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Post by mrbarnaby on Jun 18, 2021 1:02:37 GMT
THAT restoration is cheap cheap CHEAP. If youre gonna do it, do it properly. Just look at what Cameron has done. Some of his theatres were flea pits, now look at them. That fabric on the seats is nasty and oh yes lets paint the walls black. Really! And I bet they use them red seats from the Trafager at the playhouse rejig for Cabaret. With the booking fees they charge the theatres should be stunning. Have you been to the Fortune theatre, dont, you'll catch something, vile, disgusting..... Looking forward to Drury Lane relaunch, it looks amazing. I’m all for them using the old seats for Cabaret.. perfect sustainable use for them if they are a bit tired and no longer needed. I feel like this refurbishment was designed by someone with ZERO TASTE. And maybe a job lot of that nasty fabric.
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Post by FairyGodmother on Jun 29, 2021 23:48:30 GMT
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Post by Dr Tom on Jul 28, 2021 22:48:26 GMT
Back from the first preview at the Trafalgar Theatre.
The rake in the theatre is horrible! You won't see much during the ovations (of which there were two partial ones during the show, although one only had a single person take part, as well as a full audience one at the end). You also may not see much if you're behind a taller person. Thankfully there is still a two level set, so some of the action takes place at the top level.
Tonight was (I presume) the singalong performance, with very few people having their vocals restricted by pesky masks. No Covid-19 passport checking for entry either. So if the show is closed down within days and we're all forced into isolation, that's why.
If you remember the old London production, this is greatly cut down. It reminded me of the New World Stages version. I expect this has the youngest cast out of any Jersey Boys production (with the possible exception of the cruise ship version). Lots of baby faces. It must be hard for Ben Joyce, freshly graduated, to play the lead here having to portray such a range of emotions across a long career. Hopefully he will develop into the role.
My main concern was how heavily processed and sweetened the sound was throughout. This has always happened, but it was so obvious tonight, particularly in the first half and for the lead singer's high notes. Quite an echo effect too. Just very out of place.
I've always enjoyed this show, but this version isn't there yet. It is understandable it's been cut back. A lot of the audience made sure they enjoyed it anyway and the drinks were free flowing to aid the singing (although not all of them returned for the second half). The great songs will always be there. You may even hear the cast sing them.
We did get free T-Shirts, so what more could you ask for? As the T-Shirt says "The Boys Are Back!"
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2021 1:27:59 GMT
What does the theatre look like inside? Is it as dark as it appeared in the photos after the refit?
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jul 29, 2021 3:29:33 GMT
It looks very sad from the photos I’ve seen of the set. And as you say- the cast are so young. Too young perhaps.
Hopefully the plan is for this to run a few months only and send out on a tour.
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Post by Dr Tom on Jul 29, 2021 10:06:16 GMT
Yes, it is dark. And it feels cramped as there’s no central aisle.
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Post by danielwhit on Jul 31, 2021 19:54:59 GMT
Can't quite get over how much of a mess they've made of this theatre. Flows for audience members are horrendous - who's bright idea was it to have a main bar in the foyer? I get there's limited space but even so..
Plus, was it past all wit of man to put 'seats number..' this way signs? Dress Circle 1/2/3 means zero to most audience members.
Show wise so far - the core is good (because its a replica production) but at the moment not a patch on what it used to be. Audio mix is off whack totally (even when the audience aren't being the Fifth through Ninth Season) and there's a awful lot of comic potential just being glossed over.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jul 31, 2021 20:39:01 GMT
Can't quite get over how much of a mess they've made of this theatre. Flows for audience members are horrendous - who's bright idea was it to have a main bar in the foyer? I get there's limited space but even so.. Plus, was it past all wit of man to put 'seats number..' this way signs? Dress Circle 1/2/3 means zero to most audience members. Show wise so far - the core is good (because its a replica production) but at the moment not a patch on what it used to be. Audio mix is off whack totally (even when the audience aren't being the Fifth through Ninth Season) and there's a awful lot of comic potential just being glossed over. It’s just the worst theatre in the west end. I can’t believe they haven’t sorted out the foyer/bar area.
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Post by max on Jul 31, 2021 21:29:20 GMT
I was a big fan of Des McAnuff's work directing 'Tommy', though I didn't get the same buzz of his ideas here. Saw it way back at the Prince Edward, and I've forgotten: is there a frame at the beginning and then we're looking back? I found it so distracting that the onstage graphic sign is done with some form of LEDs (?), and not aesthetically right for the time period of most of the action. Projection work for 'Tommy' was a work of art.
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Post by danielwhit on Jul 31, 2021 22:41:53 GMT
I was a big fan of Des McAnuff's work directing 'Tommy', though I didn't get the same buzz of his ideas here. Saw it way back at the Prince Edward, and I've forgotten: is there a frame at the beginning and then we're looking back? I found it so distracting that the onstage graphic sign is done with some form of LEDs (?), and not aesthetically right for the time period of most of the action. Projection work for 'Tommy' was a work of art. Yeah, framed as "modern day" (Well, 2005ish modern anyway), then "you ask four guys and you get four different stories, but they all start..." sets us back to the start of the story. Yeah, the LED stuff never grated on me in the Prince Edward etc, but with it now being front and centre rather than to the wings, it's much more distracting now. Plus a lot of the signs have been moved to be LED rather than real props, so it is used more too. Plus, was the original cast just 11 plus band (of 7)? Or have a few more roles been doubled now?
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Post by Dr Tom on Jul 31, 2021 23:16:16 GMT
There is much more doubling now.
I do think the book needs an update, if nothing else to account for Tommy DeVito's death last year.
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Post by Jon on Jul 31, 2021 23:24:12 GMT
Can't quite get over how much of a mess they've made of this theatre. Flows for audience members are horrendous - who's bright idea was it to have a main bar in the foyer? I get there's limited space but even so.. I might be misremembering but I think the old Trafalgar Studios had a bar in the foyer as well.
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Post by danielwhit on Aug 1, 2021 0:40:35 GMT
Can't quite get over how much of a mess they've made of this theatre. Flows for audience members are horrendous - who's bright idea was it to have a main bar in the foyer? I get there's limited space but even so.. I might be misremembering but I think the old Trafalgar Studios had a bar in the foyer as well. Now you mention it I think you're right - however it now feels very prominent in the space. I suspect part of the difficulty is the venue now has a much(?) larger capacity than it did before - so issues of audience flow are clearer than they were in the Studios 1/2 set up. Certainly the corridor at the back of the dress circle (old back of Studio 1) was very cramped today with queues for the ladies, gents and people trying to get to the bar/back. Gents, by the way, I hope you like getting close and personal with your fellow audience members.
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Post by anita on Aug 5, 2021 14:37:53 GMT
Thinking of trying a restricted view ticket near front of stalls. Any advice?
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Post by Dr Tom on Aug 5, 2021 14:49:59 GMT
Thinking of trying a restricted view ticket near front of stalls. Any advice? I'm not sure why those seats are marked as restricted view (side of the Stalls, a few rows back). But see the photo on this page: trafalgartheatre.com/your-visit/access/I think it's due to the curve of the wall, so you'll miss the back corner of the stage. I don't see this as a major problem for Jersey Boys. However, if you are willing to wait, the dynamic pricing is often throwing up some very good Stalls seats on the day, including clear Stalls views for under £30 (especially if you need a single or if there are more of you and you're willing to sit separately).
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Post by anita on Aug 6, 2021 8:55:46 GMT
Thinking of trying a restricted view ticket near front of stalls. Any advice? Looks live they have put the price up for those seats so won't be going any time soon.
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Post by amp09 on Aug 6, 2021 9:32:21 GMT
Thinking of trying a restricted view ticket near front of stalls. Any advice? Looks live they have put the price up for those seats so won't be going any time soon. It’s not selling that well, so I expect offers will start springing up soon or perhaps Rush tickets. Your best bet at a bargain failing any discounts popping up is waiting until the day you want to go and checking their dynamic pricing. Fantastic single seats have shown up since it’s opened for £20/£30 on the day of the performance.
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Post by artform on Aug 6, 2021 13:48:29 GMT
Went to the show on 3rd August and the theatre was packed with no social distancing and the atmosphere was great but the sound could have been better. However the performers were great.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 6, 2021 13:52:17 GMT
Performances cancelled I hear?
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Post by Theatre Fan on Aug 6, 2021 15:26:11 GMT
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Post by hitmewithurbethshot on Aug 6, 2021 18:25:41 GMT
I can imagine there's a lot of panicked phone calls to performers that have previously been in the show
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Post by anita on Aug 9, 2021 9:09:33 GMT
Tickets are still onsale for this week. Is it still on or off?
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Post by geeky101 on Aug 28, 2021 8:01:52 GMT
Saw this last night for the first time in years.
Ben Joyce is a brilliant Frankie Valli. Such a polished performance by a man who hasn’t even graduated yet! Acted his socks off and a really authentic falsetto. Fair play to the lad. Also thought Karl James Wilson was a brilliant Massi: understated but great presence. Was lovely to see Mark Isherwood back as Gyp and others too, who owns every moment he’s in the spotlight.
Now my moan: the sound. As a couple of others have alluded to on here… dear god it was awful. I was sat fourth row of the dress and for the entire first half, the mix was woeful and often mics just weren’t loud enough. Poor Adam Bailey, who has a lovely voice, was drowned out in Cry for Me and Oh What A Night. I implore anyone involved with the show who might read this to pass a message on and try to sort it out - there is real talent on that stage but half the time we just couldn’t hear properly.
I am speculating here, but I think cutting the band down (to only six now - sometimes things were very tinny and clearly run through a keys synth or on a pre-record), changing theatre/sound systems for the third time - plus adapting for tour and back again - mixing cast tracks, etc has really harmed the way the show was originally intended to be seen and heard. One of the best things about the original Prince Edward production was the volume, when necessary, and clarity of sound. The muffled, almost muted, mess we got for much of last night does a disservice to great songs, a great show and a great cast.
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Post by anita on Aug 28, 2021 8:44:03 GMT
Saw this last night for the first time in years. Ben Joyce is a brilliant Frankie Valli. Such a polished performance by a man who hasn’t even graduated yet! Acted his socks off and a really authentic falsetto. Fair play to the lad. Also thought Karl James Wilson was a brilliant Massi: understated but great presence. Was lovely to see Mark Isherwood back as Gyp and others too, who owns every moment he’s in the spotlight. Now my moan: the sound. As a couple of others have alluded to on here… dear god it was awful. I was sat fourth row of the dress and for the entire first half, the mix was woeful and often mics just weren’t loud enough. Poor Adam Bailey, who has a lovely voice, was drowned out in Cry for Me and Oh What A Night. I implore anyone involved with the show who might read this to pass a message on and try to sort it out - there is real talent on that stage but half the time we just couldn’t hear properly. I am speculating here, but I think cutting the band down (to only six now - sometimes things were very tinny and clearly run through a keys synth or on a pre-record), changing theatre/sound systems for the third time - plus adapting for tour and back again - mixing cast tracks, etc has really harmed the way the show was originally intended to be seen and heard. One of the best things about the original Prince Edward production was the volume, when necessary, and clarity of sound. The muffled, almost muted, mess we got for much of last night does a disservice to great songs, a great show and a great cast. O dear. -You've got me worried now. My hearing isn't great at the best of times.
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Post by danielwhit on Aug 28, 2021 10:43:24 GMT
O dear. -You've got me worried now. My hearing isn't great at the best of times. Don't worry, if it's anything like the (Saturday evening) performance I saw the audience will help you out by singing along...
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Post by anita on Aug 31, 2021 8:43:03 GMT
O dear. -You've got me worried now. My hearing isn't great at the best of times. Don't worry, if it's anything like the (Saturday evening) performance I saw the audience will help you out by singing along... That's all I need.NO!
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Post by anita on Sept 3, 2021 8:47:14 GMT
Great show. No singing along thankfully & perfect seat: E1 stalls. It's marked [& priced] as restricted view but it wasn't. Empty gangway directly in front so plenty of room to stretch out.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Sept 25, 2021 0:21:14 GMT
I've seen Jersey Boys half a dozen times and consider tonight's Ben Joyce one of if not the very best in the lead role. Couldn't fault any performer or any aspect of the show and had a great evening.
The sound was perfect to my ears and audience behaviour impeccable. I paid £45 to sit in the centre of row B (thanks to the dynamic pricing on some single seats) which was a perfect viewpoint.
It's an ATG venue but unlike others the pre-show email advises there is no no need for a covid pass or proof of vaccinations and mask wearing is voluntary. Made entering the theatre take just seconds, I'd say only 10% of the audience wore face masks, the fewest I've seen. Even on the bus back to Victoria , where it's still a requirement, hardy anybody bothered.
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Post by Jon on Sept 25, 2021 11:12:57 GMT
It's an ATG venue but unlike others the pre-show email advises there is no no need for a covid pass or proof of vaccinations and mask wearing is voluntary. Made entering the theatre take just seconds, I'd say only 10% of the audience wore face masks, the fewest I've seen. Even on the bus back to Victoria , where it's still a requirement, hardy anybody bothered. I hate to be that person but Trafalgar Entertainment owns the Trafalgar Theatre, not ATG
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Sept 25, 2021 15:18:56 GMT
It's an ATG venue but unlike others the pre-show email advises there is no no need for a covid pass or proof of vaccinations and mask wearing is voluntary. Made entering the theatre take just seconds, I'd say only 10% of the audience wore face masks, the fewest I've seen. Even on the bus back to Victoria , where it's still a requirement, hardy anybody bothered. I hate to be that person but Trafalgar Entertainment owns the Trafalgar Theatre, not ATG Thanks for clarifying. I booked through ATG and the pre-show email came from ATG so it was my assumption that it was one of their venues. Explains the different rules.
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