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Post by Someone in a tree on Nov 15, 2023 8:40:31 GMT
I tried to book but they don't seem to offer a seating plan for Angels in America, so I'll give it a miss. When I’ve attended RADA events, it’s been unallocated seating. Queue up and take your pick of remaining seats. Thats what we had for Company earlier this year. Crazy system considering how great their auditorium is, complete with fixed down seats and everything!
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Post by Dr Tom on Nov 15, 2023 10:18:52 GMT
Some more productions I've spotted.
Italia Conti are presenting Grease this week (Thursday to Saturday) and Elf next week. Both now in Woking (near the station). Grease is one of the Burger Palace Boys versions. They do have a 10:30am Saturday matinee, which is useful for anyone aiming for a three show day. I may well have gone on Saturday, but I have a 13:30 matinee in London, so the timing doesn't quite work.
They're also advertising R&H Cinderella and Legally Blonde, but no dates yet, so presumably those are the next set of productions. Various plays too.
I also got an email today advertising the UCL Musical Theatre Society production of Chess which runs 30/11/2023 to 02/12/2023.
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Post by demelza on Nov 15, 2023 17:14:05 GMT
When I’ve attended RADA events, it’s been unallocated seating. Queue up and take your pick of remaining seats. Thats what we had for Company earlier this year. Crazy system considering how great their auditorium is, complete with fixed down seats and everything! It's probably because it's a flexible space! The stalls can be lifted to the be level with the stage, but the only time I've seen it used is for the condensed Shakespeares they used to do — saw a dreadful Cymbeline that made no sense there back in 2019 😂
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Nov 17, 2023 16:10:22 GMT
I should have been seeing Sweet Charity matinee right now at Arts Ed but a change in circumstances meant I couldn't make it. I phoned them this morning, simply because it was showing as sold out and I wanted them to know there was a front row seat that could be resold or given away.
I didn't want or expect a refund but the lady I spoke to said she would issue one - I said it really wasn't necessary - but she must have done it while I was on the telephone as I had the confirmation just a few minutes later.
Arts Ed shows usually sell out online almost immediately but there are always more than a handful of empty seats on the day. Based on the impressive customer service I received today I wouldn't hesitate to give them a call to try make a booking on or before the day for a sold out show.
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Post by Steve on Nov 17, 2023 18:30:28 GMT
I should have been seeing Sweet Charity matinee right now. Sorry you couldn't make it, Paul, for your sake and cos I missed you, as I was there this afternoon. Some spoilers follow. . . The absolutely fantastic staging and fun choreography reminded me of the seductively silly sixties zaniness you see in Austin Powers movies. The action freezes so that the principals can deliver their lines before the frozen ensemble starts up dancing again right where they left off, exuding the self-involved exclusionary campness that keeps the character of Charity a perpetual outsider. Delightful, engaging and infectious, I found myself dancing in my seat, with "Big Spender" being a particular highlight, a laugh riot as well as an effervescent toetapper. Unfortunately, for me, Mia Endicott's Charity is directed to be just as zany as the ensemble, if not more so, gurning wackily like a Jim Carrey character. It is an absolutely terrific comic characterisation for another show, in which such a character would comically disrupt the normal lives of everyone around her. She is like Miracle Chance blundering through "Unfortunate the Musical" treading on toes. But if you are going to have a character walk through an alienating uncaring comic landscape, like in this show, said lead character needs to ground the show in pathos, like Tamsin Outhwaite in the West End. It is a great showcase for Endicott's adeptness for broad comedy, but in my view, it works against rooting the piece in human emotions, reducing the whole to a cartoon. At the very end, Endicott does produce significant pathos, proving herself to be an adept dramatic actor, but it's so late that it feels inorganic to her character's road runner resilience in the rest of the show, where she repeatedly falls off metaphorical cliffs without a scratch to her jazz hands. Joel Wilding kills it as Charity's boss, Herman, singing "I Love to Cry at Weddings," with his camp gangsterish delivery feeling of a piece with the goings on at "Guys and Dolls" at the Bridge Theatre. Anyway, despite the director taking a decision to push Charity into the broadest comedy, which I disagree with, the sustained camp sixties vibe made this an absolute ball from start to finish, significantly outdoing the Donmar version for sheer brio. I'd give this "Sweet Charity" 3 and a half stars.
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Post by Dr Tom on Nov 26, 2023 17:53:51 GMT
Sweet Charity - Arts Ed
I had planned to see both casts, but due to a cast I only ended up seeing one of them (I didn't think to return my ticket like Paul). I do wish I'd been able to see this again as it was a strong show, even though it isn't really a favourite of mine. It's always amusing watching the "exotic dancers" pander their wares to the male Arts Ed students in the audience, who they know are not all that interested in their feminine charms. All good fun and there were a lot more portfolio opportunities here for the students than in Made in Dagenham.
Urinetown - Mountview
I saw the first performance (Saturday matinee) and this is a strong show, easily the best student version of Urinetown I've seen. It's billed as having an alternative style, but I really couldn't tell why, as Urinetown is never really played all that traditionally. There's the odd reference to other musicals thrown in and the like.
I got to see Aiden Carson as Bobby Strong, who always comes across really well and I think is ready to slip straight into the Les Mis ensemble. Actually, I feel there are quite a few people in this group who will get professional work. Several of last year's graduates were in the audience as well. There's people I keep bumping into.
My single main complaint is they cut the overture. A shame, as that one always gives me chills. The sound was rather too quiet as well. The orchestra and vocals were on top form though. Even with the cuts, this ran about 10 minutes longer than advertised.
This hasn't sold as well as it should have done, but this does mean there are still seats available, so this comes recommended. I'm also planning to be there next Saturday to see the other cast.
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Dec 4, 2023 13:45:47 GMT
Saw Urinetown last week and really enjoyed it. I had never seen or heard the show before (only saw Yeast Nation at Southwark Playhouse by the same creatives), but I really enjoyed this. Thought the cast were great and really looking forward to seeing what they end up doing in their professional careers. Mountview seems to be doing Pippin and She Loves Me next term
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Post by fossil on Dec 13, 2023 16:26:57 GMT
Arts Ed:
The Drowsy Chaperone 23 - 27 January 2024 Booking Opens 8th Jan 2024, 1pm
Rent 6 - 10 February 2024 Booking Opens 15 Jan 2024, 1pm
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Dec 13, 2023 16:41:34 GMT
Booking also open for Pippin and She Loves Me at Mountview next term!
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Jan 8, 2024 13:04:57 GMT
ArtsEd's Drowsy Chaperone now on sale!
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Jan 8, 2024 13:06:47 GMT
Arts Ed: The Drowsy Chaperone 23 - 27 January 2024 Booking Opens 8th Jan 2024, 1pm Rent 6 - 10 February 2024 Booking Opens 15 Jan 2024, 1pm Booking now open for Drowsy Chaperone. Arts Ed shows usually sell out quickly, helped no doubt by the very reasonable ticket prices, eg £10 for the Friday matinee which I've just booked.
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Post by Mr Snow on Jan 12, 2024 11:17:32 GMT
Wonderful thank you. Seeing the Drowsy Chaperone which I previously enjoyed in a cut versioni at the Ed Fringe a few years ago.
Also have never seen The Caucasian Chalk Circle and looking to change plasn to take my mum to the wonderful She Loves me.
Very happy I looked in and thanks for the updates.
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Post by raiseitup on Jan 12, 2024 16:43:54 GMT
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 15, 2024 13:02:38 GMT
Rent (Arts Ed) is on sale now, but I'm stuck in the ticket queue. Hopefully it doesn't sell out before I get to the front of the line.
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 15, 2024 13:10:02 GMT
Well, I got the Thursday and Friday matinees, so (work permitting) will hopefully get to see both casts. Very few seats left now and most shows sold out, so anyone who is at all tempted by Rent may want to get onto the Arts Ed website now.
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Post by danb on Jan 15, 2024 13:31:03 GMT
I managed to bag a ticket to the Thursday matinee of Rent. Really looking forward to it.
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Post by topaz on Jan 15, 2024 13:43:56 GMT
This is also onsale now, I've just booked!
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Post by capybara on Jan 15, 2024 14:36:27 GMT
Thanks for the heads up on these. I’ve booked Rent and Merrily, as well as She Loves Me at Mountview.
GSA on sale tomorrow. I like the look of Violet and Carrie.
As someone who has never seen a student production before, what should my expectations be in terms of the quality of the overall pieces?
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Jan 15, 2024 15:32:42 GMT
Thanks for the heads up on these. I’ve booked Rent and Merrily, as well as She Loves Me at Mountview. GSA on sale tomorrow. I like the look of Violet and Carrie. As someone who has never seen a student production before, what should my expectations be in terms of the quality of the overall pieces? I think it's very school and production dependent! Almost everything I've seen at Mountview, ArtsEd and RAM have been very good. The ones I've seen at other drama schools have been a bit more hit or miss (although I do blame this a bit on watching straight acting students do musicals which wasn't going to compare to mt students tbf).
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 15, 2024 15:38:53 GMT
As someone who has never seen a student production before, what should my expectations be in terms of the quality of the overall pieces? Mountview, Arts Ed and GSA will all be high quality. CSSD, I don't know so well, but I've also booked for Merrily so I'm keen to find out. GSA I find a bit tricky to get to, but they're doing The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which I've never seen.
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Post by capybara on Jan 16, 2024 13:03:14 GMT
GSA productions on sale today. Booked Violet and Carrie.
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Post by max on Jan 23, 2024 22:18:14 GMT
ARTS ED - THE DROWSY CHAPERONE This was spectacular. On par with and sometimes way ahead of standards of performance, production values, and directorial invention of anything I've seen in the West End for quite some time. 3 roles are double cast. On opening night I saw Alex Gavin as ‘Man in chair’ - superbly charismatic, charming, & with that bit of acid the script needs. The audience loved him. Ella Foster as Janet, & Aislin Olivia as her Drowsy Chaperone both also brilliant. But all of the cast perform brilliantly well, stunning vocals, dance & characterisation going to all the extremes of the (pastiched) vintage musical comedy genre.
This isn't my kind of musical but completely won me over, & almost convinced me of its thesis that perhaps, after all, daft escapism from a horrible world are what musicals are for. Almost!
Any producer could pick this up & put it in the West End quality-wise, but of course that would be an outlandish musical comedy storyline in itself. Productions of this scale are rarely stageable/viable in ‘the real world’. Hence drama schools are often the best place to see musicals these days - certainly at Arts Ed where the musical theatre department is absolutely top tier
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 24, 2024 13:40:30 GMT
The Drowsy Chaperone - Arts Ed
I was also there for the performance yesterday. You can't fault this. Excellent performances all around, great singing, big dance numbers.
They had the stage set to open up its full depth, which really worked for the bigger production numbers.
Alex Gavin is on the stage almost the entire show and really holds everything together. Harrison Langham stood out to me too with his excellent tap dancing. He would make a perfect Mormon.
Now, I'd never seen the show before. Having seen it, I can tell why it was not a hit when first staged in London. The audience at Arts Ed is always going to be more forgiving, especially with all the musical theatre references. I also notice the show has changed a bit from the description on Wikipedia, but perhaps it's one of those shows with multiple versions floating around.
What Arts Ed always do well is they structure their shows so that everyone gets their featured moments. Even the ensemble get the chance to dance at the front of the stage. There are a couple of people who they've put in very similar roles across the two productions I've seen them in, which I don't think best suit their style, but I do appreciate how difficult it is to find the right production that has a perfect role for everyone.
This could easily transfer to a fringe theatre (although some roles would be better cast with someone older). It won't, purely because you can't have this level of production and this size of cast, and run this in a profitable way. I'm also not sure that this show will draw in an audience. So this production of the Drowsy Chaperone is as good a production as I'd expect to see in the UK anytime soon.
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Post by theatrefan77 on Jan 24, 2024 14:32:05 GMT
I will be there tomorrow. Looking forward to it. I always enjoy shows at ArtsEd.
Saw The Drowsy Chaperone in the West End and found it entertaining, but nothing special. Summer Strallen was excellent and had me in stitches in the number Show Off. John Partridge was just ok, but I thought Elaine Paige was quite bad. Her acting was very OTT and her singing voice had deteriorated, unless she was having an off day.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jan 24, 2024 15:02:39 GMT
Paige was also terrible when i saw it also. The piece was fun but i can see why it hasnt taken off.
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Post by fossil on Jan 26, 2024 17:48:04 GMT
I agree with the previous reviews of the The Drowsy Chaperone. A wonderful faultless production. I was in the second row and I did cringe somewhat when the lady in front of me started waving to presumably her son when he came on stage! Fortunately she stopped after about 15 seconds.
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Post by Mr Snow on Jan 27, 2024 12:09:12 GMT
Another vote for The Drowsy Chaperone.
Very high standards pretty much accross the boards! I saw the other, "Gin Martini", cast and Al Knott as Janet was tremendous singing, dancing, acting. Stevie Millington, Chaperone, has a lovely voice and I had tears of joy running down my face at the 'dropping cane' business. Emily Takman another fine comedienne.
Initally I felt it took a time to find the right tone but I'd frogotten there was no interval and the 2 hours sped by.
The theatre is excellent, good sight lines, comfortable and easy to get to.
will keep an eye out for more performances.
The Drowsy Chaperone is a delightfully frothy and silly confection and when played like this, a pure dellight. I read that Fred Schepsi was going to do a film that never happened. Shame because I think its at least in spirit also pastiching the silly plots of the Fred adn Ginger movies (which of course built on the shows of the 20's).
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 28, 2024 22:27:52 GMT
I did get to see the Gin Martini Company as well Max James Hodge was totally charming as Man in Chair. I can't pick one cast out as being better than the other, that just isn't fair. As with so many shows, I enjoyed this more on the second viewing. It helps to know the music and what to expect.
Otherwise, not much to add to my previous comments, other than I feel that almost everyone in this class is ready for a place in a West End ensemble. Unfortunately, there's no enough work about for all of them. The show I was at, incidentally, had several of last year's graduates in the audience. I don't think anyone has picked up on Joe Simmons yet, so I'll just note him as my pick to watch out for in the future. I'm sure an agent has already signed him up.
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Post by VodkaStinger on Jan 30, 2024 9:42:04 GMT
Otherwise, not much to add to my previous comments, other than I feel that almost everyone in this class is ready for a place in a West End ensemble. Indeed! I never attended a student production as was very pleasantly surprised with how professional the actors were. I'm sure we'll be seeing people from this cast in West End productions soon.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Jan 30, 2024 13:21:02 GMT
Guildford School Of Acting has a musicals double bill from Thursday 22 - Saturday 24 February. High Spirits is based on Blithe Spirit, Candidates is a brand new musical based on Much Ado About Nothing.
Unusually each show has 5 performances, including two matinees, all starting at the same times (2.30/7.30) so presumably the same set up as Mountview.
There are also 4 plays scheduled between 7 February and 2 March - A Midsummer Night's Dream, Tartuffe, Lambs and Violet. Full details on their website under Events.
I've booked the two musicals on the Friday. The campus is about a mile from the station and town centre.
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