ALW's Cinderella - Gillian Lynne / U.K. Tour (rumour)

Wow, I feel as if a lot of things I was wondering about have been answered now! I did the hear some of the ignorant screams from the two young men, but thankfully from where I was sitting it was more distant and didn’t affect me, I could really only hear them go crazy every time Victoria Hamilton Barrit came on.

The thing it answers for me though is that Carrie approached a girl in the front row and blew her a kiss during the bows and I was wondering if it was a friend or theatre star, but looking at the tweet that was posted here it appears to be the girl who was upset and called slurs. Maybe the news got back to Carrie and she decided to show her some love? That’s pretty nice of her to do if so.

There really is no excuse for their behaviour, I’m also in my 20s and wouldn’t dream of acting like that. I felt that the entire audience was just a bit annoying on Friday to be honest though, there was so many people chatting, drinking, clunking wine glasses and rusting sweet bags. Also don’t get me started on those tubes of crisps they sell, those should be banned!

No such drama at today's performance, thankfully. A fair few understudies/alternates on this afternoon (Cinderella, Sebastian, Stepmother) and they were all excellent. The show felt pacier today and some of the gaps that used to bother me have been bridged. And what has happened to the curtain call? Seems to have been given steroids since I last saw it, with high energy and proper bows/recognition for each part. Feels like this show is being tweaked ahead of Broadway - I very much prefer the amplified crudity of some of it, which seems to have gone up a notch.

The dress circle was closed today so I guess the theatre was 2/3 full. I'm not convinced it will stay in the GL much longer, though am not sure ALW's ego would allow it to close ahead of a Broadway opening.

Hi, new member here 👋
It’s really interesting to see the responses about this production. It really didn’t leave me feeling anything at all. Slightly cold but not any strong feeling for or against it. Did anyone else feel this way?

Carrie's holidays post shows 1-6 February as being among her days off, I'm guessing she cancelled a few days off so she could be there when the show reopened this week but maybe she still took her planned one today?

I noticed someone complain on Twitter about travelling a long way and being disappointed not to get Carrie today - "they could have sent an email" was the comment.  Checked the website, and while Carrie's social media seems to have a screengrab of official show info, the website currently says:

"Carrie Hope Fletcher will not be performing on 22-24 March, 19-24 April and 20-22 May [subject to change]. Georgina Onuorah will be playing the part of Cinderella in these performances." 

Strange.  Are they really so 'on it' in the website dept that they deleted reference to performances past, on the very day of 6th Feb?  I doubt it, particularly as....

The website's FAQ section is titled with a typo:   "Frequency Asked Questions".    Frequency??  Hardly inspires confidence in the very segment you need it to.

Okay show folks/producers - it's back.  Someone should be managing this thing with a velvet glove and a rod of iron.  Announce who is on - clearly and emphatically, and unless they're seriously indisposed they should be ON.   The impression already is that it is fraying at the edges, just days after reopening.  Maybe they are planned absences, or unavoidable, but the MANAGEMENT of it makes it appear to be going wrong at the earliest moment (even if it isn't)!  I've not seen it but would like to see Ivano.  I have little confidence I would see him.  Is everyone having a go at playing Sebastian?  Can I pop in for a go?

Upthread I've been amongst those leading the 'ah but....' sympathy over a show I haven't seen, but.... get professional, and just frickin get on with it!!!!!   Some say the drama on stage isn't that great, but whatever it is like, let the drama be confined to the stage - finally.

Thanks Musicbox - and I rather regret potentially restarting a whole debate we've had ad nauseum on here, and which I've tried to dampen down at certain moments. But there it is, the whole thing has worn sympathy and credibility very thin. I don't really care about defending what I'm only guessing might be defensible.

It's a fact that we've passed the era where it was lauded to either damage yourself or others with bravery over health (physical and mental), and I'm okay with that. But it's still worth a look at this comment by Tim Rice, talking about David Essex in the premiere cast of 'Evita' - even though it goes to the other extreme:

"I remember on the opening day of rehearsals saying to him, out of interest, "Who is your understudy?" and he said: "It doesn't matter, he won't be doing it." And it was true. At one point David had German measles and still went on - we had to issue leaflets to the first five rows saying any pregnant women should ask to be moved because a member of the cast might be infectious".

Exactly.  Publish the info and then it doesn't appear to be fraying at the seams.  Managers?.... MANAGE!

Hence all their energies going into making her appearance dates so crystal clear, lol.   Even she had to pin the schedule to her Twitter with an apology for the lack of a clear stated pattern from management, when they finally woke up.  Well I'd like to see Ivano, so info welcome.  Certainly wouldn't want to see him in a concert of 'Camelot' - I'm not THAT interested!  hehe

I not condoning it but round of applause to David Essex who clearly knew what side his bread was buttered on! 

If they would make it really clear and obvious - not just a Insta highlights - who is performing in a schedule it would help the show's image as being a show where you could see anyone at any time.

You pay to see Cinderella, you’ll see Cinderella… 😌

From The Stage: "Lloyd Webber: We've reworked Cinderella to give audiences the show they deserve."

Well that'll learn everyone who paid to see it previously!