426 posts
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Post by alison on Oct 25, 2021 21:23:53 GMT
It was definitely Stephanie on for Anna on Sunday, I know someone who was there.
I think it's just a coincidence that Danielle has done the last two Sundays (not just the matinee, she did both shows each day). Last weekend was scheduled for Magic at the Musicals, and another friend was there Saturday night and said Samantha didn't sound on top form so could be that she's sick.
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Post by ronnette on Oct 25, 2021 21:35:42 GMT
Something is up with the website. Trying to book tickets for this, go to the LW website, and everything for frozen is off sale up to The end of the year with a booking error message….
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1,638 posts
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Post by fiyero on Oct 26, 2021 7:44:45 GMT
Something is up with the website. Trying to book tickets for this, go to the LW website, and everything for frozen is off sale up to The end of the year with a booking error message…. I’ve had that a few times on LW. Annoying but it always seems to come back soon enough.
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586 posts
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Post by AddisonMizner on Oct 31, 2021 17:02:15 GMT
Sorry to ask this question, but are there certain performances where Sam Barks does not play Elsa? Is there a schedule for this? Also, does anyone know if she has any holiday dates booked?
Thank you in advance.
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4,158 posts
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Post by HereForTheatre on Oct 31, 2021 19:35:19 GMT
I note Danielle was on again today. It seems a little more than coincidence at this point to me that she's been been on for the last 3 or 4 Sundays running....?
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6,309 posts
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Post by danb on Oct 31, 2021 19:48:41 GMT
I note Danielle was on again today. It seems a little more than coincidence at this point to me that she's been been on for the last 3 or 4 Sundays running....? Both performances or just one?
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1,638 posts
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Post by fiyero on Oct 31, 2021 20:48:45 GMT
I note Danielle was on again today. It seems a little more than coincidence at this point to me that she's been been on for the last 3 or 4 Sundays running....? Both performances or just one? She was on for both today. I wish they would give her a schedule, I caught her by (happy) accident tonight 😊
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Post by forevercolours on Nov 5, 2021 19:05:07 GMT
Danielle will be playing Elsa for the rest of the week if anyone wanted to see her last minute!
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7,491 posts
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Post by alece10 on Nov 19, 2021 19:19:31 GMT
Apparently show stop tonight and lights have come on. Friends who are there just told me.
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5,268 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Nov 19, 2021 23:32:30 GMT
Apparently show stop tonight and lights have come on. Friends who are there just told me. Everyone realised it was rubbish and decided to spare everyone?
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6,309 posts
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Post by danb on Nov 20, 2021 8:43:03 GMT
Apparently show stop tonight and lights have come on. Friends who are there just told me. Everyone realised it was rubbish and decided to spare everyone? Oh come on; it’s far from rubbish. It delivers exactly what the target audience want, is a feel good treat, is better than a lot of the Disney oeuvre and has excellent central performances. How would you improve it?
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Post by v2david on Nov 20, 2021 22:54:57 GMT
I was a bit skeptical about seeing this as I am not necessarily a fan of the film. While this still is very much a Disney musical, it really impressed me:
(1) Samantha Barks & Stephanie McKeon were both superb & can sing it with the best of them.
(2) The special effects and staging were fabulous. You can really see the extra effort made to make this special. Still not sure how they did that bridge!
(3) This may be the most beautiful theater I have ever gone to. Wow. It isn't just a theater. It's a destination.
There is good reason why this has gotten rave reviews, and you don't have to be a fan or have small children to enjoy it. Highly recommended!!
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Post by mrbarnaby on Nov 20, 2021 22:56:59 GMT
I was a bit skeptical about seeing this as I am not necessarily a fan of the film. While this still is very much a Disney musical, it really impressed me: (1) Samantha Barks & Stephanie McKeon were both superb & can sing it with the best of them. (2) The special effects and staging were fabulous. You can really see the extra effort made to make this special. Still not sure how they did that bridge! (3) This may be the most beautiful theater I have ever gone to. Wow. It isn't just a theater. It's a destination. There is good reason why this has gotten rave reviews, and you don't have to be a fan or have small children to enjoy it. Highly recommended!! The bridge is in sections and moves like a train… doing a loop from upstage down the wing.. across the stage and then back upstage again.
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2,733 posts
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Post by ceebee on Nov 20, 2021 23:01:52 GMT
I was a bit skeptical about seeing this as I am not necessarily a fan of the film. While this still is very much a Disney musical, it really impressed me: (1) Samantha Barks & Stephanie McKeon were both superb & can sing it with the best of them. (2) The special effects and staging were fabulous. You can really see the extra effort made to make this special. Still not sure how they did that bridge! (3) This may be the most beautiful theater I have ever gone to. Wow. It isn't just a theater. It's a destination. There is good reason why this has gotten rave reviews, and you don't have to be a fan or have small children to enjoy it. Highly recommended!! The bridge is in sections and moves like a train… doing a loop from upstage down the wing.. across the stage and then back upstage again. Was wondering how they did that - thanks mrbarnaby.
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116 posts
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Post by critchyboy on Nov 26, 2021 12:07:47 GMT
Off to see the show this evening with my youngest thanks to Disney Day Seats!! A little stressful getting them - kept refreshing the page for 45 minutes until 2 tix came up together. Row B in the Grand Circle… for £20 each!! Happy with that!
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Post by YemceeA on Dec 5, 2021 12:29:33 GMT
Hi all! I recently moved to London from New York and have been lucky enough to see lots and lots of theatre since the reopening in May. Immersing my American palate in the West End has been a fascinating experience, and I’ve started feeling the urge to share my thoughts with other theatre lovers. I’m going to begin my New Year’s resolution a month early and start reviewing everything I see (along with some high/lowlights from the last few months). Hopefully my slightly distinct perspective can bring something a bit new to the boards!
First up:
Frozen @ Theatre Royal, Drury Lane (01/12/2021 Evening Performance)
For me, Frozen is by far the best animated musical film since The Lion King. I saw it in cinemas four times in the winter of 2013. However, when the musical was announced to be premiering in New York a mere five years later, I was mega(musical) dubious. Time is often the best friend of screen-to-stage adaptations, and I suspected that audiences had yet to distance themselves from the film enough to accept anything other “Frozen! Live!! On Stage!!!”. Now, I have nothing against a Disneyland musical with a Mascot-style Nemo floating around, but this material is certainly rich enough to warrant something a bit more creative. Production shots and reviews quickly confirmed my fears, and word that the ice palace was designed sans grand staircase sealed the deal. I decided to save my pennies to go see Frozen II instead (also fantastic, by the way).
Fast forward a few years to Christmastime in London, I find myself sitting in Drury Lane (holy f**k what a spectacular theatre) with modest expectations and massive excitement. I must say, I was quite charmed by it. Is it essentially the movie spat out on stage? Yes. But it’s done with care, class, and the tiniest bit of cheek. My biggest problem with the show was the length. I found the storytelling rather thin, and would’ve liked some more time with the supporting characters. The scenes and songs from the film are translated well, but any new music feels like filler. I particularly liked the opening sequence (through “For the First Time in Forever”), with surprising bits of stage-magic, well-done narration from the ensemble, and a final chorus that gave me chills. After that, I found the production numbers competent, but only occasionally stirring. Though I usually love Rob Ashford’s choreography, it gets lost behind the hoop-skirts and nude illusion suits. Even “Fixer Upper”, which should be a riotous act-two romp, felt rushed and undercooked. There isn’t enough of a build into or out of the dance break to grant us a spectacular final button, and that might’ve been the biggest shame of the evening.
The cast is uniformly strong, with the clear stand-out being 2nd cover Emily Lane as Anna, (partially because hers is the only character given enough development to really get the audience invested). She carries us through the evening with warmth, whimsy, and a poised determination (and appears to be having the time of her life doing it). Samantha Barks blows the roof off the place with “Let It Go”, but otherwise lacks the material and stage time to add substantial depth or nuance to Elsa. Special shout-out to the cast of “Cats” for their cameo appearances in both acts. Very camp.
The design is positively splendorous with just the right balance of golden-age glitz and modern-day technological magic. Yes, the set and costumes are gorgeous (all those Swarovski crystals!), but I was most impressed by the lighting. Paired beautifully with a subtle impressionist projection design, Neil Austin is able to bring just about enough drama to key moments to make up for the stilted book writing. There were two moments of stagecraft in the first act that really made me gasp: one involving a neverending set piece, and another a truly spectacular quick-change. Its a shame that brilliance wasn’t exceeded or even matched by anything in the second half.
Critiques aside, Frozen is largely successful as a family-friendly, magical, and occasionally moving spectacle. I enjoyed myself immensely, and so did the seven-year old Elsa sitting next to me, whose opinions should be given far more weight than mine.
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4,158 posts
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Post by HereForTheatre on Dec 5, 2021 14:39:15 GMT
Hi all! I recently moved to London from New York and have been lucky enough to see lots and lots of theatre since the reopening in May. Immersing my American palate in the West End has been a fascinating experience, and I’ve started feeling the urge to share my thoughts with other theatre lovers. I’m going to begin my New Year’s resolution a month early and start reviewing everything I see (along with some high/lowlights from the last few months). Hopefully my slightly distinct perspective can bring something a bit new to the boards! First up: Frozen @ Theatre Royal, Drury Lane (01/12/2021 Evening Performance) For me, Frozen is by far the best animated musical film since The Lion King. I saw it in cinemas four times in the winter of 2013. However, when the musical was announced to be premiering in New York a mere five years later, I was mega(musical) dubious. Time is often the best friend of screen-to-stage adaptations, and I suspected that audiences had yet to distance themselves from the film enough to accept anything other “Frozen! Live!! On Stage!!!”. Now, I have nothing against a Disneyland musical with a Mascot-style Nemo floating around, but this material is certainly rich enough to warrant something a bit more creative. Production shots and reviews quickly confirmed my fears, and word that the ice palace was designed sans grand staircase sealed the deal. I decided to save my pennies to go see Frozen II instead (also fantastic, by the way). Fast forward a few years to Christmastime in London, I find myself sitting in Drury Lane (holy f**k what a spectacular theatre) with modest expectations and massive excitement. I must say, I was quite charmed by it. Is it essentially the movie spat out on stage? Yes. But it’s done with care, class, and the tiniest bit of cheek. My biggest problem with the show was the length. I found the storytelling rather thin, and would’ve liked some more time with the supporting characters. The scenes and songs from the film are translated well, but any new music feels like filler. I particularly liked the opening sequence (through “For the First Time in Forever”), with surprising bits of stage-magic, well-done narration from the ensemble, and a final chorus that gave me chills. After that, I found the production numbers competent, but only occasionally stirring. Though I usually love Rob Ashford’s choreography, it gets lost behind the hoop-skirts and nude illusion suits. Even “Fixer Upper”, which should be a riotous act-two romp, felt rushed and undercooked. There isn’t enough of a build into or out of the dance break to grant us a spectacular final button, and that might’ve been the biggest shame of the evening. The cast is uniformly strong, with the clear stand-out being 2nd cover Emily Lane as Anna, (partially because hers is the only character given enough development to really get the audience invested). She carries us through the evening with warmth, whimsy, and a poised determination (and appears to be having the time of her life doing it). Samantha Barks blows the roof off the place with “Let It Go”, but otherwise lacks the material and stage time to add substantial depth or nuance to Elsa. Special shout-out to the cast of “Cats” for their cameo appearances in both acts. Very camp. The design is positively splendorous with just the right balance of golden-age glitz and modern-day technological magic. Yes, the set and costumes are gorgeous (all those Swarovski crystals!), but I was most impressed by the lighting. Paired beautifully with a subtle impressionist projection design, Neil Austin is able to bring just about enough drama to key moments to make up for the stilted book writing. There were two moments of stagecraft in the first act that really made me gasp: one involving a neverending set piece, and another a truly spectacular quick-change. Its a shame that brilliance wasn’t exceeded or even matched by anything in the second half. Critiques aside, Frozen is largely successful as a family-friendly, magical, and occasionally moving spectacle. I enjoyed myself immensely, and so did the seven-year old Elsa sitting next to me, whose opinions should be given far more weight than mine. Welcome! We look forward to reading more of your contributions!
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3,737 posts
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Post by anthony40 on Dec 5, 2021 14:42:00 GMT
Welcome to London and the board YemceeA
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370 posts
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Post by edi on Dec 19, 2021 11:17:35 GMT
Just a quick question - is the nudity in it real or bodysuits? Female and male too?
I just cannot stand gratuitous nudity... but ok if it's part of the story and equally affects both sexes.
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7,491 posts
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Post by alece10 on Dec 19, 2021 11:38:15 GMT
Just a quick question - is the nudity in it real or bodysuits? Female and male too? I just cannot stand gratuitous nudity... but ok if it's part of the story and equally affects both sexes. No its bodysuits and quite obvious ones too. After all this is a family show.
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370 posts
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Post by edi on Dec 19, 2021 11:43:42 GMT
Just a quick question - is the nudity in it real or bodysuits? Female and male too? I just cannot stand gratuitous nudity... but ok if it's part of the story and equally affects both sexes. No its bodysuits and quite obvious ones too. After all this is a family show. Ah OK, that's great. But if that's the case why was it such a controversy. When i googled reviews this kept popping up...
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7,491 posts
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Post by alece10 on Dec 19, 2021 11:53:23 GMT
No its bodysuits and quite obvious ones too. After all this is a family show. Ah OK, that's great. But if that's the case why was it such a controversy. When i googled reviews this kept popping up... God knows. I thought it was hilarious.
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Post by cricketfan on Dec 20, 2021 23:02:41 GMT
Wandering Oaken Naked Norwegian
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5,268 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Dec 20, 2021 23:30:10 GMT
It’s the only moment of humour in the whole big lumpy humourless night.
It could have done with proper nudity too.
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4,550 posts
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Post by Mark on Dec 22, 2021 8:33:15 GMT
Another one down. There’s gonna be lots of crying little Elsas.
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7,491 posts
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Post by alece10 on Dec 22, 2021 11:17:18 GMT
Another one down. There’s gonna be lots of crying little Elsas. And they were doing so well.
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2,733 posts
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Post by ceebee on Dec 22, 2021 11:38:07 GMT
They need a bit of a Fixer Upper.
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Post by stagebyte on Jan 4, 2022 12:38:28 GMT
Does anyone know whether Sam and Stephanie do the second Sunday matinee?
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4,550 posts
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Post by Mark on Jan 17, 2022 12:39:05 GMT
The dayseats for this are now being released weekly (same applies to other Disney shows) just incase anyone was wanting to try for them. Released 12pm each Monday for that weeks shows.
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4,550 posts
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Post by Mark on Jan 18, 2022 10:50:13 GMT
The dayseats for this are now being released weekly (same applies to other Disney shows) just incase anyone was wanting to try for them. Released 12pm each Monday for that weeks shows. Oh that’s a bit of a shame but hope there still great seats for £25 I saw it on Friday with guessing one of the last Disney Day Seats Row H Stalls for £20! was amazing view in such a beautiful theatre ,really enjoyed the show and all the effects. Sam Barks and Steph McKeon I thought were wonderful. I did have a brief look at around 12:10pm yesterday (my friend had asked where to get them from so I went to the site) and was surprised to see the new system. That said, was able to add stalls/dress circle tickets to my basket so still great seats. I guess it also allows you to plan a bit further ahead.
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