4,631 posts
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Post by Phantom of London on Nov 18, 2021 12:47:43 GMT
Confirmed. Weird that it’s not opening until May when there are no more tour dates after December and Prince of Egypt is closing early January. Summer Nights.
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1,886 posts
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Post by distantcousin on Nov 18, 2021 14:55:32 GMT
I caught this yesterday at the 100th performance. A very different and fresh take on Grease, going back to the original source and the casting was very energetic with great staging and choreography. I would say if I had one issue it was the audience itself. I was sat next to a group of women in their 40s-50s who sang every song, ad-libbed and talked throughout to each other, checking their phones etc. Behind me there was a woman who was obviously a self proclaimed "theatre buff" who had decided to commentate the entire show and throw out facts about the set, the orchestrations and actors. I love discussing this as much as the next person but not during the show. As well as that there were a lot of children who were just too young to behave. I hate being a grouch but it is definitely not a patch on my horrifying experience I had seeing Poppins. I'll probably opt for an evening performance if I'm seeing this type of show again. I had the same experience in Leicester - absolutely ghastly behaviour from middle aged women thinking they're at a concert
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1,433 posts
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Post by showtoones on Nov 19, 2021 8:13:34 GMT
Is the production coming to the Dominion the current UK Tour?
And right now it’s booking until October? Will that be extended if it sells?
Thanks
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1,886 posts
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Post by distantcousin on Nov 19, 2021 8:47:15 GMT
Is the production coming to the Dominion the current UK Tour? And right now it’s booking until October? Will that be extended if it sells? Thanks Yes it is. Directed by Nikolai Foster. Originally a Leicester Curve production. Choreographed by Arlene Philips. It's actually been doing the rounds in various forms since, I think, Christmas 2018.
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1,288 posts
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Post by mkb on Nov 19, 2021 9:41:19 GMT
I am surprised this is hitting the West End. Foster has done good stuff in Leicester, but Grease is not his finest hour. Adults playing kids half their age, and acting in a style that would seem condescending even were it made for CBBC, was not for me when I saw it at The Curve on its first pass.
The film version somehow gets away with the way-too-old cast, and manages to handle adult and controversial themes (underage promiscuity, unwanted pregnancy, upskirting, drug-taking, social expectations, tribalism, social pressures to conform, misogyny, racial and class divisions) without sanitising them and without patronising. On the surface, the movie may be fun, light-hearted froth, but it's actually quite dark.
None of this was evident in Foster's stage version, my abiding memory of which is of being mainly bored.
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1,886 posts
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Post by distantcousin on Nov 19, 2021 10:42:35 GMT
I am surprised this is hitting the West End. Foster has done good stuff in Leicester, but Grease is not his finest hour. Adults playing kids half their age, and acting in a style that would seem condescending even were it made for CBBC, was not for me when I saw it at The Curve on its first pass. The film version somehow gets away with the way-too-old cast, and manages to handle adult and controversial themes (underage promiscuity, unwanted pregnancy, upskirting, drug-taking, social expectations, tribalism, social pressures to conform, misogyny, racial and class divisions) without sanitising them and without patronising. On the surface, the movie may be fun, light-hearted froth, but it's actually quite dark. None of this was evident in Foster's stage version, my abiding memory of which is of being mainly bored. Which version did you see? I think it's been tinkered with since it's original run as the Curve Christmas show in 2018. I saw it this July and wouldn't share many of your criticisms.
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Post by danb on Nov 19, 2021 11:08:42 GMT
I thoroughly enjoyed it in Bristol but they’ll need to beef the set up a bit if they want to reach the back of the Dominion. If ever a show was made to be discounted over the run up to Christmas this is it.
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351 posts
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Post by Raven on Nov 20, 2021 22:31:45 GMT
I must say I was disappointed when I read this was heading into the Dominion. This show just feels very outdated nowadays. The Dominion seems to be the one-stop shop for cheap, lack-lustre productions to fill in the gaps and it's such a shame. I guess better than an empty theatre but I do hope at some point another new, exciting show comes along soon.
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Post by ladidah on Feb 3, 2022 9:36:07 GMT
Starring Peter Andre...
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1,724 posts
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Post by stevejohnson678 on Feb 3, 2022 9:54:01 GMT
Olivia Moore will be great as Sandy but a shame for Ellie Kingdon who stepped up from alternate Sandy on the tour. Ellie will be 1st cover Sandy/ensemble in London.
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1,724 posts
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Post by stevejohnson678 on Feb 3, 2022 11:05:28 GMT
Peter Andre will not be performing on the following dates.
Wednesday 18, Thursday 19, Monday 23, Tuesday 24 May Monday 6, Tuesday 7, Monday 13, Tuesday 14, Monday 20, Tuesday 21, Monday 27, Wednesday 29 June Thursday 7 (evening), Monday 11, Tuesday 12, Monday 18, Tuesday 19, Saturday 30 July Saturday 6, Monday 8, Tuesday 9, Monday 15 through to and including Monday 29 August Saturday 3, Saturday 10, Monday 12, Thursday 15, Monday 19, Tuesday 20, Monday 26, Tuesday 27 September Monday 3, Tuesday 4, Monday 10, Tuesday 11, Monday 17, Friday 21, Monday 24 October
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Post by ladidah on Feb 3, 2022 11:08:27 GMT
Thought he was Teenage Idol, he's Vince Fontaine.
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Post by danb on Feb 3, 2022 11:10:14 GMT
That’s a lot of Butlins and Warner breaks he must be doing at the same time 😂
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1,724 posts
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Post by stevejohnson678 on Feb 3, 2022 11:20:22 GMT
Thought he was Teenage Idol, he's Vince Fontaine. Alas, he's both.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Feb 3, 2022 11:31:24 GMT
Peter Andre was really good when I saw him in Grease on tour and received a rapturous reception from the audience. Performing as both Vince Fontaine and Teen Angel makes him a major player in the show. He only does some of the tour venues and even then not all dates.
He will certainly boost audiences at the Dominion. I wonder if there will be another celebrity for all the dates when he will not appear ?
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1,886 posts
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Post by distantcousin on Feb 3, 2022 11:42:45 GMT
Thought he was Teenage Idol, he's Vince Fontaine. He was both when I saw it in July 21
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Post by danb on Feb 3, 2022 12:00:06 GMT
He said that he was just Vince Fontaine on GMB this morning. He was being a bit shady though, as if other slebs would be doing the other dates. The mind boggles. Alan Titchmarsh? Bruno Brookes? One of Five? The options are limitless. Darren Bennet appears to be his cover anyway.
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5,312 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Feb 3, 2022 19:42:30 GMT
Hearing reports that the Dominion is going to renamed the Graveyard Theatre.. where hopes and standards go to die
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852 posts
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Post by longinthetooth on Feb 3, 2022 22:37:40 GMT
I've just been looking at the dates Peter Andre will not be performing. It might have been quicker to post the ones he will be doing!
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18,864 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 4, 2022 7:07:59 GMT
What is Peter so busy with that he can’t do a full week?
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Post by A.Ham on Feb 4, 2022 12:53:06 GMT
I think the main issue for the Dominion is it’s size. Both it and the Palladium are having similar difficulties in finding long running productions to move in and stay for the foreseeable future, so instead are using a model of limited runs of old favourites.
I guess only the Apollo Victoria is a comparable size, with most other venues hovering slightly below or slightly over the 1,000 mark. Having 2,000+ seats to fill every night is a huge challenge. Factor in the pressure on cost of living for Brits, and for some a fear of sitting in a packed auditorium whilst Covid cases are still high, and add lower numbers of international tourists than usual, and it’s no wonder it’s difficult to fill somewhere as cavernous as the Dominion :-(
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18,864 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 4, 2022 13:55:03 GMT
They could sell the Circle as socially distanced and only fill it to 50% capacity to attract nervous theatregoers. Then fill the stalls to whatever capacity they can sell. Best of both.
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5,312 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Feb 5, 2022 1:44:24 GMT
I think the main issue for the Dominion is it’s size. Both it and the Palladium are having similar difficulties in finding long running productions to move in and stay for the foreseeable future, so instead are using a model of limited runs of old favourites. I guess only the Apollo Victoria is a comparable size, with most other venues hovering slightly below or slightly over the 1,000 mark. Having 2,000+ seats to fill every night is a huge challenge. Factor in the pressure on cost of living for Brits, and for some a fear of sitting in a packed auditorium whilst Covid cases are still high, and add lower numbers of international tourists than usual, and it’s no wonder it’s difficult to fill somewhere as cavernous as the Dominion :-( Not only that, but producers and creative teams hate the dominion. It’s a charmless barn of a venue. At least Drury Lane and the Palladium are beautiful and have history. And Tottenham Court Road is a dump
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6,354 posts
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Post by Jon on Feb 5, 2022 3:23:03 GMT
I've mentioned this before but it'd be worth Nederlander investing in movable walls that can reduce or increase the capacity of the Dominion depending on the production, it's been done at the Lyric Theatre in Sydney and the Ed Mirvish in Toronto and would solve their capacity issue somewhat.
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Post by scarpia on Feb 5, 2022 18:19:29 GMT
Hearing reports that the Dominion is going to renamed the Graveyard Theatre.. where hopes and standards go to die The only time I've ever set foot in that place was a misguided decision to see a dreadful production of Grease there many years ago...I think it had Shane Ritchie in it. Nothing's ever been on at that place to tempt me back since.
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Post by ladidah on Feb 7, 2022 9:11:28 GMT
I've never been there, I am tempted by Grease though.
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Post by danb on Feb 7, 2022 9:18:51 GMT
If you can sit near the front, the production itself is really quite enjoyable. A bit darker, but only a tiny bit. A bit talkier, but only a tiny bit. Really appealing leads. Give it a go.
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4,971 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Mar 28, 2022 11:42:50 GMT
Now also with added Jason Donovan.
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1,886 posts
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Post by distantcousin on Mar 28, 2022 12:22:11 GMT
If you can sit near the front, the production itself is really quite enjoyable. A bit darker, but only a tiny bit. A bit talkier, but only a tiny bit. Really appealing leads. Give it a go. I agree. I really enjoyed it.
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Post by dontdreamit on Mar 28, 2022 13:28:49 GMT
Now also with added Jason Donovan. We booked at the weekend when it was announced, although even I am 🙄 at his casting, especially as he is missing parts of the Joseph tour to do it!
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