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Post by newyorkcityboy on Jul 4, 2021 8:52:21 GMT
I was at yesterday’s matinee and would definitely encourage any ne’er sayers to give this fun and lively show a chance… it’s certainly not the Lord’s best work but it is far, far from his worst. The audience lapped it up, especially when Carrie was belting her numbers… she really is quite good and is on stage a lot more than I had been made to expect from comments on here! The little magical coup de theatre used in the show in Act Two brings the BIGGEST of smiles to everyone sitting in the theatre and adds a fascinating dimension to the piece for 15 minutes. I found the book very easy to follow and the book niggles mentioned in the first couple of show certainly weren’t apparent to me. The whole cast gave it their all (RT and VHB ruled every scene) and deserve huge praise for sticking the last year out and bringing a fresh and vibrant new show into the West End. Biggest downside for me was definitely the quite basic sets and flats and the cast and stage crew moving things around but they mask most of it with other action on the stage… we loved it and would hope to go back once it’s bedded itself in. (And the rather fine male bodies on display were a much welcomed boost to my post-pandemic recovery… more please!!) 👍🏻 It seems incredible to me that while ticket prices are at an all time high we've gone from flying helicopters and falling chandeliers to stage hands moving the scenery! But good to read some positive thoughts. Am excited for the album release on Friday to hear the rest of the songs - there are 38 listed and (I think) 28 in the show so lots must already have been dropped (like the Sea Witch thingammy)... |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 4, 2021 9:04:05 GMT
Does it take 15 minutes for the seats to move then? I assume they move back to their original position during the course of Act 2 from the pics of the bows?
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Post by stompboy on Jul 4, 2021 9:47:20 GMT
Does it take 15 minutes for the seats to move then? I assume they move back to their original position during the course of Act 2 from the pics of the bows? I meant the whole of the ball scene from the start of the Act Two overture to the seats returning to their original position… it only takes a couple of minutes to move in either direction. Honestly the smiles around the theatre were infectious. I was in front row of the non moving stalls seats so ended up face to face with the action… the cast mingle in the aisles through the ball scene too which made some of the younger audience really excitable and happy (and me!). Also… at the end of the bows Carrie picked out a very young girl in the front row to move forward and wave and blow a kiss to. I could see this gesture made the little girls dreams come true (and made some fan girls also in the front row quite jealous!)… it’s the little things like that that mean so much and while I appreciate everyone is entitled to an opinion, I wish some users of this message board could see those ‘little things’ over the gripes and groans they spout against some performers (especially CHF). To be honest I’m just grateful we have theatres back to entertain us again. |
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Post by musicalmarge on Jul 4, 2021 11:18:17 GMT
I was at yesterday’s matinee and would definitely encourage any ne’er sayers to give this fun and lively show a chance… it’s certainly not the Lord’s best work but it is far, far from his worst. The audience lapped it up, especially when Carrie was belting her numbers… she really is quite good and is on stage a lot more than I had been made to expect from comments on here! The little magical coup de theatre used in the show in Act Two brings the BIGGEST of smiles to everyone sitting in the theatre and adds a fascinating dimension to the piece for 15 minutes. I found the book very easy to follow and the book niggles mentioned in the first couple of show certainly weren’t apparent to me. The whole cast gave it their all (RT and VHB ruled every scene) and deserve huge praise for sticking the last year out and bringing a fresh and vibrant new show into the West End. Biggest downside for me was definitely the quite basic sets and flats and the cast and stage crew moving things around but they mask most of it with other action on the stage… we loved it and would hope to go back once it’s bedded itself in. (And the rather fine male bodies on display were a much welcomed boost to my post-pandemic recovery… more please!!) 👍🏻 Stephen Ward aside then..:.. which is his worst work? I rate Cinderella as his worst score ever sadly. There are two sweet ballads and a Eurovision type strong anthem. The rest are filler songs and Woman in White type forgettable patter/parlour songs. I was shocked they were so bad. I hope they make vast changes and add new material. What was the song end of act 1? There could be a good show in there somewhere. Sadly the flats and set will stay. Ugh. . |
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Post by LaLuPone on Jul 4, 2021 11:23:33 GMT
There are plenty of cheaper tickets for this week if you keep a look out. I got a pair of Row T stalls near the centre for £20 each, I think they’re usually about £80!
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Post by theatrelover123 on Jul 4, 2021 14:00:02 GMT
3pm. Queue snakes around 3 sides of building. Technical difficulties according to usher. Aiming to get people in as soon as possible. Could be a while.
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Post by theatrelover123 on Jul 4, 2021 14:19:11 GMT
A different Sebastian on today (Michael Hamway) but otherwise the cast looks the same.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jul 4, 2021 14:42:29 GMT
Getting popcorn ready for when ALW blames the set designer for the show not working.
Though actually sounds like it may be 50%true !
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Post by Seriously on Jul 4, 2021 15:25:18 GMT
If the understudy wasn't due to go on, they probably needed to time to do things.
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Post by alison on Jul 4, 2021 15:53:50 GMT
Sounds like they have four swings on as well as Michael as Sebastian - possibly last minute rehearsals since it's still in previews and things presumably change every day?
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Post by theatrelover123 on Jul 4, 2021 15:57:06 GMT
Choreographer came on at the beginning to explain that Ivan had suffered a minor injury so all the cast came in early to run the show with the understudy who only had 90 mins rehearsal. He seemed to nail it in first half. In interval now. I had a feeling it might not be great but I didn’t expect it to be as bad and cringey as this  |
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Post by cherokee on Jul 4, 2021 16:29:07 GMT
Agree to disagree! Pleased to see they've ditched the weird 'all in one' curtain call and now people get their own bows as they should! The curtain call is usually the very last thing to be set during the rehearsal period, because everyone understandably wants to prioritise getting the show itself sorted. The director will often tell everyone to just come on and bow for the first few previews, with every intention of sorting out a more complex 'walkdown' when time allows. |
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Post by max on Jul 4, 2021 16:40:43 GMT
Any more guesses re the logic of bringing press night forward? Doesn't it now clash with the England game? Public transport won't be fun on some tube lines that night. Could have pushed it back a few days and play to capacity - maybe. Do they reckon critics won't like it, but banking on word of mouth? (So demoting relevance of press night?). All seems very odd.
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Post by stuartmcd on Jul 4, 2021 16:48:40 GMT
Any more guesses re the logic of bringing press night forward? Doesn't it now clash with the England game? Public transport won't be fun on some tube lines that night. Could have pushed it back a few days and play to capacity - maybe. Do they reckon critics won't like it, but banking on word of mouth? (So demoting relevance of press night?). All seems very odd. I think the England game is on Wednesday and supposedly the press night is now on Thursday 8th right? So should all be fine |
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Post by max on Jul 4, 2021 16:56:24 GMT
Any more guesses re the logic of bringing press night forward? Doesn't it now clash with the England game? Public transport won't be fun on some tube lines that night. Could have pushed it back a few days and play to capacity - maybe. Do they reckon critics won't like it, but banking on word of mouth? (So demoting relevance of press night?). All seems very odd. I think the England game is on Wednesday and supposedly the press night is now on Thursday 8th right? So should all be fine Thanks. Makes more sense. Still quite a show of confidence (which could get read as arrogance) to bring it forward. Things which (fairly or not) will be judged as fixable in previews unlikely to be forgiven. Tiny self-selecting group, but I've read some v good reactions on Twitter - not from people linked to the production apparently. |
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Post by marob on Jul 4, 2021 17:02:13 GMT
I really don’t like long drawn out curtain calls. They’re nearly always follow the same pattern as well:
1 - The entire ensemble come out two at a time. Some of the more enthusiastic audience members are already giving standing ovations.
2 - The more prominent cast members come out, more of the audience are standing, usually for one of the comic turns.
3 - The lead comes out, by which point the entire audience should have risen to their feet, either because they thought it was great, or because everyone else is standing so follow suit.
4 - The cast lines up and bows, then raise their hands in the patented “shush, we haven’t finished yet” gesture.
5 - They sing a reprise, then line up and bow again, break apart and leave. At this point one of the leads should applaud or hug another lead in a “you were amazing” kind of way then wave at the audience in a way that says “thank you so much for coming.”
I’m sure we’ve all seen similar countless times. I’m not opposed to curtain calls, just ones that go on and on.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 4, 2021 17:08:35 GMT
Lol when you repeat visit shows you soon realise how fake the curtain call is. What makes me cringe is when the lead is at the front of the stage soaking up the love, then does a phoney look left and right, and in some sort of faux modesty “I can’t possibly deserve all of this” hand gestures to beckon the lesser mortals in the cast to come forward to share the limelight. fake AF!
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Post by oxfordsimon on Jul 4, 2021 17:19:38 GMT
Traditionally I have never set a curtain call until the dress rehearsal. I vaguely recall being told that it was bad luck to do it before.
The only time I deviated from that was when I took on Beauty and the Beast with a cast of 64. The curtain call music was very specific and so it had to be choreographed to fit. Still felt wrong.
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Post by theatrelover123 on Jul 4, 2021 18:05:49 GMT
Second half probably worse than the first imo. Will write in more detail another time |
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Post by theatrelover123 on Jul 4, 2021 18:07:32 GMT
Second half probably worse than the first imo. Understudy for Sebastian and VHB’s Audrey Thatcher impression were maybe the ‘best bits’ Will write in more detail another time |
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Post by theatre241 on Jul 4, 2021 18:24:37 GMT
Wow Micheal was great as Sebastian, I think I preferred his performance to Ivano's. Very truthful and solid vocals, the end of Only You was very impressive
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Post by MrBraithwaite on Jul 5, 2021 9:11:57 GMT
I really don’t like long drawn out curtain calls. They’re nearly always follow the same pattern as well: 1 - The entire ensemble come out two at a time. Some of the more enthusiastic audience members are already giving standing ovations. 2 - The more prominent cast members come out, more of the audience are standing, usually for one of the comic turns. 3 - The lead comes out, by which point the entire audience should have risen to their feet, either because they thought it was great, or because everyone else is standing so follow suit. 4 - The cast lines up and bows, then raise their hands in the patented “shush, we haven’t finished yet” gesture. 5 - They sing a reprise, then line up and bow again, break apart and leave. At this point one of the leads should applaud or hug another lead in a “you were amazing” kind of way then wave at the audience in a way that says “thank you so much for coming.” I’m sure we’ve all seen similar countless times. I’m not opposed to curtain calls, just ones that go on and on. Never seen a curtain call in Germany, have you? It's even longer and more drawn-out and is repeated several times. London curtain calls are very short in comparison. Don't know, if this is somehow regulated or demanded by contracts in any way, often feels endless. Conductor bows usually as well (this coming from opera tradition) plus sometimes the whole band, at open-air performances or Starlight Bochum e.g.. |
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Post by lolli on Jul 5, 2021 9:24:21 GMT
Are there no shows the week of the 12th? Don’t seem to be tickets on sale…
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Post by richey on Jul 5, 2021 9:34:42 GMT
Are there no shows the week of the 12th? Don’t seem to be tickets on sale… i think it's from where they are still sorting out the socially distanced seating? Hope they intend putting more back on sale as I'm hoping to grab a ticket to replace my cancelled Joseph one. |
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Post by originalconceptlive on Jul 5, 2021 10:13:36 GMT
It's great to read all the details from people who have seen this. Apologies if this has already been mentioned and I've missed it, but: {Spoiler - click to view}
Are Prince Charming's immediate family portrayed as being 'in the know' about his faked death all along? And if the situation for him was so bad that he had to fake his own death, what has changed since then to make him confident enough to come back and come out? Is his return just one of those 'surprise!' moments that you aren't meant to think about too much? |
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