed to get a central front row, which was an excellent view as you'd expect, with almost half of the front row being reserved in advance. The only downside of that seat is the band overpowers the vocals at some points.
I had a very enthusiastic lady sat behind who had travelled from Brighton to see her nephew perform, although she seemed to think the venue a bit of a downgrade from the West End shows he'd been in before. I do know who the nephew was from the previous shows name dropped, but that doesn't really matter. I presume she wasn't a regular theatre goer, as she was quite chatty during parts of the show and keen to point out her nephew to the poor people sat next to her. No idea if she was waving to the nephew as well as she was sat behind me.
Everything about the show was West End standard, including the cast, who were more numerous than you often see in fringe theatre productions. A simple set, but one that looked expensive and worked. Multiple costume changes. So I definitely wouldn't consider having this sort of show on your CV any kind of downgrade.
As for the show, I think it would be described as a series of capers. There's a reason it's never been revived in the UK (and never been revived successfully in the US) and that's the plot isn't that strong, a lot of detail is skipped over that modern audiences would question and some of the themes are more difficult in the modern age. The latter is one that challenges other musicals but doesn't stop them being revived. Where this does hold up is with the score, the entertaining performances and the excellent dance numbers.
A funny moment. The main door into Mame's house was pulled off during one of the early entrances and rested back in place. They managed to fix it back into its frame during the interval, but it still couldn't be opened. The cast used the main theatre entrance instead and strolled onto the stage. They coped admirably, as I don't know how convenient access as to the revised entrance.
I will certainly see this again for the standard of performances if nothing else. Probably not in Manchester, but I think it will transfer to London and, if not, I'll see it in Northampton. I don't know if this is quite suited to the West End, but I'd like to see it given a chance in a smaller theatre. Worth a watch now as well as I doubt this will be revived again without a new book being written to replace the current one.
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Post by tmesis on Oct 5, 2019 18:25:13 GMT
Just returning to leafy Surrey after today's matinee. My first visit to Hope Mill - it's a great venue, a little like Southwark Playhouse but with friendlier people.
I'd been looking forward to this for ages since I'm a great Jerry Herman fan and have seen most of his musicals apart from this one. It amazes me why it's taken this long to be revived in Britain. OK, it's very 'feel good' with little angst and some plot points are dispatched in too peremptory a manner but there are some very funny scenes and witty lines and the whole thing doesn't out stay it's welcome like quite a few classic musicals where the music's wonderful but the dialogue is pretty turgid. And speaking of wonderful music, it's just one great tune after another, written in that open-hearted, almost artless manner, that's the epitome of Broadway and is Herman's forte.
It really was a great production, with lavish costumes, a brilliantly adaptable set, with great depth, enabling them to find room for a staircase and an on-stage band. The latter played very well, some duff trumpet playing excepted. With one exception the whole cast were really excellent but unfortunately that was Tracie Bennett herself. She gurns and over acts the whole way through. I enjoyed her in End of the Rainbow and Ruthless where a bit of over the top high camp are more or less obligatory but found these traits in her performance of Carlotta in Follies which I did not enjoy at all. OK, the part of Mame is a bit broad brush but it can take a lot more subtly than she gives it. She didn't actually deliver many of the songs very well and wasn't helped by the range being a little too low for her. A number of years ago I was very impressed by Janie Dee in Hello, Dolly! at The Curve and couldn't help thinking how great she would be in the part.
However, despite all my reservations it's a great show and I would still recommend it.
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Post by musicalsfan on Oct 5, 2019 22:53:23 GMT
The latter played very well, some duff trumpet playing excepted. I saw today's matinee too, and I think it was actually the trombone that was dodgy; the trumpet playing was top-notch.
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Post by tmesis on Oct 6, 2019 6:57:36 GMT
The latter played very well, some duff trumpet playing excepted. I saw today's matinee too, and I think it was actually the trombone that was dodgy; the trumpet playing was top-notch. I disagree - awful intonation at many musically important points.
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Post by sf on Oct 6, 2019 12:56:03 GMT
I tend to resist the whole Jerry Herman larger-than-life-women-on-larger-than-life-staircases genre of musicals, but I enjoyed this very much last week. The book, yes, is rather slight, but the songs are wonderful, Tracie Bennett is terrific, and Harriet Thorpe steals every scene she's in. Production values excellent for such a tiny venue as well. There are some good reasons why the show doesn't often get revived these days, but this is well worth seeing.
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Post by julian on Oct 7, 2019 13:44:03 GMT
Just returning to leafy Surrey after today's matinee. My first visit to Hope Mill - it's a great venue, a little like Southwark Playhouse but with friendlier people. I'd been looking forward to this for ages since I'm a great Jerry Herman fan and have seen most of his musicals apart from this one. It amazes me why it's taken this long to be revived in Britain. OK, it's very 'feel good' with little angst and some plot points are dispatched in too peremptory a manner but there are some very funny scenes and witty lines and the whole thing doesn't out stay it's welcome like quite a few classic musicals where the music's wonderful but the dialogue is pretty turgid. And speaking of wonderful music, it's just one great tune after another, written in that open-hearted, almost artless manner, that's the epitome of Broadway and is Herman's forte. It really was a great production, with lavish costumes, a brilliantly adaptable set, with great depth, enabling them to find room for a staircase and an on-stage band. The latter played very well, some duff trumpet playing excepted. With one exception the whole cast were really excellent but unfortunately that was Tracie Bennett herself. She gurns and over acts the whole way through. I enjoyed her in End of the Rainbow and Ruthless where a bit of over the top high camp are more or less obligatory but found these traits in her performance of Carlotta in Follies which I did not enjoy at all. OK, the part of Mame is a bit broad brush but it can take a lot more subtly than she gives it. She didn't actually deliver many of the songs very well and wasn't helped by the range being a little too low for her. A number of years ago I was very impressed by Janie Dee in Hello, Dolly! at The Curve and couldn't help thinking how great she would be in the part. However, despite all my reservations it's a great show and I would still recommend it. ......................................................................... That is a dreadful insult to the star Tracie Bennett. She has received rave reviews for her role as Mame.
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Post by Scswp on Oct 7, 2019 13:52:44 GMT
Just returning to leafy Surrey after today's matinee. My first visit to Hope Mill - it's a great venue, a little like Southwark Playhouse but with friendlier people. I'd been looking forward to this for ages since I'm a great Jerry Herman fan and have seen most of his musicals apart from this one. It amazes me why it's taken this long to be revived in Britain. OK, it's very 'feel good' with little angst and some plot points are dispatched in too peremptory a manner but there are some very funny scenes and witty lines and the whole thing doesn't out stay it's welcome like quite a few classic musicals where the music's wonderful but the dialogue is pretty turgid. And speaking of wonderful music, it's just one great tune after another, written in that open-hearted, almost artless manner, that's the epitome of Broadway and is Herman's forte. It really was a great production, with lavish costumes, a brilliantly adaptable set, with great depth, enabling them to find room for a staircase and an on-stage band. The latter played very well, some duff trumpet playing excepted. With one exception the whole cast were really excellent but unfortunately that was Tracie Bennett herself. She gurns and over acts the whole way through. I enjoyed her in End of the Rainbow and Ruthless where a bit of over the top high camp are more or less obligatory but found these traits in her performance of Carlotta in Follies which I did not enjoy at all. OK, the part of Mame is a bit broad brush but it can take a lot more subtly than she gives it. She didn't actually deliver many of the songs very well and wasn't helped by the range being a little too low for her. A number of years ago I was very impressed by Janie Dee in Hello, Dolly! at The Curve and couldn't help thinking how great she would be in the part. However, despite all my reservations it's a great show and I would still recommend it. ......................................................................... That is a dreadful insult to the star Tracie Bennett. She has received rave reviews for her role as Mame. Yes, but that doesn’t mean that every audience member will agree with those opinions! I’m seeing this in January in Northampton, so will decide (on purely personal terms) on her performance then. Bennett also received very positive reviews for her roles in Hairspray and Follies, but tbh, I didn’t much care for her in either, particularly the latter. I wasn’t even confident on the day that she’d hit the final notes of ‘I’m Still Here’. So, to each his/her own. I’m looking forward to seeing this show, whether it be with Bennett or her understudy.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 12, 2019 10:09:48 GMT
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Post by frankubelik on Oct 12, 2019 15:03:42 GMT
Horrendous. How anyone can even think the vocals are acceptable must be deaf. The trajectory of Ms Bennett is a mystery to me and (I hope) all musical theatre lovers.
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