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Post by Rory on Aug 19, 2022 10:13:50 GMT
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Post by alece10 on Aug 19, 2022 10:26:34 GMT
Actually interested in this. I have seen the film a couple of times and just love the story. So uplifting.
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Post by alessia on Aug 19, 2022 10:30:03 GMT
Actually interested in this. I have seen the film a couple of times and just love the story. So uplifting. Not heard of the story or the film but I've just booked on the spot, tickets are affordable too...hope it will be good!
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Post by oxfordsimon on Aug 19, 2022 10:37:46 GMT
The film makes me cry. In a good way. But still I sob
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Post by Jon on Aug 19, 2022 10:49:50 GMT
I'm going to book because it's a great true story but also to be visit @sohoplace.
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Post by meister on Aug 19, 2022 11:15:37 GMT
Anyone know what the £25 front row seats will be like? Seem like a bargain!! And what is the running time for this?
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Post by Jon on Aug 19, 2022 11:19:13 GMT
Anyone know what the £25 front row seats will be like? Seem like a bargain!! And what is the running time for this? The theatre hasn't opened so we won't know yet.
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4,966 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Aug 19, 2022 11:34:57 GMT
Before opening in London, Marvellous is also returning to the New Vic - 17 September to 8 October.
As for the running time, perhaps someone with a Stage online subscription could have a look at the original review from March 2022?
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Aug 19, 2022 14:30:31 GMT
Anyone know what the £25 front row seats will be like? Seem like a bargain!! And what is the running time for this? I've booked for the opening night , Saturday 15 October. £25 for row A has to be a bargain and to visit a brand new theatre on its opening night is an experience not to be missed. From the seating plan it looks like the stage is in the round and the website refers to perfect sightlines from every seat so should be okay. The TV play starring Toby Jones is a delight and as a bonus the theatre is now so easy to get to on the Elizabeth Line.
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Post by showgirl on Aug 19, 2022 17:26:35 GMT
The Stage said 2 h 15 mins at the New Vic, so definitely a matinee for me.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Aug 22, 2022 18:59:18 GMT
Anyone having difficulty booking for this ? I tried several times over the weekend and kept getting error messages.
Just tired again, stalls front row was £24 and now it's £40.
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Post by alece10 on Sept 30, 2022 14:27:20 GMT
Just booked to see this innthe first week. Interested in seeing the play but even more interested in seeing the new theatre.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Oct 7, 2022 1:08:30 GMT
"Best available seats for £25" ... "from 15 October to 26 November" ...visit sohoplace.org ... (book) using promocode RadioTimes25.
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Post by cavocado on Oct 7, 2022 8:32:41 GMT
"Best available seats for £25" ... "from 15 October to 26 November" ...visit sohoplace.org ... (book) using promocode RadioTimes25. Has anyone used this code? I couldn't see anywhere on the basket or payment screen to add the code. I was waiting for rush tickets for this, but happy to pay £25 if I could only work out how to do it. UPDATE: I've worked it out. If anyone else is wondering where to add the code, it's above the calendar on the page where you choose the peformance you want tickets for.
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Post by max on Oct 7, 2022 8:43:26 GMT
Anyone having difficulty booking for this ? I tried several times over the weekend and kept getting error messages. Just tired again, stalls front row was £24 and now it's £40. £25 front row is showing across the run (I couldn't see them other day either, but definitely there now) Plus the promo code mentioned above: "Best available seats for £25" ... "from 15 October to 26 November" ...visit sohoplace.org ... (book) using promocode RadioTimes25
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2,349 posts
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Post by zahidf on Oct 7, 2022 9:07:50 GMT
£15.00 tickets on todaytix for front row
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Post by showgirl on Oct 7, 2022 13:26:19 GMT
I'd love to book for this and quite a few other current/forthcoming productions and was pleased to see the deals return as I'd waited too long for the original "£25 front row" tickets. However, it's now the prospect of further train strikes which deters me as since theatres aren't obliged to give credits/refunds for this reason, it's risky to book and then be uanble to attend.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Oct 14, 2022 12:24:11 GMT
Looking forward to seeing this tomorrow night though slightly peeved to be sent a ticket which can only be displayed on a smartphone, attempts to print it led to a message that printed tickets would not be accepted.
I do now have and use a smartphone myself but following an incredibly distressing incident I witnessed a few years ago I object to be given no alternative. I also know someone who can't use a smartphone or apps and regularly ends up missing out on deals and paying more for things than the app price. Replied to that effect and was sent a downloadable ticket which I've printed so all good now.
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Post by cavocado on Oct 14, 2022 16:56:11 GMT
Looking forward to seeing this tomorrow night though slightly peeved to be sent a ticket which can only be displayed on a smartphone, attempts to print it led to a message that printed tickets would not be accepted. I do now have and use a smartphone myself but following an incredibly distressing incident I witnessed a few years ago I object to be given no alternative. I also know someone who can't use a smartphone or apps and regularly ends up missing out on deals and paying more for things than the app price. Replied to that effect and was sent a downloadable ticket which I've printed so all good now. I once dropped my phone down a theatre loo, so I always like printable tickets just in case! I also know a couple of people who don't have smartphones.
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Post by Jon on Oct 14, 2022 17:09:15 GMT
Looking forward to seeing this tomorrow night though slightly peeved to be sent a ticket which can only be displayed on a smartphone, attempts to print it led to a message that printed tickets would not be accepted. I do now have and use a smartphone myself but following an incredibly distressing incident I witnessed a few years ago I object to be given no alternative. I also know someone who can't use a smartphone or apps and regularly ends up missing out on deals and paying more for things than the app price. Replied to that effect and was sent a downloadable ticket which I've printed so all good now. I once dropped my phone down a theatre loo, so I always like printable tickets just in case! I also know a couple of people who don't have smartphones. I hope you cleaned it after you picked it up!
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Post by cavocado on Oct 15, 2022 12:54:20 GMT
I once dropped my phone down a theatre loo, so I always like printable tickets just in case! I also know a couple of people who don't have smartphones. I hope you cleaned it after you picked it up! I did clean it but it didn't recover unfortunately and had to be replaced. At least now I have a new phone it's got enough storage and battery power so that I can keep tickets on there if necessary.
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Post by showgirl on Oct 17, 2022 3:38:12 GMT
So did this go ahead on Saturday 15, pse, those of you who were due to see it then? It seems to have been strangely quiet here since, whereas people are usually quick to post early reports. I'd have been there myself but for needing a matinee due to the running time - and there are no regular weekday ones, alas; only a couple near the end of the run.
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Post by Steve on Oct 17, 2022 4:45:58 GMT
So did this go ahead on Saturday 15, pse, those of you who were due to see it then? It seems to have been strangely quiet here since, whereas people are usually quick to post early reports. I'd have been there myself but for needing a matinee due to the running time - and there are no regular weekday ones, alas; only a couple near the end of the run. Lol I was there, and enjoyed myself a great deal, but didn't absolutely love it, cos it wasn't as good as the Toby Jones film for me, for a number of reasons that wouldn't affect the expectations of someone who hadn't seen the film. So I thought I'd leave it to someone else to say something first, whose expectations weren't skewed that way. As far as the theatre is concerned, I felt it was lovely, like a slightly enlarged Dorfman Theatre, or a slightly shrunken Bridge Theatre. The programmes were not available, so we got a free downloadable one, which was especially nice as I wasn't going to buy one anyway lol. I know you like to know how long things are, and I recall we got out at about 10pm, which would suggest a running time of around 2 and a half hours, so I suspect that in future, the advertised running time of 2 hours 20 minutes will be about right. Some spoilers follow. . . The expectations engendered by the film, which I absolutely LOVED back in 2014, were threefold: (1) that the focus was on a bloke who asks and always hilariously receives; (2) that the focus was on some beautiful bonding between Neil and Lou Macari (his footie boss), Neil and his Mum (an absolutely adorable Gemma Jones in the film) and Neil and Reverend Mark; and (3) that some wonderful cast communal singing (eg of Delilah and Enjoy Yourself) would be happening. All three hopes were dashed, since:- (1) the focus of the play is not the moments where Neil breaks taboos and audaciously asks for stuff from people that most wouldn't dare to, but is actually his whole life. This play doesn't even get to the film plot until the second half. The first half is mostly his parents getting together to have him, and him growing up, which is all well and good, but isn't what made Neil so unique, in my opinion, which was his grown-up, infectiously insistent, assumingly engaging yet demanding personality; (2) since Lou Macari and Reverend Mark have much reduced parts in the play, the building of bonding scenes with them, over time, simply isn't possible in the play. And the possibility of bonding with the characters, per se, is also reduced as noone in the cast plays anybody but themselves, in a self-consciously Brechtian way, except for Michael Hugo, who is utterly charming and loveable as "The Real Neil." Basically, a lot of the plot involves the actors talking and arguing about who's gonna play who, and then sharing the roles around, lol, which veered between being very funny and twee, but again, not what I was craving; (3) there was a tiny bit of singing at the end, but the anthemic prevalence of songs like Delilah and Enjoy Yourself was utterly absent. So that's why my expectations, unfairly aroused by having watched the film, were dashed. On the upside, (a) I learned so much more about Neil Baldwin's background and life than I learned from the film, especially in the first half, which was almost all new to me; (b) the aforesaid Michael Hugo is an unforgettably personable and loveable host, playing Baldwin hosting the play about his own life, and I found him joyous and genuinely funny; (c) in the second half, Hugo gets to play Baldwin's grown-up self, and there is some marvellous (yep) clowning around with Suzanne Ahmet, temporarily playing his Mum, involving food, that had me in stitches; (d) Gareth Cassidy's facility with accents, and impish and knowing sense of humour, no matter who he was playing at the time (he's credited in the programme as simply playing Gareth, himself lol) was terrifically engaging and entertaining; (e) the whole wonderful cast generously give their absolute all to this play and towards entertaining the audience for the whole duration. Overall, my disappointment at one of the very best (5 star) British films of recent years not having an encore (lol) was countered by other enjoyable things to make up for this, and though the general atmosphere did skirt tweeness a little more than I would have liked, I ended up having 3 and a half stars of laughs and memorable fun. And I did enjoy meeting the "Baby Bridge" Theatre on it's first professional outing, and I'm intrigued to see it kitted out differently for less circussy productions in the future. Hope that helps.
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Post by Jon on Oct 17, 2022 14:27:27 GMT
I'm not surprised that @sohoplace feels like the Bridge or the Dorfman, the auditorium was designed by Haworth Tompkins who did both of those.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Oct 18, 2022 9:35:05 GMT
I was also there on opening night, having failed to realise that the Elizabeth Line was closed for the weekend and only taking my seat at 19.28 after a stressful hurried train and tube trip from Abbey Wood. I had my usual "bag for life" with a book, a few interval snacks and a flask of cold fruit juice - it's smaller than most handbags so was slightly surprised to be asked to hand it in the cloakroom because "we have a bag policy". There was a small queue there at 19.26 so I just doubled back and up the stairs to the auditorium.
I know the film well and was expecting a retelling of the story but it's presented in a much less structured way. For a minute or two I was fooled into believing the real Neil Baldwin was there at the start which seemed feasible on opening night - Michael Hugo is totally convincing in the role. I felt too much time was spent on Neil's childhood which wasn't really that different to everybody else's or if it was that wasn't brought out at all. As a play the story is reduced to bare bones and there's far too much pantomime-style slapstick comedy with flour being thrown around and water sprayed everywhere. There were a few children there and it's fine for a family audience.
At least eight people in my sightline from a front row seat didn't return after the interval. I was entertained, glad I saw it but wouldn't revisit. Three stars
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Post by alece10 on Oct 20, 2022 11:04:14 GMT
I enjoyed the play but was nowhere near as good as the film. The opening section was a bit messy but once it got into the swing of things it developed nicely. It was both funny and quite moving in parts. Great cast especially Michael Hugo who played "Real Neil". Some very silly slapstick humour in the 2nd act which tickled my funny bone. "Real Neil" also passed around a box of Roses chocolates to our section of the audience so that was nice and the only time when rustling sweet wrappers was accepted.
However, the main reason I went to see this was to visit the new theatre. It really is lovely and a great new addition to the west end. As I was doing a 2 show day with Cabaret in the afternoon I decided to try the theatre restaurant, Star@sohoplace, before the evening show. On the ground floor of the building but you get to it from the outside. I couldn't find the door and security had to take me there. Glad it wasn't just me having a senior moment as I heard the people sitting next to me say they had the same problem. They do a pre-theatre set menu as well as a la carte. £20 for 2 courses and £25 for 3 which wasn't too bad considering the location. Food was very nice too. Only gripe was as soon as you sit down they ask if you would like some water. I said yes just some still water. Brought along in a bottle/decanter and it was only at the end when the bill came I noticed they had charged me for it. Not a lot but they definately indicated that it was free as in many restaurants.
I sat in row D of the stalls (there are only 6 rows in the stalls and then 2 higher levels. Comfy seats and ok leg room. If you want extra leg room then go for aisle seats in rows B and C. Front row I would say the leg room is more limited due to the stage right in front of you. Also there are only 2 entrances in the stalls, one for each 2 sides. You are not allowed to walk across the stage to get to your seat so if you are at the end of the row then you have to disturb the whole row. Same with leaving you have to wait for your whole row to leave before you can. So book seats by the entrance doors if you need to make a quick exit. No one I saw went to the loo but I would think it would be quite disruptive if someone wanted to go during the show. Definately wasn't full and a few gaps in the stalls, more in the upper levels. I don't know why they didn't move people down to be honest. No programmes but as you enter they get you to scan a QR code so you get a free downloaded copy which I liked as I didn't really want a programme. All in all nice theatre with a lot of potential. Oh and I have a bad behaviour story which I will share in that thread.
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Post by mrnutz on Oct 20, 2022 12:48:05 GMT
I sat in row D of the stalls (there are only 6 rows in the stalls and then 2 higher levels. Comfy seats and ok leg room. If you want extra leg room then go for aisle seats in rows B and C. Front row I would say the leg room is more limited due to the stage right in front of you. Also there are only 2 entrances in the stalls, one for each 2 sides. You are not allowed to walk across the stage to get to your seat so if you are at the end of the row then you have to disturb the whole row. Same with leaving you have to wait for your whole row to leave before you can. So book seats by the entrance doors if you need to make a quick exit. No one I saw went to the loo but I would think it would be quite disruptive if someone wanted to go during the show. So of the four aisles on the seating plan, only two are actually aisles? Which two are they? I deliberately booked an aisle seat so I'll be annoyed if it turns out it's not!
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Post by alece10 on Oct 20, 2022 13:48:17 GMT
I sat in row D of the stalls (there are only 6 rows in the stalls and then 2 higher levels. Comfy seats and ok leg room. If you want extra leg room then go for aisle seats in rows B and C. Front row I would say the leg room is more limited due to the stage right in front of you. Also there are only 2 entrances in the stalls, one for each 2 sides. You are not allowed to walk across the stage to get to your seat so if you are at the end of the row then you have to disturb the whole row. Same with leaving you have to wait for your whole row to leave before you can. So book seats by the entrance doors if you need to make a quick exit. No one I saw went to the loo but I would think it would be quite disruptive if someone wanted to go during the show. So of the four aisles on the seating plan, only two are actually aisles? Which two are they? I deliberately booked an aisle seat so I'll be annoyed if it turns out it's not! There are 4 aisles but 2 entrances. 2 sections for each entrance but aisles to left and right of each section if that makes sense. The aisles are either side of the walkway to the stage for which there are 4. Hoping I'm making sense of myself as it sounds confusing but you will definitely have an aisle.
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Post by greenswan on Oct 26, 2022 8:06:36 GMT
Seeing this the evening after Tammy Faye may have contributed to this comment...
The play: I didn't enjoy this very much. It is full of slapstick humour and pantomime interactions and I enjoy neither of these things. Nor do I enjoy being splattered with water, flour and foam. Would have gone for first level if I had known. I also did not see the film beforehand and so didn't know anything going in. From the disjointed plot, I also wasn't able to gather completely what was going on. Had to read up afterwards. It's a bit like a student drama with the kitchen sink and then the whole house thrown at it. Any serious topics got lost in the shuffle and the bullying/not bullying topic was somewhat shied away from. The actors are mainly ok, though 'The Real Neil' actor had terrible diction. My comprehension wasn't helped by uneven sound depending on where actors were positioned on the stage.
I wouldn't give it three stars but if looking for a Christmas activity with children, this might be fun.
The theatre: I thought this looked impressive at first glance, very bright from the outside and lots of light inside. However, the seats are narrow and uncomfortable and legroom in the front row is unsuitable if even moderately tall. It falls down further inside because of the low ceilings, narrow hallways and insufficient toilets. You'd think these could be done to a better standard in a modern-built theatre.
Final note: Neil Baldwin was there and signing programmes last night - queue organised in the foyer. Not sure if that's a regular occurrence.
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Post by meister on Oct 26, 2022 12:12:55 GMT
Seeing this the evening after Tammy Faye may have contributed to this comment... The play: I didn't enjoy this very much. It is full of slapstick humour and pantomime interactions and I enjoy neither of these things. Nor do I enjoy being splattered with water, flour and foam. Would have gone for first level if I had known. I also did not see the film beforehand and so didn't know anything going in. From the disjointed plot, I also wasn't able to gather completely what was going on. Had to read up afterwards. It's a bit like a student drama with the kitchen sink and then the whole house thrown at it. Any serious topics got lost in the shuffle and the bullying/not bullying topic was somewhat shied away from. The actors are mainly ok, though 'The Real Neil' actor had terrible diction. My comprehension wasn't helped by uneven sound depending on where actors were positioned on the stage. I wouldn't give it three stars but if looking for a Christmas activity with children, this might be fun. The theatre: I thought this looked impressive at first glance, very bright from the outside and lots of light inside. However, the seats are narrow and uncomfortable and legroom in the front row is unsuitable if even moderately tall. It falls down further inside because of the low ceilings, narrow hallways and insufficient toilets. You'd think these could be done to a better standard in a modern-built theatre. Final note: Neil Baldwin was there and signing programmes last night - queue organised in the foyer. Not sure if that's a regular occurrence. Agree with all the above. It struck me as a very parochial event, urged to whoop and cheer at the start for someone you know nothing of. The slapstick was puerile and panto like and added zero to the story. It probably played better in Stoke where Neil is better known. The theatre is a disappointment for a new venue. The legroom is uncomfortable in the front row with my legs jammed up against the stage (I’m 6ft 4in) and having to walk across the stage to get your seat (which ushers were discouraging) if you don’t want to disturb other patrons. The theatre is basically a space with a narrow corridor running round two sides, and the low ceilings make for a claustrophobic experience. And not enough loos!!! Agree it is a better theatre standing outside looking in than actually going into! 1 star
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