122 posts
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Post by kirstylovesmusicals on Dec 11, 2018 12:22:50 GMT
Cast announced. I do hope Marcus Collins shows up in Sunderland after I blasted him on Twitter for taking credit for his understudy in Hairspray when it came around a few years ago. I don’t have much confidence in his casting as Hud
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Post by Dr Tom on Dec 11, 2018 21:11:18 GMT
Surprised they’ve gone for an entirely new cast, but maybe everyone else is busy? Definitely more celebrity casting.
Can’t imagine Jake Quickenden as Berger. Has he done any musical theatre before? At least we know he’s worked as a male stripper so he won’t have any problems with the nude scenes.
Bradley Judge should be great as Woof and he can definitely camp it up.
A few others I recognise. Don’t think I’ve ever seen Paul Wilkins, although I know he had quite a run as Marius, but will be good to see a different take on Claude.
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Post by viserys on Dec 13, 2018 10:16:48 GMT
The tour is doing a detour to Germany in summer for a week, what a lovely surprise to have them turn up on my doorstep in Cologne! Don't know anyone in the cast, but booked anyway just because it's so nice this is coming over.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 14, 2019 21:08:25 GMT
Maybe they should rename it “Pecs”  |
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Post by wickedgrin on Jan 14, 2019 23:07:48 GMT
….and a waxed chest - very period!!!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2019 11:38:13 GMT
Tour starts in just over a month and not much word about this yet.... Bring it On.
Or should I start making alternative arrangements for the night I have booked?
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Post by Dr Tom on Feb 9, 2019 12:36:44 GMT
Tour starts in just over a month and not much word about this yet.... Bring it On. Or should I start making alternative arrangements for the night I have booked? Well, they've announced all the cast. It doesn't start for a month. What more do we expect? |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 28, 2019 12:52:57 GMT
Selling very poorly for Manchester, swathes of seats available in the stalls and barely a thing sold in the circle. Opening looks a bit better but the sides are still empty. Jake Q in the nuddy is apparently not the draw someone thought it would be.
Offers to come surely? Or it’s going to be really disheartening for the cast. If anything sees anything shout up please, as ATG can’t manage to email me their offers.
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Post by richey on Feb 28, 2019 13:47:04 GMT
Selling very poorly for Manchester, swathes of seats available in the stalls and barely a thing sold in the circle. Opening looks a bit better but the sides are still empty. Jake Q in the nuddy is apparently not the draw someone thought it would be. Offers to come surely? Or it’s going to be really disheartening for the cast. If anything sees anything shout up please, as ATG can’t manage to email me their offers. I got a decent ATG discount months ago, front stalls for £16.25. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 28, 2019 14:41:44 GMT
I missed that unfortunately. To be honest I wasn’t that fussed about going back to this because I suspect I saw the best iteration of it at the Hope Mill. I cant really see how they’re going to size it up for that huge stage without losing the essence of what it was. However I saw Katy Lipson from Aria trying to drum up some trade on Twitter yesterday so I thought I’d show willing. Not at those prices when the place is empty though 😑
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Post by ablumsum on Mar 20, 2019 15:18:24 GMT
Hi All,
I have been in Wimbledon working with this production this weekend and I have to say your in for a real treat! It looks great! Im personally looking forward to going back next week for the press night!
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Post by ablumsum on Mar 21, 2019 14:17:40 GMT
I have been in Wimbledon working with this production this weekend and I have to say your in for a real treat! It looks great The show has its own touring barber. Who knew? Slightly unnecessary - but thanks for the creative input... |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2019 14:20:57 GMT
I don't get it...
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 21, 2019 18:48:03 GMT
Heading there now for the first night of the tour (if my tram gets going).
I think it will be full all weekend (based on an “offer” I’ve seen). My ticket was purchased months ago.
Will be interesting to see what they’ve done with the staging. The previous version was designed for an intimate venue.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Mar 21, 2019 19:10:11 GMT
I had a voicemail yesterday afternoon while at another show that my front row seat at Wimbledon for Hair next Monday is no longer available due to the staging of the show. Asked me to call to arrange a transfer (free drink promised). Exactly the same has happened on two previous occasions at Wimbledon. Free programme for one, free drink for the other.
I looked online and there was a single seat in the front row three nearer the centre from mine. Thought they could have just moved me to that, but fair enough there may have been a reason why not.
I've since phoned the number given three times and can't get beyond a recorded message. Now that seat has been taken. Not impressed. I also saw Hair at The Vaults last year so will await Dr.Tom's feedback about tonight and might then request a refund.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 21, 2019 19:27:35 GMT
Heading there now for the first night of the tour (if my tram gets going). I think it will be full all weekend (based on an “offer” I’ve seen). My ticket was purchased months ago. Will be interesting to see what they’ve done with the staging. The previous version was designed for an intimate venue. Looking forward to your feedback! |
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 21, 2019 19:27:39 GMT
Well paul26, I’m here and in the front row (AA). It’s just six seats and there would be little to choose between them.
A decent distance from the stage. Viewing angle looks good. There are stairs to the stage, presumably for audience interaction.
Strictly speaking, the Side Stalls have front rows too but they’re a lot further back.
Nice colourful curtain, looks like a simple set up behind.
Only thing that has me worried is a gunshot warning. I don’t remember that in the previous version (just some bangs on the drums).
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Mar 21, 2019 20:55:38 GMT
Keep us posted !
Front row AA when sold originally had 12 seats, AA 1 to AA 12, and I assume only AA4 -AA9 now remain. I had AA 10 unfortunately.
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 21, 2019 21:02:47 GMT
Interval time. This has transferred very well. The sound is excellent and the cast all vocally good.
Staging is similar to it was before. The musicians are around the stage so all visible. Three in raised hits. Several look familiar so I presume they’ve transferred with the production. 5 musicians, plus 2 of the cast fill in on some songs (flute and saxophone).
For some reason, there are only two of us on the front row of six. Otherwise pretty full. You get a lot of attention on the front row. Luckily I avoided being Hubert but did get a bit of groping from Jake Quickenden.
A lot of the show is performed to the front of the stage, when it was central or in circles previously, including the cast coming in through the audience at the start and performing in front of the curtain. Otherwise, it’s an a very close staging.
The first half finale is “blink and you’ll miss it” but it is the first show. Not all of the cast stripped, but the stage is pretty dark so you can’t really see anything.
It’s hard not to compare the cast to the previous generation, but they’re strong. Jake particularly has real stage presence.
Started about 10 minutes late, which isn’t bad for a first preview.
The Be-In leaflets get thrown all over the front row, strangely no one wants to take them.
More comments later. Definitely worth coming, I’d say try and sit near the front as it’s small scale production.
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Post by newbie101 on Mar 21, 2019 22:17:58 GMT
Thanks for the review Dr T! I have tickets for next month in Sunderland - can’t wait...
Did the cast come out in the audience during the ‘Hair’ song. The interaction in The Vaults was the best part!
And of course what we all want to know is... which cast members chickened out of getting their kits off!?
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 21, 2019 22:22:35 GMT
And excellent show. Finished about 22:10 (but started about 10 minutes late). Instant standing ovation and lots of dancing on the stage afterwards!
Second half as good as always. Only slip I noticed was DJ Spin couldn’t get his skirt to stay on but covered it well.
No gunshots by the way, same effect as before. I think the gunshot reference is to some audio machine gun fire in the background of the hallucination scene. Barely noticeable.
The stage backdrop is essentially coloured paper strips hanging down.
Can’t think of much else to add right now. As I said earlier, this has transferred well with an excellent cast. Heard a few people as I was leaving saying they wanted to go again next week. I already have tickets booked for a few weeks into the tour.
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 21, 2019 22:29:57 GMT
Thanks for the review Dr T! I have tickets for next month in Sunderland - can’t wait... Did the cast come out in the audience during the ‘Hair’ song. The interaction in The Vaults was the best part! They did, but not so many, or so far. There was less audience interaction, I suppose as it’s hard for most people to see. A few people came down to grab people to dance at the end (based on the men grabbing men, I suspect they already knew each other). And a load of us were beckoned onto the stage. All good fun. Regarding the nudity, it wasn’t completely obvious who was who with the lighting. I could work out one of the guys but I won’t name him. By contrast, you did have Bradley Judge who couldn’t wait to get his clothes off! |
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Post by djp on Mar 22, 2019 23:48:45 GMT
Heading there now for the first night of the tour (if my tram gets going). I think it will be full all weekend (based on an “offer” I’ve seen). My ticket was purchased months ago. Will be interesting to see what they’ve done with the staging. The previous version was designed for an intimate venue.
Its got a problem with selling. I have a ticket for tomorrow and when i just looked at how many people would be between me and the hairy hippies, ts looking at most 40% full with an empty upper circle on top- looked at next sat matinee too and thats no better.
Needs sorting and a shame because it sounded great on last outing , and its a major piece of MT history. Its got more good songs than a lot of musicals , the story is naff and problematic , but it is a portrayal of its time. Is it the nudity putting people off, or the fact that the hippie and revolutionary culture had effectively died out within a a few years, and been rejected by most people now under 60-65 - especially the age groups who most frequent theatres?
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Mar 23, 2019 0:35:30 GMT
There's likely to be a reasonable attendance from now on as there's one of those hush-hush deals available including tomorrow's matinee.
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 23, 2019 10:42:03 GMT
Please report back djp. I know which company is doing the deal and I think the upper circle will be packed.
Incidentally, by the time you pay the admin charge this company is asking, the price is not that far below the discounted price the tickets have been going at directly from the theatre (with the various offers). The main difference is, with the theatre offers you can choose to sit near the front where this show is best appreciated.
I do see this being a hard sell to a modern audience, but it is a relatively cheap show to tour (small number of cast, crew and musicians, simple set that doesn't take up too much space etc). So, hopefully all the discounting has been accounted for in the planning.
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