1,379 posts
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Post by BVM on Jul 10, 2024 20:30:50 GMT
Has anyone seen any offers for this?!
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287 posts
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Post by singingbird on Jul 10, 2024 20:33:41 GMT
Does anyone know what kind of a band this production has? I love the score and the classical sound of the original orchestrations. I’ve never been to the Menier Chocolate Factory before so I don’t know what to expect. I’m pretty sure I saw a harp in one of the photos from the sitzprobe though! Really looking forward to seeing this and many other shows at the end of the month! My last visit to London was a year ago so there’s a lot of catching up to do. It's keys, accordion, viola, cello, double bass, flute/piccolo, clarinet/bass clarinet, harp and percussion plus on stage guitar in one song. It sounds rich and glorious, if a little chocolate boxy and stereotypically French in a slightly clichéd way. I loved it! |
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Post by theatre22 on Jul 10, 2024 20:38:09 GMT
singingbird I have a ticket in D38 which was a £15 deal on Today Tix. It does say it was a restricted view but is it behind the same pillar you had? It seems unlikely as it's a much lower seat number. There are two main pillars so you may find you have some scenes blocked by the other one? Hopefully it won't be too bad! Sorry I meant D58! |
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Post by nancycunard on Jul 10, 2024 21:22:39 GMT
Has anyone seen any offers for this?! There’s so much availability in late July and August that I would be very surprised to see it not papering. |
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1,379 posts
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Post by BVM on Jul 10, 2024 21:23:48 GMT
Has anyone seen any offers for this?! There’s so much availability in late July and August that I would be very surprised to see it not papering. Hopefully. Was discounted on Today Tix but I missed my chance! |
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1,442 posts
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Post by theatrefan62 on Jul 11, 2024 17:00:25 GMT
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6 posts
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Post by theatreloser on Jul 11, 2024 21:31:55 GMT
Can't say these really sell it I was there this evening and I would say there’s definitely some poetic licensing going with the lighting in these photos or they’re taken from the 1 angle in the room that looks nice. |
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Post by jaqs on Jul 11, 2024 21:54:13 GMT
I’ve very mixed feelings. Most of the cast were excellent, glorious voices, solid actors, far too good for the material. Clive Rowe was amazing, lovely to hear his voice up close, he was a total joy. I liked the pre show stuff with the accordion it was cheerful and set the mood. I hated the over use of fake cigs, we get it, the French smoke, the smell really got up my nose and there’s no escape. Loved the volume of real bread. They really spent up on bread and shoes, the shoes were delightful. I didn’t understand the casting of Dominique, he’s neither handsome or particularly charming and maybe it’s because I’m a fat person that I can totally understand marrying a baker even if he’s older and not a looker, but can’t understand running off with some random chap with no prospects. I’m glad I saw it, I’m glad I paid preview prices. I’d happily see most of the cast in anything else. I’d listen to the score again. The pillars are enormous, one is in the middle of the cabaret seating the other at the end of row A(high numbers). Also the back two cabaret tables are tall, so good for sight lines, not good for short people who don’t do tall chairs.  |
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4,955 posts
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jul 12, 2024 6:37:41 GMT
Isnt beauty a subjective thing? I think joaquin pedro valdes is stunning.
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Post by bobbievanhusen on Jul 12, 2024 6:40:26 GMT
That's always been the issue with the show - the title character who we're meant to be invested in, just disappears for the large majority of Act 2. At least with Endless Delights we get to see her happy and playful and then Where is the Warmth is her comedown from that sudden rush of excitement and back to reality. And then talking to the cat really annoys me... |
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Post by shownut on Jul 12, 2024 7:54:36 GMT
I was there last night. Having enjoyed the Union Theatre production I had high hopes for this but was disappointed. The creaks in the book really show and thanks to lacklustre direction, the show never really takes off.
It was also one of the most uncomfortable nights in a theatre in recent history. Aside from being very warm and stuffy, the constant clove cigarettes in both acts was very off-putting. It felt like someone was always smoking and in an intimate space that is already not the most comfortable, it made me wish the show had been a lot shorter. The smell was awful and always in the air.
I would rather not comment on the performances as the show is in early previews and already a couple of understudies were on, but this is three stars from me. Decent design and a mostly well-rendered score but otherwise dull and not well directed.
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6 posts
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Post by theatreloser on Jul 12, 2024 8:13:50 GMT
I didn’t understand the casting of Dominique, he’s neither handsome or particularly charming and maybe it’s because I’m a fat person that I can totally understand marrying a baker even if he’s older and not a looker, but can’t understand running off with some random chap with no prospects. I’m glad I saw it, I’m glad I paid preview prices. I’d happily see most of the cast in anything else. I’d listen to the score again. The pillars are enormous, one is in the middle of the cabaret seating the other at the end of row A(high numbers). Also the back two cabaret tables are tall, so good for sight lines, not good for short people who don’t do tall chairs. Last night was a cover for Dominique and I’m kinda said bc Joaquin was one of the reasons I booked. |
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Post by jaqs on Jul 12, 2024 8:18:03 GMT
Isnt beauty a subjective thing? I think joaquin pedro valdes to be stunning. It wasn’t him. I didn’t realise until this morning it was an understudy on. |
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100 posts
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Post by noboiscout on Jul 12, 2024 11:10:13 GMT
I’ve very mixed feelings. Most of the cast were excellent, glorious voices, solid actors, far too good for the material. Clive Rowe was amazing, lovely to hear his voice up close, he was a total joy. I liked the pre show stuff with the accordion it was cheerful and set the mood. I hated the over use of fake cigs, we get it, the French smoke, the smell really got up my nose and there’s no escape. Loved the volume of real bread. They really spent up on bread and shoes, the shoes were delightful. I didn’t understand the casting of Dominique, he’s neither handsome or particularly charming and maybe it’s because I’m a fat person that I can totally understand marrying a baker even if he’s older and not a looker, but can’t understand running off with some random chap with no prospects. I’m glad I saw it, I’m glad I paid preview prices. I’d happily see most of the cast in anything else. I’d listen to the score again. The pillars are enormous, one is in the middle of the cabaret seating the other at the end of row A(high numbers). Also the back two cabaret tables are tall, so good for sight lines, not good for short people who don’t do tall chairs. I didn't notice all the smoking. I thought they were using fake cigs! As for the rest, a great cast, great set, and great band - all wasted on a musical with mediocre score and book. There's a reason why some thinks aren't revived - and this one should definitely have been left on the shelf! I'd quite like to watch the original film though. |
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Post by winonaforever on Jul 12, 2024 11:45:31 GMT
Isnt beauty a subjective thing? I think joaquin pedro valdes is stunning. Yes, he is handsome, and very talented. He's the only reason I'd go to see this. |
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Post by danb on Jul 12, 2024 11:52:24 GMT
Was he a kurt/ram in Heathers at one point?
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Post by winonaforever on Jul 12, 2024 14:33:42 GMT
Was he a kurt/ram in Heathers at one point? Yes, he was Ram. |
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Post by ThereWillBeSun on Jul 12, 2024 15:37:51 GMT
UGH. I hate smoking in productions - herbal included. This small space doesn’t entice me.
I was a bit on the fence about booking ^ the reviews / ridiculous pricing have cemented my decision!
Thank goodness for TheatreBoard.
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5,795 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jul 12, 2024 16:53:58 GMT
I’m seeing it this weekend and now I’m a bit concerned, have heard from 2 friends that they absolutely hated it.l Let’s see.
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Post by ThereWillBeSun on Jul 12, 2024 17:15:18 GMT
I’m seeing it this weekend and now I’m a bit concerned, have heard from 2 friends that they absolutely hated it.l Let’s see. Looking forward to your review mrbarnaby! |
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Post by bobbievanhusen on Jul 13, 2024 3:36:10 GMT
all wasted on a musical with mediocre score and book. The score is far better than mediocre. So many fantastic numbers - Chanson, Gifts of Love, Proud Lady, Serenade, Medowlark, whoere is the warmth, If I have To Live alone are ones that immediately come to mind. Does anyone know what Proud lady lyrics they're using? |
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Post by nottobe on Jul 13, 2024 10:54:40 GMT
I caught this last night. And I liked it but can obviously see why this is it's first major London revival.
As shows go, this is basically quite a light romance story with plot that really isn't that deep. It's enjoyable in a simple story way but it never soars. The score is very good and I enjoyed the immersive style staging and performances but it definitely is a piece that I won't be remembering too well.
It did feel like the cast where a little too large, if that can be a thing. For a venue that has talked about it's financial difficulties it really felt unnecessary to have such a large cast when it didn't warrant it.
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Post by greenandbrownandblue on Jul 14, 2024 8:07:59 GMT
What used to be the restaurant is just an empty space - I don't know why they don't put a bar in there. It just feels so soulless when it could be a lovely foyer.
I thought this was excellent though - just what the Menier is good at. Yes, it's a slight show, but the score is gorgeous, it looks beautiful (much better than the photos suggest) and it's very well performed. Clive Rowe is especially good. Lucie Jones sings Meadowlark beautifully, though I wish it wasn't staged on a wobbly balcony. I had a front row seat on the side which afforded an excellent view (apart from when the annoying man next to be leant forwards). Beware that you might be picked to play boule or dance at the end!! However, it did seem there'd be quite a few restricted seats.
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Post by frauleinsallybowles on Jul 14, 2024 11:34:17 GMT
I caught this last night––agree the with the comment that I am glad to have seen it, but glad to have paid preview prices. Having never seen The Baker's Wife before and only really familiar with "Meadowlark" and the stories of the show from Patti LuPone's memoir, I do have to say that the plot leaves something to be desired. There are some wonderful melodies that I will listen to, but it's not a show I would rush out to see again. I do have to say that I thought the Menier looked on fine form in the auditorium. My first visit to the venue was only last year, and I always wanted to experience the magic that shows like La Cage brought to the theatre. The immersive quality of the set and the atmospheric smells were something to behold. Overall, an enjoyable night out even though there were some inherent flaws with the piece.
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1,475 posts
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Post by Steve on Jul 14, 2024 11:56:21 GMT
Does anyone know what Proud lady lyrics they're using? The best version, in my opinion, the same linear urgent one that the same director used in the Paper Mill version in 2005. Ie: It's not the original Seventies version, with the rapey lyric sung by Kurt Peterson: "Like it or not, you'll take me in your arms;" Its not the circular one that played at the Phoenix Theatre, where Drue Williams previewed the conclusion of the song right at the start, "Isn't it a crime?" before returning to it at the end; Instead, its the one that builds stormingly to the "Isn't it a crime?" conclusion at the end, sung by Max Von Essen at the Paper Mill. These are the Lyrics, I think: I'm in love! Im in love at last! I'm in love, I'm in love!
There's nothing I can do.
So no matter what I say, what promise I gave.
The only way that I can behave...
Is do anything I can, till she loves me too.
Next time I go to get the bread, I know exactly what I'll wear:
A belt that's tight,
a shirt that's red and open just enough to show a little hair.
And when the bag is full and warm, the way I lift it she can tell
That any action I perform, I do it strong, I do it slow, I do it well.
I can't let up, I can't let down,
I cannot sleep until I find the way to finally make her see.
Some things are meant to be,
And she was meant for me!
And I singing oh! Proud lady!
I'm so glad to know! Someday, you will be mine!
And we'll go to a place where the grass is cool and shady.
And with a smile on your face you'll come into my arms,
And love'll flow like wine.
She splits my senses at the seams,
She sends a shiver up my spine,
I see her body in my dreams and if she's normal, she sees mine.
She's all I'm ever thinking of,
Her mouth, her hair, and all the rest.
I think all women should have love
and more like her, deserve the best.
No matter what the pain no matter what the price.
No matter what, I wouldn't stop it if I could.
How can a thing be bad? When it feels so good!
And I'm singing oh! Proud lady!
You and I both know, oh yes! You will be mine!
And we'll go to that place where the grass is cool and shady.
And with a smile on your face,
you'll come into my arms. And love'll flow like wine!
I'm in love! I'm in love at last! I'm in love, I'm in love.
And isn't it a crime.
Isn't it a crying shame that the love of my
life, should have to be another man's wife.
Well I'm sorry for the guy, but there's nothing I won't try.
To win the one true love of my, whole life
Joaquin Pedro Valdes blew it out of the park last night. He was so good at being bad that he got booed last night, so I tried to drown out the boos with a cheer lol. |
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