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Post by alece10 on Jan 6, 2019 9:59:01 GMT
I am alive, awake and making more sense now so here are my thoughts on last night.
From the moment the house lights went down and you could hear the cast cheering from behind the curtain until the end when the usher said "please leave as quickly as possible" as no one seemed to want to leave and we were just all standing there maybe hoping it would start all over again, I knew this night would be very special.
I don't think I have ever been to a show and heard such loud applause and cheering, it was almost deafening.
The whole cast gave it everything and we just lapped it up. Huge applause at the end of every song and on occasions even in the middle of the song and entrance applause for all of the leads.
But the moment that will remain with me forever was the infamous staircase. I am always quite emotional when the staircase appears and is frankly the best thing in any show I have ever seen, but last night it was on another level. At the end of the song the entire audience rose and applauded and cheered for what seemed like minutes. The cast were clearly moved by this reaction and several of the cast members where were in tears. I don't think Clare could believe what was happening.
It sort of went downhill from there on, but in a good way as I think the cast found it a bit hard to get it back on track and at one point it turned a bit "panto" which some good natured heckling from the audience.
Standing ovation again as soon as the boys came on to take their bows and a lovely speech from Tom Lister.
Then it was time for the encore and for Clare to take a final so deserved ovation with the audience on its feet again.
I knew quite a few of us would stay for the exit music but when I looked back everybody on all 4 levels was still standing and listening to it with another huge ovation for the orchestra at the end.
It really was a magical night and something I will always remember.
As I mentioned briefly last night it was great to meet up with some board members and there were 4 of us sitting next to each other in the front row on the side and DanielJohnson 2 rows behind who introduced himself by saying to me "you are reading what I have just written" as I was reading the thread before the show started.
My only regret was not going to the matinee as well as I would have loved to have seen Bonnie dance at the end but I knew it wouldn't happen in the evening as she wanted the spotlight to be on Clare at the end - what a trooper.
One slight embarrassment was that I was sitting in my seat at the beginning when 2 people came up and said that I was sitting in their seat. I said no its mine, the row in front is AA, this is A and B is behind and they said no, the row in front is A. I had always sat in the middle section before in usually AA or A so for some reason thought that the side section also started with AA. As it worked out it was even better for me as I was now at the front with loads of leg room which was a godsend. They were great about it and, in fact, their daughter was one of the ensemble. The daft thing is that when I was there a few weeks ago sitting in AA at the end of the show I said to my friend I am just going to sit in the seat I have booked for the last night to see what the leg room is like and didn't even realise then I was trying the wrong seat.
There were cameras around so I really hope the filmed the ovation at the end of the staircase scene so everyone can see how amazing it was.
Ah well, end of an era and the last time we will see anything as big and lavish in the west end for a long while.
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Post by zak97 on Jan 6, 2019 10:07:33 GMT
If you watch the Instagram stories for #42ndStreet there is one that films the end of the finale and you see the audience immediately rise to their feet. So incredible.
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Post by Being Alive on Jan 6, 2019 10:29:46 GMT
Oooh I have a feeling I might bring the mood down a little - so I’ll try not to!!
I had a lovely evening, I really did. It’s a show I enjoy a lot because it’s just pure joy, and it was great to see the cast have the show last night. Tom Lister has grown on me, and I thought he was excellent. I’d have loved to have seen Bonnie dance but I understand why she didn’t and that chorus of men and women is really a sight to behold.
But it all for me highlighted how above and beyond it all Clare Halse is. I’ve never seen anyone do what she does, and don’t think I will again for a long time. You could tell she’s the kind of person that would never complain. But an absolute joy. She definitely has ‘come back a star’.
Now, the only thing that bought it down for me were the audience. But not in the way I think you’d expect. I was right at the back of the balcony as it was all I could afford (actually very good seats for £19 FYI!) and I cheered at the places you’d expect (Jae, opening, we’re in the money, staircase) but I felt so removed from the atmosphere. The audience in the balcony were DEAD apart from me and the chap behind me. The lady next to me turned to me at one point and went ‘what’s happening?’ I told her to just cheer when I did and she’s get in to the swing of it! I think if I’d been in the thick of it downstairs with the fans then I might have felt part of it a little more!
But it was after the staircase that for me, it descended into a little bit of madness. 100% took the lines that enables Clare H to rightly get her applause in full, at every opportunity. But for me, when the audience (I would imagine ‘hardcore fans’ began sort of heckling. The one that irritated me the most was ‘KISS HER’ - you know what’s happening in that moment, and you know that’s not appropriate, so why do it? Props to Clare and Tom for not reacting, but it bought me out of where we were in the show.
Sorry - that wasn’t meant to sound like such a grumble - but I don’t think I’d noticed how much it had annoyed me!!
That said, a great night in the theatre. It won’t go down in the history books for me as it will for a lot if you and that’s fine. But I still had a lovely time 😊
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Post by alece10 on Jan 6, 2019 10:30:37 GMT
If you watch the Instagram stories for #42ndStreet there is one that films the end of the finale and you see the audience immediately rise to their feet. So incredible. Is there a link as I can't find anything on instragrsm |
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Post by zak97 on Jan 6, 2019 10:36:32 GMT
If you watch the Instagram stories for #42ndStreet there is one that films the end of the finale and you see the audience immediately rise to their feet. So incredible. Is there a link as I can't find anything on instragrsm Can’t find it anymore for some reason. |
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Post by shady23 on Jan 6, 2019 11:22:27 GMT
The Producers were there last night in one of the boxes and Tom talked about them in his speech, basically acknowledging what a huge risk they did of putting on a show of this scale and with such a big cast and crew. It was a financial commitment not many would make these days.
I am so glad they were there to see how much the show meant to us all. I was sat nearby and they were clearly blown away by the crowd reaction.
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Post by alece10 on Jan 6, 2019 11:51:48 GMT
The Producers were there last night in one of the boxes and Tom talked about them in his speech, basically acknowledging what a huge risk they did of putting on a show of this scale and with such a big cast and crew. It was a financial commitment not many would make these days. I am so glad they were there to see how much the show meant to us all. I was sat nearby and they were clearly blown away by the crowd reaction. Agree. And one of them had their phone out at one point filming the audience reaction. |
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Post by crabtree on Jan 6, 2019 12:26:34 GMT
so on a technical note, about our beloved staircase, when it was not being used presumably is just was pushed upstage. How deep was it when it was all folded up. The mechanics are mind boggling.
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Post by westended on Jan 6, 2019 12:29:16 GMT
so on a technical note, about our beloved staircase, when it was not being used presumably is just was pushed upstage. How deep was it when it was all folded up. The mechanics are mind boggling. Backstage, when folded up, it’s only as deep as one of the levels the ensemble dance on. The staircase goes in to each other just to form a large rectangle! Clever way to save space! I presume when it’s being set ready to go, they plug in a power cable to light it up or maybe the power some how comes through the tracks in the deck! |
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Post by beautifulasyoufeel on Jan 6, 2019 12:49:37 GMT
Oooh I have a feeling I might bring the mood down a little - so I’ll try not to!! I had a lovely evening, I really did. It’s a show I enjoy a lot because it’s just pure joy, and it was great to see the cast have the show last night. Tom Lister has grown on me, and I thought he was excellent. I’d have loved to have seen Bonnie dance but I understand why she didn’t and that chorus of men and women is really a sight to behold. But it all for me highlighted how above and beyond it all Clare Halse is. I’ve never seen anyone do what she does, and don’t think I will again for a long time. You could tell she’s the kind of person that would never complain. But an absolute joy. She definitely has ‘come back a star’. Now, the only thing that bought it down for me were the audience. But not in the way I think you’d expect. I was right at the back of the balcony as it was all I could afford (actually very good seats for £19 FYI!) and I cheered at the places you’d expect (Jae, opening, we’re in the money, staircase) but I felt so removed from the atmosphere. The audience in the balcony were DEAD apart from me and the chap behind me. The lady next to me turned to me at one point and went ‘what’s happening?’ I told her to just cheer when I did and she’s get in to the swing of it! I think if I’d been in the thick of it downstairs with the fans then I might have felt part of it a little more! But it was after the staircase that for me, it descended into a little bit of madness. 100% took the lines that enables Clare H to rightly get her applause in full, at every opportunity. But for me, when the audience (I would imagine ‘hardcore fans’ began sort of heckling. The one that irritated me the most was ‘KISS HER’ - you know what’s happening in that moment, and you know that’s not appropriate, so why do it? Props to Clare and Tom for not reacting, but it bought me out of where we were in the show. Sorry - that wasn’t meant to sound like such a grumble - but I don’t think I’d noticed how much it had annoyed me!! That said, a great night in the theatre. It won’t go down in the history books for me as it will for a lot if you and that’s fine. But I still had a lovely time 😊 I highly doubt that it was the superfans that were heckling. Most of us were irritated by this too and also crying too much by this point to be able to shout out! 😂 Personally on the whole I feel the audience struck the right balance between the cheering and staying quiet. Clare deserved every single second of those cheers at the end of 42nd Street and I’m sure it will be a moment she’ll never forget. I’m so glad Bonnie didn’t dance with her in the evening show and she was allowed to have her moment. It was a nice touch to do it at the matinee. She has given more to this show than anyone so it would have been harsh to take her final moment away from her. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2019 13:04:10 GMT
But for me, when the audience (I would imagine ‘hardcore fans’ began sort of heckling. The one that irritated me the most was ‘KISS HER’ - you know what’s happening in that moment, and you know that’s not appropriate, so why do it? Props to Clare and Tom for not reacting, but it bought me out of where we were in the show. I completely agree with you - that completely ruined the moment for me too. It felt like I had to laugh it off but I was fuming, it did slightly spoil that (up to that point) perfect show, and certainly ruined that scene. The "hardcore" fan or two who did it can't really call themselves that if they don't understand why it was so inappropriate. I don't understand why anyone could ever think it's ok to heckle in a theatre no matter what the context (Rocky Horror being the exception of course but there it's basically requested!). That was the only blot on the night though, apart from that it was perfection and the atmosphere in the front stalls was electric. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2019 13:19:29 GMT
I actually don't think the people who heckled were fans of the show. I think it was general public who got caught up and didn't "get it". Which is a real shame and a slight blot on the night, but at the same time, to witness that staircase and reaction five seconds before, I think I was in a bit of a daze to even really take it in.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2019 13:22:23 GMT
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Post by zak97 on Jan 6, 2019 14:28:14 GMT
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Post by ensembleswings on Jan 6, 2019 14:32:15 GMT
I’m still struggling to find the words for last night. Ignoring that heckler it was absolute perfection, my only fear now is that nothing else I see this year or even for longer than that will ever live up to that.
So glad all the swings got the chance to be onstage and that Steph came on for the final bow.
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Post by zak97 on Jan 6, 2019 14:40:34 GMT
I’m still struggling to find the words for last night. Ignoring that heckler it was absolute perfection, my only fear now is that nothing else I see this year or even for longer than that will ever live up to that. So glad all the swings got the chance to be onstage and that Steph came on for the final bow. Couldn’t agree more. I hope the producers saw from the reaction that there is a market for big budget shows - assuming they are done well like this - and give us another one very soon. |
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Post by Being Alive on Jan 6, 2019 14:46:28 GMT
Yeah I wasn't pointing fingers really, I think my iphone didn't catch the ? that I put in as i was typing fast.
Like I said, lovely night at the theatre, very nice to have been there, hope its not 30 years before its back in London again!
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Post by zak97 on Jan 6, 2019 14:54:36 GMT
Frozen better be damn good, because any show replacing this has got a lot to live up to.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2019 15:06:40 GMT
As you can tell from Steph's video, the staircase shut the place down, with the audience clapping along with the dancers as they marched down and losing their minds the moment they started marching down! http://instagram.com/p/BsS_4ByHzH0 |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2019 16:59:53 GMT
I know some who weren't there may be sick of all the videos, but for those wanting to experience two of the standing ovations from the wings... as soon as Clare Rickard says "wasn't she terrific" everyone was back on their feet and Clare just burst into tears. So amazing!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2019 17:15:30 GMT
I know some who weren't there may be sick of all the videos Oh, keep 'em coming! |
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 6, 2019 17:23:27 GMT
I know some who weren't there may be sick of all the videos, but for those wanting to experience two of the standing ovations from the wings... as soon as Clare Rickard says "wasn't she terrific" everyone was back on their feet and Clare just burst into tears. So amazing! I don't remember sitting down and standing back up again. But it's a blur! |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2019 17:25:37 GMT
I know some who weren't there may be sick of all the videos, but for those wanting to experience two of the standing ovations from the wings... as soon as Clare Rickard says "wasn't she terrific" everyone was back on their feet and Clare just burst into tears. So amazing! I don't remember sitting down and standing back up again. But it's a blur! I heard it didn't happen in the Upper levels, but in the Stalls there were many people who stood again for Clare.  |
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Post by alece10 on Jan 6, 2019 17:27:22 GMT
I know some who weren't there may be sick of all the videos, but for those wanting to experience two of the standing ovations from the wings... as soon as Clare Rickard says "wasn't she terrific" everyone was back on their feet and Clare just burst into tears. So amazing! Daniel. Will you stop with the videos please!!!! I keep crying every time I see another one. Seriously they are amazing and so great to see from the other side of the curtain. The cast members posting are also as blown away from the audience reaction as we were. |
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Post by ptwest on Jan 6, 2019 17:30:15 GMT
Loving reliving this, keep them coming.
Last night I felt I was able to give the applause and reaction that I’d wanted to on every visit!
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