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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2016 12:36:15 GMT
In total agreement with Baemax. I was very aware that I had my gripes about it, but overall, a smashing two nights out. Will definitely go back once it's bedded in a bit.
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Post by andrew on Jul 20, 2016 22:32:43 GMT
I think it's either a 7 or an 8 depending on how generous a mood I'm in.
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Post by timco on Jul 24, 2016 11:07:08 GMT
The visuals were beautiful, the script was bad. Imagine the disappointment from fans that can't see the show and buy the book.
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Jul 24, 2016 13:15:26 GMT
Saw both parts this week and it's clearly going to be a big hit. Audience reactions very strong (and very vocal).
Strongest parts for me are the characterisation of all the main players, through writing and performance. The script only suffers when it tries to explain too much. It's as though they felt they had to cater to the obsessives who pounce on anything unexplained. It slows the storytelling and isn't needed, so they should trim or cut it.
Overall though, a bargain and a pleasure to watch.
EDIT: oh yes, the design. It's fine; lighting, sound, design, set, FX and such are very good but nothing out of the ordinary. It's the characters that are king here.
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Post by Latecomer on Jul 24, 2016 14:53:59 GMT
I have been thinking about this a lot since I saw it all in one day. I had SUCH fun and there were moments where I gasped with surprise and delight (dementors anyone?!) I thought the story was very simple but worked as the characters were developed very well and very quickly, so you believed the strife between Harry and his son and that son would want to do something a bit wild. Loved, just loved Scorpius and the interplay between Malfoy and Harry as it developed. The first part was full of WOW magic and great fun at meeting all the characters we knew so well but enjoyed the second half as it really developed the father son storyline so well...ended up having a little weep when Harry was watching his parents. Was more emotional as had read books to children when they were little (until they read them themselves from book 3 onwards) and their father sometimes found fatherhood a bit of a puzzle as he'd not had a father at home when he grew up! Theatre is great sometimes at uncovering things in your own life! Got tickets for both girls in the Friday Forty and they have gone today...front row next to the isle so just hoping Voldemort doesn't get them! Why is it good? It doesn't ruin the books...and that's no mean feat! It feels like theatre....not a film, or a book and with all the swirling of cloaks and movement it really feels pacy. It realised, rather corny though it seems, that JK is saying it's all about friendship and love! Criticisms.....it's all a bit male.....the women are a bit incidental most of the time. Shame as in the original Hermione always saved the day. Despite having a female character to hang out with Albus and Scorpius she feels rather thinly drawn...and is not scary enough at the end. Hermione sometimes mumbles her words. But these are small points. The whole day out is a tribute to the time and trouble they have taken with this! It could so easily have been terrible but it's GREAT!
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Post by andrew on Jul 24, 2016 22:03:52 GMT
It does feel like a bit of a boys adventure at times I agree, but I quite liked it. I guess not everything has to be gender balanced although you'd expect JKR to go for that sort of thing. At least she made a woman Minister for Magic, and I think looking back Hermione was my overall favourite character to watch on the stage.
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Post by avenueqresident on Jul 25, 2016 8:38:40 GMT
Loved how they did the apparating. The force and speed they went at, wonder if they had a slide of some sort situated behind the fireplace?
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Post by andrew on Jul 26, 2016 0:45:54 GMT
Interestingly reading the Guardian article there is a backhand comment that Albus and Scorpius were a little more than friends. Whilst I would've been over the moon at a gay romance being flung unexpectedly to the fore of a Harry Potter story I didn't pick up on that at all. Wondering if anyone else feels that the portrayal is that of best friendship only or am I being naive?
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Post by viserys on Jul 26, 2016 5:09:01 GMT
That commenet threw me too. I didn't get that sense at all either. Some people like to read something "more" into everything they see. As if the concept of plain, strong, good friendship can't exist.
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Post by CBP1 on Jul 26, 2016 9:01:47 GMT
I had a moment in Part 1 where I thought that was where they might be going but I quickly concluded that was more me being hopeful than anything deliberate.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2016 9:07:56 GMT
Quite a lot of best-friendships, especially in fiction, can easily come off as very homoromantic. I could've seen it go either way and would have been fine either way. But the characters are quite young and have a lot of plot on their plates, so it wasn't really necessary to explore it in either direction tbh.
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Post by danielwhit on Jul 26, 2016 12:07:26 GMT
Maybe for the next pair of plays..
To be honest, they are both clearly straight or at least bisexual (seeing as Scorpius was flying around Rose like a moth to a flame and Albus clearly had a thing for the "older woman"). As soon as those two things came into play, I couldn't really see them exploring any homosexuality in those characters.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2016 13:17:48 GMT
I picked up on it pretty quickly, tbh. I was watching the show thinking, 'how nice they're not making it a Thing, that Must Be Dealt With, in the story' - would be nice to think the Potter-sphere was continuing to lead the way in respect of 'people are just people and relationships are just relationships, let's let everyone just get on with it'.
So you could've knocked me over with a feather when Scorpius showed such a huge interest in Rose at the end!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2016 18:13:16 GMT
Loved how they did the apparating. The force and speed they went at, wonder if they had a slide of some sort situated behind the fireplace? It's flu-powder, you muggle!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2016 23:04:43 GMT
Floo powder.
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Post by andrew on Jul 26, 2016 23:49:02 GMT
Flu powder sounds really unpleasant.
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Post by The Matthew on Jul 27, 2016 5:03:30 GMT
Flu powder sounds really unpleasant. You mean like Lemsip? I rather like it. It's not terribly successful as a means of transportation, although the painkillers it contains do come in useful after you've just thrown yourself head first into the back of a fireplace. Actually, that gives me a great idea for a prank to play on children I dislike.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2016 13:10:52 GMT
Now this IS embarrassing! Haha
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Post by daniel on Jul 28, 2016 9:45:00 GMT
Extending to 10 December 2017, on sale 4th August 11am. Tickets from £15 per part and 300 tickets at £20 per part at every performance!
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Post by dippy on Jul 28, 2016 11:39:18 GMT
Early/First previews people if I say fish fingers does that mean anything?
I saw the show again yesterday and I'm not sure if the owl distracted me so much that I missed it but some of the conversation as they were taking/just after they'd taken the polyjuice portion seemed different, more dialogue maybe. Then right at the end of the Albus as Ron bit with Hermione and Harry she mentioned fish finger sandwiches. This seems so random that I'd have remembered it, am I going mad? Or has this changed?
I'm guessing I may possibly be able to just check on Sunday though when I buy the script though, since if it's the rehearsal script it'll match the first preview right?
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Post by dippy on Jul 28, 2016 12:45:07 GMT
So it was there when you went, good to know. I really think I was majorly distracted for the whole start of polyjuice. Guess if it's the first preview which logically makes sense then I'll find out.
Nice to see that Hugo is getting a mention in part 1 as well now.
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Post by westendwendy on Jul 28, 2016 22:34:08 GMT
Oh my god..... That was one of the best theatrical experiences of my life. Jesus. I'm a little shocked and walked out of the theatre with my mouth open!!
I've never seen magic like that on a stage ever. It's going to run for 50 years! Fire, water, flames, flying and it's scary, funny, witty and heartfelt.
The story and book are perfection with twists, turns, time travel, character reveals, sensational performances and magic beyond comprehension......
Wow. 10/10 #keepthesecrets
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Post by Ade on Jul 28, 2016 22:38:15 GMT
Oh my god..... That was one of the best theatrical experiences of my life. Jesus. I'm a little shocked and walked out of the theatre with my mouth open!! I've never seen magic like that on a stage ever. It's going to run for 50 years! Fire, water, flames, flying and it's scary, funny, witty and heartfelt. The story and book are perfection with twists, turns, time travel, character reveals, sensational performances and magic beyond comprehension...... Wow. 10/10 #keepthesecrets Couldn't agree more! There tonight too and I'm beyond excited for part two. Safe to say this won't be my only trip to see it. Refreshing to see a UK production that's had everything thrown at it. Also can't find it but there was a question on how the dementors are done a while back and they are definitely people. I could see the face of the one flying around the auditorium as they flew back down from the balcony towards the stage.
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Post by westendwendy on Jul 28, 2016 22:41:29 GMT
Oh my god..... That was one of the best theatrical experiences of my life. Jesus. I'm a little shocked and walked out of the theatre with my mouth open!! I've never seen magic like that on a stage ever. It's going to run for 50 years! Fire, water, flames, flying and it's scary, funny, witty and heartfelt. The story and book are perfection with twists, turns, time travel, character reveals, sensational performances and magic beyond comprehension...... Wow. 10/10 #keepthesecrets Couldn't agree more! There tonight too and I'm beyond excited for part two. Safe to say this won't be my only trip to see it. Refreshing to see a UK production that's had everything thrown at it. Also can't find it but there was a question on how the dementors are done a while back and they are definitely people. I could see the face of the one flying around the auditorium as they flew back down from the balcony towards the stage. The dementors on stage use the same wires as the swimming. The dementor in the audience is done exactly the same way Mary Poppins and the Witches of Eastwick women flew. It's basically a wire set up which you can see in the auditorium at the beginning. You just aren't expecting it. What a show. Woooow. Annoyingly I have to wait till September 3rd for the second part!
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Post by Ade on Jul 28, 2016 23:14:41 GMT
Couldn't agree more! There tonight too and I'm beyond excited for part two. Safe to say this won't be my only trip to see it. Refreshing to see a UK production that's had everything thrown at it. Also can't find it but there was a question on how the dementors are done a while back and they are definitely people. I could see the face of the one flying around the auditorium as they flew back down from the balcony towards the stage. The dementors on stage use the same wires as the swimming. The dementor in the audience is done exactly the same way Mary Poppins and the Witches of Eastwick women flew. It's basically a wire set up which you can see in the auditorium at the beginning. You just aren't expecting it. What a show. Woooow. Annoyingly I have to wait till September 3rd for the second part! Oh no! I'm not sure I'd be able to wait that long.
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Post by andrew on Jul 29, 2016 0:04:34 GMT
What's most impressive about the dementors has to be the costuming, the material flows so gracefully, it's an absolutely brilliant design.
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Post by westendwendy on Jul 29, 2016 9:02:46 GMT
What's most impressive about the dementors has to be the costuming, the material flows so gracefully, it's an absolutely brilliant design. I agree and I'm still not sure if they had humans underthere or not... Still the silk they use almost looks like there is a wind machine underneath them. They were so perfect I couldn't believe it! What an amazing ending to act 1. I was speechless. The surprise when also in the foyer/lobby was also brilliant!!!! It will run forever!!
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Post by alison on Jul 29, 2016 11:19:40 GMT
Early/First previews people if I say fish fingers does that mean anything? I saw the show again yesterday and I'm not sure if the owl distracted me so much that I missed it but some of the conversation as they were taking/just after they'd taken the polyjuice portion seemed different, more dialogue maybe. Then right at the end of the Albus as Ron bit with Hermione and Harry she mentioned fish finger sandwiches. This seems so random that I'd have remembered it, am I going mad? Or has this changed? I'm guessing I may possibly be able to just check on Sunday though when I buy the script though, since if it's the rehearsal script it'll match the first preview right? The fish fingers line was there last night. That whole scene is very clever, particularly in moving the actors around to play different characters so smoothly. Even going in knowing what happens from having seen part two already, part one was thrilling. The flying dementor was almost close enough for me to touch its floating hem. Scorpius and Albus felt a bit more awkward than I remembered - I wonder whether it's that the actors are playing it up throughout the show more now, or just that they're naturally more awkward at the start of the story and I jumped in halfway through the journey last time. Guess I'll find out tonight.
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Post by danielwhit on Jul 29, 2016 12:13:41 GMT
I'm hoping that the released script is actually from the first preview - as otherwise there'll be next to no changes when the second script is released.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2016 22:21:48 GMT
Does anyone know how the 'shimmering' was done? I think a mixture of screens and lighting, the BF just thinks lightning
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