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Post by ladidah on Feb 29, 2024 7:47:51 GMT
This is a great show for school groups
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Post by max on Feb 29, 2024 8:29:40 GMT
This is a great show for school groups I looked on the show website and there are a lot of excellent free resources for teachers, and workbooks for students. So no problem justifying it as having educational value, which schools really have to for the expense and logistical effort of taking pupils out of school. There's also a Teen Edition for school performance, including availability of rehearsal and performance backing tracks. Quite a sustained life for this show - well planned.
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Post by max on Mar 2, 2024 20:57:18 GMT
Extraordinary reaction to today's matinee - the cast must live for performances like that. Lots of vocal adults in the audience gasping, tutting, groaning in advance of parental slurs on kids, loads of school parties reacting with shock and often ecstatic. Ivano was really good - the character just isn't quite given the killer song (with a strong hook) that you think they might get, so they don't quite have their clear ultimate moment beyond the opening song. John Partridge sounding positively Bowie-esque was fab, and I'm so pleased to see someone in that role who may personally relate to it. Rebecca McKinnis really stuns as Jamie's mum - what a talent, how have I not heard of her before? In the ensemble Thomas Walton stands out with his great dancing and character. Overall a treat to see it with so many young people in - you could always hear a pin drop in the emotional bits, wolf whistles on Jamie's reveals, and a roar at the end (and often during). School trips weren't like that in my day - and it's quite something to reflect on the oneness and empathy a show like this invites young people to take part in, and expect for themselves. It's a different world - and you don't even know it. I just want to bump my own comment on this week's midweek matinee (Weds 28th) out of appreciation for the the sensational reaction to the show. From pin drop silence to an absolute roar when Ivano finally closed the door on that line "in this place where we belong". One of the few positive things I've experienced in this very grim time. Thanks too Shobna - a very touching and subtle switch into desi accent near the end making unpredicted connection with Pritti (hints at Ray's back story - let's have a spin off show!); and every comic line a killer, the double beat when leaving the school office timed so perfectly the kids (and the rest of us) went wild.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 3, 2024 7:03:12 GMT
Posts from the last couple of days have been removed. Performers have confirmed their attendance throughout the Peacock run. TheatreBoard members please check facts before posting details of alternates/understudies as getting it wrong, even unintentionally, can cause upset and offence. Thanks.
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 3, 2024 15:35:19 GMT
Georgina Hagen is on as Margaret this afternoon. She’s always excellent, perfect singer and such an emotional performance.
No signs about this and no announcement, so I can tell how easy it is to get confused. I’ve seen Georgina enough times in Heathers that I’m certain it is her (and I’m on the third row, so the view is clear). I do hope to see her Ray and Miss Hedge at some point.
A bigger mystery is who is on as Tray Sophisticay. I may be wrong as there’s a lot of make up involved, but it just doesn’t look like David McNair to me. Corrections are welcome. Everyone is very good, as always.
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 3, 2024 17:48:04 GMT
Well, they had added some posters regarding Georgina being on ready for people exiting, so that’s something.
Otherwise, I did get hit in the head on the way in with enough force to send my classes flying forward two rows, so that may explain any errors on my part. The joking remark from the man who hit me, that he was trying to remove a tight jumper, wasn’t really appreciated. No harm done, but it just shows how oblivious some people can be.
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 10, 2024 10:49:32 GMT
Well, they had added some posters regarding Georgina being on ready for people exiting, so that’s something. Otherwise, I did get hit in the head on the way in with enough force to send my classes flying forward two rows, so that may explain any errors on my part. The joking remark from the man who hit me, that he was trying to remove a tight jumper, wasn’t really appreciated. No harm done, but it just shows how oblivious some people can be. That’s sounds a random experience. I hope you’re feeling better. I was at the evening performance and it was definitely David McNair as Young Loco (he has star tattoos on his right arm). On another note, does anyone know whether Ivano has been on recently?
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Post by mattnyc on Mar 10, 2024 13:40:16 GMT
Ivano is out today
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Post by mattnyc on Mar 10, 2024 16:27:10 GMT
Went to see something else instead. This is (i think) the fourth time I’ve tried to see Ivano in something and he’s been out. Insane.
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 12, 2024 10:51:40 GMT
According to online, the performance on Friday was cancelled. Hopefully everyone in the cast is ok.
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 14, 2024 21:05:45 GMT
Have they pulled the remaining Sunday shows?
Finton is tonight, excellent as usual. The row behind me has two different sets of annoying people who can’t stop talking.
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 14, 2024 21:50:11 GMT
Have they pulled the remaining Sunday shows? Finton is tonight, excellent as usual. The row behind me has two different sets of annoying people who can’t stop talking. Try the death stare! 😂. Finton is excellent, I hope you enjoy the show despite the cabaret in the row behind. When was the last time Ivano performed?
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Post by hitmewithurbethshot on Mar 15, 2024 8:49:39 GMT
Ivano was on Wednesday with a small bandage on his foot so I assume he’s been off with an injury
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Post by ladidah on Mar 15, 2024 8:57:43 GMT
Not a show you can do with a foot injury!
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 15, 2024 11:08:09 GMT
Ivano was on Wednesday with a small bandage on his foot so I assume he’s been off with an injury Probably best not to make such assumptions. It could be completely coincidental.
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 16, 2024 16:40:08 GMT
Ivano was on Wednesday with a small bandage on his foot so I assume he’s been off with an injury Great to read that Ivano has been doing some shows
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 16, 2024 18:24:07 GMT
Ivano was on this afternoon. In fact, I think it's the first time I've seen all of the current cast on without any covers. If he's recovering from an injury, it doesn't show in his performance.
I'd still change some of the audience. Making a crisp sandwich on stage should not be a signal to open your bag of crisps! Jamie's revelation to his mum in Act 2 shouldn't lead to a big chorus of laughs in the rear Stalls. Not should anyone set a phone alarm to go off during He's My Boy (not the only phone incident). I was sat with the Giovanna Fletcher fan club (Giovanna has grown on me) and they were keen to exchange notes during the show. Still, I wouldn't change the cast!
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 16, 2024 19:49:31 GMT
TheatreBoard members making assumptions has recently upset some ETAJ performers in this thread. The posts are no longer here because the matter was resolved and the posts were removed.
If a performer or the theatre releases information about the health/wellbeing/injury of a performer then of course that’s up for discussion but assumptions are not. Thanks.
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Post by max on Mar 17, 2024 11:55:20 GMT
Ivano was on this afternoon. In fact, I think it's the first time I've seen all of the current cast on without any covers. If he's recovering from an injury, it doesn't show in his performance. I'd still change some of the audience. Making a crisp sandwich on stage should not be a signal to open your bag of crisps! Jamie's revelation to his mum in Act 2 shouldn't lead to a big chorus of laughs in the rear Stalls. Not should anyone set a phone alarm to go off during He's My Boy (not the only phone incident). I was sat with the Giovanna Fletcher fan club (Giovanna has grown on me) and they were keen to exchange notes during the show. Still, I wouldn't change the cast! Oh no! As indicated in my review up-thread, I've never been so happy to sit amongst an audience of school parties at a midweek matinee, plus random olds like me. Pindrop quiet when it mattered; ecstatic or expressing shock when it mattered. Just great. In general, in life, young people aren't the problem Must admit when I sit amongst a 'safe' older audience my thought is: how many of you won't remember or even know how to fully switch your phone off. Many embarassing show stops when Will Young was at the Hampstead Theatre and not tolerating it - very awkward!
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Post by max on Mar 17, 2024 11:58:46 GMT
I may be able to see the final matinee of this (which is the last London date) but want to see the same cast I saw before - not because the covers won't be good, but I don't want to overlay the memory of what I enjoyed. I don't see anything popping up on X/Twitter West End Covers/Understudies site. Does anyone know a way to find out who's on that same day - other than turning up at the theatre? Essentially I'd like to see Ivano again.
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 17, 2024 12:05:31 GMT
I me be able to see the final matinee of this (which is the last London date) but want to see the same cast I saw before - not because the covers won't be good, but I don't want to overlay the memory of what I enjoyed. I don't see anything popping up on X/Twitter West End Covers/Understudies site. Does anyone know a way to find out who's on that same day - other than turning up at the theatre? Essentially I'd like to see Ivano again. My experience is that the main leads are usually scheduled for final performances. However, I have no insider knowledge related to holidays/other commitments etc.
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Post by anthony on Mar 17, 2024 12:53:30 GMT
This is a great show for school groups We are taking our year 9s to see it. Can't lie, slightly nervous about potential parental reactions due to some of the language...
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Post by max on Mar 17, 2024 14:38:07 GMT
This is a great show for school groups We are taking our year 9s to see it. Can't lie, slightly nervous about potential parental reactions due to some of the language... It's one of those situations where they'll hear and see absolutely nothing they don't know or say already; but some adults would prefer to play the game of 'I don't know that you know'. A benefit is that year 9s will feel honoured for being treated as grown ups - and perhaps will value that so much that they protect it by not relaying too much to parents.
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Post by ceebee on Mar 17, 2024 21:26:21 GMT
This is a great show for school groups We are taking our year 9s to see it. Can't lie, slightly nervous about potential parental reactions due to some of the language... Crikey - I've got kids aged 13/15 and even I know they've heard it all before - any parent who thinks they haven't needs to take their blinkers off!
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Post by max on Mar 17, 2024 22:21:55 GMT
We are taking our year 9s to see it. Can't lie, slightly nervous about potential parental reactions due to some of the language... Crikey - I've got kids aged 13/15 and even I know they've heard it all before - any parent who thinks they haven't needs to take their blinkers off! An exceptionally multi ethnic, visually multi faith crowd of young people when I saw it. There's a chance that some have more conservative / orthodox parents who either don't know, or want to pretend that modern life isn't happen to their child. In that context there's certainly enough in the show for a new front in the 'culture wars' over what Arts our children are exposed to - if a complaint got amplified by the usual sources ever ready to condemn 'the modern world' (Daily Mail etc). That's also one of the good things about the show, of course, that those same young people were reflected on stage.
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Post by shady23 on Mar 28, 2024 17:30:41 GMT
Kevin Clifton is joining the cast as Hugo/Loco Chanelle.
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Post by mhumphries on Apr 3, 2024 11:56:46 GMT
Interesting discussion with the couple sat next to me on opening night in Plymouth on Monday.
Does anyone think that Race Swapping Jamie is an attempt to protect the character from the 'Entitled White Boy' criticism that seems to get thrown at the character?
I've always found Jamie to be a bit of a self centred prat, but always just put it down to that's the armer he's putting on to try and protect himself from those that put him down. But also, he's a teenager, that's what teenagers do, they all think their king of there own little world.
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Post by TallPaul on Apr 9, 2024 12:46:30 GMT
Our Jamie is back at home for the next two weeks. The last day coincides with the opening day of the World Snooker Championship. It's going to be a very busy month for Front of House!
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Post by david on Apr 24, 2024 21:13:46 GMT
A few thoughts from Monday's visit to the Liverpool Empire. Well, I had a fantastic night watching the latest tour of this brilliant show. With Sam Barks not on as Ms Hedge, we had the wonderful Georgina Hedge covering the role with the rest of the main cast present. As Jamie, I certainly thought Ivano did a great job in this portrayal of Jamie - making him someone who you could care about and become emotionally invested in with Jamie's ups and downs during the show. Ivano's Jamie felt more rounded as a character which I thought was missing with Layton's version in the previous tour. Along with some great vocals and choreography on show Ivano is an absolute star here .
With the rest of the cast, Rebecca McKinnis reprising her role as Margaret brings a real warmth and depth to the role and there a real on stage chemistry with Ivano to make that mum-son relationship feel real and easy buy into. With the show's standout number 'He's My Boy' in Act 2, there is a real rawness in the vocal that hits you hearing her sing it. It's the one song in the show that always brings a tear to my eyes hearing it performed. As Margaret's best friend Ray, Sejal Keshwala brings some nice comedic touches to the story. Kevin Clifton did an exceptional job as Jamie's world-weary mentor Hugo / Loco Chanelle.
For the younger cast members, Talia Palamathanan as Jamie's BFF Priti was the standout here. A real standout here amongst the younger cast -some lovely vocals ('It means beautiful' a really lovely rendition in this tour) and witty line delivery when needed, her Priti comes across as the sort of friend everyone needs in their life.
This show is still able to pack an emotional punch since its original staging in Sheffield no matter how many times you see it. You can laugh one minute at a biting comment from Jamie and then next have a heart breaking moment with Jamie and his Dad or Jamie's run ins with bully Dean. Every song is a winner for me and performed brilliantly by this cast and band. With a nice lighting and video design, this show just grabs you from minute one to the final playout music. It's message of love and self acceptance still hits the mark with every viewing.
Rating - 5 stars
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Post by Jane Parfitt on Apr 25, 2024 7:15:51 GMT
A few thoughts from Monday's visit to the Liverpool Empire. Well, I had a fantastic night watching the latest tour of this brilliant show. With Sam Barks not on as Ms Hedge, we had the wonderful Georgina Hedge covering the role with the rest of the main cast present. I'm guessing you mean Sam Bailey, not Sam Barks?
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